AS-019-2007
January 26, 2007
A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission
BANGLADESH: A nation living in fear & hope
Bangladesh is in a deep political and social crisis. Its president, Professor Iazuddin Ahmed, proclaimed a state of emergency on January 11 and on the same day suspended all fundamental rights under the constitution, including the filing of suits with the courts to reinstate those rights. Censorship was also ordered. On January12 he imposed the Emergency Powers Ordinance 2007, which is similar to the Emergency Powers Act 1975, ending rights to freedom of expression, publication and political movement in the country. On the same evening he appointed the former governor of the Bangladesh Bank, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, to be the new chief advisor of the interim government, and followed his advice on the appointment of other advisors.
The first few days after January 11 were cautiously observed by all political parties. The Awami League-led Grand Alliance leaders were present at the oath taking of the newly-appointed advisors, and termed the state of emergency a “people’s victory” after it had led massive protests against its rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, whose Four Party Alliance boycotted the event. Some BNP leaders predictably accused foreign diplomats of meddling in the country’s internal affairs and precipitating the collapse of the interim government.
There are now strong debates on the tenure of the interim government. The Constitution of Bangladesh does not mention any time limit for the unelected “Non-party Care-taker Government”, but it is mandatory to hold a general election within 90 days of the dissolution of the parliament under such a caretaker government. Since the election scheduled for January 22 was postponed, it is clear that this condition will not be met. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has lost all public credibility by its failure to prepare an authentic voter list, maintain impartiality and work with efficiency. There are now calls for the issuing of voter identity cards; arranging of transparent voting boxes; removing of politically-recruited staff from electoral activities; ensuring of security for all voters–especially ethnic and religious minority communities–before, during, and after the election; and barring of corrupt persons from contesting in elections. People are also looking for ways to bind politicians to the commitments that they make in the lead up to elections, most of which are ordinarily ignored once in office.
There are strong hopes among ordinary people that the interim government will achieve some important and much-needed changes. Among these is the separation of the judiciary from the executive and proper building of the Judicial Service Commission in accordance with the new rules being laid out follow the Supreme Court orders on the same. The Anti Corruption Commission and civil service and rule of law institutions also need to be greatly strengthened. Above all, public demands are overwhelmingly for the ending of political violence and oppression, corruption, intolerance and selfishness.
The hope is also that there may be some steps to end the practice of using thousands of political slaves over the personal grievances of two families. Politics in Bangladesh have been dominated throughout by the families of Sheikh Muzibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman, led by Sheikh Hasina, and that of Khaleda Zia and son, Tareq Rahman. Political culture, to the extent that it exists at all, is reduced to infighting between these two families, who use general strikes, blockades and encirclement actions for their own personal ends while saying that these are the will of the people. In fact, the effect on large numbers of people of such actions is starvation and deep suffering.
The Asian Human Rights Commission has been watching the situation in Bangladesh closely, and with serious concern. It calls on the caretaker government to take steps that prioritise the rule of law and will restore normalcy to the country within the shortest possible period, prevent further violence and ensure that the basic demands of the public are met and heard.
