Democracy and people

. PHOTO: AFP

Contrast this with our situation here, with a governing party that has stepped down from power and its members are still referring to the Awami League as the Opposition. It seems as though they are still in power, and there is a suspicion that they may be right.

The entire nation of Bangladesh, the people, the educators, the print media, lawyers and many representatives of foreign nations were demanding that the Chief Election Commissioner resign. Yet that retired Justice of the Supreme Court, who has been exposed as a liar by a Member of the Caretaker Government, blithely continued to remain in office oblivious of the firestorm exploding around him. What could he be thinking? What was his motive? What did he hope to accomplish? These are the questions answers to which frighten us.

Ultimately perhaps he felt democracy was not just about garnering votes, it was also about bending to the will of the people.

Our political system needs major shift in terms of leadership -- their accountability while exercising power and ruling the country. It has been proved by the historical data that so many leaders ruled the country and set so many bad examples of anarchy and failures and finally walked out without being accountable to any one. Simply because in politics you are free to exercise your power without any fear of giving reasons of your failure.

The most important fact finding mission should aim at the ultimate motive of politicians. Unless we can determine their driving force, we cannot have good governance in our country. To begin with this shift, it is necessary to have an independent judiciary system, strong and fair law and order and government agencies that will remain out of reach of political influence. If we can take all our political leaders in a confession room and ask them of their motive behind practicing politics, I can sure most of them would come out with ill motives. In a way we are at fault knowingly or unknowingly as we selected and elected these leaders to rule our country.

Our system does not encourage educated and dedicated people to come and serve the country. The reason is very simple. New leadership requires blessings from godfathers and support of muscle power and black money. This traditional entry into politics must be uprooted by the new generation of leadership who truly want a change in the country and ready to work hard for the people and the country.

I believe in the long run it's the people of our country who will redefine politics and its practice. It is not possible to have this change by a magical touch. Rather this new system and its frame must be built on good faith and dedication of honest people over the years to come.

Mohammad Jamal, Ontario, Canada

We have perhaps proved without doubt that democracy is not suiting us much.

We have a bunch of childish politicians who are at each other's throat all the time. They have strong differences in every matter and they resort to abusive language and violent activities to settle those differences on the streets, in the parliament or even in the court. I have not seen a single politician in the country whom I can respect from my heart.

I think it is time we gave up democracy for the time being and found some alternative.

Politics has split the people into two groups -- BNP and AL. Either you are with us or with them.

While our politicians are so bad we cannot blame them entirely. I see hundreds of thousands of passionate supporters attending the rallies and cheering their harangue, even killing the opponents with medieval brutality. Why? Are all these to protect democracy?

Well, one difference between the last 15 years of democracy and the military rule before it is that we have now a free press and a huge group of "freestyle" journalists who are also split along the time. While political leaders and their activists settle their disputes in the streets, journalists and columnists use their desks and forms to do the same.

Dr Yunus is probably the only hopeful gentleman in the country. But he is from a different planet. In the current context of our country, it would be extremely naive if we believe that our childish politicians will solve everything.

I think we should take a break, reflect on our mistakes, and let the politicians get matured or wait for a new breed of politicians that believe in democratic values.

Khairul Hasan, Surrey, UK

The proposal of 'coalition government' by Prof. Yunus is obviously innovative though most of our political leaders have called it 'impractical' and 'impossible'. I do not know whether his idea of coalition government is a sign of losing his faith on our President-cum-CA who he praised some days ago referring his oath taking as a good and opportune step. Some BNP leaders have commented on thinking about the proposal after the election (but is there any possibility to get an acceptable election soon?).

The idea Prof. Yunus has presented is not really possible to be practiced now as these two parties are at daggers drawn relation. So we the common citizens don't think that they will really be agreed to sign a peace accord or anything else at present.

We must admit that the appointment of wrong (and controversial) persons in the very important posts of Election Commissioners has created this situation. Moreover, constitution has set the limits of advisers to the caretaker government which has made them really helpless to reform Election Commission as they have a very few constitutional opportunity to interfere in the EC's activities. As luck would have it, our advisers already have proved themselves as very sincere persons as they are still doing good job in this critical period in their own patriotic interest out of agenda. I wish if these advisers can be appointed to the post of Election Commissioners. Since the advisers have already been able to gain public faith, it would not be a very exotic idea to appoint them as new Election Commissioners instead of the controversial ones.

Yes obviously it will be unconstitutional but I think a democratic country cannot run in this way -- as it is running now.

Md. Maidul Islam, University of Dhaka