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EDITORIAL
Quest for credible elections
Of all the forms of government direct democracy is doubtless the best, in which people participate in the electoral process of government formation. After an inordinate delay of long two years by the military-backed caretaker government (CG) the nation, perhaps, goes to parliamentary elections with the hope that a fair, rigging-free and credible poll will be held on 29 December. The nation will heave a sigh of relief when the elections to the ninth Jatiya Sangsad will be successfully completed.
Bangladesh has had the experience of exercising universal adult franchise since the late forties. Meanwhile power usurpers have arrogated to themselves the right to rule by force for some time causing an interregnum, but public will survived onslaughts and prevailed in the long run. We hope a rejuvenated democratic order will emerge and sustain this time after the polls.
There is disquieting information. The US State Department fears instability and violence and warned its citizens in Bangladesh or those planning to travel there that the security situation during the election period could be fluid. Again, recovery of grenades in the area where BNP chief Khaleda Zia addressed her campaign rally in Comilla the other day and Sheikh Hasina’s apprehension of lack of security cause us real concern. Besides, during the past two years the Election Commission (EC) involved itself in seriously questionable designs and covert manoeuvrings. There was a perceptible move to depoliticise which was a frightening scenario. It tried to split and destroy the BNP headed by Khaleda that has badly stained and damaged the EC’s credibility. Such incidents can be staged by those who have an axe to grind.
Over the past weeks a malignant trend emerged on the media scene: a number of satellite TV channels have been openly and explicitly campaigning in favour of the Awami League and carrying on diatribes and negative propaganda against the BNP through their regular daily talk shows participated by a group of partisan newsmen, think tank persons and even academics. Objective and unbiased journalism is the fundamental article of faith of the media, both electronic ad print, the lack of which lowers them in public esteem. Those that do not abide by this indispensable principle fuel public anger thus further impeding the prospect of closeness between the two party chiefs. This unfortunate move should have been stopped forthwith by the EC whose much vaunted firm resolve to create a level playing field for all contestants.
Meanwhile the US state department too expressed doubt about the Bangladesh poll. Veteran journalists have been repeatedly criticising the covert role of the DGFI in destabilising the polity, while the overt activities of foreign players, near and distant, are visible. If the military-backed CG’s objective were based on sincerity of purpose, and not of do-gooders, then qualitative amelioration of the polity could definitely have been possible. People pinned much hope on the CG, but it has delivered little in a long period of time because, they say, the CG’s sponsors had an axe to grind with a different agenda. The adage that ‘a people get persons in charge they deserve’ also applies in this case.
Sobriety, moderation and courteous conduct are virtues, but in the country’s political parlance lamentable absence of these virtues has been felt. Those who crave for a harmonious society and congenial atmosphere to prevail regarded it as a whiff of fresh air when home affairs adviser Maj. Gen. (Retd.) M. A. Matin played the role of a good Samaritan making the two major party chiefs, Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, come closure at the Shenakunja reception on the Armed Forces day. The green-eyed monster called jealousy breeds bitterness and engenders acrimony, but courtesy begets courtesy. Mutual hatred for each other looked like personal feud emanating as if from bad blood that began since the ouster of autocrat Ershad for whose downfall, admirably, both the leaders together launched fierce movement and democracy was reborn in the wake of which Khaleda and Hasina ruled the country as prime Minister. But diatribes have, sadly reappeared.
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Benazir Bhutto: Martyred champion of liberal values
Rakhshanda Khan Rakhshy in Islamabad
During this week we will revive the memories of the assassination of the great charismatic leader who laid down her life for a noble cause. She symbolized the struggle for liberal values and our political emancipation. It has been internationally accepted that Benazir Bhutto was a great leader with lofty ideals, high aims, excellent performance, noble nature, who loved her land and its people and finally sacrificed her life for their sake. For her contribution to the cause of emancipating the poor and the downtrodden she has been posthumously awarded the United Nations Human Rights Award on 10th December2008.
