Editorial
Chhatra League and Jubo League hijack tenders, again!
Frankenstein in the making for the Awami League
WE are appalled at the sheer audacity with which Chhatra League and Jubo League activists prevented contractors from submitting tenders at the food department on Monday. The open manner in which these elements indulged in violence, to a point where the genuine contractors who had come to place their tenders were beaten up, certainly casts a shadow on politics in general and on the governance in particular. It is the general rule that everyone genuine contractor or construction firm has the right to submit his or its tender without intimidation of any kind. Sadly, though, what happened on Monday was a grave deviation from the norm.
We cannot but draw attention to other recent incidents where submission of tenders was hardly trouble-free. It has been observed that young supporters of the ruling party have compelled anyone not of their group or party to move out of the tender dropping scene, often through outright violence or threat of it. The results of such brazen violations of the rules, indeed of the law, can only be negative. For one thing, if these young and largely inexperienced people have their tenders accepted because of their proximity to power, the products they will offer to people will likely be of poor or sub-standard quality. Obviously, those who will then use these products or goods will suffer in ways we can only imagine. For another thing, such unbridled appropriation of the tender supply business can only reinforce a vicious tradition which has grown over a long period of time, leaving bona fide contractors out in the cold and at risk to established business practices.
A particularly distressing aspect of Monday's incident is the conspicuous inaction of the police and RAB, who were present on the scene. It is mind-boggling when one realizes that those responsible for preserving or restoring law and order all too conveniently look the other way when the law is being broken by people linked to the ruling party. It has happened in the past and it is happening today, despite all the promises about politics of change earlier made by the ruling party. In this regard, our point is simple: even if the law enforcers are sometimes queasy about taking action against ruling party elements or supporters, they could break with that tendency and actually exercise their authority over them and bring them to book. After all, the powers that be have repeatedly asked the police to act against lawbreakers. Why not take the cue from them?
That said, we cannot but point out to the ruling Awami League that the activities of the Chhatra League and Jubo League have only been bringing it and the government it leads into disrepute. One fails to understand why the party and the government have been looking the other way when their young supporters have transgressed. The government's failure to act against these violence-disposed young is not only creating the impression that it is helpless against its own supporters but is also sending out the bad signal that a culture of impunity may actually be at work. In the interest of good governance and in its own interest, the government must move swiftly and meaningfully against those of its supporters who have clearly been giving it a bad name. Tender-related scandals have been going on for the past fifteen years or so. If today the politics of change is to matter, the government should get its priorities right.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments