Certain acts and judgements of the High Court mainly dictated the course of national politics in the year 2000. In fact, issues concerning the higher judiciary sparked off raging debates.
Besides, US President Bill Clinton's visit, appointment of M A Syed as the new Chief Election Commissioner, introduction of the Public Safety Act, reported attempt to assassinate Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina, deposed president H M Ershad's return to jail, controversy over reserved seats for women in parliament, publication of the new voter's list, the Eight Murder in Chittagong, killing of journalist Shamsur Rahman and the lingering crisis in the opposition alliance also dominated the matters of politics.
The ruling Awami League generated much of the heat in the
political domain by staging street protests against the High Court on two occasions. It brought out a 'stick procession' when several judges felt embarrassed to hear death reference in the Bangabandhu murder case and sponsored violent street protests after a High Court judge spared five of the convicts in the sensational case. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Home Minister Mohammad Nasim were at the centre of political debate on several occasions for criticising bails granted to some alleged criminals by the higher court and demanding accountability of the judiciary.
The unprecedented way in which daily Inqilab Editor A M M Bahauddin and Jatiya Party leader Jahangir Mohammad Adel was granted bail both charged with treason also drew bitter criticism from the top government leaders.
The ruling party sharply reacted to the High Court's late-night sitting to grant bail to Bahauddin against whom the
government brought sedition charge for publishing a parody of the national anthem. It also came down heavily on some lawyers belonging to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for sheltering Bahauddin and Adel at the High Court building so that they could escape arrests.
The alleged secret conversation between a High Court judge and Ershad over the latter's conviction in the Janata Tower graft case was yet another issue that heated up the political front and finally led to resignation of the judge.
Uniqueness was also there in yet another instance involving the higher judiciary. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was charged with contempt of court
for her remarks against the High Court judges who granted anticipatory bails to persons accused in criminal cases. Hasina was the first head of government to be asked by the High Court to be cautious in her remarks about the judiciary.
On the opposition front, the alliance of four parties including BNP pathetically failed to launch any effective movement against the government thanks to their internal bickering mainly due to the absence of a clear understanding on an electoral alliance. Main opposition BNP suffered heavily due to conflicts among its radical and moderate leaders. Infighting in the party's student front
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) did not help its cause, either.
The parliament had dull sessions throughout the year as the opposition parties continued to boycott the proceedings. But it sprang into life, for a brief period though, when the opposition lawmakers registered brief attendance to protect their membership, a move that earned them lot of condemnation from those in power.
BNP's rebel MP Major (Retd) Akhtaruzzaman opened up a new chapter in the country's politics by joining parliament sessions defying a party decision. Akhtar was expelled from the party, but he earned appreciation from many quarters.
Passage of the Zila Parishad
Bill providing for an indirect election in the local government body came under sharp criticism from the opposition camp.
Awami League's Laxmipur chapter leader and Pourashava chairman Abu Taher occupied the spotlight for his alleged involvement in the killing of BNP leader Advocate Nurul Islam.
Changes in leadership in the Jamaat-e-Islami, especially Golam Azam's quitting the top party position, gave way to widespread discussions in the political arena.
Nevertheless, the country's politics had an election mood at the fag end of the year with bright prospects for an early general election.