Hasina's about-turn to her commitment to change

From: Innovation Line
Date: Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 11:13 PM

Hasina's about-turn to her commitment to change

Her first major failure to show the nation that she is capable

Let us first give the credit, where it is due. AL as a party has complied to the rules set by EC, held its council and submitted

its constitution. More importantly, the party has selected a relatively younger leader to be the General Secretary. However, Hasina forgot her own commitment to change her party - create a new party which will deliver the charter of change to the nation.

Are we to believe that the councilors do not have the capacity to elect the full committee of the party? Even if they decide to 

continue the farcical culture of empowering the Netri to make the committe, why can they do it before the council is over? Hasina could announce a slate of committee members to the councilors which they could have suported. But she did't do it. Why? 

On the face it, at the least, its the imcompetence that stands out.  Beyond incompetence, there could be a number of possibilities that includes previous corrupt practice of selling these positions to the highest bidders as they used to do for the nomination of MP candidates. 

If she can't change the way the party is run (let alone to relinquish the party top position while being PM), how could we beleive that she can deliver the charter of change or a digital Bangladesh? So far, it was honeymoon period for the last six months. However, the way the party council has been conducted, it has demonstrated the first major failure of Hasina as a leader. 

Things to watch in near future:

1. Hasina's selection of cabinet was welcomed by many - however, it is time to assess their performance. Lets see whether you have learned how to assess. 

2. The parliamentary committees are primarily to make policies, they are not investigation agencies. Hasina should know this. They aren't doing their job.

3. The current celing 10% limit of technocrat ministers quota should be abolished or increased at least. Hasina should formalize some of her advisers as full ministers in technocrat quota.

4. It is time to implement the Human Rights Commission fully and make it effective.

5. It is time to implement the Right to Information Act fully and take meaningful steps so that people can benefit from it.

6. Initiate town-hall style citizens consultation meetings about Asian Highway, Chittagong Deep Seaport, Tipaimukh. 

7. Complete the judicial reforms (Oust imcompetent and rajakar sympathezers from the High Court) that was initiated by the CTG.

8. Try the war criminals.

If you thought some of the ideas are worth of your reading time, please forward it to others. If you have an ear to the columnists in regular traditional media, please forward it to them. If you have an ear to the journalists and news editors of the electronic media, discuss it with them. Hope they would look at the suggestions and give due diligence.