The New Nation - Internet Edition

Harun ur Rashid

Bangladesh stands at a crossroads and the path to a new invigorated Bangladesh depends how the new political forces emerge after the national elections on December 29th and accept the environment, characterised by mutual tolerance and respect, rule of law and accountability to people.

Democratic practices in tatters in the past:

Although democratic government was restored in 1991, regrettably the leaders of both major political parties-BNP and AL- fell out with each other. Furthermore, the two former Prime Ministers ignored some basic democratic norms in running the administration and the situation had developed what academics of political science could call democracy of "the tyranny of the majority and the recalcitrant minority". Such phenomenon destroyed the spirit of representative democracy in the country.

Politics became a big investment because if one would become a MP, it was a gateway for him/her to make money by being corrupt. Criminalisation of politics became the routine affair. A section of Ministers and MPs have allegedly pampered criminal elements to make money by extortion so long they would bring enough votes for politicians during the elections.

If MPs and ministers were charged with corruption bureaucrats were not far behind them and followed their political masters.

State institutions became weak and it is alleged that successive governments have appointed their own people in the state institutions. In the perception of public, there was almost a complete breakdown of integrity of some of the state institutions. Bureaucracy became politicised and those who "did not go with the flow" were marginalised.

Furthermore, confrontational politics accompanied by violence on the streets led to a situation in which declaration of emergency was proclaimed on January 11 2007, postponing the election on January 22, 2007 ( Emergency has been lifted on 17th December 2008).

Caretaker government:

Since January 12, 2007, Bangladesh has been undergoing through a path that is extraordinary and cathartic. The interim non-party caretaker government has been on a drive as far as possible to get rid of corrupt elements, muscle men and black money so that a new political level-playing field is created with a view to holding a multi-party fair, free and credible election.

The caretaker government attempted to eradicate as far as possible corrupt and criminal elements in society with the active assistance of armed forces and law enforcing agencies and has been able to demonstrate to what extent and how deep corruption has seeped into different layers of society and government, including political leaders, public servants and businessmen.

Powerful persons including former Prime Ministers who once were considered themselves "untouchables" were detained for alleged corruption or abuse of power.

The interim government was able to re-constitute some of the State institutions, such as the Public Service Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Election Commission.. Separation of judiciary from the executive has been implemented with the approval of the Supreme Court.

The Election Commission has been able to prepare list of voters (more than eighty million) with an identity card, describing names, photographs and finger prints. This has been a groundbreaking exercise by the Commission with the active participation of the armed forces and they deserve commendation.

Any reform or unprecedented tough action tends to be risky and has pitfalls. And some actions of the care-taker government are no exception.

There have been allegations of high-handedness and denial of due process to suspected corrupt politicians by some human rights organisations against the interim government. Some allege that the care-taker government has gone beyond its boundaries set by the Constitution.

Political parties and nomination process:

In total, 39 political parties registered with the Election Commission are contesting the 300 parliament seats and 1,597 candidates are in the race.

It is discouraging to note that most political parties have not been able to nominate all clean candidates to the parliamentary seats.

It is reported by NGO Sujon that BNP has nominated 4 convicts, 16 accused, 12 loan defaulters,7 relatives of top party leaders and one corruption suspect while AL nominated 10 accused, 1 convict, 8 loan defaulters, two relatives of top party leaders and one corruption suspect. JP nominated 1 convict, and 4 loan defaulters, while Jamaat-e-Islami nominated 3 accused and one corruption suspect and other parties nominated 10 loan defaulters (The Daily Star: 4th December 2008).

It is reported that 42 out of 130 loan defaulters are to contest the election, securing legal protection from the judiciary. The Adviser for Finance told the reporters on 3rd December that "As a citizen of the country I don't want the loan defaulters to take part in elections. But the government has nothing to do if they contest through the loopholes in the laws".

Observers and some media have pointed out that the nomination of candidates show political parties have not changed their old mind-set and rejected many individuals who wanted to reform political parties.

Election Manifestos:

The major parties -AL and BNP- have released their election manifestos on 12th and 13th December respectively. AL issued it in English language while BNP in Bangla language.

If one compares the AL 23-points mainfesto with 35-points manifesto of BNP, observers say many of their promises for good governance, accountability, independence of judiciary, strengthening of Anti-Corruption Commission and political decisions on consensus basis on important national issues are similar.

