Self-criticism: A healthy sign
WHEN a government learns to criticise its own failures and accept credits with due humility, there is no reason why it should not be able to do better tomorrow than what it has done today. As far as Bangladesh is concerned, one has to say that no such phrase as "self-criticism" exists in the dictionary of the politicians. Self-criticism or admission of failures in public is like inflicting a mortal blow to the political career of a politician, or credibility of a party.
In fact, self-criticism is considered in this country as an act akin to committing suicide that would only strengthen the hands of the opposition. Hence, politicians and political parties always remain in a denial mode when others point fingers at their faults. To hide their despicable acts of deception and contemptible acts of corruption they prefer to blow the trumpet themselves, with a ferocity that would even make Goebbels turn in his grave in disgust.
Somehow the mohajote government has broken the myth this time by engaging in evaluation of its one-year stint in power and accepting the fact that despite some success in one or two sectors they fell short by miles in many others. So, in a sense, it was refreshing to read that some of the senior ministers openly admitted that the government could have done better and that it could not see success in controlling the markets of essential commodities and containing tender manipulation by party workers. Such frank disclosures took place in a discussion meeting organised by Awami Jubo League to mark the Victory Day last month.
In the meeting, senior minister Matia Choudhury had said that prices of essentials often increased, as the government could not install a mechanism to monitor markets properly and that tender manipulation occurred during the last one year. One must appreciate the minister for her remarks aimed at alerting party workers and the administration. She also had blamed the conventional rules of public procurement regulations for tender violation. Such criticism should lead to bringing reforms in the procurement system as well as reining in the student wing of the AL.
Matia Choudhury, as expected, at the same time exposed the sunny side of her government by talking about agriculture production, distribution of cards, food and cash under the social safety-net programs like the VGF, Food for Work, Test Relief and others. She further pointed out the success in conducting Hajj operations this year.
Another senior minister, Abdul Latif Siddiqui, said something in the same meeting that we have been saying for years together. He talked about changing the mindset and behaviour of the political people to bring in changes. What he meant was that Awami League leaders and activists at every rung of the party will have to change their mindset to build a "digital Bangladesh." Now, our question is, will the AL top leaders be able to do that? Nevertheless, we appreciate the minister for accepting the fact that things within the party must change to bring about qualitative changes. It is good to see that the two leaders have not lost their jobs for such frank admission.
While we appreciate such open acceptance of cruel realities, we need to do our own evaluation of certain facts and figures. It is true that the sector that the government could not tame yet is the market of essential commodities. The commerce minister tried various measures but nothing worked, and prices kept climbing high and he came under severe criticism. The cruel reality in this case is that import and marketing of essential commodities are controlled by some vicious syndicates that would rather watch people die of starvation in order to spite the government. What can a lone minister, surrounded by a highly politicised administration, do to take control of the situation?
Food price has always been a lethal weapon in the hands of the opposition and, as such, the government should have tried many other options. People have suggested starting ration shops for the lower income groups, or setting up hundreds of TCB outlets, in the model of the private sector department stores, to offer quality commodities at controlled price. Nothing, however, has transpired till date. This is an option still open to the government and hopefully the commerce minister would think seriously about it. Many businessmen would come forward to open up stores if TCB supplied them commodities regularly.
Health and family planning sectors remain in bad shape and the nation may have to pay a heavy price if the government fails to take immediate steps to solve some pressing issues. Order must return at any cost to the roads in the city and highways to remove irritation from the minds of the commuters. The experimentation with traffic lights and their duration at various points has already gone far enough to make people lose their sanity. Summer is coming and we have no idea what the electricity supply situation will look like.
The government, to be able to paint a brighter picture at the end of the second year of its tenure, must keep in mind that people begin to stir and agitate when they find getting food, healthcare and easy transportation extremely difficult. Therefore, pay attention to the basics to keep the masses happy. Do not waste time cooking up gargantuan projects by borrowing money from Tom, Dick and Harry. Do more of that soul-searching and take steps accordingly. Sharpen your instincts about what people want and what they don't.
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