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Welcome move by BNP

Treasury bench must keep its promises
WE are indeed very happy that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has decided to join the inaugural session of the newly elected Jatiyo Sangsad on January 25. In a political cultlire where the parliamentary opposition has generally not taken kindly to its defeat at general elections, the BNP’s move is certainly encouraging. We would like to think it is the first of many steps the party will take in contributing to the growth of a new, sophisticated political culture in the country. In the last few days, Begum Khaleda Zia and Khondokar Delwar Hossain have made allegations, out of pique and in less titan good taste, about the fairness of the recent elections, comments we think were highly off the mark in light of the credible way in which the voting took place. Even so, the party has demonstrated a degree of political acumen in agreeing to play its role in Parliament. The decision to go to the JS is clearly a sign of maturity and must be appreciated.
That said, we must remind the ruling Awami League-led grand alliance that for all its vast majority in the House, it will be expected to demonstrate accommodative and dignified behaviour if democracy is to take deeper roots. Our political tradition has generally been one of the ruling party or alliance trying to undermine or mock the parliamentary opposition. That has always led to an absence of serious debate on the issues and prompted, on numerous occasions, walkouts by opposition lawmakers. It is this tradition the new ruling alliance must now roll back by making sure the opposition is not ignored or its views made light of. Power has a way of instigating politicians into arrogance. It is an ailment that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina must guard against. Little will be achieved if the old bad habit of rubbing salt in opposition wounds is continued.
We are, however, heartened by Sheikh Hasina's assertion that the opposition will not be judged on the basis of its numerical strength in the Jatiyo Sangsad. In other words, it means that intellectual debate between the treasury and opposition on the issues confronting the nation will be in full play. In this connection, the BNP should take up the offer of the deputy speaker's position made by the ruling alliance in earnest and nominate for the job a party lawmaker whose experience and clout have been tested over the years. With the Awami League expected to nominate former speaker Abdul Hamid or someone of an equal stature, it is only fitting that the opposition refrain from naming as deputy speaker one with less than a distinguished parliamentary reputation.
We also hope that lawmakers from the opposition will find places as chairmen of important parliamentary standing committees, in line with the promises made earlier by Sheikh Hasina. We suggest that important bodies, like the Public Accounts Committee, be headed by opposition lawmakers. If that is done, it will be a guarantee of good, honest government on the part of the majority since ministers will think twice before trying to influence these committees into accepting their fiat.
The need today is a fresh beginning in democracy, followed by a consolidation of it. One way of ensuring that would be to limit political rhetoric in Parliament and instead focus on substantive governance.