Editorial
Jalil's arrest confusing
People deserve to know reasons behind detention
Let us make our position clear at the outset. We at the Daily Star have been supportive of the political reform measures undertaken by the caretaker government. By the same token, we have provided our full backing to the anti-corruption crusade the administration has launched. It remains our expectation that the reforms process and the drive against corruption will be seen through to their logical conclusion. However, we are at a loss to understand why the latest wave of arrests of political leaders, especially of Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil, was undertaken and in such an inexplicable manner. So far, as we understand, the authorities have not explained the causes why Jalil was taken into custody. Which compels us to bring up an essential point: whenever a political leader of repute such as Jalil is arrested, it is only proper that the public be taken into confidence by the authorities. That confidence comes from giving citizens convincing arguments as to why such arrests are being made. Jalil is a veteran politician who in recent times has played a leading role not only in his own party but also in the fourteen-party alliance. His arrest, and the manner of it, will raise questions that the authorities are now expected to answer. What is to be noted is the statement by ACC Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury that Jalil's name was not on the list of people accused of corruption. There must be some other reasons that might have prompted the AL leader's arrest. What those reasons are need to be clarified by the government. At this critical juncture in the nation's history, when the administration and the country are moving towards general elections through putting in place the necessary political and electoral reforms, any ill-conceived move on the part of the authorities can jeopardise the prospects for such changes to be brought about any time soon. Arresting politicians once they become vocal, as Jalil and the recently detained Hannan Shah of the BNP have been, quite mars the credibility of the arresting process. The priorities today are clear. And they relate mainly to political party reforms, preparation of a voter list and eventual holding of general elections. All of these are matters over which it will be necessary for the government as well as the Election Commission to interact with the major stakeholders here, in this case the political parties. Quite legitimately, therefore, the authorities can be reminded that when their avowed goal remains a promotion and implementation of political reforms, it does not make sense for them to alienate and antagonise the political parties. It is important that the expectations placed on the caretaker government are not swept aside by moves that might leave politics in a state of disarray, to our collective discomfiture.
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