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Editorial

BNP's return to JS imperative

It takes all concerned to make parliament functional
31 January 2010, 18:00 PM
EDITORIAL
FOR some time now the BNP has been sending out signals about the possibility of joining the parliament. The positive vibes are very welcome indeed, and we would like to think that the motive behind the intention is to fulfill their obligation to their voters and not to save their seats in the parliament that might fall vacant by default of their absence of 90 days. It must be added that the long boycott of nearly 70 days has done nothing to enhance the party's image. Neither was their cause helped with the number of preconditions for joining the parliament getting longer every day. We couldn't agree more with the statement of the Chief Whip of the party that the BNP would rejoin the parliament to address the critical issues facing the country. Indeed their abstention was not only a great folly it was also a great disservice to their electorates and to the nation, because on so many critical issues the BNP could have taken issue with the ruling coalition, but did not. We wish that the idea to rejoin the parliament had dawned on them much earlier. It needs hardly be repeated that the BNP is under close scrutiny of the people, particularly those whose votes had helped them win seats in the parliament, and who would be unwilling to countenance any further continued boycott of the Sangsad. And neither should it try to find excuses in future to keep away from the House. While the onus is on the BNP to rejoin the Sangsad much will depend on the attitude of the ruling coalition led by the AL to make it happen. Having such an overwhelming majority the AL can afford to be more magnanimous and go beyond the call of duty by giving the BNP more space, both literally and metaphorically, than the number of its parliamentary seats would otherwise entitle them to. We call upon the AL to shun its characteristic proclivity to provoke the BNP to react negatively. It must act prudently so that no opportunity is provided to the opposition to find any excuse to abstain from parliament. The role of the Speaker in smoothening out the angularities in the way of the opposition in resuming its due role in the parliament is also very important. Admittedly, there are issues that occur outside the parliament which is beyond his control, but within the parliament he can use the weight of his position to influence the ruling party to go beyond its remit and accommodate as much of the requests of the opposition as possible for the sake of a worthwhile parliament. We would hope that the change of attitude of the BNP is genuine; and given that, no opportunity should be lost to make the parliament truly the people's house.

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