The New Nation - Internet Edition

Stop indiscriminate parking

UNAUTHORISED parking of vehicles have taken away the serenity and traffic discipline from Dhaka City. The menace is there in shopping centres, offices, residential and mixed areas, and particularly in the Motijheel downtown. Several hundred thousand man-hours are wasted every day in the city due to traffic congestion which is caused, among others, by unauthorised and reckless parking. Dhaka is certainly the singular metropolis in the world where such caprice is common.

The Motijheel Commercial Area was developed since the 1950s when Dhaka was the new capital of a province where volume of business was small and the number of vehicles limited. At that time any or no arrangement of vehicle parking was enough. But as time went on business spread and the number of vehicles phenomenally increased. In only a quarter century Dhaka turned into a national capital with immense possibilities. This has, in turn, necessitated many more amenities needed for a metropolis where nearly 11 million people now live. Though the scruple of the early builders of the private and public edifices are not praiseworthy the outcome of their endeavours now need to be reshuffled in a way which can meet the present-day need.

The entire need cannot be met at a stroke. It has not been fully possible even in Tokyo, New York or London. At peak hours those highly planned mammoth cities also become naughtily congested. But those cities for busy hours have different kinds of traffic rules and management. Here, in Dhaka also on week days during busy hours traffic management and traffic rules shall have to be different from those of lean hours. Often some such measures are taken but they are short-lived and irregular. As redressive measures private and public buildings now need to turn their ground floors into car parks.

Preventing kidney diseases

DURING the inauguration of a lottery the other day to raise funds to build an international standard hospital for kidney patients in Bangladesh some startling disclosures were made. Experts who attended the ceremony stated that some two crore people (20 million) out of over fourteen crore people (140 million) of Bangladesh are kidney patients. Thus, there is no way to underestimate the impact of kidney-related health problems. The treatment of kidney-related diseases means a big drain of resources not only at the individual or family level, but also at the national level.

A health-related NGO recently concluded a survey on kidney diseases. A notable aspect of its findings is that 60 per cent of diabetic and hypertension patients here do not know that they are also suffering from kidney diseases as a corollary to their main diseases and 65 per cent of the patients come to realise only after their kidneys fail that their uncontrolled diabetes or blood pressure leads to this. Thus, it is apparent that there is a huge information gap about the preventive aspect of kidney diseases that must be bridged with extensive awareness raising through different media.

The most dreaded of kidney diseases - kidney failure - sometimes is the result of improper control of blood sugar levels. High blood pressure that is not brought reasonably to normal with medication can similarly lead to kidney damages. Therefore, diabetes and hypertension patients need to be made aware of keeping their immediate diseases under control. Even kidney diseases caused by infections and other illnesses with no links to diabetes or high blood pressure, can be prevented through awareness of drinking water in the recommended amounts daily and other hygienic practices. There should be regular awareness campaigns about kidney care to prevent ailment.

What common people think about politicians

Muhammad Quamrul Islam

I received an invitation of President and General Secretary of 'Nagorik Samaj', on March12, 2008 to attend a seminar on March 25 relating to thoughts of citizens for that type of politicians they need on the eve of Independence Day. Despite the fact I am sick feeling unwell on sudden death of my friend batch mate of Dhaka University1961, I told general secretary over phone I would attend as requested. Plainly speaking, it is difficult for me at age 67 to attend a seminar by public transport at National Press Club, as I have no personal one. On March 25,2008 an article of mine on my friend Bazlur Rahman was published as a post editorial in the traditional vernacular national daily Sangbad, of which he was its editor till death. We would like to draw attention of readers and citizens, which might be treated as a case study to seminar subject for future actions.

As I entered seminar room, reaching the Press Club by public transport, I found it has just started on scheduled time, an organiser provided a seat for me, thanks to them. I was delighted to see superb arrangements made by the organisers, which is not a media show project some faces for benefits of some but sincerely productive one corroborated by the concerned experts. Israt Jahan, an active leader of Ngorik Samaj conducted those seminar proceedings nicely, braving interruptions at the end of open discussion to safe conclusion.

Along her side, there were political leaders namely an Awami League presidium member Surenjit Sen Gupta, Gano Forum founder President Dr. Kamal Hossain who is also NGO civil Society leader and eminent lawyer, President of JSD (Inu) Hasanul Haq Inu, and so on. Surely, they have listened to commoners in open discussion, carried their concerns to concerned quarters including Caretaker Government [CG] and Election Commission with whom Dr. Kamal Hossain has easy access in different capacities, reports show.

