Manifesto of a voter
Monday, 29 December 2008
Air Commodore Muhammad Zakiul Islam
A manifesto of a voter is sought here to be put out, now that the much talked-about much talked-about general election takes place today (Monday, December 29). The political parties had earlier announced their respective election manifesto. A partial list of a voter's expectations that we may call his manifesto may be enumerated as follows:
Election Results should be accepted in good grace and with full humility showing fullest regards to the voters' prudence and judgment and neutrality of the officials. There must not be 'overjoy' in victory and 'overawe' in defeat.
Strengthening of the Parliament is at the root of success as a nation. The job of the Parliament of this impoverished nation should be on 9 to 5, 24/7 basis and not like an afternoon club. Limit of 89 days' truancy should be severely limited and curtailed with pecuniary fine as is done in the school. Highest attendance should get highest applause.
The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker should be elected for life --- once elected, they should be barred from running for public office for the next 99 years.
The idea of having a Deputy Speaker from the Opposition was great. If not reconciled, it may be rotated amongst the members on a proportional representation basis. Likewise, the Chairmanship of the Standing Committees may also be shared on proportional representation basis.
Everyone must maintain the sanctity of the Sangsad. Character assassination and vilification of the past national leaders and liberation war heroes must be shunned by all and sundry.
We should never again turn the Sangsad and its precincts into as a subjail, a mini jail, a micro jail and not even a nanojail.
We should stopping blaming the past and look forward. From 1757 to 1947, we blamed the British, from 1947 to 1971 the Pakistanis, from 1972 to 1975 BAKSAL, from 1975 to 1990 Military Rule and Autocracy, 1991 to 1996 Shadow autocracy, 1996 to 2001 rise of terrorism and 2001 to 2007 you know what and past 24 months were the days of (- ve) effect of Frutika juice. As George Santayna has said - "and must respect the past, remembering that it was once all that was humanly possible."
The armed forces, being the 'asset' and 'pride' of the nation, are 'patriotic'. Very well and no national armed forces can be otherwise. They must reckon with the Constitution and be imbued with the spirit of the liberation war. They already do.
But Dear Sirs and Madams, the forces ought to be treated with equanimity and equity. Why only procurement of Frigates and MiGs should be placed under the cursor! The procurement budget of others is few times higher. Besides, there is no need for the head of the government to inaugurate the promotion board of certain service while it is not done for any other in the Republic. Some sycophants introduced the trend and we are afraid to get out of it.
Hartals are our Democratic rights. No questions asked. Let us exercise this from sunset to sunrise in the weekend only. Coming to think of it, even Hunger Strikes (token ones) are even more powerful to move a discerning and caring Government. If the authority is stubborn, and stubbornness meets stubbornness, peace is disturbed and chaos ensues as an inevitable end result.
Finally, we should not pronounce what we don't believe in; make promises that we cannot keep let alone making an honest effort for it.
The writer can be reached at e-mail: mzaki_islam@yahoo.com
A manifesto of a voter is sought here to be put out, now that the much talked-about much talked-about general election takes place today (Monday, December 29). The political parties had earlier announced their respective election manifesto. A partial list of a voter's expectations that we may call his manifesto may be enumerated as follows:
Election Results should be accepted in good grace and with full humility showing fullest regards to the voters' prudence and judgment and neutrality of the officials. There must not be 'overjoy' in victory and 'overawe' in defeat.
Strengthening of the Parliament is at the root of success as a nation. The job of the Parliament of this impoverished nation should be on 9 to 5, 24/7 basis and not like an afternoon club. Limit of 89 days' truancy should be severely limited and curtailed with pecuniary fine as is done in the school. Highest attendance should get highest applause.
The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker should be elected for life --- once elected, they should be barred from running for public office for the next 99 years.
The idea of having a Deputy Speaker from the Opposition was great. If not reconciled, it may be rotated amongst the members on a proportional representation basis. Likewise, the Chairmanship of the Standing Committees may also be shared on proportional representation basis.
Everyone must maintain the sanctity of the Sangsad. Character assassination and vilification of the past national leaders and liberation war heroes must be shunned by all and sundry.
We should never again turn the Sangsad and its precincts into as a subjail, a mini jail, a micro jail and not even a nanojail.
We should stopping blaming the past and look forward. From 1757 to 1947, we blamed the British, from 1947 to 1971 the Pakistanis, from 1972 to 1975 BAKSAL, from 1975 to 1990 Military Rule and Autocracy, 1991 to 1996 Shadow autocracy, 1996 to 2001 rise of terrorism and 2001 to 2007 you know what and past 24 months were the days of (- ve) effect of Frutika juice. As George Santayna has said - "and must respect the past, remembering that it was once all that was humanly possible."
The armed forces, being the 'asset' and 'pride' of the nation, are 'patriotic'. Very well and no national armed forces can be otherwise. They must reckon with the Constitution and be imbued with the spirit of the liberation war. They already do.
But Dear Sirs and Madams, the forces ought to be treated with equanimity and equity. Why only procurement of Frigates and MiGs should be placed under the cursor! The procurement budget of others is few times higher. Besides, there is no need for the head of the government to inaugurate the promotion board of certain service while it is not done for any other in the Republic. Some sycophants introduced the trend and we are afraid to get out of it.
Hartals are our Democratic rights. No questions asked. Let us exercise this from sunset to sunrise in the weekend only. Coming to think of it, even Hunger Strikes (token ones) are even more powerful to move a discerning and caring Government. If the authority is stubborn, and stubbornness meets stubbornness, peace is disturbed and chaos ensues as an inevitable end result.
Finally, we should not pronounce what we don't believe in; make promises that we cannot keep let alone making an honest effort for it.
The writer can be reached at e-mail: mzaki_islam@yahoo.com