Where is the change?
Thursday, 3 September 2009
ONCE again, the spectres of a hopelessly dysfunctional parliament and political instability are with us. But this was not the hope with which millions and millions of voters voted in the last held parliamentary election. They expected a rebirth of true democracy, healthy political culture and an effective parliament to follow. What is the level of their disillusionment now?
The winning party stalwarts as well as the bigwigs now in the opposition said many hope-generating things before the election. But what things are actually happening in the parliament and outside are a complete antithesis of their professed goals. The latest is that both the Begums rebuffed each other in attending Iftar parties called by them. If they can set Iftar parties on the same date for what observers say to deliberately dodge each other's attendance, then it exposes their mentality. They even want to avoid meeting each other for a few minutes of courtesy exchange on a religious occasion. If this remains their mind-set, then how are they going to show any cooperation in tackling very vital issues confronting the nation that calls for a bipartisan approach?
The ruling quarters in Bangladesh have been self decorating themselves with colourful expressions as the agents of change. But the moot question is: have they changed at all their old mindsets? The same question can be put to the opposition ?
So, how can they bring about change when they themselves are not prepared to change their obstructive and narrow mentalities, not even by a bit?
Mahmud Rashid
New Eskaton, Dhaka
The winning party stalwarts as well as the bigwigs now in the opposition said many hope-generating things before the election. But what things are actually happening in the parliament and outside are a complete antithesis of their professed goals. The latest is that both the Begums rebuffed each other in attending Iftar parties called by them. If they can set Iftar parties on the same date for what observers say to deliberately dodge each other's attendance, then it exposes their mentality. They even want to avoid meeting each other for a few minutes of courtesy exchange on a religious occasion. If this remains their mind-set, then how are they going to show any cooperation in tackling very vital issues confronting the nation that calls for a bipartisan approach?
The ruling quarters in Bangladesh have been self decorating themselves with colourful expressions as the agents of change. But the moot question is: have they changed at all their old mindsets? The same question can be put to the opposition ?
So, how can they bring about change when they themselves are not prepared to change their obstructive and narrow mentalities, not even by a bit?
Mahmud Rashid
New Eskaton, Dhaka