BANGLADESH: GOVERNING IN THE DARK

When ruling governments become corrupt or are inherently illegitimate, they tend to rule in the dark. They are more likely to run the country by fear and coercion, governing in bits and pieces, always in crisis mode, deep in suspicion and mistrust. They become overly dependent on secret policing, draconian laws, powerful security intelligence and deep state bureaucracy of cronies and blind loyalists. Indeed foreign collaboration is sought to fend off sanctions and condemnations of human rights violations. There are never any long term plans nor good policies in the funnel. Everything is done to remain in power, using brute force and unbridled authority. Everything is run day by day to suppress freedom and to stifle dissent. Its intelligentsia, the elite and affluent, competent and able people of eminence are either cowered in fear, repressed, compliant, compromised or in culpability with the dark regime, living off in luxury aloof from the woes of the nation. Otherwise they are either in prison, hiding underground or in exile.

This is so in the political darkness of Bangladesh. States like these regard the opposition as enemies of the state. The government of Bangladesh behaves as if their opponents and dissenters are their primal foes to be vanquished and eradicated by any means. At present and throughout its rule, it is in a determined political deadlock with the opposition coalition. Democracy and peaceful means in resolving political issues seem beyond the aptitude of  Bangladesh’s ruling clique. Political dialogue and accommodation is simply ruled out. Its actions become more and more vicious and insidious hence condemning Hasina’s government towards a point of no return.

In a vibrant democracy, political conflicts cannot be won by criminalizing the other. Hasina has sentenced to death respected leaders of the Jamaat Islami at a time when political Islam ought to be a means of discourse in resolving Bangladesh’s turmoil. Instead of healthy engagement and rigorous debate over the course of the nation’s well being and future, Hasina prefers authoritarianism and the stifling of other views. Jamaat leaders are being unjustly treated, persecuted and meted out harsh sentences either to the gallows or spending years in prison. They are charged with something from figments of the past being made bogeymen for a catastrophic beginning in the birth of Bangladesh. Damage has already been done through brutal suppression of demonstrations and mass arrests but releasing these politicians would make possible reconciliation talks and making amends towards achieving higher objectives of the nation.

The past colonial masters made the carving up of old India into ungovernable parts of a unified Pakistan. The result being civil war and India’s invasion ending up with a new separate nation. This new country was beset by difficult geographic conditions and enormous economic problems, bad neighbours, one of the largest and densest population is the world, abject poverty, a legacy of failed governments and perpetual political crisis.

Yet there is hope. The success story of the microcredit scheme to alleviate the poor was started in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has a wealth of human resource, their expatriate workers and migrants provide ready cheap labour and contribute to the successful development of others especially in emerging countries and markets, they are known throughout the world as good workers. The way out of the mess the country is in is to lead and inspire these highly rated citizens and workers into building up their own nation and develop their much needed economy, education, infrastructure and social services. This needs able and competent leadership that can transcend narrow political rivalry and carry out change. This can only happen in calm and peaceful conditions. Bangladesh needs to make peace with itself. Its leaders must come out of the political darkness while there is still light.