We can do it
Monday, 21 July 2008
Air Commodore Muhammad Zakiul Islam ndu acsc (Retd)
The air and aroma of election is here. Although present elections are being held for only four City Corporations and nine municipalities, the move has helped break the ice, ending the prevailing gloom and stalemate, so to say. Instantaneously, a great and seemingly discernible change has dawned on the national mood
The independent Election Commission has demonstrated its independence and resolve by announcing the schedule for the elections despite the call of boycott and threats of dire consequences from certain quarters. It is an irony --- the leaders don't want election but their followers and workers would want nothing other than that. This is the strange disconnect and also stranger is the fact that how the leaders at times fail to gauge the public opinion. But going by the reports, it is quite evident that the whole of Bangladesh is in a happy mood and all the divisional cities and district towns and mufassil areas, whether having elections or not, are buzzing with enthusiasm and election euphoria.
This is a non-party electoral battle which is supposed to be fought on non-party basis. But the reality was quite different and one may take a lenient view of the stark contradictions and ensuing melodrama for the sake of democracy.
The caretaker government (CTG) with some trepidation and, a syndrome of taking one step forward and two steps backward, has finally decided to come out of the closet, so it seems. As per the conventional wisdom, taking such hesitant steps in either directions does not constitute regular drill movements but moves are stationery ones which are taught at the elementary stage to a recruit. For covering ground, a definite marching order has to be followed. If you want to accomplish reforms (?) you got to deconstruct the present and re-define, re-design and re- construct the future. Being a civilized society and bound historically by democratic traditions, you of course need to talk and discuss issues and ideas with the fellow travelers. But one caution. Held up in the quagmire of verbosity, you are likely to end up with a tall order of demands and counter-demands, and of points and counter-points, and engage in never-ending dialogue which some critics call as filibustering, a practice which is as unworthy and incomprehensible as the word itself.
And in our fight against corruption, a vice which is as endemic and deep-rooted as it is, we can't probably afford to be a nice guy in the block, having due regard to the individuals rights under the law.
I once heard the following sermon in a mosque from a half- educated Moulana: If one wants make an omelette, the apparently beautiful looking egg -- its shell -- has to be broken and a new shape and taste is to be given to it. It couldn't be done in any other way despite all your intelligence, education, knowledge and craftsmanship. By the same token, if the Upazilla Election offers us a better recipe for reforms and change, so be it.
There, obviously, has been some erosion and decay of the populist charisma of the present CTG which it once enjoyed. Decay is but a natural phenomenon. But not much has been lost. Popular support for the Government in any country swings like a pendulum, may be in our case, the Time Period is a rather short one. Despite visible success in some areas, the CTG has had to take a lot of battering for the price hike. But this has been the case world over. With two running wars, threat of a nuclear show-down, sub-prime loan crisis, high inflation rate, high price of oil and misplaced priorities of the big economic powers, the global economy is going through an upheaval and uncertainties. We can only hope that a steady state would soon return, with new world order and our physical and pschycological adjustment to it.
The Bangladeshis generally hold their leaders in high esteem and confidence, they rally around them as long as the call and the cause is just and, the leaders sound genuine in their pronouncements and commitments. What is important to the public is what efforts the leaders are making rather than what results they would achieve. The Ministry of Commerce has had claimed many a Heads in the recent past due to uncontrollable price situation. A leader who is in charge should never sound helpless or hopeless. If price spiral is beating your experience and imagination, think positive, sound affirmative and act assertively without ever expressing your exasperation (and referring to the mythical ancestors and their good old days). What we need is the 'can do' attitude.
Being one of the most peaceful people, we value peace and harmony. These intangibles normally stem from a feeling of well-being and 'feel-good' mentality. There is no denying of the fact that there are great shortfalls in many areas. But our needs and material wants are so minimal and we are satisfied with so little that we are still considered as one of the most peaceful nations. The latest recognition of and tribute to that national traits has come from none other than Professor Ole Danbolt Mjos, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee during his visit to Dhaka.
Talking about Nobel wisdom, let me try to paraphrase (from my memory) what our Nobel Laureate had to say during the State Reception given in his honour. In response to the homilies and platitudes paid to him by the Head of State and Head of the then CTG, he said: Please hear everyone, but you may not listen to anyone. Consider every view, take all suggestions but arrive at the decision that you think is the best. And it is your decision and you are the sole proprietor of that decision.
