Good governance: Does it or did it ever exist in Bangladesh?

The definition of good governance is simple. Government measures aimed at smoothly and effectively managing the state machinery, including its ability to eradicate crimes and corruption, the establishing of order and discipline in all spheres of public and private life to ensure security of life and property of all citizens, the guarantee of freedom of expression and unfettered movement of people for rightful purposes, the dispensation of justice without fear or favour, and establishing rule of law are the essential constituents of good governance.
But whether it ever did, or does, exist in Bangladesh now is a big question that hovers in the mind of all the people whom the national government is supposed to serve.
If we speak about the objective functions of local government, performance is despairingly sad. Not to speak of electricity, water and others, the government has been a failure in city administration itself. In the fifties, it was inconceivable that we would be able to ride a bicycle without a light at night. So was the case with all rickshaws and van carts, etc.
But with the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country, this light-system in the above modes of transport withered away for reasons unknown. All the non-mechanised vehicles which ply on the city streets at night now are without lights, causing hazard to themselves, pedestrians, and other commuters. The traffic-policemen often raise their hands during a green signal to stop vehicles and allow others during a red signal, adding to the chaos and traffic jam. There is no one, neither the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) nor the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to take care of these issues. We must let electronic signals guide the vehicles on the roads, and must insist that all vehicles have lights at night.
Again, on another issue, it is the primary task of the city corporation to keep the city clean and save the environment from pollution. But performance in this regard is zero. Rubbish and litter are found scattered or dumped here and there on the road-side, spreading bad odour which the poor pedestrians and others are forced to inhale.
Does the honourable mayor even venture out to see the condition of his vast city, the condition of sanitation and the environmental situation? Frequent visits by him or his officers might cure these ills to a large extent. Every year during the monsoon, water-logging on the city streets causes untold hardship to city dwellers. Plans to control water-logging by modernising the drainage system are taken up, and a lot of money is spent on this head every year, but hardly with any result. It seems that solving the water-logging problem is beyond the powers of the Bangladesh government. In fact, lack of will, wisdom, and determination of the government are responsible for such failures in city administration. The DCC, so to say, is ill-governed.
Almost half a century ago, when the percentage of literacy in Pakistan was hardly 35%, the law minister, Mr. A. K. Brohi, declared: "Democracy without education is hypocrisy without limitation." This, of course, is not the whole truth, particularly in respect of Bangladesh. The literacy rate in Bangladesh, although not double that of the nineteen-fifties, is certainly significantly higher. But the quality of governance in Bangladesh has deteriorated, not improved. Governance in those days was rather better than it is now.
Political leadership today in most cases is more crooked and corrupt than it was then. What is more deplorable is that one political party is intolerant of another in present-day democracy in Bangladesh. For that example, during the reign of BNP-Jamaat coalition from October 2001, we saw one fine morning that the criminal cases against the then home minister, which were initiated during the preceding Awami League rule for illegal use of government aircraft for his personal purposes (the records are there in the logbooks of the aircraft concerned), were withdrawn by the government before trial of the same could take place.
The Awami League government also did the same thing when they were in power earlier, and had withdrawn all cases against their leaders brought by previous BNP government. This is a violation of the rule of law. It generates hatred and animosity among political parties and people. Criminal cases once started against political leaders should have a fair trial as nobody is above the law. Rampant institution of cases against political foes during one regime and their withdrawal during another is a very dirty interference in the process of law. This should go.
In British times, or even in the early days of the Pakistan regime, corrupt practices by a minister, not to speak of the prime minister or the president, was generally un-heard of. But in Bangladesh, corruption of not only a minister but also of PM or the president is an important topic around almost everybody's breakfast table, and the top subject of discussion of the citizens in places of public gathering or in the hotels and restaurants in all towns, cities and even remote villages.
Of course, we have not heard of corrupt practices by any president of Bangladesh except, allegedly, President H. M. Ershad. Corruption in Bangladesh reached its zenith during his rule. Successor governments also followed suit. This is a shame for us as a sovereign nation.
The caretaker government has already done a good job in restraining to a large extent the demon of corruption, and restoring law and order in the society. In the process, opposition leader Sheikh Hasina was arrested, and has been detained in sub-jail since July 16 on charges of extortion of money, alleged to have happened 8 years back, instituted by police on complaints from two private individuals.
The bailable offence has been made non-bailable by invoking the Emergency Power Rules. The aforesaid two individuals reportedly gave money to Sheikh Hasina. If it indeed is so, n the eyes of the law, they are also guilty and punishable. But they are yet untouched.
Begum Khaleda Zia, the chief of the BNP-Jamaat coalition that masterminded the ruin of the national economy by engaging in colossal corruption, looting, and other misdeeds during 2001-2006, was arrested on September 3 and sent to jail for corruption. Now, let the law take its own course, unhindered by the government.
What is more perplexing to note is the emergence of Firdaus Qureshi in the political arena during the period of emergency. The ban on politics did not apparently apply to him. He held indoor meetings, floated a new political party, and held motorcycle processions here and there without any hindrance.
We are optimistic that the caretaker government will rise above all parochial considerations and steer the ship of the state without looking back, right or left, and usher in an era of good governance very soon in Bangladesh.
Aminuddin Chowdhury is retired Divisional Commissioner, Khulna Division.