Its almost 4 months that Awami League came to power in Bangladesh and since then they are taking mostly wrong decisions and delaying the positive decisions that was taken during the Caretaker Government. Sometimes we have to wonder what this government is representing? Is it the people of Bangladesh or some other country? Its a given truth that AL always leans towards India and have a very friendly relation with them. After the death of the founding father of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina and her family was sheltered in India and her son and daughters were initially educated in India. But we hope that relation should not interfere the security and well being of our beloved country.
The country is reeling from acute energy crisis. Thousands of industries are not working, people are unemployed due to the energy crisis. Still the government is sitting on the COAL, Oil & gas exploration issues. The decision by Port Authority of Chittagong to stop building shipyards in the vicinity of the western or eastern side of the port is another policy decision that is going to hurt our bulging new export earning Ship building industry.
First lets talk about the COAL policy. The coal policy has been debated for the last couple of years. The self interest people of Oil and Gas action committee in the name of representing the people tried to stop the approval of the Coal policy and was largely successful in getting the approval stopped and the citizen of Bangladesh get killed. It is during the Caretaker Government that it was finalized and decided to be approved. But the Caretaker Government with best interest left the final decision on the elected representatives of Bangladesh. However without approving the policy now the new government is delaying the approval and harming the energy security of Bangladesh. While everyear we are importing substandard Indian Coals valued at millions of dollars, our Coal is sitting beneth the earth.
Secondly the Upazila act of 2009. It was approved by the caretaker government and was praised from all walks of political life. The act put the onus of development to the Upazila chairmans and curtailed the undue influence of the MP’s and their musclemen. The act also made it simplified for the Upazila chairman’s to go ahead and do the necessary work for their constituents with solicitations from its people, there by had more merit than anything else. However after coming to power the AL changed the Upazila policy and made it mandatory for the Upazila chairmans to take permission from the MP’s and thereby holding off the necessary changes and improvement that would have been happened before. By enacting this rule the AL government essentially destroyed the local tier of government with undue influence by the elected MP’s.
The reputed Daily Star notes:
On top this, we now have the freshly announced operational guideline for the upazila parishads which, for all practical purposes, goes to disempower the elected vice-chairmen. As per rules, upazila chairmen can delegate their responsibilities, both financial and administrative, to Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs), but in the event that the upazila vice-chairman becomes an acting chairman, he/she cannot exercise financial authority except by approval from ’specified authorities’. Inexplicably though, where the vice-chairman would seek the approval from remains unspecified.
Thirdly, the changes in the ACC rule proposed by the AL government clearly goes against the true spirit of stoping the Corruption crimes. Removal of Hasan Mashdud Chowdhury was by far the most careless work done by this AL government. Mr. Hasan was the most couragious, fearless, respected ACC chairman and was praised abroad and in the country everywhere for his actions against corruption. Subsequently the summon to appear before the parliamentarian commitee was a disgraceful act which ultimately the ACC rejected. Under the ACC act the commission can take all decisions and is also independent in making all expenditures from the allotted budget under section 24 of the act, ACC sources said. As per section 3, 10 (3), and 24 of the ACC Act, the commission enjoys independence, self-governance and neutrality while the commissioners are of the status of Supreme Court judges. Ironically the people who summoned the ACC to appear before the commitee was itself accused by the ACC of corruption and they are on trial by the ACC for corruption. Imagine appearing before your corruption suspect for explaining why you filed a case against him.
Fourthly, the scraping of the mobile ID plan for stolen sets is only going to help the extortionists, murderers, and hijakers. International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers are used to track down stolen and lost sets. Mobile set is one of the lucrative items for the city muggers as there is big grey market for the second hand sets. Almost everyday law enforcers receive complaints of mobile set theft. Most of the stolen Mobile phones are also used to harrass people and business people by demanding money and using for various crimes.
Fifthly, The stoping of the award for the hydrocarbon exploration before the winter season is not helping the country a bit. While the country is reeling from acute energy crisis, not awarding the contract for exploration on mere ground of talking to India is a sheer neglect for the well being of our beloved country. India asked for a bid on their part of the Bay of Bengal and they have also put bids on our demarkated boundaries with out consulting us. India awarded contracts before without even consulting us, so why should we hold our energy hostage for their content. India asked for bid in June, 2009 for its oil and gas exploration,so if we award our contract before, then most of the companies that bid in Bangladesh will not even consider bidding for India. Is thats the motive to stop awarding the contract to Connoco and Tullow? Why the AL is putting our energy on hostage on India’s account?
Sixth on the list, The policy of political vengeance was suppose to be stopped by the AL government as per their election manifesto of Changes for Good of 2009 but the notice to evict the house of Khaleda Zia, the opposition political party chief bores ills to this effect. Anyone with a right mind will know it was done only to humiliate her and jeopardize her well being. I am no BNP supporter but even I am appalled by this act by a state government.
Seventh, the nature of politicizing the radical Islam and branding Bangladesh as one is not helping the image of this country. It only is helping the people against Islam and their propaganda’s. While the country has some disgruntled Islamist who are almost destroyed by the Caretaker government and this government, nevertheless politicizing is not not helping the country in anyway. Why we are branding ourselves such? Is it for our own good or for someone else?
Lastly and the most important, is the butched BDR mutiny and its report. The government dilly delaying and leaking of the Mutiny report is putting a sad picture of the truthfulness of this trial and punishment of the real culprits. There was some involvement of AL politicians who has if not instigated but had some kind of hand in this mutiny. But the hiding of their name is giving an impression that this government is not willing to mend the true justice for these fallen soldiers, not to mention the inaction during the Mutiny.
While the government tried to take steps as per the Caretaker government like fast tracking the Padma bridge construction, communication plan and others, they are clearly not upto mark to make a real difference to the lot of the people of Bangladesh. Most of their decisions and steps were done by following the Caretaker steps. I am not seeing anything tangible except the BDR mutiny and talk of trial of war criminals. Is it true what people say “We are getting the same wine but in a new bottle”? Where is the real change that AL talked about? I hope the AL government will come to their senses and act accordingly, otherwise the fate of the people will be harmed and hopes of change will go no where. Unlike BNP people expect good from AL and its their (AL) chance to show good on their promise of change.
About Author: Mr.Uddin is a political analyst for Alap Bangladesh.