Democracy thus far?

They have started at least. Photos: Kamal Elahi/ Drik News Tomzid Mollick/ Drik News

DEMOCRACY in Bangladesh recorded another milestone when Awami League (AL) the oldest political party and Jatiya party (JP) held their National Conventions on July 24. It is indeed heartening to note that the Representation of the People Order (RPO) issued by the Election Commission (EC) has been taken by these two political parties with "due" seriousness.
Many congratulations to the leadership of AL and JP for putting their act together to make it happen. This is a novel move for leading the nation to the long-desired destination, which is protecting democratic institutions and, thus, giving impetus to democracy.
Our happiness would have been boundless had both AL and JP opened a new chapter by demonstrating their earnestness to practice democracy at its best. Although there were no other leaders to seek the vote of the councillors for the top spots in AL and JP, there should have some initiatives to invite candidates to contest for the top job. I think this has dealt a severe blow to the process of democratising the parties, a stipulation enacted by the EC.
In the case of the post of secretary general (SG) the story is not different as election did not take place because none among the councilors present thought that he could be the SG. What took me by surprise is that the councilors unanimously authorised the president in the case of AL and the JP chairman to choose their colleagues for the presidium, central working committee, national executive committee etc., which may not augur well for the growth of democracy within the parties. JP made it look like one man's party when its re-elected chairman declared that he would like to be the president for life as there was no other competent leader who could have a hold on the party.
We must remember that we fought a bloody war for liberation to usher in democracy and development. Who will believe that the political parties will practice democracy at the national level if their leaders are disinclined to practice the same within the party? The leadership in all strata is hardly kind and endearing to their opposition within and outside the party. Top leaders of almost all the parties violate the party's constitution with impunity to consolidate their hold on the party.
Any suggestion to consider flexibility is met with severe displeasure of the leaders, and extreme reactions bordering on violence by their cronies have been experienced in the past. We are about to step into the fourth decade of our independence.
No worthwhile development of our political institutions has taken place so far, therefore parties have become platforms of leaders of choice, leaders by accident and leaders catapulted. So the parties run at the whip and whims of the leaders, who remain so "till death do them part."
This deprives the parties of the dynamism, fresh ideas, inexhaustible energy of the aspirants and un-diminishing zeal of the grassroots rank and file, who find no possibility of rising and are resigned to their fate -- hoping for a worthy designation to be handed down one fine morning. In one breath they shower rhetoric and semantics to run crusades to save democracy, and in the same breath they privately bless those cronies who please them by saying loudly that their leaders can commit no wrong.
The one-day national conventions of both the parties have not really shown the way for consolidation of democracy but firmed up their own hold. One is likely to apprehend that this is not the surest way to lead the nation to its long-awaited destination, where one can thrive on freedom of choice of leadership and enjoy the pleasure of making a leader now and the becoming a leader in the foreseeable future.
I have a few suggestions to make such conventions worthwhile insofar as injecting a flavour of democracy within the party is concerned. To all those who say democracy thrives on the leaders' aura and charisma I would say "hail" and, at the same time, would like to add that leaders should belong to the people and should encourage them to speak freely to correct and not merely to criticise.
Leaders should retire, not to become recluses in the wilderness but to guide the new generation. Thus, new leadership will go grow, who, in all likely hood, will savour democracy.
Leaders should insist on repairing of the weaknesses of the party constitution instead of taking advantage of its inadvertent loopholes. This step alone can bring about substantial changes in the attitude of new entrants, who seek encouragement to cultivate democratic culture with divine commitment as against worshipping the demons of power.
The over-heavy hand of the top leader may seem to quell any subdued agitation, but may, at some stage, unleash a specter of terror that is sure to put the party and its leaders in disarray.
The consequences of such a gesture will make the party ranks more distressed than interested. We should not forget that the emotions of most of the party activist and sympathisers are both subtle and passionate about their leader.
Even a distant show of contempt, or unwillingness to follow the party constitution, may set into motion trains of discontent that will endanger the party discipline. Although the activists are radiating serenity and understanding, it may start decaying as they go back to their constituencies to face those that voted them to be councilors.
I sincerely wish the reelected leadership of the AL and JP success because I believe they too will understand when the emotions are on the wane they should re-evaluate and take measures to uphold their party constitution.
The leaders in their wisdom will not mask their understanding of the situation and will take steps to construct a future where the wishes of the activists will get primacy over the desires of the leadership.
I would very humbly suggest that in future the activists should know prior to their coming to the convention that election to all the posts would be held through secret balloting, as per the party constitution. Even if there is no second candidate to contest for one post secret voting will still be held to find out how many have voted against him. This will help the elected leader to assess for himself/herself where the leader stands.
Thus far, democracy has at least found its honours through these two conventions. We should go yet further to honour the democrats for whom election is oxygen. As for now, I would remind the democrats that patience is a virtue.

Z.A. Khan is a former Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies.