National solidarity is the only way out

It is widely recognised that a shrinking of space for democratic challenge and debate can push some towards extremist alternatives

The countrymen as well as well-wishing foreign friends of a vibrant, modern and rapidly growing Bangladesh, want to see it protect and promote freedom of expression as one of its core values and rights of all citizens for the cause of democracy. Economic growth for us is to feed the belly and democracy is for us is to breath – so we need both simultaneously. The present ruling party chief and head of the government has repeatedly extolled the secular, tolerant nature of Bangladesh. Her government must be unequivocal about protecting the rights of all citizens, including those who express different views or lead different lifestyles. The victims themselves should not be blamed.
As close observers and sufferers of the fallen democracy in Bangladesh the 92 percent majority Muslims and the fellow members of different other minor communities care deeply about what happens here, both now and in future. But they all want to see Bangladesh develop into an economically and socio-culturally successful country that maintains its Bengali Muslim tradition of respect and tolerance for people of all faiths and backgrounds irrespective of political party affiliations in a healthy democratic set up.
The country’s civil society members and experts frequently express their concern and debate Bangladesh against the backdrop of political unrest, the brutal murders of bloggers and others, and allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Even then there have been continued attacks against not only the minority groups and those who hold views counter to traditional values and beliefs but also the members of the Muslim majority. In addition to these it is also pointed out that there has been pressure on opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and on dissenting voices in the media and civil society. But the countrymen want to continue to engage constructively with all parties in Bangladesh, and with international development partners, to work towards democracy and development.
It is widely recognised that a shrinking of space for democratic challenge and debate can push some towards extremist alternatives. This hypothesis has proved correct in Bangladesh. Countrymen are deeply concerned that the recent appalling spate of murders is becoming an all-too-common occurrence. People welcomed the commitment by the government of Bangladesh to bring those responsible for recent extremist attacks to justice. The countrymen have also made it clear that justice must be done in a manner that fully respects the international human rights standards. They consider that mass arrests and suspicious “crossfire” deaths at the hands of the police undermine confidence in the judicial system and democratic norms.
In all the cases investigations must be conducted transparently and impartially, irrespective of the identity of the victim or the alleged perpetrator. Anyone arrested should be treated in full accordance with due process and Bangladeshi law. It is also important to explore the root causes of the attacks involving international links. It is accepted by some quarter that the current situation in Bangladesh has some relationship to the war for independence in 1971. But it is also very much the result of the seriously flawed general election on January 05, 2014 that brought the present government in power, and the subsequent grossly flawed local elections conducted under the present government.
These seriously flawed general and local government elections acted as eye-openers to the countrymen and caused democracy to break down in Bangladesh. Moreover, the continued happenings of the series of unfortunate events including terrorist attacks at Gulshan, Dhaka, and Sholakia, Kishoregonj on July 01 and 07, 2016 respectively hither to unknown since 1990 of Bangladesh history are their results, even if we do not hint to the past prior to the said period after independence. All of this is because of the “revealed preference” of the country’s politicians to whatever party they may belong to always capture – by any means – the treasury bench in the parliament but in no way ready to sit in the opposition bench. By now much dirty water has flowed down the river Buriganga and the countrymen have grown politically highly conscious and mature enough compared to the pre-independence time to understand the motive of the country’s power hungry politicians.
The prevalent fashions and behaviours of the country’s politicians today are contrary to the traditional norms of democracy. As a result democracy in the country has turned faddy and politicians lack of patriotism that is the cause of ire for some in the political arena giving rise to the recurring militant attacks. In debating the current situation in Bangladesh, experts talk about what has been happening recently what they should anticipate happening next in Bangladesh. Against such a back drop of political situation in the country a thorough overhaul is necessary in the country’s political practices to put democracy in the right track and save the country from severe manmade catastrophe that may befall in the coming days – the use of law enforcing agencies alone to tame the aggrieved is not the solution.
To this end, unity of politicians of all parties without any prejudices in the question of national issues is imperative. They need to understand that the country is passing through a period of serious crises today and that can only be overcome through national unity, unity and unity alone – unity based on national consensus without any prejudices, any preconceived foreign ideas and ideologies. The forging of such unity is easy and possible in a country where 92 percent of the people belong to the same glorious religion, only if the country’s politicians can rise above petty party interests, dogmas and forget the past. I say forget the past and be fresh because all of them have more or less faulty and dirty past since at least 1990 the year of all party united successful movement for democracy against an autocratic regime.
Both the ruling as well as the out-parliament parties need to shun the politics of blame game. Their, especially the ruling party members’ habitual memorized political verbosity centering all the misdeeds committed in the country reminds me a metrical line from Tagore’s late Nineteenth century interesting poem “Puraton Bhreettay” (Old Servant) that “Ja-kichhu haray ginni bolen, kesta betai chhor” (Whatever is lost mistress says, wretched Kesta is the thief”. In politics this is a destructive mentality. If this is the attitude of a ruling party towards its political contenders then the actual “thief” – national or international – will not only be encouraged rather will heave a sigh of relief by committing recurring crimes.
It is high time that the country’s politicians and partisan intellectuals be beware of such a risky and knotty blame game otherwise international big forces may try to make a head way into the internal affairs of the geo-politically strategic and politically divisive Bangladesh by creating troubles to suit their purpose. National unity enveloping all parties irrespective of their role in the more-than four decades-old war of independence and avoiding political hatred and malice towards any is the only answer to the grave crisis the country is facing today. We have had enough of self-seeking bloody and verbal political entanglements and blame games in the past forty-four years among the so-called nation dividing “pro-” and “anti-” freedom forces and the willy-nilly jargon of the “spirit of liberation war” that have drag the country and its society on the verge of ruin giving advantage to the trouble maker sycophants – please no more. Now in this critical juncture of time let the nation unite and progress. In forging national unity we need to keep in mind the rural Bengal’s traditional proverb that “pochha shamokeo pao katey” (even the shell of a rotten snail may cut the foot). So it is not the ruling party alone, however large it may seemingly look like, that can save this poor Muslim nation from becoming prey of national and international conspiracies but nationwide diverse political forces’ and common peoples’ united effort is a must to that end.      The examples of the Middle Eastern Muslim countries are before us to be careful about any national mishap. Moreover, we need to keep in mind that we had to seek India’s help in 1971 to tame imprudent Pakistan.
Likewise if the blame game and persecution persists, the victims of such game may grow impatient which may impel them to invite foreign intervention though it may turn a bitter pill ultimately even for them to swallow. We earnestly hope our politicians as well as partisan intellectuals will dispassionately try to evaluate and understand the present critical situation of this 92 percent Muslim majority country against the backdrop of the present crisis-torn Muslim world and aggressive west before time runs out of grip. Let the Capital’s Gulshan and Kishoregonj’s Sholakia happenings be not just the beginning but the last.                                               
    The writer is a retired Professor of Economics

National solidarity is the only way out

It is widely recognised that a shrinking of space for democratic challenge and debate can push some towards extremist alternatives

The countrymen as well as well-wishing foreign friends of a vibrant, modern and rapidly growing Bangladesh, want to see it protect and promote freedom of expression as one of its core values and rights of all citizens for the cause of democracy. Economic growth for us is to feed the belly and democracy is for us is to breath so we need both simultaneously. The present ruling party chief and head of the government has repeatedly extolled the secular, tolerant nature of Bangladesh. Her government must be unequivocal about protecting the rights of all citizens, including those who express different views or lead different lifestyles. The victims themselves should not be blamed. As close observers and sufferers of the fallen democracy in Bangladesh the 92 percent majority Muslims and the fellow members of different other minor communities care deeply about what happens here, both now and in future. But they all want to see Bangladesh develop into an economically and socio-culturally successful country that maintains its Bengali Muslim tradition of respect and tolerance for people of all faiths and backgrounds irrespective of political party affiliations in a healthy democratic set up. The countrys civil society members and experts frequently express their concern and debate Bangladesh against the backdrop of political unrest, the brutal murders of bloggers and others, and allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Even then there have been continued attacks against not only the minority groups and those who hold views counter to traditional values and beliefs but also the members of the Muslim majority. In addition to these it is also pointed out that there has been pressure on opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and on dissenting voices in the media and civil society. But the countrymen want to continue to engage constructively with all parties in Bangladesh, and with international development partners, to work towards democracy and development. It is widely recognised that a shrinking of space for democratic challenge and debate can push some towards extremist alternatives. This hypothesis has proved correct in Bangladesh. Countrymen are deeply concerned that the recent appalling spate of murders is becoming an all-too-common occurrence. People welcomed the commitment by the government of Bangladesh to bring those responsible for recent extremist attacks to justice. The countrymen have also made it clear that justice must be done in a manner that fully respects the international human rights standards. They consider that mass arrests and suspicious crossfire deaths at the hands of the police undermine confidence in the judicial system and democratic norms. In all the cases investigations must be conducted transparently and impartially, irrespective of the identity of the victim or the alleged perpetrator. Anyone arrested should be treated in full accordance with due process and Bangladeshi law. It is also important to explore the root causes of the attacks involving international links. It is accepted by some quarter that the current situation in Bangladesh has some relationship to the war for independence in 1971. But it is also very much the result of the seriously flawed general election on January 05, 2014 that brought the present government in power, and the subsequent grossly flawed local elections conducted under the present government. These seriously flawed general and local government elections acted as eye-openers to the countrymen and caused democracy to break down in Bangladesh. Moreover, the continued happenings of the series of unfortunate events including terrorist attacks at Gulshan, Dhaka, and Sholakia, Kishoregonj on July 01 and 07, 2016 respectively hither to unknown since 1990 of Bangladesh history are their results, even if we do not hint to the past prior to the said period after independence. All of this is because of the revealed preference of the countrys politicians to whatever party they may belong to always capture by any means the treasury bench in the parliament but in no way ready to sit in the opposition bench. By now much dirty water has flowed down the river Buriganga and the countrymen have grown politically highly conscious and mature enough compared to the pre-independence time to understand the motive of the countrys power hungry politicians. The prevalent fashions and behaviours of the countrys politicians today are contrary to the traditional norms of democracy. As a result democracy in the country has turned faddy and politicians lack of patriotism that is the cause of ire for some in the political arena giving rise to the recurring militant attacks. In debating the current situation in Bangladesh, experts talk about what has been happening recently what they should anticipate happening next in Bangladesh. Against such a back drop of political situation in the country a thorough overhaul is necessary in the countrys political practices to put democracy in the right track and save the country from severe manmade catastrophe that may befall in the coming days the use of law enforcing agencies alone to tame the aggrieved is not the solution. To this end, unity of politicians of all parties without any prejudices in the question of national issues is imperative. They need to understand that the country is passing through a period of serious crises today and that can only be overcome through national unity, unity and unity alone unity based on national consensus without any prejudices, any preconceived foreign ideas and ideologies. The forging of such unity is easy and possible in a country where 92 percent of the people belong to the same glorious religion, only if the countrys politicians can rise above petty party interests, dogmas and forget the past. I say forget the past and be fresh because all of them have more or less faulty and dirty past since at least 1990 the year of all party united successful movement for democracy against an autocratic regime. Both the ruling as well as the out-parliament parties need to shun the politics of blame game. Their, especially the ruling party members habitual memorized political verbosity centering all the misdeeds committed in the country reminds me a metrical line from Tagores late Nineteenth century interesting poem Puraton Bhreettay (Old Servant) that Ja-kichhu haray ginni bolen, kesta betai chhor (Whatever is lost mistress says, wretched Kesta is the thief. In politics this is a destructive mentality. If this is the attitude of a ruling party towards its political contenders then the actual thief national or international will not only be encouraged rather will heave a sigh of relief by committing recurring crimes. It is high time that the countrys politicians and partisan intellectuals be beware of such a risky and knotty blame game otherwise international big forces may try to make a head way into the internal affairs of the geo-politically strategic and politically divisive Bangladesh by creating troubles to suit their purpose. National unity enveloping all parties irrespective of their role in the more-than four decades-old war of independence and avoiding political hatred and malice towards any is the only answer to the grave crisis the country is facing today. We have had enough of self-seeking bloody and verbal political entanglements and blame games in the past forty-four years among the so-called nation dividing pro- and anti- freedom forces and the willy-nilly jargon of the spirit of liberation war that have drag the country and its society on the verge of ruin giving advantage to the trouble maker sycophants please no more. Now in this critical juncture of time let the nation unite and progress. In forging national unity we need to keep in mind the rural Bengals traditional proverb that pochha shamokeo pao katey (even the shell of a rotten snail may cut the foot). So it is not the ruling party alone, however large it may seemingly look like, that can save this poor Muslim nation from becoming prey of national and international conspiracies but nationwide diverse political forces and common peoples united effort is a must to that end. The examples of the Middle Eastern Muslim countries are before us to be careful about any national mishap. Moreover, we need to keep in mind that we had to seek Indias help in 1971 to tame imprudent Pakistan. Likewise if the blame game and persecution persists, the victims of such game may grow impatient which may impel them to invite foreign intervention though it may turn a bitter pill ultimately even for them to swallow. We earnestly hope our politicians as well as partisan intellectuals will dispassionately try to evaluate and understand the present critical situation of this 92 percent Muslim majority country against the backdrop of the present crisis-torn Muslim world and aggressive west before time runs out of grip. Let the Capitals Gulshan and Kishoregonjs Sholakia happenings be not just the beginning but the last. The writer is a retired Professor of Economics