The latest row between the battling Begums and their parties is over budget proposals and procedures. On Monday, during a press conference Begum Khaleda Zia offered proposals for an alternative budget. However Begum Zia only announced these proposals outside the parliamentary session. This even though the ruling Awami League had offered and welcomed BNP proposals in the budget. The BNP’s announcement act has sparked off allegations and counter-allegations of unconstitutionality and opportunism.
Begum Zia’s proposals are not without merit. She proposed that this government prioritize gas exploration and coal extraction to broaden the country’s energy base. Though her words were pitched to combat the AL’s move to buy energy from India and Russia, the proposal deserves serious consideration. Moreover she advised increased spending on education and infrastructure. Training teachers through more international– and hands on–programs is surely a bit like tipping one’s hat to the right idea. She proposed that young students have access to loans to licenses, so they can innovate their businesses and become strong entrepreneurs. Again, though these are steady and eternally winning proposals, the means of achieving these proposals could well be bipartisan. Hence, the very fact that the proposal was made bodes well for mutual agreement and mutual advantage. Indeed, even if, for now, the BNP’s proposals are designed to push the AL to spend its way to bankruptcy, these proposals are only the beginning of a much needed dialogue.
Nevertheless Begum Zia’s gambit is now considered a first mover advantage in the BNP’s favor since her “alternative” proposals were aired out before the AL Finance Minister could offer the budget in Parliament. The Awami League challenged the manner in which she offered her proposals, though the proposals, as such, will be considered for their merits. The AL alleges that by walking out on parliament on June 2nd, Begum Zia has forsaken her duties as an elected parliamentarian. This, more so because the AL had invited her to discuss the merits of her alternative proposals in a parliamentary session. That she chose a different route, so the AL alleges, is proof positive that Begum Zia does not stand with the people. (Of course no one doubts that as an opposition leader she has the authority of a sitting cabinet member and, as such, has the authority to lead her party or offer proposals as she sees fit. There is something of a mis-match in incentives to seek out the mutual advantage outcome.)
