Political tale
Saturday, 14 July 2007
THERE is a sad but interesting political tale in a parliamentary constituency outside Dhaka. The workers of a particular widely known person used to visit people at their residential addresses in that area to seek votes for him whenever he was a candidate in the parliamentary elections. Usually, they told the voters "Please vote for our brother. If you do not, we won't be able to guarantee your security". The person concerned was elected an MP almost every time he was a candidate.
Perhaps, the same security consideration will resist voters from frankly offering their opinion on local politics in many areas if an authority, official or independent, conducts a nation-wide survey now to determine how people feel about local politics.
One may remember that Ershad Sikdar was a sitting ward commissioner of the Khulna City Corporation when he was arrested on charges of multiple murders. His offences, on trial, took him to the gallows. His sudden end came as he had foolhardily intensified his terrorizing activities to push himself faster along the political ladder and begun to cross swords with the powerful of the time, who were men of his own party. Can we now expect the ordinary powerless voters of the country to open up their mouths against those who, they know, may again socially prevail?
One who knows
Agrabad, Chittagong
Perhaps, the same security consideration will resist voters from frankly offering their opinion on local politics in many areas if an authority, official or independent, conducts a nation-wide survey now to determine how people feel about local politics.
One may remember that Ershad Sikdar was a sitting ward commissioner of the Khulna City Corporation when he was arrested on charges of multiple murders. His offences, on trial, took him to the gallows. His sudden end came as he had foolhardily intensified his terrorizing activities to push himself faster along the political ladder and begun to cross swords with the powerful of the time, who were men of his own party. Can we now expect the ordinary powerless voters of the country to open up their mouths against those who, they know, may again socially prevail?
One who knows
Agrabad, Chittagong