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Professor of Political Science at Jahangirnagar University Al-Masud Hasanuzzaman talks to Ahmad Ibrahim of The Daily Star on the role of the
opposition party in the Bangladeshi parliament and the many contentious issues surrounding the current situation.
to be blamed. This dynamic also means that the opposition's chant after elections has always been to dislodge the government, by means of agitation
and violence. Had there been an even spread of power throughout the party then MPs might have been able to provide alternatives to the government's
policies and criticise the lawmaking. As it is, violence is the by-product of this unhealthy system of power grabbing. It often results from the opposition
being backed into a corner but it is the opposition that has backed itself into a corner.
TDS: Why is BNP, which is still considered by the general consensus as the main opposition, so inactive at this time?
AMH: BNP's aim was to repeal the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished the caretaker system. They aimed to bring this change about
through street agitations and violence. The long streak of strikes and the unprecedented violence, however, stopped soon after the January 5 elections.
It demoralised the BNP that they could not have their demands met. But the unprecedented show of violence also made them lose public support,
something they have to recover if they are to get back on track. The BNP can no longer hold on to the idea of getting the government to come to their
terms with violence. They are now in a state of rebuilding and they have to focus on building a rapport with the people once again before they are able
to mount anything substantial. For this, they must go through legitimate and constructive channels.
TDS: What does the current state of affairs spell out for the role of opposition in Bangladeshi politics in the future?
AMH: At the moment the political landscape is dominated by two major parties. Every other party has no choice but to be absorbed by these two.
Currently we have the 14-party alliance, which is in power, and the 19-party alliance. The post-91 period saw a decline in the factionalism and the many
independent parties because they no longer have the base to move away and form a separate political party. The rise of a third party is unlikely because
of the concentration of resources by both these parties. It only spells bad news for our politics, not only for opposition politics.
TDS: Finally, what is the future of the current government? Is it a situation that can be sustainable?
AMH: It is too early in the new government's tenure to speculate on whether it is sustainable or not. The opposition, Jatiya Party, may look legitimate
on paper but they need to carry out their duties better if they are to be remembered as a commendable opposition. At the same time, many people were
unable to vote this time and they yearn to see a competitive democracy where their right to vote is put to use. Whatever the case, all political parties
must work to ensure that the next election is an inclusive one and not just leave it at that. The elections are a means to an end and not the end in itself,
the real work begins afterwards. And both the government and the opposition have to carry out their roles diligently to make it a properly functioning
democracy.