Shakhawat Liton
The nation has its fundamental rights reinstated today after around two years as an ordinance promulgated by the president Monday ends the state of emergency.
Another ordinance decreed the same day repeals the Emergency Powers Ordinance 2007 and Emergency Powers Rules 2007.
The laws were proclaimed to enforce the state of emergency declared on January 11 last year amid political turmoil over the ninth parliamentary polls then scheduled for January 22.
The revoking ordinance carries some saving clauses meant to be helpful to the anti-graft measures taken under the emergency rules.
With the departure of emergency rule, articles 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 42 of the constitution get back into operation. They concern the freedom of movement, assembly, association, thought and conscience, speech, profession or occupation, and rights to property.
From today, political parties and candidates will carry out electioneering for the December 29 general election without having to face any restrictions.
The government on the other hand will seek to put in place foolproof security measures to deal with the post-emergency period. It has already worked out some plans for that.
The military will start rolling out of barracks tomorrow. The deployment designed to aid the civil administration in maintaining law and order in the run-up to the election will be complete by December 20.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission tomorrow meets officials of the law enforcement agencies to discuss security arrangements for the polls, said EC Secretariat sources.
The withdrawal of emergency comes on immense pressure from the political parties and rights organisations, leaving less than two weeks before the national election.
It marks a drastic shift in the caretaker administration and EC’s stance over the way the polls should be organised.
Buoyed by the peaceful conduct of the mayoral polls on August 4, Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said he does not see any problems with holding the parliamentary election too under the state of emergency.
His arguments were echoed by the advisers.
In the days following the proclamation of emergency, former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia were detained on graft charges. Along with the two, many political heavyweights were put behind bars.
Awami League and BNP, the parties that rule the country’s political landscape, were pressed heavily to reform themselves.
In September last year, the caretaker government slackened the curbs on indoor politics only in the capital. Elsewhere, the ban was lifted in May this year to facilitate preparations for the elections.
Political analysts observe that the political parties must conduct themselves responsibly now as they are the ones blamed for the situation leading to emergency after over 16 years.
The last time the nation saw itself under emergency rule was in 1990. Declared by HM Ershad on November 27 that year, the state of emergency then was in force till December 6, the day the military strongman was forced to quit presidency following a popular uprising.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
