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Chasing a chimera

Z.A. Khan
Democrats swept to power in the US hustings of 2008 promising change. Liberals won a landslide victory after 54 years in Japan assuring change, the slogan of change helped Awami League to win in Bangladesh, and in India Congress used the ’change card" effectively to route BJP while in Nepal change has demolished the 150 years old monarchy to install democracy (thankfully).
For whom the bell for change tolled is a realistic question, the answer to which is hard to come by -- especially in the context of the third world coun-. tries. Leaders have sung the song of r change and the voters have responded passionately. Has the change set in? This question has remained unanswered, as no visible change has taken place in Bangladesh so far.
Unfortunately, the professional political leaders, whose mouths turned dry highlighting the need for change, have changed gear since they sat on the driving seat. The chameleons of our political domain , wear tailor made facades befitting (benefiting?) the situation. The apple cart has turned turtle as change is not seen to be in the offing as yet. It is still the same old wine in a new bottle.
Denial, deceit and slyness continue
to befool the simpletons called voters. People wanted democracy, which has been willfully made captivate. They voted hoping for at least food, shelter and clothing, but they continue to starve and live on rooftops or in makeshift houses; our textile industry is in a coma or too feeble to produce affordable cloth to clothe the people. Cyclone Aila left many on our coastline destitute, and who have been left with no choice but to parade in the pavements of Dhaka's affluent neighbourhoods with begging bowl. They regretfully refuse to admit that "they too belong" here, there or anywhere. They feel they are non-existent.
We prayed to the wind to bring i change. It has gratified us (or a few! lucky ones with accidental pedigree), but I very often wonder when the wind ; will generate a catastrophic cyclone to turn the change a full circle and inflict same-side injury. May Allah spare us of such an all-devouring cataclysm. Awestruck benefactors of humanity are still hiding their light behind the bushel.
The power of humanity injected by Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross movement, has been torn apart (not everywhere), which is enormously affecting its bid to protect the endangered millions of people in the third world. The deprived and the aggrieved
millions are moving from pillar to post, asking, "what change have you brought
CTttrsve1
any visible change in bur political culture. We hoped that new leadership would emerge to implement a new agenda, which would transform the current political demeanour (as it has a colonial stance) into one that would
take note of the "vox populi," and the dreams and their priorities, which are fr od health and education.
Indeed, the poor people are becoming poorer in real economic considerations (please do not be impressed by their flashy attire taken either from pawnshops or brought from second hand markets). The sprawling skyline in the capitals of the third world countries should not make you think that
the majority of the people have a roof over their heads. They barely have an Jove^nea^co^er, whiclr cannot protect' them from natural vagaries that generate diseases -- which hastens their extinction.
Will their extinction give relief to the political leadership? Yes, it will if they think that the fewer the people the
merrier, as they will have the opportunity to have the cake and eat it too. This will be a foolhardy assessment of the existing situation. One should not forget about "death bite" or "dying wish,” which will not augur well for the corporate interest of the off-the track politicians (who are in majority) and largely immoral businessmen. They might create an uproar in the east to tell people to rise and strike in the
south and south west of Bangladesh to kill people to herald the cleansing of the natibn of unscrupulous politicians ahd businessmen.
We are already getting a glimpse of their strategy. Crossfire operations may sign the death warrants of a few, but it cannot stop hungry wolves from attacking the perpetrators of denial and deprivation. I personally do not support the politics of violence, but I am not sure whether my likes or dislikes would impress them not to resort to violence.
What is the remedy then? The premise of this paper may not be fitting for an analytical approach to the subject. A few general suggestions can be made for the researchers to draw a cue from, and to conduct mental gymnastics so that some solutions can be evolved. Many scholarly studies had been pursued and suggestions given in the past, but they were not favoured by the political leadership. The following may be considered for research:
• Political leadership should not be installed. The leaders must climb the ladder from ground zero. This will enable the people to know them and to assess their ability to lead.
• Leaders must be proactive to promote networking with the community, neighbourhood and individuals so that they are able to ascertain the people's mood.
• All political institutions should be built or renovated for democracy, which is now a captivate, to flourish.
• Political parties must hold national conventions at least once every alternate year to enable them to upgrade
their capabilities, which should match the need o^the hour.
b Any "idee fixe’'in choosirig the leadership should not be buttressed.
• The tenure of the party posts should be decided on the basis of performance and not by the legacy of pedigree.
• The old must make way for the new to refurbish the parties to make them time and environment friendly.
• A mechanism must be evolved at state level to discipline prodigal politicians from using money power to coerce or cajole or entice people to support their personal agenda.
• Assessment of the government's performance in implementing preelection pledges should be made objectively by the think-tanks designated by the Parliament or the Election Commission, and this should be made public. This will help people to decide on their future course of action.
• Corruption should be routed, and the corrupt should be unmasked through legal means to arouse public abhorrence and create social boycott. The media could be enormously helpful.
• Rules should be enacted in the parliament to restrain government officials from a taking partisan stance.
• Political violence must be curbed by legal measures, and zero tolerance should be shown during implementation.
Z.A. Khan is a former Director General of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies