It has by now become abundantly clear that without a reasonably amicable settlement or understanding between Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party a fair, free and peaceful election may not be possible. As things are, future of democracy or strengthening the base of democracy in this country depends on the understanding of these two parties. Both are democratic in sprit. Only they should decide to learn how to compromise and adjust in politics.

WITHIN a few months we are expecting the next national election. We already feel the heat of election fever. The opposition alliance is working hard to enable it to win the election to dislodge the present government. The party in position, on the other hand, is taking all necessary preparations to retain its power. The question now arises whether we see a reasonably fair, free and peaceful election or a stormy election resulting in loss of life and property. People like us (ordinary citizens) sense some dangerous situations in the offing (after what we heard about the attempt on the life of the prime minister). As we see. whosoever may be the conspirators it was a deep and well-planned conspiracy and certainly heinous. We want not simple condemnation. We want well thought out strong action to debilitate the conspirators who have, it appears, gained enough strength in the country.

It is a common knowledge that attempts to kill the present prime minister were taken in the past. But those attempts pale into insignificance if compared with the episode of Kotal-Ipara. It may be interpreted as not only an attempt to kill the PM. it seemingly aimed at wiping out the majority of the topranking Awaini Leaguers also. Only a thorough and neutral inquiry report will reveal the truth. Such incident certainly Is a great blow to a slowly (but steadily) developing democracy like Bangladesh. It is unfortunate and not understandable

clearly as to why the opposition think that this incident was publicised by Awami League to tarnish the image of the opposition parties.

It is difficult to accept the statements of the opposition stalwarts about Kotalipara Incident because of the following:

a) Why Awami League should try to belittle the opposition when the opposition has not yet been able to show enough strength, or depth of its political acumen, or sharpness of its election strategy, to dislodge the ruling party? To an ordinary voter no action of the opposition parties during the last four years was attractive enough to draw any sympathy. Instead, he/she is confused by the silly claims such as 'flow of water of the Ganges will not inerdase demeans parting away a part our of territory to India.' We did not see anything like this. In fact the political stunts of Pakistani days (antl-Indian propaganda) are no longer appropriate In Bangladesh situation. Even if the present government falls to achieve the desired result the situations are certainly not worse than 1996. The success of Haslna government in facing

one of the longest and worst floods of the country in 1998 cannot be seen as a mean achievement. Awami League’s strength has amply been shown in the present government's decisions about export of natural gas from Bangladesh or even withholding of extending transit facility to India. In the field of sport, in cricket. Bangladesh has attained the status of a Test playing country, In football, it became champion in SAARC for the first time. The young players also are showing some promise in hockey and handball because of patronage of PM. It would be sheer meanness if we Ignore the fact that timely supply of sufficient agricultural input resulted in the spectacular increase In production of our foodgrain. Certainly favourable weather condition was not the only reason.

In the international field Bangladesh has earned credit due to Its successful microcredit programmes. Rate of growth of literacy has gone up. The achievement in the energy sector has so far remained below the expected level. It has, however, to be admitted that the growth in energy sector is time-consuming. The progress made

in health and sanitation has been satisfactory, in the communication sector .also there has been an appreciable Improvement such as completion of Jamuna Bridge, undertaking construction of a number of fairly big bridges, raising the height and quality of Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

K may be true'that administrative efficiency has weakened during the present regime. Awami League, however, cannot be blamed solely for this. No government in Bangladesh can e regarded as efficient ever since the birth of Bangladesh. The top echelon of bureaucracy was mishandled during the regimes of Ershad and Khaleda who used It only to serve their objectives. In fact both ihcm are tesponsible for destroying the discipline ol servitr. Their regimes were too dependent on bureaucracy. One of the main reasons was political instability and the absence of democratic order. Bangabandhu Sheikh MuJibur Railman s administrative Services Reorganisation Committee's recommendations could not be made public, not to speak of its implementation. Only some of its concepts were included hi the recommenda-

tions of the Pay and Services Commission’s Report prepared during 1976-77. During the regime of Zlaur Rahman (1977-80) a part of the Pay and Services Commission's recommendations was implemented.

Without a strong commitment to raise the level of efficiency of administration by a stable and strong democratic government the task cannot be accomplished. Bureaucracy is extremely powerful ' in Bangladesh. It is hardly feasible for the elite to undertake any action which may really hurt the interest of bureaucracy. If the present government could be faster in taking action it could have done better even with this inefficient administration. After all we cannot ignore the truth that even the most efficient administration will falter in the absence of clear direction or decision. Procrastination not only steals time it can make the whole administrative machinery immobile.

In the political arena we see that during the last few months BNP desired to give strong challenge to the ruling partv to win the election. It has formed an alliance with some opposition parties such as Jatlva Partv

(Ershad). Jamaat-e-lsiami and Islam! Oikya Joie. From the start its union appeared to be based on one point i.e. howto capture power. One of its seii-ous weaknesses was lack of commitment to sacrifice, for each other. Another weak point may be misreading of the election strategy of Awami League. Whatever may be the errors and omissions of BNP it is almost clear to any politically conscious citizen that the grand alliance of the opposition could not attain its desired objective.

Election is a feature of democratic iwlity. It acts as a^ safeguard of democratic freedom. The electoral response of the |>eople of Bangladesh has aiwavs been ardent and p> m-Hve Hnw.' th-m.«i.H ha*, remained a fugitive plant is this country. This has impeded the evolution of a genuine and sound democratic process. It has by now become abundantly clear that without a reasonably amicable settlement or understanding between Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party a fair, free and peaceful election may not be possible. As things are. future of democracy or strengthening the base o'f democracy hi this country depends on the understanding of these two parties. Both are democratic hr sprit. Only they should decide to learn liow to compromise and adjust in politics We have lost too manv years in negative politics. With |>olilical stability and tranquillity • •nr progress will not only be rapid but also spectacular.