Free polls from fear of defeat
Elections in Bangladesh would continue to be expensive, intimidating and hostile unless the contestants are free from the fear of defeat, said former chief adviser to a caretaker government Muhammad Habibur Rahman yesterday.
Referring to US President Franklin Roosevelt's realisation that the goal of the Second World War was freedom of speech and religion and from poverty and fear, he said, “We have an additional fear of defeat in the elections.”
“We remain very worried about it. Unless we are free from such fear, the polls will be expensive, intimidating and hostile.”
He was addressing as the chief guest at the tenth animators' reunion titled “A person empowered with self-esteem cannot remain poor” organised by the Hunger Project at Ganashasthya Kendra in Savar, Dhaka.
Habibur called upon the young generation to learn accepting defeat in the elections and other contests, even if not with smiles.
“The youths have to learn the sense of responsibility. They should not have the attitude of ignoring wrongdoings even if those seem small,” he told several thousand animators from across the country.
One cannot be happy by completely depending on the elected people’s representatives, said Habibur and added that that the image of politicians globally is cloudy.
“They (global politicians) too are aware of their own salaries and facilities and special rights. It is common everywhere.”
Cracks are developing in the large democracies of the west and politicians of the developing nations are trying to cover their irregularities by citing those faults of the Western democracies, he said.
“We have a lot of lacking in all the five areas -- electoral process and pluralism, people’s freedom, government's functioning, political participation and political culture.”
To fill the gaps, citizens' strength has to be increased, said Habibur, urging the youths to come forward and stand against all wrongdoings.
“We have to think on how to best use the youths in creating self-employment, preservation of environment, poverty alleviation, women's empowerment and mother and child health improvement.”
Human rights activist Irene Khan said rights and responsibility are interlinked and one cannot enjoy rights without rendering duty. In democracy, people are the base of power, which remains at the grassroots, not at the top, she said.
“You, the active citizens at the grassroots who are really working, can surely bring a change. I am inspired by you,” said Irene.
The Hunger Project, Bangladesh's Country Director Dr Badiul Alam Majumder and former adviser to a caretaker government ASM Shahjahan also spoke on the occasion and singer Fahmida Nabi sang inspiring patriotic songs.
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