Growing old without maturing
WE, the people who matter, hardly grew in Bangladesh although the country has grown pretty old, whizzing past thirty-eight years eventful years of its existence. In the early seventies, the constant refrain used to be that of war ravages that did not let the honey and milk flow together in "Golden Bengal." We have lived much longer in independent Bangladesh than we did in united Pakistan, which we hold responsible for all of our woes. We now enjoy all the freedom to fashion our destiny and turn the country of our dream into a greener pasture. Yet, nothing seems to have changed much beyond geographical bifurcation.
We still remain one of the poorest countries of the world and one of the odd few dozens of least developed countries (LDCs). Our socio-economic indexes are grim. After billions of takas wasted in assorted projects to alleviate poverty, the poor have now joined the ranks of the destitute. Regime after regime dangles before us the carrots of developmental surge and a magic "change." After what we have experienced, both the promises have become a mockery; and we received the rude shock of disillusion. After the deluge was over we found ourselves where we were decades ago. In fact, we have lost the diplomatic support we once had.
The world is heartily sick of disputes, and wishes that we could just put the matters to rest and move on peacefully. The Americans want us to conform to their values, including democracy. It's not compulsorily required elsewhere, rather the wavering of other countries will satisfy the Americans because that will give them mediator's role they are fond of.
Looking around we see many signs that our country has grown older, but has failed to grow up. We remain too immature as a nation to reflect on where have we gone wrong and what needs to be done to set matters right. We live from one day to the next, confident in the expectation that the generous elders would look after us -- no matter what transgressions we commit.
We are a terribly impatient people. Living in the present we want everything now, so our politicians demand regime change whenever they are not in power. Unwilling to wait for incumbent government to complete the term of office they plot to overthrow the ruling party so that they can grab power.
This refusal to follow the rules and allow a government to complete its tenure is rife among the media as well. Thus, we can see the eagerness among TV chat show panelists and their hosts to welcome the new actors in our political circus. Isn't it perfectly reminiscent of the drama we witnessed in the wake of one-eleven. In fact, we can almost see these people searching for the prospect of more political upheaval to crash open the door of new opportunity.
We just cannot understand that, above all, we need a period of political stability and tranquility, and we desperately need consensus to fight a common enemy -- under-development. Despite the identified danger we continue to squabble like kids and cretins. Far from developing a common front we tear down the foundation. We are doing everything we can do to destroy our political rivals, destabilising the entire political system in the process.
Faced with unpleasant reality some kids escape into fantasy. Likewise, we continue nursing unrealistic dream of achieving this or that and tend to throw a tantrum and dig in our heels instead of moving on. For thirty years we have fixed our eyes on two first families of our polities -- without realising their limitations. If this continues indefinitely, we will never be a mature Bangladesh capable of doing business with the world and the globalised international community.
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