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Friday Mailbox
"Money, Muscle and Election Process"
Sir. It was a pleasure reading the article "Money. Muscle and the Election Process" by Mahmud Farooque (DS, 15 July).
Points made to indicate the caretaker government as "a negative institutional innovation" are Indeed thought provoking. 1 like to add one more basic objection to this innovation: A non-elected body is being superimposed to ensure the election of a democratic government this seems to be a fundamentally flawed proposition. A government which was responsible to run the state's affairs for five long years and a new government to replace it for a similar term have to depend on a non-elected entity for fairness and neutrality! As the article also mentions, this is in the nature of a no-confidence post factor on elected governance.
Second point of mine relates to the lateral entrants in politics. In my view, introduction of new blood in the body politic of mainstream politics should be welcome. Politicians who work their way up should not fear this competition if they had been true to their cause and served the people well. In most cases that does not appear to be so. Question of wealth coming into play, is of course something that need to be rejected straightaway. But is it not true in case of many so-called professional politicians, as well?
The whole question of electing the right people and the good people revolves around the system as well as the tradition and the culture that a demo-I cratic process ought to generate over time through trials and errors. The system in our case, as in many others, has been supplanted much too often; the efforts at institution-building and at developing democratic culture have been subverted much too frequently. The process, however, has to continue and the developed democracies have proved it clearly that there is no shortcut the Journey has to be undertaken and continued against all odds till the society reaches its desired goals.
Syed Muhammad Hussain Uttara, Dhaka.
Lateral entry in politics
Sir. It is refreshing to note that some Informed Bangladeshi expatriates are able to think differently from what our political leaders do in Dhaka ("Money. Muscle and the Election Process" by Mahmud Farooque, DS July 15). Mr Farooque has analysed the pitfalls of lateral entry (at high level) into politics by high profile civil and ex-military officials and loaded businessmen; and has rightly criticised the conception of the so-called neutral caretaker government to conduct the general elections.
Politics in our country has become big business; and the concern of the political investors is how to get back the investment return, and forget about the 'return' of the common masses. The question arises whether the voters should continue to support bipartite politics dominated by two major political parties living on charisma, past history, ego and personality cult. They distort the present self-survival, and the future is classified as daydreams.
The neutral intellectual class in our society are shy of exercising their rights as Independent I thinkers to openly criticise the myopic political I leadership which is misleading the masses with I cock and bull Ideologies, for personal gain (realising that the have-nots cannot rule Impartially). No I single leader apparently has the moral courage to stand on his own feet, without resorting to props at every step.
The next polls should become a platform of new approach to the rotten politics. Political entrepreneurship is missing here and it has to be introduced. The top is said to be rotten, hence new type of political fertiliser is needed at the root level.
What is needed is a new type of fighters who can Introduce better political environment, but NOT under the umbrella of the two decaying parties. A third political platform has to emerge (triangular contest) to save the country from the current political leaders, who are tn disguise, opportunists and self-seekers. Today's urgent need is statesmanship in political leadership.
A Citizen Dhaka
Pedestrians' safety and underpass
Sir, With the expansion of Dhaka city and with the Introduction of Rokeya Saranl, Mirpur has become very busy and important. Various establishments, stadium and human habitations make the area all the more important.
Mirpur 10 got chakkar is the centre point of the area. Four streets from four directions are connected with each other at the road island at Mirpur 10 got chakkar and through this Intersection hundreds of vehicles ply everyday.
The movement of the vehicles and the crossing of the pedestrians beset the road Junction with great difficulty, cause constant traffic Jam and pose grave threat to the members of the public.
Everyday the pedestrians run the risk of crossing the very busy roads as there is no underpass or overbridge.
The situation demands serious attention. An underpass is badly needed at Mirpur 10 got chakkar point. In the modern world, the concept of underpass is more acceptable than that of over-bridge. We, therefore, can expect an underpass to be built at this area. If not then a well designed and convenient footbridge should be constructed for the safety and security of the pedestrians as well as for the smooth movement of vehicles.
Ahmad Mohammad Farukh 324, Senpara Paxbata Mirpur, Dhaka-1216
Electric power in RMG villages
Sir. The electric power problem in the export-oriented garments factories, in Dhaka and elsewhere (DS report. July 17). can be practically solved to a large extent by relocating the scattered garments factories from the city and residential areas to a number of cluster Garment Villages as envisaged by the authorities, by Installing separate power sub-stations fed through 'high-priority transmission Unes.
BGMEA is expected to cooperate and agree to planned moves for relocation. The numerous factories inside the municipal areas in the cities have created social problems, to which the government cannot turn a blind eye. Why the social scientists arc silent on this issue?
Unfortunately in this country the authority is not respected; and the unions arc instigated to mount hartals and demonstrations on the slightest pretext. Finally the political will Is not evident where it should be visible. Why our political system is so weak and unpractised?
A Frustrated Taxpayer
Dhaka
***Views expressed In this column are the writers' own. The Editor may or may not subscribe to those views. The Editor reserves the right to decide which letters should be published***