Those were the very difficult days for this nation.
Golden words perhaps, especially for the people in leadership roles who are to face and address multifarious and often diametrically opposite views and demands. These may be of interest, both academic and practical, to the Election Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission and other organs as well. With political standings and statements becoming more vitriolic, the public opinion more searching and scrutinizing and the legal battles more intense, the larger national issues would have to be handled in greater transparency but with equal steadfastness and resolve, and may I add, patience.
Let us end this by an anecdote on a 'Maarey- faat' note (Mystic note). Ours is a country of Saints, Peers, Dervishes, Mystics and Sufis. Most of these holy men are thought to attain and possess some degree of supernatural power. So people often visit them with all their problems, be it health, money, marriage, love, job, legal matters, in fact, anything and everything. These refined Peers also recruit and train their followers on the path of mysticism so that the young ones take their place in their absence. One such rather young but greatly devoted disciple served his master so well and his Guru was so pleased with him that soon the accomplished Peer blessed his young follower with some of the special powers that he himself had to achieve after years of meditation, practice and perseverance. The learned old men would use his power selectively, judging on the merit of each case, for he knew and believed that all the earthly misfortunes, disease and difficulties that befall human beings are actually acquired by the people themselves due to their own folly and such misfortunes come as a divine punishment and corrective measure.
The young 'Peer' of our story learnt about the mystical way of curing all the diseases and misfortunes, but what he did not attain was the knowledge of knowing the underlying reasons for which a person would be a subject to such sufferings or deprivation. Overwhelmed by the possession of this mystical power, he started applying it indiscriminately, curing all patients, solving everybody's problems whosoever came to him with whatever problem one might have. Soon his name and fame spread and more people started visiting him.
Observing from a distance, his mentor soon realised that his young but over enthusiastic disciple was going to destabilise the natural balance of justice through the indiscriminate use of the mystical power. Finally, he had to caution his young follower: Dear Son, You can't probably afford to release all the prisoners, can you!
One hopes that souls of these holy men caste their spell of wisdom around the well-known surroundings of the mazars of Dhaka
The air and aroma of election is here. Although present elections are being held for only four City Corporations and nine municipalities, the move has helped break the ice, ending the prevailing gloom and stalemate, so to say. Instantaneously, a great and seemingly discernible change has dawned on the national mood
The independent Election Commission has demonstrated its independence and resolve by announcing the schedule for the elections despite the call of boycott and threats of dire consequences from certain quarters. It is an irony --- the leaders don't want election but their followers and workers would want nothing other than that. This is the strange disconnect and also stranger is the fact that how the leaders at times fail to gauge the public opinion. But going by the reports, it is quite evident that the whole of Bangladesh is in a happy mood and all the divisional cities and district towns and mufassil areas, whether having elections or not, are buzzing with enthusiasm and election euphoria.
This is a non-party electoral battle which is supposed to be fought on non-party basis. But the reality was quite different and one may take a lenient view of the stark contradictions and ensuing melodrama for the sake of democracy.
The caretaker government (CTG) with some trepidation and, a syndrome of taking one step forward and two steps backward, has finally decided to come out of the closet, so it seems. As per the conventional wisdom, taking such hesitant steps in either directions does not constitute regular drill movements but moves are stationery ones which are taught at the elementary stage to a recruit. For covering ground, a definite marching order has to be followed. If you want to accomplish reforms (?) you got to deconstruct the present and re-define, re-design and re- construct the future. Being a civilized society and bound historically by democratic traditions, you of course need to talk and discuss issues and ideas with the fellow travelers. But one caution. Held up in the quagmire of verbosity, you are likely to end up with a tall order of demands and counter-demands, and of points and counter-points, and engage in never-ending dialogue which some critics call as filibustering, a practice which is as unworthy and incomprehensible as the word itself.
And in our fight against corruption, a vice which is as endemic and deep-rooted as it is, we can't probably afford to be a nice guy in the block, having due regard to the individuals rights under the law.