What were in open discussions realistic, not tuned to please or displease any body?

As moderated and requested by Israt Jahan each discussant came to the microphone to ventilate grievances and expectations in clear terms, which are to be noted, by politicians of all ranks, and hues- leftists, rightists and centrists. But, how would they get it, as. I am told few print media only showed photo of few political leaders with banner behind, with no report, not to speak of the grassroots levels discussants, which would number 18 made valuable comments from hearts. I would like to summarise those as far as I could note for readers; interested political party activists might have names of those speakers, discussion recorded from the organiser.

BUET student slain Sony's father Habibur Rahman soaked with emotion naturally, as addressed audience include political leaders and asked political parties to delink students as fronts of organisations. He is eagerly looking for honest political leaderships to emerge in that spirit of one eleven changeover and reforms made so far.

Social worker AB M Osman Gani presented, circulated a paper on the seminar subject, which merits consideration by political leaders. One speaker commented he ought to have dealt more elaborately prevailing unemployment situation. Gani rightly said expectations raised by one eleven changeover is dimming out after 13 months. He has observed parties are in no mood change past practices instill inner party democracy and induct new honest persons. So the question in which direction we are moving. Still party chiefs stick to post until death, so to say. Sacrificing politicians that was usual trait of this country, missed in post Bangladesh. If octogenarian, or life president, is the way of a party then how politics can flourish.

Gani referred to Maulana Bhashani who throughout his life did politics for the toiling masses. He served selflessly realise rights of the people without looking for power. But after his death on November17, 1976 those left National Awami Party [NAP] join power based new parties. Erstwhile Soviet Union group used the name of NAP, which was also splinted. Various fake factions in the name of NAP and Bhashani, through press releases, appeared who made livings for them, concerned activists say. To get out of this melee the Bhashani followers made the co-ordination council towards the end of 1980s undertook a countrywide program, leading to the representative conference on August31, 1990 in the National Press Club auditorium that elected a National Committee led by Barrister Abdul Haq, a founding member of NAP in 1957 and parliamentary party leader in then National Assembly. On toppling of Ershad regime December 6,1990, we felt let the elections held under interim neutral government headed by Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed as per demands of three alliances to usher democracy. On our part we had little time in hand, reorganized NAP contest meaningfully; some veterans pointed elections would not produce effective parliament- voter list yet to be corrected, and mainstream parties accepted turncoats and wealthy persons for nominations. Their apprehensions came true, as allegations of subtle rigging arose and 5th parliament became ineffective half way, and street agitations.

It led 13th amendment to constitution, provide for 'Non -Party Caretaker Government' hold parliamentary elections, unknown to democracy, even in this country upto1970, not to speak of neighbouring state of West Bengal, India, exemplifies world democracy. It put a death nail in the coffin of Bangladesh democracy, said elderly politician in British- Pak period. Successive Caretaker Governments [CG] held elections that produced Ineffective 7th and 8th Parliaments culminating in most corrupt country in the world leading to severe crisis, one eleven change over. But former caretaker advisers of all those CGs do not feel ashamed; rather become icon of seminars, say retired bureaucrats Akber Ali Khan and so Hafizuddin Khan talking tall sermonizing on issues. What they did while in service and a caretaker adviser? Could they escape responsibility; who are holding positions till to day? Whom they are criticizing what for, who will give solution? Putting them back to another type of government? Our clear answer is no more political innovations like national or so on government, only to prolong sufferings of the poor people, while those in government of any type would enjoy sovereign benefits at home and abroad.

Reconstituted reshuffled CG and Election Commission yet to bring any visible change in the level of consciousness of the politicians. Concerned citizens observed. It is said we do not want to go back to a situation prior to one eleven, but how? Despite regular news of rising prices of essential goods in the national dailies, no practical steps are seen in the market by the civil authorities, except theorising issues like monitoring, reviving old laws lying dormant in the files. Changing of advisers and appointing of special assistants have not been a solution so far. Then why? Citizens do not know the criterion of appointments and dropping of advisers making rooms for new faces? Is it a type of Tadbir by so-called pressure groups or personal likes or dislikes? We pass on these anxieties to the concerned authorities thru this column. One day they would become former advisers enjoy prestige? But that will not help the commoners of sovereign Bangladesh, nor Morally tenable.

