The policymakers of BNP have “lost their minds” after securing a two-thirds majority in parliament, Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar has said, warning that absolute power is driving the government away from logic, wisdom, and experience.
“I was wondering why they are procrastinating by disregarding the people’s demand for this referendum, repealing 4 ordinances, and reversing 16 others?” he asked at a citizens’ dialogue on Monday.
“Looking at history, I can see they have ‘lost their minds’ after securing a two-thirds majority. Instead of using logic, wisdom, and experience, they are trying to rule through absolute power,” said Majumdar, who also chaired the Election Reform Commission formed during the interim government.
The dialogue, titled “Repeal of Judicial Independence Ordinance, Stalling of Enforced Disappearance Ordinance: Threat to Good Governance and Human Rights”, was organised by Voice for Reform at the BDBL Building in Kawran Bazar.
Two-thirds majority a ‘curse’
Majumdar argued that a two-thirds majority in parliament has historically proven to be a curse, citing past consequences. He pointed to the 1973 parliament, which ended with the assassination of Bangabandhu’s entire family and the imposition of martial law.
The 2001 two-thirds majority brought grenade attacks, bomb explosions across the country, and the extension of the chief justice’s retirement age, followed by the abolition of the caretaker government system.
The 2008 two-thirds majority resulted in the Fifteenth Amendment, the abolition of the Thirteenth Amendment, and the undermining of the election system, he added.
“We must learn from our history so that we do not have to suffer the curse of this two-thirds majority again,” Majumdar said.
‘Invisible power’ behind ordinance repeal
Political scientist Professor Dilara Chowdhury alleged that the enforced disappearance ordinance is being repealed at the behest of an “invisible power”, claiming that some individuals from such circles are now being tried and travel to court in green cars to avoid dishonouring their uniform.
“The army that kills in its own country, what indemnity will you give them?” she asked, adding that she believes there is a connection between this and BNP. “Trials for enforced disappearance have taken place in Argentina, China, and South Africa. Judging by the signs I see, I don’t think trials will happen here.”
Criticising the home minister, she said, “He is such a big constitutional expert. Doesn’t he know that democracy means limited government? The government will have power, but that power must be kept limited.”
‘System helps anyone become Hasina’
MP Hasnat Abdullah said brute majority brings disaster to the state and that the current system must be changed. “This system helps anyone become Hasina. Because Hasina is not a person, it is a mentality, a character. Since July, we all got everything – chairs, positions, titles. What did the nation get? We are deceiving the nation.”
Another speaker argued that parliament is not sovereign in a country with a written constitution, unlike the British Parliament. “We have not given anyone the right to deprive people of their rights through constitutional or legal manoeuvring. There can be no compromise on the questions of enforced disappearance and judicial independence.”
In his chair’s address, Shahidul Alam questioned why those who themselves suffered oppression would object to the anti-enforced disappearance law, unless they plan to use it as a weapon against others in the future.
“Without any control, even angels will commit irregularities when seated in power,” he said.
Others who spoke included AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju, journalist Ashraf Kaiser, politician Tasnim Jara, lawyer Manzur Al Matin, human rights activist Ruby Amatullah, and law and constitution analyst Khaled Mohiuddin.
