Current Affairs
Let's Ban Politics!
Freedom of assembly is one the fundamental rights citizens are guaranteed by the article 37 of the country's constitution. This fundamental right can be restricted only by a law imposed in the interest of public order or public health. The restriction must be reasonable and not arbitrary.
Last Sunday LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam and Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir might have not paid attention to people's fundamental right to assemble when they announced a ban on any political meetings and rally for the coming days. They made conflicting statements which triggered confusion over the duration and purview of the ban.
Syed Ashraful Islam
The police boss said no meeting or demonstration would be allowed for an indefinite period in the capital to avert anarchy while the LGRD minister said the ban was imposed on political meetings across the country for a month for the sake of smooth relief and rehabilitation work in the cyclone Mahasen-affected districts.
This exposed the severe lack of coordination within the government and its infantile behaviour, making many wonder how senior ministers have made conflicting statements on such a crucial issue.
The announcement to impose the ban however has triggered widespread protest and criticism. The main opposition BNP did not take time to denounce and reject it, alleging that the ban had targeted the opposition movement against the government. Legal experts, eminent citizens and other political parties have also denounced the announcement, terming it undemocratic and unconstitutional. The announcement also angered and surprised many leaders of ruling AL and its allies in the 14-party alliance.
Faced with tidal wave of criticism, the government might come up with new explanations in defence of the ban. At one point, it may rescind the announcement, if good sense finally prevails. But much damage has already been done and the government and the ruling AL will have to pay heavily to recover it.
The announcement has been a manifestation of the government's acute failure to deliver on its electoral pledges. It is a glaring example of how our political culture has deteriorated in the last four and a half years, prompting the government to take a whimsical and undemocratic decision.
In the run up to the last parliamentary election held on December, 29, 2008, the AL promised that "courtesy and tolerance will be inculcated in the political culture of the country. Awami League will take the initiative to formulate a consensual and unanimous charter of political behaviour."
Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir
But the AL did not take any step to that effect. The ministers' announcement also exposed how the government has been using the police administration for its political purpose. That is against the ruling AL's electoral pledges--the charter for change. That promised: "In order to provide security to every citizen of the country, police and other law enforcing agencies will be kept above political influence."
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance 1976 empowers the police commissioner to prohibit any assembly or procession whenever and for so long as he considers such prohibition to be necessary for the preservation of the public peace or safety. The prohibition order imposed by the DMP boss can remain in force for a month. If he wants to continue more than a month, in that case he needs the government's sanction.
The DMP did not issue any such order till May 21. Moreover, the announcement has embarrassed the DMP officials as they are facing a volley of questions about it.
Muhidduin Khan Alamgir's home ministry also did not issue any circular. Officials of the ministry said they were not aware of any such announcement.
Then what will happen in the coming days? Will any opposition party, particularly the BNP-led 18 party alliance be denied to hold rallies in line with the ministers' announcement? Will the DMP boss be able to perform his duties independently to judge the situation before rejecting the opposition alliance's application seeking permission for holding meetings or rallies? The announcement has put the DMP in a difficult situation. It may further jeopardise its neutrality and image. Their duties are to ensure people's safety. But people may lose confidence in them if they try to honour the ministers' whimsical announcement. Whom should they serve– a political party or the people? Who pays for the police- a political party or people?
The announcement has also exposed the government's narrow political motive. The next one month is very crucial in the political landscape. After one and half a month, Ramadan will begin. Then Eid will be celebrated. Then the rainy season will begin. The BNP-led opposition alliance will not be able to wage any strong street agitation during the month of Ramadan and also at least one week before and after the Ramadan. And during the rainy season, waging street agitation may not be possible. From the month of September, the bell of the next parliamentary election will be ringing. As per the constitution, the polls will be held any time in between October this year to January next year.
So, if the main opposition BNP is not allowed to wage any street agitation for next one month in the capital, the government will have some level of comfort. Intensifying street agitation means increase in violent political activities which will contribute to deepening the on going political crisis. That may mount pressure on the government to negotiate with the main opposition BNP to settle the dispute over the mode of the election time government. Considering all these aspects, one may consider the government policymakers quite clever!
But the reason cited by the home minister is not justified. Imposing a ban on political meetings and rallies can never be the way to fight anarchy. Rather the government should resolve the political crisis and the risk of anarchy will go away. If the government wants to prevent anarchy by banning meetings and rallies, it should ban politics, as the major problem the country is now facing is political in nature. So, the path to solve political problems politically is the wise way out. The other path is the stupid one--banning politics altogether, which is what military rulers did in the past.
