How is the state of affairs in the state?

Members of the cabinet with a few exception have seemingly used the administration for achieving their ends. The members of all political parties have adopted this policy when voted to power. With their blessings party activists and executives of CBA in different Corporations and Departments are also achieving their ends without caring for employees as well as organisation. It is really disturbing to note that no mechanism has been in existence or operation which should arrest such unhealthy trend. A lineman in T and T Department or a metre reader in DESA or Titas Gas is earning much more than an honest schoolteacher. However, some school/college/university teachers are also not lagging behind. They have adopted innovative method of earning more, however at the cost of actual. Coaching centers have sprung up registering a mushroom growth. A teacher is spending more hours at coaching centre and less than required at school/college/ university. But a student from middle class family could hardly afford the exorbitant fees of coaching centre after somehow managing the institution fee. And he/she is just not taught anything at the seat of learning,

Frequent disruption of electricity during scorching summer, traffic jam and shortage of transports (after rickshaws are made off the road in certain areas) has made the life of urban dwellers miserable. Electricity has traveled to some villages thanks to rural electrification scheme. But the villagers remain without electricity at least for six hours a day. Water scarcity in the capital has become a routine affair. There have been no serious and adequate attempts ever made to improve the situation.

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Rule of law simply remains a far cry with law and order deteriorating further. It is not understood why the government is taking so much time to separate Judiciary from the Executive. If judiciary is not separated as per provision of the constitution, it cannot be said that the country is governed according to rule of law. Therefore, it is imperative to separate Judiciary from the Executive in the interest of democracy.

The recent defeat of ruling alliance candidates in Sylhet, Narayanganj and Magura and also losing of majority seats of chairman in Union Parishad elections speak of their dwindling popularity. The leaders of the four party alliance should take note of the trend which reflects the mind of the voters, who voted them to power in October 2001.

From their conducting of the state affairs, it appears that there has been no consistency in governing the country from a non-partisan point of view. There has been allegation of making administration politicised. It is reliably learnt that many police, civil and foreign service officers were laid off because they were recruited by the Awami League government in 1973. Having served the country for twenty-nine years and worked under two BNP regimes in the past these officers have now been declared redundant. Immediately after the liberation of the country Awami League won the elections in 1973 and formed the government. Hence, it was logical for the government in power to recruit people to run the administration. One does not find any reason of dispute about the recruitment even if these officers used to hold any pro-Awami League stance. Every individual has the right to hold his or her personal opinion.

Some of the dismissed police officers of the rank of superintendent confided to this writer that without assigning any reason whatsoever they were dispensed with the services of the Republic. Officers appointed by the President of the Republic under the constitutional provision belong to the Republic. If the allegation is correct, one must point out constitutional provision (2) of the article 135 in part IX of the constitution, which, interalia, says that "no such person shall be dismissed or removed or reduced in rank until he has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause why that action should not be taken."

While serving in the Republic he/she should have allegiance to the country and honour the work assigned by the government within the existing laws of the country. It is regrettable to note that many of our officers show exuberance of alliance publicly with the ruling party during their tenure in service. They should not forget that their services are meant for the country and people. During the last part of BNP rule in 1996 some officers openly demonstrated their anti-government stance by addressing public meeting from open dias near the Press Club. This was gross violation of discipline of the administration. This caused widespread discontent and division in the administration. This should not have happened.

It is high time discipline is brought and maintained in the administration and it is allowed to work without fear or favour in the interest of good governance. Witch hunting campaign by the immediate past government as well as the present government has only caused damage to basic concept of neutral administration. As a result, there has been slow progress and in some cases no progress at all in the implementation of the projects.

However, at least in one area there has been marked progress in activity -- road repair! With the assumption of power by the new government digging of roads have featured prominently along with breaking and making of dividers. Indiscriminate digging of roads by different utility service providers is already a common feature in the city causing obstacles in vehicular and also pedestrian movement. There is no common agenda nor any coordination among the organisations like WASA, T&T and DESA. The breaking and making of dividers have only added to the public inconvenience.

During the last more than one-and-a-half-year rule of the ruling alliance we have not yet come across any project worth of creating job opportunity for the increasing number of the unemployed. Law and order has gone beyond comprehension as daytime dacoity in the capital and killing of police personnel are causing too much of alarming situation.

Are we paying for democracy, or is it democracy paying off?

Mohammad Amjad Hossain is a former diplomat.