An opportunity for reform
Hasibul Haque, Virginia, USA
Declaration of emergency and subsequent appointment of a respected economist as the new caretaker chief have given the nation a window of opportunity to implement urgent constitutional, judicial and electoral reforms. Instead of hastily trying to pave the way for parliamentary elections, the caretaker government should immediately start taking some concrete steps such as separating the judiciary from the executive branch, empowering the fledgling independent Anti-Corruption Commission and constituting meaningful electoral reforms that will allow only capable and honest people to contest in local government and national polls. Despite their differences, one interest has always been common among the major political parties - never to make any reforms in these areas as that would have put a stop to the plundering of the nation by the members of these parties and their cronies. The time has come for putting an end to this systematic practice of taking turn in looting the country for five years in a row in the name of parliamentary mandate and democracy. The caretaker government should immediately take steps to start the process of investigating the source of wealth of political leaders; former members of parliament and all such persons and if they are found guilty start judicial proceedings against them. Until there are some exemplary punishments inflicted on many of these criminals masquerading as leaders and politicians, it will be very hard for the new caretaker government to gain confidence of the common people. Let it not be another five years of business as usual plundering by one of the major parties.
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