Blame-game will take us nowhere
BLAME-game is what politics is all about at present. It's the old game they are good at. When they are not in power they blame the rulers for getting neck-deep in corruption. But the same people when in power do the same thing, allow corruption to find expression in their own fashion. It's just a matter of branding corruption, that's all. Today, Delwar shaheb blames the government for exactly what they had done, even more, during their tenure.
Today, we do not hear the AL men talking in thundering voice in the Paltan Maidan about the reign of terror in Hatiya, allegedly let loose by the men of an MP. The man seems not to care anything or anybody. His past records would put many hardened criminals to shame. Yet, he is the public representative and he treads on the sacred precincts of our parliament. They don't talk much about the hundreds of jhau trees cut and looted by the men of a political leader. The trees were left unhurt even by the gachh-khekos of the immediate past political government.
There is more. The seashore at Patenga has been barbed-wired by the men of a local manonio neta to set up a business. Structures have been built on Cox's Bazar seashore by the goons of political people to grab portions of it. The CBA leader of WDB has cut down 60 trees on the premises of Barisal Medical College Hospital. MPs do not turn up during parliament sessions. The speaker is helpless and gets frustrated, as he can do nothing better than that. So, what do they actually do during sessions? Play golf? Watch Hindi serials on TV?
Well, these are some of the "public services" going on at the moment. Don't they remind us of similar public services happening during the rule of the 4-party alliance government? Don't they remind us of classic tales of the era of grabbing of public toilets and graveyards, travelling with a hundred suitcases and so on? Ah! Political power is so cool, man! It's like having the magic lamp. Ask and the genii will comply.
In every organisation, institution and department, including the armed forces, there are laws to take stern action against officials and staff members for engaging in unlawful activities. What is the system to instil discipline in the MPs? Surely, just because they were elected by the people does not put them above the laws of the land? Some of the MPs have good records and have the intention to do something good for the country. But look at many others! They are simply out there to make a fortune for themselves! Just what the "great leaders" of the 4-party alliance did during their heydays.
Interestingly, there are tale-tell signs and concrete evidences of the corruption of the political elements during the rule of the 4-party alliance and also of the corrupt ones today. The known thugs are out of jails and going about doing same things they did all along. Yet, the state cannot build a case against them because of the political and legal system of the country.
Once free and emboldened by the support of their party men, those clearly identified thieves and robbers of the past are now on a smear campaign against the caretaker government, caretaker government system, Election Commission, commissioners, Anti-Corruption Commission and even some members of the armed forces. In public and in private they are spreading hatred and confusion in public mind about the positive roles played by these institutions.
We know that no institution is hundred percent free of corrupt people but the law says that one must come up with tangible evidence to pin them down. Today, some disgruntled politicians are trying their best to pull down the good name of the ACC just because it had undertaken the task of exposing the dark side of their cohorts. Unfortunately, it is because of the existing faulty system that we could not keep many of those marauders in jail.
We have to give the EC due credit for conducting a free and fair election. But the defeated ones are raising the question of the institution's neutrality. Then again, about the positive role of the armed forces, let us remember how the people of some villages known as Bhobodaho near Jessore were delivered from their decade-long suffering in stagnant water by the armed forces during the tenure of the caretaker government. People are growing paddy there after more than a decade. Let us acknowledge how some important new roads were built by the armed forces in one year that are being used by the same political elements who find every opportunity to criticise them. So, our request is, please do something tangible yourself before blaming one another. Abide by the law yourself before blaming others for violating them. Attend the parliament sessions if you really want to serve the people. And please do not suffer from the delusion that you are greater than parliament, individually or collectively.
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