The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shafeen Mustaq

When the caretaker government came into force in early 2007 and made tackling corruption its main objective, many Bangladeshis and NRB's were sceptical about the extent to which they could catalyse change. This scepticism was somewhat alleviated with the subsequent arrests of Prime Ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina in 2007. The caretaker government brought hope and the light of change into a society where daily life is immersed in and irrevocably connected to the implications of political warfare on streets, universities and other public places.

Two years on, the caretaker government has released the two figure heads of an archaic and corrupt political system with the excuse that it 'is considered important for bringing an end to the deadlock with the government and ensuring their participation in the parliamentary elections slated for December'. More than 100 high-profile politicians, mostly from the BNP and the Awami League (AL), landed in jail in the government's anti-corruption drive. However, despite the drive's aim of curbing corruption and bringing reforms in politics, many of the detained corruption suspects were released in the past two months.

The caretaker government is holding elections by the end of 2008 as promised but it had also promised to 'first to rid the country of corruption'.

How has this been achieved if the protagonists of corruption and their sidekicks are out on bail and once again announcing their intentions to partake in elections? Although the government tried to keep the two top leaders at bay, it eventually reached "understandings" with both Khaleda and Hasina in the "interest" of a credible election and transition to democracy. Just released on bail, Khaleda Zia announced that she plans to join the dialogue with the government and take part in the upcoming elections but asked the caretaker government to hold the stalled parliamentary elections first and withdraw the state of emergency.

How is a democratic election ever to be achieved if we do not move on from the stalemate of the past?

It is imperative that the caretaker government take the necessary precautions to remain objective and clear-headed in the face of public sentiment and pressure from political parties. The caretaker government should be mindful of the successes it has achieved in the past two years and refrain from allowing archaic political figureheads the power to catalyse any movements which may impede a democratic election and a peaceful transition into a new chapter of Bangladeshi political history.