Allegations and counter-allegations that lead us to nowhere
Monday, 25 January 2010
Sahamsher Chowdhury
The other day I came across an article in one of our leading dailies written by one esteemed columnist under the heading "Of sell-out and secret deals". This was concerning the recent allegations made by the Opposition with regard to Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs)/agreements signed by the PM with her counterpart in India during her recent state visit. The columnist in his article has pointed out that that the agreements entered into particularly with the use of two ports of the country. He has mainly dwelt on the possible negative impact of the agreements on our national security. In his logical and sequential analysis of the issue, he has pointed out that there can hardly be any element of sell-out of our national security in facilitating the use of our port facilities to India. To that extent opposition is perhaps overplaying its accusation of so-called "secret deals" way out of context both from historical standpoint and existing realities on the ground.
But the allegations leveled by the Opposition in a different context do have merits. I am certain that the people of the country just like the opposition are asking questions as to why such deals of critical importance were not thoroughly discussed either on the floor of the parliament or any other public forums prior to conclusion of the deals. We are often quick to hold seminars, round table conferences on all and every issue under the sun of far lesser consequence. One wonders as to why issues of such great importance were not debated prior to the signing of the agreements. Even if the Opposition is not there in the Parliament, the matter could very will be discussed and debated at different forums involving both the leaders of the opposition and the ruling party. At least the pertinent features could be made available for public information through the media. Nothing of the sort has taken place.
I for one, therefore, believe that there is an element of suspicion in the minds of the people about these deals that is but natural. I am not in any way suggesting that the deals are definitely against the interest of the government, after all I have no way of knowing what they are all about unless they are made public in their final form. But one thing for sure the entire matter has been a shoddy work. We have seen on earlier occasions too the ruling party has taken arbitrary decisions on many other national issues of no lesser consequence.
It is common knowledge that there is a perception amongst a large section of the people (excepting the hardcore Awami leaguers) of the ruling party's what is popularly known as "Bharatpriti"). Admittedly, India is a powerful neighbour and a country that has come to our aid at critical junctures facing the nation like our war of liberation and hence both politically and otherwise it is to our interest to maintain a "friendly" relationship with her. It is here that the people have often felt that the ruling party and Awami league in general over the years have been too close to our neighbour for comfort and often played into its hands. As I pointed out in several of my previous columns that such perceptions could very well be avoided if people in our foreign ministry were quality diplomats and professionals to be reckoned with.
Coming back to the subject at hand I find both the allegations and counter-allegations between the Opposition and the ruling party should be stopped forthwith. This is leading us to nowhere. In all fairness, I believe there is still time for the ruling party to bring to light the salient features of the concerned agreements. After all, it is the head of the government belonging to the ruling party who has signed the concerned agreements.
I am rather uncomfortable with the pace at which the ruling party is framing new laws and acts even within the country. It appears that too many laws have either been revised or new ones formed without taking into considerations their ramifications in the long run. I continue to have this feeling that the ruling party of today (not so during its last spell of its rule) often goes overboard in its application and display of its absolute authority and in the process loses sight hardcore issues and realities on the ground.
In the meantime, I hope and pray that the agreements in question has been concluded keeping the core interests of the country. I do realise that in personal relationships it has to be reciprocal and nobody gets anything for nothing. It is no different with contracts and agreements between two sovereign states.
Finally I would like to make one last observation. It is my feeling that both the ruling party and the Opposition lack clear understanding of their respective roles in the national context. While often the ruling party behaves like a traditional opposition political party while the opposition indulges in senseless acts of opposing only. Both have to make some qualitative changes in their mindsets and operational styles, for their own good and good of the country.
The writer can be reached at e-mail: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com
The other day I came across an article in one of our leading dailies written by one esteemed columnist under the heading "Of sell-out and secret deals". This was concerning the recent allegations made by the Opposition with regard to Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs)/agreements signed by the PM with her counterpart in India during her recent state visit. The columnist in his article has pointed out that that the agreements entered into particularly with the use of two ports of the country. He has mainly dwelt on the possible negative impact of the agreements on our national security. In his logical and sequential analysis of the issue, he has pointed out that there can hardly be any element of sell-out of our national security in facilitating the use of our port facilities to India. To that extent opposition is perhaps overplaying its accusation of so-called "secret deals" way out of context both from historical standpoint and existing realities on the ground.
But the allegations leveled by the Opposition in a different context do have merits. I am certain that the people of the country just like the opposition are asking questions as to why such deals of critical importance were not thoroughly discussed either on the floor of the parliament or any other public forums prior to conclusion of the deals. We are often quick to hold seminars, round table conferences on all and every issue under the sun of far lesser consequence. One wonders as to why issues of such great importance were not debated prior to the signing of the agreements. Even if the Opposition is not there in the Parliament, the matter could very will be discussed and debated at different forums involving both the leaders of the opposition and the ruling party. At least the pertinent features could be made available for public information through the media. Nothing of the sort has taken place.
I for one, therefore, believe that there is an element of suspicion in the minds of the people about these deals that is but natural. I am not in any way suggesting that the deals are definitely against the interest of the government, after all I have no way of knowing what they are all about unless they are made public in their final form. But one thing for sure the entire matter has been a shoddy work. We have seen on earlier occasions too the ruling party has taken arbitrary decisions on many other national issues of no lesser consequence.
It is common knowledge that there is a perception amongst a large section of the people (excepting the hardcore Awami leaguers) of the ruling party's what is popularly known as "Bharatpriti"). Admittedly, India is a powerful neighbour and a country that has come to our aid at critical junctures facing the nation like our war of liberation and hence both politically and otherwise it is to our interest to maintain a "friendly" relationship with her. It is here that the people have often felt that the ruling party and Awami league in general over the years have been too close to our neighbour for comfort and often played into its hands. As I pointed out in several of my previous columns that such perceptions could very well be avoided if people in our foreign ministry were quality diplomats and professionals to be reckoned with.
Coming back to the subject at hand I find both the allegations and counter-allegations between the Opposition and the ruling party should be stopped forthwith. This is leading us to nowhere. In all fairness, I believe there is still time for the ruling party to bring to light the salient features of the concerned agreements. After all, it is the head of the government belonging to the ruling party who has signed the concerned agreements.
I am rather uncomfortable with the pace at which the ruling party is framing new laws and acts even within the country. It appears that too many laws have either been revised or new ones formed without taking into considerations their ramifications in the long run. I continue to have this feeling that the ruling party of today (not so during its last spell of its rule) often goes overboard in its application and display of its absolute authority and in the process loses sight hardcore issues and realities on the ground.
In the meantime, I hope and pray that the agreements in question has been concluded keeping the core interests of the country. I do realise that in personal relationships it has to be reciprocal and nobody gets anything for nothing. It is no different with contracts and agreements between two sovereign states.
Finally I would like to make one last observation. It is my feeling that both the ruling party and the Opposition lack clear understanding of their respective roles in the national context. While often the ruling party behaves like a traditional opposition political party while the opposition indulges in senseless acts of opposing only. Both have to make some qualitative changes in their mindsets and operational styles, for their own good and good of the country.
The writer can be reached at e-mail: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com