Editorial
TIB report sheds light on graft
Objectivity has been maintained
We thank the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) for bringing to our attention the cases of selective graft that took place during the tenure of the military-backed caretaker government. After conducting painstaking research that spanned over two years, the outcome has added value to our understanding of the downsides of the Fakhruddin-led caretaker government was all about. That way, it is a positive contribution to the repository of knowledge about that extraordinary contrivance brought on by the fierce confrontation between the Awami League and the BNP.
As stated before, the report is credible enough as it was written based upon the findings of interviews with some 200 respondents, 8 discussion meetings with parties, 20 case studies and secondary data over a two-year period. That there was abuse of power by a section of the military has been established. What should be remembered here is that in the absence of democratic practices, the rule of law and the checks and balances that come with it are largely absent from the equation. And it is precisely the existence of such extraordinary circumstances that gives rise to the whole concept of abuse of power with impunity.
The report has also highlighted several favourable aspects of the past caretaker government, i.e. it was during its short tenure of two years that separation of the judiciary from the Executive was facilitated. Equally important was the preparation of voter ID database that paved the way for the holding of a free and fair election which led the way to strengthening democracy. Five years down the democratic path, the nation is once again experiencing the prospect of polarisation between democratic parties. We fully concur with the report that political forces must abstain from creating the grounds for a similar situation.
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