Practicing Democracy in Bangladesh: Problems and Possibilities

Practising Democracy in Bangladesh: problems and opportunities

The hopes, aspirations and motion of the humans of Bangladesh for democracy and parliamentary device are long standing. After being installed as an impartial and sovereign nation in 1971, the human beings of Bangladesh started out their adventure on the path of anticipated parliamentary democracy. but on January 10, 1975, the Fourth modification ended parliamentary democracy. Later, the direction of multi-celebration democracy changed into resumed in 1975 via the fifth amendment, but the route of democracy was once more blocked inside the usa because of the military coup in 1972. After a protracted movement, parliamentary system of presidency become re-installed within the 5th Parliament in 1991 through unfastened, truthful and peaceful elections.

Parliamentary gadget of presidency:

The parliamentary machine of government is largely the manufactured from a protracted method. Parliamentary democracy has different dimensions in unique international locations, extraordinary environments and conditions. Political scientists suppose 1. responsibility of the govt to the legislature, 2 impartial judiciary, 3. regular neutral election software, four freedom of expression, five. administration run within the public hobby, 6. Unavoidable conditions of parliamentary gadget together with rule of law.

Encyclopedia Britanica cites man or woman freedom, freedom of the click, top experience of political parties, public participation inside the political system, protection of the rights of minorities and trade of political device in all methods as vital situations for the achievement of parliamentary government. And these conditions are particularly divided into  elements. E.g .:

1. The best dignity and constitutionalism of the charter and II. competitive political party gadget. however, there are numerous troubles in the institutionalization of democracy in the parliamentary system of government in Bangladesh.

2.problems of practising democracy in Bangladesh: The ability issues of training democracy in Bangladesh may be divided into  predominant parts. particularly: first off, behavioral or cultural troubles and secondly, ideological or constitutional problems.

Behavioral or cultural problems: studying the behavioral or cultural elements of the practice of democracy in Bangladesh, 3 vital troubles are found: Political behavior, II. Political practice and 3. Political customs or techniques, which can be important for any mass chauvinist nation. And troubles are very critical for Bangladesh as a growing democracy within the third international. war of words on essential problems, government and competition in the tenth parliament Talbahana is creating behavioral issues within the practice of democracy. the opposite problems are:

1. Intolerance: one of the situations of democracy is tolerance, compromise and compromise. Democratic establishments can most effective characteristic if political leaders agree to communicate and compromise. but inside the political system of Bangladesh, there may be a lack of affordable know-how between the political events, that is one of the primary troubles inside the practice of democracy.

2. management selection: Leaders and leaders of political events in Bangladesh are elected primarily based on how aggressive they may be. The major political events in Bangladesh, mainly those in power and people in strength, do no longer have a transparent and accountable leadership election machine. The leaders of those parties even have the duty of choosing the committee inside the arms of the pinnacle of the birthday party and the entirety relies upon on his will. As a result, the practice of democracy isn't feasible.

3. Sectarian strife: The absence of democracy in the political parties of Bangladesh has caused factional and sectarian strife, that is why the aggregate of numerous factions most of the political events is noticeable. those factions understand the time and situation and trade their allegiance, that is a massive impediment within the practice of democracy.

4. Political Violence: due to sectarian strife among the political parties in Bangladesh, political violence has emerge as a regular incidence. that is why violence is used as a manner to resolve political differences. As a result, terrorism centered on elections is a everyday occurrence in Bangladesh.

5. competition for opposition: opposition is an integral part of the parliamentary democratic system. but the political leaders in Bangladesh have not but gained the staying power and adulthood to bear political opposition. competition to opposition parties on issues of national interest is one of the barriers to the exercise of democracy.

Ideological or constitutional trouble: In truth, no political party has been fashioned as an organization in Bangladesh until now. The issues are:

1. Constitutional limitations: Article 11 of the charter of Bangladesh states that 'Republic shall be a Democracy'. no matter this, there are massive barriers within the way of improvement of democracy within the charter. There are 3 divisions of the state, the executive, the judiciary and the law, which ought to have a balance of energy.

2. Constitutional Inconsistency: All strength in Bangladesh is literally focused in the palms of 1 man or woman. This limitless energy became vested inside the President till 1985-90 and after 1990 it became transferred to the high Minister. according to the constitution, the president will act on the advice of the prime minister and this cannot be wondered in court docket. All this proves that the essence of the constitution of Bangladesh is incompatible with democracy in sure cases.

things to do inside the improvement of democracy: In this situation, the following issues have to receive importance within the improvement of democracy in Bangladesh

1. normal free, truthful and non violent elections: democracy the main and primary condition of a civil society is a impartial election. despite the fact that the Election commission is constitutionally in electricity in Bangladesh, the Election fee Secretariat is underneath the prime Minister's office. so as to make the elections ordinary, loose, truthful and non violent, the Election commission should be absolutely unbiased and unfastened from affect.

