Thursday | 16 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Thursday | 16 January 2025 | Epaper

First woman prime minister, Tunisia startles the world

Published : Wednesday, 13 October, 2021 at 12:00 AM  Count : 1096
Chinmay Prasun Biswas
Prime minister is a well-known word to almost all people of the world. In a cabinet form of government prime minister is the most important person of the government. He/she is not the head of the state but head of the government. Other than some exceptions (viz. the USA), in a presidential form of government there is a prime minister either ornamentally or having limited authority. This is nothing neither new nor unprecedented but a surprising incident has occurred very recently not only in the Arab world but also for the entire world.

Nazla Bouden Ramadhan has been appointed as the first female prime minister not only of Tunisia (official name - the Republic of Tunisia, the northernmost country of Africa where almost all people are Muslims) but also of any Arab country. Within two months of taking office President Kais Saied has fired the former prime minister and his cabinet.

At the same he has declared the name of Ramadhan as prime minister which has startled the Arab world. Through this unique initiative the president has congratulated Tunisian women with a gift (as claimed by him). Many people are not in a position to express their exaltation on this decision. Beyond the president's claim of empowerment of women they smell a stunt of politics in this event.

Factually, female prime minister in a Muslim country is nothing new. Benazir Bhutto was elected as the 11th as well as the 1st female prime minister of Pakistan (officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan) in December, 1988 (from 1988 to 1990) but was dethroned by president after 20 months on alleged charges of violation of constitution, nepotism and corruption. She was again elected as the 13th prime minister in 1993 (from 1993 to 1996) but the president dissolved parliament and cabinet on the same charges in 1996.

She was the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim majority country. On December 2007, while returning from an election campaign she was assassinated. Pakistani Taliban group admitted the liability but it is still a mystery that under whose direction the assassination occurred.

Tansu Ciller, an academician, economist and politician was the 22ndprime minister of Turkey (officially the Republic of Turke) from 1993 to 1996 where more than 99 per cent people are Muslims. So far she is the first and the only female prime minister of Turkey'. Bangladesh is a Muslim majority country though not officially a Muslim country. Begum Khaleda Zia was the first (as well as elected) female prime minister from 1991 to 1996

Female prime minister in countries under Arab League is certainly unprecedented. On 25th July this year President Kais Saied dismissed the government of former Prime Minister Hitchem Mechichi, adjourned parliament and took the government and judiciary under his absolute control.  People of Tunisia became divided over the decision of the president. Some people supported him and many others opposed. Political situation across the country became turbulent and mass protest began. The country's economy is facing disaster.

Under such an adverse situation President Kais Saied suddenly announced the name of Ramdhan as the new prime minister who was totally out of political arena. The president instructed him to form a cabinet immediately (a few hours or days) and declared on social media that both of them will work together for development of the country. "This is the first time in Tunisia's history that a woman is going to lead the cabinet. It is a matter of pride for Tunisia and for the women of the country." he wrote on Facebook.

No one disagrees with the president. Everyone is congratulating the first woman prime minister but at the same time some questions are revolving round. In the true sense of the term Ramdhan had no acquaintance or activity in the field of politics. Ramdhan, 63, was a professor of Geology at the National School of Engineers. Later, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research appointed her as the Director General. She has worked in many projects with World Bank.

Despite holding such important positions she was not directly in charge of any ministry. Apart from that Ramdhan has no experience of politics. As a result, many people are raising question how she will manage administrative activities under such a critical situation. Moreover, many others also think that Ramdhan will not get the freedom of work that the former prime minister enjoyed. They apprehend that Ramdhan's cabinet will actually be a puppet-government under the hands of President Kais Saied.

Many even say that it is simply a trick of chess of President Kais Saied to handle the political tensions of the country. As political expert Slahedin Jaurchi puts it, "If you look at Ramadhan's bio-data you will find that she is a professor. She has no experience of working in such a sensitive position. I don't know how she will handle this type of complicated situation.'' Members of parliament have claimed that this appointment is illegal and unconstitutional. As per their statement, how the prime minister is appointed without consent of the MPs?

However, some people are optimistic also. In their words, ''This time a woman is holding the helm of family. She will start saving immediately. Bankrupt bank, crumbling economy, corrupt administration and disrupted medical service may change."
The writer is a former
commissioner of taxes





LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Banning outdoor New Year parties
BAC in higher education in Bangladesh
It's time to end the bloodshed in Yemen
Plastic waste threatens environment and biodiversity
Fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory export control is an important guarantee for globalization
Rapists still having a field day in Bangladesh
Int’l cooperation with BRI
Olaf Scholz: Agenda of Germany’s new leader
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: district@dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝
close