Muhammad Quamrul Islam :
As we are around 78 years of age Dhaka University batch 1961 went through media reports on historic victory of Conservative Party in advance election of Britain held on December12, 2019 and it appeared in our mind relations with Britain in three phases of history of this subcontinent naturally. At childhood we saw British rule in India ended transferring power to two independent states- India and Pakistan — with two wings separated by thousand miles of Indian Territory in August 1947. The eastern wing of Pakistan East Bengal emerged as sovereign Bangladesh in the spirit of Bengali Nationalism in 1971 vindicating the electoral verdict on December 7, 1970 culminated in nine month long Liberation War 1971. We were then Pakistani for 24 years and have passed 48 years as independent Bangladeshi. India remained as it was thru partition 1947, kept Parliamentary democracy uninterrupted inherited from British.
Recalling this we express our deep feelings and greetings to Conservative Party and new Prime Minister Boris Johnson with confident look democratic traditions shared by us would flourish in Bangladesh. The election won was on Brexit issue to move out of European Union, which Boris reacted after election as rising of ‘new sun’ in United Kingdom. In the House of Commons, Conservative won 364 seats; against 326 seats needed for Parliamentary majority. On the other hand, Labour Party 203, Scottish National Party 48, Liberal Democrat 11 and Ireland Democratic Unionist Party 8.
On December 20, 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson placed ‘Withdrawal Agreement Bill’ in the House of Commons which was passed by 358-234 vote, thereby a vital step forward achieved for implementing BREXIT by January 31, 2020. Many opposition lawmakers supported this bill. Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbin and others opposed the bill. Corbin called to vote against; but 6 MPs of his party have not obliged and voted for the bill. Next January 7-9 this bill will be passed in the Upper Chamber House of Lords and enacted as law. It is reported the bill has kept transitional provisions till a formal trade deal is made, which cannot be extended under any circumstance beyond 2020.
Let us now look at other salient features of British politics and election from which Bangladesh politicians and parties may take lessons. This is the victory with big difference of Conservative Party after 1987 under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher. On the other hand, this is the worst result of Labour Party after 1935. This is for the first time in about 100 years of history of the United Kingdom that polls were held in the month of December. American President Donald Trump has congratulated Boris Johnson for his victory. After Brexit Britain and United States can undertake businesses in big way independently, he said. This deal has possibilities of being very big and attractive. It reflects rising tide of nationalism which would stop brain drain, immigration seekers to the West in various ways leaving one’s own country for luxury in developed country under the umbrella of globalisation disdaining patriotism by the opportunists so far.
This is the example of West Minister democracy worth emulating by Bangladesh, which is also in force in our neighbouring Indian state of West Bengal. Trinamul led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BJP, National Congress and Left Front are active parties. In Bangladesh there are 40+ parties registered with Election Commission; but actually in electoral field and politics only two- Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) – and there is no alternative Third Party. Mainstream National Awami Party founded in 1957 by Maulana Bhashani in historical process splintered away in post-Bangladesh. So called alliance politics, parties in alliance 14-party led by Awami League or 20-party led by BNP have no electoral existences, but each lackey depends on the symbol of Awami League’s Boat and BNP’s Sheaf of Paddy.
More than 200 women candidates have won in election to Britain Parliament this time. Opposition Labour party won in 104 seats, of which 04 are Bangladeshi born. From ruling Conservative 86 women candidates have won. Others are from different parties. Yes, there had been great jubilations in Bangladesh media over the victory of four Bangladeshi diasporas, but unmindful about what is happening and has happened within Bangladesh! There was temporary provision of 15 reserved women seats for 10 years in the 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh by indirect election of woman MPs; which did not expire but extended in time and increasing numbers, now stand at 50. During the constitutional disruptions over time in various ways these seats turned into bonus of majority party exert pressure in Parliament violating norms of Parliament, which would have been direct, repeatedly urged but to no effect till today.
This election was held in the month of December for the first time in about 100 years of history of United Kingdom. Former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May said thru this election a clear question was before the voters if they want Brexit or not. The Parliamentary stalemate occurred over the issue of Brexit would be removed, she said. And this has been removed. We feel this is a clear message for us Bangladesh as to how to remove ineffective Parliament or Parliamentary stalemate. In Bangladesh, election engineering or manipulated election, started with autocratic Ershad regime toppling democratically elected President Justice Satter since early 1980s, is still vexing controversial issue continuing notwithstanding removal of Ershad by mass upsurge on December 6, 1990, documented in the 11th amendment to the Constitution passed in 5th Parliament unanimously as well as passed 12th amendment. The fallen autocrat Ershad’s Jatiya Party, however, managed to keep his position in following Parliaments to date thru machinations polluting democracy requires no elaboration, known to all concerned at home and abroad.
This is the third general election during last 5 years in Britain, which should not be missed by Bangladesh leaderships instead of boasting about more than six lakh Bangladeshi expatriates only settled in Britain. Self-introspection is needed by Diasporas also, said by Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury in Britain, known vernacular journalist who left Bangladesh at first opportunity in first half of 1970s never to return and write from London to Dhaka print media still, for whose benefit, except him, he knows best. Reasonably young generations living in Bangladesh are baffled.
(Muhammad Quamrul Islam, economist, advocate and columnist; e-mail: mqislambd@ hotmail.com)
