Task cut out for Bangladesh interim govt.

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA, JULY 8. The third caretaker government in Bangladesh's history that assumes office within a week with the mandate to conduct the general elections, will face challenges and risks much bigger than those faced by its predecessors, political analysts believe.

The Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina's term expires on July 13 when the caretaker regime will take over. Even as the country is preparing to witness a constitutional transition of power for the first time, preparations are underway for the caretaker government to take over and to conduct the elections within 90 days from the day of its swearing-in.

Against the backdrop of heightening political tension, the former Chief Justice, Mr. Latifur Rahman, will take over as the chief adviser of the caretaker regime. Justice Latifur Rahman, who has had a chequered judicial career, has to pilot the country during the interim period, tackling anti-social elements and black money in the backdrop of political conflicts between rival camps.

They say political issues, including conflicting demands on the voters' list, reform of the Election Commission and violence caused by religious fundamentalists were also likely to pose a challenge to the caretaker government.

The two previous caretaker governments were headed by the then Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed who is now President and the former Chief Justice, Mr. Habibur Rahman, in 1991 and 1996 but the magnitude of the political crisis was less at that time. Justice Latifur Rahman, who was born on March 1, 1936 in Jessore, was enrolled as a lawyer of the erstwhile East Pakistan Supreme Court in 1965. Apart from his career in the legal profession, Justice Rahman taught in Dhaka's two reputed colleges after he obtained the Masters degree in English literature from Dhaka University. He also obtained the Bachelor of Law degree from the same university.

He joined as an additional judge of the High Court division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court in November 1979 and was elevated to the Appellate Division in January 1990. He retired as the Chief Justice of the country on March 1, 2001. The Awami League formed the government on July 23, 1996, after winning the general elections and the seventh Parliament began its tenure on July 14 the same year. The current Parliament will complete its term on July 13.

According to the Constitution, the President should appoint the head of the caretaker government from among the immediate past Chief Justice and his predecessors within 15 days of dissolving Parliament. The President will also appoint advisers to the interim government, not exceeding 10, in consultation with the chief adviser. Justice Latifur Rahman has given his consent to be the chief adviser to the caretaker government.

Sheikh Hasina expressed the hope that her party would return to power in the elections. She has made only one demand to the caretaker government: hold the elections on schedule at any cost. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main rival of the Awami League, is also hopeful that the Opposition alliance would win the people's support in the polls.

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Section  : International
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