Editorial
The opposition must join parliament
There is so much at stake for the nation
Sunday's opening sitting of the New Year session of parliament was the usual, unfortunate picture of boycott and blame.
The president, while calling upon the opposition to join proceedings, criticised it for failing to discharge its constitutional and democratic obligation to the people by boycotting parliament. Of course the president as head of state is the guardian of the nation and has the right to do this. But, even given the fact that the speech was vetted by the Cabinet, we expected a more even-handed approach from him, who, it seems to us, did not quite use his influence and good offices to play the role of a conscience keeper as he could have.
That being said, the practice of boycott has indeed become a serious, existential threat to our democracy. Recent reports have found that the ruling Awami League, when in opposition, was absent from parliamentary proceedings for 223 days over five years and that the current opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, were absent for 283 days over the last four years. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself attended the House for 45 days in the last parliament as head of opposition, while Begum Khaleda Zia, currently in the same capacity, was present on eight days.
The culture of boycott has become so ingrained that, instead of raising constructive discussion and debate in the House, our politicians prefer to take to the streets in protest and violence. But a few lines of protest, no matter how fiery, are barely heard when made on the streets, let alone resolved, whereas in parliament, they are presented not only to the people's representatives but to the people themselves through the media. As the situation now stands, however, burning issues such as that of the caretaker government, are not being properly addressed. This being an election year, without the exchange of political views, how can we expect a participatory election? Whatever the grievances of the opposition, they must be brought to the House of the people, which is the proper forum for voicing them and having them addressed.
The government has repeatedly called upon the opposition to join parliament. If this is to happen, however -- and we believe that it must -- the opposition must be given decent space and voice. Only through dialogue can problems be solved and progress made in a true democracy.
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