Sat 2 Feb 2008
DPWC is publishing a series of articles on the proposed National Security Council. The first one has been published in New Age today.
For the better formatted piece, check the pdf version here.
UV Highlight
Contact us at: blog At Drishtipat dot org Subscribe to Unheard Voices by Email
Archived Entry
- Post Date :
- Saturday, Feb 2nd, 2008 at 1:09 am
- Category :
- national security council
- Do More :
- You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Why does this unelected govt think it is not in a position to be trying the War Criminals but has the authority to make fundamental changes in our Government? There’s even talk about reverting to a Presidential system.
And yet some of us continue to believe this army behind the latest coup, the same army that was backing the fascist BNP-Jamaat regime before the “direct take-over”, will deliver democracy to us. The Nyaraa was not supposed to have walked under the Bel tree a second time — but looks like some of our Nyaraa Bangalee bhais got lobotomized (AND became amnesiac) the first time!
Until we get to hear the details of their plans, it is impossible to say how devious and self-serving this “NSC” will be. But rest assured that our olive-fatigue wearing untouchables will become even more untouchable!
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Don’t we have enough ‘cantonment based politics’? I say NO to NSC but my fear is that our politicians will say “YES” at gunpoint.CTG will hold “Songlap” with political parties and if you don’t say ‘yes’ to NSC and National GOVT,you will be under some kind of “Minus formula”.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Does anyone know how memebers of the proposed NSC will be selected? Surely it would have representation from the Defence forces but it must have members from other spheres of life who can address such vital issues as Enivironment,Health and Economy. If it is just the 3 Chiefs-of-staff then certainly it does not make sense. NSC by itself is not a bad idea in my opinion and to link it with 1971 War crimes is pointless.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Before this discussion degenerates any further (who linked NSC with 1971 here?), let’s first review the definition of red herring fallacy. Then read what’s been said here, incl Asif S’s article one more time. And only then those who want to say “Yes” to NSC, please tell us WHY.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I think the presence of defence forces chiefs in any would-be-NSC will act as a deterrent for the likes of Tareq Rahman.
From what I understand, NSC has no power but it can only make recommendations. Whats wrong with that?
February 5th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
1) I have found little detail of exactly how the NSC is meant to work, its composition, its power, its role etc. Can anyone provide any more information? - thanks!
2) If I may summarize Asif’s main point in my words - allowing the military an institutional role in politics (NSC) will hinder development of democratic institutions and will raise the likelihood of (unwarranted) interference by the army in politics.
(I add “unwarranted” on the presumption that most would agree the 1/11 interference was warranted).
Asif’s assertion is a reasonable one - though with a caveat that ultimate analysis must await more information about the proposed composition and power of NSC. Nevertheless, let’s accept it.
Can we, then, see a way forward that avoids a repetition of 1/11 and also the issues Asif raises?
Some of the changes in recent weeks - upazilla parishad independence + elections, increased independence of the EC, commission for selection of judges - I see as institutional reforms that are putting in place some necessary checks and balances on central government power without involving the military.
Those opposed to the NSC - Will more reforms similar to the above be sufficient? What else would you suggest?
For those who support the NSC - what is its composition/role anyway? Why do we need this beyond the types of reforms already under way?
February 6th, 2008 at 8:28 am
T,
your comment warrants an interesting discussion that I will come back to later. While these institutional reforms are the way to go there two things to note:
1. How much of these are real reforms? We need to discuss the details.
2. Is every organ in the power accountable to the government or are we creating super powerful military class to whom every organ and institution needs to bow down.
With all the institutional reform, if the perception is that your mp relative has been replaced by the military relative in the power structure, then not much has changed from before other than some paper reforms.
More later, but hopefully others can pitch in on this important discussion.
February 7th, 2008 at 3:24 am
talam #6 - good breakdown of the real issue on hand.
The real problem that I see with BD governance is a loud absence of coordination of national policy, even in last 15 yrs.
Like,
- how to prevent army (or any other group) from over-dominating governance
- how to prevent politicians form stealing and abusing their powers
- how to control food prices and inflation
- how to deal with student mastani
- how to deal with external insurgence of terrorism
- how to deal with India’s River connection
- how to deal with our poverty, roads, traffic, corruption,
- how to make SURE that the govt utilize and implement these policies
- etc
The folks in governance did a lot of politics last 15 years - but the nation was not going anywhere. I am not sure whether even today’s CTG has any control of the issues - due to same LACK of National Co-ordination.
