Democracy stood on its head

SOME years ago, a 'Minus Two' theory was floated in our politics. The people protested against this theory, and the two leaders remained. The people were relieved. But in only five years, the people are saddened that in a tragic twist of events these two leaders and their parties are now going to banish them from politics. Politics has developed from minus-two to minus-people.
The politics of AL and BNP revolve around issues least connected with what the poor people are most concerned about. Crises in the garment sector, labour law, minimum wage, illiteracy, unemployment, safety on the road, price hike of daily necessities, etc., etc. are no more the agenda for public discourse and political movement. There are many, many issues that affect people's lives more palpably than the words in the constitution that define the form of a short-term poll-time government.
People are being burnt to death and they are crying out: “I will burn the houses of politicians” (Politics For People? The Daily Star, December 15). It is horrifying to look at a charred face. Now people are watching the emergence of 'An ugly face of our democracy.' (The Daily Star, December 16) More than half of the lawmakers have been declared elected without people's vote. How do those who are elected feel? Not at all “proud of their victory as the election would suffer from credibility.” Requesting anonymity, an AL leader said: “It has already tainted the long history of the Awami League” (AL heads for 2/3 majority, The Daily Star, December 16).
The number of uncontested MPs during Ershad's regime was 18, 49 during Khaleda's regime, and now it has swelled to 154, a number that deserves a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Now it may be time to revise what Abraham Lincoln said 150 years ago – 'government of the people, by the people, for the people' -- that the fools of the world have so long accepted as the definition of democracy. Our politicians have already begun to set it on its head.

The writer writes on theatre, education and socio-political issues.