Politics for people or people for politics?

Politics is like a vast river. The river's task is to keep the people on both banks alive with water, to help crops grow. But when that river turns rough flood destroys crops, homes and people's hopes. Politics is just like that. If it flows correctly, it becomes a blessing for the people, but if it goes astray, it turns into a curse for them. At present, political chaos is spreading everywhere. Because of this chaos, it has become difficult to understand whether politics is for the people or the people are for politics.
Politics was born for the welfare of the people. Its main purpose was to organise society, run the state, and ensure people's rights and security. But in today's reality, politics seems like a game of power, where people are used as mere numbers. They are important during elections, but often neglected afterward. During election campaigns, various promises are made, but later those promises are rarely fulfilled.
In recent times, a big gap has emerged between people's expectations and political activities. On the one hand, people are suffering from rising prices of daily necessities, fewer job opportunities and crises in healthcare and education. On the other hand, the political arena is filled with fireworks of promises and conflicts over power. Many in civil society and the young generation say that a crisis of trust in politics has developed. They believe that after voting, no one listens to them. Not any particular person or political party, but the greed for power turns people into promise-breakers.
To resolve political instability and bring politics back to the people, some steps are urgent. Transparency and accountability must be ensured so that people can understand where their tax money is being spent. People's participation should not be limited only to voting, but their opinions must be included in policymaking. Good governance and justice must be established so that people can see politics as an ingredient of trust. The youth must be engaged, because their energy and clear vision can lead politics onto a new path.
When politics is for the people, the state moves forward, but when the people are for politics, the state falls behind.

Nusrat Jahan (Shoronika)
Student
Jagannath University, Dhaka
shoronikaislam1709@gmail.com