[mukto-mona] Democracy in Bangladesh: Spinning it's fate.

23 April 2008

The moderator MM; Please consider posting the following in an appropriate column. Thanks. MG (USA).

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Democracy in Bangladesh: Spinning it's fate.
 

By: Mohammad Gani (USA).

 
Should "Lipton" employees be allowed to take "coffee" breaks? I am not so sure but one of my close "colossal Awami League friends" recently gave me bitter taste of one! He took me to task very unkindly down to the Hell; and you know if you are in the Hell and become mad at someone, where do you tell him to go? So, I let it be his turn this time! I saw him almost choked with supersaturated steams of anger (at me), then exploded by saying; "Why are you so rude and mean to our 2 undisputed "National Assets" Hasina and Khaleda?  Don't you know anything good to say about them?  When or would you ever be supportive to Hasina or Khaleda, etc,……?" I hardly managed to stop him and have never seen him so tense and boisterous. So, I had to pet him for a while!
 
I then politely said to him, "My friend! Look, 150 million -ADAMS- of Bangladesh have been thrown out to the Hell because of only the bad deeds of your 2 -EVES-!"  Albeit, I have things good to say about them; let's see, Hasina and Khaleda have uncommon convictions and exceptional devotions for Holy places Mecca and Medina, performing frequent OMRA HAJ (except during internment), praying 10+ times a day during their entire political (public) life those you would rarely find even in our hard line religious clerics /Imams . I also must take my hat off to honor their collaborated accomplishments in chasing away another inimitable superstar, romantic General Alhaj H. M. Ershad from power.  Supporting them?  Sure I would; but only "water boarding" could possibly make me supporting Hasina or Khaleda!  Looked like, he was getting ready for a "Destroyer" attack!!
 
I then told him a friendly American story and asked him to please multiply his conclusion on this story by 150,000,000 (equals Bangladesh population) to get an estimated conclusion in context to our native Bangladesh politicians. Here is the story;
 
Eight-year-old Patrick really wanted $100 to buy a new bike, so he decided to write a letter to God requesting the $100. He addresses it to God, USA.

When the postal authorities received the letter, they decided to send it to the President. The President was impressed, touched, and amused by Billy's letter, but he thought $100 would be a bit much for a small boy, along with the possibility that he might not even be able to comprehend such a large amount. So he instructed his secretary to send Patrick a $10.00 bill.

Patrick was delighted with the $10.00, so he sat down to write a thank you note to God. It read, "Dear God, Thank you very much for sending the money However, I noticed that for some reason, you had to send it through Washington D.C., and as usual, those crooks deducted most of it. I'm out $90.00!"
 
After listening to this story, my tense friend abruptly shut the door, I do not know for how long! But the truth is, no matter how we spin recalcitrant Hasina and Khaleda, they have been and shall remain as disgraces in our national history of politics and by all means.

Now, turning the wheels to the reality show in Bangladesh politics; our hard line Care Taker Government and frustrated politicians finally started talking about talking! Indeed, communication is the best strategy in resolving issues of conflicts, especially so important for this impoverish nation during these "dying" moments. But what exactly have they been accomplishing or talking about are still in the maternity clinic. What we know and hear about are the only lamenting clips of the developing story and there are so many unknown and beyond, those we shall never know and remain as the "top secret" elements of the deal and dialogue.

Obviously, the calls to release Hasina and Khaleda shall intensify in coming days that could shape Bangladesh national politics before December 2008 election. AL/BNP shall continue launching rockets on but privately importuning Care Taker Government for the release Hasina and Khaleda as well as for lifting Emergency before election. Often, they (AL/BNP) shall play hard ball to the Care Taker Government with their so called absolute threats of not joining the national election unless these 2 demands are met! However, Care Taker Government "shall" not give in to AL/BNP demand of releasing Hasina and Khaleda except easing some restrictions (emergency) but not entirely lifting it.

 

These head on collisions shall lead to several new developments; either no winning situation or all parties declaring victories out of the dialogues. In either case, Care Taker Government shall remain unyielding on the demand of releasing AL/BNP chief (s) or at least shall secure and make sure that these 2 assets do not become part of the next democratically elected Government or in any form of Government for one 5 year term.  

 

Possible upcoming scenarios;

(1). If AL/BNP dialogues with Care taker Government fail, creation of a National Unity Government of all parties could be a possibility (no election!) and of course without Hasian and Khaleda. Care Taker Government is well aware of and has fears that "free Hasina and Khaleda" would become more aggressive to take vengeance on the Care Taker Government instead of any constructive engagement in nation's political process and it is absolutely true too!

(2). Government could also consider releasing Hasina and Khaleda only "on bail" for the showbiz of beauty contest (campaigning only) during the election but would not be allowed to run (on legal grounds). Their "free" freedom could be risky political game and end up pulling the nation back again to pre 1/11 anarchism of unruly and hostile "Oborodh" and "Lagathar Hartal".

(3). AL/BNP (faction) shall take all furtive attempts for Hasina/Khaleda's freedom before the election but ultimately shall be abortive and     could JOINTLY decide to go to the election for strategic reason. A quixotic coalition government of "AL/BNP" is a possibility to get Hasina /Khaleda and their lieutenants freed, also stymieing the rise of Ershad (JP)/JAMAT.

(4). Ershad (JP) and diffident JAMAT would be VERY "powerful bidders" during this polititical process that could be a daunting challenge to both AL/BNP. Mercurial Ershad, a "pet enemy" of extra-constitutional rule shall become a "Loyal family enemy" of Care Taker Government and occasionally raise "fake voices" against CTG. Shrewd JAMAT shall be playing trump cards and committing political misdemeanors; shall start surfing around the nation dumping alleged baggage's of Hasina and Khaleda to our backyards; an ubiquity of campaign to win peoples heart (votes). Thus, Ershad (JP) and JAMAT could even form the next democratically elected government that may protect the interest and plans of the Care Taker Government.
 
However, a JAMAT led government in Bangladesh shall not only construe surrendering nation's freedom to its enemy, but also be utmost and disgraceful humiliations to the dreams, spirits and vision of our freedom. Once our freedom goes to the wrong hand (JAMAT), it would be an irrevocable turning point of juncture in nation history of independence.
 
Obviously, AL/BNP shall not give them any free ride nor shall allow and/or accept this to happen regardless of a "free and fair election" or not. The denouements of all acerbic political discontents could lead to swiftly wiping out any legitimate "representative Governments" and be replaced by an emerging mass representatives totalitarian one, more "illegitimate and brutal" than this ephemeral Care Taker Government led by General Moeen Uddin due to evolving circumstances. During the primitive stage of these ostensibly tautological developments, a national unity Government could be the best available option; a defective and precipitate alternative of democratic government during any untoward political crisis. AL/BNP, at least during those moments, shall prefer to embrace a dictatorial administration over virulent JAMAT/JP "elected government". That could be a diabolical testing point for both AL/BNP of their democratic minds.

And finally, the losers will always be the 150 Million people of Bangladesh for any/all infelicitous destiny of our democracy that shall again extirpate our future dreams and hopes. Madam Hasina and Khaleda along with their chauvinists shall spare no pain to exacerbate the situation to that direction and shall perform all the ground works they need, as they indeed did immediately before 1/11/2007.

 

Mohammad Gani

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

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