democracy.

To this mix was also added many other failures. It included issues like unresolved high-profile political assassinations and inability in punishing those involved in the attempted murder of sheikh Hasina, Leader of the Opposition, and other senior members of the Awami League leadership. Justice was also not meted out to those guilty of the tragic killings carried out on 15 August, 1975.

Nevertheless, today, we have

taken to make the future process meaningful. These will be vital to create a level playing field. They include cancelling of all contractual appointments in sensitive posts, particularly where the Chief Adviser is himself in charge. This will be particularly relevant with regard to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Controversial, partisan officials, associated with the judicial process and maintenance of law and order, also need to be^

not only to maintenance of law and order but also to the measures required to make the electoral process acceptable to all parties.

For the first time we have a unique situation where the President is also the Chief Adviser. It is true that the paradigm has become more complex and the equation of check and balance has been affected. Nevertheless, the opportunity exists whereby the people of Bangladesh, in the ^month of January next year, can

requisite partnership for development, so necessary for meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

We must not overlook what the World Food Programme has found in their latest study. Despite the exaggerated claims of massive economic development by the last Government, it has been stated that fifteen per cent of rural households in Bangladesh consist of the invisible poor who are extremely marginalised, chronically hungry

OCTOBER was an eventful month. On 13th October hope came dancing in through our national window in the form of the Nobel Prize for Peace awarded to Professor Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank. Later, on 29th October, came the formal conclusion of the BNP Alliance Government through the transfer of power to the Caretaker Government.

We are today, at a critical juncture of our national aspiration. We continue to be faced with many serious unanswered questions. Unnecessary obstinacy on the part of some, is threatening the entire electoral process and the future pursuit of democracy. The possibility of confrontation has again emerged. Such a situation can only lead to regression. We cannot afford it.

In recent times, we have suffered because of lack of good governance, unbridled corruption, skyrocketing prices of essentials, acute shortage of power, terrorist activities of Islamic militants, politicisation of the Administration and the Judiciary, violation of individual human rights, gross excesses by the police and extrajudicial killings. To this was added the failure on the part of the previous administration to separate the judiciary from the Executive and its enthusiasm with regard to 'election-engineering'. This latter controversial factor particularly undermined the principles of

ahead of us, a new beginning. We also have fresh opportunities that must not be lost.

At this point of time, jurists, educationists and professionals have identified certain least common denominators for action by the non-party Caretaker Administration.

These include the hope that we should have a free and fair election on the basis of a corrected, updated voters' list. The Caretaker Administration has also been made aware of the need to reform the composition of the Election Commission. We know that this will not be easy. However, when a patient needs bitter medicine, it has to be administered even if it might not be palatable. If this requires the convening of the supreme Judicial Council, let that be done.

The path ahead will not be easy, but certain measures have to be

replaced immediately. The state controlled media also have to be instructed in no uncertain terms that they should rise above partisanship and try to present news, without prejudice, as the events take place.

I believe that this Caretaker Administration can, if they so want, rise above petty, partisan points of view and vested interests. This is important, because at the end of the day, the fairness of this Caretaker Administration could symbolize to the next Government that 'winner takes all' philosophy is not the best way for ensuring governance.

The President, who is also the Chief of the Caretaker Government, will have to take firm action as has been suggested by Nobel Laureate M Yunus during the special reception accorded to him on 5 November in Bangabhaban. I am referring here

be presented with a new Administration which can take the Nation progressively forward in the path of development.

The other alternative will be a partisan electoral process, bereft of legitimacy. We will then have elections that will only further chaos. The Chief Adviser and his colleagues have a historical opportunity to set the ball rolling. Time is of the essence. It must also be understood by all concerned that having a free, fair and neutral election will facilitate the work of the next government.

A smooth transition for the next Administration will enable them to work harder for the eradication of rural poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment.

This Caretaker Government has to meet the aspirations of the people. Their sincerity will subsequently encourage the next elected government to create the

and mostly headed by females. The survey has also indicated that such households are usually landless (consequently devoid of obtaining credit through functional co-lateral) and that each family has a large number of dependents. Determined efforts must be undertaken to make the invisible poor 'visible' so that they can benefit from socio-economic gains. We need to wake up and stem this rot. How can we remain in the same bracket as Laos and Papua New Guinea? I believe that the first step towards future poverty reduction lies in the holding of a free and fair election that can lead to the creation of an effective Parliament.

The next important task of the Caretaker Government has to be the restoration of confidence in governance, the police force and the judiciary. These are vital pillars of the state that cannot and must

not be compromised if we are to successfully fight the disease of corruption. This Caretaker Government can also set the right example in this regard.

The Fourteen-Party Alliance, despite provocation from the other side, has shown great maturity and constructive engagement in giving additional time to the Caretaker Administration to prove their fairness, even-handedness and neutrality in the electoral process. This must be seen to be done.

The successful performance of the President and his team of Advisers will re-affirm that the people of this country believe in a format of participatory governance where there is equality of opportunity and everyone has the right to be heard. Such a course of action will nullify the need later on, to appoint lobbyists to put a spin on our image overseas with one hundred articles.

The precedence of good governance set by this Caretaker Government will also provide the required moral strength to the next Government to confront bank defaulters, to get rid of syndicates that artificially manipulate prices of essentials and to punish those vested interests that have created the current sorry state in the different utilities sectors. The action displayed by the Caretaker Administration will also encourage the next elected government to address with greater seriousness the question of militancy and fundamentalism that has cast a shadow on our rights as individuals.

The President and his team have to take bold decisions that reflect the will of the people and are consistent with the Constitution.

Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador who can be reached at mzamir @dhaka.net.

***The precedence of good governance set by this Caretaker Government will also provide the required moral strength to the next Government to confront bank defaulters, to get rid of syndicates that artificially manipulate prices of essentials and to punish those vested interests that have created the current sorry state in the different utilities sectors. The action displayed by the Caretaker Administration will also encourage the next elected government to address with greater seriousness the question of militancy and fundamentalism that has cast a shadow on our rights as individuals.***