Private residence in cantonment
The issue will generate a lot of political tension now. I hope the PM was quite aware of the political reaction from different quarters, especially from the well-wishers of Begum Zia and the BNP. We heard a university professor giving his view point from legal perspective and human emotion attached to it. I think it is also necessary to analyse the statement of the PM in parliament. She has raised a question about the legal process adopted in giving the house to the BNP chairperson by the then government of president Ershad. The PM has made an appeal to the chairperson to handover the house to the cantonment board, not necessarily any counter legal action to force her to leave the place.
The present opposition leader was PM of the country twice. We can not endorse the emotion or feeling of an elected leader to remain in cantonment area where the people can not enter without permission. Is it a normal situation for an elected public leader to alienate herself from the people by whom she is elected ?
I think the opposition leader can kindly give a serious thought from political perspective and not from emotional attachment. Simultaneously, I would urge the government to earmark a house for the PM which must be occupied by the elected PM although he or she might have a private house. We must return to politics of discipline and avoid controversy. I am not sure what option the opposition leader and her party will choose.
The concept of an elected leader living in a restricted area like cantonment is perhaps undemocratic and needs to be addressed from that perspective too.
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