Commentary: Political parties not being political is the original sin
– Mainul Hosein :
It is a big disappointment to see that the major political parties do not think democratic politics is a serious matter.
No importance was attached to the need of the right kind of education and integrity in politics.
The politics was taken as the easy way to good life and high power.
The government observed the 1972 democratic Constitution as the Constitution Day.
But the Constitution is totally ignored for running a dictatorship though terrorism of secret killing and police excesses as if we have no fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution.
In a democratic system the highest law is the Constitution. All the political parties then in parliament unanimously added a new article in the Constitution, expletive, in writing that there will be a non-party caretaker government during election time.
In many countries under parliamentary system it is the unwritten convention but practiced.
Constitution has ensured, as the fundamental principle of state policy “effective participation by the people through their elected representatives in administration at all levels.”
Our Supreme Court has declared democracy as the basic principal not changeable.
Despite, the government changed election process to be held under Awami League government without even dissolving the parliament.
All must accept that the change as the free and fair election because the government has amended constitutional procedure of holding the election.
No shame can be enough for not understanding the importance of the people’s voice.
A rigged election is an audacious denial of people’s election itself. The participation of the government officials in robbing the election is not “effective participation” by the people.
It was Awami League that argued against party government in power for free election.
So the non-party caretaker government during election time was insisted upon by Awami League in the opposition. But when in power the same Awami League change the Constitution and demands the election to be held with them in power.
Denying free election is denying the people of their sovereign right to choose their government.
No political leader as politician could think of it. Somebody had taken the state as hereditary family property and could do to others anything and everything right or wrong. The police power had been used as freely was wanted.
Greed for power is a serious addiction. The free and fair election is internationally regarded as a human right.
Our supreme law, i.e. the Constitution guarantees human rights of our people including the right to elect the government in a free and fair election.
Our Supreme Court also affirmed that democracy is the basic structure of the Constitution and cannot be changed.
Because of pubic fury against the present government for massive corruption and mindless abuse of power it will not be possible, in our view, for the government to hold the election their way with them in power.
Nowhere under parliamentary system of democracy election is held with the elected government in power or without dissolving the parliament.
The government is in a desperate situation in not knowing how to protect them against their own reckless corruption and that of others who had the backing of the government. The government itself is in disarray.
No outside support will be helpful to save those who have looted public money, rigged people’s election and killed many secretly.
Even then the government has full freedom to take part in the election to be held.
But the truth is the government cannot face the people in a free election so the people have been deprived of their vote.
It is with great shame that we say that in no other educated nation insanity in government could continue for so long to do so much damage to the people and the country.