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Voting out the corrupt

Since the drive against corruption and the campaign for clean politics have gone awry, it is now the voters turn to finally bring about the change that the nation hopes for, expects, and desperately needs.

A.N.M. Nurul Haque
The state of emergency is now over, and street rallies and processions seem to highlight the country's enthusiasm and excitement for the upcoming elections. However, the list of nominees of the major political parties, particularly of the BNP, highlights the prominence of individuals of dubious character in Bangladeshi politics. Additionally, the higher judiciary has allowed some candidates who had been convicted in criminal cases to contest the upcoming elections.
The political parties were urged not to nominate individuals who are markedly corrupt and have explicit criminal connections. The trend manifested by the parties in nomination, however, clearly suggests that qualitative change in politics is still a far cry. One will have to wait for the day when voters, instead of showing unflinching and blind support to a particular political party, consider the integrity and competency of a candidate while casting votes.
The muchanticipated parliamentary election of December 29 will probably not fulfill the ardent hope of the masses. In order for the people to be happy and for the country to progress, the criminals and the corrupt individuals need to be voted out from the political landscape.
The forthcoming election is potentially the most crucial one in our checkered political history, as it may actually allow the people to play a meaningful role in shaping the country's future after being tainted by corruption and ineffi-
ciency for decades. Nonetheless, the appointment of the next governing body may become meaningless if we fail to play our role properly.
The paramount need for all of us today is to get together in the kind of unity we forged over three decades back to assert our self-esteem as a nation. We now need to steer the country clear of the politics of plundering.
The people of Bangladesh need enlightened leadership. They have had criminals and plunderers as rulers for too long. The voters should give their verdict judiciously in order to end the culture of hartals and conflicts and promote the entry of competent people in national politics. The time has arrived to discard destructive politics and pave the path for the nation to come level with the rest of the civilised world.
Very few people will disagree with the assertion that we need extremely dynamic leadership in order to get out of the quagmire we are now in. The qualitative change in leadership, a demand very close to everybody's heart, will remain a far cry if we miss this opportunity to cleanse politics.
It is expected that the voters will show sensitivity and responsibility while casting their valuable votes and will evaluate the candidates in terms of their competence and honesty and not by their party symbols. If this does not happen, the individuals tainted by allegations of crime and corruption will again crowd the national parliament, the august house of the nation.
The dream of a corruption- and con-
frontation-free political trend for a sound growth of pluralism in society can only materialise if we can check the infiltration of the parliament by persons of dubious character. The framing of laws is not an easy task, and clean and competent men and women only should be given the responsibility to perform this particular task for the nation.
Many young voters are eager to exercise their voting rights. The young voters, who are energetic and enthusiastic and who do not have ancient biases against any political party, can bring about a dramatic change in the political scenario by voting out corruption and crime.
BNP and AL have made scores of pledges including the curbing of corruption and the
establishment of good governance. The lesson that the people have learnt over the years, however, is that the parties shy away from implementing their election pledges once in power and that they show no remorse for their past mistakes.
The people of Bangladesh would not be in such a sorry state if the four-party alliance had performed properly during their last tenure in power. Hence, the credibility of the parties must be carefully taken into account, and the people must not be deceived by empty pledges.
Since the drive against corruption and the campaign for clean politics have gone awry, it is now the voters turn to finally bring about the change that the nation hopes for, expects, and desperately needs.
ANM Nurul Haque a a columnist oFTheDaiy Star.