There could be an alternative convincing argument for opposition joining the parliament and be opposition in the parliament also. Nothing will change the truth about the election robbery seen all over the world. The government itself has made clear like the day the nightly robbery of the last general election by pocketing 289 seats of the parliament of 300 elected representatives. Rejecting the election on the ground of robbery was perfectly legitimate.
One can reasonably argue that those who are elected as candidates from the Unity Front are the ones who have been genuinely elected because there was no stuffing of pro-government votes. The robbery was too bold to allow BNP, the second largest party, to win only 5 seats. Such an election result is provocatively insulting. Again the fact remains the BNP or Unity Front proved ineffective to react against such an outrage. The
leaders of the Front together have remained helpless despite condemnation by international democratic community.
leaders of the Front together have remained helpless despite condemnation by international democratic community.
The parliament, though not legitimately elected, is functioning. The ministers are going about as ministers. The BNP leaders have no qualms against demanding to the government release of its ailing leader Begum Khaleda Zia.
The government does not feel any pressure to be sympathetic to the demands of BNP leaders, though the need for her medical treatment is accepted. The government shows no inclination to accede to the request for her to get treatment in a private hospital of her choice. Now she is under treatment at a government hospital.
That she was duly elected Prime Minister for three times is not deniable. So deserves to be taken seriously for her health condition. There is no reason to believe that she will flee the country. Let us also accept the fact that she is convicted in two corruption cases of dubious nature. But the convictions have to be finally decided by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. So the matter is pending before the Appellate Division to consider her bail application on health ground.
It is reported that the government is ready to consider her release on parole. If the intention is genuine then it is not understandable why the government should be unwilling to consider the request for treatment in a private hospital at her own expense.
The Supreme Court also could be helpful in granting her bail for a limited period to facilitate her treatment. If any instance is needed then one can cite the example of Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister of Pakistan, who is also convicted for corruption but the Supreme Court accepted his prayer for bail as he needs treatment for heart complications.
So options are available to make it possible to arrange for her treatment freely to her satisfaction. We do not believe that the government is anxious to seek any political concession in return.
We are not thinking of any deal or political sell out for joining the parliament. The decision whether or not to join the parliament has to be honourably and independently taken keeping in view the political cause to be advanced.
In our view if the five MPs of BNP join the parliament they will be an opposition to be reckoned with however ineffective it is. They will be free to uphold the cause more emphatically than the present politics tolerates outside the parliament.
If the BNP alone or together with the Front can in future show any muscle to organise a powerful movement, the opposition MPs in the parliament will be no obstruction. Rather they will be their strength from the parliament. The sad thing at present is that the opposition is so to say voiceless.
It can also be argued that the people who voted the opposition MPs cannot be blamed for electing them honestly by the people to represent their interest in the parliament. Now they are not just BNP members or the Front candidates. Their representative capacity of the people must not be taken lightly in whatever political decision is.
If the joint opposition could take leadership to make it impossible for the government to remain in power through election robbery then abstaining from the parliament would have been justified. But enough time has passed to be hopeful of any challenge to the election farce.
We do not believe that joining the parliament by the opposition MPs will confer legitimacy nationally or internationally to those who have robbed the parliamentary seats so openly to be in the parliament and form the government. All will depend in what circumstance and with what motive they agree to take oath as MPs.
It has to be explained also how the opposition is gaining to be benefitted by insisting on their genuinely elected MPs to respect the people’s desire when the opposition is struggling to justify their own existence.
