The kind of leaders we want to have
Paragon of peace and unity. Library.thinkquest.org
AS a nation we are passing through a crucial time of transition. Very soon, we are going to elect our political leaders. We wish to have people in government who will take the nation towards the path of authentic democracy. The government must make sure that the general election is fair, free and peaceful. It must help the Election Commission to perform its sacred task. Already there have been incidents of murder, terrorism and disorder in various parts of the country. This will eventually intimidate voters and many may hesitate to go to the polling booths. We cannot be influenced by the false promises that many candidates may be making. Every conscious citizen must understand the value of his or her right to vote, and accept and exercise the same as a sacred power. If everybody is serious about this, the right persons will certainly be elected and we will have a good government as a result of this election. Bangladesh has witnessed corruption in every branch of the government, and in the bureaucracy. Our heartiest desire must be that we have a government that will tackle and punish the corrupt. The moral basis of many of our political leaders has been shattered by wanton desire to accumulate wealth and abuse authority. There has been a lack of the sense of leadership, true patriotism, and self-less service to the poor and helpless millions in an overwhelming majority of our leaders. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi: "Things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice." One hard truth must be considered: corrupt people cannot and do not stand on their own. They grow, live and thrive in gangs. The people need an honest and pro-people administration to curb them. In turn, the people and the civil society need to support, and cooperate with, the administration in this matter. The ordinary man has been petrified by the anti-social elements, corrupt people and dishonest leaders, and he wants salvation from this fear and intimidation. Will we, the voters and the present authority, do our best to create an environment where the common people of our country will enjoy true democracy and its fine fruits? We wish to see that the people whose human rights are trampled by the strong, and the just rights of the socio-economically marginalised ones, are honoured and protected. . Bangladesh is one of the most thickly populated countries in the world, and one of the least developed. The most important resource of a nation is its population. However, our people appear to be a burden rather than an asset. This is primarily so because there is no proper plan to build up and develop human resources, and make optimum use of the same. A vast majority of our skilled human resource go abroad because there is not enough scope and provision for maximum utilisation of their skill and caliber here. We continue to remain within the vicious circle of poverty. Doubtless, the new government will face a plethora of problems. Among them will be poverty alleviation. The root cause of our poverty is moral and spiritual. Money, material resources and technology can be blessings only if there is a change in our attitude, and a paradigm shift in our thinking, in our traditional top-down leadership style and mainly in our political culture. We must harness and use the resources by creating a dynamism and synergy conducive to lasting socio-economic growth. The very word "resource" has a dynamic connotation. It implies strengthening and recreating and replicating the source. In a country like ours, with all our socio-economic ills, there is no alternative to an efficient, good and trustworthy government. Our most fervent prayer at this critically important time is that the Almighty will bless us so that we become more patriotic and more serious about our responsibility as worthy citizens, and rise above any transitory personal gain for the greater interest and lasting good of our nation. We wish to see people with integrity, genuine passion, and commitment to the country and the people as our leaders, law-makers, ministers and judges. We continue to nurse the vision and hope that one day we will be able to overcome many of the ills that have been holding back growth, peace and prosperity.
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