Why is the CTG system a big deal?

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Why is the CTG system a big deal?

Brig. Gen Shamsuddin Ahmed

BNP with its Islamist allies, who had opposed the liberation of this country in 1971, are seemingly on a war path to realise their demand ostensibly for a neutral caretaker government (CTG) to oversee the next parliamentary election, which is now two and a half years away.

It is difficult to believe that the opposition has decided to take to the streets by compressing hartals, lasting as long as 48 hours at a stretch causing both immense sufferings to the people and damaging the tottering economy further, for the sake of a CTG about which BNP's attitude has always been cynical from the very beginning.

When the idea of a neutral CTG was mooted by AL, following an engineered by-election result of Magura-2 constituency in favour of the then ruling BNP candidate in 1994, BNP fought tooth and nail against the move. Begum Khaleda Zia had scorned the idea of neutrality and brushed it aside by saying that nobody is neutral except a lunatic and a minor.

True, BNP under tremendous pressure from the opposition led by AL had to amend the constitution towards a CTG system in 1996 but it always looked askance at the system.

Under the CTG system three parliamentary elections have been held so far. BNP lost twice and won once. AL on the other hand lost once and won twice. Begum Khaleda Zia cried foul and questioned the neutrality of the CTG each time her party lost the election. She accused the last CTG, headed by Dr.Fakhruddin Ahmed, of having engineered the election in favour of AL.

Sheikh Hasina also cried foul and blamed the CTG when AL lost. She made very scathing remarks against the then chief advisor Justice Latifur Rahman whom, on the other hand, Begum Khaleda Zia showered favours upon by allowing him to stay in the posh and sprawling state house and enjoy state hospitality during the entire duration of her government. So much for the neutrality of the CTG system and the self-conflicting stand of BNP and AL on the system.


Now that the CTG system has been scraped from the constitution by the government in line with the supreme court verdict, Begum Khaleda Zia and her like minded politico-religio wise men and women are waging a sort of war on the streets to bring back the lunatics and minors to take charge and conduct the next parliamentary election.

Let us look at the CTG system which was a brain child of the BNP. A motley hand-picked council of 10 advisors headed by a chief advisor to be appointed by the president would constitute the CTG which would govern the country and conduct parliamentary election. It is clearly an aberration of democracy. It runs counter to the basic principle of democracy which is enshrined in our constitution as one of the four fundamental state principles, to have in place an unelected dispensation no matter how transitory, to govern this country of 160 million freedom loving people and conduct an election of such national importance. The question is: Can the votaries of the CTG claim to be the custodians of democracy in this country?

It is a pity that we can trust a democratically elected political government to govern the country and guide the destiny of this nation for 5 years but we cannot trust this elected government to conduct parliamentary election.

We have been experimenting with this undemocratic, grotesque and unique CTG system as the exclusive preserve of our politicians all these years but practically to no purpose, because neither BNP nor AL has come to terms with the system whenever they lost during the election. Both cried foul and questioned the neutrality of CTG. The problem with BNP and AL, or to be precise with Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, is that they are in no mood to accept defeat in election. Come what may, they must win and rule the roost. But the reality is that in election one wins and walks in the corridors of power and the other loses and walks down the streets.

But let me say in fairness to AL that this time the government took a giant step forward towards democracy when it decided to establish all parliamentary standing committees in the very first session of the National Assembly.

It was again a rare democratic gesture when the BNP, despite its reduced strength in the parliament, is well represented in the standing committees. Two standing committees are headed by opposition law makers. Besides, all standing committees are headed by members of parliament including ministerial committees, where concerned ministers have to attend as members and answer queries.

This is despite the opprobrium BNP has indulged in by calling the landslide victory of the AL led alliance government as having been engineered and manipulated, the government being allegedly a puppet of foreign country and the prime minister being allegedly a chief minister of that country.

Full credit goes to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for keeping her cool! A small step by Begum Khaleda Zia towards the government in the true democratic spirit would have paved the way to democracy. But that is not to be in this godforsaken land where in the words of Syed Badrul Ahsan of The Daily Star, the garden is buried deep under the weeds we have watered for years.

40 years on we are an independent country afflicted with mounting poverty and a great crisis of national unity. As a nation we have to decide once for all whether we would watch power hungry politicians tearing this country apart through hartal packed politics of confrontation and violence on the streets, setting ablaze buses and cars, shutting off all mills and factories, commerce and industries, all educational institutions and virtually holding peace loving people of this country hostage, all in the name of grabbing state power.

CTG is not the main issue of those who are flexing muscles on the streets. The main issues are the trial of war criminals of 1971, the trial of those who master minded the August 21 grenade attack at the AL rally, the trial of those involved in the Chittagong arms haul case, the policy of empowerment and emancipation of women, the principle of secularism having been restored in the constitution et al which somehow have a bearing on religion being an issue. It is time we mobilised the peace loving people to say "no" to hartal.

The writer is former Military Secretary to the President.

Apparently, the CTG which was brought into effect by the BNP is now being used to make a drama over it and the reasons are merely personal to avoid court cases that will expose the BNP.

Or which allow the AL to reek vengeance since BD posters state that its kangaroo courts in Bangladesh.

What exactly is the big deal about the CTG?

 

[saleen_s7]

Apparently, the CTG which was brought into effect by the BNP is now being used to make a drama over it and the reasons are merely personal to avoid court cases that will expose the BNP.

Or which allow the AL to reek vengeance since BD posters state that its kangaroo courts in Bangladesh.

What exactly is the big deal about the CTG?