Researcher Gani rightly wrote still there are significant numbers of self-sacrificing and honest politicians in this country. But they are marginalized due to pressure of one-person show in party politics, family centered, and dishonest politics that need no elaboration. So far Anti- Corruption Commission has done well facing bureaucratic and legal hurdles. It cannot be all, which is a continuous process. It is the responsibility of public to patronize the honest politicians. Who will carry this message to the public? Would the government functionaries including Election Commission that has offices up to upazila levels conduct this civic education program, which Maulana Bhashani visualised in his last address? We do not think NGOs can do this job which are prone to seminars, fixing few posters or talk shows in TV channels; show donors, as learnt from the credible media specialists. Let us be specific what is to be done to bring them to scene serve this ill fated country, to which attention of all held seminars at National Press Club lounge DRU auditorium, posh hotels are invited as well as those civil society leaders issuing statements.

Then we can find politicians worth the name to meet the 11- points of Gani stated in his paper. It is not understood why an 8 yellow page paper on national unity accord presented by Dr. Kamal Hossain was circulated! It was in a meeting on Jauary11, 2008 at Engineers Institute. Any way we fail to understand definition and purpose of national dialogue with a non-political non -party CG, apparently so. Who are those persons implement proposed 10-point agenda of national dialogue? We need no more abstract thinking, but want to see names of persons with records of capability beforehand and not after sworn in.

The cross section of common discussants exclaimed never we tasted independence. Let future see it. A retired College teacher wants high prices should be checked, which is common tune. A medical doctor said Nobel Laureate Dr Yunus came to politics and then said 'No' to politics! New face is needed, but where, asked a discussant? Obviously, new faces do not mean turncoats, new party with old discarded leaders, or combination of self styled national leaders. This is a vital question, which has been properly touched by Gani in his paper.

So what type of politicians needed for party and elections?

In a nutshell, every body wanted to see honest, knowledgeable and efficient politicians in coming days. Who is then politician? Politician has natural political conscience having track record of service to people, who has shown courage and sacrifice to the cause of the country and people. S/he can say 'no' in the interest of party and country to party chief or illegal requests of party workers and leaders, as the case may be. S/ he would not indulge in flattery for personal aggrandizement. But, question arises if such men and women will get nominations to contest elections? Political parties give nominations [or alliance fetch vote banks or show big front with tiny allies on one- seat one- party basis]. Interpretation of political party is given in Article 152 of the constitution. But, how many do conform to this interpretation?

Election Commission [EC] conducted dialogues with parties as per their standard, except Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP], because of a court case, verdict on which be passed on April10, we are told. EC is yet to finalize electoral reforms and conduct into law. If we take declaration of CG and EC hold credible elections by end of 2008; then no much time is in hand as voter list and ID Card is yet to be completed and finalized, parties nominate competent candidates after internal reform of parties and take into fold of each party good leaders and workers. Look how political parties operate and elections held in neighboring Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and Meghalay. There is no reason why we couldn't uphold that heritage, being Bangladesh is sovereign, which they have maintained. Now it is reported CG likely to open dialogue with political parties this month. Would new Law Adviser Hasan Ariff, after Barrister Mainul Hossain who had sound political experiences, be equal to the task under the guidance of Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed reach the consensus with the political parties for credible elections as per reforms? Let us hope CG and political parties keep in mind what type of politicians people voters want. In no case caretaker advisers with NGO background be kept in the team for dialogue/s with political parties for obvious reasons. We bring this matter to the notice of international community particularly USA and next-door neighbor India.

New challenges for the US diplomacy

Dr Moeed Pirzada

THE emerging political structure in Pakistan may present new challenges to both the US and Pakistani diplomacy in the region. And it will be interesting to see how both sides continue to strengthen a relationship that is of utmost importance - to them and the region at large.

Last week the visiting US Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte and US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Boucher had a taste of this new noisy, boisterous and less than deferential Pakistan, where many were prepared to raise questions never aired so audaciously before. In many respects it was a rougher microcosm of the neighbouring India where the Bush administration has found it so frustrating to sell its grand nuclear deal.

But while listening to the cacophony of political bravado the thing that must have worried the US diplomats the most was that there was no one single person or institution available anymore to be threatened with mid-night phone calls; that can negotiate, promise and guarantee the results on the continuing war against terrorism. In a report, the New York Times termed this as the ushering of a 'new diplomatic order' and later in an editorial termed the Pakistani leaders desire to review Pakistan's role in the war against terrorism as 'worrying'.

