Tension between the government and the opposition has eased a bit. The main opposition Awami League has returned to the parliament in face of donor pressure. It has raised its caretaker government and Elections Commission reform proposal in the House. The government said it is ready to discuss the issue, but so far there has been no concrete development towards dialogue. The diplomatic community meanwhile has grown active. In a bid to create positive vibes, they turned up at the cricket field where Awami League and BNP jointly took on the diplomats. British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury also took to the field.

The diplomats’ excessive interest in Bangladesh’s democracy seems to have made it difficult for Awami League to continue boycotting the parliament or resigning from it. The diplomatic community feels the uncertainty over the next general election will clear  gradually, unless the government takes any untoward measure.

The Anti-Corruption Commission

The Anti-Corruption Commission has finally started investigating the alleged corruption of a number of ministers, MPs and officials. It is investiging charges against the shipping ministry regarding leasing out the Aricha ferry ghat and  installing CCTV in Chittagong. It has also formed an investigation team to scrutinize the purchase of 5000 computers by the science and technology ministry.

Also, investigation is underway regarding the alleged misappropriation of funds in road construction by the Roads and Highway Department under the Communication Ministry. The Commission’s Chairman Justice Sultan Hosain Khan has told the media, “We won’t hesitate to investigate any corrupt people. However, there is difference of opinion about the rules and regulations when it comes to framing the charge sheets.”

Though the Anti-Corruption Commission is termed as “independent”, the people feel it is merely idling away its time. It has not only picked a quarrel with the bureaucrats, but has had its in-house troubles as well. Differences have arisen among the members of the Commission as well as among its officials and employees.

Some people believe that though the government has established an ‘independent’ Anti-Corruption Commission under international pressure, it does not really want to see it functioning independently. It has turned into an impotent institution as per the wish of the government high-ups. So, how much progress the Commission can actually make in terms of investigating the alleged corruption of the ministers, MPs and bureaucrats, remains a big question. Political observers say that if Bangladesh wants to avoid the stigma of being named most corrupt country for the sixth consecutive time, the government must make the Commission independent in the real sense of the term. But would the coalition government take the risk of seeing its ministers and MPs facing corruption charges in court? That’s a million-dollar question.

Meanwhile the manpower crisis in Commission deepens. The Commission sent a list of 1376 employees to the government, but concerned sources say the government is going to man the ACC with 600 employees and only 285 will be picked from the list the Commission submitted. Designations of officials are changing and some second-class officials are going to be demoted to third class. It requires no soothsayer to predict that the Commission will be exactly elated when it receives the government’s list. It is still uncertain what awaits the employees who are not to be absorbed.

So it is clear that the Anti-Corruption Commission won’t be emerging from its quagmire anytime too soon. The Commission Chairman Justice Sultan Hossain Khan has said, “There is doubt if the Commission is going to be functional with the government-prescribed organogram.”

The Kansat showdown

Local MP Shahjahan Miah’s fondness for showdown ruined efforts to resolve the crisis over Kansat killing. A compromise meeting with Palli Bidyut Unnayan Sangram Parishad (PBUSP) was scheduled at Shibganj Upazila Parishad auditorium on February 24. The PBUSP leader Golam Rabbani came to attend the meeting. But lack of favorable environment for talks and a security threat prompted Rabbani to return without holding discussions.

According to reports, for the sake of creating a congenial environment PBUSP reached an understanding with the local administration – Shahjahan Miah’s supporters would stay near Shibganj cinema hall and those of Rabbani would stay beside KG School. But on Friday BNP leaders and activists started to gather at Shibganj Upazila Parishad premises, the nearby education board and the neighboring Sonali Bank area since morning violating the mutual agreement. Aggrieved Rabbani’s supporters protested these gatherings of the BNP men and Rabbani left the meeting venue. Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu requested Rabbani to remain, but Rabbani refused.

The meeting was then held without Rabbani. Some of the demands were not met, but Minu promised to fulfill these later. However, as Rabbani did not attend the meeting, families of the seven killed in the Kansat incident did not go to collect the compensation money.

In a demonstration at Pukuria, Kansat, Rabbani said they are not going to accept any unilateral decision. Most of the people of Kansat believe the local MP Shahjahan Miah had a hand behind the Kansat tragedy. They could not accept Shahjahan’s coming to the meeting accompanied by a large number of supporters.