Beyond the change of guard
New parliament, same dreams. Shafiqul Islam Kajol/ Drik News
UNEASY lies the head that wears the crown, so goes the old adage. Last Tuesday, Sheikh Hasina wore that proverbial crown as she was sworn in as the country's twelfth prime minister. She, however, sprang a surprise in selecting her cabinet by discarding most of the party stalwarts and replacing them with young and fresh faces who would constitute her dream team. As the climax of Hasina's surprise, the slots of the country's home and foreign ministries went to two women -- something excitingly new in this country but not a novelty in the region's political culture. There is already an animated debate as to the wisdom of propping up untested young ones at the expense of the experienced old ones. This break from the stereotype required a good deal of courage, and Hasina displayed it in full measure. She bravely opted to leave the beaten track and try an experiment -- in spite of risks inherent in it. It may be recalled that she has been treading tracts fraught with dangers and uncertainties throughout her tumultuous political career. Now she has come of age since the days of her political probation in the early eighties, and she has become circumspect, introspective and observant about things around her. During the two years of emergency she took decisions that are now proving to he appropriate. Her predilection for adhering to carefully calibrated opinions did pay dividends. Seen in that light, her dream team, with a mix of youthful idealism and unspoiled innocence, will be able to deliver. Sheikh Hasina's difficulties lie elsewhere. She has been mandated to rule a Bangladesh devastated by five years of the predatory BNP-Jamaat regime. It was followed by a mercurial caretaker government (CTG), which caused more harm to the polity and economy than good. It's anti-corruption drive ended in fiasco and its anti-terror measures remained inconsequential. On the eve of its departure, the CTG gave the impression that a sound state was being left behind by it. Particular mention was made of the country's economy and food stocks. But, unfortunately, satisfactory forex reserves and a few lac metric tons of foods in the silos do not constitute a basis for satisfaction, they are not about salvaging the country from the cumulative effects of the plunder, bungling and mismanagement of the past. With a wobbly economy, closed industries, stagnant trade and commerce, decrepit infrastructure, rickety communication, commercialised education, pervasive unemployment, dwindling investment, and shrinking labour market abroad, Bangladesh is a comatose patient gasping for breath. Hasina will have to carry out a massive rescue operation to fulfill her promise of two square meals for its millions of hungry stomachs, let alone translate the dream of a "Golden Bengal" into reality. While wishing Sheikh Hasina good luck, she must be reminded of the stakes involved and enormity of the roadblocks on her way. A hostile BNP has been humbled in the election, and conceded defeat only grudgingly. That it will not give any respite to Hasina's government is clear from its "protest" rally on the very first day of the new government. It is both ridiculous and indicative of bad taste after so much upheaval in the name of reforms and in spite of all the positive signs transmitted by the Al for the opposition political parties. BNP is, however, a potent political force of the country and was founded by a freedom fighter. It can still win back its lost political space if it can remove the albatross called Jamaat and rid itself of the mafias lurking in its ranks. As the AL's political opposition, it ought to gain in strength to make democracy and its discourse more meaningful. But the greatest difficult for Sheikh Hasian emanates from the flunkeys, minions and political hustlers who have now come out of hibernation with the return of political government. Look at the alacrity in welcoming the new ministers! The embarrassed ministers were overwhelmed by those sycophants to the extent that some of them lost their temper. These "lickers" are a class by themselves, and a powerful class at that, with loyalty only to their own interests. According to cynics, many of the hustlers running about with flower petals to receive their ministers never belonged to any camp favouring the AL. How will the AL government handle these elements? Even if some of them are AL sympathisers a line must be drawn, limiting their conduct as the servants of the republic. The new power wielders will be dealing with the fate of the millions, where personal predilection and compassion have no role to play. We would love to believe that Sheikh Hasina has learnt this lesson, which has so far been reflected also in her moves. "Digital Bangladesh" may be there on Hasina's laptop, but it is "virtual Bangladesh" that she will now be dealing with.
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