THE general members of the public remain disillusioned with the performance of BNP. People are weary of both the mainstream political parties of the country. The current state of governance by BNP and the ruling coalition can be described as the famous saying goes, " democracy is often tyranny by the majority." It governs and administers without taking into consideration the realities on the ground. Its actions are short sighted and are reflective of any strategic planning whatsoever. Many major decisions of national significance are undertaken on the basis of " individual influence of powerful favourites of the head of the party and the government", and not through collective wisdom and considerations of its team of lawmakers. Most of its actions to date are anti-poor and pro-rich. It is extremely intolerant of its opponents. Not that its predecessors and other parties did not indulge in corrupt practices but to my mind the lawmakers and other cadres of BNP have broken all past records. It seems that BNP is of BNP, by BNP and for BNP. The party consists of diverse heterogeneous elements. To that extent one wonders as to how it held itself together for such a long time. My assess-

ment is that it was possible simply due to the fallout of mistakes by other parties including the Awami League.

Let us now make an objective and dispassionate review of the performance of BNP as main driving force of the ruling coalition.

First and foremost amongst its failures is its inability to deal with the rising prices of essentials making it extremely difficult if not impossible for the poor and the moderately fixed income groups to make both ends meet. This has indeed critically affected the largest section of the country's population. None in the Administration including its Chief Executive appear to be least concerned. On the contrary the lawmakers in charge when asked keep insisting, "every thing is under control". This is simply lack of government's sincerity and commitment to the welfare of the "people". Surely as a first step it could revitalise the operations of the state-trading agency, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB). The strategy had worked in the past and might as well work again. Should one suspect that this is not being done in order to protect the interests of hoarders and black marketers allegedly linked to some influential party cadres?

As the principal partner in the ruling coalition, BNP is undoubt-

edly responsible for tarnishing the moderate and secular image of the country. It is not only harbouring but also tacitly involved in protecting the hard-line religious extremists. Cases in example are: the terror being carried out time and again by Bangla Bhai and his gang and the continued desecration of mosques and other places of worships of the Ahmadiyas. At a time when it is high on suppressing all elements of terrorists and terrorism, it is not understood as to how it is unable to deal with such marked and well-known criminals who continue with their heinous acts?

We have on record acts of previous governments sidelining, vandalizing and undermining the independence of Judiciary, but in all honesty, may I most humbly say that no other government has done it so openly and shamelessly like the present regime. Just consider the issue of separation of Judiciary from the Executive, the appointment of the judges, worst of all the known violations of court directives. Clearly this government stands out most prominently in causing maximum damage to the institution of Judiciary.

It has also destroyed the backbone of our education. One only has to recall and make an honest review of the recent incidents at the University of Dhaka, the aftermath

of which persists even to this day. At the primary and other school level education the scenario is not much encouraging either. Examination results are allegedly doctored and the environment continues to be highly politicised. On the other hand to this day no one really knows as to how many Madrassas are in operation? Some sources quote the number to be no less than 35 thousand. No one has any record of registration of the spurious and mushroom growth of Madrassas. No one knows about the funding sources of most of these so- called religious schools. Some continue to operate with a curriculum and agenda allegedly detrimental to our national interests. No point in going into further details, one has to simply turn to the Madrssas in Pakistan and see the havoc caused to the image and stability of Pakistan.

This commentary would be seriously flawed if we do not say a few words about the Media. It has to its record innumerable incidences of actually "terrorising" working journalists while discharging their duties. Journalists today feel most vulnerable. On many occasions while discharging their duties outdoors many Journalists time and again have been physically manhandled, a few of them have even been brutally murdered.

There are also incidences of intimidation undermining the community of journalists by both cabinet members and other ranks of lawmakers.

The state of the civic amenities in the capital city is in a total mess. The water logging has become acute. A few hours or even less of rains cause water logging in many parts of the city making living unbearable for thousands of dwellers. All that the Administration and the city corporation bosses do year after year, is tell the people as to "what has caused it" and then assure them that "appropriate measures are being taken", and nothing thereafter neither is seen nor heard of.

The story of the RAJUK beats them all! Building collapses, innocent lives are lost, its "experts" identify the cause, which ranges from faulty design to use of substandard construction materials and then "wait" for the next building to collapse. No one is made accountable, everybody is exonerated. Innumerable high-rise buildings have come up without adherence to basic building codes. Experts are now saying that most of the structures may not withstand the impact of a moderate earthquake. In the meantime, people continue to pass their days in fear of the impending disaster. Various constructions have come up

through deliberate earth filling of vital water bodies. They say all these structures have "due clearance and approval" of the RJUK. One could go on but it stinks all the way.

About the traffic jam on the city streets, I do not know where to begin. It is like a jigsaw puzzle, nobody knows "who is doing what to whom." The honourable minister orders removal of vehicles certain number of years old, it worked for a while and now these very vehicles seem to have returned with a vengeance. Certain streets are banned for rickshaws only to make other streets completely inoperative causing bigger traffic jam. Rickshaws, cars and push carts are parked anywhere and everywhere making movement of traffic all the more difficult. It is, however, a matter of collective failure, the traffic police on duty, the owners of vehicles, the unruly drivers of buses particularly the minibuses. Yet it must be said that the relevant agencies of the government have failed miserably. Given proper planning and sincere efforts one could make an improvement over the existing state by at least 30 to 40 percent.

My heart continues to bleed for the innumerable lives lost in launch capsize on various occasions. Many of these deaths by accident

could be avoided but for the careless and inefficient handling of our river traffic. How tragic and shameful it is that in these modern times we are unable to salvage a sunken vessel due to lack of proper equipment. One could go on analysing the causes and effects but what is the use. Each time a repetition of the incident takes place none other than the concerned minister himself emerges as more confident and gratified with his performance!

Although there has been some improvement of late in containing the critical aspects of high profile crimes involving armed gangs of organised criminals the overall situation still continues to be far from satisfactory. Not only that, people are also disillusioned and angry about the prevalence of widespread corruption amongst the police and on their involvement in actual criminal acts. Furthermore the operations of RAB are seriously flawed and highly questionable. RAB stands guilty of taking lives in what is known as "crossfire".

I am not an economist but this much I dare say that the overall micro economic situation is in a critical state. The entire consumer economy is aimed at "pleasing" and protecting the interests of the rich and the elite. The gap between the rich and the poor has simply widened because of the govern-

ment's pro-rich policies. It is ironical that, today, Bangladesh, one of the poorest of the third world countries, has more luxury cars on its streets and shopping complexes full of fancy goods and nonessential merchandise than many other such better off countries.

What is good about BNP and the ruling coalition? Though few and far between, these commentaries would remain incomplete without mentioning them. Unlike any other previous government it has successfully dealt with a series of high profiled murder and criminal cases through the speedy trial courts. Though belated the move to check and control food adulteration has caught our attention. It has finally put in place an independent ACC, although it remains to be seen how effective and independent it is? It is to the credit of the present regime that it has largely succeeded in tackling the scourge of copying in examination halls. And it dealt well with polybag and two-stroke engine pollution. We only wish it overcomes the non-performed and

failures soon to public relief and its benefit as well.

Shamsher Chowdhury is a freelance writer