June 07, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 02, 1429

DHAKA: The political parties of Bangladesh have reacted sharply to the military-controlled caretaker government’s refusal to have pre-budget consultations with politicians.

The finance adviser, M Azizul Islam, who has been holding consultations with businessmen, economists, NGO representatives, civil society actors and editors among others, declined to have discussions on the matter with politicians and political parties, who will ultimately implement the budget if parliamentary elections take place in December this year, as promised by the government and the Election Commission.The military installed unelected caretaker government is set to announce the national budget in the second week of this month. This is going to be its second budget since the government was installed on Jan 12 last year.

The budget for 2007-2008 fiscal year was also announced without any consultation with the political parties.However, this time a number of politicians from major political parties resented the government’s “hostile attitude towards politicians”, saying that it was pursuing a policy of “disrespect for political forces”.

They assert that “such attitude will not do the nation any good”.

Politicians say it would be difficult to implement the fiscal measures drawn up by the interim administration as matters relating to welfare of common people are taken into consideration through discussions in any form with politicians.

Since the political parties represent the people, the government should have consulted them, said a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

“It is unfair on the part of the government to think that it does not require consultation with the politicians,” said Nazrul Islam Khan, the official spokesman for the party.

“At least they should have let us know which sectors they want to give priority to and sought opinions of the parties,” Khan added.

Faruk Khan, industries secretary of the AL, observed that ‘they (interim government) have no constitutional authority to formulate the budget’.

“They are doing many things forcibly, and they are formulating the budget in the same way,” Faruk Khan said, adding that the people wanted the present rulers to quit handing over power to an elected government.

“We have already witnessed the terrible impact of the previous budget implemented by this government,” Faruk Khan told the media.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said: “We do not understand what has made the government ignore the political parties in the budget making process. The budget would definitely fail to reflect the people’s aspirations.”

“It is mandatory to have talks with the political parties before finalising such crucial things as budgets and fiscal measures… after all, one should not forget that it is the politicians who represent the people,” Menon said.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh said implementation of economic policies of the state comes through political process. “It is impossible to safeguard the people’s interest if there is no consultation with the political parties,” said Mujahidul Islam Selim, general secretary of the CPB. He said that the government actually wanted to implement the economic blueprint of international lending agencies and multinational companies.

The Jatiya Party also criticised the government’s negative attitude towards politicians.

“The government’s attitude towards politicians seems to be hostile. It is not good for a nation,” said Ghulam Muhammad Quader, a presidium member of the party.

He said there was no denying that the politicians were the true representatives of the people. “They should have been consulted before anyone else.”

“Moreover, the politicians have to shoulder the responsibility of implementing the programmes (fiscal measures) after an elected government assumes office,” the JP leader said.

The finance adviser of the caretaker government was not available for comment.