The New Nation - Internet Edition

GM Solaiman

In Bangladesh constitution, it is said that every one is equal in the eyes of the law. Two democratically elected women have ruled Bangladesh for last 15 years. However, both of the former prime ministers have accused the other one for serious corruption. In every meeting they addressed, in every press conference they attended, both of them have said that the other one took billions of dollars in corruption. They also have said that if they were elected, they would prosecute the other one. Well, both Hasina and Khaleda got their chances. But they never kept their promises to either prosecute the other one or stop accusing the other. Meanwhile Bangladesh had been named as the most corrupt nation in the world on their watch. Apparently, all these talks were for one goal in mind. It was to get more votes, to get to the power, and to do more corruption.

The ACC pressed charges against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and 10 others for abuse of power and graft in awarding a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko. It has also framed formal charges against another former Prime Minister Sheik Hasina.

In Bangladesh constitution, it is also said to uphold basic human rights. We would like to believe that every one is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. The case now under proceeding by Bangladesh courts. The due process will revel if they are indeed guilty or not. As a bystander, I am also eagerly waiting for the decision. This would also tell me if they have been telling us the truth when they accused other one to be corrupt. Like any other thing in life, you can use your glass half full or glass half empty scenario here. I believe Hasina should be happy to know that finally charges had been pressed against Khaleda. Can you imagine, for all these years, she have been telling us that Khaleda is corrupt and must be punished. Now it is beginning to happen. Similarly, Khaleda was also telling us that Hasina is corrupt and must be punished. So, here we go, both of them have been charged. Both of them must be very happy.

Let us see what is happening in the ground. Newspaper headline says "Release Hasina soon for polls". This is a demand made by her party leaders. No need to do the court proceeding. No need for justice, just release her. We will take her guilty or not. Same goes for Khaleda's party. They demanded Khaleda's release. Otherwise, they say, they will boycott the upcoming election. They neither have time nor have appetite for any justice what so ever. Just release them! Give the election and hand over the power to one of them. I am not saying they are criminals, at least not before the court rules as so. But how could a major political party demands unconditional release of an accused person? Don't they have any respect for justice? Don't they have any respect for the constitution? Why don't they demand the same unconditional release for every one held behind the bar? Why don't they demand to dissolve the courts and justice system in the country? Why don't they demand to dissolve the constitution? Wait, if they do, why do we need an election again?

I don't see this type of demand in any other democratic country. Can you imagine this in United States? Say trial is going on in federal courts, but Democratic Party or Republican Party is demanding the immediate release of that person.

I believe governor Spitzer of New York must have made a big mistake. He should not have resigned. His party could have always demand that no action should be taken by court. That´s all. Wait, this is united states and it is not the most corrupt country of the world.

Democracy does not mean an election only. It is not a means of getting into power regardless of guilty or not. In a democratic world, people elect their representative to be the lawmakers. Elected lawmakers make laws, but what for? So that the law is executed, isn't it? We must execute the law to find and punished the wrong doers. That is the whole point of election. Every political party has to understand and upheld this. If the political party leaders don't obey the law and do not have respect for the law and constitution, why would we need to elect them? What would they do after getting elected?

Justice must be served for these two former prime ministers along with others who are accused. If the court ruled that they are innocents, by all means, they should be free. If the court ruled that they are guilty, they must serve prison time like every body else. We must see that law has been followed. We must see that justice has been served. Only then we need to elect more lawmakers to make yet more laws. If we do not need any law, we do not need any lawmakers either.