[vinnomot] Sheikh Hasina's release New opening for a genuine transition to democracy

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

[vinnomot] Sheikh Hasina's release New opening for a genuine transition to democracy

Dear Readers,

Conscience is the inner voice that warns us that someone might be looking. Such actions of the caretaker government are meant that government has politically, morally and constitutionally defeated and there are no scope for running the state machinery and hand over power to the third party who owns this country since 1975 and enjoys all benefits with olive coloured official dresses. As we know,"To err is human; to admit it, superhuman."

So this government can hand over power to superhuman and let them enjoy more 456 crores of Taka as the proposed highly ambitious budget already added for that superhuman living in our land.

Gopal Sengupta

Editorial

Sheikh Hasina's release

New opening for a genuine transition to democracy

WE at this newspaper welcome the release from incarceration, however tentative, of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. We hope that she will now be provided with adequate medical treatment abroad for her health-related problems. As we express our satisfaction over her newfound freedom, we recall the manner in which she was arrested last July even before charges were framed against her. We remember too the fact that she was denied bail by the courts and so was compelled to remain a prisoner.

Sheikh Hasina's release is obviously a sign of new and dramatic developments in national politics. One factor that emerges clearly from the move is that the standoffishness, perhaps even hostility, which in these last many months characterised relations between the government and the political parties has now led to a breather for the nation in the political arena. There are clear new options on the table for everyone involved, an encouraging one being the Awami League's decision to join the dialogue initiated last month by the government. These give us grounds for optimism and indeed could trigger positive changes in the situation. Hasina's release also appears to have resolved the issue of how the government now means to deal with at least one major political party.

Since politics is always the art of the possible, it is fair to assume that concessions have come from both the AL and the government as a prelude to the release of the former prime minister. What those concessions or arrangements are in concrete terms is yet to be fathomed. But one fact that arises in light of the development is that there is now a plausible strategy before the army-backed government regarding a smooth, orderly transition to democratic governance following the promised general elections. The AL, it is fair to assume, will now participate in the elections. That will surely pave the way for the present dispensation to make a good exit for itself. But let it also be noted that such a strategy for a restoration of democracy will be considerably more substantive if efforts are now made to bring the BNP into the picture as well.

We reiterate our belief that democracy will gain new strength from Sheikh Hasina's freedom. But we would also like to sound a note of caution here: no attempts must be made to manipulate politics in any way, for the AL as well as for other political parties and forces. Politics flourishes when it comes unfettered and democracy thrives when the people remain the sovereign authority in the state. That said, it is also our hope that with Sheikh Hasina's release fresh new efforts will be made towards reforms within the parties, especially within the AL. Before her detention last year, Sheikh Hasina had herself initiated a reform process in the AL, a drive we hope she will now resume in earnest in the interest of accountability. Let a similar process be initiated in the BNP.