“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” – ডিক্টেটরশিপের বিরুদ্ধে বঙ্গবন্ধুর সতর্কবাণী
২২ সেপ্টেম্বর ১৯৫৫
করাচী
অডিওতে কণ্ঠ দিয়েছেন Tahia Tabassum Trena.
The constitution assembly of Pakistan
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Sir, I rise to support that amendment moved by my honourable friend, Mr. Abul Mansur Ahmad, and while doing go so I would request my friends who are now occupying the opposite benches to be careful and support the amendment of Mr. Abul Mansur Ahmad. The reason why I ask them to do so that they have in store some kind of dismissal either at the hands of the Governor-General or his agent, the Governor of a province.
Sir, our Prime Minister declared that ours is a democratic country. Definitely we believe in democracy and we are fighting for democracy. I do not know when it will come be but we are fighting for it. We are the representatives of the people and the Governor-General in this country is appointed by Her Majesty the Queen of England. That being the position, the Ministers, who are the direct representatives of the people, should advise the Governor-General and he must be bound to act according to the advice tendered to him by his Ministers. If this suggestion is not accepted, I know the same “fortune” may come to my friends who are now sitting opposite as came to earlier Ministries. It is just a question of time; It may take two months or six months, or a year or two years.
The Honourable Members sitting opposite can emulate the example of India. There the President is Dr. Rejendra Prasad and do you think that he can do anything without the advice of the Prime Minister, without the permission of the Council of Ministers? That is not possible. Even the Queen of England will not be able to do so because she will have to accept the advice of the Council of Ministers. If, however, you believe that it is a dictatorial country; that the Governor-General is all-powerful and he can dissolve the Constituent Assembly: he can demarcate the Federal Area, in that case I have not much to say. But then this is absolutely against the fundamental principles of democracy. I request you, please, my friends, do not forget the recent past. Sir, I would request through you to my friends (Although I have directly requested them to which I was not entitled and which was a mistake) that a democratic provision should be inserted Otherwise a time is coming when you will realise the consequences of this wrong action. I can assure you that every democratic country will accept the amendment of Mr. Abu Mansur Ahmad, We say whatever advice the Council of Ministers tender to the Governor General, that advice must be accepted by him. That is the principle of democracy. But to keen power in their own hands and at a later stage will come forward with the argument that the Governor-General does not like the area of Gadap, we have decided to demarcate the Federal Area at Clifton or at Kutchery Road. They are embodying these provisions.
Sir, you come from a province where the people are fighting for democracy. I would request my friends, through you, not to go against the fundamental principles of democracy. I would warn them that a time is coming very soon when they themselves might be dismissed. For that situation, if not for anything else I would request them to accept the amendment of Mr. Abul Mansur Ahmad.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (East Bengal: Muslim): Sir, my friend Mr. Zahiruddin has spoken at some length on clause 4 which is before the House. Here we are giving absolute powers to the Governor-General and to the Governor who will be the main executive head of the new province. Sir, I ask how you can think of violating the fundamental principles of democracy. We may have a clause saying that the representatives of the people of West Pakistan will govern the province but what is the meaning all that we are doing in this Bill, we claim ourselves to be a democratic country and this is what we have been proclaiming to the would and all the time we are giving more and more powers to one man. He can do all that he likes. I think my friends on the other side of the House must accept our suggestion and omit these two clauses (a) and (c). You may replace them after consulting us – we are quite prepared for that. I would again urge upon my honourable friends to drop these two parts otherwise the country will turn into an absolute dictatorship and an autocratic country. We are the representatives of the people and we have to give a constitution to the country in respect of which we have made promises to the nation. I request them please omit these parts (a) and (c) whereby you are giving absolute powers. Remember: absolute power corrupts absolutely. There is a saying in the English language. Please do not give absolute power to one man who is not our representative – may be he is the Head of the State. But I say, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Reference:
Iqbal, S. (1997) Sheikh Mujib in Parliament (1955-58), p. 30-33, Dhaka, Agami Prakashani