Strategically Speaking
Leadership bankruptcy
That there was dearth of good political leaders in Bangladesh there was no doubt, but one was not sure how bad the situation was till the other day. Two developments have brought the issue of leadership bankruptcy to the fore. It has exposed a grave situation encumbered by the depletion of the pool of leaders that party men could call upon. That is the case of at least one leading political party.
The way some in this particular party, or certain factions of it to be exact, are trying to invoke the help of their "veteran leaders" to take up the reins and salvage them by lending their image to their party would make any Bangladeshi feel despondent at the pauperisation of leadership in Bangladesh. These are tried and tested people who in the public eye have been dismal failures, particularly because of the moral depravity that they had sunk into. Neither their "qualities" nor their "image" can be helpful to anybody; if anything it will be to the contrary.
It is also interesting to read about the scramble for a gentleman who was most unceremoniously cast aside from the highest office of the land by his party men. Not only that, he had to move around like a hounded fugitive to escape the clutches of the party thugs set upon him by none other than the person who is now reportedly seeking his help.
Politics makes strange bedfellows but in Bangladesh politics have made immoral expediency a virtue; and politics has been made a calling in which its practitioners had rejoiced in the practice of iniquity. It cannot get any worse than when to us, the common person, it appears that the standard for qualifying as a leader, fit to take up a senior party post, is to have a record of misuse of official position, of dabbling in unethical practices, of having one's kin in custody of the law accused of dealing in hijacked cars, illegal occupation of property, and extortion.
Therefore it was not surprising than not many eyebrows were raised when such a person was appointed to a high office of a political party, appointed by a party chief who is incarcerated facing charges of impropriety of various definitions. Such are the criteria that have come to be accepted as the norms!
One must admit that our political leadership had taken a pounding following the political tsunami we faced in the wake of the developments of January 2007. But very few would take issue with the contention that the consequences that have befallen most of them were brought upon entirely by their own deeds or misdeeds.
For me, and I am sure many in this country, it is sad to see both the top leaders of the major parties behind bars facing charges of corruption. It is not that political leaders do not find themselves as prisoners, but it is demeaning for a country when it is not for a political cause but for allegations that border on moral turpitude that the political leaders' fate brings ignominy for themselves as well as the country. One would have thought that the conviction of an ex-president on corruption charges would have been lesson enough for others to refrain from conducts that might have the remotest possibility of ill motives ascribed to their policies or acts.
Equally disconcerting is the fact that a large number of senior party men from the two major political parties have been committed to custody facing charges of indulging in corruption while in office. Perhaps our prisons had never been graced with such a large number of "VIP prisoners." Although many of them are yet to have the charges against them proved, it is indeed an ignominy that there are serious allegations that they, including the two party bosses, have to answer.
But, can we as electorates evade the share of the blame for having chosen these people to lead us, entrusted to determine the fate of the people? We can get away saying we had very little choice. That only proves that we get the leaders we deserve.
The incarceration and the trial of so many top leaders of the two major parties ought to be in keeping with the popular demand to cleanse our politics. It would be bizarre if these were driven by ulterior motives with a particular outcome in mind. It would be undesirable too if particular characters were strutted up directly or indirectly as an alternative to the major political parties. Sponsored parties or their leaders have very little commitment other than looking at ways and means to perpetuate their existence. In the process they tend to serve their mentors and not the country, till such time they think they have gained enough clout to discard them. That initiates another fresh cycle of conflict and uncertainty. Bangladesh can ill afford that.
Why can't our leaders follow the examples of countries around us? Look at Japan. Whatever may have been the underlying causes for his resignation, Prime Minister Abe felt that he did not have the trust of the electorates to continue as the prime minister any longer, because "under the current circumstances it is difficult to proceed steadily with policies in terms of public support and trust" and resolved the situation by "drawing a line." And the only dignified thing to do was to resign. Not in Bangladesh. We do not know when to draw the line. Instead we stick to the position as if it was a personal possession.
Our leaders will do well to keep in mind what an American economist had advised: "A political leader must keep looking over his shoulder all the time to see if the boys are still there. If they aren't still there, he's no longer a political leader." If some of our leaders had bothered to look over their shoulders they would know what to do.
I feel it was time that the young bloods were entrusted with task of running the political parties and indeed the politics of the country. Without meaning any disrespect to our senior politicians, it was time they realised that the time is come to pass on the baton. We have not run out of good materials and there are plenty of them in our polity. If they have not flourished it is because they were not allowed to by those whose ideas and beliefs have become ossified.
We have had to suffer crisis of leadership for a long time now. The need of the time is for younger people with fresh ideas, particularly those who can rise above human frailties and earthly greed to take the country forward. We want leaders who, to paraphrase Lincoln, would be statesmen, not concerned with the next election only but with the future generations also.
The author is Editor, Defense & Strategic Affairs, The Daily Star.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments