The
Candidates who take part in different examination for getting their
willing job, they are frequently asked by the examiner in their written
examination or their viva voce and that is about "The Parliamentary
Democracy of Bangladesh". For this why, I want to describe about this
topic in detail.
The Parliamentary Democracy of Bangladesh
An
ideal government in Thomas Jefferson's view is not meant to strengthen
the power of many but the power of everyone within the limits of his
competence. An ideal government can exist in parliamentary democracy in
which everyone can exercise power within the limits of his competence.
So parliamentary democracy has been the fondest dream of the people of
Bangladesh since 1971. Although we have passed four decades, we have a
relatively low exposure to the practice of parliamentary democracy.
Parliamentary
democracy has been practised in Bangladesh since her birth. Moreover,
after few years of practicing Parliamentary democracy since its
liberation in 1971. Bangladesh went through serious political
instability with the staging of coups and counter coups. In the process,
by the courtesy of military dictators, the form of government was
changed to presidential system. Again in the early nineties as the
democratic political forces got themselves united and succeeded in their
fight against the longest serving dictator, H M Ershad, holding of free
and fair election under a neutral caretaker government paved the way
for amending the constitution to revert to the parliamentary form of
government in 1991.
But unfortunately the last several years of
parliamentary democracy fell for short of living up to the public
expectation since February 1991. Four parliaments 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th
were elected through popular voting under non partisan caretaker
government system and another short-lived parliament, the 6th one, was
elected amidst boycott by all mainstream political parties and very low
voters turnout.
Public did not expect much from the 6th parliament
which functioned for less than two weeks. But the people of the country
had great expectations from the 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th parliaments which
have been elected through fair polls under caretaker government.
Political
intolerance, confrontational politics, winner takes all attitude halted
our advancement to the path of a sustained democratic culture. Repeated
walkouts, abstentions and permanent house boycotts by the opposition in
all these four parliaments made the parliamentary affairs all the more
dull and non-effective. Treasury bench led one-sided discussions in half
empty parliaments did not bear no significance for the constituents.
It
is unfortunate that chiefs of major political parties are not on
talking terms. Having seen the democratic practices in other democratic
countries, one feels ashamed of what has been happening in Bangladesh.
The unfortunate part of Bangladesh politics is that the chiefs of two
major political parties do not talk to each other. It goes against the
fundamental principle of democracy.
The role of the
speaker is crucial in the House of parliamentary democracy, as the
expert say, the most essential quality of the speaker in his strict
impartiality. He has to protect the rights of all sectors of the House.
As an umpire, he has to see that rules of the House are observed by all.
In
making the parliament effective in line of the expectations of the
people the role of the House Leader is vital. In Parliamentary
democracy, the Leader of the House is entitled to act as the safeguard
for the ruling and opposition lawmakers through he/she is elected from
the ruling party.
The role of the leader of the opposition party
in parliamentary democracy is responsible. The leader of the opposition
in the House is considered the chief of the shadow government . If
his/her party is in power, the strategy to run the state will be
reflected his party activities in and whips, the opposition leader will
also give the guidelines to accomplish the parliament's business with
efficiency. He/she will build the bridge of understanding between the
ruling party and the opposition through frequent meeting with the House
Leader.
Unfortunately, there is no harmony between the House
Leader and the opposition leader. They accuse each other of destroying
the parliamentary democracy.
The role of parliaments members in
parliamentary democracy is very important. Parliaments members are
responsible for promulgating and changing laws and politics. So
parliaments members are familiar with the existing laws and politics.
They must be sensitive and well-informed of the needs and demands of the
people.
If the parliament is the nucleus of a
democratic state, then the committee system within the parliament is the
heart of the nucleus. The committee system is the effective way of
ensuring the executive according accountability to the legislature.
There are fifty one parliamentary committees in our parliament. Among
them thirty nine are parliamentary standing committees.
Sick
politics has been talking a heavy toll of the country's spirit of
parliamentary democracy which the nation had achieved with great
sacrificed. If the parliamentary democracy becomes dysfunctional, the
entire country suffers. Instead of moving forward, we will regress. We
should know that democracy is the rule of majority but the minority
party's right must be protected fully. To consolidate parliamentary
democracy, the majority has to work with the minority in the parliament.
This alone ensures effectiveness of the democratic process.
