Making democracy truly functional
Friday, 22 June 2007
Syed Ishtiaque Reza
INDOOR politics is unlikely to be allowed soon. But a sort of politics is going on. All the parties including the two big parties are drafting their reform proposals. When various aspects of reform measures are being discussed in various forums, the issue of sending the two ladies - Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia - into retirement got the maximum attention. There are controversies about them. But it is not sure whether finally the parties could be able to fold up the two ladies. Whatever the outcome of these debates, the ultimate target is to make the parliament an effective one.
Politics has been on the collision course for a long time and politicians largely became corrupt resulting in poor governance everywhere. In fact, the process of governance has been subverted in a very planned way. The manner in which the political leadership has acted over the years, the graft, nepotism and inaction are matters that have been the subject of people's discussions. It has become so well known that there is hardly anyone in the country who has not, in conversations or discussions or statements, made some kind of observation on it. From farmers in villages to workers in factories, labourers in cities and in fields, hawkers and vendors to commercial executives and captains of industry -- everyone talks about our politicians.
The parliamentary democracy here is not a single entity; it is made up of the contributions of a number of institutions. All of these institutions exist or have been created by the one super law that has brought our parliamentary democracy into existence -- the Constitution. To the extent that all these institutions and structures function well, the parliamentary democracy is strong and dynamic; but when their functions are vitiated by corruption or deliberate distortions of their stated objectives and missions, democracy becomes weak.
Law and order plays an important role in strengthening democracy. If the police and the courts of law do not function as they are meant to, the fabric of democracy is weakened. During the immediate past BNP led alliance government's rule, the country's situation was highly volatile all the time.
People helplessly saw the blatant misuse of the institutions meant to maintain and preserve order and the law. The police, the cornerstone of the system for the preservation of law, preyed on people, usually the more vulnerable -- the poor -- and became oppressors instead of protectors.
In line with political affiliations, the lawyers organised separate programmes in the highest court premises. Some pro-opposition lawyers even barred the Chief Justice to enter his office. They said the high court was made a party to the political game of the government. Supreme Court turned into a premise for slogans and counter slogans of lawyers.
The rampant subversion of laws and rules by virtually all government offices made the administration a breeding ground for forces that might well destroy democratic functioning as corrupt oligarchs had taken over the structures that are intended to be democratic. These were corrosive agents that ate into the democratic structure of the country. And these weakened the functioning of one of the three bastions of democracy -- Parliament.
The parliament instead of going for result-oriented debate on issues for the people witnessed pandemonium. The functioning of the highest law-making institution on many occasions was subjected to this type chaos. All would agree that the members had not been voted to the House by the people of their constituencies to utter slang words, to shout at the speaker and to boycott house on a regular basis.
If asked, one would blame the other. They would argue that other groups behaved in a similar fashion in the past. In fact, the parliament became a gathering of those who do not represent the people of Bangladesh.
MPs enjoyed many privileges. They could buy duty-free cars, got many fringe benefits. They were to raise issues that are of concern to the country and the people. People hoped that the House was a forum where they could have their grievances heard and acted on. MPs are law makers. If they performed like that the House could become truly a bastion of our democracy.
The question is what is the logical outcome of all these chaos and conflicts? Already the dignity of the MPs and the House itself is affected by the revelation of many corrupt practices. People may be afraid of former MPs, but they do not respect them. People are afraid of police, but do not respect them. Such an image of the vital state organs weakens democracy.
People also do not respect many of the lawyers. Judges appointed on political considerations have weakened the judiciary.
So democracy is at stake. One after another institutions were being affected by bad politics. But democracy must be preserved by all, especially by those who have been sent to the House for it.
The opportunity created since 1/11 should not be lost. The nation wants to see a good result. The result is nothing, but a peaceful Bangladesh where they can live with hopes and aspirations.
INDOOR politics is unlikely to be allowed soon. But a sort of politics is going on. All the parties including the two big parties are drafting their reform proposals. When various aspects of reform measures are being discussed in various forums, the issue of sending the two ladies - Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia - into retirement got the maximum attention. There are controversies about them. But it is not sure whether finally the parties could be able to fold up the two ladies. Whatever the outcome of these debates, the ultimate target is to make the parliament an effective one.
Politics has been on the collision course for a long time and politicians largely became corrupt resulting in poor governance everywhere. In fact, the process of governance has been subverted in a very planned way. The manner in which the political leadership has acted over the years, the graft, nepotism and inaction are matters that have been the subject of people's discussions. It has become so well known that there is hardly anyone in the country who has not, in conversations or discussions or statements, made some kind of observation on it. From farmers in villages to workers in factories, labourers in cities and in fields, hawkers and vendors to commercial executives and captains of industry -- everyone talks about our politicians.
The parliamentary democracy here is not a single entity; it is made up of the contributions of a number of institutions. All of these institutions exist or have been created by the one super law that has brought our parliamentary democracy into existence -- the Constitution. To the extent that all these institutions and structures function well, the parliamentary democracy is strong and dynamic; but when their functions are vitiated by corruption or deliberate distortions of their stated objectives and missions, democracy becomes weak.
Law and order plays an important role in strengthening democracy. If the police and the courts of law do not function as they are meant to, the fabric of democracy is weakened. During the immediate past BNP led alliance government's rule, the country's situation was highly volatile all the time.
People helplessly saw the blatant misuse of the institutions meant to maintain and preserve order and the law. The police, the cornerstone of the system for the preservation of law, preyed on people, usually the more vulnerable -- the poor -- and became oppressors instead of protectors.
In line with political affiliations, the lawyers organised separate programmes in the highest court premises. Some pro-opposition lawyers even barred the Chief Justice to enter his office. They said the high court was made a party to the political game of the government. Supreme Court turned into a premise for slogans and counter slogans of lawyers.
The rampant subversion of laws and rules by virtually all government offices made the administration a breeding ground for forces that might well destroy democratic functioning as corrupt oligarchs had taken over the structures that are intended to be democratic. These were corrosive agents that ate into the democratic structure of the country. And these weakened the functioning of one of the three bastions of democracy -- Parliament.
The parliament instead of going for result-oriented debate on issues for the people witnessed pandemonium. The functioning of the highest law-making institution on many occasions was subjected to this type chaos. All would agree that the members had not been voted to the House by the people of their constituencies to utter slang words, to shout at the speaker and to boycott house on a regular basis.
If asked, one would blame the other. They would argue that other groups behaved in a similar fashion in the past. In fact, the parliament became a gathering of those who do not represent the people of Bangladesh.
MPs enjoyed many privileges. They could buy duty-free cars, got many fringe benefits. They were to raise issues that are of concern to the country and the people. People hoped that the House was a forum where they could have their grievances heard and acted on. MPs are law makers. If they performed like that the House could become truly a bastion of our democracy.
The question is what is the logical outcome of all these chaos and conflicts? Already the dignity of the MPs and the House itself is affected by the revelation of many corrupt practices. People may be afraid of former MPs, but they do not respect them. People are afraid of police, but do not respect them. Such an image of the vital state organs weakens democracy.
People also do not respect many of the lawyers. Judges appointed on political considerations have weakened the judiciary.
So democracy is at stake. One after another institutions were being affected by bad politics. But democracy must be preserved by all, especially by those who have been sent to the House for it.
The opportunity created since 1/11 should not be lost. The nation wants to see a good result. The result is nothing, but a peaceful Bangladesh where they can live with hopes and aspirations.