You all know that the responsibility of a caretaker government is to conduct a free, fair and impartial election within 90 days after assuming office and hand over the power to the government elected by the people. But this realisation was not found in his speech. Without caring the responsibilities of an interim administration, the chief adviser has given the speech like that of an elected government with long-term agenda in its plan. He has raised a fundamental and constitutional issue by mentioning the balance of power between the two highest level persons of the country that is President and the Prime Minister which is not in the jurisdiction of an interim government.

The chief adviser’s speech was full of self-contradictories. He has said on one hand that the dialogue does not have any particular agenda and on the other hand raised some important issues as agenda for the dialogue with the parties. His speech does not even contain anything remarkable for making the dialogue fruitful or the elections a success. He has rather tactfully included some conditions leading the dialogue and the elections to uncertainty.

The chief adviser has mentioned that the elections will be held in the third week of December, but said nothing about how to make an atmosphere conducive to holding the elections. He has not uttered a single word about the release of the detained former prime ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina whereas conspiracy is on to harass  other national leaders including me by framing false cases.

The chief adviser has underlined the need for giving a permanent shape to the democracy.” Drawing the attention of the chief adviser to the fact that the democratic system flourishes in the normal political process, he said, “Democracy is not like a piece of furniture that can be made by assembling some parts.”

“The chief adviser has said that the representatives from different groups besides the political parties will take part in the final talks as happened with the dialogue initiated by the Election Commission, which indicates the government’s indirect support for depoliticisation. The nation does not expect it from this government.

The country is facing a famine like situation. People are hard-pressed by spiraling of prices. They have neither money nor work in their hands. They are passing hard time as they do not have even food to consume. To our utter disappointment, all these issues are absent in his speech. An elected government’s chief could not make such speech.

It is matter of great concern that the chief adviser has mentioned the EC’s plan for elections to the local bodies—Upazila, Pourasava and city corporations. He has said the local body election will not affect the general elections in any way, which shows his lack of political prudence and practical experience. Those who conducted the local elections before the general elections were not the caretaker governments. HM Ershad did it with a political ambition. So a question arisen that this government has such motive?

People have been demanding for withdrawal of ban on indoor politics since it is a constitutional right. It is not a matter of sympathy to give back one’s rights. But the conditional lifting of ban on indoor politics has given birth to many questions in fulfilling people’s expectations.

Above all, the speech has not reflected the good intention of the chief adviser required for holding the elections in a free, fair and credible manner. We hope that the CA will realise the matter and take all measures necessary for creating a congenial atmosphere for the elections.”

Prof. Md. Tasneem Alam
Secretary, Central Publicity Department
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh