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Attitudes Needed To Advance Bangladesh

Badrul Islam - 1/23/2006

Former President of the African National Congress and receipient of Nobel Peace Prize in 1961, Albert Luthuli, in his biographical book "Let MY People Go" mentioned "The People of Groutville have found democratic methods effective and satisfactory. They have used these processes not only to elect chiefs, but on two occasions to replace them when their rule was felt to be not in the community's interest. This has the advantage that the tribe need never chafe under harsh rule, the standard of rule must be reasonably high, chiefs need not fear the more traditional elimination by assassination or revolt, and the people understand the process fully.”

Luthili's comments prove that for democracy to be stable in Bangladesh, correct attitude is to be demonstrated by both the Citizen and the Politician. On the Citizen’s side, the correct attitude is their willingness to "exercise their basic right"- the right to vote to elect candidates and equally important who would replace the candidate if proved to be inefficient. On the politician's side, the correct attitude is their sincere effort to fulfill their commitment pledged to the Citizen. Thus, when both sides demonstrate correct attitude, a congenial environment prevails.

Citizen need not suffer under the harsh rule of the Party in Power (Government) and in turn Government need not fear a coup-de-tat or revolt.

The Citizen of Bangladesh had twice demonstrated their correct attitude towards the achievement of Democracy. The first time the Bengali Citizen took the most crucial decision in the historical election of December 1970, in what was then East Pakistan, to unitedly vote to free them from the Colonial Regime. The Second time, again, twenty years later in Bangladesh, in December 1990 the Citizen unitedly ousted the Autocratic ruler and paved the way for Democracy.

Citizen must continue to demonstrate their correct attitude and spirit of unity to regain hope to re-establish Democracy. The next Election is about nine to ten months away, and the Citizen are thinking of "What sort of Government they will have for the next five years and what sort of Policy Government will have for alleviating their sufferings?" The main interest of Citizen are two: (1) economic amelioration and financial easement, and (2) social and cultural justice. The Citizen must remember that Political Parties depend on the Citizen Power and on the basis of their Vote they become the Members of the Parliament. Therefore the First step required is to make a vow that their Motto will be to Vote to Elect Candidates on the basis of their Merit and Programme, no merit and no program means no means.

Voting blindly for the Party or being apathetic to their basic right to Vote, both, have proved detrimental because Politicians think that the Citizen are mere "sheep" and can be herded, as they desire. If the Political Party uses influence or force in favor of the Candidate then the Citizen collectively should also respond with equal force to disqualify the Candidate. Next, the Candidate, after a reasonable period of time should be evaluated and if found inefficient must be replaced through the process of Bye-elections. If this Motto is strictly followed the Political parties would refrain from being the" WOLF". If at this crucial Election time the Citizens don’t exercise their right to select qualified Candidate they cannot expect economic and social justice from this Candidate or the Party that forms the Government. So the main screening test begins here.

Additionally, the Citizen must ensure that those eligible must enroll in the Voter’s List. Citizen must ensure that birth and deaths are both registered with their respective Municipalities and voter list corrected accordingly. The Citizen must get the National Identity Card, which is very essential for Election purpose and statistical records of the Country.

Paradoxically, the Ruling and the 0pposition, Parties, have since independence of Bangladesh demonstrated negative attitude. The Elected Representatives became a "Wolf in a Sheep’s Skin". In the name "OF CITIZEN", "FOR CITIZEN" but NOT "BY CONSENT" of the CITIZEN, the 1972 CONSTITUTION was subjected to illegal Amendments, in forming BAKSAL and Legalizing TWO Military Regimes. The BYE-election process was used to replace candidates who died but NEVER to replace "inefficient candidates” Additionally, AL and BNP, are responsible for not implementing the Provisions of the Constitution for democratic governance, As 0pposition Leader, in Parliament, gives a free floor to the Ruling Party; boy-cot the Parliament and hinders economic activity by calling hartals. The women MPs are still under quota system with less authority but only as proof that women’s right exists in the Country.

Additionally, two incomprehensible impediments for establishment of Democracy in Bangladesh are: (1) paradoxical multiparty system and the (2) procedures to nominate Candidates. There are over eighty plus Political Parties, but besides AL and BNP, none has its own ideology, strategy and capability to compete in the elections. They toe with either AL or BNP to form Alliances. Thus the Citizen’s choice for electing Candidates is restricted. Independent candidates are very few in number. Nomination is the prerogative of the Party Leader; none can challenge their Leader's choice for fear of loosing their own chances of being nominated and or being expelled. This unchallenged power is the reason why the Leader of the Party can violate the Party principles and Nominate from the wealthy groups.

0bviously these wealth groups command a powerful Lobby within the Party and their selection, over the long-term regular member, causes dissension within the party.

In essence, the Citizen has demonstrated positive attitude, but AL and BNP and their alliances have aggressively demonstrated negative attitude, as detailed above, causing gross imbalance that bankrupted Democracy.

AL and BNP jointly with their Alliance Partners, have the ability to reverse this situation and govern the country, honestly and efficiently to establish Democracy for economic and social development and bring Bangladesh at par level with that of the other South Asian Countries like India, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Korea.

