EDITORIAL : THE DAILY STAR, BANGLADESH

              

JS hearings on appointments

Process will strengthen democracy

The parliamentary special committee on constitutional amendments is considering making individuals' appointment to constitutional posts subject to confirmation by the Jatiyo Sangsad. We unequivocally endorse the idea. Such a process of filling important positions of the state will not only ensure a bipartisan approach to governance but also reassure the nation that those appointed to and confirmed in such positions have the competence to do the job. Given that for years positions of extreme significance in Bangladesh, such as those of the chief election commissioner, judges of the Supreme Court, chairman of the Public Service Commission, et cetera, have come under a cloud because of a blatant politicization of the appointments, this new step, if it truly comes to pass, will be a boon for democracy.

We, however, note the view of a member of the special committee to the effect that the prime minister's thoughts have to be ascertained before the proposal can meet with success. A severe parliamentary scrutiny of individuals appointed to core state positions, as also of the men or women appointed attorney general, will in our view not only enhance the credibility of the government but also convince the country that good, honest and capable people are in the right positions. The idea of parliamentary confirmation of executive appointments may be new for Bangladesh, but it has been a rule in such countries as the United States where the relevant Senate committees and the whole Senate vote on crucial appointments made by the President. There have been moments when presidential appointees, such as Supreme Court nominees, were rejected by the Senate. In the process, accountability was ensured.

We therefore see no reason for the prime minister to have reservations on the issue. The system will make it very hard for people of dubious reputation to occupy sensitive posts since the hearings, made in public, will scrutinize every detail of a nominee's background before certifying his or her ability to do the job. Let the idea be worked upon, in the greater national interest.

Dhaka rivers face shrinkage

This time in the name of demarcation

Dhaka's rivers are getting thinner ever since the gate-keepers of rivers are turning out to be poachers.
The latest move by the government itself is self-destructive. The rivers of Dhaka will shrink further as the district administrations are demarcating those excluding the foreshores. Authorities have pitched boundary pillars along the rivers allowing loss of hundreds of acres of land which are natural part of the rivers. Shitalakhya alone will lose 1860 acres of land. Without foreshores the rivers will turn into large-sized drains.
How could the district authorities, who were charged with delineating rivers, decide on such damaging moves? Rivers are supposed to be lifelines of ecology and economy. These seemingly expedient decisions allowing for private encroachment of the river banks will further upset environmental balance and encourage the land grabbers.
From the legal point of view, posting of boundary pillars along the bank excluding the foreshores is violation of the High Court orders. The HC, in June 2009, came up with a judgment and directions including demarcation of the rivers, building of walkways and plantation of trees on the banks.
The HC rulings, media campaign and awareness programs by the environment activists and lawyers have been a big stride forward towards saving the rivers. But this move of putting up pillars tends to cancel out the gains.
If the foreshores were not taken into consideration during the survey it has been a gross error on part of the authorities and a clear deviation from the HC orders.

This decision of setting up boundary pillar excluding the foreshores should be immediately scrapped and legal environment friendly measures ought to be taken to restore the rivers to their original position. This will help our waterways to a normal life otherwise we will be playing into the hands of land grabbers.