Why BNP should join budget session

There is uncertainty about BNP's joining the Parliament's budget session which began on May 22. Sources in the BNP's Parliamentary Party said on May 22 that the decision as to whether BNP would join the budget session or not would be taken after the party Chairperson Khaleda Zia's return from abroad.
Meanwhile, senior leaders of BNP are making contradictory statements regarding joining the budget session. Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque said on May 20 that that they would return to the House only when the government accepted their demand for holding a mid-term election.
BNP's acting Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam said on May 21 that it was not clear to them as to why the session was convened and that's why BNP wouldn't attend it. On the other hand, Moudud Ahmed, a standing committee member of BNP, said the same day that they would join the session if the four cases against Khaleda Zia were withdrawn immediately.
Let's agree that BNP has some genuine grievances, which should be redressed by the ruling AL. But that shouldn't prevent BNP from attending the parliament session in its own interest as well as in public interest.
BNP knows it well that the government feels comfortable with the absence of the opposition in the House. Then, why should BNP give this opportunity to the ruling AL?
More importantly, in a parliamentary system of government, the opposition refers to itself as a shadow government. Therefore, BNP should not only attend the parliament sessions but also conduct itself in the House in such a manner that would persuade the people that it could be an improvement upon the AL-led government.
Keeping the above in view as well as to raise, amongst others, the following issues in the House, BNP should attend the ongoing budget session.
The House is at liberty to discuss the budget as a whole or any question of principle involved in it. By attending the budget session, BNP may see whether "the politics of vote" has influenced the formulation of next year's annual development programme and pinpoint whether necessary funds were allocated for the vital sectors of the economy such as agriculture, infrastructure development, education, health, etc.
BNP has demanded mid-term election, although it is yet to detail the reasons for that. BNP chief Khaleda Zia raised the demand for mid-term elections in early November last year, citing the government's "complete failure to meet people's expectations." The opposition chief whip reiterated the demand for mid-term polls, as according to him, "the present parliament has failed to meet public expectations."
AL presidium member Obaidul Qader said that BNP could raise its demand for mid-term elections only in the House, which is the appropriate forum for taking decision on the issue. The House will deliberate on the issue and decide its fate.
Speaker Abdul Hamid has urged the opposition lawmakers to join the parliament, and to speak about political issues for strengthening parliamentary democracy.
Therefore, BNP can do the homework and raise the demand for mid-term elections in the House during the budget session.
Apart from passing the budget for the fiscal year 2011-12, this session is likely to deal with a constitutional amendment bill which might propose changes to various aspects of the Constitution, including changes to the crucial non-party caretaker government system. Although BNP chose not to nominate its representative to the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Amendments (PCCA) and the BNP high-ups didn't turn up to give their views on the proposed constitutional amendments to the PCCA, BNP can present its views in the House on constitutional matters including the caretaker government system. Even if the treasury bench does not accept any of their views and suggestions, BNP can go back to the people and tell them everything in detail. This will be appreciated by the people.
The increase in the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) by Tk.8 per unit, and of diesel, petrol, octane, kerosene and furnace oil by Tk.2 a litre, has brought sufferings for the people due to the increase in transportation cost. The price hike of CNG by 49.25% has particularly come as a shock to the residents of Dhaka city who mostly avail public transports that use CNG.
Some transport owners are not willing to accept the bus fares fixed by the government following the increase in CNG price. The charging of higher fares by some transport operators has led to scuffles between them and bus passengers. The situation came to such a pass that, upon a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a High Court bench had to issue directives on May 23 to enforce government-fixed fare, display fare charts in buses and counters and set up more mobile courts.
The increase in transportation cost has led to the increase in prices of essential commodities, which has made the lives of the poor and low income groups miserable. BNP may raise the issue in the House. Even though the decision for increasing the prices may not be reversed, the discussion on the matter in the House will generate people's sympathy for BNP.
BNP's absence from the budget session will substantiate the government view that BNP lawmakers attended the eighth session for a few days only to save their membership.
BNP may also raise some other issues of public interest such as, share market scam, politicisation of administration, violation of human rights, and shortage of electricity and gas to discuss in the House.
Last but not the least, BNP's policy for generally not resorting to strikes, road blockade and other programmes and activities that bring sufferings for the common people has earned appreciation of the people. BNP's regular participation in the activities of the House will further enhance its image.
The AL-led government and the speaker can't avoid the responsibility for creating a congenial environment that would make the House fully functional with the participation of both treasury and opposition bench members. The speaker should assure the BNP leadership, preferably in writing, that if they joined and stayed in the House, he would accept their proposals for discussion. For the successful functioning of democracy, the BNP-led opposition should recognise the right of the AL-led alliance to rule the country for the period granted by the Constitution.

The writer is a former Secretary. E-mail: [email protected]