Ombudsman to ensure intra-party democracy

Renowned lawyer barrister Rafique-ul Huq has said big political parties should appoint an ombudsman if they want to clean the party and bring real democracy in it.
The next government may repeal the caretaker government system and the two major political parties might come to a consensus that those who can run the country can also hold an election and that they would have trust in that election, he said in an interview with The Daily Star.
He appreciated the present caretaker government for its good work like formulating the income tax law amendment ordinance and the Supreme Judicial Commission ordinance, preparation of voter ID cards and separation of the Election Commission Secretariat from the Prime Minister's Office, which is now the office of the chief adviser.
"It will be wrong if it is said that all the steps of this government are bad. We must give the government credit for the good work it has done," said Rafique-ul Huq, counsel for both Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and BNP chief Khaleda Zia.
He, however, criticised the government for formulating "so many" ordinances and termed it a "government of ordinances", saying it has issued at least 91 ordinances.
He also criticised the government as a "government of destruction", saying, "This government has damaged almost all business houses by throwing their entrepreneurs in jails...It demolished houses, roads and establishments."
About holding of the December 18 parliamentary election under the state of emergency, barrister Rafique said, "Emergency is not required to protect voters. It is rather used to scare them."
Talking on the "minus-two" formula, he said this was a wrong idea and the government could later realise it. "The government is now trying to make a 'plus-two' plan," he quipped.
Barrister Rafique expressed his optimism about bringing the AL and BNP chiefs to the discussion table.
Read More...