Victory Day celebration in a different setting

Shamsul Huq Zahid | Published: December 16, 2013 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

The nation celebrates today the 42nd anniversary of its victory over the Pakistani occupation forces after a nine-month long bitter war in 1971. However, the Victory Day celebration this year is taking place in an altogether different setting marked by both happiness and deep worries.
People are happy to see that local perpetrators of the heinous crime committed against humanity in 1971 in this part of the world have started receiving, what many tend to believe, their due punishment. But the countrywide violence over poll-time government, which has so far claimed lives of a good number of people, has, apparently, sapped all energy and enthusiasm of the people to make a celebration befitting their victory over a brutal occupation army and their local cohorts.
They are deeply worried about their own as well as the country's safety, security and economic well-being. Apart from claiming lives, the political troubles over general elections have already caused substantial short- and long-term damage to the economy.
The people are, in fact, mute witnesses to an unending conflict between two sides willing either to cling to power or capture the same at any cost. Neither of the sides is ready to listen to the people's voice or show respect to the will of the majority. They are indulging in activities that are not at all liked by the electorates. The warring politicians who are unwilling to follow the path of reconciliation to resolve disputes have brought the nation to the brink of a disaster - both economic and political.
Political violence is nothing new in this country. But this time the violence has surpassed all past records. Strikes after strikes, blockades after blockades have virtually brought the country's economy to its knees. Not that the people are only worried about the physical safety and security. They are deeply concerned about their own as well as the country's economic future.
The ongoing political troubles have been taking a heavy toll on all types of business activities. Starting from large manufacturing houses down to small groceries, all are seriously affected. There is no denying that today or tomorrow there will be an end to the political conflict, much to the liking or disliking of the warring parties. But the damage being caused to the economy and the image of the country will be hard to repair or overcome. The top leaders across the political divide are failing to comprehend the damage they are causing to the economy by their intransigence.
Despite political instability of intermittent nature, poor governance, corruption and institutional deficiencies, Bangladesh could achieve a reasonable level of economic progress since 1990. Its achievements in human development indicators have surprised many economists of international repute. In fact such achievements are being dubbed a 'Bangladesh paradox' by many development scientists.
With so much of negatives in place, the achievements in areas of economy and human developments are sure to evoke surprises. Yet those have happened, primarily because of the resilience shown by a vibrant private sector. However, successive governments have been supportive to the private sector initiatives. Â
The average 5 per cent plus growth for more than two decades has led to a remarkable decline in poverty rate notwithstanding the rising inequality. The effect of the ongoing political troubles on all types of economic activity has put the poverty-reduction related achievements at risk. Many families who could come out of the vicious poverty cycle are facing the risk of falling into the trap again. Â
All the good words about Bangladesh's potentials coming from internationally reputed economists and rating agencies, apparently, do not bear any meaning, at least, to our political leaders who very often highlight publicly their own 'dream' and 'vision' centring around the country.
Had they been sensitive to the current situation at least to a certain degree, they would not have allowed the conflicting politics to continue and let the opportunity offered to the country to achieve the middle-income country status within the shortest possible time slip away.
Of all the objectives behind freeing the country from the clutches of the occupation forces in 1971, two most cherished ones were strong and stable democracy and economic emancipation. Unfortunately, the first one is still eluding us and politicians and their ugly greed for power are responsible for that. None knows for sure when the nation would have the chance of practising an unhindered democracy where voices of all sections of people are heard. Â
Achieving economic emancipation is an extremely difficult task for economic progress of a country but this does not necessarily ensure economic emancipation of the people. However, a stable respectable economic growth does have a percolating effect which helps many people come out of poverty and make a better living. The overall impact may not be up to the desired level because of the skewed distribution of resources. But higher economic growth supported by good governance does help people to march forward.
What the vast majority of people, whose voices have so far remained unheard, on the auspicious occasion of Victory Day would expect is that their leaders left behind the politics of vendetta and gave the nation a fresh chance to live in peace and shape up their own destiny.
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