The price paid for the tolerance of the incompetent and unscrupulous

It may be asked whether Bangladeshis, having successfully applied their political consciousness to establish Bangladesh, have been equally successful in using the same consciousness to develop their country in the economic and social sense. The well-researched answer to such a query is likely to be strongly in the negative. Bangladeshis have collectively failed to put pressure on political parties, institutions and governments to work dedicatedly for the country's economic and social development. Thus, they should have only themselves to blame for their present tormented existence. Nobel prize-winning poet Rabindranath Tagore in one of his poems memorably stressed that those who tolerate wrong doings share the same sins and deserve condemnation like the actual doers of the wrongs. What he meant was unless sufficient resolve is created in society to protest against and reject evil, conditions will not be there for the good to triumph. In other words, untill people are conscious enough to rise against incompetence, bad governance, corruption, tyrannies, immorality and other ills, the same will hold sway over them and spoil their aspirations for a better tomorrow. People with the right background, efficiency, dedication and integrity are not able to rise up the ladders of political parties in Bangladesh. Rather, they are even pushed down if they should reach high positions. One must not restrict the blame to party members for their humiliation. All people in the country are to share the blame. Politically charged and conscious people voting in massive numbers for the right candidates could create a revolution in the election histories of Bangladesh. Despite the large presence of candidates backed by the power of money and muscle, people were also presented with the choice of relatively better candidates for whom they could cast their votes. But they failed to do this -- repeatedly -- which only supports the thinking that political consciousness of people are poor and that is why they continue to suffer in all respects. It is stated in the scriptures that the people of a country are given the type of leaders they deserve. It can be interpreted to mean that a people who act correctly in choosing their leaders are rewarded with good leaderships and the benefits thereof. The opposite is experienced by a people who fail to select their leaders correctly.