Furthermore demand for direct election for women, instead of reserved seats in the parliament, has been delayed until 2021 by both major parties.Women rights groups view it as disappointing.

If two manifestos are compared , in three respects they differ. First, AL's manifesto provides a vision for the country for 2021 and deals with some contemporary burning issues while BNP's manifesto enumerates primarily micro issues.

Second, BNP's manifesto criticses the care-taker government while AL's manifestos does not and describes the rule of the caretaker in the following words " with various limitations, weaknesses, lapses as well as some successes."

Third and most important difference appears to be the way the two parties ends their manifestos with different nature of slogans..

AL concludes with three slogans-Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu and Long Live Bangladesh, while BNP ends its manifesto with Let Allah provide strength to serve the country for benefit of people, Allah Hafez, Bangladesh Zindabad, and BNP Zindabad. (English translation is mine)

If one analyses the slogans, it appears that AL's slogans are primarily based on pro-liberation ethos and separation of religion from politics, while BNP's slogans are Islam-based, attempt to emphasise the link between religion and politics and uses non-Bangla words such as "Zindabad", a relic of Pakistan days. Although major parties' manifestos call for some achievable and lofty goals, observers say if past experience is any guide, lack of commitment to or unwillingness in, implementing promises of manifesto remains the problem.

Some observers said that major parties have not taken a clear stand on the issues of hartal and siege programmes, which are the biggest obstacles in the economic advancement. Furthermore, many political analysts argue that major parties did not say what they would do if not voted to power.

It is of no use to blame elected political leaders when people do not vote for competent and honest candidates. There is a saying that people get the government they deserve.

A few new features in national elections:

There are a few new features in the ensuing national elections. It is reported that 33% per cent of total voters are the first-time voters About 5 million voters who are prisioners in 67 jails across the country will be, for the first time, eligible to vote through postal ballot.

It is reported that female voters are more than male voters. Out of total 810,58698 eligible voters, 412, 36149 females and 398, 22549 males.

A total of 55 women candidates will contest the national elections, although 82 women candidates submitted nomination papers from 88 constituencies.

The figure 55 women candidates is favourably compared to 38 women candidates during the 2001 national elections from 46 constituencies and 36 women candidates during the 1996 general polls from 48 constituencies. Furthermore there is a provision of "No" vote in the voters card.

A few innovative voter's awareness programmes have commenced to provide publicity among voters not to vote for suspected corrupt or convict or accused or defaulters of loan persons.

Each catchword in the programmes is about who to vote for, who not to vote for, how to vote and how to identify the right person to vote for and why voters should not vote for certain people.

During the presentation of short film-sketch in one of the programmes, a wife requests voters not to for her criminal husband or a son pleads not to vote for his father as he is a defaulter of loan.

Each of its programme ends with a rhyme jingle Amar vote Ami debo, Dekhe shune, chinney debo ( My vote belongs to me and I will vote after due consideration and identifying the right person) . Some of film-sketches are already shown through various media across the country.

What do people expect from the elected leaders?

People expect good leadership with a vision for the nation after the election. Vision includes a future which is better than the current situation and is achievable within a time framework. Vision is a bridge between the current and a future optimum state.

People expect that the outcome of fair and free election is accepted by major parties in grace and concession speeches are made, congratulating the winner-parties, by the leaders of the defeated political parties. That is the spirit of democracy because the people have made a choice and elected a winner.

There should not be anymore confrontatational politics. Parliament should be the vehicle to debate, discuss government policies and programmes and place alternative proposals by opposition parties.

People expect good governance. Governance ordinarily means the process of how decisions are made and how decisions are implemented. Transparency and objectivity in these decision are necessary in spending funds for the welfare of the public.

People expect good leaders must shun direct or indirect influence of relatives, friends and party followers and must not engage themselves in appointing individuals to positions of responsibility regardless of merit.

Since government spends tax payer's money, leaders must understand that the tax payers have the right to know how their money is spent. This is known as accountability that emphasises public should be informed why a particular decision is made and how it is being made. Accountability to people is the hallmark of good governance.

Another dimension of accountability is when something goes awfully wrong within their allocated portfolio, the government leaders should resign. Recently we have witnessed that India's Interior Minister, National Security Adviser and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra resigned because they failed to prevent the deadly Mumbai attacks on November 26th. This is in keeping with the spirit of democratic accountability.

