Now media plays the role of opposition: Khalid Mahmud

The 11th parliament is about to enter into its tenure of six months. The budget session is over. Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, elected from Dinajpur-2 constituency, has included in the cabinet for the first time. He is state minister for shipping and also organising secretary of Awami League. He speaks to Prothom Alo on the parliament and politics.

Prothom Alo: You have been elected member of parliament three times. How do you see changes in the parliament and its committees?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: As a student, I was disheartened when I read in the newspapers about what was happening in parliament. The government had power but not the parliament. Ministers were the heads of the parliamentary committees. Ministers were at the helm of the floor and the committees. So the parliament had no accountability. The parliament was brought under accountability by removing ministers from the committees in 1996. As per Article 71, MPs could talk on matters of public interest for two minutes. In 2009, as per the new rule, 15 MPs were given the opportunity to talk for two minutes each and their statements were published in book form. The proposal to try war criminals and for Sangsad TV was passed. Earlier, the discussions were limited to politics. The ministry has accepted most of the recommendations of the parliamentary committee on telecommunications.

Prothom Alo: Do you think that the government's 'pet' opposition has brought qualitative change to the parliament?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: If you see parliamentary procedures of 2014 and 2018, you will see changes in the role of the opposition. They have appreciated and criticised the government. They are discussing law and order, the price of essentials and recent incidents which appear in the media. Arguments on current issues are more important to the people of Bangladesh than the parliamentary rules of procedures. The parliament seems to be insignificant to them if the parliamentarians do not bang on the table and throw files. The practice of our politics has been shaped in this way. The rules must to be followed to make the parliament effective.

Prothom Alo: Do you notice any difference with BNP’s joining parliament?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: The conduct of BNP MPs who joined parliament is different than that of the 9th parliament. I have noticed that their discussions on several bills were constructive.

Prothom Alo: But BNP’s junior MPs alleged they get little time to talk in parliament and they were stopped.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: You are correct. This is democracy and this is the beauty of democracy that the opposition has made this allegation.

Prothom Alo: Don’t you think that their time should be increased in present context?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: The parliamentary rules of procedures have ascertained how much time the ruling party and the opposition will get. As a state minister, I have talked on budget for ten minutes. But as parliamentarians, some of them talked for 15 to 20 minutes.

Prothom Alo: What about your own participation in these matters?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: As an MP of the ruling party, the scope of my participation is very limited. There are weaknesses where our role as parliamentarians are concerned. A good environment has not been created. Under the current circumstances, a lawmaker cannot play the desired role.

Prothom Alo: Do you think that Article 70 should be relaxed so you can express your views freely, except in the case of for passing the budget and in no-confidence motions?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: I did not feel restricted by Article 70 in three parliaments. Many in the ruling party have criticised various decisions of the government and the budget. There will be no necessity of Article 70 if things go on in this way. The way freedom of expression and the freedom of media are increasing gradually in Bangladesh, the necessity of Article 70 can be reviewed.

Prothom Alo: But international indexes indicate and downward trend in freedom of expression and in democracy.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: I do not know on what the basis these indexes are drawn up. Bangladesh's media is speaking out openly and the people can express anything they want. The government is vehemently criticised by the media and the TV talk shows and the criticism is published. Indexes do not matter. Freedom of expression is at an acceptable level for the people of Bangladesh.

Prothom Alo: How far does your ministry abide by the recommendations of the parliamentary committee?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: The committee should make recommendations based on the capacity of the country. It should not recommend anything which cannot be implemented. We will try to follow the committee’s recommendations on waterways and vessels, but we have to think about rehabilitation before removing 32 dockyards along Buriganga.

Prothom Alo: How are the new parliamentarians doing?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: A number of junior lawmakers are preparing themselves for the future. It is very difficult to say when we will get astute parliamentarians like Suranjit Sengupta. Now a lawmaker has to play role in the international arena. If we do not prepare properly, we will be shamed.

Prothom Alo: The main opposition is now weak. Can we call JaPa the shadow government of parliamentary democracy?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: Bad politics of Zia and Ershad have destroyed the society. The economy was handed over to criminals. We cannot improve overnight. Jatiya Party has no scope to play the role of shadow government as they don’t have that type of participation in parliament. As an opposition party, they are making criticism in parliament. BNP has been derailed by bad politics. So the media is playing the role of the opposition party. That is most unfortunate for Bangladesh. Awami League has not lost its character despite absolute majority as the party’s leadership is proper and dynamic.

Prothom Alo: Although the economy has become strong, the institutions including the election commission are becoming weaker. The society is becoming crime-prone. Over Tk 100,000 billion has been laundered but no money except Koko’s was brought back home. The parliament’s control over the executive is very relaxed. These matters are not discussed in parliament.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: There is no instance of bad governance during our rule. Sheikh Hasina spared none. She has spoken of zero tolerance. If there are allegations, these must br proven. The rule of law will be weakened if the release of a criminal is on political considerations. The government will certainly take steps if there is any evidence of laundered money. When a head of the government is involved in money laundering, then a culture takes shape. The current government is trying to come out of that culture. Nothing can be done overnight. The current government has fully established its control on the executive.

Prothom Alo: Remaining in power for straight three terms, you are saying that nothing can be done overnight. Don’t you have any responsibility to create a really strong opposition party in parliament?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: Democracy of Bangladesh was destroyed due to unwarranted interference. Democracy was raped. You say we had the scope for three terms. It is not possible in three terms. If we look at the democracy of Britain, that was the outcome of a continuous struggle. There is no end to this struggle. The more you practise, the more it will improve. Now if any political party cannot understand the pulse of the people, the people will certainly remain with Awami League.

Prothom Alo: Thank you.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: Thanks.

* This interview, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.