I once heard the following sermon in a mosque from a half- educated Moulana: If one wants make an omelette, the apparently beautiful looking egg -- its shell -- has to be broken and a new shape and taste is to be given to it. It couldn't be done in any other way despite all your intelligence, education, knowledge and craftsmanship. By the same token, if the Upazilla Election offers us a better recipe for reforms and change, so be it.
There, obviously, has been some erosion and decay of the populist charisma of the present CTG which it once enjoyed. Decay is but a natural phenomenon. But not much has been lost. Popular support for the Government in any country swings like a pendulum, may be in our case, the Time Period is a rather short one. Despite visible success in some areas, the CTG has had to take a lot of battering for the price hike. But this has been the case world over. With two running wars, threat of a nuclear show-down, sub-prime loan crisis, high inflation rate, high price of oil and misplaced priorities of the big economic powers, the global economy is going through an upheaval and uncertainties. We can only hope that a steady state would soon return, with new world order and our physical and pschycological adjustment to it.
The Bangladeshis generally hold their leaders in high esteem and confidence, they rally around them as long as the call and the cause is just and, the leaders sound genuine in their pronouncements and commitments. What is important to the public is what efforts the leaders are making rather than what results they would achieve. The Ministry of Commerce has had claimed many a Heads in the recent past due to uncontrollable price situation. A leader who is in charge should never sound helpless or hopeless. If price spiral is beating your experience and imagination, think positive, sound affirmative and act assertively without ever expressing your exasperation (and referring to the mythical ancestors and their good old days). What we need is the 'can do' attitude.
Being one of the most peaceful people, we value peace and harmony. These intangibles normally stem from a feeling of well-being and 'feel-good' mentality. There is no denying of the fact that there are great shortfalls in many areas. But our needs and material wants are so minimal and we are satisfied with so little that we are still considered as one of the most peaceful nations. The latest recognition of and tribute to that national traits has come from none other than Professor Ole Danbolt Mjos, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee during his visit to Dhaka.
Talking about Nobel wisdom, let me try to paraphrase (from my memory) what our Nobel Laureate had to say during the State Reception given in his honour. In response to the homilies and platitudes paid to him by the Head of State and Head of the then CTG, he said: Please hear everyone, but you may not listen to anyone. Consider every view, take all suggestions but arrive at the decision that you think is the best. And it is your decision and you are the sole proprietor of that decision.
Those were the very difficult days for this nation.
Golden words perhaps, especially for the people in leadership roles who are to face and address multifarious and often diametrically opposite views and demands. These may be of interest, both academic and practical, to the Election Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission and other organs as well. With political standings and statements becoming more vitriolic, the public opinion more searching and scrutinizing and the legal battles more intense, the larger national issues would have to be handled in greater transparency but with equal steadfastness and resolve, and may I add, patience.
Let us end this by an anecdote on a 'Maarey- faat' note (Mystic note). Ours is a country of Saints, Peers, Dervishes, Mystics and Sufis. Most of these holy men are thought to attain and possess some degree of supernatural power. So people often visit them with all their problems, be it health, money, marriage, love, job, legal matters, in fact, anything and everything. These refined Peers also recruit and train their followers on the path of mysticism so that the young ones take their place in their absence. One such rather young but greatly devoted disciple served his master so well and his Guru was so pleased with him that soon the accomplished Peer blessed his young follower with some of the special powers that he himself had to achieve after years of meditation, practice and perseverance. The learned old men would use his power selectively, judging on the merit of each case, for he knew and believed that all the earthly misfortunes, disease and difficulties that befall human beings are actually acquired by the people themselves due to their own folly and such misfortunes come as a divine punishment and corrective measure.
The young 'Peer' of our story learnt about the mystical way of curing all the diseases and misfortunes, but what he did not attain was the knowledge of knowing the underlying reasons for which a person would be a subject to such sufferings or deprivation. Overwhelmed by the possession of this mystical power, he started applying it indiscriminately, curing all patients, solving everybody's problems whosoever came to him with whatever problem one might have. Soon his name and fame spread and more people started visiting him.
Observing from a distance, his mentor soon realised that his young but over enthusiastic disciple was going to destabilise the natural balance of justice through the indiscriminate use of the mystical power. Finally, he had to caution his young follower: Dear Son, You can't probably afford to release all the prisoners, can you!
One hopes that souls of these holy men caste their spell of wisdom around the well-known surroundings of the mazars of Dhaka