& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Rancour in BNP over promises not kept

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The ruling BNP has not yet taken decisions on various important issues and commitments given to the people even in nearly seven months since its takeover, which has created resentment also in the party.
Resolution of the issue of women's reserved seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, separation of the judiciary, repeal of Special Powers Act, formation of Human Rights Commission, autonomy of state-owned Radio and Television, independent anti-corruption commission, appointment of Ombudsman etc were in the priority list of BNP's election pledges.
The party committed to resolve the women's reserved seat issue in the first session of parliament, but it is yet to be done.
Besides, no decision has been taken regarding appointment of deputy leader of the House in place of Prof AQM Badruddoja Chowdhury, who was elected President on November 14 last year.
Sources said the post is still lying vacant as there are more than one claimant for it in the ruling party. To
resolve this problem, the party planned to create posts of deputy prime minister to accommodate claimants, but it is still to be done.
Moreover, the government has not yet completed formation of parliamentary sanding committees, which are vital for smooth functioning of parliamentary process and overseeing administrative activities.
Due to indecision regarding appointment of cabinet secretary, secretary to the prime minister, press secretary to the prime minister, chairman of the Public Service Commission, director general of the Press Institute, top officials in different ministries and foreign missions has apparently affected administrative activities.
Sources said each ministry is facing shortage of officials, particularly additional and joint secretaries. A number of state ministers and deputy ministers are still to be given any specific responsibility although they are using state facilities.
Law and order problem, load shedding of electricity, growing incidents of corruption and extortion etc also made the party men and people in general frustrated.
BNP insiders said a number of
party policymakers and ministers repeatedly raised all these issues at cabinet meetings and also during one-to-one talks with the prime minister, but no progress was made in this regard.
" As in 1991, this time also the BNP government is suffering from indecision and making unnecessary delay in resolving vital issues although it has over two-thirds majority in parliament," one insider pointed out.
Some senior ministers said there is 'no dynamism' in the government due to lack of coordination, indecision, difference of opinion and 'undue interference' by some influential persons from behind the scene. The ministers however did not want to be named.
They said ministries could not infuse dynamism in their respective ministries because of 'stagnation' in the functioning of the Primer Minister's Office (PMO) and the government's 'dependence' on a few top bureaucrats, 'particularly one.' They however declined to explain.
The ministers said they are not getting timely decision, support and
cooperation from the PMO because most of the officials in the PMO are 'inefficient'.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, a senior minister said every time he has to persuade officials of the PMO for 'approval of summary' by the prime minister. "Even urgent files do not get clearance instantly and take at least a week."
Another minister alleged that it is 'very difficult to trace' the PM's political secretary as he is 'hardly seen' in his office and is busy with other matters.
The secretary of an important ministry, seeking anonymity, also said it is so difficult to get clearance or approval of decisions as files sent to the PMO does not move in time, resulting in unnecessary delay each time.
"A top official is now virtually holding three other posts -- cabinet secretary, secretary to the PM and press secretary to the PM-- causing stagnation in the administration," he added.
A policymaker of the BNP observed that the administrative set up at the PMO is 'worse' than that during the tenure of the previous BNP government.
Senior party leaders also alleged that they are not being allowed to meet the party chief and prime minister for urgent consultations as 'political appointees' in the PMO have become 'more powerful' than bureaucrats.
BNP sources said a number of senior ministers and policymakers of the party now feel 'frustrated' as their views and suggestions are not being taken into consideration.