The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dr. M. S. Haq

It is difficult to say - as at today, 16th day of September 2008 - with a 100 percent certainty as to when, how, and in what form, the next 'democratic' government shall come into effect in Bangladesh. But it is apparent, preparations for creating initial conditions for an elected government in near future have gained momentums in the recent months. It is expected the army-supported government, the election commission, political parties of Bangladesh and others will assist people of Bangladesh in the effort towards for example, holding a free, fair, credible and acceptable to all (as far as possible) election in the country, again in near future.

For a meaningful, result generative and impact-oriented election in Bangladesh - under the country's present situation - a good number of objectives need to be achieved. For example:

1. At least 60 percent of the registered voters should be able to form the critical mass of acceptable votes (in a lawful manner) in the election. In other words: if the total number of registered voter is X; if the total number of absentee voter and rejected vote (in a lawful manner) in the election will be Z; then X - Z = Y, Y will be the total number of acceptable vote cast (to be) in the election. Now, if A is the percentage of total number of acceptable vote (in a lawful manner), then A = Y x 100/X. According to the above requirement: the value of A should be at least 60 percent; and

2. the gap between the total number of cases of buying and selling votes (I mean the election votes) with the help of for example, direct monies - whether illegal or not, or unfair influences or both (say M) and the total number of cases of buying and selling votes (I mean the election votes) on the basis of for example performance - existing or potential or both - and merit (say N) should be narrowed down to a bear minimum level, as far as practicable, in the election. If F is the percentage of fair voting practices, efforts should be made to achieve at least 80 percent as the value of F in the election.

The measures for achievement of above and related objectives should include:

A. facilitation or ensuring or both, wider and meaningful participation of voters in the election - aiming at achieving at least the critical mass rate of 60 percent mentioned above - by attracting and harnessing support and assistance of people of Bangladesh, the political parties, civil society, the election commission (the EC), the army-supported government, the media (print, electronic, others), friends of Bangladesh - including inter alia the US, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and neighbor of Bangladesh - including inter alia India, Pakistan and other SAARC countries, and others.

By the way, do there exist at present any strategy in Bangladesh with regard to for example enhancing participation of voters in the election? If so, what is the present target in terms of percentage of acceptable votes in the election? It will not be out of place to mention here: the greater the number of participation of voters in the election, the greater is the prospect for a somewhat truly representative parliament in the post election period, among other things. The contemporary Bangladesh can no longer afford the parliament to be represented by a minority of the total registered voters. It is one of the reasons as to why the critical mass (mentioned above) has been proposed to be constituted by at least 60 percent acceptable votes;

B. identification of barriers to maximising participation of the voters, prioritisation of those barriers, formulation of action plans for overcoming those barriers, allocation of resources, just-in-time implementation of those plans, participatory and ownership-driven monitoring and follow-up in relevant areas, and minimisation of wastage;

C. implementation of measures for supplementing and complementing efforts towards improving the percentage of fair voting practices in the election with the help of for example and as appropriate, (i) mass awareness programs and each one detect one (I would like to call it in that way) campaigns for promoting fair voting practices and for minimizing, if not eliminating unfair voting practices, (ii) country-wide fair election booths to be attached to each of the union parishad offices for receiving and dealing (as applicable) with complaints relating to unfair voting practices, (iii) proactive and reactive efforts of relevant NGOs, CBOs (community based organisations) and others (including inter alia the media) towards achieving at least the percentage specified above in respect of fair voting practices, and (iv) intensification of intelligence and law enforcement activities (including inter alia those of the RAB) in areas suspected as bases for facilitating unfair voting practices, for an instance.

It is expected the army supported government, the EC, the judiciary and others will not interfere with the election in a manner that will eventually affect (used in a negative sense) the holding of election in a free, fair, credible and acceptable fashion and destroy hopes, aspirations and expectations of people of Bangladesh, friends of Bangladesh, neighbours of Bangladesh and others in pertinent areas - in a significant manner.

Let me now share with you a few of the expectations (as of today) from Bangladesh in the post election period and beyond.

I. A timely and smooth handing over of the power to people's representatives will take place soon after the election.

II. The next parliament will explore ways and means as to how to factor the weight of popular votes into future parliamentary decisions and actions.

III. The constitution will be amended appropriately to provide for clearer, more accountable, more specific, more time bound and more transparent roles and modes for exercising power, as well as authority - than those at present - during the time prior to an imminent state of emergency in future and during the period of state of emergency in future (for example) by the head of state, the armed forces, the judiciary and other actors.

Further, the constitution will be amended appropriately to provide for specific accountability and punishment in an event of failure on the part of future governments and others when it comes to the achievement of country's competing priorities such as security (including inter alia those relating to terrorism), economic growth, human development, human rights, poverty alleviation and anti-corruption - at a given time and as per the target to be set by the parliament in relevant areas.

Besides, the constitution will be amended appropriately to empower the country's supreme judicial council (do that exist at present in Bangladesh? If not, establish one) for dealing with matters such as recommending hiring and firing of cabinet members (advisors and chief advisors) - during the period of state of emergency - to the head of state for his or her approval. It may be mentioned here: the candidacy criteria for above hiring should be more rigid and the hiring process is more transparent and accountable - than the existing ones.

IV. apparent practices associated with overuse, misuse, under use and no use of bails and paroles - relative to time, space and other variables, though - will be examined with a view to enhancing the independence of judiciary in Bangladesh, among other things.

The last word: more work than rhetoric is at present the need of time in Bangladesh. Let us work towards that.