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Substantive reform in the political parties

G. M. Quader
***Since it became a business, it created In owner and/or group of owners in its leadership, the right of which could be transferred through heredity or through deals. All decision-making is carried out at the top level, without any scope for participation at any other level. The role of the rest of the members is implementation of the decision for a benefit. Relations between the top leadership and the grass-root level members have become almost like employers and employees, and not like co-members of the party, at different levels. There should be reforms in the political parties to give ownership to the people through their members. Members should be allowed meaningful participation in leadership election and decision-making, and in the implementation process. The objective of the party should be to safeguard and promote the interest of the people. Going to power or staying out of it have to be considered as a strategy for achieving that goal only and no more.***-
AT the moment, the political scenario is volatile. In which form politics will ultimately settle down is yet to be seen. TYansitional phases are crucial. In that consideration the country is passing through a critical time politically.
At the same time, there are other problems which are making the situation yet more uncomfortable and, to some extent, more uncertain. Top among those are the price hike of essential items, continuous rise of inflation rate, slowing down of economy causing rise of unemployment etc.
The major cause of the price hike is the rise in prices in the international market This has happened as a result of so many inter-
national events and disasters like unprecedented rise in the prices of petroleum products, droughts causing loss of crops etc.
Added to this were repeated Hoods, cyclones and other natural calamities, which damaged domestic agricultural products. This has caused a considerable shortfall, making the country more dependent on import of food items at an unusually high price.
The rise in the prices of petroleum products has made industrial raw materials and finished products costlier throughout the world. This has happened due to higher transportation cost, energy cost and, in some cases, increase in inflation rate and devaluation of currency etc. This factor has affected Bangladesh, causing overall slowing down of growth.
The panic created as a result of the massive anti-corruption drive in progress resulted in loss of confidence among the business community. This has also worked as a deterrent, as the entrepreneurs showed reluctance in taking the initiative to start newventures.
In spite of these crises, the core of the problem is the political uncertainty. The sources of many of the other troubles lie outside the country. But, it is desirable that the fall-out of those issues be handled and managed in the best possible way in the country. That is possible only if there is a suitable system in place, providing sustainable good governance. A sound and stable political structure with democratic values in practice can ensure the best possible government.
The country's uncertainty in
politics surfaced as a result of the boycotting of national election for the ninth parliament, which was due on the January 22, 2007. The election had to be postponed on the January! 1, 2007 because of a violent movement waged by all the political parties who were in the opposition in the eighth parliament.
The reason for the boycotting, and subsequent postponement, was allegation of a pre-planned manipulated election with the help of money, muscle, the partisan Election Commission, and the administration by the immediate past government of the four party alliances.
It was argued that the election could not be free and fair, reflecting the views of the people, unless it was free from the influence of money and muscle power and was contested on a level playing field - -meaning neutrality of the Election Commission and the administration. Without holding of the national election this uncertainty in political the arena may not come to an end.
Most of the people thought before the postponement that the election should not be held just for election's sake. The belief was that an election, which produced a manipulated result, or allowed a corrupt person or a criminal to be elected by creating fear, or by cheating, would have a damaging effect.
To make the election meaning-
ful, it needs to be conducted in a free and fair way in a neutral atmosphere acceptable to all major political parties.
The uncertainty is also the outcome of wrongdoings as a result of the twisted political culture that was practiced by political parties. Reform of the political culture is also a necessity to sustain the stability and to avoid repetition of the chaos resulting in political deadlock.
Political parties have to undertake drastic reform measures within themselves, so that introduction and practice of a people oriented political culture is made possible through them, without which sustainable stability in politics may not be achievable.
The people would not like to see repetition of the acts done by past elected governments. All state institutions, including institutions of accountability and for conducting elections, were systematically destroyed to serve the self and partisan interests of political parties. The result was pervasive spread of corruption and malfunction in governance at the cost of the common citizens. People want the government to practice the democratic norm and follow its values.
To have a meaningful election acceptable to all, the political parties, the Election Commission (EC) and the administration must fulfill their own roles. The effectiveness of EC and the administration, in turn, is the outcome of the func-
tioning of political parties.
As has already been described, these institutions were made ineffective, partisan and unacceptable by the actions of the political parties. They arc now undergoing some reconstitution and reforms by the non-political caretaker government.
The responsibility of the caretaker government is limited to holding of a free and fare election and handing over power to the elected political government. But, the extended function had to be undertaken by them as per the desire of the people in an unprecedented, extraordinary move to ensure an acceptable election.
For ail future elections the responsibility of building and maintenance of the institutions for functioning properly lies mostly with the political parties alone. Moreover, institutionalisation of democracy in order to make it die basis of governance and accountability is the responsibility of the political parties.
Most of the political parties these days are not people-oriented. Protecting the interests of common citizens are no more in their agenda. Capture of state power, or perpetuating it by hook or by crook, has become the only goal for political parties. They are ready to indulge in unscrupulous means, causing miseries and sufferings to citizens, and to sacrifice the interests of the common people, and anything else, just to achieve that
goal.
The people's legitimate issues interest the political parties only if, and up to the extent, they could be used to ascend to power. This type of politics is meant to serve partisan interests from which the top leadership and party members derive gain most of the time at the cost of citizens. Political parties have become more like a dishonest business house, with politics as a commodity to be marketed devoid of any ethics.
Since it became a business, it created an owner and/or group of owners in its leadership, the right of which could be transferred through heredity or through deals. All decision-making is carried out at the top level, without any scope for participation at any other level. The role of the rest of the members is implementation of the decision for a benefit.
Relations between the top leadership and the grass-root level members have become almost like employers and employees, and not like co-members of the party, at different levels.
There should be reforms in the political parties to give ownership to the people through their members. Members should be allowed meaningful participation in leadership election and decisionmaking, and in the implementation process. The objective of the party should be to safeguard and promote the interest of the people. Going to power or staying out of it
have to be considered as a strategy for achieving that goal only and no more.
With that end in view, the EC has formulated a draft rule incorporating some basic conditions to be fulfilled by the political parties for being eligible to be registered, and thereby recognized, as a political party. This needs to be finalised as soon as possible in order to enable the interested parties to make necessary amendments in their constitutions.
The ban on indoor politics should be lifted, or at least relaxed, so that the reforms can be approved by the party members after discussion and fulfilling due procedure as per their respective constitutions.
The real challenge would be implementation of the reform measures in the parties, and moni toring of implementation by EC. The power structure inside most of the parties, as has already been said earlier, is bound in an employer employee or more precisely master servant kind of relationship, with decision making in total control of the top-level leadership.
For effective execution of reform, instead of keeping its spirit confined within change of language in the party constitution, it is necessary the leadership be made to carry out reforms, or be removed and replaced by some who would not pose an obstruction to the reforms.
G.M. Quarter is a former Member of Parliament.