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27 September 2006 at CIRDAP Auditorium
 

Although some former advisers to caretaker governments remarked that a caretaker government enjoys 'very little power', Prof Muhammad Yunus, the micro credit guru, thinks it is sufficiently empowered to undertake necessary reforms for making the next election free and fair.

Expressing his firm hope that the next election will be free and fair, Yunus, managing director of Grameen Bank, (27 Sept, 2006) made the comment during a Nagorik Committee 2006 dialogue. He suggested a policy guideline for priorities of the next caretaker government and a 100-day action plan for the next elected government.

The caretaker government can do the tasks like separating the judiciary, making the Anti-Corruption Commission operational and strengthening the Election Commission.

CPD chairman also Convener of Nagorik Committee 2006 Prof Rehman Sobhan presided over the dialogue in the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital. CPD Executive Director Debapriya Bhattacharya conducted the dialogue. Eminent citizens of the country took part in it and expressed their opinions.

Yunus said, "The people have many expectations from a caretaker government since it is a neutral government, and it should take some necessary actions using the support of the public, which a political government would hesitate to do."

As the prospective advisers to the next caretaker government have yet to know that they will have to take the responsibility of the country, it would help them in taking decisions if the citizens provide them with advices and point out the works that need to be done, said Yunus who is also a member of Nagorik Committee 2006.

A caretaker government, which has both advantages and disadvantages, can take 'unpopular but needed decisions', since it does not have to worry about who is going to win the upcoming election, said the banker who is also a member of CPD Board of Trustees.
Citing examples of some of the government decisions, Yunus asked the next prospective caretaker government to implement pending works, and urged the people to make an advisory list to pinpoint the issues that need to be addressed.

About the next elected government, Prof Yunus suggested that it should take the most unpopular decisions within the first 100 days of its tenure as people remain more generous during that period. He also asked the next prospective elected government to take courageous and exceptional decisions, such as declaring the date for upazila elections.

He also expects that unlike other periods the would-be opposition will not boycott the next parliament while the victorious parties will also not engage themselves in the 'madness of taking revenge'.

He requested the members of the civil society to start preparing a wish list to be implemented in the first 100 days of the next elected government, which could be discussed at roundtables, discussion meetings, and different forums. He also asked them to make a list of the shortcomings of the present government during its first 100 days.

In addition to the suggestions for the next elected government's first 100 days' programme, political alliances can also announce their suggested programmes for the same period for every ministry and department, he added.

He also asked the civil society to monitor and evaluate how the next elected government carries out the suggested action plans, and asked the would-be elected government not to go in a mode of relaxation after winning the election.

Former adviser to a caretaker government Major General (retd) Moynul Hossain said a caretaker government has very little power as it works under the guidance of the president.
Referring to the constitution, he said the main job of a caretaker government is to carry out the routine work of the government and help the Election Commission to conduct the national election."Although the tenure of a caretaker government is 90 days the working days reduce to only 58 after slashing weekly and other holidays. So, what can a caretaker government do in only 58 working days?" he asked. A caretaker government cannot do anything regarding policy related issues, he said adding that everything has been politicised in the country. The system of caretaker government came into being due to mistrust among major political parties, he pointed out.

Former adviser to a caretaker government Hafizuddin Khan criticised successive government's practice of making government officials officers on special duty (OSD). He said the practice causes misuse of government funds.

M Syeduzzaman suggested increasing the retirement age of government officials to 62 years, which is now 57. He said the retirement age should be extended instead of extending retired officers' tenure to curb politicisation of civil servants.

Former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association Annisul Huq suggested strong monitoring of the candidates' election campaign spending to curb the influence of black money. He also suggested immediate separation of the judiciary from the executive branch of the government and strengthening of the Anti-corruption Commission.

Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University suggested stricter punishment for violation of electoral code of conduct.

Former minister Noor Uddin Khan, Brigadier General (retd) Shakhawat Hossain, Rokeya K Chowdhury, Feroz M Hasan, M Aminuzzaman, SM Al Hossainy, Major (retd) MA Mannan, AKM Shamsuddin, and Kazi Saleh Ahmed also took part in the discussion.
 

Download full speech of Prof Muhammad Yunus

Download presentation of Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya