Editorial
Ban on indoor politics
Time to lift it
Some top leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party having put across their 15-point reform proposal, reformists in the party are trying to broaden the proposals to cover a wider ground of opinion within the party. They seem to be inclined towards approaching the government for convening their party council, amidst the ban on indoor politics, to discuss and decide on the reforms. Party chief Begum Khaleda Zia, herself a target of the reform proposals, has called for a party council to have the final say on the shape of reform to be adopted by BNP.It is relevant to recall, however, that party council in the BNP had not been called into session for the last 14 years, so that it will take some doing to remobilise and reactivate it in the present context. Bangladesh Awami League is also engaged in a process of introducing intra-party reforms. The party is unanimous in its decision for a council meeting to be convened to finalise its reform proposals. Meanwhile, two advisers of the government have stated that if the political parties should decide to convene their council meetings they could do so after obtaining necessary permission. In a concurrent development, the Election Commission has given the political parties to understand that they can approach the EC for discussion on political and electoral reform agenda already tabled by the EC in a draft form. The point we would like to stress here is that the entire reform process encompassing modalities of initiating it through consideration of the reform proposals within the parties to its eventual adoption on the basis of consensus should not only be transparent but also be seen to be so. Otherwise in public perception the outcome won't enjoy the desired credibility . On the crucial issue of holding party councils this needs to be preceded by meetings held in various party fora including the working committees. Such meetings are essential as preparatory to the council session. How can these meetings be held with the current ban on indoor politics is open to question. The EC has given to understand that political party representatives may see them for discussion on an informal basis on the reform proposals. But introduction of political party registration act, regulations requiring that political parties democratise themselves, abide by transparency in their accounting procedures, delink from student and labour wings are things that the political parties need to deliberate on before they go to the EC for any meaningful consultation. Hence, the need for indoor politics. Since the government is committed to holding election by the end of 2008, there is an impelling necessity for completing the reform process in good time to ensure that the quality assurance as far as the elections go is in place; for we are all on the lookout to avert the past ills of the electoral system.
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