For concerted efforts to shun violence, promote progress
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Gopal Sengupta
THE leader of the opposition in the Bangladesh Parliament said she and her followers will receive the prime minister with flowers at the airport on her return home from the upcoming visit to India if she protects the country's interest while negotiating disputed issues with the neighbour, but her path will be strewn with thorns if she fails to do so. She threatened to forge a movement if the government fails to protect its own country's interest in negotiations with India. Alluding to the prime minister's upcoming visit to India, the former premier urged the government to boldly protect the country's interest. Referring to the news published by few newspapers that a neighbouring country's High Commission had brought in its own security team, the opposition chief said, "We don't know who is running this country now. What I know is that the government is not governing the country. The country is being governed from somewhere else."
There is no end to the surprises that our politicians keep piling on our doorsteps. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which has never seen any reason to say sorry for its bad governance between 2001 and 2006, now has happily made it known to the country that henceforth the leader of the opposition will be its chairperson in her party without anyone being able to challenge her on the leadership question. The amended party constitution makes this much obvious.
But, of course, if there is any question about a succession, there is her elder child to take charge of the organisation. That is also something the party, with the nod of all its grandees, has cheerfully agreed to. To what degree such a political strategy will add flesh to democracy in the country is now the huge question before us. Let it be known, for now, that the nation is not pleased.
The government of Bangladesh has done its best in recent times to promote Bangladesh's economic and social development. Many strides have been made in a positive direction. The leader of the Opposition in the parliament should be determined to do something positive through reaching out to the leader of the ruling party in a constructive and flexible manner, on the one hand, and thorough reaching out to major developing issues seeking the opposition's solidarity with her so that no one will be tempted to ignore her voice.
A year after the general elections, the lights are going out. Partisan politics, vicious in form, gains ground by the day. The man or woman who will unify the country, who will be the symbol of national unity, is a dream not about to take the shape of reality. So our request is that the leader of the opposition is patient enough until the next election and stops making threats and accusations which are true in some cases but they degenerate into violence, loss of lives and damage to properties when spoken to restless supporters. So we urge the leader of opposition to be sensible and not stoop to such low that she calls for street agitations since all matters should be resolved at the parliament like in other countries.
The overall achievement of the first year of the regime may be considered as satisfactory. It is true that the present government is striving hard to tackle the problems, and is on the right track. It is encouraging to see the positive response of our multilateral donors and friendly countries and the signs of recovery from the current global economic crisis. Although we may not see much new investment, with the improvement of our infra-structural facilities this will improve soon.
This is the beginning and not the end of this regime. It has been able to overcome the initial problems and hurdles. It is on the right track. It will certainly gain momentum within a short time, because it is trying sincerely to fulfill its election commitments. With the passage of time the new and inexperienced ministers will do well because they are committed. We hope to see successful completion of the commitments of the government by the end of the regime.
Our nation have many problems to address and solve and both the leaders having immense popularity in the country could easily use/mobilise their capacities, good intention and feeling for the people at large to make the country a place for secured living , prosperity , progress and development. It will serve the interests of the country to make strategic plan for use of large potential human resources and establish effective, fruitful relationship with neighbouring countries based on mutual respect, understanding, co-operation upholding sovereignty but not to bending head, knowing India is on the verge of becoming economically strong and superior in other technological sectors. Agreements and other commitments must be made, through discussions and in-depth study and with the consent and agreement of the opposition. That would lead the country to achieve desired goals and expectations. We expect more co-operation and co-ordination between the ruling and the opposition parties, respecting each other's commitments, dealings and people's mandate and not their blame-game for small issues that could weaken democracy.
It appears our political leaders will never behave responsibly. When they are in opposition, their stand is different. It is sad that they are not prepared to understand the hard realities of the prevailing situation that the opinion is sharply divided with no mandate to back up the demand for the sake of the working class and the poor. The parliament has lost many days of productivity and has caused much disruption to parliamentary activities. Naturally the common people don't want confrontational politics. That is understood.
There are no magic answers, no miraculous methods to overcome the problems we face, just the familiar ones. What we need to address our problems effectively are honest search for understanding, education, organisation and action that raises the cost of state violence for its perpetrators and also lays the basis for institutional change. Despite the temptations of disillusionment, despite many failures and only limited successes, we have to be firm in our commitment, being inspired by the hope of a brighter future to serve better performance.
