Several political parties won a significant number of seats for the first time in the 13th National Assembly election, giving them a strong presence in national politics. Although they have become more visible in parliament, political analysts believe the opposition has yet to fully perform the role expected in a parliamentary democracy.
According to Jamaat-e-Islami, the opposition is raising different national issues in parliament and organizing public programmes outside parliament. Final protest will take place when ruling party will completely denounce to implement issues like reform and referendum.
However, analysts say the opposition has not yet reached the level expected of a strong parliamentary opposition.
Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna gave a similar assessment. Speaking to the Daily Observer, he said, "The opposition party is quite vocal in parliament, opposing on both logical and irrational issues. They are also trying to create agitations on various issues outside parliament. However, except for one or two parties, the Islamic parties do not believe in democracy.
* Islamic parties do not believe in democracy: Manna
* Opposition yet to fullfill 10-20pc of people’s expectations: Prof Mahbob
* If BNP does not listen to our voices in JS, Jamaat will go to streets: Adv Akhand
" Political analysts said many of the current opposition parties spent years participating in joint movements with the BNP. As a result, they are finding it difficult to establish an independent political position against the BNP, which is now in power.
Manna said, "Since the opposition parties have been in movements and struggles with the BNP for a long time, it will take them time to break this relationship and become an effective opposition party."
Analysts also believe the unexpected success of the opposition parties in the 13th National Assembly election has influenced their political behaviour. According to many observers, winning a large number of seats is the biggest achievement of their political careers, and they are now more focused on protecting that success.
"We did not get a strong opposition party. Because the biggest achievement of their political life was in the 13th National Election. The results of this election are like getting the moon in their hands," Manna said.
He further said, "Moreover, they are afraid that if the defeated dictators rise up for the movement, their position will worsen. It is because of this fear that they are not strongly opposing the government."
Kazi Mohammad Mahbobor Rahman, Professor, Department of Political Science of University of Dhaka told the Daily Observer that, role of the opposition in parliament has changed to some extent since the political changes of August 5. However, they believe the opposition is still falling short of expectations.
"After August 5, our country has undergone political changes, through which we can also see a change in the role of the opposition party in parliament. However, they are not contributing in the way that an opposition party is supposed to contribute in parliament."
Mahbobor said the responsibility of an opposition party is not limited to criticizing the government. It should also present alternative policies, raise issues of public interest and ensure government accountability.
According to observers, the present opposition has made only limited contributions in these areas.
The General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers' Party of Bangladesh Saiful Haque said, "As we have seen in the past, the opposition parties have done politics to seize power later. That competition is missing here."
He added, "The main reason for this is the lack of skill of the opposition members of parliament. They do not understand what issues they should oppose, what issues should be raised as political issues."
According to political analysts, the effectiveness of an opposition party depends greatly on leadership skills, research and policy analysis. Unlike government leaders, opposition leaders do not receive support from the administrative structure.
"In a democratic structure, an opposition leader has to gain skills on his own merit, because he does not have bureaucrats," the Revolutionary Workers' Party General Secretary said.
Analysts also believe that people have not yet formed a clear positive or negative opinion about the activities of the opposition.
The Revolutionary Workers' Party leader said, "Currently, the people have not yet formed any bad or good perception about the politics of the opposition party. Although the opposition party has not yet fulfilled even 10 to 20 percent of the people's expectations."
Jamaat-e-Islami, the main Opposition in the Parliament, however, offered a different assessment of the opposition's performance.
Advocate Matiur Rahman Akand, member of the party's Central Executive Council and Secretary of its Central Publicity Department, said, "In a parliamentary democratic system, the role of the ruling and pposition parties is equally important. The Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islam has been announcing since the first day that we will play a constructive role in parliament, praise good deeds and present bad deeds to the people through parliament for correction."
He added, "If the ruling party does not take into account the protests inside the parliament, then we will protest outside. Recently, the ruling party did not take into account the issues of reforms and referendum inside the parliament. That is why we are protesting on the streets, we are continuing the work of forming public opinion. If BNP still does not take into account the issues of reforms and referendum, then we will definitely take final steps."
Claiming that Jamaat is actively working for the people, Akand said, "We are working in and outside the parliament to realize the rights of the people. As an opposition party, Jamaat-e-Islami is playing a strong constructive role."
Overall, political analysts said the current opposition has made its presence felt through speeches and participation in parliament. However, they believe the opposition still needs more time, political skills and a principled approach to establish itself as an effective, alternative and people-oriented political force. At the same time, opposition parties maintain that they are playing a responsible role both inside parliament and on the streets in the interest of the people.
