EDITORIAL : THE DAILY STAR, BANGLADESH

             

 

Election Commission's concerns

These merit consideration

THE Election Commission (EC) has voiced its concern that unless the culture of political confrontation is stemmed before it gets any worse, we may well be headed for a major political turmoil like the one that visited us before the last general election.

We believe this is a timely warning expressed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), and merits utmost consideration of all the major political parties. The realisation should dawn on them to heed the appeal, otherwise, confrontational politics cannot be defused.

Along with the expression of a concern, the EC has also given its suggestions and set goals for their realisation in a concerted manner. Those include, inter alia, building on the trust in the independence of the Election Commission, maintaining an authentic electoral roll and conducting free and fair elections.

Coming as they do in the backdrop of the EC having held the 2008 general election, by-elections and local government elections successfully and credibly, the Chief Election Commissioner's (CEC) recommendations merit serious consideration.

We fully endorse his view that a strong and independent EC is necessary to rid our electoral process of the evils of political vendetta, money and muscle power.

The next general elections are due in 2014. Between now and then, not only the good precedents set by the current EC would have to be followed, the political parties will need to fill in the gaps in the electoral reform processes.

Also importantly, the integrity that was reflected in the preparation of the electoral roll should also apply in updating the same for the 2014 General Election.

Of fundamental importance is the need for appointment of non-controversial persons of high probity and respectable track record to the posts of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and his team of Commissioners. A provision exists in the constitution, which lays the criterion for appointment, but this has hardly been followed in the last 40 years. The CEC's pointer calls for attention.

The dwindling forests

Social forestation is welcome

WE learn it from no less a person than the finance minister that forest coverage has come down to only nine percent. He emphasized on social afforestation and massive tree plantation in each village to face the climate change impacts. His observations came at the inaugural session of the first Bangladesh Forestry Congress 2011 held in Dhaka.

However going by the official estimate the forest coverage is seventeen percent in the country, which of course belies reality. The information is indeed very discouraging in that the fast diminishing forests is pushing us into a catastrophic situation. The negative effect is already being felt. The heating of the climate and desertification are causing harmful effects on habitation and cultivation.

The indiscriminate felling of trees for housing and industrialization, increasing population and lack of proper land use plan are to be blamed for the dwindling forests. Adequate plantation has not been done to make up for the lost trees. In addition to providing ecological balance the forests meet demand for timber, firewood, fibre and myriads of other forest produces. The sector also contributes to income generation and poverty reduction.

The initiative of the forest directorate for social afforestation program is a welcome step towards saving this shrinking natural resource. Foremost will be protection and conservation of forest lands. The logical move would be to delegate some of the responsibilities of protecting the forest lands to the local communities who are naturally motivated for the job with their inherent knowledge of woods and the geography of the region.

We sincerely hope that the authorities concerned and their development partners would work together to raise awareness among policy makers, the general public and the private sector of the importance of biodiversity in general and ecosystems in particular to development and the consequences of its loss. Above all, stringent measures must be taken against the poachers.