Editorial
PM's proposal on pre-polls government
Start dialogue to build confidence first
The prime minister in her interview with the BBC has floated the idea of forming a small government with other political parties to hold the next general elections. This raises two sets of issues; one of procedure, and the other of substance.
We take up the issue of procedure first. Before going public and spelling it out to the BBC, shouldn't the PM have discussed the matter with the contending parties who have stakes in the election? So, to begin with she committed a procedural blunder.
In an ambience of confrontational politics, the best approach should have been to send out feelers and sound out the idea with the ruling party's own allies, more particularly the contending political parties.
As the issue involves an important political restructuring to enable participatory polls, the PM has dealt with the matter in a most casual and unprofessional manner.
On the question of substance, ruling Awami League (AL)'s allies themselves are on a different tangent and have demanded holding of immediate talks, to say nothing of the opposition BNP's outright rejection of her proposal.
Given our political tradition, election held under a party government is liable to be influenced by the government in power. Already, the ruling party has politicised the institutions of the state.
The PM has not yet been able to explain the merit of the outright dissolution of the caretaker government system, except saying she is ensuring people's right to vote and strengthening democracy.
The PM's first priority should have been to build confidence among her allies and in particular, the opposition. This would have created a congenial environment. Then she should have begun a series of dialogues to come to grips with the main bone of contention, how to hold an election which will be participated by all.
All said and done, we urge the PM to engage all parties in a continuing series of dialogues designed to reach a mutually acceptable position on the issue of non-partisan arrangement to hold the general election.
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