Making 2015 peaceful for progress

The year 2014 has seen Bangladesh having all the indications of a growing economy. Ready-made garment (RMG) that fetches the major source of income from its exports, continues to generate employment and boost medium and small domestic industries. In 2014, it earned more foreign revenue than the previous years. The RMG has been projected to make continuous growth in the coming years too. Most major obstacles for smooth export have been removed by improving labour relations and workplace safety in the garment factories though more improvement in these areas is needed to satisfy buyers and to get back the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), suspended by the US.  
Common economic indicators like inflation, per capita income and GDP are very much to the satisfaction of the government in power. Power cuts are no at a tolerable level and the government is making its endeavours to meet the growing demand for electricity for homes and industries. As a common man finds, daily essentials are available in plenty in the market and prices are within his reach. These days, we do not hear people complaining when price of rice goes up. This may be an indication of increase in consumers' buying power.
The government has already announced its decision to double salaries of public servants from July 2015. The Padma bridge work has started and will be finished within the next four years. All these clearly indicate that we are better off economically now than ever before.
Among the major political moves, the government's determination to try persons involved in crimes against humanity during the 1971 war of independence is a great achievement. This process to punish the offenders will solve one long pending issue that was pricking the conscience of the people so long.  
Despite all the negatives surrounding the January 05, 2014 general election, the present government has every reason to be pleased over its first year of performance. In one count, the Awami League (AL) government has actually been in power for the last eight years by counting two years of the army-backed caretaker administration prior to the December 2008 general election. Their opponents are out of office during those many years. It is now a great opportunity for the present AL government to capitalise the situation and work to persuade the sympathisers of other political parties to support its programmes. There are always a large number of swinging supporters in every party.
The AL has every right to claim it to be a force that was fully instrumental in achieving independence for Bangladesh. Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was definitely the major architect in this regard. Under his leadership, the movement for independence for Bangladesh gradually intensified over the years - from 1950s and onwards. Years of pitched agitation culminated in the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. It was Bangabandu who led the independence movement in a way that ultimately brought Pakistan to a 'point of no return'. The Pakistani occupation army had to surrender en mass here in Dhaka. All their soldiers numbering 93,000 were captured - a shame Pakistan has to live with for generations to come.
Having such a glory under its belt, why does the AL now find itself in a position where it has to constantly offer forceful arguments to establish its rightful place in history? Also, being a pro-liberation, pro-people and institutionally strong oldest political party in Bangladesh, why does the AL constantly find itself in a crisis of acceptability to the people? The AL leaders must find these answers for themselves to do justice to their party. A soul searching is required.
Most people think that the AL is in a better position to build Bangladesh into a prosperous nation due to its organisational strength in the society. It has to now earn confidence of more and more people - especially the supporters of other political parties. Success of a political party lies in gaining its support among the followers and sympathisers of its opponents. One way to do that is to take good ideas and programmes of the opponents and implement those for the people's welfare. These will overpower the opponents. It is not necessary always to negate a good idea simply because it has come from the rival camp. A popular government or a party always strives to reduce tension among the population for better productivity. It needs to do a lot of things for its people - from providing very basic needs to building a strong positive image of the country globally. It is not easy to do all those by keeping a sizeable section of population dissatisfied and non-cooperative.
For the AL with its present successes and strong administrative backing, it is a very good time now for it to make a move to resolve the issues that are making people uneasy. It should not really be a big concern for the people who are being tried or punished as long as the trials are open and fair. The people want to see the rule of law established. And the law is to be applied equally for all.
Bangladesh, after 44 years of independence, should not have been subjected to fresh debate on established facts of liberation war.  We must be extremely careful not to lose our sight from the gradual economic and social progress being made. We may not have achieved 8 or 10 per cent GDP growth but we are at 6 per cent plus. To maintain that growth, we must keep the law and order situation under control. It is not smart to come out on the streets to protest someone's wildest remarks. By doing that, the undeserving party will benefit most from the free publicity at the cost of lost productivity and sufferings to the people. It has been seen again and again that in political conflicts that spill over to the streets, nobody but the people and productivity suffer most.  
salehtaz@yahoo.com