Major General (Retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Bir Protik :
Situation in Bangladesh is, by all definition, abnormal and does not support healthy business or healthy political activities. There has been debate as to what is the nature of the present situation? Is it a political crisis, or is it merely a law and order problem? Let us, with our outspoken intellectual honesty, look into the process of making and unmaking of our democracy since January 05, 2015 – a castigated beginning of political crisis that has already claimed hundreds of lives and nearly marked the end of civilized politics in Bangladesh. I, for one, feel that the present situation in the country has two dimensions. One is the visible, often-discussed and often-highlighted dimension, that is, the law and order problem, and the other one is the political dimension, often neglected and relegated to secondary position, in importance or relevance.
In my view, the deterioration in law and order situation of the country, is a direct fall-out of the political stand-off between the two major political parties of the country. None of the parties are assuming the responsibility for the sharply declining law and order situation. Undobtedly, the law enforcement agencies have more things on their plate, than they can handle; thus the deterioration is increasingly becoming out of control. When the police are asked to monitor and combat political activists and workers, they run short of energy and manpower to monitor and combat violence using non-traditional weapons such as ‘cocktail’ or ‘petrol-bomb’. Furthermore, when political activists do not find opportunity to express grievances peacefully, they resort to violent means to make their voices heard. The political crisis has caused poor law and order situation as its fall-out; on the other hand, poor law and order situation has caused serious damage and obstruction to the national economy, hence leading to critical rapture in our national security structure. Life and property have become vulnerable to violence. Transport sector, as well as the service sector, has become more or less paralyzed, supply chain is becoming disrupted, and inflation is gaining its momentum. Thus all citizens of Bangladesh are aspiring for addressing the existing political crisis.
Many analysts often portray the political stand-off as only a rivalry between the two major political parties, namely the Bangladesh Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party, to secure monopoly over the state power. So far, since 1991, the transition of political power has been done through election with the help of the Caretaker governments, except for the one that was held on the January 05, 2014. The January 05 election left more than half of the voters deprived of their voting rights! The AL government, that came to power with the support of the then (December 2008) caretaker government, dissolved the constitutional provisions of the caretaker government through 15th amendment to the Constitution, and through 16th amendment gave the Parliament the authority to fire judges. Meanwhile what was left out, was the initiative to strengthen the election commission, and deliver sufficing law and order in the country.
Along with AL in Bangladesh, the prime beneficiary of the 5th January election was the Congress-led Indian government. In fact, Ershad, after meeting Ms. Sujatha Singh, Indian Foreign Secretary, in Dhaka on 3rd December 2013, told the press that she apparently expressed concern that if he did not go to polls the fundamentalist Jamaat-Shibir would rise and come to power. The other direct statement Ms. Singh made to the press is that, India would like to see “maximum” number of parties taking part in the elections, under the provisions of the constitution. This certainly has caused a deep scar in the relations between the polity of Bangladesh and the Congress-led political establishment in India. The ruling party in Bangladesh inevitably scored goals in open field. AL, in its defense, told that for the sake of continuity of constitutional rule, which was crafted by them, they had to hold the election. The Finance Minister of AL government Abul Maal Abdul Muhit said, 5 January election was a third class election and they will hold another good election soon.
The government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, was able to conduct parliamentary elections, or a façade of it. Common people of Bangladesh, feel that without the propping or buttressing by government of India (December 2013), the fledging government of Sheikh Hasina could not have being comfortable. Feeling bold because of the Indian support, Sheikh Hasina decided to rescind or neglect the commitment she gave to the Bangladeshi nation that, the election of 5th January 2014 was but a constitutional compulsion which will be remedied soon after. The remedy lied in multi party discussion, to over come the constitutional hazards. When Hasina denied everything being asked for, political confrontation was unavoidable. Bangladesh is going through a period of instability and violence since 5th January 2015.
Talking of opposition-political activism in the country now, part of it is a ditto copy of what the Awami League as a political party in opposition did years before. Another part of the political activism is by opportunists who disregard law, and care little about political parties in power or not in power. There is also allegations about ruling party workers involving in unwanted activities, either annonymously or under the guise of opposition party workers. Bangladesh has to discover peace from its constitution. If such discovery is not possible, one may have to reinvent a constitution. Whatever happens, goodwill from friends and neutrals, at home or abroad, is a dire necessity.
