The foremost task of interim govt is electoral reforms

Illustration: TBS

Weeks after taking over as the chief adviser of the interim government following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's 15-year autocratic regime through a mass uprising on 5 August, Professor Yunus, in his address to the nation on 25 August, discussed his reform plans as well as the duration of the interim government and the timing of national parliamentary elections.

"Everyone is eager to know when our government will step down. The answer lies in your hands—when you will let us go. We are not here to govern the country. When the election will take place is a purely political decision, not ours. The people of the country must decide when to let us go. We will leave when they ask us to," said Professor Yunus, without specifying the timeframe for the next elections.

However, Dr Muhammad Yunus mentioned that the government has initiated reforms in various areas, adding, "I urge the people to start a discussion on what minimum tasks we must complete before we leave and what tasks we can leave moderately accomplished. Through this discussion, we can gain some direction. However, the final decision is a political one and political decisions will come from political discussions."

During his recent first briefing to various foreign missions and representatives from international organisations based in Dhaka, Professor Yunus also outlined his plans to oversee free, fair, and participatory elections as soon as possible, following reforms to the Election Commission, the judiciary, public administration, law enforcement agencies, and the media. 

Just a day earlier, in a meeting with foreign diplomats, the Nobel laureate had voiced a similar plan. Speaking virtually at the third 'Voice of the Global South' summit hosted by India, he stated, "Our task now is to carry out vital reforms in our electoral system, judiciary, local government, media, economy, and education."

While Professor Yunus's intentions are clear and aligned with the expectations of the masses and the young people who sacrificed their lives during the protests, it is time for his interim government to unveil a roadmap with a timeframe to bring reforms to the electoral system. 

This will allow the people of Bangladesh to regain their right to choose their rulers after a specific period, which is the very essence of democracy.

When rulers lack accountability to the people, they are bound to become despots. Therefore, the foremost task of the interim government is to mend or redesign the electoral procedure to prevent any future fascist governance.

Over the last 15 years, the activities of institutions such as the Election Commission, the judiciary, public administration, law enforcement agencies, the central bank, and the media—responsible for strengthening democracy, the rule of law, and overall good governance—have systematically come into question. 

However, the root cause of all misrule, mismanagement, and the absence of human rights has been the erosion of the electoral system in Bangladesh. 

If there had not been deeply flawed general elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024, many of the complications related to good governance would not have arisen. When rulers lack accountability to the people, they are bound to become despots. Therefore, the foremost task of the interim government is to mend or redesign the electoral procedure to prevent any future fascist governance.

In the Bangladeshi context, elections conducted under a caretaker administration remain the best option despite the system's inherent merits and demerits. The 15th amendment to the constitution in 2011 abolished the caretaker government system, which gradually but inevitably paved the way for 15 years of autocratic, despotic, and increasingly fascist rule in Bangladesh.

Recipe for electoral reforms

In a nation sharply divided by politics, where administrative, social, and state institutions are deeply politicised and every segment of society feels the impact, a caretaker system might be essential to ensure impartial supervision of national elections.

Whether using paper or electronic ballots, fake vote casting is a major issue in Bangladesh's electoral system. To address this, authorities should mandate smart national ID cards for every voter and ensure the availability of these smart IDs for all. 

These IDs can be verified at polling booths using fingerprints or, if necessary, iris scanning, effectively eliminating fake voters and removing the need for polling booth agents from political parties.

In the 11th parliamentary elections on 30 December 2018, more than 2 lakh polling booths were set up across over 40,000 centres. Political parties currently deploy members as polling agents at polling booths, but eliminating the need for these agents could help parties reduce their reliance on dedicated activists, who are often involved in income-generating activities through unethical practices.

Voter roll management needs significant improvement, with public access through websites and dynamic, user-friendly updates. Implementing blockchain technology, known for its secure and immutable electronic data transactions, could further enhance the integrity of voter roll management.

Bangladesh should move away from the one-day voting tradition and instead allow voters to cast their ballots up to seven days in advance, similar to early voting in the US. 

A staggered election over several days could also reduce the need for deploying large numbers of law enforcers in a single day. Managing law and order in 300 parliamentary seats in a single day is an uphill task for Bangladesh's law enforcement agencies.

Irregularities in and around voting centres, excluding the vote-casting room, can be effectively monitored and controlled using CCTV cameras connected to live servers. 

Artificial intelligence can analyse the footage in real time, detecting suspicious activities and promptly alerting authorities.

To strengthen democracy, political parties must uphold democratic practices within their own structures, much like the adage "charity begins at home." Reforms to the representation of the people order should ensure that key positions within parties are elected through credible secret ballots, making unopposed or uncontested selections illegal. 

Additionally, the Election Commission should audit the parties' annual incomes and expenses and make it mandatory for them to disclose their donors to ensure transparency.

Constitutional Reforms

Constitutional reforms should establish a term limit for the prime minister, perhaps restricting an individual to serving no more than two terms. This would help break the cycle of power politics and promote greater internal democracy within political parties.

Many also advocate for changes to balance the power between the president and the prime minister. However, such changes must be carefully reviewed to avoid potential chaos in national governance. 

Ensuring decentralisation of power can be effectively achieved through a genuine separation of the judiciary from the executive branch, in line with the Masdar Hossain case verdict delivered by the Supreme Court in 1999.

A significant concern has been the restriction on MPs' freedom to express their opinions on national issues. Apart from matters such as no-confidence motions and finance bills, lawmakers should be permitted to voice their views freely, fostering robust and healthy debate in parliament. 

Therefore, Article 70 of the Constitution should be amended to help counterbalance the ruling party's dominance.

Postscript

Let people never forget the supreme sacrifices made by students and citizens in their fight to reclaim the legitimate rights every nation should enjoy in the modern world. 

Although the Chief Adviser in his address to the nation announced plans to establish a memorial foundation for the massacre's victims and other measures to support the injured, it is equally vital for the government to follow up on advanced medical treatment for them and provide financial support to the affected families.

Additionally, the government should compile an authentic list of martyrs and those injured in the mass uprising, as Bangladesh, seeks to become a reformed nation 53 years after its independence.

Shamim A Zahedy. Sketch: TBS

Shamim A Zahedy is a journalist. He can be reached at [email protected] 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standar