History bears evidence to the fact that most martyrs are ready to accept death for a cause but Benazir went a step further — she embraced that which had been obviously revealed her to be her destiny, but which she could have avoided if she wished to make a compromise. She acted with courage and conviction steeled in deliberation and ultimate in imagination. It looked as if in her last days it did not matter to her as to who were her would be killers but what mattered was the fact that she was there to look them in their face and face them she did not flinch for a moment.
She was the promising daughter of an illustrious father, who recognized her talent very early in her life and began to groom her for taking part in the process of democratization of Pakistan and improvement of the lot of the oppressed and downtrodden masses of Pakistan. After her initial education in the country she was sent abroad to educational institutions of fame in the UK and the USA where her performance was outstanding and she came up to the expectations of her father .While Mr. Bhutto was the President of Pakistan and later on the Prime Minister, she was continuously groomed, advised, trained and cultured to join him in politics in the country. It was however only after the unfortunate death of Mr. Bhutto that she actually got involved in active politics beginning with the campaign of getting rid of the brutal dictator who had installed himself in power after removing the elected Prime Minister, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and putting him behind bars . Initially she was forced into exile with her family and had to leave the country for some time. Despite her tender age and inexperience Ms. Benazir Bhutto took up the challenge to face the oppression of the dictator and kept the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) together despite desertions by a large number of opportunists who left the party for better immediate political opportunities.
During the long and arduous struggle the party was initially led by her mother Ms. Nusrat Bhutto but was finally taken over by Ms. Benazir Bhutto so as to make it a well knit and cohesive political party. She reorganized the PPP and made it strong and vibrant whose workers were totally committed to its ideals and always ready to take all necessary steps as well as give any sacrifice when called for. The party went through a number of crises but successfully came out of all these with flying colours. It was because of this excellent organization and fine management of the party by its leader that the party which had been forced out by a military dictator was called back into power after performing extremely well in elections held after the dictator’s death in an aircraft crash..This was the second time that the PPP came back in power for a short period and was once again thrown out of power by an authoritarian civilian President .Soon enough the party was back in power for the third time after the government of Mr. Nawaz Sharif was ousted by the same President , who also had to quit due to a deal forced by the combined action of the civil and military bureaucracy .This time again the party was forced out by its nominated President who acted as a tool of the bureaucracy and dismissed the government of his own party. The country saw a short period of civilian political rule under Mr. Nawaz Sharif who was thrown out by yet another military dictator and this time again due to the vindictive actions being taken against political leaders, Ms Benazir went into exile while her husband was in jail.
It was during this period of exile that Ms Benazir finally saw through the game of the combined civil and military bureaucracy to make the political leaders fight with one other while they played with the future of the country and plundered its wealth and resources. It also became clear to her that these people were playing into the hands of some foreign vested interests and the eventual losers were the ‘people’ of Pakistan who were living under the burden of poverty , sickness and mismanagement at all levels .
It was at this point in time that she decided to change her strategy and start playing the game in a manner that the military dictator was forced out through a political process and the will of the people was implemented in a democratic and peaceful manner. She joined hands with Mr. Nawaz Sharif convincing him that they must give up their narrow petty personal and party interests for the sake of the people and adopt a combined strategy to force the military dictator out of the country but with a peaceful and smooth political process without disturbing the peace and tranquility of the country. With this joint strategy adopted by the leaders of two largest national political parties , pressure was mounted on the dictator through mobilization of internal and external forces interested in bringing democracy to Pakistan and prosperity to its People. He was forced to call general elections in the country and was also forced to allow all exiled leaders to come back and take part in the political process as laid down in the constitution. For the sake of these elections Ms. Benazir did not even hesitate in having a dialogue with the ruling dictator and his emissaries and worked up the pressure on him in such a manner that he was forced to announce free and fair elections.