The writer is Senior Reporter, The Daily Star.
Syed Ashraful Islam
The police boss said no meeting or demonstration would be allowed for an indefinite period in the capital to avert anarchy while the LGRD minister said the ban was imposed on political meetings across the country for a month for the sake of smooth relief and rehabilitation work in the cyclone Mahasen-affected districts.
This exposed the severe lack of coordination within the government and its infantile behaviour, making many wonder how senior ministers have made conflicting statements on such a crucial issue.
The announcement to impose the ban however has triggered widespread protest and criticism. The main opposition BNP did not take time to denounce and reject it, alleging that the ban had targeted the opposition movement against the government. Legal experts, eminent citizens and other political parties have also denounced the announcement, terming it undemocratic and unconstitutional. The announcement also angered and surprised many leaders of ruling AL and its allies in the 14-party alliance.
Faced with tidal wave of criticism, the government might come up with new explanations in defence of the ban. At one point, it may rescind the announcement, if good sense finally prevails. But much damage has already been done and the government and the ruling AL will have to pay heavily to recover it.
The announcement has been a manifestation of the government's acute failure to deliver on its electoral pledges. It is a glaring example of how our political culture has deteriorated in the last four and a half years, prompting the government to take a whimsical and undemocratic decision.
In the run up to the last parliamentary election held on December, 29, 2008, the AL promised that "courtesy and tolerance will be inculcated in the political culture of the country. Awami League will take the initiative to formulate a consensual and unanimous charter of political behaviour."
Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir
But the AL did not take any step to that effect. The ministers' announcement also exposed how the government has been using the police administration for its political purpose. That is against the ruling AL's electoral pledges--the charter for change. That promised: "In order to provide security to every citizen of the country, police and other law enforcing agencies will be kept above political influence."
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance 1976 empowers the police commissioner to prohibit any assembly or procession whenever and for so long as he considers such prohibition to be necessary for the preservation of the public peace or safety. The prohibition order imposed by the DMP boss can remain in force for a month. If he wants to continue more than a month, in that case he needs the government's sanction.
The DMP did not issue any such order till May 21. Moreover, the announcement has embarrassed the DMP officials as they are facing a volley of questions about it.
Muhidduin Khan Alamgir's home ministry also did not issue any circular. Officials of the ministry said they were not aware of any such announcement.
Then what will happen in the coming days? Will any opposition party, particularly the BNP-led 18 party alliance be denied to hold rallies in line with the ministers' announcement? Will the DMP boss be able to perform his duties independently to judge the situation before rejecting the opposition alliance's application seeking permission for holding meetings or rallies? The announcement has put the DMP in a difficult situation. It may further jeopardise its neutrality and image. Their duties are to ensure people's safety. But people may lose confidence in them if they try to honour the ministers' whimsical announcement. Whom should they serve– a political party or the people? Who pays for the police- a political party or people?
The announcement has also exposed the government's narrow political motive. The next one month is very crucial in the political landscape. After one and half a month, Ramadan will begin. Then Eid will be celebrated. Then the rainy season will begin. The BNP-led opposition alliance will not be able to wage any strong street agitation during the month of Ramadan and also at least one week before and after the Ramadan. And during the rainy season, waging street agitation may not be possible. From the month of September, the bell of the next parliamentary election will be ringing. As per the constitution, the polls will be held any time in between October this year to January next year.
So, if the main opposition BNP is not allowed to wage any street agitation for next one month in the capital, the government will have some level of comfort. Intensifying street agitation means increase in violent political activities which will contribute to deepening the on going political crisis. That may mount pressure on the government to negotiate with the main opposition BNP to settle the dispute over the mode of the election time government. Considering all these aspects, one may consider the government policymakers quite clever!
But the reason cited by the home minister is not justified. Imposing a ban on political meetings and rallies can never be the way to fight anarchy. Rather the government should resolve the political crisis and the risk of anarchy will go away. If the government wants to prevent anarchy by banning meetings and rallies, it should ban politics, as the major problem the country is now facing is political in nature. So, the path to solve political problems politically is the wise way out. The other path is the stupid one--banning politics altogether, which is what military rulers did in the past.
The writer is Senior Reporter, The Daily Star.
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