With no solution forthcoming over the current political impasse, there is a growing tendency to look to foreign organisations for a ray of hope. To be honest, seeking advice from diplomats and development agencies has always been a trait here.
When no local person manages to provide an answer and only muddles the situation more, we promptly place our microphone in front of foreigners.
Is this the right way to get out of this vortex of confusion?
In principle, asking the opinion of diplomats from nations which are our development partners is not wrong. Frankly speaking one cannot blame someone for looking to outsiders given the political mess we have created.
But at times we make our requests sound so desperate that it seems as though we are saying that Bangladeshis are incapable of solving their problems.
The government and people can rightly feel a little peeved when so many external elements are seen to be making comments about our political deadlocks. However, it is also true that, internally, we are failing to create a situation for a, if not amicable then at least an acceptable, workable solution to the current state of stalemate.
One can only ask foreigners to refrain from making comments on local issues when one is making the necessary efforts to resolve local political disagreements.
Sorry to say, our political parties, driven by super-sized egos, are adept at making the waters murkier. When internal machinations are so wicked, outsiders will always take a pot shot or two in providing advice or guidelines.
Just to take a lesson from history, the British would never have managed to defeat Nawab Siraj in 1757 if they had not sensed the profound Machiavellian ploys already at work within the country. Consequently, as the superior force of the Nawab remained inactive, the British secured a decisive victory, thus moving on to exploit more internal discord to expand the web of imperialism.
The most unfortunate thing is though most understand that a local sticking point settled by domestic players presents a mature image of the country, immature squabbling keeps on taking precedence.
The line between imperialism and neo-imperialism where external influence is exerted with subtlety is always a fertile ground for debate, so let’s not get into that, but let’s at least remember that on the surface if we are seen to rely on outside mediation for settling domestic problems, then the country’s democracy looks amateurish.
No one is expecting miracles here, as Bangladesh is still learning the democratic process. But while the evolution is in motion, more maturity needs to be shown. Come on, we must have learnt something in the last 23 years!
It is reported that top diplomats are planning to form a united front to go and ask both parties to sit for constructive dialogue. Conscious citizens may feel indignant since such a move proves that the main parties are incapable of starting any dialogue leading to a solution. Whatever the flaws in our political system, common sense, supported by a conciliatory political approach, should have entered the political culture sooner.
Meanwhile, a Bengali daily reports that India is concerned that political upheavals in Bangladesh may foment sectarian violence, triggering departures of minority people across the border.
Now sectarian violence is an endemic issue all over South Asia with roots going back centuries. While there is widespread condemnation of religion-based violence, it cannot be denied that the monster of religious bigotry can raise its ugly head here and can be used malevolently from time to time.
There was a reported case of vandalism of homes and a temple recently in Pabna over an alleged defamation of the Prophet (PBUH) by a member of the Hindu community in Facebook.
Whether someone actually made such a comment or not has not been proved but the anarchy it unleashed is a testament to the misuse of social media aimed at disrupting communal harmony.
The culprit here is the group which is using religious sentiments to stir communal hatred. However, let’s be clear, India is not immune to such actions either.
Muzaffarnagar in India has been the centre of the worst Hindu-Muslim violence in recent times with heavy casualties. The army has been deployed and a curfew imposed to restore social order after religious sentiments were inflamed after a video showing two men being lynched went viral.
The video was reportedly shot in Pakistan.
What all South Asians need to learn is that any politically contentious issue can be maliciously exploited on the religious line to create a catastrophe.
Somehow, the sudden Facebook posting in Bangladesh during a volatile period smacks of such a conspiracy. Imagine several such incidents across the nation as the leaders carry on with their intransigence and we keep on asking foreigners for a prescription.
Pardon me if the word “dysfunctional” comes to mind to describe our country.