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Dr Kamal for caretaker restoration

Staff Correspondent
Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday suggested restoring the caretaker government system, which was cancelled following a Supreme Court verdict last year, for the sake of a free and fair general election.
“The constitution could be amended on the basis of discussion”, he said, at a time when the government stands firm in holding the next parliamentary polls under the present government and the main opposition, BNP, is waging movement against it.
"Cancellation of the caretaker government (CG) system was done in a supersonic way without any discussion. The Supreme Court also gave only a brief order, not a full verdict, on the issue”, said Dr Kamal, also an author of Bangladesh's constitution.
Referring to the unacceptable elections of 1986, Magura by-elections of 1994, and the general elections of 1996
and their bad consequences, he said, “We must ensure that the elections be free of black money, communalism, and rigging”.
It is a question if the Election Commission (EC) alone can hold fair polls or it requires other assistance, he said, adding that these issues are to be discussed, and the CG issue should not be a closed issue.
Dr Kamal, also president of Gono Forum, made the remarks at a discussion on democracy, human rights and good governance at the city's Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban, organised by an upcoming private television channel, Ekattor, yesterday.
Barrister Amir UI Islam, another author of the constitution, however, said the CG, which has already put the Chief Justice's office in crisis, cannot be a permanent feature in democracy.
"It is the EC, which is a permanent solution. I think, now the EC has
restored its credibility. Alongside, the media is playing a very strong role. So none can hamper a fair poll even under a political government”, he said.
Referring to media's role, Rawnak Jahan, a professor at Columbia University, said presently most of the media outlets are urban and seminarcentric. Ekattor should focus more on people's issues, going beyond the capital and bring out the news behind the news, and involve the grassroots leaders, she suggested.
A rights activist, Advocate Sultana Kamal, said choosing a newspaper or watching a television channel means that one elects it the way people elect their political leadership. "So the media should act responsibly keeping in mind the people's interests".
Former vice chancellor of Dhaka University Dr Emazuddin Ahmed and Ekattor television's Managing Director Mozammel Babu also spoke.