The crisis of replacement and chupa Rustams
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Shamsul Huq Zahid
Who will be forming the next government, if election is held in the latter part of next year? Awami League or its arch rival BNP or a new party? None seems to have an answer to this million dollar question.
The developments surrounding the key figures across the political divide who in the recent past adorned the seat of state power have made it pretty difficult even for the political pundits to foretell anything.
Newspaper reports are galore these days on the behind- the -scene parleys to float a new political platform sans leaders facing charges of corruption and abuse of power. But much would depend on the desire of the present interim administration which is enjoying full support of the army and major donor countries.
As of now, the situation is quite fluid. One possibility is that both AL and BNP would opt for the much-awaited reforms within their respective parties and participate in next parliamentary election. But without Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia at the helm (such a possibility is being discussed in a section of the media), both AL and BNP are sure to face disintegration. There could be several factions of both the parties and some leaders belonging to the opposite political camps might join their hands with others and float a new party.
But much would depend on how far the present caretaker government will go with its ongoing drive against corruption. If it decides to go the whole hog, not many among the national- level politicians and former law makers would be able to prove their innocence. Then again, if the government decides to stop at one point and allow some known evils and many chupa Rustams to regroup and vie for power, it would risk its credibility as an anti-corruption crusader.
The people in general are surprised to know that their elected leaders have cheated them for year after year and amassed wealth beyond imagination through abuse and misuse of power. They had always suspected wrongdoing by their leaders as matter of tradition. But it has never occurred to them that the politicians, aided by bureaucrats and some top businessmen, could stoop to such widespread corruption to appease their greed for wealth. The interim government deserves kudos for unfolding a black chapter that would have otherwise remained beyond the knowledge of the common people.
The outcome of the anti-corruption drive has made the democracy-loving people of the country rather clueless about the future political leadership. They are not finding a truly capable and honest politician of national stature to take over the rein of the country's administration. The interim administration might be facing the same problem. For, it has to handover power to someone at one point of time.
The difficulty in finding competent politicians who can lead the country is yet another void that the two main political parties have created deliberately.
The top leaders of these parties, in or outside the state power, had never tried to rear competent leaders as their future replacements. They kept all powers concentrated in their own hand and wanted to have a group of 'yes' men around them. However, the chief of one big party brought her elder son into politics, apparently, as her future replacement. But the outcome that earlier used to be discussed in private at the drawing rooms and tea tables is now an issue of wide public discussion. The head of the other party, reportedly, had also a plan to bring in her son into politics as heir apparent.
Under the circumstances, the much-talked-about reforms of political parties putting in place a built-in system to help competent leaders reach the top party positions need to be carried out in all seriousness. If some self-seeking politicians who were on the sidelines because of their bad equations with the top leaders get upper hand due to some half-baked reforms, the very purpose of reforming the political parties would be defeated.
However, it would not be an easy task to get the two major parties out of the authoritarian orbit since all, including workers and leaders at the grassroots, have been going through an undemocratic process for decades. There is a need to create a sort of longing for reforms at all tiers of the two major parties. No outsider can achieve that objective. It has to be carried out by someone-acceptable to all-- within the respective parties. The leaders of both the parties who are, reportedly, in favour of effecting reforms, it seems, do neither have mass appeal nor charisma to unite all their leaders and workers to achieve the goals of reforms.
The mass people have yet another fear that since the interim government would only be able to address the problem of corruption partially during its short tenure, the vice would stage a comeback with full force following the installation of an elected government. The expression of such fear is very much logical under the prevailing circumstances. But one cannot ignore the fact that actions against corrupt yet powerful people would deter many from indulging in widespread corruption in future. What is important here is getting all the national institutions such as parliament, election commission, judiciary, anti-corruption commission etc., strong and on right track. If that is done much of the problems in administering the country would be resolved.
Who will be forming the next government, if election is held in the latter part of next year? Awami League or its arch rival BNP or a new party? None seems to have an answer to this million dollar question.
The developments surrounding the key figures across the political divide who in the recent past adorned the seat of state power have made it pretty difficult even for the political pundits to foretell anything.
Newspaper reports are galore these days on the behind- the -scene parleys to float a new political platform sans leaders facing charges of corruption and abuse of power. But much would depend on the desire of the present interim administration which is enjoying full support of the army and major donor countries.
As of now, the situation is quite fluid. One possibility is that both AL and BNP would opt for the much-awaited reforms within their respective parties and participate in next parliamentary election. But without Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia at the helm (such a possibility is being discussed in a section of the media), both AL and BNP are sure to face disintegration. There could be several factions of both the parties and some leaders belonging to the opposite political camps might join their hands with others and float a new party.
But much would depend on how far the present caretaker government will go with its ongoing drive against corruption. If it decides to go the whole hog, not many among the national- level politicians and former law makers would be able to prove their innocence. Then again, if the government decides to stop at one point and allow some known evils and many chupa Rustams to regroup and vie for power, it would risk its credibility as an anti-corruption crusader.
The people in general are surprised to know that their elected leaders have cheated them for year after year and amassed wealth beyond imagination through abuse and misuse of power. They had always suspected wrongdoing by their leaders as matter of tradition. But it has never occurred to them that the politicians, aided by bureaucrats and some top businessmen, could stoop to such widespread corruption to appease their greed for wealth. The interim government deserves kudos for unfolding a black chapter that would have otherwise remained beyond the knowledge of the common people.
The outcome of the anti-corruption drive has made the democracy-loving people of the country rather clueless about the future political leadership. They are not finding a truly capable and honest politician of national stature to take over the rein of the country's administration. The interim administration might be facing the same problem. For, it has to handover power to someone at one point of time.
The difficulty in finding competent politicians who can lead the country is yet another void that the two main political parties have created deliberately.
The top leaders of these parties, in or outside the state power, had never tried to rear competent leaders as their future replacements. They kept all powers concentrated in their own hand and wanted to have a group of 'yes' men around them. However, the chief of one big party brought her elder son into politics, apparently, as her future replacement. But the outcome that earlier used to be discussed in private at the drawing rooms and tea tables is now an issue of wide public discussion. The head of the other party, reportedly, had also a plan to bring in her son into politics as heir apparent.
Under the circumstances, the much-talked-about reforms of political parties putting in place a built-in system to help competent leaders reach the top party positions need to be carried out in all seriousness. If some self-seeking politicians who were on the sidelines because of their bad equations with the top leaders get upper hand due to some half-baked reforms, the very purpose of reforming the political parties would be defeated.
However, it would not be an easy task to get the two major parties out of the authoritarian orbit since all, including workers and leaders at the grassroots, have been going through an undemocratic process for decades. There is a need to create a sort of longing for reforms at all tiers of the two major parties. No outsider can achieve that objective. It has to be carried out by someone-acceptable to all-- within the respective parties. The leaders of both the parties who are, reportedly, in favour of effecting reforms, it seems, do neither have mass appeal nor charisma to unite all their leaders and workers to achieve the goals of reforms.
The mass people have yet another fear that since the interim government would only be able to address the problem of corruption partially during its short tenure, the vice would stage a comeback with full force following the installation of an elected government. The expression of such fear is very much logical under the prevailing circumstances. But one cannot ignore the fact that actions against corrupt yet powerful people would deter many from indulging in widespread corruption in future. What is important here is getting all the national institutions such as parliament, election commission, judiciary, anti-corruption commission etc., strong and on right track. If that is done much of the problems in administering the country would be resolved.