If we are to succeed. . . . .
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Shamsher Chowdhury
Success has many dimensions. One man's success could be another man's failure. In order to succeed in life one has to be highly committed, devoted and dedicated One has to be clear in mind as to what is it that he or she wishes to achieve and why? It is also important to remember as to what methods you apply in order to succeed in your mission. An honest failure is better than a dishonest success. In order to succeed we should at all times take care as not to trample over the dignity and honor of others. Above all in fixing your goals you must remember that it should be commensurate and compatible with access to resources. After all you would not want your ambitions to mock at your failures.
Succeeding in managing the affairs of a country like that of Bangladesh is no mean task, difficult bur not impossible. One of the main problems with this administration is that it is not only overambitious but also its focus is wrongly directed. It is highly personalized. It has already become a large ship without Radar in the midst of a turbulent sea. It is incapable of any form of collective thinking or action. It has turned out to be a one-person show for good or for worse. It continues to ignore and sideline any and all dictates of democracy and democratic principles.
In order to succeed in its endeavours, it has to bring about major changes in its mindset. To my mind one of the biggest problems with this government is that it has all the wrong people in the right places. Just because they are young, just because they are favoured by the party and otherwise reliable, there is no guarantying the fact that they would deliver. In statecraft and political management of a country one should be in constant touch with the people in general not just your party cadres. It is my impression that this government only nine months into its operations has already lost touch with the common man. To my mind vanity and misplaced ego seem to be the other major problem facing the highest authority of the government.
Mere ambition and resolve do not always guaranter success. Since the day it came into power, it has been continually clamouring about such contentious and "popular" issues like the war crime trials, the trials of Bangabandhu's murder and the various grenade attacks including the 21st grenade attack that took place in a public meeting convened by Awami League. Soon as it came into power it also declared a crusade against corruption.
Despite the fact that these are issues of great public interest but there are several other contentious issues of greater "public interests", that the government failed to take note of or act on issues of greater urgency like the spiraling of prices, the ever deteriorating state of law and order, the eternal traffic jam, the gigantic problems of water and water logging including the lack of overall safety and security of life and living. Here I cannot but mention about the most recent incidents of rapes which were perpetrated by none other than the students wing of the cadres of the ruling party. It is my considered opinion that if the government is to succeed it is high time that the government also focuses and concentrates on the kinds of micro issues as I stated above.
People have long suffered and trust me they are getting restive and weary. Building of bridges and constructing roads and various other types of infrastructure projects can follow gradually. Does the government realize because of the various cross currents of events its much professed crusade against corruption has lost its steam considerably? Forgive me if I am wrong, I have this feeling that this government is operating on the lines of a King's court and its courtiers where no matter what happens the King is always right. But in democracy you can fool some people for sometime but not all the people all the time.
I have mentioned in my earlier columns also that this administration must bring about a drastic change in its mindset As much as it must be determined and strong willed, it must not be high handed, not even perceived to be so.
Finally if this government is to succeed it must recognize and address the various emerging flagrant issues that are causing serious human rights violations. To put it bluntly there must be an end to these deaths by heart attacks of numerous BDR personnel who were taken into custody following the BDR carnage that took place on February 25/26. There should be also vigorous public enquiry into these rising incidences of deaths by cross fires carried out by RAB. This business of custodial deaths caused by tortures while in custody of the police must be dealt with seriously, effectively and in a transparent way.
For any government any time, its primary concern should be the welfare of the people at large. They must feel secure at all times. They must have access to the basics of livelihood. They must not feel abandoned. It is all very fine for our speeches being well received and well recognized at some international forums but our need is here and now in the living present.
The writer can be reached at
email: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com
Success has many dimensions. One man's success could be another man's failure. In order to succeed in life one has to be highly committed, devoted and dedicated One has to be clear in mind as to what is it that he or she wishes to achieve and why? It is also important to remember as to what methods you apply in order to succeed in your mission. An honest failure is better than a dishonest success. In order to succeed we should at all times take care as not to trample over the dignity and honor of others. Above all in fixing your goals you must remember that it should be commensurate and compatible with access to resources. After all you would not want your ambitions to mock at your failures.
Succeeding in managing the affairs of a country like that of Bangladesh is no mean task, difficult bur not impossible. One of the main problems with this administration is that it is not only overambitious but also its focus is wrongly directed. It is highly personalized. It has already become a large ship without Radar in the midst of a turbulent sea. It is incapable of any form of collective thinking or action. It has turned out to be a one-person show for good or for worse. It continues to ignore and sideline any and all dictates of democracy and democratic principles.
In order to succeed in its endeavours, it has to bring about major changes in its mindset. To my mind one of the biggest problems with this government is that it has all the wrong people in the right places. Just because they are young, just because they are favoured by the party and otherwise reliable, there is no guarantying the fact that they would deliver. In statecraft and political management of a country one should be in constant touch with the people in general not just your party cadres. It is my impression that this government only nine months into its operations has already lost touch with the common man. To my mind vanity and misplaced ego seem to be the other major problem facing the highest authority of the government.
Mere ambition and resolve do not always guaranter success. Since the day it came into power, it has been continually clamouring about such contentious and "popular" issues like the war crime trials, the trials of Bangabandhu's murder and the various grenade attacks including the 21st grenade attack that took place in a public meeting convened by Awami League. Soon as it came into power it also declared a crusade against corruption.
Despite the fact that these are issues of great public interest but there are several other contentious issues of greater "public interests", that the government failed to take note of or act on issues of greater urgency like the spiraling of prices, the ever deteriorating state of law and order, the eternal traffic jam, the gigantic problems of water and water logging including the lack of overall safety and security of life and living. Here I cannot but mention about the most recent incidents of rapes which were perpetrated by none other than the students wing of the cadres of the ruling party. It is my considered opinion that if the government is to succeed it is high time that the government also focuses and concentrates on the kinds of micro issues as I stated above.
People have long suffered and trust me they are getting restive and weary. Building of bridges and constructing roads and various other types of infrastructure projects can follow gradually. Does the government realize because of the various cross currents of events its much professed crusade against corruption has lost its steam considerably? Forgive me if I am wrong, I have this feeling that this government is operating on the lines of a King's court and its courtiers where no matter what happens the King is always right. But in democracy you can fool some people for sometime but not all the people all the time.
I have mentioned in my earlier columns also that this administration must bring about a drastic change in its mindset As much as it must be determined and strong willed, it must not be high handed, not even perceived to be so.
Finally if this government is to succeed it must recognize and address the various emerging flagrant issues that are causing serious human rights violations. To put it bluntly there must be an end to these deaths by heart attacks of numerous BDR personnel who were taken into custody following the BDR carnage that took place on February 25/26. There should be also vigorous public enquiry into these rising incidences of deaths by cross fires carried out by RAB. This business of custodial deaths caused by tortures while in custody of the police must be dealt with seriously, effectively and in a transparent way.
For any government any time, its primary concern should be the welfare of the people at large. They must feel secure at all times. They must have access to the basics of livelihood. They must not feel abandoned. It is all very fine for our speeches being well received and well recognized at some international forums but our need is here and now in the living present.
The writer can be reached at
email: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com