Editorial
The expectations in 2011
Government must watch out for the pitfalls
The year 2011 is already upon us. And it is as good a time as any to look forward to what the nation ought to expect from the government, given its record in the year just gone by. The first point to note is some intrinsic strengths the government possesses, mainly by virtue of its three-fourths majority in parliament, whereby the ruling party can show magnanimity by giving the opposition some space. For its part, the opposition, being a crucial component of democracy, must come to terms with its own responsibilities to its constituents and to the country through opting for active participation in the Jatiyo Sangsad. Reverting to the performance of the government, we are deeply distressed at the cavalier manner in which a number of so-called politically motivated cases have been withdrawn. We believe the law should have been allowed to run its course. Such withdrawals of cases have only raised questions about the future of the rule of law. In addition, there has been a clear degree of politicization of the bureaucracy. Appointments to administrative positions along partisan lines have obviously undermined morale in the civil service, something we should have done without.
Clearly, the government is to be given credit in some other areas. Agriculture has made notable progress. Again, the nation, having observed the seriousness with which religious extremism has been tackled, naturally now expects the government to go all the way towards containing and neutralizing this threat. Our nascent democracy can only add substance to itself if the anti-extremism campaign is carried to its logical end. We note here that through bringing five of Bangabandhu's killers to justice in early 2010, the government lived up to the expectations of the people where a restoration of rule of law was concerned. The repeal of the Fifth Amendment is another feat the country can rightly be proud of. In much the same manner, the expectation in the new year is that the powers that be will move full steam ahead into ensuring that the trial of war criminals is carried to legal and moral fulfillment before the term of the present government comes to an end.
The government has been the pivotal force behind the enactment of a raft of good laws. Mention may be made of laws relating to women and children's rights as well as the Right to Information Act. The momentum ought not to slow down.
In 2011, we look forward to the administration plugging the holes in its armour through acting with foresight. It cannot afford any more to get the lines between the government and the ruling party blurred. An effective government is one which means business, a task to be accomplished by avoiding the pitfalls engendered by political partisanship. Additionally, the government can do itself and the country a favour by taking some tough, exemplary action against the unruly elements of the Chhatra League, who have done much damage to the ruling party's credibility already. In the government structure itself, there remains much room for improvement where the performance of some ministries is concerned. Finally, there are the extra-judicial killings which have tarnished the image of the government and the country. Decisive action against such violations of the law is an imperative.
For the government, it is of critical importance that it recover the ground it has lost in the two years it has been in office. For that to be done, introspection is called for with a policy of inclusiveness coming to play.
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