Politicisation: Inroads into Administration
Nelson Mandela set a rare example of true, selfless and democratic leadership by relinquishing the post of the President of his party African National Congress he was holding in favour of its Deputy President. He further advised the new appointee to keep around him the firm and neutral persons to ensure effectiveness of the administration.
Unfortunately ours is a world absolutely reverse to it. The heads of our political parties tend to cling to the party chief-ship lifelong. Further they naively enjoy being lost in the thickets of sycophants. Principled elements are driven miles off.
After the Awami League had come to power in 1996 the news of the politicisation of the governmental administration by the erstwhile ruler began to appear in fleshy details. The nation was astounded and wounded to know how and to what an extent the entire administration - the executive, police, autonomous bodies and even the benign judiciary - was smeared by induction of BNP men into different tiers. The judiciary, the last resort of suffering men, if be left under the clutches of a political party, what remains for the victims to depend upon in the dark, distressing hours?
The Awami government of 1996 started with a bang when the Prime Minister urged the government functionaries to work honestly and impartially without any fear of encroachment from ruling party. She emphatically declared that no 'tadbir' would be allowed. People heard that registers were opened in police stations and other susceptible places to note the names of 'tadbirkaris'. People were inspired to believe that they had exercised their franchise correctly. But soon confusions began to crop up.
Fat lists of Awamimen drawn to don the key positions of bank, autonomous bodies, reform commissions etc. by reshuffling the previous and creating new set-ups ran through the press. A lot of new assignees were retired bureaucrats, civil or army, some of whose service records were far from being least encouraging to the public.
There followed a lot of changes at the higher echelons of the secretariat. Those believed to be closer to the 'Janatar Mancha' of 1996 were found getting more lucre of the changes. OSD making fashion thickened to the misery of the alleged victims. In the foreign service there was a flurry of calling back overseas diplomats and prizing and pushing new appointees into the vacant positions. The yardstick of this change is alleged to be political. Some of those called back did not return home. They remained in the same foreign soil courting the opposition party and counting the days for parcelling of the existing government when they hope to restore their old diplomatic positions.
When asked by a pressman if the newly-appointed High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Canada was a relation of the Prime Minister, the replies that the PM gave practically left much to be desired.
When the ethics of politics is on the wane multi-dimensional politicisation is but corollary. Politics, supposed to be a means for the well-being of country, degenerates into an oppressive armour for the aggrandisement of the opportunist politicians. They are bent upon putting men of their choice on the network built for promoting their personal interests. This necessitates a reshuffle often ruthlessly in the posts and positions of the government and other important bodies. With politicisation it is as well what may be called 'personalisation'. In a rotten political climate the two walk hand in hand.
The officialdom is hardly short of coalescing. They have also their moral corrosions probably to the full. If obeying the unscrupulous politicians ensures their share of fortunes, why shall they stand against the darling offers? An unholy entente is forged to divide the wealth of the country.
Of course, there are some officials till now with a strong moral fibre to stand above politicisation. Note that they may face a two-way blitz. Either rudelessly frightened into submission or herded into OSD concentration camps.
Politicisation works up according to the importance of the departments. In the executive and police it is direct and drastic. Many DCs, TNOs, SPs, DIGs etc. are found chanting ruling party's slogans. As the governments change so their chorus.
Alas, the education department and educational institutions are also attacked with the virus of politicisation. Not to speak of the leaders of the student communities who are infamed as mercenaries of political parties. Even the teachers of the highest seats of learning, the universities, have taken badges - white, blue, pink etc. - that smack of more than indirect affiliation to political parties.
It is apprehended that politicisation might have smitten the inviolable judiciary as well. There are accusations that even the justices of the High Court and Supreme Court are sometimes appointed on basis of party affiliations. It may be recalled that a party district president, an advocate, was assigned to be a justice of the High Court. The incident of another Justice flanked by political party leaders in his residence parlour talking to the pressmen over a controversial judgement that triggered a series of violence a couple of years back may not go off the memory.
Politicisation kills the instinct of a person to work independently. It destroys his courage to stand for justice. It turns him into a tool to serve the party. It leads him to subordinate the interests of the state and people to those of the party and partymen.
The well-being of the country should stand above all. All political parties should have borne a wave-length to that effect. Unfortunately the opportunist politicians, whose numbers menacingly get overwhelming, have gone demolishing it. Ennobling politics by serving people selflessly is being rapidly supplanted by base politicisation yoked to personal and private benefits. This is a worst misery that tries to perpetuate.
The writer is retired principal Govt Mohila College, Pabna.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments