Current Affairs
The Common Man's Burden
Sheikh Hasina, Photo: Star File
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now urging people to vote Awami League again in the next general election for the sake of continuation of democracy and development. Also, she has been warning people of the return of militancy and unbridled corruption if BNP-Jamaat led alliance wins the next polls. Hasina, also the AL chie
f, is asking people to choose from the options.
Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia, too, has refused to remain silent. She is carrying out a verbal attack countering her archrival Hasina's campaign. Khaleda, also the BNP chief, has portrayed the current regime as a dark chapter in the country's history, urging people to join agitation programmes to force the government to install an election-time government for holding a free and fair general election.
The BNP wants to return to the power through the next election. And its dream of returning to the power will be jeopardised if the election is manipulated by the AL-led government.
Thus, emphasising the need for restoration of a non-partisan election time government, the BNP chief has also promised that her party, if voted to power, will introduce new trends in governance and will free the country from corruption and establish rule of law.
Over the past two decades, people have heard the two ladies. They voted their parties. They brought their parties to power and made them prime ministers in turn. And it is certain, if anything does not happen otherwise, any of the two parties–either the AL or BNP, will form the next government by winning the next polls.
Though Hasina is warning people of the return of militancy if BNP wins the polls, she cannot give any guarantee that, if her party is re-elected, she will not allow any recurrence of disasters like share market crash, Padma bridge scandal and Sonali-Bank Hall Mark scam.
Her archrival Khaleda also cannot give any guarantee that her party, if elected, will not again allow the rise of militant groups like JMB and JMJB, and of alternative power house Hawa Bhaban, which forced elected President Prof Badruddozza Chowdhury to step down from presidency.
They cannot give the guarantee to the people as they never considered their term in office an epitome of misrule and corruption. Rather, they have been publicising it as a golden era in Bangladesh's history. Their claims diminish the prospect of any reform.
So, prospect of good governance still remains bleak.
Khaleda Zia, Photo: Anisur Rahman
The constitution that makes people the owner of all the power of the country has also been damaged in the name of amendments by the successive governments.
Former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque in the verdict on the much controversial Truth and Accountability Commission Ordinance promulgated by the army-backed caretaker government has spoken about people's responsibilities to protect their rights.
In the verdict he has briefly discussed how the country's constitution was destroyed by the military usurpers in the past, saying people of Bangladesh had witnessed how their Constitution was made subordinate and subservient to the Martial Law Proclamations etc. but they also happily witnessed the ultimate triumph of the Constitution.
"The people have now become conscious about the supremacy and the value of their solemn Constitution. They must now take the responsibility to protect their own Constitution. They can and they shall now."
He further stated: "The people of Bangladesh are now conscious enough to uphold their own Constitutional rights and responsibilities. They must themselves protect their Republic from the onslaught of the future constitutional deviations, if any, and suitably punish the violators. They are now capable and ready to brave any eventuality themselves."
In the verdict declaring the Truth and Accountability Commission Ordinance unconstitutional and void, the former chief justice too put the onus on the people to defend and protect the constitution.
And as per the article 21 (1) of the Constitution it is the duty of every citizen to observe the constitution and the laws to maintain discipline to perform public duties and to protect public property.
But are people really aware of their responsibilities? Are they ready to take the responsibilities to protect their constitution as stated by the former chief justice?
People in the past took to the streets against military ruler HM Ershad and forced him to step down. People also took the street on many other occasions to protests unjust actions of successive governments and different authorities.
But they could not enjoy the benefits of their agitations due to the failure of the politicians particularly those who have been running the country on behalf of the people.
Regardless of Hasina and Khaleda's plea, the prevailing situation calls for people's effort to put pressure on the battling political parties to peacefully resolve the political standoff.
Political parties should reassess their strategy before people are compelled to take the responsibilities to protect their constitutional rights.
The writer is Senior Reporter, The Daily Star.
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