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News analysis

Let democracy take its roots

by Reazuddin Ahmed
It was a momentous occasion for the nation on Sunday when all in the Jatlya Sangsad (parliament) stood united to back the Constitution amendment bill for switching over to parliamentary form of government. The unprecedented unity and sobriety demon strated by the members of both treasury and opposition in the House raised the expectation about more such consensus on major political and economic issues in future to lead the nation to prosperity
The sobre statements by Mirza Oolam Hafiz, Prof. Bad ruddoza Chowdhury and Abdus Samad Azad will probe bly be remembered long In the parliamentary history as they showed profound respect to each other. It was a rarity In our politics and a new democratic culture. The Leader of the House and Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and the Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina seemingly endorsed the views expressed by the leaders of BNP and Awami League while speaking on the bill pledging to give democracy a firm footing tn the country.
Rome was not built in a day. so is the case with democracy, said Badruddoza Chowdhury. "We must nurture parliamentary democracy to end the politics of conspiracy and coup", he said. Abdus Samad Azad expressed the same view. Elderly parliamentarian Mirza Golam Hafiz made a statesman-like gesture by giving due credit to the opposition for arriving at a consensus on such a vital constitutional issue. He said a strong opposition was needed to strengthen democratic institutions.
After 16 years the nation is now poised to reject presidential system which was introduced in 1975 through the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment also established one-party rule. If everything goes smoothly parliament is likely to pass two bills — the 11th and 12th amendment bills — within this month. The 11th amendment bill is to ratify all actions of the Acting President and send back Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed to the Supreme Court as Chief Justice. This will re-main a unique example in our politica^hlstory. His
cratic tradition to tide over a situation the nation confronted during nine years of autocracy.
The 12 th amendment bill which provides for swing back posed certain Improvement over the provisions enshrined tn the 1972 Constitution regarding parliamentary democracy. The Improvements have bean proposed to stabilise the system.
In the past, parliamentary democracy tailed in the then Pakistan due to instability. From that experience the 1972 Constitution made certain provisions restricting floor crossing by a member. The 12th amendment bill has proposed certain stringent measures Uke checking group defection. Another improvement over the 1972 Constitution is the President's enhanced power to look for a leader, who may command majority, before dissolving the parliament at the request of the Prime Minister. The bill has eliminated arbitrary powers of the ceremonial president in parliamentary democracy.
In the changed situation political leaders will have to face new challenges. The politicians will need to be tolerant and shall have to show respect to each other's views. Mirza Golam Hafiz told the House that the success of democracy would depend on a terrorism-free society.
Shall our politicians get united again to end terrorism on the campus to allow democracy to function?