The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md. Masum Billah

The Election Commission has announced the schedule for holding four City Corporation and nine municipal elections triggering murmuring, buzzing sound and criticism from the big political parties. Intra-party disputes, rivalry between prospective candidates within alliances too has become intense since the declaration. In four divisional headquarters, mayoral aspirations in both AL and BNP brace themselves for challenges from components of fourteen parties and four party combines. Things have been even worse for lack of instructions from central leadership of the parties that have yet to decide whether to take part in the said elections. The political parties must take the matter into account that the government will not be in any problem if they don't participate in the local government elections rather they would be in the awkward position and will get secluded from the public. They threat to resist the elections. Question arises how they will do that. Most of the central leaders who will give the direction are in the jails. Furthermore, it is crystal clear to the ordinary people that the corruption perpetrated by the big leaders of big parties has brought serious misers to the countrymen. The threat to boycott the elections hints that they are pressing the government to free those corrupt ministers and powerful members who have actually not been adored by the people of this country. They further think if local government elections are held the central leaders will lose their hold in the areas. Indirectly it means that the big political parties don't bother about the strengthening of local government bodies. Local government bodies will be their chosen and loyal people. They just think of their party interest instead of welfare of the people. Various ups and downs of political field have made the ordinary people of this country politically mature. They will hardly respond to the unreasonable call of the leaders which calls for serous consideration of big parties.

The recent remark of renowned lawyer Dr. Kamal regarding the political situation gives ample scope to think. He has said, " After 1/11 massive reforms were started in the country which should see a successful conclusion." Questions are being raised about the government's ability to manage, he said urging officials of the military backed caretaker government "You have taken up a responsibility. Your patience, competence and honesty are being tested. Don't let the corrupt people brow beat you. The county cannot afford to be handed over again to those who were engaged in corruption in the past and that the election must be held worth any manipulation by godfathers and black money holders." In democracy the public representation is a must. But the nature and way of it has been vitiated by black money and muscle power. We cannot afford to continue it further.

Our democracy suffered from the top down philosophy which hardly saw real representation of root level leaders. The party which wins the election decides the presentation of the local government body. Such kind of top-down system helps the party and central leaders to dominate keeping aside the local government body's interest and the real welfare of ordinary people. This top down way hardly gives opportunity to people to elect their liked candidate as most of the process is influenced by central policy and leaders.

To bring honest, patriotic and clean people to politics holding local government election without political influence is a key factor. Such kind of people will show interest to do public affairs and contribute directly to the welfare of the people and nation. Party and muscle power controlled election never allures the honest people to come to politics. So, country becomes deprived of their real services as the entire political field is occupied by party interest.

It is true that running the governance calls for experience as it entails serious public dealing and political parity leaders have such kind of knowledge in this line. But their corruption, nepotism and party leanings banish all sorts of public welfares and the ordinary voters become deprived of their due rights and civil privileges due to these negative aspects. On the other hand, the civil society members, honest citizens who usually remain neat and clean from the turmoil of politics but don't have any experience of governance. Their assumption on the office may suffer from public dealing with some flaws. Even then, their honesty may drive away the hurdles standing in the way of their public dealings. Now let the honest people come to politics which may bring positive change in the life of ordinary people of Bangladesh.

The big political leaders and even the civil society members sometimes utter that this government does not have any right to think of local government election, to take any financial decision etc. why not? The political turmoil has given rise to this government. Serious chaos the country experienced and its upshot is the present government. Formally they did not take the votes of the people but indirectly and informally they enjoy public mandate.

Democracy is the popular form of government but it does not necessarily mean that it brings good for the public always. Even then we adore democracy. India is the largest democracy in the world. It has never seen military rule whereas Pakistan and Bangladesh most of their have seen military rule either in disguise or open. Definitely India bears credit in this respect. but her economic situation is still grave which is evidenced from an article of Kuldip Nayar in the D.S on June 16. He said," No doubt , India's middle class has expanded 350 million but the 20 million at the bottom is destitute. The government's own report published earlier this year says that more than 70% of the people live on less than a dollar per day. What does development or progress mean when roughly 70 million people are deprived of basic necessities?"

It proves though democracy is the established form of government, it cannot ensure basic necessities of ordinary people. Cuba has seen socialism in the form of autocracy but she has ensured almost all the basic necessities of her people. Still we are to form, establish and exercise democracy. So, the participation of big parties entails utmost importance. After the restoration of parliamentary democracy in the 1990 in our country all the governments were either coalition or quasi-coalitions. Gradually the country was moving towards greater and bigger coalitions. The fact indicates that, however, large parties are, they alone are not in a position to rule the country peacefully. To dream to rule the country by a particular party remains far apart.

CEC said, "The country's political culture has to be changed to establish democracy in the true sense. Everyone has to play his or her role changing conventional idea and beliefs for the betterment of people." The local government elections must not be dominated by politics and the big parties should restrain themselves to give an institutional shape to democracy. The traditional ideals and beliefs must be abandoned once for all.

The government seems to remain firm in holding the elections as per schedule and roadmap which become evidenced from the speech of Commerce and Education Adviser Dr, Hossain Zillur Rahman "We are moving forward step by step and the election to the local bodies is an important step to pass." To address local issues effectively and combat natural calamites which we experience almost every year, the strengthening of local government bodies attaches utmost importance but it has remained neglected or by-passed. Now time has come to undo the situation and political parties cannot seclude themselves from this requisite element of democracy.