Former adviser to the caretaker government in 1996 and 2001, Syed Manzur Elahi was born in 1942 in Kolkata. After receiving BA from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata University in 1962, he obtained MA in Economics from Dhaka University in 1964. Chairman of the Apex Group, he is also Chairman of Holiday Publications Limited, Mutual Trust Bank Ltd and Freedom Foundation, director of International Chamber of Commerce, and member of Public Administration Reforms Commission, Regulatory Reforms Commission and board of trustees of Centre for Policy Dialogue. Shamim Ashraf and Wasim Bin Habib took the interview.
How do you evaluate the existing situation?
Election should be held on the scheduled time. We will have more complications if is not held. Awami League (AL) is saying that they will participate in the polls while BNP is saying it won't. It will get more complicated as 2009 is going to be a crucial year from the economic perspective. I am not interested who will come to power, but I want, at any cost, an elected government whose first task would be to address economy. .
Do you think the 1/11 changeover has brought any realisation for the politicians?
1/11 would not have happened if the major political parties had compromised. They should realise that the country is bigger than their ego. The only way to govern the 14 crore people is democracy. How can the enthusiasm among the people in rural areas for polls be stopped? The major political parties should think about the 1/11 changeover and participate in the December 18 election.
One party has asked for agenda while the other spoke for no agenda…
It is surprising to see that if one says yes, the other says no. Why don't the two sit? The problems may not be solved in only one meeting. No dialogue will be fruitful if they don't have trust and confidence in each other. It is not possible for both the parties to win in the polls and loser has to be a responsible opposition party.
Are the businessmen going to play any role here?
We, the businessmen, will hold a conference next Saturday and we will give agenda to both the parties, saying that they will have to come out of confrontational and violent policies. We want that both political parties will have accountability to their manifestos. If anyone loses in the polls they have to make it clear in the manifestos that they will attend the parliament to solve all the problems in the House, not in the streets. We have to come out from the culture of hartals and strike. The mentality of "winner takes all" does not bring democracy.
Do you see need for emergency anymore?
The government has said it'll lift emergency on November 27. The candidates will have enough time for campaign. But it'll not be right if they don't.
Many have said that political parties have not changed their attitudes in the last two years…
Their attitude is that they will participate in the election if they get 100 percent surety that they will win in the election. It is not democratic attitude. The parties should mention in their manifestos that they will form a shadow government if they lose in the polls. Effective opposition is the main thing of democracy.
BNP is for postponing elections for a few months and is sticking to its seven-point demand…
I think they need time to consolidate their position. The condition of the party is not good as 50 to 60 party leaders are now in jail.
Some parties want the convicted to contest in the election…
It means they will nominate the person who did not pay his bills or is involved in stealing or forgery. Just see the mayoral elections, the same persons returned. Civil society members and the people are silent, which they take as a sign of weakness. And whenever we try to speak against these, the politicians behave as if only they know politics and others cannot say anything.
How do you evaluate the recent activities of the EC?
I think the caretaker government had too many agendas. Two years is a long time, and it would have been better if they had held the election in a year. They should have made sure that the convicted in the lower and upper courts could not participate in the polls. The EC has done a tremendous job by preparing a correct voter list and identity cards in one and half years.
What could be proper approach by the government?
The government delayed in taking decisions on key issues. It should have arranged the dialogue with political parties a year ago. The government has done things that have diluted the public faith and trust in it.
Please evaluate the anti-corruption drive.
Perhaps their focusing was not right. There were many loopholes in the laws of the Anti-Corruption Commission, which they should have tightened, and held the election just after making the voter list.
What mistakes has the government made?
The government should have held the dialogue within three to four years of taking power. It should have tightened the anti-corruption laws. They should have concentrated more on institutional corruption not on individuals.
Can't the political parties reach understanding on key national issues?
Both the parties should realise that the election must be held on December 18. All the parties should participate in the polls and the un-elected government should not be prolonged anymore. They should realise that the country is first.
How do you evaluate the minus-2 formula?
The government has made a mistake. The fact that this formula was successful in Pakistan doesn't mean that it'll succeed in Bangladesh.
What do we need to do to strengthen the EC for institutionalisation of democracy?
There is no alternative to strengthening the EC for getting honest persons as candidates in the election. In India, no postering and writing on walls is allowed, and income tax officials keep watch to catch the candidates who spend beyond the ceiling. The EC must not pay heed to any kind of influence from any office, even the PMO. The EC should be financially independent.
Many say that the notion of caretaker government is a proof of political failure…
Yes it is, and it is gradually getting more complex. An independent and strong EC could fill the vacuum. But if an elected government attempts to put control on the EC and the ACC it'll be bad for all. What we want is an accountable and transparent government, and we'll not need the caretaker government then.
What lessons do the 1/11 changeover and following exercises have for the people?
To stop recurrence of 1/11, or an extended CG, democratic institutions like an independent judiciary, ACC, effective parliament and matured leader and opposition in the house, are very essential. The parties should bring out their manifestoes, both political and economic, and be held accountable for their implementation. If democratic institutions can't be ensured and the attitude of "winners take all" is not changed, 1/11 can be repeated.
What impediments you see before an effective parliament?
What can be more regrettable than sessions not being held due to lack of quorum. The MPs are taking home the allowances and enjoying other facilities, but are not interested in going to the parliament. The two leaders should set the example. If they don't go, others will think they don't need to; they can rather remain busy in their businesses.
What do you think of business people contesting in the elections? There's some bar in the RPO.
Businessmen shouldn't join politics. If anyone wants, he should resign form his business post. Many businessmen want to be MP to cover up their weaknesses.
Isn't Article 70 a bar to a healthy practice of free debates in the parliament?
It blocks floor-crossing by MPs elected with parties tickets and should be abolished absolutely immediately. If a party member thinks the party leaders are making a mistake, he should have the courage to stand up and say so. He doesn't have anything to fear because his constituency is his strength.
Do you have any confusion over the parliamentary elections on December 18?
No, I'm hopeful about it. It's because both the major parties know that the outcome of not participating in the elections will be terrible. At grassroots level there is strong support for election. A party will face serious consequences if it tries to boycott the election.