People expect good leadership to abide by rule of law. The rule of law is interlinked with democractic norm and in a democratic society, the rights and freedoms are inherent in individuals, the guarantees applicable to them and the rule of law form a triad. Each component defines itself, complements and depends on the others for its meaning.

The rule of law has been considered as one of the key dimensions that determines the quality and good governance of a country. The rule of law does not mean rule by law. Laws are made by states but states are themselves subject to the rule of law.

Rule of law is one of the foundations of human rights because it is clear in domestic areas. Efforts have always been made to secure legal protection for individuals against arbitrary execesses of state power. Independence of judiciary is an important component of the rule of law. Under the rule of law, accuser cannot be at the same time the judge. In some ways it refers to accountability of actions or omissions of public officials. People expect that the next elected government will face huge challenges and some of them are:

Reduction of Poverty

Control of population growth

Inadequacy of health facilities

Better quality of educational system

Water security

Energy security

Food security

Personal security

Environmental security

Socio-economic development

Fight against terrorism including intolerant Islamic fundamentalism

The next elected government is expected to make policies and programmes for overcoming these insecurities and meeting the challenges.

Bangladesh is a poor nation. About 49% of its people live below poverty line. In Bangladesh there is a wide disparity of income between rich and poor. Some say about 10% of the rich own 40% of the total land in the country, while poor 10% own only 1.84% of land. There has not been genuine land reforms and agrarian reforms.

Economic and social policy are like breathing in and breathing out-they go together, they are not alternatives.Mere economic growth may not result in developoment.

There are three simple questions to ask to measure development: What has been happening to poverty? What has been happening to unemployment? What has been happening to inequality? If all these have declined from high levels there is a period of development.

Prevention of terrorism including intolerant attitude of some extremist elements in the country is another big challenge for the positive image of Bangladesh.

Global warming is a big challenge for the country. Global warming will not only cause sea level rise, submereging coastal belt of Bangladesh but also many disastrous consequences, such as less crops, more health hazards with infectious diseases and less fresh water.

A study by the UK Department of International Development (DFID) in late 2007 presents a likely picture of Bangladesh in 2030 that causes for concern. It has been predicted that population will be 200 million with 40% under the age of 15. An additional 6-8% of Bangladesh will be permanently under water: flood-prone areas will increase from 25% to 40% by 2050. Three quarters of the Hmalayan glaciers may have disappeared with disastrous consequences for areas dependent on the Ganges and Brahmaputra.

Environmental refugees from rural areas will flock to the cities where flood defences will be erected and over 80 million people will live in urban slums. Dhaka will be one of the world's largest cities with 30 million people.

Urban migration could mean that elderly, female-headed house-holds and poorest of the poor are abandoned in the countryside. Arsenic could remain a massive health threat, reducing crop productivity and contributing to food shortages.

Bangladesh is sandwiched between China and India. This has provided both challenges and opportunities for Bangladesh. Good leadership will involve making prudent choices to exploit geographical position that includes inter-connectivity ( transit rights) in the region and gradual integration of economy with other countries such as India, Myanmar and China to get the nation on the road of progress and prosperity.

Furthermore, it has been increasingly difficult to tell the nationality of a product because of economic globalisation. For instance, what is the nationality of Reebok sneaker, which has an African name, is made by an American company in South Korea and displays Union Jack?

Bangladesh's economy cannot remain aloof from economic globalisation and good leadership is to recognise this phenomenon.

Bangladesh has gone through a painful political process. A process many Bangladeshis believe they had to have at some stage, given the past political malaise engulfing the country. In financial market metaphor, the country has gone through a "correction".

How successful the correction has been will depend on the people how they vote, and for whom, at the general election. Corruption and other ills of society cannot be removed by law or by force. Unless people elect honest and competent people to the parliament, corruption or abuse of power cannot be totally eliminated.

Personally I am optimistic for Bangladesh's future because I believe our voters will have the opportunity to elect new leaders in a changed political environment that underscores good governance and transparency in their public actions within the framework of liberal representative democracy with free media and strong secular civil society. Voters and elected leaders must not fail this time.

(Harun ur Rashid, Barrister-at-law, was a former Ambassador of Bangladesh to the UN, Geneva, He also served as Ambassador to Nepal, Australia and the Philippines. He is the author the of several books.)