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| Bangladesh faces danger of martial law | | | NEW DELHI:
Bangladesh is in dire crisis. Crisis-ridden Bangladesh is not a good omen for India. New Delhi seems somewhat perturbed by unpleasant events and happenings in Bangladesh in recent days. The all too real danger of martial law hangs over Bangladesh like a shroud in the run-up to the controversial January 22 parliamentary elections facing an opposition boycott that will rob it of legitimacy.
Hours after Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmad's caretaker administration announced that it was going ahead with the polls, a three-day blockade was imposed by the Shaikh Hasina Wajed-led, 14-party opposition alliance. Clashes with authorities have injured many.
Bangladesh is at a standstill. But the military, out in force to keep the peace, has asked for wide-ranging powers to make arrests without a warrant. After 1990 when power passed to the people, the Army has stayed out of politics, building a reputation worldwide as a UN peacekeeping force. Whether it risks that hard-won image and seizes power or gives in to the temptation when power is thrust on it remains to be seen.
In such a fluid situation, all the political players must know their rigidity is akin to playing with fire. Without electoral reform, Hasina's grand alliance refuses to participate in what she sees as a flawed election. Outgoing Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, dismisses allegations of the presence of 20 million bogus voters on the updated list, although independent election observers say otherwise.
On Monday (Jan 8), Bangladsh's Army Chief was sumoned to the Presidential palace in Dhaka following a day of renewed clashes between police and political activists. They discussed thelatest developments and possible ways to restore order ahead of the polls.
The President-cum-caretaker administrator insists he will go by the Constitution of Bangladesh, which stipulates elections must be held in 90 days. Clearly this nation of 140 million is in crisis. All the actors on the political stage must take a step back, look at options anew.
Is it worth going ahead with such an election? Would it be better to get the Supreme Court to set new dates? Should the original 2,000 voters lists be used? Is there room for an unbiased caretaker government to set a fresh agenda? Imposing martial law must not be the answer.
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