The conviction of the honourable president sounds reassuring and we the members of the public also hope or at least want to believe that that president would create an atmosphere where all major political parties can participate in the election and people can cast their votes without any fear.

But at the same time we are doubtful about the good intentions that the president expressed, as he is yet to act in a direction that would create a level-playing field for all the parties desiring to participate in the upcoming election.

It was the natural expectation of the people that the caretaker government that assumed office amidst a chaotic situation in the country at the fag end of October would quickly create an atmosphere conducive to holding the next general election in a free and fair manner, and that the politically appointed president, who has taken the additional responsibility of the head of the caretaker government would act neutrally.

It is a rare opportunity for the president, the highest office of the country, to demonstrate his judicious behaviour to the nation by acting impartially. But during the last 12 days, little has transpired in that direction.

I think, like us, the president must be aware of the fact that the immediate past government has created an uneven field in the administration and media, which play a crucial role in the election. In fact, the field level administrative and law enforcing officials are the kingpins who can manipulate the election results.

The present set of officials must be replaced by ones who are non-partisan. If not possible, a check and balance should be made in the field level administration so that none could play foul.

But this act is not possible under the incumbent establishment and home secretaries, who are well-known partisan persons. This has been proved by the changes so far made in both the police and civil administrations. The CTG chief is still relying on the officials loyal to particular parties to create a level-playing field in the administration, leading to doubt in the mind of the people.

Who does not know that media, especially the electronic media, are very powerful in influencing the people's way of thinking. But not only most of the private TV channels, but the state-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, are also controlled by the immediate past ruling party leaders and their beneficiaries.

As press reports say, the BTV and Bangladesh Betar are still performing as they did during the period of the past regime. While scanning a number of news bulletins during the past few days, I myself found much bias in presenting news towards the immediate past ruling coalition. This is being happened because of appointment of political adherents in the state-run BTV. Except one or two, all officials in the BTV were the cadres of two student organisations and appointed on political ground.

In comparison to the BTV, I would say, the private TV channels owned by the BNP leaders are showing more rationality in disseminating news and views.

Moreover, there are a number of contractual appointees and therefore highly politicized persons as head of the offices of some vital offices like the Press Information Department, Bangladesh Betar, External Publicity Wing of Foreign Ministry, and Media Cell of the Home Ministry. These contractual appointments must be revoked for the sake of justice and removing obstacles in presenting objective news and views. But the caretaker government is yet to do anything towards this end.

Although the Election Commission conducts the election, the responsibility to hold the election in a fair manner lies on the caretaker government. That is why the president and caretaker chief should enter forcefully into the ongoing debate over the Election Commission.

The obstinate attitude of the chief election commissioner and his deputies, despite a national consensus that they should leave the office for sake of fair polls, has been pushing the country towards a confrontation. The CEC long back has lost his credibility and of late he also resorted to falsehood regarding meeting with an advisor of the CTG.

Actually, we feel ashamed as fellow citizens of the CEC who is not only ignoring public opinion but also not speaking the truth. The constitution under which he has taken oath to uphold the truth and justice certainly does not empower him to disregard the people's opinion and utter falsehoods about his duties.

However, we came to know that he neither reads newspapers nor watches television where the sentiments of the public are being ventilated. So nothing could hurt him or awake his conscience. Moreover, the 4-party alliance partners exposed his partisanship by putting their weight behind the CEC, asking him not to resign due to external pressure.

But as the president and chief adviser Prof Iajuddin Ahmed cannot avoid his responsibility to bring a change in the Election Commission for creating a congenial election atmosphere. He should apply all his good offices, including personal contact, and, if necessary, other harsh measures, to save the nation from a chaotic situation and for the sake of democracy.

One may argue why the 14-party does not accept the present election commission to resolve the stalemate? If the 14-party accepts the argument, there should not be any need for the 14-party to participate in the election or hold any election in the country at all. It is better to ask the 4-party alliance to assume the office or give them a walkover in the election.

It has become crystal clear that the immediate past alliance government rearranged all the election-related institutions -- the Election Commission, civil and police administration -- with their own men so that they could fully exploit the loopholes of the existing electoral system and thereby win the elections.

Without dismantling the partisan Election Commission and creating a level-playing field, participation in the election by the 14-party would only legitimize the grabbing of power by a quarter through an arranged game. This would not only be suicidal for the 14-party, but also detrimental to democracy.

The president's sudden meeting with the armed forces officials triggered many speculations about the future of democracy in the country for the last two days. It has been said that if any inauspicious event happens in the country, the 14-party would be liable for that. But has the 14-party taken sole agency to keep the country's democracy going? The components of the 14-party have been struggling for democracy for long. Don't the other parties who were extracting the vitals of the country for over 30 years have any responsibility to uphold democracy?

A deep uncertainty has descended upon the fate of the democratic polity of Bangladesh. Our hard-earned democracy is at the brink of collapse due to the indiscreet behaviour of a handful of people sitting at the helm of power.

Their nonchalant attitude is pushing the country towards darkness. If the country's democracy is marred by any means, the names of the president-cum-caretaker government chief Prof Iajuddin Ahmed and his advisors would also be imprinted in black letters in the history of Bangladesh.

Nazrul Islam is a freelance contributor to The Daily Star.