Editorial
New low in Hasina-Khaleda diatribe
Behave responsively, please!
Begum Khaleda Zia has recently said that she would throw away the amended Constitution if and when she is elected to power. Reacting to this, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her 'surprise' at the 'indecent' remarks.
We share the PM's views up to a point but cannot help thinking she may have courted it. The way the 15th amendment of the constitution was rushed through the parliament has been criticised anyway by reputed constitutional experts and the civil society leaders, let alone the media. The critics made three extremely valid points: one, the full verdict of the Supreme Court is still awaited; two, the window for continuing with the caretaker system for two terms was not utilised to bring the opposition over to a consultative process; and last but not least, well over two years are still left before the next parliamentary election.
That said, we strongly feel as well that the leader of the opposition overstepped the limits of propriety. She has been disdainful in her remarks, unbecoming of not just an opposition leader but two-time prime minister of the country. The way she has binned the constitution is unacceptable. How can a politician who believes in constitutional politics say, "if elected I'll throw away the constitution." There are ways, words and manner in which to express oneself while referring to such a document as the constitution. The disrespect she has shown to the sanctity of the constitution, parliamentary process and norms of democratic behaviour is regrettable.
So, just as Begum Zia's comments are abrasive and inappropriate, equally reprehensible is the bulldozing of the constitutional amendment in an indecent haste. The PM's contention that she had waited 11 months for an opposition response is untenable because the Supreme Court verdict on caretaker government is not even two months old.
Sheikh Hasina's earlier labelling of Begum Zia as 'the mother of thieves' and her aspersion that the latter could only have taught her children to steal were the height of irresponsible utterances from a PM. Such an attitude can only fuel confrontation and draw vitriol from the other side. It is utterly counter-productive, recoiling and self-defeating.
With change of governments we have seen denaming and renaming of institutions, installations and roads. But now it seems we are into another flurry of political ruses: amending and re-amending the constitution with change of regimes.
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