So,
1) I see the need for an NSC as a POLICY CO-ORDINATION COUNCIL - which will advise, strategize, make timescales, and devise methods for tackling critical national problems.
2) I propose that we establish such a POLICY CO-ORDINATION COUNCIL urgently, but NOT use the name “National Security Council”, so that the army, and we people, dont get any idea that this is based on Pakistan or Turkey NSC.
This Council will expedite and co-ordinate the various branches of govt, under their supervision and consensus, to release and FLOAT national policies for economic, environmental, security or academic etc, EMERGENCIES as they occur.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:25 am
How is the role/responsibility of this “Council” different from that of the cabinet (whether or not the cabinet has fulfilled its duties in the last 15 years is not the topic under discussion)?
How is its composition different? Does it include unelected members? Does it include members from the armed services? Does it overrule the parliament?
February 7th, 2008 at 5:31 am
What’s the point of re-inventing the wheel?
There is already in place an excellent institution for “floating and coordinating national policies…”, in addition to the various secretariats in charge of health, the environment, the economy, etc: it’s called the Planning Commission. PC (as well as the secretariats and a BIDS?) is manned by some of the most brilliant sons of the soil. However, most of their “advice”, “strategies”, “timescales”, etc are routinely ignored or overruled by the corrupt ministers and/or the army generals in charge of the govt (talking about the past three decades and a half).
Okay, so you might not like these old establishments. So let’s demolish them and set up new ones as you wish (assuming extra funds and firing old employees are no problem). But how do you guarantee the new Council (or whatever) will work as you envision… ie without undue influence and conflict of interest? We may need a Supreme NSC to oversee NSC, and so on and so forth… but I still don’t see any point until there’s total transparency!
On the other hand, dealing with cross-border shootings, unfair withdrawal of river water, etc require the highest level of diplomacy (still success is not guaranteed; one may need to go to an international court). Unfortunately, illegal, undemocratic, or highly corrupt govts are seldom in a position to carry out such tasks with any degree of competence.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:54 am
KGazi
I want to add one more point in your list
-how to uprooting the begums and mujib vs Zia mania from our politics.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
#11, rush
Don’t worry, “uprooting the Begums” are the first priority of this Govt.
February 8th, 2008 at 5:13 am
#10 - There are plenty of AGENCIES is BD - planning commission, BIDS, EC, ECNEC, steering committees, and no shortage of political Science and economics academics. But after all that - there seems to be a total failure to achieve or even ACTIVATE their ideas and ‘plans’.
During Ershad time, those ’special orders’ were given by Ershad himself while driving his personal ‘Pajero’ jeep. “we need a road here” and thats how Pantopath road was formed!!
Bangladesh badly needs a BRANCH (or two) of govt that will have the HIGH LEVEL authority to check-and-balance the PM, judiciary, and other branches, activate govt policies, and maybe even AUDIT the finances of the govt.
#9 - The composition of this ‘council’ should be that of a SEPARATE BRANCH of govt, of MULTILATERAL powers to check-and-balance, so that govt power is not restricted to PM alone - and corruption and bad governance is checked.
#11, #12 - this council, new govt branch, must also have the power to work in conjunction with judiciary and cabinet - with their approval and agreement - to audit the activities of the PM, ministers etc - so that they can be IMPEACHED (”minus formula”) if necessary - if they are found to be violaters of law.
This is a possible way of introducing ’separation of powers’ and ‘checks and balance’ in our quest for democracy.
Then give this council the authority to ACTIVATE and IMPLEMENT the policies and ideas that our think-tanks are brewing - so that those policies and ideas can be seen in action to grow the nation.
February 8th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Kgazi
What if the members(together) of the proposed NSC abuse their power by giving their verdict in favour of their favourite political parties instead of the country? Will there be any veto power of its members if s/he thinks the decision of NSC does not go in favour of the country?
March 8th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
We have lost our faith on our political parties so much that now we need a security council to govern their actions.
Why can’t the government educate the people to vote for the right candidates and not to a candidate of a certain party that they like. Only changing our attitude when voting can change the circumstances we are in now.