Editorial
BNP's unfortunate decision to keep away from JS session
Such an attitude only raises worrying questions
The continued refusal of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to participate in the proceedings of the Jatiyo Sangsad is indeed perplexing. And it is because in all these months since it began to stay away from the House, it has never quite been able to explain to the country why it has taken no interest in the business of Parliament. Of course, it has come forth with one reason or another, none of which in political terms can be considered credible. A rather queer aspect of the BNP's position is that all the grievances it cites to advance its argument in favour of non-participation in the JS are those it could very well have raised in the House itself. That it has felt little need to do so can only have damaged its own credibility as a party. More worryingly, such an attitude has clearly been corroding the whole idea of democracy in Bangladesh.
The nation had expected, especially after the camaraderie demonstrated by both ruling party and opposition lawmakers at a recent anti-poverty rally, that the BNP would return to the JS and play its full, constructive part in legislative business. That hope has been dashed with the party now coming up with reasons that clearly do not look like reasons any more. Indeed, the party now appears to have taken a subjective position on its participation or otherwise in sessions of Parliament. It would have the nation know that the ruling Awami League cannot tolerate the presence of the opposition in the JS. Moreover, it would like guarantees that there will be a change in attitude on the part of the prime minister and others in the ruling party before it can consider going back to the JS. Ironically, the BNP leadership reminds people that its lawmakers have been attending the meetings of the various House committees, as if that can be a substitute for their full, vibrant presence in the House. The BNP's indifference to Parliament can be gauged from the figures. Of the 158 working days of this Jatiyo Sangsad, it has stayed away from the House for 114 days. The leader of the opposition, who in her days in power constantly berated the then opposition over its boycott of the JS, has attended sessions of the present legislature for a mere five days. Given such facts, questions could with justification arise as to whether the BNP really has any grievances or whether it is more interested in seeing the JS turn into a lame duck body. Either way, it is Bangladesh's fragile democracy that is placed at risk by the tantrums the BNP has been throwing.
We have urged the party repeatedly through these columns to return to the JS in the spirit of democracy and play its due role in promoting the growth of a strong pluralist political system. We appeal to the BNP again to go back to the House and for the particular reason that its lawmakers owe it to their constituencies to uphold their interests in the JS. There is a moral imperative here as well, which is that those elected on the BNP's ticket at the last polls were not given the authority to boycott Parliament over any issues, specific or non-specific. It is a matter the saner, moderate elements in the party must take note of. Finally, we are constrained to say that a party which cares about democracy when it is in power but loses interest in this principle when it loses elections does not offer much of a political alternative to the nation.
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