Chief Adviser's address
My expectation has come true. There is nothing new except the possible time of election in December 2008, and he bailed out the confined "Ghoroa Rajniti" to local level with nine undemocratic restrictions. There is no political statesmanship in the address. Nothing was said about the present economic hardship of the people. Freedom of expression, press freedom and free information flow are still restricted. The survival of democracy is put to more tests as the government is keeping the trump card in hand. The big political parties have been discouraged to join the dialogue with the government through imposition of well-articulated conditions in disguise. The political parties, except a few minor ones, are not satisfied.
You need not go to the "Harvard School of Government" to conclude that the net output of the CA's address to the nation is 0+0=0. There is no check and balance and accountability of the government. Therefore, one can see a hard and uncertain political and economic future for the people of Bangladesh. Instead of looking for a safety exit door, the government has laid down a plan for the politicians to agree or see the exit door. What a colossal waste of 18 months in the name of election and democracy!
The issue of lifting the state of emergency and release of the two leaders from the jail remain unresolved till the political parties agree to sign the "National Charter". This will undoubtedly include a bunch of undemocratic provisions to deliver an undemocratic model of governance. Does Bangladesh deserve such a finishing in politics!
I think it is appropriate to remind the government to be student friendly while dealing with the rights and privileges of the student as protected by the constitution. The commission's report on student politics is highly debatable, and a source of controversy, conflict and disunity in the education sector. Do we want that to happen? Think twice before taking any decision on curbing student politics. " Lejur Britti" is applicable not only to the student community but also others like teachers, officials, civil society and so on!
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