Going for elections before some reforms not fair to students, public: Adviser Sakhawat

Arranging the national elections before ensuring some reforms will be unfair to the students and the public given that the interim government was formed owing to the July uprising, Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said today.

"The government was formed through the mass uprising. About two thousand students were martyred. If we go for the elections without making some reforms, it will be unfair to the students and the people," he said while addressing the National Dialogue 2024 at the Krishibid Institution Auditorium in Dhaka.

"We took many steps towards reforms in 2007, but later, when the political government came, those were not implemented," the adviser to the ministry of shipping said.

"I will call this Bangladesh the second republic of Bangladesh. If we don't reform now, it will never happen again."

"I think a bicameral parliament is needed," he said, adding that there will then be no need for a caretaker government. The adviser recommended that a balance of power be brought between the prime minister and the president. Massive reforms are also needed in the election law, he said, adding, "I also think it is necessary to enact a political party law."

"I think reforms should also be brought in the case of political parties. And parties should publish their wealth statements on their websites."

He further underscored the need to bring changes to the Election Commission. The adviser said the younger generation has the right to do politics. "It is not a bad thing if a new political party is formed through them. We believe we need the young. The big political parties that exist should motivate the youth."

Regarding reforms, he said, "Minimum time must be given for reforms. Everyone must be patient. We are in a tough spot. This problem will not be solved by forming a new government through elections." 'Parties resorting to extortion to contest in elections' Sakhawat Hossain said many of those who want to come to power in future are resorting to extortion to contest in the national elections. 

"We can see how a party expels one or two of their people from time to time. "Leaders and activists of such a party are extorting money from people saying 'we have not been in power for the last 15 years, so we need money to hold elections'," he said.