No Nonsense
Neutralising politics of the corrupt
I have always carried a peculiar fascination for political clowns. I enjoy watching them embarrass themselves as they shamelessly court public's favor. But the acts of the two condescending politicians, Hannan Shah and Delwar Hossain, and their emergence as ardent loyalists of Khaleda Zia are no amusing matter -- they want dynastic rule and reign of the corrupt back again. What's wrong with them?
Delwar Hossain's prankishness, when he was chief whip, went down as low as reportedly grabbing family groceries day after day from parliament cafeteria (plus drawing cash from the manager for groceries not available there). This act alone is so perverse, so utterly and singularly reprehensible, that it's hard to imagine a scenario where he could ever be taken seriously again.
The deportment is certainly unethical in all its facets if not an outright crime of larceny. Then, of course there is Hannan Shah who is on bail from extortion charges. To say nothing of tax evasions on undisclosed black money by Khaleda Zia and Saifur Rahman.
One wonders whether it's simply an fortuitous coincidence or the inevitable consequence of shared attributes (birds of a feather) that all four BNP higher ups not only committed some form of mischief themselves, but also raised sons who are detained and waiting trial for various crimes of indiscretions.
The avarice and penchant for mischief among the many BNP cronies were so rampant that they treated the entire country's public sector as one "large cafeteria." Today these leaders' misdemeanors are considered as acceptable behavior by their followers. Otherwise, how could a majority of BNP leaders in the Moulvibazar district accept a polemical appointee, Delwar Hossain, as Secretary General of the party? They even contended that BNP was organised by Zia-ur Rahman and now Khaleda is the symbol of party ideology and unity.
Just because Khaleda is the Chairperson and wife of late Zia-ur Rahman doesn't automatically make her the legatee of BNP. The majority of the senior leaders (minus the corrupt) who were the original architects of BNP should be identified with actual BNP on historical and moral grounds.
This claim will be more legitimised if the country's former President and the founding Secretary General of BNP Badruddoza Chowdhury joins that faction.
From their statements it's now avowed that BNP leaders in the Moulvibazar district and others who insist upon Khaleda's unconditional release from captivity are mindlessly committed to the paradigm of dynastic politics of Zia family. When they talked about allegiance to BNP's ideology and its principles do they really know what these are?
Not too long ago I had a chat with one MP at a friend's house in New York who pressed that he joined BNP for its ideology and Zia's principles. When I quipped, "How do they differ from those of Awami league or Jatiya Party," he appeared taken aback.
I also requested his comments on if non-recognition of Bangabandhu as the father of the nation, dynastic politics of Zia family, and politicisation of the country's institutions constitute the ideological tenets of BNP? At that point, our host interrupted the exchanges by calling us to the dinner table.
It is increasingly becoming obvious that the politics of the corrupt are inexorable. How in the world can any government eliminate the corrupt from the political process when the people of the country and politicians who are relatively honest demand unconditional release of their alleged corrupt leaders without due legal process?
While Hasina's transgressions are yet to be confirmed by the court, Khaleda could have been sentenced 8 to 10 years for tax evasion had the charges against her been filed before NBR's tax amnesty or if she was barred from tax amnesty for reasons of being already under criminal investigations.
Instead of being remorseful before boarding the prison van she was grandstanding about her innocence and fantasised conspiracies against her family's future politics.
She said, "Today, they are conspiring not only against me, but also against the country and its people. The conspirators are out to jeopardise the independence and sovereignty of the country and stop the democratic forward march by hindering the electoral process."
What crass and puerile statements these are? How nonsensical are the suggestions that corruption charges against her and son Arafat are a plot to split the BNP and keep her family away from the country's future politics?
What makes her think that her sons have a future in the country's politics? She possibly measures their eligibility and aptitude relative to her own -- they at least received high school diploma and acquired all the proficiencies of committing corruption, extortion and what not. Besides, her sons have so many adherents of "a same feather" everywhere who espouse "dynastic politics."
Most importantly, there is no dearth of Hannans, Delwars and their likes everywhere who still endorse Khaleda's leadership and her sons' lineage to political power.
Just the other day, Delwar and Hannan indicated non-participation in EC's election related discussions until and unless Khaleda is set free. Acting AL President Zillur Rahman has also echoed the same in favor of Sheikh Hasina.
One wonders if these are simply tendentious rhetoric or pigheaded attempts to generate public sympathy. Before these noises gain any momentum the mass media may neutralise them by repeated reporting that none of the post 1/11 big name prisoners are political prisoners -- they're detained for alleged crimes of corruption, extortion and murder.
For the government, what is of the essence is a court verdict establishing at least one charge against each top leader of the two parties immediately justifying their incarceration while framing other charges as expeditiously as possible. As they say, "once you cut the head the body dies." Don't forget: Justice delayed may take wrong twists and turns.
Dr. Abdullah A. Dewan is Professor of Economics at Eastern Michigan University.
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