In short, 01/05 became memorable in public rhetoric as a questionable elction, which was not accepted by the global players except India. What made the politics of AL more virulent was the celebration of ‘Victory of Democracy Day’ on January 05, 2015, which BNP labeled as ‘Democracy Killing Day’. As a prelude to observe the victory day and to interrupt BNP’s protests, BNP was barred from holding political gatherings in most of the corners of Bangladesh and Begum Zia’s house was once again surrounded by the sand and brick-laden trucks. This time another tool has been added – lock and key.
This has generated a significant suspicion whether there are any even-handed relations between Bangladesh and its long-standing friend – India.
I must remind the commendable role and support of India during the Liberation War of 1971. People of this country have historically seen India as a great neighbor and friend, but that reaction often becomes frustrating when the Bangladesh-India relations turns into party-party or state-party relations. Both of our great leaders, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and legendary freedom fighter Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttom worked hard to institutionalize the friendly relationship between Bangladesh and India. Both Ziaur Rahman and Ershad made the institution like the SAARC a reality. BNP under Begum Khaleda Zia and Awami League under Sheikh Hasina had to establish their own mark in the field of India-Bangladesh relationship since 1991. Awami League tends to befriend India more because of 1971 than other realities during the following four decades. On the other hand, BNP tends to befriend India as an extension of 1971 but shaped by economic and strategic realities of the current time. But one thing is common between these two countries – mutual and evenhanded friendship; for Bangladesh, India is a gigantic neighbor though. Some want mutual cooperation with honor, some want honorable cooperation mutually. The balance is difficult to be achieved, but not impossible. In 2015 this aspect needs to be reviewed by the government of India. It is a happy coincidence that, nine months ago, there was political change in New Delhi. 5 days ago, more dramatic change has come in, through victory of Aam Aadmi Party, in the elections for the Delhi-legislature. The beauty of democracy will flourish afresh through the cooperation between Delhi government of AAP and the Union government of BJP.
However, it is widely known that, persuasiveness, perseverance and adaptability are hallmarks of the character of Mr. Narendro Modi. I for one, as well as millions like me, make no bones about Mr. Modi’s good office being used for Bangladesh. Mr. Modi can breath and mail good wishes to all the major political parties of Bangladesh, if for nothing else, at least to offset the negative image built about India by the visit of Ms. Sujata Singh. Ms. Sing is gone, but the complex political-knot she helped tie in Dhaka, has become more knotty.
Needs to be rewritten: Political stability in any country is a pre requisite for good governance and economic progress. Bangladesh has been politically unstable on many occasions or during many periods in the 44 years of its independent life. In the present instance, it is unstable from end 2011 and continuing till now. I recall the background very briefly. In the middle of 2011 Bangladesh parliament made major amendments to the constitution of the country. Initially, the initiators tried to put the gun on the shoulders of the Supreme Court of the country. But inquisitive minds soon discovered that, the judiciary has been cautious and rational. On the otherhand, the Parliament was desperate and complacent. The parliament abolished the system of caretaker government and provisions of referendum from the constitution. This was viewed as a naked way of ensuring that the party in power continues to remain so. The political opposition in Bangladesh, did not accept the unilateral constitutional offensive by the ruling party in 2011. The political opposition rendered its grievances peacefully, but to no avail. Serious turmoil ensued for almost the whole of 2013, and then it continues till date.
Begum Zia thus faces little pressure to compromise, and this week’s confrontation can forebode more bloodshed over the time to come. The AL leadership, which may not necessarily include Sheikh Hasina, seem determined to destroy the BNP as a political force before the next election, due in 2019. This will give a strong space for the extremists to get ground in and out of the soil of Bangladesh which a partisan legal and law enforcement infrastructure would not be able to deal with, in the long run. And this momentum gained by the extremists, will cause serious security threats not only to Bangladesh but also to our neighbors. This ironic reincarnation of political crisis surely has captured public mind, which, without any surprise, may appreciate alternative source of power – religious or uniform! If that happens, that would be the formal end of our democratic history. Therefore, Bangladesh can learn from the multi-party electoral system that India practices, and in turn, India can promote multi-party politics in Bangladesh, at least to materialize Mr. Modi’s neighborhood policy.
(Major General Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Bir Protik retired in June 1996. While in service, he was a graduate of The Royal Staff College Camberley England as well as of the US Army War College. He is a popular columnist in Bengali and English. He is also a popular participant in television talk-shows. He leads a political party by the name of ‘Bangladesh Kallyan Party’.)