Ms Benazir Bhutto returned to the country the first time in Karachi to a rousing reception and while her procession was passing through the main road from the airport towards the city center, the motorcade was subjected to brutal suicidal attacks. Many workers and members of the PPP were martyred as a result of this act of sabotage but as a miracle Ms Benazir Bhutto escaped unhurt and was quickly evacuated to her house saved. This was a signal to her that she was not welcome in the system and must be kept away under all circumstances so that she may not be able to lead the people to final victory in their struggle for restoration for democracy in the country .Many people both well wishers and evil wishers ( those who were afraid of her stature stance in the political arena in the country ) , in their own style and interest advised her to return to exile and leave the country at the earliest to avert the danger to her life .She went back temporarily to Dubai to visit her family and take stock of the situation from a different perspective, however her decision had been made much earlier and she returned to take vigorous interest in the election campaign and lead her party in this final and decisive move against dictatorial and bureaucratic forces against the advent of democracy in the country . Alas on the 27th of December 2008 after having successfully addressed a mammoth public meeting in the historic Liaquat Bagh she was martyred as a result of a suicidal attack by terrorists whom she did not survive and made the final sacrifice for the sake of her people and the country. Indeed she followed the example of her great father in not compromising with the enemies of democracy and going to any length to sacrifice the dearest thing one owns i.e. one’s own life.
Benazir Bhutto was fully aware of the conspiracies taking place in and outside the country against its solidarity , integrity and sovereignty and for this end , she recognized the real anti Pakistan powers and forces .She was a leader with a clear vision and foresight who courageously resisted the agenda of the neo-colonial forces that wished to make Pakistan a theocratic state which would not be capable of progressing towards true democracy and an egalitarian social order. Benazir Bhutto became a victim of the machinations of the international players and their local cronies of this evil New Great Game but her legacy was a legacy of struggle and we need to continue this legacy with full force and strength. She was the only Muslim leader who openly opposed the designs of terrorists, religious extremists, political activists and neo –colonists wanting to subjugate this great country and cow it down in the international arena. She had the capacity to take difficult decisions and to adjust to emerging realities and was the only local leader who clearly and openly came out forthrightly and boldly against religious militancy and terrorism.
The author is a senior banker in Pakistan and frequently contributes to newspapers.
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VIEW POINT
We need patriotic journalists
Dr Azizul Karim
A lot of promises are there in the manifestoes of AL and BNP. I don’t know who has drafted for them. AL promises to eliminate hoarding and profiteering syndicates and stop extortion by creating an institution to control commodity prices and protect the consumer. BNP promises to reduce prices by boosting food production, improving the supply chain by better utilising storage facilities, creating a jobs programme to increase the purchasing power of the poor, and directly subsidise the prices of necessities.
But one important think is always missing as before; no accountability. How will they implement those promises keeping an eye on our annual budget? The leaders do not seem to have idea with regard to what they are talking about. Well, we don’t want all details, at least a source of funding is needed. In fact, major parties are attracting the masses and we have given them the opportunity of deceiving as before with their demagogic lectures which do not need any accountability.
Only a good bunch of conscious educated journalists can stop these emotional big mouths. Unfortunately our media is weak and people are allowed to be cheated in the name of “fair election”. I have seen lots of “fair election” starting from Ayub Khan’s regime in 1964.Candidate like Justice Badrul Haider Chowdhury was defeated by low calibre Rahimullah Chowdhury. The same thing happened again and again even after 1971.Good coins was driven by bad coins in the so-called fair elections in the name of democracy.
So before coming to TV channels and newspapers both the leaders or future MPs have to know about the contents of their manifestoes. We don’t need any certificate from Moriarty, McCain or Pinak or any other diplomat. We have seen lots of Goebels and Machiavelli before, their interests are in different purposes. They are not interested in our real national and financial independence. If US or Western diplomats praise some countries’ economy or agriculture, one should be sure that they are not on the right track and vice versa.
