Hasina faces looming danger of absolute power

ARTICLE 55 (3) of the Constitution says “The Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to Parliament.” This emphatically describes the parliament's sweeping power to hold the cabinet, popularly known as the government, accountable for its every action. The constitution and the rules of procedure of the Jatiya Sangsad provide many devices to ensure the government's accountability. The government itself is also constitutionally bound to explain to the parliament the reasons behind each of its actions. This does not mean the government is subservient to the parliament. It rather ensures the balance of power for smooth functioning of a government and a parliament.
When parliament functions truly, people feel empowered as their representatives speak for them and work for them. The MPs, who exercise the powers to hold the government accountable, belong to the people. And if parliament functions properly, it finally benefits the government as the due role of the House prevents the government from doing anything wrong. All these happen in an ideal parliamentary democracy.
But Sheikh Hasina's new government, formed yesterday, began an unprecedented journey in the history of parliamentary democracy. The 10th Parliament that formed the new government will have only two minor political parties on the opposition bench with their two members. Of them, the BNF, which was formed before the 10th Parliamentary election amid controversy, won a seat only after Ershad withdrew from a constituency in the capital. Tarikat Federation won a seat with support of Awami League and using the AL electoral symbol 'boat.'
Four other parties having representation in the parliament joined the Awami League-led government. Of them, Jatiya Party has been a most curious case as it is set to play a dual role in parliament. Some of its MPs were inducted in Hasina's new cabinet while the rest of them will sit on the opposition bench. This has never happened in any country practicing parliamentary democracy. Now it is clear that there will be no balance of power with a weak parliament unable to carry out its due functions in absence of a vibrant opposition bench.
Given the situation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will undoubtedly enjoy absolute power to run the show. None of her predecessors had enjoyed such powers. There will hardly be anybody to question her leadership in the cabinet, parliament and within her party. Her success in holding the January 5 parliamentary election, defying the international community's objections to the one-sided polls and amid a boycott by the BNP-led opposition parties, will help her in silencing dissenting voices against her leadership. Take the case of Ershad. The former autocrat had announced that he would withdraw from the January 5 election. But he could not do so. He has been  kept confined in a hospital since December 12. He was elected MP against his will. In the wake of the changed situation, he opened negotiations with Hasina to avert any adverse situation in the coming days. He was sworn in as MP on Saturday, forgetting what he had said against the January 5 election. He went back to the hospital immediately after taking oath.    
So, all signs suggest that Hasina is set to emerge as an all-powerful leader in the coming days. Political analysts say even Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose popularity was skyrocketing after the country's independence, did not enjoy such absolute power.
How will Hasina's new government perform? This is the big question after the January 5 one-sided and voter-less election. The way the situation has been unfolding since formation of the election-time cabinet by Hasina in the middle of November has led many political analysts to believe that the new government may trigger more controversy, let alone build a positive image. The formation of the election-time cabinet raised enormous controversy over the acceptance of resignation of ministers. The way the government has kept Ershad-led Jatiya Party in the electoral race also raises questions about the fairness of the election. And uncontested election of 153 MPs, more than half of the total seats of parliament, has damaged the credibility of the election. Finally, low turn-out in the January 5 voting showed the people's lack of interest in it.
The story did not stop there. After the election, the government hurriedly moved to constitute the new parliament, even before expiry of the tenure of the 9th Parliament. MPs elected in the one-sided polls assumed their office through oaths, ignoring the constitution that does not allow them to do so. Then, the Jatiya Party issue came with a new twist.  All these events demonstrated Sheikh Hasina's indifference towards the growing controversy and suggested that she may care little about them in the coming days. If her stance remains unchanged, her new government will be busy attending to the controversies.   
Getting recognition for her new government from the international community will be the most crucial challenge. Some influential countries including USA, Japan and UK have openly called for holding fresh election. This means they do not endorse the January 5 polls and it will not be easy for Hasina's new government to get their endorsement. This indicates Bangladesh may face diplomatic crisis in the coming days.
At home, the government will have to spend much effort to tackle the street agitation by the opposition parties led by BNP and Jamaat. Maintaining law and order will be a major challenge.
The new government may take some desperate measures to establish control over the political situation. But all the actions may remain unexamined and uncontrolled due to the weakness of the new parliament. In such a situation, there is every possibility of rise of an authoritarian. Hasina's leadership will determine how the future politics will take shape in Bangladesh. It will prove whether the pungent aphorism “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” by Lord Acton, is right. Over the years, in many countries, particularly some of those in our sub-continent, Lord Acton's aphorisms were proved right.

The writer is Senior Reporter, The Daily Star.