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STRATEGICALLY SPEAKING

My wish for 2013: More civility in political discourse

Politicians too should master the art of diplomacy, one of which is being able to tell someone to go to hell in such a manner that the guy actually looks forward to the trip. I wish too that the leaders would be more respectful of others' opinions, without having to accept or subscribe to them.
The wish list carried in this paper's editorial on New Year's Day was well representative of the feelings of the common man by and large. I am sure we all have our own list of things that we want to see fulfilled. And I shall offer a few of my own hoping that my entreaties will not fall on deaf ears.
Firstly, I wish for a more dignified deportment at all levels of political discourse. I hope, and this 1 am sure I speak for most of my fellow countrymen and women, that our leaders, particularly the two leading ladies, would find more decorous pronouncements while referring to each other. It would please us no end if they chose to address each other with more civility than we have been accustomed to hearing so far.
Unfortunately, in this regard it is Sheikh Hasina who must shoulder the greater part of the responsibility for the rather derogatory state of verbal interchanges now obtaining in the country. She, being the leader of the oldest political party, has to set examples for others to follow. Regrettably, for many years Sheikh Hasina has been targeting her counterpart with her special expletives, terming Khaleda Zia as "mother of thieves" and many such pejorative and rude adjectives, unbecoming of
a leader. And some of her party colleagues have tried to be more catholic than the pope by joining in with her from time to time.
Little do our leaders realise that disrespect only begets the same as they have done in our case also. It is matter of regret that Khaleda Zia, who thus far was known for temperance in her utterances, and had been commended publicly for not attacking her opponent personally, has decided to shed all constraints and reply in equal measure. Thus the reptilian simile, which helped only to
draw more diatribes form Sheikh Hasina and her colleagues.
Drawing simile with snakes gave me the impression that we have been led by insensitive persons. One remembers Winston Churchill referring to Ramsay MacDonald as a "boneless wonder." I do not think even our politicians or political parties deserve such offensive comparisons. But be that as it may, if not politeness at least we can be more diplomatic in telling our political opponents what he or she should do with himself or herself and where we think he or she should go. Politicians too should master the art of diplo-
macy, one of which is being able to tell someone to go to hell in such a manner that the guy actually looks forward to the trip.
I wish too that the leaders would be more respectful of others' opinions, without having to accept or subscribe to them. And in this regard I feel the PM's reaction to Dr. Akbar Ali Khan's suggestions regarding ways to overcome the present political situation was very harsh. To brush aside Dr. Khan’s proposals, because the PM saw him as a "failure," and as such the proposals were unacceptable, was a very ill advised
remark, and exposed a naive psyche. Without going into the merits of Dr. Khan's suggestions, is there any merit in calling him a failure, because he, according to the PM, had failed to hold the election?
Was Dr. Akbar Ali Khan a failure? He and the three of his colleagues, by resigning from the cabinet of President Yazuddin Ahmed, had set the highest example of personal integrity, honesty and commitment to democracy. Their resignation saved the country from a sham election and great uncertainty. But for their resignation which led to, among other things, making of a fresh voter
list that had contained large number false voters, the AL would not be in power today.
In a country where the culture of resigning from a public office is virtually unknown Dr. Khan's resignation speaks of the courage and conviction of a mem unwilling to compromise on principles. Instead of thanking Dr. Khan for his stand on a matter of great national importance the PM has chosen to brand him as a "failure." This, I feel, is unethical in itself.
And why, may one ask, would the PM dismiss suggestions from the public out of hand? Does he, as a citizen, not have the right to offer his views and ideas? Moreover, Dr. Akbar Ali Khan is in his own right an esteemed scholar of the country, with several books to his credit, who does not mince word, and he is not known to speak out of turn or nonsense either.
This is not the first time that a respectable national figure has been denigrated, just because what he expressed did not find resonance with the ruling party. The way Barrister Rafiqul Huq's suggestion to act as a go-between (although that had an element of self-promotion) the two party chiefs was shot down by the PM, it will discourage any self-respecting and honest person from offering his or her services to the government in future, particularly during the watch of the present regime.
The writer is Editor, Oped & Strategic Issues, The Dally Star.