In an earlier column in these pages (Where exactly lie the next fault lines? KT, Mar 20) I had argued that soon the coalition parties may be compelled to take different positions on this issue. This started to manifest last week. Whereas PM Yousaf Raza Gillani's cautious pronouncement that negotiations are possible with militants who lay down arms has raised eyebrows in the US media it must be the stand taken by Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister, and the junior partner in the coalition government that must raise hackles inside the State Department.

Nawaz, in a hurriedly called Press conference, after his meeting with the US diplomats, asserted that whereas his party wants peace everywhere it doesn't want Pakistan to become a slaughter house for peace elsewhere. Yet the differences between the two coalition partners on this issue may be deeper than discernable from the surface. PPP created political space for itself inside Washington beltway, over a two-year period, promising that if given the chance back in power it will impart greater legitimacy and effectiveness to the war against terrorism.

This was the position again reiterated by Hussain Haqqani, the PPP's designated Ambassador at large and soon to be Pakistan's Ambassador to Washington-during an interview with Los Angeles Times. It will be hardly an exaggeration to suggest that Haqqani was Ms. Bhutto's principal one- man think-tank in the US providing continuous intellectual wherewithal to her strategy of winning and developing support for a comeback. Sharif on the other hand is being counselled by Tariq Fatemi, a nationalist figure from Pakistan's Foreign Service whom many in the US diplomatic corps remember with some trepidation.

Add to this the fact that whereas PPP has relied upon its traditional vote bank in interior Sindh and southern Punjab, Sharif, who swept Punjab and its middle class vote, upstaging Gen. Musharraf and his support base, had fashioned his campaign around issues of national self-respect and sovereignty. Given this context both parties will find it difficult to move far away from their commitments and public image.

But this is not the only problem that challenges the minds.

Responding to the changed signals - or confusion - from the politicians, the so-called Tehrik-e-Taleban-e-Pakistan (TTP) the main extremist outfit has produced its own olive branch.

And the nature of this "olive branch" only shows the kind of disconnect these neo-Luddites have with the world around them; they are prepared to offer peace to Pakistani cities in exchange for their right to continue Jihad against the US and Nato in Afghanistan. Well, this may entice some idiotic street opinion but is hardly helpful to the political decision makers- who will soon be confronted with the task of balancing budgets as well.

But these militants, lost in time warp, with their vision blocked by the rugged mountains all around, are trying to utilise some redundant paradigms of the past.

After all only a generation ago they and their fathers were utilised by the US and Pakistanis to wage a war of attrition against the occupying Soviets from sanctuaries inside Pakistan. The US certainly utilised this concept against the Soviet-backed regimes in many other theatres of conflict, across the world. India successfully employed the same paradigm against erstwhile East Pakistan by allowing the Begali insurgents to operate from the safety of West Bengal. And Pakistan - till 9/11 - was following the same against India in Kashmir. We must admit: all are naked in this Turkish hammam.

9/11 gave us the new paradigms of collective security where all were prepared to fight a common enemy - the terrorists- under the leadership of a global hegemon, with whom no one could reasonably disagree with. The assumption is that old fashioned pursuit of state interests is dead. But is it really true?

US media and think-tanks have continuously harped on the theme that Pakistani military establishment is playing a double game, saving some of its "jihadi assets" to be used later. Interestingly the Pakistani chatter mill has always pointed out the large number of Indian consulates close to Pak-Afghan border, foreign inspired insurgents in Baluchistan and activities of Indian Border Road Organization as evidences of a US double game in the region.

But Mirza Aslam Baig, the former army chief, recently wrote and distributed an unusually provocative piece: "Challenges for the new Government" accusing US and India of running an intelligence command operation at Jabul-us-Seraj, north of Kabul with forward posts at Sarobi for missions inside the NWFP and at Lashkargah and Nawah for supporting insurgents inside Pakistani Baluchistan.

These accusations look wild on the face of it and in all probability may be exaggerated; after all why will the US attempt destabilising a nuclear Pakistan? But unfortunately such conspiracy theories are widely believed across Pakistan. And one thing they point out is that the old fashioned pursuit of state interests and insecurities is not dead.

In the months ahead, US may find it better and more fruitful to define the struggle in this region less in terms of the war against terrorism and more in terms of regional stability. In any case, it may need to inspire greater trust about its role of a neutral, above board, global hegemon.

(Moeed Pirzada, a broadcaster and political analyst with GEO TV, has been a Britannia Chevening Scholar at London School of Economics & Political Science. Email: mp846@columbia.edu)