The criminalisation of politics and the politicisation of organised crime are the major problems facing Bangladesh. It is well known that all parties take the help of criminal elements to dominate the political scene in Bangladesh. The influence of muscle power in Bangladesh politics has been a fact of life for a long time. The manner in which different political parties have functioned, particularly on the eve of elections and also during movements involve the free use of musclemen to influence the attitude and conduct of sizable sections of the people. Very unfortunately, in present-day Bangladesh politics and crime form almost a symbiotic relationship. Both are driven by the same impulse — the acquisition of money and power. Politics needs money to buy influence and crime needs the protection of politics to run its enterprises.
The opposite is also true. Some politicians have stooped so low that they actively seek protection from criminal elements. The latter seek direct access to power and hence become legislators or ministers. It is sad but true that Bangladesh is fast turning into a country where the state is becoming so weak that it is unable to fulfil even its minimum responsibility, exercise authority and offer citizens a modicum of security and order.
The powerful nexus of crime and politics has little to fear. Persons known to have a criminal past becoming legislators and even ministers has not only become common but at times has been openly defended by leaders of political parties. A stage has now been reached when certain politicians openly boast of their criminal connections. Political parties may publicly talk about being concerned over the increasing criminalisation of politics but in reality they are also responsible for abetting this trend.
Of course, one of the reasons of this unfortunate phenomenon in politics of Bangladesh has often oscillated between military rule and electoral democracy. History tells us it is the military rulers who introduced criminals and corrupt elements into politics. Democracy here has continuously been in a state of transition.
The election commission must take effective measures to check criminalisation of politics. It should ban convicted people from contesting elections should ask all criminally-charged persons to disclose all the charges they face, in the nomination paper. This information can be easily made available to the public. It is often seen that criminal cases against politicians remain pending for long. Later if their part comes to power they manipulate the cases in their favour. Withdrawal of criminal charges against some tainted MPs of the present government is a case in point.