Bangladesh's former military ruler Lt Gen Hossain Mohammad Ershad has proposed a new electoral formula based on proportional representation of parties in the parliament, to solve the growing disagreement between major political parties on reforming the caretaker government.
A debate on reforming the caretaker administration to ensure fair polls might warm up the country's political scenario in the coming months as opposition parties are gearing up for a popular uprising once the monsoon waters recede by October.
Under the new formula, Ershad said, voters will vote for parties rather than party-nominated candidates. "Following the elections, parties will nominate members to the new parliament entitled to them in proportion to the percentage of votes they have received. Parliament will be formed by party nominees based on popularity," Ershad told Gulf News in an exclusive interview in Dubai on Monday. He is here on a private visit.
"The majority party or parties in parliament will then form the government based on the mandate."
Bangladesh adopted a non-political caretaker government system to oversee general elections, following the resignation of Ershad in December 1990. Accordingly, the last retired chief justice of the country's Supreme Court takes over a non-party caretaker administration for 90 days to oversee the general elections.
Since then, the people voted out governments in three successive elections held in 1991, 1996 and 2001. The incumbent Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and her rival Shaikh Hasina switched roles as prime minister and leader of the opposition three times since 1991.
As a result, attempts to tamper with the system or remote-control the caretaker administration to engineer election results continued by the parties in power.
The present government led by Khaleda Zia who leads a four-party alliance, earlier appointed 20 judges, one of whose educational certificates came under public scrutiny following alleged forgery.
Opposition alleged that they are supporters of the ruling coalition, appointed to engineer the election results in favour of the present government in future.
Reform proposal
To add insult to injury, the government has recently extended the tenure of the present Chief Justice, so that the last retired chief justice K.M. Hassan a known supporter of the incumbent government can become the head of the next caretaker administration, raising suspicion among opposition parties and prompting them to demand a review of the caretaker system.
"Our biggest problem is that our politicians are not honest, neither are they sincere. A caretaker system is a shame to them. It proves that they are not trustworthy to even conduct a fair election," he said. "People who cannot guarantee fair elections are voted to run the country. How can one trust a leader to run a country under whom elections aren't safe?"
Opposition parties and government are currently debating the reform proposal announced by a 14-party alliance last month.
Ershad, whose role could become very crucial in the next election, is careful in making any move right now. He is under tremendous pressure from the government not to join the opposition, as he gains popularity.
"I can see a desire among the people for alternate leadership. Our people are fed up with the two ladies and want me to run the country. However, my party is weak and my candidates do not have the funds to fight. But we are gaining ground and will be in a position to bargain for power," he said.
Ershad's Jatiya Party was split into three, one aligned with the ruling coalition, the other with the opposition Awami League. His faction, the largest one, is keeping its options open. He recently divorced his second wife Bidisha who was closing ranks with the League, apparently under pressure from the government.
Ershad is expected to make his moves once the government hands over power to the caretaker administration.
"We are closely watching the developments and will make the right decision at the right time," he said, smiling. Right now, he is keeping his cards close to his chest.
Gulf News