The only requirement from all these Politicians is to adopt a “Correct Attitude”. The Legendary Politician of the sub-continent, Late Mahatma Gandhi have said successful Politicians demonstrates the ability to:(1) Be in contact with People, (2) Understand the People and (3) Know the problems of the people. Late, Jawaharlal Nehru, in addition to his high education (Lawyer), learnt this lesson from the political Guru, Mahatma Gandhi and was successful to steer India (1947-1964), to achieve a stable Democratic Government and bring a high level of Development in the Country. In contrast, Democracy was never established in Pakistan from 1947 to present date (except for brief period) because the Rulers failed to use these formulae. Taking lessons of the Late Guru Mahatma and Late Nehru the foreign born Indian Citizen Sonia Gandhi of the Congress Party became a charismatic leader and wrought a political miracle defeating the all-powerful Hindu Nationalist Coalition led by Mr.Vajpayee. Her victory was a direct result of her study of the political environment, decentralizing of power within the party, selection and placement of Congress members on the basis of merit and experience.

AL and BNP jointly with their Alliance Partners must demonstrate their "Political Will” to restructure and decentralize power within their own respective Parties. In the preface to the Discourses, Machiavelli states "corruption of contemporary politics is due fundamentally to the absence of rewards for political ambition". Politicians do join a Party on the basis of an ideology but definitely have their ambition too. With this objective in mind, the First requirement by the Party is to delegate power to the party members and administer the party with equity and justice. This will create professional ethics and ethos amongst the party members. Subsequently this practice will filter down to front-line Students and Workers Party, When the Party as Majority forms the Government this practice will also filter down to the other two organs of the state- namely the Executive and the Judiciary thus ensuring an over all efficient and honest society. The Scions of the politicians and or the retired Government 0fficials as Citizen are entitled to join the Party but there should be a "Code of Conduct" which should ensure that they first demonstrate their merit within the Party itself.

This procedure will not hinder the progress and subsequent promotion of the senior Members already dedicating their service to the Party's cause. Thus an environment of trust and self- respect will be ensured within the Parties and the Party members need not cross over to other Political Parties.

This will also ensure that if Article 70(1) is deleted from the constitution the elected party MPs will still remain united and be effective as " Checks ans Balances" on the system.

The Next important function, to reward the party members to achieve their ambition, is to ensure that the Political Parties "Nominate a Candidate” from amongst its efficient members only. However, from the wealthy interest group, a Candidate, who has long-term experience and credit within the party, can be considered too. The " Nominated Candidate" should be able to bargain, for himself, with the Citizen to get win their Votes, on the basis of a sound development programme for the Constituency. The party may render reasonable financial support or the Candidate may use his own finance but within the limits sanctioned by the Election Commission. Political Alliances with other party, if required, should be formed before the Elections so that Citizen who will know their joint programme.

The Third important function is to elect the Non-Partisan Speaker and the Deputy Speaker from individuals who are highly qualified in the Legal Profession. 0nce elected both have to sign a legal document to confirm their:

(1) "Impartiality" and (2) that they would sincerely serve only the parliament as per Constitution. The Present Constitution's articles for election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker will have to be amended accordingly.

Political Parties to earn their trust and confidence of the Citizen, in addition to above three suggestions, would be wise to implement the suggestions made by the imminent Journalists, Civil Societies, the Intellectuals and the Media, Legal and other Professional Associations, the Business Community and different Trade Associations. The suggestions published in the Daily and Weekly news papers and discussed on different TV channels briefly are the followings: (1) Mandatory Registration of the Political Parties, (2) Recording of Election expenses, (3) Strengthening the Election Commission, (4) Population Registration card for Citizen, (5) An error free Voter’s list (6) Empowerment of women (7) identification and Rehabilitation of the freedom fighters.

In Bangladesh, on dates 07 March, 25 March and 14 December and other special occasions the historical 07 March 1971 speech of Bangabandhu is widely broadcasted. If Sheikh Hasina paid attention then she would understand that her Father in that speech had already described the importance of Citizen Power when he said, "You are the ones who brought about an Awami League victory". In the same speech the Father also described the role of the Elected Representatives when he said "the hope was that the Elected Representatives of the people, sitting in the National Assembly, would create a Constitution that would assure the people of their economic, political and cultural emancipation"- Sheikh Hasina, who professes to follow the ideals of her Father, Bangabandhu, should then understand the power of the Citizen and ensure the establishment of Democracy through participation in the Parliament. Her failure to understand this was the reason that People's verdict went in favor of Khaleda Zia in 1991.

The same message is for BNP. BNP's Khaleda Zia, as Chairperson, to win the confidence of the People declared her "DAAL and BHAAT" Programme in 1991 for Poverty alleviation. What is interesting is that both are available in plenty but the price per kilo is so high that it is beyond the reach of most Citizens. Therefore in 1996 the People's verdict went in favor of Sheik Hasina. For all Political Parties the examples stated, herein, should be an appropriate lesson to learn.

Political parties must be aware of the fact that the theory, "I am the State", have died with the French Revolution and that modern world is moving away from the "Master-Slave" pattern to Democracy. In the modern world of IT technology the Citizen are well informed of the updated methods the Government of other Countries use to fulfill their commitments to their Citizen and how the 0pposition plays an effective "check and balance" role.

The Citizen in Bangladesh also wants the same system to operate here.

I am confidant that the readers of this article with agree with my suggestions and would render their support for its implementations by the Political Parties and that our Citizen too, will use their intelligence in electing their Representatives. I also invite other conscience Citizen to individually voice their opinion so that broader consensus is formed before the Election Period.