I may have my details wrong, but it was SHeikh Hasina who has wanted the CTG system which she wants to scrap now. That is why Khaleda ZIa was ousted from power before in 1994-1995 before completing her entire term. Then the CTG was formed, which bought AL in power.
Other than that, this report has been written with extreme bias ness. Its funny how the awami regime is blaming the BNP for being involved with 21st August grenade attack once allying them with ULFA and the 2nd time allying them with LeT. But that incident is minor compared to the BDR mutiny where the attackers given only 7-8 years of jail.
I am not saying or even suggesting that BNP is innocent and has not been involved in any atrocities, but all this cases after making the headlines, seem to just disappear. Anytime BNP tries hartals or any obstruction, we start hearing about this cases. I am all for the war criminal tribunal, but why hasn't the court given a verdict. Its been a year, and no sentences. If BNP was actually involved in 10 truck arms case, then why was it stopped while BNP was in power? Surely, if the ruling party is involved they can get away with things like this, cant they?

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

I may have my details wrong, but it was SHeikh Hasina who has wanted the CTG system which she wants to scrap now. That is why Khaleda ZIa was ousted from power before in 1994-1995 before completing her entire term. Then the CTG was formed, which bought AL in power.
Other than that, this report has been written with extreme bias ness. Its funny how the awami regime is blaming the BNP for being involved with 21st August grenade attack once allying them with ULFA and the 2nd time allying them with LeT. But that incident is minor compared to the BDR mutiny where the attackers given only 7-8 years of jail.
I am not saying or even suggesting that BNP is innocent and has not been involved in any atrocities, but all this cases after making the headlines, seem to just disappear. Anytime BNP tries hartals or any obstruction, we start hearing about this cases. I am all for the war criminal tribunal, but why hasn't the court given a verdict. Its been a year, and no sentences. If BNP was actually involved in 10 truck arms case, then why was it stopped while BNP was in power? Surely, if the ruling party is involved they can get away with things like this, cant they?

Thank you for you comments.

The writer of the article states that it was Khaleda who brought it in. I am sure since he is publishing in a newspaper, he would have checked his facts before writing so.

Whether it is good publicity or otherwise, the world is under the impression that the Opposition was responsible for the Grenade attack. Now, if you have other evidence, you may like to share it with all so that we are rid of this,as oer you, erroneous belief. It would be surprising that there could be any other given the bitter snake and mongoose drama of the Begums, which has nothing to do with the good of Bangladesh, though each makes a song and a dance to show it is all in the interest of Bangladesh, when actually it is not.

As far as the BDR case is concerned, it still is mysterious that a whole organisation could rebel.

BNP may not have been directly involved in the gun running but their front sure were involved. Maybe not so much for political reasons as many money for themselves.

That is the real bane of Bangladesh. The politicians care very little for Bangladesh and instead are concerned only feathering their nest at the cost of the Nation and then pretending that they care for the Nation.

Personally, both the Begums makes no difference since if they are not concerned about the progress of Bangladesh, they would not care for anything else that does not feather their nest.

Please don't mind my frank comments.

I wish your Nation well, but not the dirty personal politics that is on under the garb of caring for Bangladesh!

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Khaleda Zia was forced to introduce the CTG system from pressure from AL in 1996. The AL said they would boycott any election that was not held through CTG system. I think TTT that you have taken the article out of context.

 

[saleen_s7]

Thank you for you comments.

The writer of the article states that it was Khaleda who brought it in. I am sure since he is publishing in a newspaper, he would have checked his facts before writing so.

Whether it is good publicity or otherwise, the world is under the impression that the Opposition was responsible for the Grenade attack. Now, if you have other evidence, you may like to share it with all so that we are rid of this,as oer you, erroneous belief. It would be surprising that there could be any other given the bitter snake and mongoose drama of the Begums, which has nothing to do with the good of Bangladesh, though each makes a song and a dance to show it is all in the interest of Bangladesh, when actually it is not.

As far as the BDR case is concerned, it still is mysterious that a whole organisation could rebel.

BNP may not have been directly involved in the gun running but their front sure were involved. Maybe not so much for political reasons as many money for themselves.

That is the real bane of Bangladesh. The politicians care very little for Bangladesh and instead are concerned only feathering their nest at the cost of the Nation and then pretending that they care for the Nation.

Personally, both the Begums makes no difference since if they are not concerned about the progress of Bangladesh, they would not care for anything else that does not feather their nest.

Please don't mind my frank comments.

I wish your Nation well, but not the dirty personal politics that is on under the garb of caring for Bangladesh!

the 21st August grenade attack investigation has lost credibility long, long time ago. Mutfi Hannan, the main accused has been arrested during the BNP regime and is still serving the prison. Every time the govt changes, so does he's story. It was first some banned militant in Bangladesh, then ULFA, LeT an the ISI, and the list goes on. He's story changes according to the party in power and he's words lost value long time ago.
Anyways, there's a book written by Sheikh Hasina's ex-bodyguard, which you might find interesting. Although a bit biased, its worth a read: http://amarbangladesh.community.officelive.com/Documents/Amar_Fashi_Chai.pdf

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Khaleda Zia was forced to introduce the CTG system from pressure from AL in 1996. The AL said they would boycott any election that was not held through CTG system. I think TTT that you have taken the article out of context.

Forced?

She is pushover?

So the present hartals are to give Hasina some excuse for her some fault or the other, the next time around?

You scratch my back and I scratch yours?

Whatever, it is most unfortunate.

Yes, I remember those days of boycott and the pressure tactics.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Saleen S7,

I just read a few excerpt of your link.

It is scary!