What we say we do not really mean

By the way, it may be pertinent to note here that the word 'hypocrite' is a derivative from 'hypocrisy'. They are mutually complimentary signifying deceit. Perhaps it was in the Greek mythology this intriguing character 'hypocrite' "was a man who stole the livery of the court of heaven to serve the devil" (Pollock). Whatever it was, for centuries now the human race continues to be both in the role of witness and perpetrator of many a deceitful act.

Misleading the lesser ones by deception and tricks, either by words or by acts, has been a favourite pastime of a fairly large number of our politicians. It has turned out to be an almost perpetual malady with many of them to make impulsive remarks about their political adversaries and promises to their respective constituency during election campaign for cheap popularity. Many of such pledges remain unfulfilled or totally forgotten. Instantly, we have one such example of unredeemed promise to the primary teachers made by none other than the incumbent chief executive. We have the reminder from the teachers in movement in the city streets.

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For the last several months the 14-party alliance led by Awami League are also in the streets with demand for reform of the caretaker government and the Election Commission. In the latter case, there has been a persistent demand for removing the present Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners who have been caught off-foot for their unwholesome and controversial activities. Things have very rapidly come to such a pass that even some of the senior ministers of the present government expressed their concern endorsing the demand of the opposition for their immediate removal.

The reform proposal thus launched by the AL-led 14-party alliance very soon received support of the Supreme Court Bar Association, representative bodies of the civil society, many other professional organizations and members of the general public. In the face of a brewing commotion over the reform proposal it was good to see the Prime Minister making an apparently unambiguous statement in the parliament during its recently concluded session welcoming a dialogue between the government and the opposition.

The envisaged dialogue was proposed to be held by a committee representing the two entities. Yet it couldn't take place because of opposition refusal to sit with anti-liberation war criminals forming a part of the committee representing the government. Still then, the initial promise of the PM to resolve the issue was taken for a good augury.

Truth is stranger than fiction. So goes the universally acknowledged dictum. Notwithstanding the present rift over the composition of the committee representing the government, the statements of the Prime Minister subsequently in public meetings have been conveying an altogether different message. In her public meetings she keeps on telling her listeners that the reform proposal of the opposition is nothing but a hoax to pre-empt their ultimate defeat in the 2007 election. She adds that the opposition 14-party alliance led by Awami League, having realised that they have no ground beneath their feet and that the whole nation has already rejected them, are taking to meaningless protest. Their reform proposal, she tells her listeners is an unnecessary play at creating disaffection among the people.

Concurrently, she keeps on harping on the old tune, giving out a host of over-used stale rhetorics. She tells us very frequently that the opposition (with pointed reference to Awami League) is constantly conspiring against the country and is all out persistently to undo the tremendous achievements of her government. That her government has ushered in a deluge of development and out of shear jealously the Awami League is creating chaos and law and order situation to mislead the people. At times, she even alludes to some alien force, without specifying any one, who, in her considered opinion, is working in collusion with Awami League to grab power.

One has to believe that she very strictly adheres to truth. That stand point makes it both morally and legally obligatory on her part to substantiate the allegations with universally acceptable evidence and proof. If she cannot, it shall be wise for her to refrain from such untenable castigations against her political adversaries. That will elevate her image all the more than she can now imagine. This is, in my estimation, an irreversible lesson applicable to all. Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the opposition is also not excepted from rigidly adhering to this sacred dictum to be truthful.

Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman, coming by the heels of his leader in the cabinet has indeed a good sense of humour. The nation-wide glamour against the highly controversial role being played by the CEC MA Aziz most surprisingly provoked resentment of quite a few senior ministers. Mr Saifur Rahman has been one of them. Among others, he expressed his annoyance with the manner of spending public money by the CEC on voter list preparation. He added that no additional fund could be given before he was satisfied with the statement of expenditures, their genuineness etc. The CEC, in his reaction, practically challenged the observation of the minister and very emphatically said that he was not asking for fund from any individual and that the government was 'bound' to provide the required fund. On return from Tehran the Finance Minister was seen to have lost all his steam and confirmed that the required fund was being provided to the CEC. The secretary of the Election Commission spoke to the press about the difficulties experienced by the EC due to fund constrains and that the Election Commission might even go to court to obtain release of necessary fund.

Besides, three other ministers, namely Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Barrister Nazmul Huda and Barrister Moudud Ahmed expressed, almost simultaneously, their reservation about the queer role being played by the CEC. Barrister Nazmul Huda was very clear in his suggestion that the CEC could do better to step down voluntarily in view of the massive demand of the people. But now they are all in grim silence about what they felt yesterday. Words coming out from their lips now are again spectacular examples of retracting, evidently under compulsion from the top. On this, we have had already express corroboration from two other ministers, MK Anwar and Barrister Aminul Haque, after they visited the CEC recently. Both of them were of the opinion that CEC was doing his job in the 'right' direction (!)

The prospect and possibility of any dialogue on the reform proposal of the 14-party alliance, as envisaged by the prime minister herself in the JS can thus be treated as closed sine die. It is confirmed again that what we say we do not really mean. Let us now prepare ourselves for an irreversible crisis.

Kazi Alauddin Ahmed is a management consultant.