All inclusive citizenship
The core of citizenship lies with the accountability of government towards its citizens. Inclusive citizenship provides all citizens a strong sense of belonging to the society
A Mannan
The country is on the threshold of either an inclusive citizenship process or an exclusive citizenship albeit by intention or perhaps a product-mix as a compromise. It is an uphill task in astronomy and astrology as well.
Let us start with primordial days having no concept of statehood. Background history is that initially communities were formed followed by territories and finally states have culminated as we see now.
In modern times, the following issues, among others, we consider more often than otherwise. Geopolitics, demography, language, religion, race and species, territorial integration advantage, communications and rivers, seas, territorial base, (even birds and animals form a domain as territory) having considered either all or some major elements from amongst the above, the journey towards a statehood thus begins, albeit to include rather than exclude all human beings within the territory.
The basic is with prejudice to none but institution of fair justice and sustainability of the concepts for all. Allah created Adam (A.S)/Eve and aftermath of the creation the world has passed through billions of years of migrations, might have been from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and USA, the world ever, and such to and fro migrations as we see now have given growth of statehood around the globe.
Let us go for the core issue in quick succession. We turn to the some relevant phrases and quotations to highlight and compress the depth of focus on the impact scenario so important for the long term policy of the country.
Phrases and quotations: - All human rights for all; Let justice be done though heavens should fall (fiat Justitia, ruat caelum), How high you are, law is above you, Justice delayed, Justice denied, Justice hurried, Justice buried, Judge is condemned when the guilty is acquitted.
Cited above in order to show the impacts at length and breadth of justice, bases of humanity, equity, fairness and ensuring fundamental rights to all. Based on the community, thus evolved thereof, we must formulate our statehood, no way out. We have got to hold the territory of our state i.e. total statehood of Bangladesh, the most basic fundamental is as that of the citizenship rights.
Parliament and Bills:- Our Parliament is not a bicameral house leaving little scopes for any checks and balances. It is a mono-cameral house, facilitating little area to cultivate checks. It has further aggravated the proceedings in Parliament having now enjoyed by the incumbat govt. overwhelming majority with absoluteness, as if absolute power corrupts absolutely, for Parliament does not now enjoy full benefit of a workable opposition so much needed in Parliamentary system of government.
The odd and embarrassing situation has made it worse when parliament spends hours and hours on non or minor issues setting aside little time in processing bills, all important job of Parliament. When hurried, it smells rats, this is the case in point. The whole issue is moreover overloaded when we observe, with due regards to all, that there is little inter-parties democratic norms, nor literally there is any intra-party democracy, seldom, exercised simpliciter.
References:- To make it short I bring forth some references, not many though, in order to recognize the efforts and concerns shown by the media and personnel e.g.Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed, (Daily Independent)), researcher C.R. Abrar and many others.
Main concerns on the bills are on dual citizenship provisions (NRB) the voting rights and eligibility for candidature, exclusion of SAARC countries with some others, cancellation of citizenship, disqualification criteria, retrospective effectivity of such laws, so on and so forth. What we observe that a basketful of anomalies and irrational contents have been impregnated into the bill only to make it as one of the worst. Thorough prismatical analyses are all very important at this stage. The 1972 constitution was workable goodly as an initial go but it did need amendments from time to time to ward off the anomalies and recognize and update the needs of the day only to the benefit of the citizens. Let us never do otherwise, e.g. 1972 Constitution at Article 6 citizenship stood for Bangalees and in all fairness it was replaced subsequently in the post 1975 era by the term Bangladeshis through the proclamation order No. 1 of 1977 and later it underwent through the Fifth Amendment of our Constitution and at a later date up till now, even after the Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution the citizenship does remain to be known as Bangladeshis.- no one must ever dare to change it. Amendment to the Constitution to make the citizenship as Bangladeshi is an important inclusive one.
In reality what we do is that amendments are processed usually to the benefits of the rulers rather than the ruled, - what a pity ! Of late, the Law Minister hinted that the NRB having dual citizenship may be allowed to vote and become candidates in local elections. Worse, worse and worse ! Labor force (and others) in search of bread and butter leave the country and in the process take up jobs/employments since very little opportunities are available in the country and enrich our remittances only to find that national election is a forbidden territory as if it is outside Bangladesh, it is a high resort to nurture discriminations.
Core humanity:- We must hold, all together united with sense of spirit, humanity and equitable rights for all.
To deliver the goods we have to be fair in all respects. I urge, therefore, upon the government to open the curtain, discuss through dialogues at different strata of the society, political parties and fora and develop a consensus of the present burning issue, for slow and steady wins the race.
The writer is a Chartered Management Accountant and Global Chartered Management Accountant
