& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

The Gift of the Gab

It is claimed officially that the figure of literacy has reached 60 per cent. If that be so, the voters would be more critical and discriminating, and can make up their minds better, than when the literacy rate was half of this figure. Literacy is a tool and a weapon, and it hits suddenly, where and when least expected.

by Alif Zabr
THE DS editorial of June 24 (Oh, Those Wagging Tongues") bit the nail on the head. But the head (of the Bengalee) Is missing! Most of the input, processing, and output comes from the heart (note that the heart Is at a lower gravitational level than the rain). There Is congestion and traffic jam (as In Dhaka) between the head and the heart This highway must be clear, well maintained, and critically monitored We are good In loitering. but not monitoring
In the field of art and literature. the mind and the Imagination play key roles. But if this principle is misapplied to the sensitive field of politics, we get what we have now — the deplorable condition of the nation. thanks to the gift of the gab of our politicians, led by. not the head, but the tail of the political leaders. The monkey business continues merrily, amidst the gentlemen and the ladies. No hard feelings — we are exposing our weaknesses, and having a critical look at the shortcoming.
The honourable politicians have sadly, but unwittingly, betrayed the nation, as being not yet fit for the national responsibility of governing this poor nation, for which they were bred and brought up (we voters did a poor job of it. we must admit). This (political) culture cannot be imported, as it must be 100 per cent deshi (local) and khanti (pure). It Is available (not freely, but for a price) in bhejal (adulterated) form: and this contamination is giving the society the gripes, since independence (1971), or. even earlier (1947). Our probationary period is being extended again and again, and we have failed so far in transferring the incumbents from adhoc to regular posts.
Who were the baby-sitters or nannies who brought up the OGL (open general licence) politicians? The general masses are too impoverished to take care even of themselves. This default advantage is being exploited by the political cotn-munity. to the disadvantage of the country. The situation has
now reached a crisis on the eve of the general election next year. A drastic change in ap-Croach Is called for: but how to ring it about?
One remedy is to replace complacency with surprise. When you take something for granted, it is a shock when things happen otherwise. The Awami League presumed and assumed it would win the general elections held in 1990; but it missed the bus. to the surprise of the majority What did not tick? This is an issue of endless debate In the non-polltlcal drawing rooms The outcome of the next general election cannot be taken for granted In fact. It may be a turning point in the way politics Is being currently cultivated.
Good politics cannot survive without a change in the present political culture and approach. The politicians cannot bring it about with internal forces; as external Influence is necessary, to create the leverage or fulcrum effect. The new political weather is building up. waiting for a catalyst to trigger the whole operation, cascading into a shower of surprises (non-vio-lently. it is hoped). The time for reckoning has arrived, because the load is in a state of disequilibrium. Nature has Its own way of cleansing things up. and this political problem in Bangladesh is no exception. We are on the take-off point, and all obstacles can be bypassed
It Is claimed officially that the figure of literacy has reached 60 per cent. If that be so, the voters would be more critical and discriminating, and can make up their minds better, than when the literacy rate was half of this figure. Literacy is a tool and a weapon, and it hits suddenly, where and when least expected. It is said that it Is not possible to surprise the overconfident politicians. What if they cannot read themselves, once in a while?
Vote bank and vote power are different issues, when empowered vote banks are considered. The political poverty in the LDCs have to be empowered in the right direction. Watch the coming Election-2001.