Living dangerously
Friday, 1 October 2010
Shamsher Chowdhury
To put it mildly, the ruling party is living dangerously. The entire nation is shocked by the ongoing incident involving the civil bureaucracy- cum- administration and ruling party cadres, Chhatra League, Jubo League and a serving Minster. Despite the fact some calm has returned to Pabna since the arrest and putting in jail of some 21 cadres belonging to, what most people know, the ruling party, the fact remains that the matter is far from settled.
These are issues even when apparently settled their effects will continue to long after. The wound may be temporarily healed but the scars will remain. There is no denying of the fact its rippling effect is bound to be felt in the entire civil administration across the country.
By now, people's perception is that, all that this government is trying to, is preserving its own party interests by any means. In an elaborate and a comprehensive column one of our nationally acknowledged journalist and columnist has said that Bangladesh today is dominated by a kind of Mafia culture. Kidnapping, raping, murdering, terrorizing and beating up of innocent people have become a regular feature.
What is happening with the BSMMU is no less alarming. Look at the recruitment of fake Mujibnagar staff into government jobs. To say the least, it is not only shocking but also debilitating. Obviously here too one could see the hand of the Awami League of the time when the actual incident of recruitment took place during the early days of our independence. If the past is any indicator for the future, chances are, as feared by people, this will also be pushed under the carpet until the matter is erased from public memory. It is our impression that this administration with the passing of days is becoming increasingly reckless in managing the affairs of the state.
The only thing that the ruling party appears to be consistent is protecting its party cadres, its lawmakers and even ministers. Party first and Party last. The Mohajote has indeed created a "Mahashonkot" "Mega Crisis" for the entire nation. Uncalled for arrogance, overconfidence and a carefree attitude have been the hallmark of the ruling party since it took the reins of the government.
The summersaults we have observed with regard to the murder of one of the ruling party MP's close associate, particularly the role played by the police, has raised serious questions in the minds of the public. The entire nation is anxiously waiting to see what verdict is pronounced by our honorable judges of the court.
Awami League has long been the very symbol of our nationhood. It is the oldest political party of the country with strong grass root linkages. There is hardly any family whose living members in this country do not have vivid memories of the vital roles played by the Awami League in bringing about our independence including its relentless struggle against anti-democratic forces and issues. And now what is happening? All that the ruling party was famously known for is fast waning, so are our memories of the good old days and Awami League. Let us not forget that building a positive image of a political party or an individual or even an institution often takes years but a wrong move or sheer complacency may break it asunder in no time.
When the real tests come, it will be of no use putting the blame on others' shoulders. Remember those immortal words of William Shakespeare. I quote, "The evil that men do lives after them and the good is oft interred with their bones." unquote. Our concern also has been the fact that, clearly there is no central authority in the overall management of country's affairs. Whatever authority it exercises is not only faulty but heavily weighed down by partisan considerations that have already put in question each of the moves that stood in the way of much propagated good governance and the very principles of democratic practices.
The nation is however grateful to the ruling party for successfully concluding the trial of the killers of our Father of the Nation. We are also grateful for strongly and decisively proceeding with the investigations with regard to the war crimes trials, the investigations aimed at bringing to book the perpetrators of the heinous crimes of the 21st August and a few others. We wish the ruling party every success in its endeavors. But one wonders as to how much of all this is related to the welfare of the common man who continue to be struggling to make both ends meat, burdened by spiraling of prices, despicable state of law and order including little or no access to medical services.
The writer wishes to draw curtain on this brief commentary by reproducing a comment that was made in of his earlier columns, published a few years back. We reproduce below:
"The country does not belong to either Awami League or BNP, it belongs to its people. They are the real owners of the state"
Therefore, the welfare of the people should be the focal point of any government that dare calls itself a democratic government.
e-mail:
chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com
To put it mildly, the ruling party is living dangerously. The entire nation is shocked by the ongoing incident involving the civil bureaucracy- cum- administration and ruling party cadres, Chhatra League, Jubo League and a serving Minster. Despite the fact some calm has returned to Pabna since the arrest and putting in jail of some 21 cadres belonging to, what most people know, the ruling party, the fact remains that the matter is far from settled.
These are issues even when apparently settled their effects will continue to long after. The wound may be temporarily healed but the scars will remain. There is no denying of the fact its rippling effect is bound to be felt in the entire civil administration across the country.
By now, people's perception is that, all that this government is trying to, is preserving its own party interests by any means. In an elaborate and a comprehensive column one of our nationally acknowledged journalist and columnist has said that Bangladesh today is dominated by a kind of Mafia culture. Kidnapping, raping, murdering, terrorizing and beating up of innocent people have become a regular feature.
What is happening with the BSMMU is no less alarming. Look at the recruitment of fake Mujibnagar staff into government jobs. To say the least, it is not only shocking but also debilitating. Obviously here too one could see the hand of the Awami League of the time when the actual incident of recruitment took place during the early days of our independence. If the past is any indicator for the future, chances are, as feared by people, this will also be pushed under the carpet until the matter is erased from public memory. It is our impression that this administration with the passing of days is becoming increasingly reckless in managing the affairs of the state.
The only thing that the ruling party appears to be consistent is protecting its party cadres, its lawmakers and even ministers. Party first and Party last. The Mohajote has indeed created a "Mahashonkot" "Mega Crisis" for the entire nation. Uncalled for arrogance, overconfidence and a carefree attitude have been the hallmark of the ruling party since it took the reins of the government.
The summersaults we have observed with regard to the murder of one of the ruling party MP's close associate, particularly the role played by the police, has raised serious questions in the minds of the public. The entire nation is anxiously waiting to see what verdict is pronounced by our honorable judges of the court.
Awami League has long been the very symbol of our nationhood. It is the oldest political party of the country with strong grass root linkages. There is hardly any family whose living members in this country do not have vivid memories of the vital roles played by the Awami League in bringing about our independence including its relentless struggle against anti-democratic forces and issues. And now what is happening? All that the ruling party was famously known for is fast waning, so are our memories of the good old days and Awami League. Let us not forget that building a positive image of a political party or an individual or even an institution often takes years but a wrong move or sheer complacency may break it asunder in no time.
When the real tests come, it will be of no use putting the blame on others' shoulders. Remember those immortal words of William Shakespeare. I quote, "The evil that men do lives after them and the good is oft interred with their bones." unquote. Our concern also has been the fact that, clearly there is no central authority in the overall management of country's affairs. Whatever authority it exercises is not only faulty but heavily weighed down by partisan considerations that have already put in question each of the moves that stood in the way of much propagated good governance and the very principles of democratic practices.
The nation is however grateful to the ruling party for successfully concluding the trial of the killers of our Father of the Nation. We are also grateful for strongly and decisively proceeding with the investigations with regard to the war crimes trials, the investigations aimed at bringing to book the perpetrators of the heinous crimes of the 21st August and a few others. We wish the ruling party every success in its endeavors. But one wonders as to how much of all this is related to the welfare of the common man who continue to be struggling to make both ends meat, burdened by spiraling of prices, despicable state of law and order including little or no access to medical services.
The writer wishes to draw curtain on this brief commentary by reproducing a comment that was made in of his earlier columns, published a few years back. We reproduce below:
"The country does not belong to either Awami League or BNP, it belongs to its people. They are the real owners of the state"
Therefore, the welfare of the people should be the focal point of any government that dare calls itself a democratic government.
e-mail:
chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com