2. Independence of the Judiciary: After 1/11, the caretaker authorities of 2007 came under the umbrella of the army and gave independence to the judiciary, however the judiciary is still not absolutely unbiased. because the chief Justice is appointed via the President.

3. proper to unfastened go with the flow of media: one of the important elements of democracy is 'loose and open flow of thought', which has now not but been institutionalized in Bangladesh. The position of the 2 governments in Bangladesh in terms of unfastened go with the flow of statistics is nearly the identical. regardless of the promise, the Awami League authorities did not supply autonomy to radio and television, nor did the coalition government take any effective role despite receiving the file of the commission. that is completely unwelcome and immoral.

4. possibility for MPs to express their views freely: in line with Article 70 of the constitution of Bangladesh, if a Member of Parliament votes outside the decision of his parliamentary party, his club is revoked. The reasoning at the back of this provision is that it can bring down the authorities via buying individuals by means of showing greed for money. however in our constitution again the authorities.

there may be also an opportunity to raise a no-confidence motion in opposition to it. In different phrases, on the one hand, the possibility to elevate a no-confidence motion and however, the MPs aren't given the opportunity to express their views freely is a type of contradiction.

5. established order of Democracy within the Election of ladies participants of Parliament: a brand new clause has been added instead of the 3 clauses of Article five of the charter, which reserves 50 seats for girls within the country wide assembly of Bangladesh. It stated 50 seats might be reserved for women from the date of the first sitting of the present parliament right away after the introduction of the regulation till the dissolution of the parliament immediately after the lapse of 10 years. those seats could be elected through proportional representation by using the elected individuals of the political parties in Parliament. Even after this modification, girls can be able to take part in any seat in direct elections.

6. Eradication of Corruption and Terrorism: exceptionally, it's far vital to eradicate corruption within the administration, unfastened the campus from terrorism and keep away from communalism. Democracy is a matter of practice and it develops via practice. Our hassle is the dearth of exercise mentality. The government in power desires to loudly prove itself to be the ‘modern democratic government’, no government inside the past became democratic.

normal, it may be said that there are innumerable problems in the exercise of democracy in Bangladesh, in addition to massive potential. consequently, which will institutionalize democracy in Bangladesh, the ruling party and the events out of doors power have to preserve to practice political tolerance, speak, compromise, and the practice of democracy inside and outside the party. Bangladesh, the Election Commission Secretariat is under the Prime Minister's Office. In order to make the elections regular, free, fair and peaceful, the Election Commission must be completely independent and free from influence.

2. Independence of the Judiciary: After 1/11, the caretaker government of 2007 came under the umbrella of the military and gave independence to the judiciary, but the judiciary is still not completely independent. Because the Chief Justice is appointed by the President.

3. Right to free flow of media: One of the main aspects of democracy is 'free and open flow of thought', which has not yet been institutionalized in Bangladesh. The role of the two governments in Bangladesh in terms of free flow of information is almost the same. Despite the promise, the Awami League government did not give autonomy to radio and television, nor did the coalition government take any effective role despite receiving the report of the commission. Which is completely unwelcome and immoral.

4. Opportunity for MPs to express their views freely: According to Article 70 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, if a Member of Parliament votes outside the decision of his parliamentary party, his membership is revoked. The reasoning behind this provision is that it can bring down the government by buying members by showing greed for money. But in our constitution again the government

There is also an opportunity to raise a no-confidence motion against it. In other words, on the one hand, the opportunity to raise a no-confidence motion and on the other hand, the MPs are not given the opportunity to express their views freely is a kind of contradiction.

5. Establishment of Democracy in the Election of Women Members of Parliament: A new clause has been added instead of the three clauses of Article 5 of the Constitution, which reserves 50 seats for women in the National Assembly of Bangladesh. It said 50 seats would be reserved for women from the date of the first sitting of the existing parliament immediately after the introduction of the law until the dissolution of the parliament immediately after the lapse of 10 years. These seats will be elected through proportional representation by the elected members of the political parties in Parliament. Even after this amendment, women will be able to participate in any seat in direct elections.

 

 

6. Eradication of Corruption and Terrorism: Above all, it is necessary to eradicate corruption in the administration, free the campus from terrorism and avoid communalism. Democracy is a matter of practice and it develops through practice. Our problem is the lack of practice mentality. The government in power wants to loudly prove itself to be the ‘current democratic government’, no government in the past was democratic.

Overall, it can be said that there are innumerable problems in the practice of democracy in Bangladesh, as well as huge potential. Therefore, in order to institutionalize democracy in Bangladesh, the ruling party and the parties outside power must continue to practice political tolerance, dialogue, compromise, and the practice of democracy inside and outside the party.