Lack of intellect in the national conversations
Two examples - a general and a specific case
When the general people say that they want anti-corruption drive to go forward with a strong footing, at the back of their mind, they actually expect that those anti-corruption measures will have positive impact on their daily lives. So, when people find out that the prices of things are going up, they are upset. What most people do not expect or understand is that these two things are related, in many cases, one causes the other.
Now, its OK when a farmer or a day-laborer do not understand the intricacy of this relationship. But, why would the same frustration be visible with our intellectuals, commentators in national level and other presumed experts who are sharing their thoughts in the media on a daily basis.
More important thing is that if you claim to be an expert, you have to understand the sequence of events that would lead to the eventual goal - which people wants in the long run - that is to improve their day to day living. How to make sure that it happens?
That was a general case. Now, here is a specific case.
For the specific case, we chose one of the most respected leader, intellectual of our time who often serves as the pointer of morality and correctness at the national level. He is our ex-Chief Justice, ex-Cheif Adviser - Justice Habibur Rahman. Please see the news item below titled "
'Elected politicians should play caretakers for polls'".
Here he is saying what elected politicians should do - he is suggesting of scrapping the caretaker government system. Albeit, he was one of the Chief Advisers of the system! To be fair to him, he has a right to express his opinion. But being correct or wrong is not what matters in this context, everything is right or wrong in politics depending on whom you talk to.
What Justice Habibur Rahman is saying might have some truth in it, but it does not work as long as it is coming from a non-politician. The elected officials will have to realize this issue and take actions. Arm-chair consulting doesn't help here. We have enough of passive elements in the society who talks about good. We need some active elements in politics who talks about change.
Would Justice Habibur Rahman or people in similar stature take initiatives to join the politics to become active agents? That is what needs to happen.
Suggesting Hasina or Khaleda to do what is good or bad doesn't help. It never worked.
If you thought some of the ideas are worth of your reading time, please forward it to others. If you have an ear to the columnists in regular traditional media, please forward it to them. If you have an ear to the journalists and news editors of the electronic media, discuss it with them. Hope they would look at the suggestions and give due diligence.
Thanks for your time,
Innovation Line
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Note: This is a freelance column, published mainly in different internet based forums. This column is open for contribution by the members of new generation, sometimes referred to as Gen 71. If you identify yourself as someone from that age-group and want to contribute to this column, please feel free to contact. Thanks to the group moderator for publishing the article as Creative Commons contents.
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| Thu, Oct 23rd, 2008 7:12 pm BdST | | |
Dhaka, Oct 23 (bdnews24.com)—Former chief adviser Muhammad Habibur Rahman believes elected politicians should play caretakers for polls.
"An incumbent government should be vested with interim status to oversee elections," the former chief justice said Thursday, in an apparent side-swipe at the caretaker government system.
"People confer the country's administration to an elected government. Why should it not administer elections in the interim period?" Habibur Rahman said at a programme organised by Transparency International, Bangladesh.
He was speaking as chief guest at the publication of a TIB report on 'Parliament and the role of lawmakers: people's expectations' held at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.
On the role of lawmakers, TIB chairman Prof Muzaffer Ahmed said: "We don't want the rule of prime minister; we want the rule of public representatives."
Habibur Rahman, who oversaw elections in 1996, said Bangladesh's eight elections had been frustrating experiences for the nation so far, but he hoped the ninth parliamentary election would be a good one.
The present chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed had also hinted last month that the caretaker system of governance in Bangladesh could be re-evaluated.
Addressing a gathering of expatriate Bangladeshis in New York in September, the chief adviser said: "I believe the caretaker government is not a permanent solution. An elected government should govern the country."
Replying to a query, he said: "The caretaker government system is provisioned by the Constitution. But we should think what is required in the future."
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