The New Nation - Internet Edition

The objective of holding general elections, through the achievement of national consensus on many issues, by the third week of December as spelt out by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in his address to the nation on Monday is an expression of intent of the present caretaker government. Through the address the Chief Adviser also announced the introduction of indoor politics all over the country which became effective the following day. Earlier indoor politics was restricted to Dhaka city alone.

To facilitate the process of holding the general elections Dr Ahmed announced the start of political dialogue from 22 May and by Tuesday six small parties were extended invitation to take part in the same.

Achievement of national consensus on issues like reform of the political parties and the political process and the preparation of a 'Jatiya Sanad' on the norms and manners of political behaviour as urged by the Chief Adviser however, would not be easy to achieve. There is room for skepticism about this, because the political parties and their leaders have so far shown no willingness to do it. Contrarily, the politics parties are more interested in the release of their leaders who are facing corruption cases. The situation has been allowed to grow in such a way that the political parties feel encouraged to pursue the past politics and old leadership. This development has to be seen as failure to handle the political process.

One may recall that the declaration of the state of emergency which is in force for the last 16 months is the outcome of the failure of the political parties and their leaders to run the country on democratic principles of mutual accommodation and tolerance. It is on these principles that the edifice of democracy is built.

The government has not succeeded to make much progress on this front.

The war on corruption has drove home the message that none is above the law, but because of its being not associated with government's efforts to win political friends for political reforms, the drive might not help achieve the principal objectives and goals that the present government has undertaken to achieve. The anti-corruption drive has negatively affected investment and this in turn has prevented economic activities from expanding at a desired pace.

How far the government will succeed in completing the tasks that lie before it during the next half of a year is to be seen. But there is lack of right political direction. The truth was ignored that anti-corruption drive has a very important political goal to achieve. So, if there is no definite move to win political allies for making the political goal achievable, the proposed dialogue will not have much of a chance to succeed. The political reforms should be just left for the Election Commission.