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Political party reform

Ghulam Muhammed quader
*** In order to reform political parties, the character and command structure as exist must undergo a drastic change. Ownership of the party must be given back to the people. Democratisation of political party is a prerequisite. Leadership at all stages must be elected by secret balloting of the general members of that level. Decision making process must reflect the voices of the grassroots level members and top leadership must allow and make arrangement for participatory management.***
ONCE elected, I I representatives from political parties assume the role of governance of state, either by exercising executive power or by providing necessary guidance and cross-check of government activities. Elected representatives are provided with necessary power and authority, especially the members of the government.
Idea is that the power and authority would be used selflessly and in accordance within a broader legal framework in governing the country, accommodating the hopes and aspirations of the maximum number of people.
Power and authority given by the people to their representatives by electing them is expected to be utilised purely for providing service to the people. In no way, the representatives are to benefit directly or indirectly themselves or to provide benefit to their person of choice, abusing this authority. Selfless and 4, fair are the desired qualities of.a person exercising public authority
and funds.
All the objectives and activities of political parties and their members are thus to be selfless and fair and to be directed towards the benefit of the people. At least, theoretically, that is the idea. In case people feel otherwise they have the option of making necessary changes through the next election.
It is a well known and well accepted fact that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Once in power, the political party tends to corrupt itselfby deviating from selflessness and fairness. In the absence of proper system of accountability the corruption progresses leaps and bound.
In the context of Bangladesh, not only that there exists lack of system of accountability, in addition an almost unlimited power has been provided to the chief executive through constitutional provi-
To be in power has turned out to be a very profitable business for any political party and its members. Way to get or retain that business depends on officially winning the
election. So the manipulations of election results have come into picture. Influencing the election with money and muscle power or making election related administration and officials to serve partisan interest became business of the day.
Political parties had to recruit people with money (legal or illegal), muscle power of criminals, and while in power provide protection and prosperity to them for competing with others in election game. For the same purpose of winning election, party in power started recruiting, posting, and promoting people and dishing out business and other favors on party line instead of on merit. In the process, political parties turned out to be safe sanctuary and breeding ground for criminals instead of law-abiding selfless patriotic people.
Transformation of political parties into business house for conducting unethical business has also influenced the command structure to become corporate. Party leadership calls all the shots. General members cannot have any say on who would lead or what
would be the decision.
They are to execute or implement the decisions taken at the highest level. Political parties thus lost their designated role to represent people's interest as people by and large lost ownership of the political parties.
In order to reform political parties, the character and command structure as exist must undergo a drastic change. Ownership of the party must be given back to the people. Democratisation of political party is a prerequisite.
Leadership at all stages must be elected by secret balloting of the general members of that level. Decision making process must reflect the voices of the grassroots level members and top leadership must allow and make arrangement for participatory management.
All financial transactions of the party must have transparency and must not be confined within a limited group of leaders at the top.
Election Commission has prepared a set of draft rules on the basis of the proposed People's Representation Ordinance 2008 (PRO 2008) now under consideration outlining conditions for registration of a political party. EC also had a series of discussion with all the political parties and received their views on that.
Democratisation and financial transparency within political parties have been adequately
covered to be ensured in the draft rule for getting and retaining registration at EC. In addition, many other pertinent issues which came into focus prior to and after declaration of state of emergency, like abolishment of student wings, trade unions, branch in foreign counties, etc of political parties were also included in the draft rules now ready for finalisation.
Some other issues also got importance during the public discourse. Important party post holders would not continue for more than two terms. Person holding similar positions would have to step down in case they accept a government responsibility like cabinet post. Those were felt necessary to break the corporate culture now existing in the parties. The mentioned draft set of rules for registration of political parties did not include those.
Draft PRO 2008 is still to be enacted along with the proposed set of rules for registration of political parties and code of conduct for election. All the political parties are waiting to finalise redrafting their party constitution in line with the EC's requirement. So, no reform work even on paper could be done so far.
There exists no defined and structured rule for formation or operation of political parties till date. So, political parties make their own constitution and operate party functions. It is alleged that most of the political parties do not
even follow their own party constitution.
The present party structure is built on feudal or corporate culture of king (or queen) and subjects. In presence of the existing leadership, who are looked as ruler or owner, it is not possible to start a true democratic culture and culture of financial accountability and transparency.
To expedite reform, the current leadership, especially the topmost leaders, must either relinquish position or voluntarily start
desired reform. So far, no such move could be seen by any political party. On the contrary, tendency as seen by majority and important leadership is to maintain the status quo.
Another sensitive factor in running a political party is party funding. In a country like Bangladesh a vast majority of political party members are poor. It is almost impossible for a political party to operate all its programs with the finance of the general members only.
Ghulam Muhammed Quader is a former Member of Parliament.
Fund raising is a major cause of irregularity and corruption. Control of the party activities by big subscription or even acquiring leadership position with money is a major menace. This can only be controlled in case some funding arrangement from public exchequer to political parties can be worked out with due monitoring system.