The reforms must not fail
WHEN a columnist writes under the caption, "Will repair do more damage?" (The Daily Star - June 13) and concludes, "Time will tell that when we restore democracy, we shall plant the seed of disruption" - he speaks the heart of many. The political Fahrenheit is on the rise immediately, clouding the promised reforms and anti-corruption drive. God only knows who has invented this dialogue business. Many of the advisers are behaving more like members of a 'Dialogue Commission' than as responsible ministers of the government. If the compulsion of dialogue was so overpowering why was it not started immediately upon forming the government? Is the dialogue to charter a whitewash of past politics in more supple ways abandoning the suffering people where they were before? Release of former PM on parole for treatment abroad is a welcome development. I have all respect and sympathy for the unfortunate lady; she has gone through many tragedies in life. She reached Boston on a private visit to meet her only son. Surprisingly, the Bangladesh Ambassador to Washington was there to receive her. What demanded him to travel 450 miles from his duty station to receive a person on parole is not clear! Unfortunately, many top bureaucrats, diplomats and other professionals continuously flout service ethics for personal favour. They reach the top echelon through corrupt practice and the backdoor. In any other country such violation of protocol would have resulted in severe punishment. While civil/military professions are littered with casualties of men of honour and dignity, violation of law or professional ethics is a sure way of climbing professional ladder in Bangladesh. I recall an excellent military professional sidelined for life for refusing to give unauthorised protocol in a foreign capital to a relative of a political bigwig. Before she departed, four advisers publicly visited Sheik Hasina at her residence, and the chief adviser had telephone conversation with her. Her hectic post-release activity suggested that she is still physically stout. As a result the rumour mills are abuzz to suggest that she is the next prime minister of Bangladesh. If that is so, what was all this drama of long custody and trial about? Now that the highest protocol has been offered, have not the courts been prejudiced to adjudicate on the pending cases? The custody of another former PM and her sons are also linked to the political environment by the hyperactive advisers. I am afraid people will conclude that both, taking them into custody and the cases, were fabricated if they are released without completion of the cases. It is vexing to see the trend of imperial politics still continuing in Bangladesh. For a variety of natural calamities and poor management, people are passing through extreme hardship. Even under better management of resources when such a massive war is waged against corruption and abuse of power, paying the price is but part of the deal. The suffering of the people has multiplied due to the lack of understanding of the dire needs of the people by the market gurus in the government. The top agenda and the bottom-line of the society could not be harmonized for lessening the suffering. The tragedy of democracy in Bangladesh is that it nearly always asked for remedy from an unexpected source. Two years were gracefully accepted by the people as a reasonable time to accomplish political reform and anticorruption drive. How are people going to take the fact of Mr. X going unpunished while Mr. Y gets the full doze of punishment? Why should forest boss Osman Gani rot in jail when so many Osman Ganis are still enjoying luxuries of life from ill-gotten wealth? The raison d'être of the present CTG is in the accomplishment of the mission - not merely in the attempt only. The failure will not admit of any excuse; infringement of the constitution is already on the court's agenda: after the shield of emergency is lifted who shoulders the blame? The tectonic fault of democracy in Bangladesh is the bureaucratic administration in divisions, districts and upajillas that deny strong connections with the people and opportunity to the grassroots. Unless democratic foundations are laid in upajilla, districts and divisional administrations, election for national legislature will be like building a castle without a foundation that will keep collapsing under its own weight. People have no trust left on political governments for these vitally important reforms and elections. Every birth has its pangs, natural or caesarean; circumstances dictate the rest. We are at a crossroad. Nobody could imagine in the chaotic days of 2006 that Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed would emerge with an agenda. If there is no reform, God only knows what will spring out from the unfathomed. The vested interests, wishing the reforms to fail, can't guarantee that the politics will once again not move towards anarchy. Violence and corruption fertilise the terrorist outfit that believe in guns rather than the power of the people. When a terminally sick society is offered no remedy, it is naturally drawn to the quacks. French and Bolshevik revolutions or any earthshaking events of history tell - corruption is the rotting process and poverty is the wrecker of a society. How long Bangladesh can possibly remain adrift without getting into further trouble is a matter of serious concern for the nation-builders and friends. When hunger snarls to eat democracy is afraid to exist. With so much of corruption, poverty and unemployment Bangladesh will remain vulnerable to terrorism. One Bangla Bhai dead doesn't assure that many aren't waiting. We must quickly build the political and economic health of the nation to avoid extremism. The proactive segment of the society must be engaged in upajilla, district/divisional governments to deny space for gun-barrel politics. Thirty-seven years of drifting into dirty politics must come to an end. Vitally important reforms are a silent revolution to avoid the rumblings of a noisy one. If the chief and his team fail, the nation will feel sorry for the brilliant sons but the mission must be accomplished. After sustained frustration of war on terror and the toll of ongoing recession if Obama is chosen by the Democrats for the final assault for the Whitehouse to turn around, it is also time for a change in Bangladesh. If the pre-liberation generation fails to deliver people have the right to demand an Obama to shoulder the responsibility. The author is a freelancer.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments