Govt eyes consensus on crucial issues

The caretaker government plans to forge an understanding among political parties on pre- and post-election situation for creating a conducive atmosphere for sustainable democracy free from the recent political culture of parliament boycott and street confrontations.
Policymakers of the interim administration that is already working for holding the much-talked-about dialogue with political parties contemplate having a consensus among the parties on crucial issues so that after the general election they (parties) go on with the reforms to strengthen democracy, sources said.
At the talks with parties, the caretaker government might raise vital issues like the culture of parliament boycott, hartal and strike, making parliament effective by strengthening parliamentary bodies and continuing the anti-corruption drive. It is likely to pursue the issues to make the parties announce their stances on the issues, the sources added.
"Dialogue with political parties should address not only post-election but also pre-election situation. If the country goes back to pre-1/11 (January 11 last year) situation , it will not be a good sign," Adviser for Housing and Public Works Ghulam Quader yesterday said without specifying any issues relating to the post-election situation.
Talking to reporters at his office, the adviser to the military-backed caretaker government categorically said the issues should be resolved if the dialogue with political parties is to succeed.
Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday said the caretaker government is making preparations for talks with parties. "We will announce the date for talks once preparations are complete," Zillur said, adding the government hopes it can make the talks fruitful.
Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff on Saturday categorically said political parties would have to pledge to the people before joining talks with the government that they would not go back to pre-1/11 situation.
Political parties however strongly criticised the law adviser's comment, saying they will not sit for talks with the government on conditions.
Issues concerning pre-election situation that might be raised at the talks include reforms in political parties to ensure financial transparency and practice of democracy within the parties, nomination of honest and efficient candidates for polls, code of conduct for the parties after withdrawal of the state of emergency and creating a congenial atmosphere for free and fair election might be raised, sources in the government said.
Meanwhile, the caretaker administration is yet to finalise the dialogue agenda though the advisers are hinting that some crucial issues will come up at the talks.
Earlier, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed in his January 12 address to the nation said the government would initiate steps soon to hold talks with the parties. The council of advisers at a special meeting on January 10 decided to go for dialogue with parties but since then the advisers did not formally discuss ways to begin the talks.
The council however met twice during this period but it did not discuss the issue of dialogue with parties.
Once the talks between the Election Commission (EC) and political parties are completed, the government will proceed with its plan for dialogue with parties. Most of the reform issues will be resolved by the EC move, sources said.
"So, some major issues will be discussed at talks between the government and political parties," said a source in the interim administration.
Since restoration of parliamentary democracy following the mass upsurge in 1990 against military ruler HM Ershad, the last three parliaments witnessed frequent boycotts by the then opposition parties while the ruling parties ran the House as per their wishes ignoring the opposition demands. As a result, the opposition parties took to streets with series of agitation programmes that included hartal and strike demanding resignation of the government. The ruling parties did not make the House effective by not allowing parliamentary bodies to play their due role in ensuring accountability of the government and transparency of parliament's functioning.