Transfers done to ensure neutrality, says caretaker Govt.

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA, AUG 11. Less than a month in office, the caretaker Government headed by Mr. Justice Latifur Rahman has made drastic changes in the police and civil administrations, transferring, appointing and re-appointing several thousands of officials to give the administration a ``neutral look''.

Thought criticised for the alleged ``harassment'', the interim Government has defended the transfers, saying such transfers and postings will continue till the poll schedule is announced. Four advisers (who are equivalent to Cabinet Ministers) said here at a joint news conference that the transfers and postings in the administration were made ``to create an atmosphere conducive to free and fair elections''. Mr. Abdul Mayeed Chowdhury, who holds various portfolios, including that of Information Ministry, said the transfers and postings would continue till the election schedule was announced. The caretaker Government appears determined to prove its ``neutrality'' but its actions have been questioned by the media and a section of political parties, particularly the Awami League, which have labelled these actions ``unjust'' and ``mysterious''.

One major task that the caretaker Government has undertaken is the amendment to the Representation of People's Order (RPO) which regulates the country's election. The President, Mr. Shahabuddin Ahmed, who is now the supreme commander of the armed forces, has promulgated an Ordinance bringing major changes in the 1972 electoral laws.

The Ordinance empowers members of the armed forces to arrest anyone without a warrant while performing election duties. However, the amended law authorises the election commission to take punitive measures against members of law-enforcing agencies if they ``fail to discharge'' their election duties.

The Awami League is in favour of the deployment of the army during the elections to maintain law and order but opposes giving it magistracy powers. But the Awami League's main challenger, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-E-Islami are in favour of giving the armed forces magistracy powers. A leading Bangladesh daily, the Janakantha, asked whether the forthcoming elections were going to be held ``under democratic environment, or under a mini-martial law.''

The Ordinance amending the 1972 RPO empowers the Election Commission to formulate rules based on this electoral law. It also suggests punitive measures against any violation of decisions of the Election Commission considering as disregard for the High Court.

Meanwhile, the chief of the four-party rightist alliance, Begum Khaleda Zia, has begun her formal election campaign from Sylhet. She claimed that her alliance, despite the fact that it has yet to finalise seat-sharing among partners, will win the next poll and form a ``nationalist government''. Her rival, Sheikh Hasina has asserted no one will be able to defeat her party through conspiracy in the next election if the party workers stand united behind the candidates. ``People will vote for Boat (her party election symbol), and there is no force in the country that can beat the Awami League.''

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Section  : International
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