No apologies, I am not a candidate
To be honest there has not been any clarion call from any quarters, least of all the fallacious source of all power, nor from any of my well-wishers, relatives or "true" friends for me to submit my candidacy for election to the Jatiya Sangsad.
The major parties have been full house for months now with too many candidates in almost all the constituencies. In a few constituencies there are over fifty aspirants for a party ticket. The political parties would have been so much better off—and us—if they could put up a "no vacancy" sign but I guess that might nullify their status as a democratic entity and risk their registration.
Parties with smaller followings never drew blood for me (none should take this literally) because in any ambitious undertaking, one has to think big. Outwardly, the idaning fronts look large enough to garner some interest, but a band of one-man bands is no more than a five-man ensemble. I don't have to beat their drums, but the fronts too are full up to their backs.
I have given some thought, however minuscule, to being independent, which seems awkward given that that was our greatest acquirement in 1971. By one definition, having found all doors closed, unwelcome that is, these (no-way) non-aligned politicians venture to make a fresh start. Not my cuppa tea, and for me a nonstarter, because there'd be no one to second my nomination form. You, I mean I, actually need signatures of two legal voters to be a candidate for a seat in the parliament.
Having witnessed rally of candidates buying nomination forms from party office with much fanfare has instilled fear and doubt in me. I do not know a single motorcyclist, who would escort my digital procession; read one digit. And you, sorry I, need some five hundred bikers as a showdown with as many colourful T-shirts with my face on the front—gives you tickle but they cost money. And, I don't have any to spare for people I don't know. Frankly, they would not know me either.
Then there is certainty of further drainage of the fictitious fund. The companions to the party office shall have to be entertained morning, afternoon and evening, not by dance and comic alone. Nourishing them in between is not mandatory, but hot cups of tea and coffee boils down to common courtesy. Or, they might boil over.
I literally dread being singled out by my party of choice from among a thirty others because then I would have to arrange a thousand bikes and their riders. All of them are not online. Then there are hundreds of candidates from my and other parties and fronts.
One very good reason, even excuse, for buying a nomination paper from party or for Sangsad is to keep toll beggars at bay. It is customary for candidates to knock on doors of businesspeople, industrialists and professionals for chanda to finance their respective campaigns. "Why on earth?" is a taboo question, and may land the inquisitive in hospital. The dumb has no enemy is most true in election season at all levels.
One baffling paradox is that every job advertised, from technician to junior officer, to executive to teacher, require experience of often three to 15 years. But to be an MP candidate, no prior experience is required; just bikes, mikes and trikes are good enough. Understandable that it is not possible for the rookie candidate to have any actual know-how, but experience at union, upazilla and district tiers should be a criteria. That also leaves me out this time round.
Another growing menace is political pedigree by bloodline or matrimony. A few within a political family do develop their persona by engaging long-time with the community socio-politically, where ancestral image is an obvious boon. But, there are others who bask on their "royal" descent or the veil of their wedlock, and wait to pounce at an opportunity. The latter has a negative effect on dedicated field workers, but here too "the dumb has no enemy" takes over.
My one good reason for not obtaining the party nomination form is not to add further difficulty for decision-makers at the helm of the party, most often the party chief. Yup! Kindness is an attribute for anyone seeking public office. It is a tall task, choosing one from among dozens who qualify. It is sincerely hoped by the voters that party ticket hopefuls will also work for the chosen one as per party guideline. That will be the true test of a democratic politician.
Hundreds of forms have been sold. The act is an expression of solidarity for their respective marka by partisans, but in many areas people (whom they wish to serve) have suffered immensely on the road. The buy-and-sell endeavour is much needed for election fund-raising, and indeed crores of Taka have been raised.
On a brighter side to this multiple procurement, in some instances contesting aspirants have posed as friends for Facebook after purchasing the forms. A form of festivity most appreciated, but such photos of parliamentary candidates from rival parties are also hoped for. We long to see the victorious and the losers exchanging sweets after the national poll results. In their vow to serve the country everyone is a winner.
This is a time to ponder: if all the well-meaning politicians, businessmen, professionals, journalists, academics, sports personalities and showbiz entertainers, who sought or even remotely thought of seeking party nomination got down to contributing meaningfully towards nation-building, ours would be Bangabandhu's Sonar Bangla long before any ADB, WB, or UN deadline.
Dr Nizamuddin Ahmed is a practising architect, a Commonwealth Scholar and a Fellow, a Baden-Powell Fellow Scout Leader, and a Major Donor Rotarian.