The New Nation - Internet Edition

Abdur Rahim

Bangladesh politics may take a turn for the better in the coming days . The High Court order to grant bail to Begum Khaleda Zia and welcoming of the decision by the Acting Awami League President Zillur Rahman is no doubt a positive sign of decent behaviour of politicians we expect from them. It raises a ray of hope in the minds of the people that in the future the politicians would follow a decent role avoiding the old belligerent attitude towards one another, creating a social unrest and causing immense loss of lives and properties. Under a disturbed situation, a third force emerges and seize the state power. Politicians of all shades of opinion then suffer from ignominious treatment for their alleged misdeeds while in power. Some of them might be punished by the court of law for their actions inconsistent with their authority and rights; others might be acquitted from the accusations. Nonetheless, politicians as a whole had to undergo a process of legal battle under such circumstances. Some of them even had to go in hiding and living as fugitives at home or abroad. By no means this is desirable for a person who might have contributed significantly to the liberation of the country. On the other hand, one is not supposed to misuse one's authority and accumulate wealth disproportionate to his known source of income, while nearly half of the population of the country live below poverty level.

Time has come to pinpoint the real culprits responsible for, among others, illegally withdrawing huge amount of money from banks in collaboration with bureaucrats and a particular brand of business tycoons-turned -politicians and getting away without repaying the loans. Legal measures had failed to compel the bank dacoits to fulfill their undertakings. Law seems either was too lenient to the power elite or indifferent in realising public money from the powerful defaulters. Time and again it was reported that a section of powerful people owe to the commercial banks a sum of Tk. 26000 crore (Twenty-six thousand). Exemplary punishment should be given to those people. Alas! law does not spare poor people and small businessmen when they fail to repay their loans timely. As a result, people in general become frustrated and welcome change of a government elected through popular vote. People's attitude towards their elected government takes a 'U' turn as and when the law-makers become law-breakers and under various pretexts use their sacred position to their self aggrandisement

Smart people join politics, among them the smarter ones take the driving seat. Like any other game, in politics victory and defeat are also concomitant factors. Furthermore, many unwritten rules dominate the game.

The fate of a political party is not only judged by its own policy, it depends more on how the team leader tactfully handles the situation at critical moments and difficult times. A large party having a huge mass support may suffer ignominious defeat for sheer misjudgment of the captain.

Politicians mainly those who held powerful positions in the government at different time, have been subjected to humiliation after one/eleven for their alleged wrong-doings. The country seems heading for a general election by the year-end. This is a welcome move. But many people are apprehensive of clashes between the rival political forces if proper precaution is not taken by the caretaker government well in advance by apprehending hoodlums and known miscreants who work on hire for any party paying them according to their demand.

Undoubtedly, people like to be treated well by the properly elected representatives, but not cheated by their representatives in the Parliament.

Politicians as a whole should behave in a manner befitting in a democratic system and they must take a lesson from their past mistakes as well as misdeeds. True, no system of government is perfect but no alternative to democracy has been invented as yet.

Pakistan is a very recent example, a military dictator who ruled the country for long nine years had to bow out of power after losing public support, even in a divided nation. Most trusted man of the most powerful country of the world could not save Mosharraf. On the other hand hero of the Second Great War Sir Winston Churchill had to concede defeat to the Labour when his economic policy proved not beneficial to the people of war-torn Britain.

Further, there are examples that show corruption charges and sex-scandals against a number of cabinet ministers were responsible for fall of governments in the cradle of Westminister- type democracy. But one thing should be kept in mind that in Britain, government changes but not the system.

In retrospect, we see a dismal picture of the democratic process right from the Pakistan time. It took nine years for adoption of a constitution after the nation was formed in 1947. The Constitution which was highly unbalanced and against the interest of the majority people in the then East Bengal also was not allowed to properly function. On the eve of general election scheduled to be held in 1958, state power was usurped first by Iskendar Mirza, then by Army Chief General Auyb Khan. Nine years of Ayub's dictatorial rule ended when he, in the wake of mass protest against his rule, had to handover power to General Yahyia Khan who after assuming power gave a general election throughout Pakistan. But he didn't honour the election result when Awami League under the leadership of Sheikh Mubur Rahman secured absolute majority in the Parliament. That was the turning point leading to the movement for liberation of the then East Pakistan. At the end of a successful liberation war Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation with much hope and aspiration. But the people within a very short time were disillusioned when things went wrong so far as the administration and economic situations are concerned. Law and order situation went beyond the control of the government. Imposition of emergency provisions by the government failed to arrest the situation from further deterioration. Meanwhile, the new country saw the worst famine in 1974 and many people died as a result. Due to the restriction on the media, the actual figure of the lives lost in the famine could not be ascertained.

At that juncture, one party rule was established abolishing the multi-party parliamentary system and BAKSAL was formed as a result. However, table turned upside down after a military coup in mid-August, 1975. Multiparty parliamentary system was restored immediately after but the post of President remained in vogue. This arrangement continued till 1991 when

BNP government was formed after Ershad government's demise. The Constitution was amended with unanimous vote in the Parliament making the Prime Minister, the executive head. This system more or less functioned well and three elections were held subsequently, and governments formed as a result had finished full- five year terms, of course, not without being threatened to quit power before completion of the term. BNP and Awami League - two arch rivals could not stand each other when one won the election and the other lost. That took a serious turn when the nation was poised for the fourth parliamentary election on 22 January, 2007 following the end of term of the BNP government in October, 2006. The two parties differed on the issue of formation of the caretaker government which was supposed to hold general election within three months from the date of taking over the administration.

The current President, as an alternative, provided in the amended constitutional provision, took over, in addition to his existing position, as the head of caretaker government. That evoked further clashes resulting in a number of gruesome murders on Dhaka city streets in the glare of the TV cameras. The President was then obliged to form the present caretaker government which has to hold the next general elections by the end of December this year. The caretaker government meanwhile completed dialogue with all but the BNP led Four Party Alliance for fixing the date for the general election.