[ALOCHONA] Key Public Issues :AL allies critical of poor performance

Key Public Issues :AL allies critical of poor performance

Frustrations deepen within the ruling Awami League and its allies over the government's handling of crucial issues like soaring food prices, power and gas crises and sliding law and order.

In recent months, several AL stalwarts and chiefs of Jatiya Party, Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal--components of the grand alliance--have criticised the Hasina administration for its poor performance in addressing key public issues.They also reminded the government of its election pledges and the heavy price it might have to pay for failure to make good on those.

Speaking in parliament in February, AL advisory council member and veteran parliamentarian Tofail Ahmed blasted Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain for failing to improve the road and rail communications in the last two years.Most of the lawmakers and Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali, who was presiding the session, echoed Tofail's observations.But the next day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the floor and shielded Abul Hossain from the censure of the lawmakers. And that is when the issue was put to rest.

The same month, former AL general secretary Abdul Jalil said the government had failed to arrest the price hike of essentials and improve law and order. He also spoke of inadequacy of the government efforts to solve the electricity and gas crises.

In private, some top AL leaders are even more scathing about the government's performance, party insiders say.Many ministers, on the other hand, view these criticisms as "venting of frustration for not being in the cabinet".

Not everyone agrees."We are just warning the government that we won't do well in the next election if we fail to address the power and gas crises, contain price hike and improve law and order," JP Chairman HM Ershad told The Daily Star.Being in government, his party cannot evade its responsibilities, he added.On another occasion of late, Ershad said JP would rethink its staying in the grand alliance if its leaders and workers are not given "due importance".

The senior AL leaders critical of the administration say their comments are "constructive and meant to correct the government," which is into its third year now."Whatever I say is for the benefit of the government and the party. I don't utter any word that may harm the organisation and the government," said AL presidium member Obaidul Quader.He, however, noted that being in the presidium he cannot talk freely or attack the government verbally.

Mahbubul Alam Hanif, AL joint general secretary, is against slamming the government in public. "Our leaders could speak in party forums or in parliament. They could point out the mistakes and suggest ways to correct them." For Hanif, slating the government openly is like playing into the opposition's hands and thus politically immature. Many AL leaders say they cannot speak their mind in party forums either.

Jalil, also a member of AL advisory council, recently told the BBC Bangla Service that the council met thrice in the last two years, but nothing fruitful came out.On criticising the government in public, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said: "We are only saying what people want to say and nothing else." The grand alliance leaders are bringing up the government's mistakes, because they think this is going to be a challenging year, added Menon.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=180495

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