Tiki Tam Tam
<b>MILITARY PROFESSIONALS</b>
Read the public pulse, please!
Mohammad Ali Sattar
WE are soaked to the skin with tribulations; from politics to the economy to the social. As a consequence of extended disregard to democracy we are left with politics which is at best limping and continuing economic mismanagement leaving us with not much of an economy.
Poor social condition is a natural offshoot of dysfunctional politics and economy in disarray. A deep sense of apprehension has gripped our lives. Issues that have remained unresolved over a period of time gape at our face with a daunting look.
Against this backdrop, we find ourselves stranded in the midst of yet another mindless political squabble by the two major parties. The current crisis centres on the caretaker government issue.
Interestingly both sides want a dialogue. But both apply conditions. AL wants to discuss any new formula on the interim government while the BNP is only interested to talk on the prevailing one. The trouble emanates from here.
BNP was a little wayward in deciding issues with which to weaken the government. It drew up a long list of agenda without a focus. When issues for the BNP were drying up heavens smiled on it. Caretaker issue was served on its platter by the government in the most controversial way. The egotistical blunder might prove too dear for the government.
The government has made its intent clear with regard to the caretaker issue. It wants to scrap it. The bill is now in the parliament. While carrying out the constitutional rituals, the government kept teasing BNP to sit for a dialogue on the issue provided it can come up with something new.
If the AL has decided to do it alone it is probably committing a great blunder through failing to read the public pulse.
Suranjit Sen Gupta has been vocal about the government's stand on the caretaker issue and emphasised in his characteristic fashion the open door mantra for a discussion. He blasted Moudud Ahmed who said that AL has finally shut the doors by getting the bill approved by the cabinet.
Unsurprisingly, law minister and his deputy have also been harping on the same tune. Shafique Ahmed says options for dialogue remains open through all stages until the bill is passed. But the state minister for law says, the caretaker system is void, hence no more talks on this. Why speak with two voices on the same issue?
We don't know if the BNP has a sackful of new ideas. The latest declaration from the BNP chief is; the party would go all out to bring down the government through a movement and hold mid-term polls under a caretaker government. So the lines are drawn.
Hopes of a compromise are diminishing each day. A showdown looks imminent.
However, sitting in the cold, BNP stalwart Nazmul Huda expressed hopes of a dialogue. Perhaps when you are left in the cold good sense may be exuded. He says that BNP should avail itself of the opportunity offered by the government.
That's not the only hope. Some in the AL ranks opposed the idea of pushing things too fast. Its allies are siding with the opposition views for continuation of the caretaker system at least for another two terms. Only HM Ershad is against the caretaker arrangement, may be more than the PM! For obvious reasons.
BNP is gaining ground which AL government is losing. The danger is; the more government loses credibility on various issues, the more repressive it is likely to get. And that will drag the country into a deeper crisis.
All said and done; its time to bridge the difference by means of a constructive discourse. All of a sudden the civil society has gone quiet. The laidback stance will not help; they should come up with a united voice for a peaceful compromise. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has called for dialogue; others should join them.
A far stronger role could be played by the business community. They are the pressure group. They run the wheels of economy. They provide jobs. Simply having economic keys in hand will not suffice; they should learn the art of turning the keys in time and for greater good of the country and people.
They should convince the government about the need for a dialogue between the two parties. They should tell the government to show more restraint and civility while engaging with the opposition. And opposition ought to reciprocate in the same manner.
The nation is groaning under pain and anger. It's time people should be heard. There is urgent need for a dialogue to start. We can't afford poor response from either side. Let us put an end to the climate of disparagement. Non-political actors have their roles cut out, because the politicians are losing confidence in themselves.......
Read the public pulse, please!
This op ed sums up the dysfunction that seems to be afflicting the people of Bangladesh and one tends to get the impression that this op ed is spot on, given the opinions that we observe of our worthies from Opar Bangla.
