DECEMBER 25, 2017:Â Â DAILY OBSERVER
ina democratic system of governance the main goal of a political party is to come into power and to serve the country after gaining support from the majority voters. However, in our country we have observed that no party and leader has so far been able to uphold the same popularity until the end of the term as it was at the beginning and sometimes become extremely unpopular. Moreover, no party has been able to remain in power for two consecutive terms so far in our country getting the true mandate of the voters. The reason behind this scenario is very clear and the solution is not so tough and costly.
Popularity is a social phenomenon and judged in a social context that indicates who or what is best liked. It is a relative term as well to some extent. There are very few rulers, even in this modern age, who want to leave power or palace willingly. Many rulers want to sustain their regime as long as possible and sometimes they become oppressor, autocrat.
A ruler can sustain the regime for long in three ways. First of all it might be through severe oppression or brutality. Secondly, through dictatorship, but gaining popularity through some huge development works, maintaining macroeconomic stability and reducing the rate of unemployment in the country. The third way is through pure, undisputed popularity. If we look back to the history of 20th century, we will find some brutal dictators who wanted to stay in power for long through persecution of political opponents, gross human rights violation and brutality. First of all we can mention the name of Adolph Hitler of Germany, Pol Pot of Cambodia, Mussolini of Italy, Idi Amin of Uganda, Augusto Pinochet of Chili, Fancois Duvalier of Haiti, Charles Taylor of Liberia and many more.
We also find some rulers in history who had been able to stay in power for long despite their dictatorship and autocracy for economic causes, such as some popular development works, reducing unemployment and keeping inflation under control. For example – we can mention the name of Gaddafi of Libya, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Saddam Hossain in Iraq and General Suharto of Indonesia.
Most of the above rulers were the product of cantonment or backed by the military directly. They also gained strong support from the corrupted bureaucracy. Foreign influence and support also helped them to stay in power subject to uphold economic, political and strategic interest of the foreign powers. We also find some undisputable leaders, rulers or politician in history who gained absolute popularity in their regime or political life, for example- Mahatma Gandhi of India, Muhathir Muhammad of Malaysia and Nelson Mandela of South Africa.
Popularity is very much competitive in the UK and the USA. Voters are very much sensitive there. All are concerned with most of the issues related to their national interest as well as to keep their pocket (Tax, health insurance, social security cost) unaffected. Therefore, a slightly different opinion on a single issue or a simple TV debate could decide who is going to enter in to the 10 Downing Street or White House.
Gaining popularity in a developing country, like Bangladesh is comparatively easier. Even a little positive effort of the ruler could upgrade the popularity substantially. If we look back to the history of our country, we will find that since the war of liberation, about 46 years have passed and during that period the country had been governed by the military or military backed rulers for almost 17 years. Rest of the period we witnessed semi autocracy, dictatorship and vulnerable democracy. But very few of them have been able to gain absolute popularity.
We also witnessed a transition of absolute popularity of a ruler to a state of unpopularity and visa versa. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was undisputable leader during our war of liberation and his popularity was like Everest pick when he was sworn in as the Prime Minister of a newly independent country. As a matter of fact, it was really a tough job to satisfy all quarters in the aftermath of a huge war. Nevertheless, his over confidence, the wrong guidance of his advisers and surrounding people led him to an absolute unpopularity and eventually brutal assassination of almost all of his family members. On the other hand Ziaur Rahman tried to wear the civil dress to his military image, was not contaminated with nepotism, flattery and eventually gained huge popularity in spite of being a military ruler and some controversial activities. Moreover, after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and inexistence of multi-party democracy in the country there had been a big vacuum in the politics of Bangladesh and Ziaur Rahman took opportunity of those circumstances. He tried to prove his honesty, patriotism through various development projects and popular decision that also led him to a big popularity among ordinary people.
During the two years of military-backed caretaker government started in 2007- the first six months of their tenure people accepted them as the blessings of God as the ordinary people became extremely bored with the irresponsible activities of political parties. However, the dream of ordinary people reduced to a nightmare due to some of their anti-democratic and biased activities.
But gaining popularity is not so costly indeed. A ruler should know why he/she is serving. He/she should make connections in the community with all kinds of people, especially those in a position to help you in your bid for public office. A ruler should keep up with current events and should learn from the past. A ruler should be dedicated to what he/she is trying to accomplish. A ruler should acquire new skills and should be very much updated in all contemporary affairs.
People of Bangladesh have been witnessing the politics of vindictive, nepotism, terrorism, murder, torture, extra-judicial killing, abduction, demolishing the moral base of various constitutional institutions during the last 46 years and now they are earnestly expecting a salvation from that nasty, stereotypical culture of politics without any delay. Now a leader who could show an example and proof that he or she is very much cordial to emancipate the nation from that extremely nasty politics then it might be a huge breakthrough that might bring him/her to a landslide victory in the next election.
Due to incumbency factor, the ruling party has to be more responsible than the opposition. Every misconduct of the ruling party increases the scale of popularity of the opposition. But the ruling party has a great opportunity to prove their positive worth as they avail all administrative power and facilities. If the Prime Minister declares that no indulgence shall be given to the so called student leaders and take real action against all culprits, no extortion, abduction, ‘Tenderbaji’ and ‘Chandabaji’ will be tolerated committed by the student wing, youth wing and exemplary punishment shall be given to them, rule of law will be fully restored, no political influence will be accepted, nepotism will be rooted out, every political murderer shall be brought under justice and nomination for election will be given to the candidates based on their academic background, honesty, integrity, modesty, but not based on power of muscle and money- then I think Awami League must have the possibility to come into power for the third consecutive term easily. This is also true that overnight implementation of all mentioned above is not possible. However, people now would like to see cordial initiatives by any political party for a breakthrough. But unfortunately, during the last 10 years some key constitutional institutions, such as legislation, judiciary, election commission have severely been contaminated and deformed. Many highly sensitive national interests are being neglected. The huge wound of those institutions might take long time to be healed and it would be a tougher work.
Similarly, the main opposition, BNP must have to convince the voters that they, especially the key wings of their party would not repeat the same misconducts in future and control their long appetite created because of remaining out of power for long for committing various misconducts, if they want to regain the throne.
So this is an urge of the voters to all political parties to learn lessons from the history and to decide which option they would like to choose – coming into power conquering the heart of the voters or any other alternative short-cut way.
© Copyright: Reserved by the writer (Noore Alam Siddiqui)
