PM's open door on CTG
Opposition must reciprocate gesture
The intensity with which both the ruling party and the opposition are focused on the caretaker government issue says something about their attitudes to the problem. The prime minister has in these past few days been reiterating her position that the door is open for negotiations between the government and the opposition on the ways and means of arriving at a solution. It is certainly appreciable that Sheikh Hasina has now assured the opposition that no one-sided solution will be imposed. Her invitation to the BNP to return to the Jatiyo Sangsad and present its own formula towards finding a way out of the crisis is perfectly in order for the simple reason that at this critical moment both sides need to reach a compromise in the larger interest of our future.
The BNP, which has already observed a hartal on the caretaker issue, is keen that the system should stay in place. The Supreme Court has already spelt out, that the next two elections may be held under caretaker arrangements. However, given that the SC has also made known its reservations about judges being part of the caretaker government, it is extremely important that the BNP join the ruling Awami League on the format of the next caretaker administration or two. The BNP is in opposition and has been vocal about its opposition to any scrapping of the system. But politics is also about coming up with alternatives, in all their substance and formality. Since the BNP has a significant presence in parliament, it remains its responsibility to present its own formula in the JS and engage in a meaningful debate with the ruling party over it. The prime minister's flexibility is an opportunity the opposition ought not to miss.
Begum Khaleda Zia has reportedly asked for formal communication from the government on the latter's proposals vis-à-vis a solution. The government, in light of the prime minister's recent pronouncements on the issue, can surely oblige the opposition here. For the BNP, the important thing is to acknowledge the primacy of Parliament rather than a deliberate ignoring of it. Let it return to the JS and test the sincerity of the ruling party.
Protecting whistleblowers
Law by itself not enough
The parliament has passed a bill titled Public Interest Related Information Disclosure (Protection) Act, 2011. Although enacted by a voice vote, hopefully, all clauses of the bill have been carefully crafted to make the law into a user-friendly piece of legislation. That is where the law's efficacy will be tested in the first place. So, the enactment of the law, though highly welcome as catering to a long-felt need, may not be enough by itself.
It will have to be accompanied and underpinned by awareness-building among the public about the law, procedure for disclosure and mechanism whereby a protective umbrella will be cast around a person or persons volunteering disclosures.
Where genuine witnesses shrivel from helping prosecution build up its case or where prosecution depends on procured or so-called professional witnesses encouraging whistleblowers to come out of their shells is not going to be an easy job.
This is not being cynical but merely pointing at the challenges of implementation which require to be met in order to derive optimal benefit from the law. Yes, the majority of the citizens being victims of wrongdoing by a miniscule minority have an inherent motivation to spill the beans for common social good. They abhor corruption, abuse of power and poor delivery of public services while keeping lot of leads and incriminating information close to their chest for fear of stirring the hornet's nest or outright reprisal. If they are assured of protection of their lives and limbs or against any harm-doing in concrete visible terms, there is no reason why they would not come forward with information of any foul play. The latter may not directly relate to them yet it afflicts the society. More than provision for incentives we need providing an infrastructure for protection.
The law will have the best chance of implementation if people can be motivated at the community, NGO and local body levels to volunteer information.
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