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Sense & insensibility

Ramblings at random...

Shahnooh Wahid
WE do not need high profile seminars or World Bank prescription or a scries of articles to perceive the hard reality that Bangladesh needs honest, smart, intelligent, educated and energetic leadership to elevate itself to the ranks of the other developed countries of Southeast Asia. Such leaders with vision and drive in some of those countries have worked round the clock to pull their own people from abysmal poverty and disease to build a new country altogether. As a result, they now dominate the markets in Asia, as well as many in the West, as leaders in the global scene.
But where do we stand today? Do we have wonderful stories to tell about our economy, education, research or health care? Whatever tlie private sector has achieved was possible because of its tenacity and resolve to overcome various obstacles that came in the way. Local administration and hostile international politics were always out
there to scare them off.
Despite all that, our private sector flourished over the years. Nevertheless, it needs to be said that holistic growth of a country cannot happen unless the government of die day plays die role of a facilitator, carrying out negotiations at the national and international levels.
For this reason we need politicians who will be able to foresee the future of the country fifty years from today, negotiate effectively at international forums, take pragmatic decisions regarding the burgeoning population and increasing poverty, and take measures to diversify the country's export items. They would never hesitate to control corruption, and would allow all the institutions like the EC, ACC and Public Service Commission to work independently and effectively.
But what do we have in reality? We have politicians who sleep late in the morning or always remain surrounded by packs of hungry wolves. Talk to them and you will find out soon that they have no idea
about what potential Bangladesh has with regard to developing the IT sector, which might bring billions of dollars to the country.
Ironic indeed that our politicians cannot think beyond five years. They have no plan with regard to controlling population or alleviating poverty. All they would do is quote from the PRSP. These people have nothing new to say once they run out of script. And if they try to innovate they pathetically end up sounding nonsensical.
Kight now our very own Brig. Gen (Retd) I lannan Shah is back in business again. He has picked up that choriga of his and begun to canvass with renewed vigour. He is asking the runaway leaders of BNP to say tawba and accept Begum Zia's leadership and recognise Delwar Hossain as the legal Secretary General, nothing more, nothing less.
He has been saying this in between his frequent visits to jail, and he has started to say this again after coming out of jail. He now thinks that the Chief Election Commissioner has committed a
kabira guna (unforgivable sin) by inviting Major Hafiz to a dialogue on the coming election ignoring Kliandaker Delwar. But, alas, no one seems to be interested to listen tohim.
No doubt, by doing so, Hannan Shah is trying to create the image of a diehard person, possibly inspired by tiie movie named Diehard. Wc understand he has his eye on the coveted scat nearer to madam's throne in the Windy Castle. Frankly speaking, he should be considered for a BNP brand "Knighthood." Remember, he used to go knee-deep in flood-water and let the people hear the voice of his nelri. But that did not fill their hungry stomachs.They needed food.
It is the same for ZA Khan, Major Hafiz, Saifur Rahman, Delwar or, for that matter, Dr. Badruddoza or HM Ershad. All of them are serving old things wrapped in new wrappers. There is no flash of brilliance in their talk or in their analysis of things. We haven't heard anything to make us want to hear more.
Our politicians react to something rather than act. They cannot
preempt things or be proactive. If you do not have the guts to say something, or protest in loud voice a wrong-doing, then you better not be in politics. Very lackluster politics that.
What about those "veteran" politicians in die other camps? Are wc all Impressed by their wisdom, skill and acumen at a time when politics is passing through such rough waters? If you listen carefully, you will notice that Tofael Ahmad, Abdur Razzak and Zillur Rahman are also saying the same thing in a prefixed frequency over and over again.
If you have heard one, you have heard them all. They either repeat what the "leader" has already said, or they say something incomprehensible and then disown it. Come to think of it! Disowning a statement is an old yet pathetic ploy of our politicians. But by doing so don't they expose the poverty of courage to face one's own self!
So, it would be an understatement if wc say that our politicians really sound cacophonous, like old gramophone records that are full of cuts and scratches. Do we have much to expect from them? You have the answer.
And more...
Amanullah Aman has been trans ferred from Dhaka Central Jail to a jail in Narayanganj. It came as a reward for his arrogance, or what is popularly called here -- "damn-care attitude" (whatever it means).
Last week, he was taken to PG hospital for a checkup, but after some minor tests he along with about fifty of his local sengatt (hoodlums) walked about the hospital as if he owned the place, and then went to a canteen to have I lunch. They ate, they gossiped and they guffawed in presence of some i "loyal" security personnel Aman j went back to the prison van when ' he felt like going.
According to law, by meeting political people, talking to unknown persons on a cell phone and taking food outside, Arnan has violated prison law Don't forget he was a lawmaker himself and had sent I many, many people to the same jai?-for little or no reason at all. There is every possibility of him coming back as a lawmaker (?) in future.
But how safe will laws be in their hands? The manner in which he took law in his own hands speaks volumes about how this new species of haughty politicians disrespect rules and regulations. They arc veritably an indisciplined lot that needs to be kept in chains.
The answer to all the problems mentioned above lies in finding honest, dedicated, patriotic, educated and highly intelligent people who would sit in parliament to formulate pro-people policies and guide them on the road to prog-
ShahnoorWahrirs Senior AsssUnt Editor erf The Daily Star
***But where do we stand today? Do we have wonderful stories to tell about our economy, education, research or health care? Whatever the private sector has achieved was possible because of its tenacity and resolve to overcome various obstacles that came in the way. Local administration and hostile international politics were always out there to scare them off.
***