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| Rape victims |
The
five-year misrule of the BNP-Jamat alliance government did away with all the promises
generated by the Awami League government. The situation in Bangladesh became
grim both politically and economically. There was a phenomenal rise of
terrorism.An assassination attempt was made on the Leader of the Opposition
Sheikh Hasina on 21st August, 2004 ostensibly under government tutelage that
resulted in the murder of 24 party leaders and workers, including a women
leader Mrs. Ivy Rahman. BNP-Jamat Alliance and its criminal cronies killed
21,000 leaderss and workers of the Awami League including former Finance
Minister and Member of Parliament, SAMS Kibria; labour leader and Member of
Parliament, Ahsanullah Master; Advocate Monzurul Imam and Momtazuddin. Hundreds
of thousands of Awami League supporters and members of the minority community
became victims of political vengeance of the BNP-Jamat alliance.
Criminal
syndicates were organized under the patronage of the infamous Hawa Bhaban combine.
Thousands of women and girls became victims of rape. Teachers, students,
journalists, intellectuals, women and children, businessmen – no group of
people could escape the clutches of the fascist forces. People’s lives became
absolutely insecure. With support from the government, extreme communal
militancy was born and serial grenade and bomb attacks and murders turned
Bangladesh into a haven of extremist terrorism. Meanwhile, extra-judicial killings
became a norm, and the rule of law disappeared. Bangladesh was then being
described as a failed state. 
During
the five year rule of the BNP-Jamat alliance, prices of food and other essential
commodities rose beyond the reach of the common people. Commodity prices
increased by 100 to 200 percent. Inflation increased from 1.59 during Awami
League rule to over 10 percent during the BNP-Jamat alliance government. On the
other hand, the average growth rate of 5.6 percent achieved during the Awami
League rule declined to 5.1 percent. Though the population increased by more
than one crore, food production decreased to 2 crore 61 lakh tons from the 2
crore 68 1akh tons annually produced during Awami League rule. Poverty levels
again increased to 45 percent and the population planning stagnated. Income
disparity between the poor and the rich increased. During the last seven years,
an additional one crore twenty lakh people slipped below the poverty line. Both
domestic and foreign investment decreased. Though BNP-Jamat combine came to
power on the slogan of jihad against corruption, criminalisation and corruption
became the policy of the government. Under the leadership of the son of the
Prime Minister, criminal godfathers became extremely influential.
The
Hawa Bhaban became a parallel centre of state power and the source of all
corruption and militancy. The incredibly high levels of corruption and misuse
of power by the Ministers of the BNP-Jamaat alliance; the members of Parliament
and the leaders and workers of the alliance as well as a very politicised
administration drove Bangladesh to the top of the list of the world's most
corrupt nations, where it remained for five successive years. Governmental
corruption, inefficiency and mismanagement led to failure in development.
The
power crisis became unbearable but the government failed to add a single
megawatt of electricity to the national power grid during its entire five year
term. In the power sector alone, Taka twenty thousand crore was misused or
stolen. Due to the extreme shortfall in the production of power, education and
agricultural sectors faced an acute crisis. When farmers took to the streets
demanding uninterrupted power supply at Kansat, some twenty of them were shot
and killed. An all-pervasive stagnation prevailed in the education, health,
communication and women’s development sectors. The alliance government
politicized the administration, police, armed forces, judiciary, universities,
public service commission, and all other government and many non-governmental organizations.
Hundreds of civil, military and police officers were dismissed from service or
given forced retirement. At the same time, irregular appointments and promotion
were given to corrupt and inefficient personnel who were party loyalists.
Leakage of public service examination question papers became a norm to
facilitate recruitment of party cadres.
The
constitution was amended and the retirement age of the judges of the appellate
division of the Supreme Court was extended by two years with the ultimate
objective of appointing a party loyalist who would then serve as the Chief Advisor
of the Caretaker government. By appointing inefficient and corrupt people as
judges, the prestige of the judiciary and its status as a bastion of fairness
and justice were destroyed. BNP-Jamaat alliance government made the Parliament
ineffective and destroyed all democratic institutions. The opposition members
of Parliament were not allowed to speak, the permanent committees ceased to
function effectively, and democratic practices were trampled under brute
majority enjoyed by the then government. The Election Commission was turned
into a loyalist organ and election engineering was resorted to so that the
BNP-Jamaat alliance could win the election due in January 2007, and permanently
enjoy power. Disregarding the constitution and the judgment of the Supreme
Court, a voters list was prepared which added12.3 million fake voters. Three
hundred party loyalists were appointed as Upazilla election officers. Stealing
of people’s voting rights and election engineering were taken to such a level
that the whole electoral process lost its credibility.
Caretaker
Regime (October 2006-November 2008)
The
BNP-Jamaat alliance government faced strong resistance from the public while
trying to transfer power to loyalists. At the very end of their rule, they
killed 70 leaders and workers of Awami League throughout the country. In its
effort to come back to power, the BNP-Jamaat combine began implementing its
blue print. Violating constitutional provisions Begum Zia’s puppet President
lajuddin Ahmed formed a Caretaker government appointing himself as Chief
Advisor. Chief Adviser Iajuddin could never rise above party interests and four
of his Advisers resigned in protest against his indecision and duplicity. He
failed to create conditions for a free and fair election and faced people’s
resistance. At a critical juncture, on 11 January 2007, Emergency was declared
in the country. Prof Iajuddin admitted his guilt and resigned from the position
of Chief Advisor. With popular support, a new Caretaker government was formed
under the leadership of Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed with behind the scene support of
the armed forces. Under the Emergency political activities were banned for an
indefinite period.
Meanwhile,
the tenure of the present Caretaker government has crossed nearly two years.
The government has been ruling the country with various limitations, weaknesses,
lapses as well as some successes. This government has separated the judiciary
from the executive, reformed the Election Commission, Public Service
Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission etc. Another positive step taken by this
government was the preparation of a voters' list with photograph. Our armed
forces have earned people’s admiration for accomplishing this task with great
efficiency. The caretaker government has also reformed the electoral laws and
procedure.
The
forthcoming parliamentary elections have created an opportunity for the reAhmed
formed a Caretaker government appointing himself as Chief Advisor. Chief
Adviser Iajuddin could never rise above party interests and four of his Advisers
resigned in protest against his indecision and duplicity. He failed to create
conditions for a free and fair election and faced people’s resistance. At a critical
juncture, on 11 January 2007, Emergency was declared in the country. Prof
Iajuddin admitted his guilt and resigned from the position of Chief Advisor. With
popular support, a new Caretaker government was formed under the leadership of
Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed with behind the scene support of the armed forces. Under
the Emergency political activities were banned for an indefinite period. Meanwhile,
the tenure of the present Caretaker government has crossed nearly two years.
The government has been ruling the country with various limitations, weaknesses,
lapses as well as some successes. This government has separated the judiciary
from the executive, reformed the Election Commission, Public Service
Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission etc. Another positive step taken by this
government was the preparation of a voters' list with photograph. Our armed
forces have earned people’s admiration for accomplishing this task with great
efficiency. The caretaker government has also reformed the electoral laws
and procedure.
The
forthcoming parliamentary elections have created an opportunity for the
reestablishment of democracy and inspired hopes for rapid socio-economic development
mainly by providing good governance and people’s participation. In this context
Bangladesh Awami League declares its election manifesto with the promise of
change by making our dear motherland a country free from hunger and poverty,
illiteracy, corruption and militancy. We believe that the right to vote and the
right to food hold the key to the alleviation of poverty.
