March 2023: Caretaker Government: Dent In Democracy

The unique characteristics of leaving few unelected technocrats at the helm of the most important democratic ritual, the election, was once lauded as a necessity in the name of a ‘level playing field’. But the 1/11 saga’s blatant attempt of depoliticizing the political system with technocratic and military personnel has exposed the flaws of the CTG system. A technocratic government without a popular mandate has zero political accountability, and with that undemocratic by nature. The segments of our domestic and international society who preaches such a process in the name of democracy must realize the shortsightedness of the idea.

Renowned writer Isaac Asimov once warned that the anti-intellectualism drive of ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge’ is a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurturing a false notion of democracy. The anti-intellectual approach only empowers and risks the rise of fundamentalists, and fringe or self-serving demagogues into politics. We must boldly drive forward with the universal demand of strengthening and empowering our democratic institutions to hold free and fair elections rather than cowering to old ghosts of a failed political formula.

Democracy as a system is as strong as the citizens living under it pursue it to be. Politicians, as the leaders of the citizens, have the duty to guide them toward a stronger democratic process unique to the nature of the country. Bangladesh just celebrated its 52nd Independence Day and with it, a journey toward a mature democratic process is continuing. Disrupting the process with an interim system like Caretaker Government will be disheartening to our democracy, our development, our culture, and our political intellect.

TANZEEN W. BRISTY
Chief Executive Officer