(The writer can be reached at e-mail: gopalsengupta@aol.com)
THE leader of the opposition in the Bangladesh Parliament said she and her followers will receive the prime minister with flowers at the airport on her return home from the upcoming visit to India if she protects the country's interest while negotiating disputed issues with the neighbour, but her path will be strewn with thorns if she fails to do so. She threatened to forge a movement if the government fails to protect its own country's interest in negotiations with India. Alluding to the prime minister's upcoming visit to India, the former premier urged the government to boldly protect the country's interest. Referring to the news published by few newspapers that a neighbouring country's High Commission had brought in its own security team, the opposition chief said, "We don't know who is running this country now. What I know is that the government is not governing the country. The country is being governed from somewhere else."
There is no end to the surprises that our politicians keep piling on our doorsteps. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which has never seen any reason to say sorry for its bad governance between 2001 and 2006, now has happily made it known to the country that henceforth the leader of the opposition will be its chairperson in her party without anyone being able to challenge her on the leadership question. The amended party constitution makes this much obvious.
But, of course, if there is any question about a succession, there is her elder child to take charge of the organisation. That is also something the party, with the nod of all its grandees, has cheerfully agreed to. To what degree such a political strategy will add flesh to democracy in the country is now the huge question before us. Let it be known, for now, that the nation is not pleased.
The government of Bangladesh has done its best in recent times to promote Bangladesh's economic and social development. Many strides have been made in a positive direction. The leader of the Opposition in the parliament should be determined to do something positive through reaching out to the leader of the ruling party in a constructive and flexible manner, on the one hand, and thorough reaching out to major developing issues seeking the opposition's solidarity with her so that no one will be tempted to ignore her voice.
A year after the general elections, the lights are going out. Partisan politics, vicious in form, gains ground by the day. The man or woman who will unify the country, who will be the symbol of national unity, is a dream not about to take the shape of reality. So our request is that the leader of the opposition is patient enough until the next election and stops making threats and accusations which are true in some cases but they degenerate into violence, loss of lives and damage to properties when spoken to restless supporters. So we urge the leader of opposition to be sensible and not stoop to such low that she calls for street agitations since all matters should be resolved at the parliament like in other countries.
The overall achievement of the first year of the regime may be considered as satisfactory. It is true that the present government is striving hard to tackle the problems, and is on the right track. It is encouraging to see the positive response of our multilateral donors and friendly countries and the signs of recovery from the current global economic crisis. Although we may not see much new investment, with the improvement of our infra-structural facilities this will improve soon.
This is the beginning and not the end of this regime. It has been able to overcome the initial problems and hurdles. It is on the right track. It will certainly gain momentum within a short time, because it is trying sincerely to fulfill its election commitments. With the passage of time the new and inexperienced ministers will do well because they are committed. We hope to see successful completion of the commitments of the government by the end of the regime.
Our nation have many problems to address and solve and both the leaders having immense popularity in the country could easily use/mobilise their capacities, good intention and feeling for the people at large to make the country a place for secured living , prosperity , progress and development. It will serve the interests of the country to make strategic plan for use of large potential human resources and establish effective, fruitful relationship with neighbouring countries based on mutual respect, understanding, co-operation upholding sovereignty but not to bending head, knowing India is on the verge of becoming economically strong and superior in other technological sectors. Agreements and other commitments must be made, through discussions and in-depth study and with the consent and agreement of the opposition. That would lead the country to achieve desired goals and expectations. We expect more co-operation and co-ordination between the ruling and the opposition parties, respecting each other's commitments, dealings and people's mandate and not their blame-game for small issues that could weaken democracy.
It appears our political leaders will never behave responsibly. When they are in opposition, their stand is different. It is sad that they are not prepared to understand the hard realities of the prevailing situation that the opinion is sharply divided with no mandate to back up the demand for the sake of the working class and the poor. The parliament has lost many days of productivity and has caused much disruption to parliamentary activities. Naturally the common people don't want confrontational politics. That is understood.
There are no magic answers, no miraculous methods to overcome the problems we face, just the familiar ones. What we need to address our problems effectively are honest search for understanding, education, organisation and action that raises the cost of state violence for its perpetrators and also lays the basis for institutional change. Despite the temptations of disillusionment, despite many failures and only limited successes, we have to be firm in our commitment, being inspired by the hope of a brighter future to serve better performance.
(The writer can be reached at e-mail: gopalsengupta@aol.com)