The great need to have qualified leadership in politics

A more congenial political atmosphere can be created in the country, if the opportunity of practicing democracy inside the political parties is ensured at first. A healthy political system can also play an effective role in the face of any national crisis. Formulation of appropriate and time befitting policy is mainly dependent on a competent political leadership. Regrettably, our political parties lack initiatives in nurturing quality leadership. Even the existing rules and regulations of the party constitutions are not followed properly in the process of selecting the leadership and representatives from the grassroots level. Veteran political leaders are gradually losing their interest in politics. The political parties are now selecting their leadership and representatives for alleged financial gains rather than based on quality. This has created a political stagnancy in the country. We heard many of our senior prominent politicians expressing their frustration in this regard. This in no way depicts a healthy political environment. The veteran Awami League leader Abdul Jalil expressed his frustration saying that politics now is not in the hands of the politicians; rather the businessmen have grabbed it. The businessmen have made the parliament devoid of politics. Another veteran AL leader told a seminar that the political leaders themselves have defamed our politics. This shameful and miserable condition in our politics was not created in a day. We thought that after the political cyclone of one eleven, a qualitative change in the political leadership will emerge; but unfortunately, we did not see any expected change. However, for increasing the efficiency of the political leadership, internal practice of democracy has no alternative. The faults and failures of the government and political parties will be rectified, if there is an opportunity to express views and opinions openly inside the party. Why are the political parties failing to meet the people's hopes and aspirations? The leadership should be confronted to answer this question through introspection. There is no reason to blame each other, rather, only self-criticism and understanding can lead towards a more congenial political atmosphere in the country. A family will suffer, if its head or any of its members fail. If the state and the political leaders fail, the entire nation will have to suffer. So, we expect from our political leaders that right from the grassroots to the central levels, party constitution should be followed in selecting party leadership and representatives. Every member of the party must be given the opportunity to express their views and opinions freely. Thus, qualified and efficient leadership will be nurtured and politics will remain at the hands of the politicians. (The writer can be reached at e-mail : mlutforr@ovi.com)