Some are making themselves controversial intentionally while some are being dragged into controversy quite unnecessarily. Some are becoming victims of circumstances while some are falling prey to vindictiveness, and a sense of minimal propriety is becoming a rarity in the process. Even sober people are now becoming rather intolerant. Maybe, the atmosphere is like that. Even so, knowledgeable people are not supposed to lose their composure because that will only mean consigning the country to the criminals.

No, the country just cannot be allowed to become a land of the foolhardy and their mindless followers. Unfortunately, most of the people belonging to the elite circle seem to be overtly disposed towards interpreting things from their pre-conceived partisan perspectives. Very few of them seem to be interested in calling a spade the spade. This glaring partisanship is really dangerous for the country.

Willful misinterpretation of the constitutional provisions regarding appointment of chief adviser, total disregard for the core issue of good governance, that is, transparency, during appointment of caretaker chief and formation of council of advisers, unending step-motherly attitude to the media people by the concerned secretaries, gratuitous remarks by an adviser of the caretaker government (CTG) about the 14-party alliance and the over-reactive attitude by the eminent lawyers must have disappointed the people beyond measure.

Moreover, unofficial visit of Sheikh Hasina's residence by two advisers of the CTG as envoys of the president-cum-chief adviser and the following ill-motivated commotion created by the 4-party alliance, CEC's expression of resignation on request of the council of advisers and subsequent reversal of previous stance, BNP's defence of the opprobrious CEC, placing of 10 points by BNP coalition in reply to 14 party's 11 points, and shedding crocodile tears for the constitution as long as it serves the vested interests have added to the apprehension of the people.

The 14-party alliance has every reason to feel aggrieved by the president's assuming the post of chief adviser and their fears are more or less substantial. Thus, their pressure upon the chief adviser and the CTG is more a necessity than a tactic. The 14-party's anxiety must have been augmented by the ailing president's holding all the crucial portfolios. The allegation of an unseen government behind the CTG is not also altogether unfounded. Given the president's poor state of health, one doesn't need to be a physician to apprehend in those particular fashions.

Meanwhile, it has been widely alleged in the media that the synchronised bureaucratic set-up left behind by the 4-party alliance is still dictating things. The reshuffle in the civil administration that has taken place after assumption of CTG has only added to the fears as it has allegedly been reinforcement of former incumbents. Meanwhile, the police administration is also allegedly busy reining in the 14-party activists thereby intensifying their worries. Lists of previous alliance government's politically motivated lists are also allegedly being employed by the police to intimidate the 14-party activists.

In the name of reshuffle, moderate officials are also allegedly being replaced by hardliners in many respects and the crucial secretaries who are effecting the changes are also alleged to be hardcore 4-party loyals. The president's press secretary and BTV's key people are also alleged to be 4-party loyals and the performance of the stated functionaries even after end of BNP coalition's regime only corroborates the allegations. However, the news of alleged pre-arranged administrative reshuffle is being so widely circulated in the state media that people can very well be fooled to believe the reshuffle to be congenial for creating a level playing field.

There is, however, a ray of hope as the council of advisers looks positive in their frame of mind and seems disposed towards guiding and assisting the caretaker chief so as to better the situation. Though the council suffered a few early shocks initially, it now seems to be focused and motivated. The CTG is already under immense pressure from the 14-party alliance. The counter-pressure from the 4-party alliance will only contribute to cloud the picture. However, the success of the current CTG lies in its ability to come out of the clutches of the previous government's phantom sooner rather than later.

Kazi SM Khasrul Alam Quddusi is Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Chittagong.