The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mohammad Hasmat Ali

Bangladesh is passing a very critical stage at this time. The businessmen, investors, professionals, foreign concerned authorities and even the general people are worried for this hard time. The problem is acknowledged by government also. The statements of top the country's rulers are clear that they are passing this time and they are trying to overcome this problem.

The background of the problem is with a long and successive history. Since independence, we have been facing hard times in the form politically, economically and other ways. The victory over the Ershad Government by the then opposition gave a hope of good future for Bangladesh through ensuring a sound democratic environment in all sectors and all spheres. Joint movement by almost all political parties against the autocratic Ershad was giving a positive hope for the nation. But After some years, the whole country became fire for a caretaker government. The politics got a new fuel to fire. The inflexibility of the then BNP-led government made the situations tougher. A valueless election took place and declared invalid later on. Again the new government lead by AL came into power in 1996 and they were doing generally what a political government naturally does. Again in 2001 BNP-led Joint government came into power with vast majority. That majority made the government untouchable and uncontrollable.

The problems of our country remain intact. The country was facing its highest political, economical, trade, foreign aggression, cultural challenge. The policies it made became worthless. Deficiency in balance of trade, threats and interference of foreign donors and agencies, poverty, social security of the citizen, image of the country all were under serious questions.

The unnecessary govt. expenditures, wastage of resources, poor plan for human and natural resources management, poor and surrendering foreign policy, rivalry relationship with political parties, corruption, politicization in all potential sectors are some among the main weaknesses of our governments from Independence to till now. In spite of that there are some positive developments in our country like the improvement in mass education, poverty reduction, GDP, foreign investment etc.

Since the independence, among the different problems we are facing, the main is political crisis. The politics outside parliament, undue politicization in power, political rivalry relations, poor respect to other political ideology, negative reaction to other party's suggestion or demands, destructive political programs to meet the demand form the government, poor accountability and transparency regarding the sources and uses of funds, poor political morality, lack of productive and sincere commitments to the country, political blindness are some common features of our political system. They rarely want to see the face of other political leaders closely. They never think that there are other political parties with ideologies. They believe that that they are the only party in the right way. It is rarely seen that the demand of the opposition in the parliament is accepted by the government.

The government rarely pays heed to the opposition and opposition never supports the plan of the government. Keeping the power or trying to go to the power are common wishes of the political parties. The 1/11 is the result of that political unrest in the country, though it is said that this is a pre-planned revolution. The plan can only be made well in a country where such features are available.

The development of our lovely Bangladesh is not possible without the development of the political crisis. We have to solve these problems. We must cultivate a new political culture where there will be some major common goals for the country, respect to each others, love for all, understanding in common issues, caring and attractive political programs to settle the demand, the promise to build the country rather than destruction, the application of highest political morality with patriotism.

The political problems are created by political parties in Bangladesh. We are responsible for it. The solution must be made by the political parties. The sick person should have medicines by himself. If others take themselves medicine on behalf of the sick person, there will be no result.

The caretaker government is trying to remove political weaknesses. Though, they have limitations over this issue. To make the country free from political crisis, they are taking some initiatives like dialogue with political parties. The dialogue was expected to be arranged at the beginning of taking the power. By this time the parties which represent for major population of the country declared that they will not participate in dialogue with the government until their demands are settled. But the government is busy with schedules for meeting with social, businessmen and other political parties (which are familiar in names, no influence on politics at all).

So it is estimated that the political problems are not going to be solved. New problems are going to be started. The government cannot deny that the political crisis of Bangladesh can be removed if the two major parties AL and BNP have a good wish and agree to solve through understanding and realization. It is hoped that the political parties realize the problem of the country. They should handle this problem in future. They will be the leader in future again. So they should declare their correction programs for politics and mechanism of ruling the country. Then the job the government will be easy. They can organize a program and declare their plan for future politics.

There is no way but to manage, motivate, and convince the major political parties for our chronic political problems. There may be no alternative to this solution. If the government really has good will and wish, it must solve political problems by political parties which have the ability to create problems and solution. No solution will be come out if government avoids them and seek alternative untested, unpopular and unable parties. Minus theory, avoiding theory, threatening theory and punishment theory will enlarge and extend the problems. Let the political parties realize, feel and move for the country. Let the country stand on it. Let us build a peaceful political environment for ourselves by our political parties. I believe a theory, major political parties can solve the political and other crucial problems only. Political parties mean major role playing political parties not the parties with name only. Let's all realize this hard reality.