Look at Mahathir’s Malayasia, Iran or China. US criticised them harshly simply because they were competing in same pace in world market. So please be careful about foreign “praise and accreditation” sermons before they are scrutinised by patriotic and knowledgable journalists of Bangladesh. I have not seen Mr Moriarty talking about environmental disaster in Bangladesh in the next decades and its solution. He is only interested in the geopolitical interest of US in Bangladesh. Talk real issues please. We are suspicious, because we know US foreign policy and food policy both in 1971 and 1974. Bring your ledger book. Stop blackmailing our politicians, defence forces and bureaucrats. We have friendly relations with China, India and US equally. Patriotic jounalists, please wake up. We may need lots of conscious journalists like Enayetullah Khan.
Our political leaders, future MPs are immature, unpatriotic with a few exceptions which can’t nullify generalisation. They are going to gather in our Western style Sangshad Bhavan or parliament house. To break this vicious cycle only dependence on Western democracy might be a mistake.
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LETTERS
Political leaders and election
Dear Editor:
Everything appears final ‘get,set,go’ but why at the eleventh hour ‘to be or not to be’ ? Why doubts and suspicions in the minds of the people for December 29, 2008 general election?
The BNP was prepared and it insisted again and again for January 22, 2007 general election but the Awami League opposed tooth and nail.
Today the situation is quite reverse —- Awami League is ready and vocal for election.
In democracy the participation of political parties in the general election is imperative and essential for the will of the people. Success or failure in the election is part and parcel of democracy.
We have two major political parties Awami League and BNP. If one party boycotts the general election and the other party participates in the election the genuineness and the validity of the election will be in jeopardy.
Our country has suffered tremendously and the sufferings of the people know no bounds due to Awami League-BNP disagreement and bitterness. There are many democratic countries in the world but nowhere the political leaders quarrel with each other and plunge the country in the darkness as our political leaders do.
Let leaders have a wide vision, love and respect for the all the citizens of the country, their right to vote and right to live in peace and to find out the ways and means for a credible and acceptable general election in the national interest without further loss of time.
All is well that end well.
O. H. Kabir,
Wari, Dhaka.
Dhaka-I 203
Farewell gift for Bush
Dear Editor:
At the fag end of his regime, President George Bush paid a surprise visit to Iraq but the whole world was surprised to watch the farewell gift by a journalist. The young journalist hurled his two shoes one by one at the president. The latter is a really big sportsman. Like boxer, he ducked his head very swiftly and the journalist failed to touch his target.
President Bush took the matter lightly. After the incident he laughed off. Bush’s eyesight is sharp, no doubt, because he could tell afterwards that the size of the shoes were number 10. Bush was unable to read the majority people’s mind.
Harun-or-Rashid,
Sobhanbag, Dhaka.
II
Dear Editor:
Shoes hurled at Bush by an Iraqi journalist is actually a harsh protest against injustice. We all need to take lesson from it; because anyone committing anti-human activities can never escape punishment. This incident will inspire us to stand against all such evil activities.
Habibur Rashid Ismail,
E-mail: habibur.rashid.ismail@gmail.com
Notebooks for students
Dear Editor:
Notebooks hinder the cognitive development, creativity, self-confidence and imagination of students; similarly coaching centres too have the same effect on students.
Notebooks for students up to class VIII level were banned in 1988. But up till now, notebooks are selling in the open markets across the country all the year. When we visited rural schools in Rangpur of grade VI-VII recently we found notebooks of English and Maths with most of the students. We found many students absent as they had gone to attend the courses at coaching centres during the school time. This is not the picture of Rangpur alone but also of the whole country.
I would like to draw the attention of all Upazilla Secondary Education Officers (USEOs), District Education Officers (DEOs), Secondary Education Project Directors and the authority concerned to take necessary steps for quality secondary education.
