Bangladeshi politics
Your article "Of people and politicians" by S. I. Zaman dated March 11, 2008 depicted an accurate picture of 'traditional' Bangladeshi politics. What the article lacked is putting proportional blame on the CTG and the media for failing to keep the pressure on, to change the so-called traditional politics of Bangladesh. The politicians who initiated some needed political reforms should have been given support, irrespective of their motive. In light of the fate befallen on the dissident voices during the autocratic rule of the two Begums, these politicians should have been given the benefit of doubt for their silence prior to 1/11. Instead, they faced corruption charges by ACC and were ridiculed by the media. Who in their correct state of mind would take the risk of antagonising these two powerful Begums and incur the wrath of their supporters if they do not get any leeway now? No wonder, quality and quantity of reformers are going down rapidly.
We needed to change the politics and the first and foremost step should be cleaning the heads ('fish stinks from the head' metaphor). But we failed measurably. Even, a straight talking ex-adviser who was justifiably vocal against the pre 1/11 politics was stripped off his post, mostly to meet demands of these so called traditional politicians and the media, which support them. What message are we giving to the feeble reformists within the parties? How will there be any change in Bangladeshi politics now or in future?
Comments