Poor governance has led to chaos and confusion
Monday, 15 November 2010
Shamsher Chowdhury
We are highly confused about the happenings around us. It is our impression that one of the major weaknesses of this government is its lack of transparency. Public at large is unaware or have no clear understanding as to the final goal of this regime. There is so much of cloak and dagger tactics that one is confused. Nearly all its management interventions have led to avoidable chaos and confusion. The ruling party's key persons say one thing today only to be refuted by some others among them the day after.
Not that political management of the country was any better before but then we knew where we were heading to. To be more specific, let us take the example of the previous government. Though it is true that many of its actions were anti-people and anti-progress and caused considerable harm to the security and integrity of the nation as a whole, the truth remains that the people knew what was happening. It had a face that one could readily identify. It must also be said that during the previous governments, including that of the 'Shoirachar', people were living under lesser stress and strain. For all practical purposes, they were in a way more transparent than the present regime. Whatever small or major interventions, projects or programmes are undertaken by the present regime, these begin under mysterious circumstances and end in mystery. No less than the Prime Minister says one thing about a major decision of the government only to be contradicted by one of her ministers later. This is chaotic and highly confusing for the people.
The law-enforcement agencies and the intelligence agencies continue to be manipulated to suit the needs of the establishment. We are yet to have a clear idea about the investigation process and their outcome on many of the major incidents like the BDR revolt, despite the fact that the trials are already heading to a close. The same is the case with regard to other major incidents that took place like the Rupganj incident, the killing of a BNP leader at Natore and the violence at Sirajganj, culminating in the torching of a train, in which a number people died. The only thing that is clear is that in nearly all these cases the ruling party has been trying its best to divert the attention of the people, advancing some conspiracy theory or alleging the involvement of the opposition. It was shocking to see that one of the senior ruling party insiders within hours of the Rupganj and the Sirajganj incidents came up with the suggestion that he saw "BNP's hands" at work. How much convenient! One fails to find that the law and order situation in the country has, as claimed by the ruling party, improved or improving. To put it bluntly, it is in a pitiable state. Withholding or distorting truth is a form of telling lies.
People are yet to get a real picture as to what benefit is there for Bangladesh in granting the transit facilities to India or the construction of the Tipaumukh Barrage by our big neighbour. It is all hazy and shrouded in mystery and engineered lies. The same is the case with costly small or mega power projects.
A classic example that has confused the people at large is the recent declaration of the PM where it was stated that in reprinting of the proposed revised constitution the provision of religion-based politics or political parties should remain as it is. We find it rather confusing as to where lay the truth. Similarly, the people are in absolute darkness about the stand of the government with regard to this whole business of oil and gas exploration.
The only consistent thing with this government is its scheming and bashing of the opposition. It is done religiously any time and every time. The ruling party's obsession with the BNP and the opposition at large has never been so acute. It is subjecting the opposition to sheer harassment and subjugation in all possible ways and resorting to methods lawful or unlawful, truth or lies, extra judicial or otherwise.
This has in turn led the BNP, too, to take recourse to unconventional methods of countering the allegations. This has led to further mudslinging and resorting to all kinds of vilifications and allegations against the ruling party as a tit for tat. The people feel frustrated with both the ruling party and the opposition.
The governance techniques of the ruling party are far from transparent. This regime is frequently resorting to propaganda exercises playing on the emotions and the sentiments like the war crime trials and the August 21 grenade attacks. Indeed, no sane person can deny the need for holding trials of such heinous criminal acts but the fact also remains that there is a pressing need to attend to the various critical issues of socio-economic development facing the nation today.
We wish to emphasise that our salvation lies in an even socio-economic development of the country more than anything else. Without ensuring that, all other achievements will become either redundant or meaningless at the end of the day.
(E-mail: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com)
We are highly confused about the happenings around us. It is our impression that one of the major weaknesses of this government is its lack of transparency. Public at large is unaware or have no clear understanding as to the final goal of this regime. There is so much of cloak and dagger tactics that one is confused. Nearly all its management interventions have led to avoidable chaos and confusion. The ruling party's key persons say one thing today only to be refuted by some others among them the day after.
Not that political management of the country was any better before but then we knew where we were heading to. To be more specific, let us take the example of the previous government. Though it is true that many of its actions were anti-people and anti-progress and caused considerable harm to the security and integrity of the nation as a whole, the truth remains that the people knew what was happening. It had a face that one could readily identify. It must also be said that during the previous governments, including that of the 'Shoirachar', people were living under lesser stress and strain. For all practical purposes, they were in a way more transparent than the present regime. Whatever small or major interventions, projects or programmes are undertaken by the present regime, these begin under mysterious circumstances and end in mystery. No less than the Prime Minister says one thing about a major decision of the government only to be contradicted by one of her ministers later. This is chaotic and highly confusing for the people.
The law-enforcement agencies and the intelligence agencies continue to be manipulated to suit the needs of the establishment. We are yet to have a clear idea about the investigation process and their outcome on many of the major incidents like the BDR revolt, despite the fact that the trials are already heading to a close. The same is the case with regard to other major incidents that took place like the Rupganj incident, the killing of a BNP leader at Natore and the violence at Sirajganj, culminating in the torching of a train, in which a number people died. The only thing that is clear is that in nearly all these cases the ruling party has been trying its best to divert the attention of the people, advancing some conspiracy theory or alleging the involvement of the opposition. It was shocking to see that one of the senior ruling party insiders within hours of the Rupganj and the Sirajganj incidents came up with the suggestion that he saw "BNP's hands" at work. How much convenient! One fails to find that the law and order situation in the country has, as claimed by the ruling party, improved or improving. To put it bluntly, it is in a pitiable state. Withholding or distorting truth is a form of telling lies.
People are yet to get a real picture as to what benefit is there for Bangladesh in granting the transit facilities to India or the construction of the Tipaumukh Barrage by our big neighbour. It is all hazy and shrouded in mystery and engineered lies. The same is the case with costly small or mega power projects.
A classic example that has confused the people at large is the recent declaration of the PM where it was stated that in reprinting of the proposed revised constitution the provision of religion-based politics or political parties should remain as it is. We find it rather confusing as to where lay the truth. Similarly, the people are in absolute darkness about the stand of the government with regard to this whole business of oil and gas exploration.
The only consistent thing with this government is its scheming and bashing of the opposition. It is done religiously any time and every time. The ruling party's obsession with the BNP and the opposition at large has never been so acute. It is subjecting the opposition to sheer harassment and subjugation in all possible ways and resorting to methods lawful or unlawful, truth or lies, extra judicial or otherwise.
This has in turn led the BNP, too, to take recourse to unconventional methods of countering the allegations. This has led to further mudslinging and resorting to all kinds of vilifications and allegations against the ruling party as a tit for tat. The people feel frustrated with both the ruling party and the opposition.
The governance techniques of the ruling party are far from transparent. This regime is frequently resorting to propaganda exercises playing on the emotions and the sentiments like the war crime trials and the August 21 grenade attacks. Indeed, no sane person can deny the need for holding trials of such heinous criminal acts but the fact also remains that there is a pressing need to attend to the various critical issues of socio-economic development facing the nation today.
We wish to emphasise that our salvation lies in an even socio-economic development of the country more than anything else. Without ensuring that, all other achievements will become either redundant or meaningless at the end of the day.
(E-mail: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com)