Mawduda Hasnin
Rajshahi, Raninagar
P.O.: Kajla, Dist: Rajshahi
CEC: May Allah bless him
Dear Editor:
Soon after taking over as the Chief Election Commissioner, once on electronic media in front of the reporters and the nation he expressed the following words, pointing his fore finger, “If not to anybody, I have to reply one day to my creator Almighty Allah for my actions.”
But to our frustrations, subsequently he became controversial. Now we would like to bury the past and look forward to future with renewed hopes and aspirations. I, as a devout Muslim, firmly believe that any one having absolute faith and fear in Almighty Allah cannot do wrong knowingly. We are passing through the most critical phase of our nation. Only a fair election in all respects can ensure a good future. So CEC’s neutrality in conducting this crucial election is the most important issue today before the nation.
We fervently hope that he will not fail to prove his integrity beyond question. Let the election be 100 per cent transparent and the common people get no chance of doubting his honesty and dignity.
It is for sure no one escapes the ultimate Judgment of Almighty Allah. We only hope he will remember his own pledge to the nation, be afraid of Allah’s Judgment and present us with the most credible election to be recorded in our history. May Allah bless him.
A.B.Mohammed Zakaria
124 Whitley Close
Staines, Stanwell
Middlesex Tw19 7 Ey
Decentralisation and politicians
Dear Editor:
For more than three decades, the successive regimes ignored the study of the negative aftereffects of centralised regimes operating in the country with the highest density of population in the world (140m population within a space of 144,000 sq km), resulting in cumulative overcrowding of Dhaka metropolis. Today we find that the mega city is short of 70 per cent roads, and the Dhaka City Corporation has failed to maintain the city of 12 million people —- more than half of the people are floating.
It is not the noble urge of rendering public service, but brazen lust for power and greed for instant wealth; sycophancy, dynasty rule, and what not. The culture of the MPs has changed—the way they interfere at the local levels, through misuse of power and influence. The election manifestoes of the big political parties have cleverly evaded this malignant issue.
Cultural homogeneity is not the problem. It is the have-not background, the poverty and literacy levels; the deltaic natural calamities; and the neglect of developing the local government network.
Now some parties are for establishing 8 provinces, with provincial governments. Earlier, the basic democracy experiments failed, due to remote control. Today, the Divisional Headquarters (cities) lie neglected and undeveloped, due to political apathy. The ‘district-ism’ is very strong in our politics, that is why the North is neglected (it is alleged). Why gas pipelines never reached the northern districts is not a mystery, [as also the uncalled for delays in commercialising the Barapukuria coal].
The cynical question in the minds of 80 million voters is: for how many more decades the Caretaker Government has to be brought in, for policing activities such as the general elections? The political parties have no confidence in one another; then how could the voters have confidence in political regimes?
The Bengali mind is traditionally conservative. Public leadership needs some extra features to lead an underdeveloped society [after the colonial rule for 200 years]. Do we have the audacity for future expectations?
We are too generous: not tough enough with our ebb and flow politics—leaving a lot of political silt behind. It will take several regimes to prepare the site ground for honest governance. There is no filtration process in our politics.
A Mawaz,
Dhaka.
Save Tk. 600cr from Education Sector
Dear Editor:
I read a news item titled “Education privilege abused for politics” in a daily paper and learnt that more than five thousand institutions are unnecessary and the government incurred a huge loss of Tk. 600 crore yearly. Every citizen of Bangladesh was shocked to read the news item.
The government saved huge amount of money from the education sector during the regime of Awami League government. At that time education minister A.H.S.K. Sadeque and the government had taken appropriate strategy.
Earlier, every institutional heads drew salaries of their staff through a bank cheque and she/he distributed salaries among their staff.
But that Mr Sadeque introduced new system, every staff member drew their salaries through their own bank accounts and the government saved huge amount of money as their were enormous fictitious staff.
I would like to draw the attention of the education secretary and concerned authority to take necessary steps and save Tk. 600 crore yearly.
Md. Tofazzel Hossain,
Aruapara, Kushtia.
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