Dhaka, Nov 28 (Just News) : Criticism against the election commission (EC) from almost all quarters, except the incumbents, indicates a greater failure of the constitutional bodies and other institutions to address the grievances of various stakeholders.
They say such state institutions, built for ensuring justice, accountability and transparency, have not been functioning properly over the years, losing their integrity to parochial party interests.
If the EC fails to build confidence in the political parties and the masses before the all important general elections due on 30 December, the national political crisis, as stakeholders have expressed concern, might be prolonged.
Apart from the EC, the National Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and the attorney general’s office are some of the organisations that help maintain the check and balance of a functional democracy.
The top posts of such organisations are filled with persons ‘loyal to the ruling camp’, not men of high competence and integrity, the stakeholders said adding that such persons cannot assert their position and instead remain subservient to the regime.
“Successive governments have often converted these institutions into almost agents of the ruling party or the coalition,” Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Ifthekharuzzaman told Prothom Alo.
He pointed out that the top office bearers of such constitutional bodies are often perceived to have served the purpose of the ruling authorities rather than meeting public interests in any way.
The National Human Rights Commission has not taken any effective steps to stop the extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearances – an issue of human rights that has drawn global criticism.
Also, the Anti-Corruption Commission is criticised, especially by the opposition parties, for using it as means to harass the political rivals of the incumbents.
“No matter whatr we say, the ACC is dictated by the government. It is finding out cases of corruption allegedly committed by the opposition leaders 20 years ago but it cannot see any corruption by the government people,” tax lawyer Aminul Islam said.
He added that officials in these institutions often act as if they are ‘family servants’. “Had they functioned properly as an independent entity, the people could have got justice and services.”
A non-government college teacher in Khulna, Md Shalahuddin Molla feels that the recruitment process followed by the Public Service Commission should be more transparent, especially allocation marks given in viva voce, to ensure justice and equity.
He insisted that the appointment of the PSC chairman and members should be made in accordance with qualifications and integrity of the persons, instead of their allegiance to the ruling party.
Ekram Hossain, research fellow at Development Link Foundation, recommended that the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh as a constitutional body should function smoothly to ensure transparency and accountability of how public money is spent.
“But unfortunately, the people even do not know what the functions of the CAG are,” he said adding that the CAG office should make its annual reports public simultaneously submitting it to the president for discussion in parliament.
An institution like Dhaka University is not delivering what it is supposed to deliver in terms of quality of education and research, said NGO official Sayedur Rahman.
Referring to the allegations of recruitment teachers based on party affiliation, he said the authorities cannot take any decision on the basis of merit and ethics.
About how to rebuild these institutions, the TIB’s Ifthekharuzzaman said the government and members of parliament must demonstrate political will to create conducive atmosphere so that they can function without partisan influence and without fear and favour.
“The mindset of the officials of these institutions, too, has to be changed,” he said.
(Just News/mi/0952hr.)
