Editorial
Cabinet reshuffle
Points to seriously ponder
For a long time we have been demanding cabinet changes in the face of non-performing, incompetent and disreputable conduct of some ministers. At long last comes a cabinet reshuffle; better late than never. Along with it we also have had another expansion of the cabinet. How worthy the new entrants will prove only time will tell.
Of the changes brought, the most significant one is the replacement of Sahara Khatun by Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir in the home ministry. Sahara's four years of handling the crucial ministry has been disastrous and has frequently spurred demand for her removal owing to a spiral of failures.
MK Alamgir comes to the post with huge administrative experience and reputation for hard work. But people would expect him to sort out a huge backlog of unsolved murder cases, disappearances, extra-judicial killings all topped up by a general sense of insecurity among citizens. He should know it only too well that police and Rab are the public face of the government. There is a serious issue of inappropriate conduct in their public dealings. Allegations are rife about their abuse of power and intimidating behaviour. At the same time there is the question of law enforcement agency's legitimate demands including those of salary, working conditions and enforced partisanship. We are looking to MK Alamgir to set an extraordinary example by giving a new direction and injecting professionalism into the police force.
We recall that the new home minister had been subjected to reported mistreatment and torture both during BNP's rule and the last CTG. We expect that he would not use his power and position to settle scores. If he did that, he wouldn't be serving his government at a time when it needs it.
Distribution of portfolios in a large part looks ill planned and arbitrary. Sahara Khatun taking charge of post was ok but telecommunications is an ill conceived choice. Telecommunications is one of the most dynamic and expanding of sectors that requires both a scientific mind and one that is open to new ideas. Her predecessor was a disaster.
Culture and information, though important, do not need two ministers. However, the separation of disaster and relief management from the food ministry is well-conceived. Similarly, the untangling of the railways from communications ministry is a step in the right direction. The former in its own right deserves to be an exclusive charge of a minister. We have doubt as to whether the new incumbent will prove equal to the task.
However, the taste of the pudding is in eating. So our final judgment will come later on the basis of their performance. What the government needs to be cautious of is its self-congratulatory mood. Its position that it has done nothing wrong so far is not a recipe for path correction, which it needs so desperately.
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