Any successes of the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance government have been shadowed by failures like price hike of essentials, acute power crisis and unabated corruption during its five-year tenure.

The coalition government's tenure is also marked by the rise of Islamist militant groups, politicisation of the administration. extra judicial killings by the law enforcers, killing of top politi-

cians including lawmakers and former finance minister and assassination attempt on the leader of the opposition.

No effective steps were taken by this government tocombat corruption, it just formed the nonfunctioning Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). And many believe Hawa Bhaban, the BNP chairperson's party office, has become the centre of corrupt practices. Tarique Rahman, senior joint secretary general of the BNP

and eldest son of the prime minister, is virtually unchallenged in power politics both within the government and the party. He reportedly controlled government affairs turning Hawa Bhaban into anallernativepowercentre.

Besides, Tarique and BNP leaders close to him are considered as the most influential figures in the government, and the party, who influenced things ranging from businesses Io appointment of

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senior government officials, development work and major purchases.

While an analysis of the ruling BNP's manifesto shows that it did not implement half of its 100 pledges, including 32 mentioned in the election manifesto before the 2001 polls.

The BNP and its coalition partners pledged to launch a crusade against corruption before the last general election but instead of doing that, the alliance leaders and their loyalists resorted to unabated corruption.

Announced on September 7, 2001, BNP's election manifesto also pledged to separate the judiciary, scrap Special Powers Act, appoint an ombudsman, form human rights commission, upazila and district councils, release accounts of assets of the prime minister and other ministers, increase parliament seats to 500 and ensure autonomy of the state-owned radio and television. But none of the pledges have been met.

However, the alliance government scrapped Public Safety Act and constituted Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), increased the number of women's reserved seats in parliament, raised the number of widows and elderly people getting allowances, formed national pay commission, introduced Liberation War and Expatriate Welfare ministries and constituted Gram Sarker.

Despite controversy over it, the government claims to have kept the macro economy stable in during its five-year term, which included increase of foreign exchange reserve and remittance, export volume, per capita income and reformed banking and revenue sectors. But such good indicators of the economy were not reflected in the commoners' life due to high inflation rate and increased cost of

living.

Many of the efforts of the present government turned almost futile exercises. For instance, the ACC even two years after its formation has failed to work independently and actively. Many blamed the bureaucrats for ineffectiveness of theACC.

In the case of Gram Sarker, it was widely reported that grassroots level BNP and Jamaat leaders grabbed the posts of this lowest tier of local government.

Before the last general election, the BNP and its allies had pointed to the corruption of the AL government of 1996 to 2001 and pledged to root out corruption if elected. But Bangladesh topped the TIB corruption index for four consecutive years under the present regime.

Skyrocketing prices of essentials have made public life unbearable. Cost of living has increased many times and it was reported that syndication of import items by the ruling alliance backed businessmen is one of the major reasons for price spiral of essentials.

While acute electricity crisis forced commoners to take to streets in Dhaka and elsewhere and the power-starved people went on violent protests, it was reported that the present government has failed to build a singe new power plant to meet rising demands.

After a long denial, the government went on a crackdown on the Islamist militant groups when they introduced a new pattern of terrorism in the country, by carrying out nationwide serial bomb blasts and suicide bombings and killing innocent people. But, the government dealt with the problem boldly and arrested most of the top leaders of militant groups and brought them to justice.

During the last election BNP and its

partners campaigned against the AL leaders of some districts including Feni, Lakshmipur, Barsial and Narayanganj who got the image of godfathers for criminal activities in their respective areas. But now dozens of such godfathers emerged. They include ministers and lawmakers of the ruling alliance who established reign of terror in their respective areas.

In the education sector, the present government may deserve credit for stopping cheating or copying in the public examinations as well as increasing success rate. But at the same time competitive examinations for recruitment in the government's cadre services witnessed leak out of questions on several occasions.

The government has succeeded in increasing enrolment in the primary schools and reducing gender disparity. But, quality has not been improved at any levels from primary to higher education.

The present government started with a jumbo size cabinet comprising 60 members, which is now reduced to 49. Besides, there are another four advisers who enjoy facilities of ministers. One minister of the present government has passed the entire term without any portfolio.