What role will the opposition play in the new parliament?

The eleventh Jatiya Sangsad began its first session on 30 January. It is too early to predict the nature of this national parliament which lacks a tangible opposition. Jatiya Party participated in the polls as an ally of the ruling Awami League, but its parliament members are now in the opposition bench. The leader and deputy of the opposition have been elected from among them. Their role before and after the election, is contradictory. Before the polls they joined hands with Awami League to fight against the BNP coalition in the election fray and relinquished seats for Awami League.

The stance in of the 14 party allies in parliament, other than Awami League, is also not clear. In the first session, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon said they were confused about their role in parliament. Jatiya Party contested in the election under their ‘plough’ symbol, but the 14 party allies contested under Awami league’s symbol of the ‘boat’.  There is the question of far this apparent incongruity is in keeping with the constitution. Awami league policymakers maintain that the 14 party allies are part of the opposition.

Co-chairman of Jatiya Party and deputy leader of the opposition Ghulam Mohammad Quader has said that Jatiya Party will play the role of opposition on parliament. He has also appealed to the ruling party to take their voice into account. In response, the prime minister asked the speaker to give equal opportunity to the treasury bench and the opposition. But it is not a matter of equal opportunity. The parliament must run according to the rules and regulations.

It is unfortunate that parliamentary democracy is still not strong in Bangladesh, despite 47 years and 10 parliaments since independence. There are hardly any instances were later parliaments have been more effective than past ones. Parliamentary democracy which entered the scene after the fall of autocracy in 1990, has hardly seen a smooth ride.

Even in the ninth and tenth parliaments, laws were enacted without any meaningful discussion or debate. The ninth parliament passed such a serious bill as the 15th amendment in a matter of minutes. In absence of any effective opposition, the 10th parliament said ‘yes’ to anything and everything.

Now with the eleventh parliament in place, all sorts of questions pertaining to the opposition are coming up. The BNP-led Jatiya Oikya Front eight members of parliament have not taken oath. If they eventually do not take oath, the parliament will be restricted to just members of the Awami League mahajote or ‘grand alliance’.

Parliamentary democracy is only effective when the government and the parliament are separate. If they are one and the same, democracy is harmed. In many countries, even members of the ruling party oppose certain government bills. In our country, article 70 does not allow this. Why should the parliament which promulgates laws for the people, stifle the voice of their representatives?

The lawmakers should seriously look into this matter.