The New Nation - Internet Edition

M. Mizanur Rahman

Parliament is the mirror of the people. This mirror reflects weal and woe of the people through it (the Parliament) by the strong voice of their representatives. When elected representatives of the people put their stubborn voice here ensuring the rights and the demands of the people to be fulfilled by its government the entire countrymen look at them and listen to them through television and other medias. These representatives of the people are said to be the members of the Parliament. They are also the members of their respective political parties voted by the people to assume power for governance of the country on people's behalf. The political party that won majority seats in overall constituencies is to lead the government and run the country. This party in the Parliament occupies treasury bench while the party that fails to earn majority seats remains in opposition to serve the nation. It becomes a shadow government that justifies its existence showing the wrongs, if any, of the party in the treasury bench for the right cause of the nation. In time of national emergency both the parties remain united heart and soul in order to face the national causes or crises jointly towards serving the nation.

A member of the Parliament assumes heavy duties and responsibilities. H/she is equally the executive as well as legislative member.

Every action of the member of the Parliament must have its transparency and accountability to the people who voted him/her to power. Each Parliamentarian must be cautious about the power vested in him/her by the people which should not under any circumstances be misused. In all cases liability of transgression invites serious troubles for every member of the Parliament.

None of them can escape heavy criticism of wrongdoings, if any, from the medias or public. That may culminate in legal action. In this case one should be very careful to guard his/her moral conscience not to be trapped by any means of corruption or temptation to be corrupt remembering the famous saying of Lord Acton, "Power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely".

'Honesty is the best policy' would be the safeguard for each member now who could be mirrored through the Parliament within no time.

As the lawmaker each member of the Parliament must abide by the Constitution being well conversant of it for people's interests.

After the separation of judiciary being an independent entity the executive has no power to exert its influence on judicial actions against any lawbreaker.

Henceforth this is to be remembered by each and everyone. But there shall be close cooperation and coordination between the two, that is the executive and the judiciary, for the sake of proper administration in the country, paving the way towards good governance. Here again, the question of high morale and honesty in the sense of patriotism arises for those who work in the rank and file of the executive and the judiciary as magistrate, police and Judge, Justice or other judicial officials.

The member of the Parliament as the lawmaker must have power and authority to look on them within his/her jurisdiction without interfering in the official business or legal proceedings of the officials concerned.

Thus Parliamentary government system through transparency and accountability can do well to maintain democratic norm throughout the country. This will help people to understand its authority of being in the government that no official of the Republic can assume mastery over the people in any way. Here another question of electing educated or uneducated person in the Parliament arises.

Generally at least a graduate person should be given to become qualified as the member of the Parliament to have nomination for election through the independent election commission.

So the concerned person can be apt to take training in the course of lawmaking institution in the interest of the people. For, under no circumstances, money or muscle power should be considered for electing a person as the member of the Parliament.

Let us see the mirror of our people reflect the true image of our heroic nation emerged out of the cost of three million people's supreme sacrifice.