An opportunity provides itself
Saturday, 19 June 2010
Mahmudur Rahman
Chittagong has a new Mayor and in a strange way the election of M. Manzur Alam provides more opportunity than adversity for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as she strives towards her declared intent, made ahead of the last general elections that she would take personal responsibility for the development of Chittagong.
The prospect is intriguing but fascinating. Hasina can now set an example of what her government has been saying all along that it takes combined efforts irrespective of political and party affiliations to implement sustainable development. Finance Minister A M A Muhit has already set the tone by not rubbishing BNP's budget proposal albeit made outside parliament. BNP on its part also has an opportunity of showing, in the midst of their movements that they still have the intention of supporting the government in decent initiatives.
In Manzur, she has a man who is a protégé of former Mayor Mohiuddin, who was backed by the BNP and yet cannot be truly categorised as die-hard. Having observed Mohiuddin's governance from close he can sift the wheat from the chaff in what worked and didn't and possibly come up with fresh ideas. More importantly he will know of the nuances and stances that will appeal to Mohiuddin even as he sits away from the Mayoral office and observes. The Prime Minister can take the lead with a preliminary discussion to share her plans and see how it balances with Manzur's election commitments.
The British politicians have set the example to the extent of compromise in party positions in forming a coalition government. Indeed in some cases the new British government is working on issues that are somewhat contradictory to the Tory philosophy. But if David Cameron can work with Nick Klegg in spite of publicly having called him "a joke", there are reasons for hope in Bangladesh even in the midst of confrontational politics. The electorate is never wrong and Chittagonians would appear to have voted for change in the way the City Corporation is run.
(The writer is a former Head of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs of British American Tobacco Bangladesh, former Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Cricket Board and specialises in corporate affairs, communications and corporate social responsibility. He can be reached at e-mail: mahmudrahman@gmail.com)
Chittagong has a new Mayor and in a strange way the election of M. Manzur Alam provides more opportunity than adversity for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as she strives towards her declared intent, made ahead of the last general elections that she would take personal responsibility for the development of Chittagong.
The prospect is intriguing but fascinating. Hasina can now set an example of what her government has been saying all along that it takes combined efforts irrespective of political and party affiliations to implement sustainable development. Finance Minister A M A Muhit has already set the tone by not rubbishing BNP's budget proposal albeit made outside parliament. BNP on its part also has an opportunity of showing, in the midst of their movements that they still have the intention of supporting the government in decent initiatives.
In Manzur, she has a man who is a protégé of former Mayor Mohiuddin, who was backed by the BNP and yet cannot be truly categorised as die-hard. Having observed Mohiuddin's governance from close he can sift the wheat from the chaff in what worked and didn't and possibly come up with fresh ideas. More importantly he will know of the nuances and stances that will appeal to Mohiuddin even as he sits away from the Mayoral office and observes. The Prime Minister can take the lead with a preliminary discussion to share her plans and see how it balances with Manzur's election commitments.
The British politicians have set the example to the extent of compromise in party positions in forming a coalition government. Indeed in some cases the new British government is working on issues that are somewhat contradictory to the Tory philosophy. But if David Cameron can work with Nick Klegg in spite of publicly having called him "a joke", there are reasons for hope in Bangladesh even in the midst of confrontational politics. The electorate is never wrong and Chittagonians would appear to have voted for change in the way the City Corporation is run.
(The writer is a former Head of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs of British American Tobacco Bangladesh, former Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Cricket Board and specialises in corporate affairs, communications and corporate social responsibility. He can be reached at e-mail: mahmudrahman@gmail.com)