The muscular tentacles of corruption and nepotism in Bangladesh society are cancers immune to small doses of policy medication and make a mockery of the essential ingredients that spurred Bangladesh’s march for first autonomy and then ultimately, independence. What could have been the thoughts swirling in the mind of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as he flew from a short stop in Delhi to his envisioned free, Bangladesh? Not much is said or known of his parley with Indira Gandhi and her advisors, but one critical factor that is known is the boldness of his request that Indian troops had to be withdrawn from his beloved country as quickly as possible.
That that had a chilling effect on India’s political leadership was evident with Gandhi playing her own mind games, as to the bargaining chips, she had to cement the ceasefire with Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. That infamous maverick got the best deal he could have hoped for in securing the release of some 90,000-plus Pakistani troops, collaborators and administrators that had surrendered.
There again Sheikh Mujib triumphed by excluding the near 400 Pakistani forces identified for the genocide committed during the Liberation War. The condition had been a good faith assertion that they too could go back provided they faced trial for their nefariousness. Indira Gandhi had to agree in the interest of Bhutto’s survival as a political leader in the hopes that Pakistan would have a civil rather than military rule.
It didn’t pan out that way. The 393 were never tried and were out of reach for the Sheikh. Pakistan never really had civilian rule adrift of army influence to this day. The astute leader that Sheikh Mujib was, he quickly went about trying to shake loose of the little discussed seven point agreement reached between Bangladesh’s government in exile and India that smelled suspiciously of vassalage. In between this balance came several decisions that didn’t quite resonate in general but were necessary. And unpopular decisions had to be taken early on to restore order.
Corruption and nepotism certainly figured high on Bangabandhu’s priorities evinced by his sacking of several elected Members of Legislative Assembly early on. Pragmatic as he was, he didn’t burn all his bridges. At times, reconciliation has to be preferred over ghastly narratives for the longer-term benefits and that was the path he chose. But when those midnight masquerades strike at the roots of reconciliation, not much is left.
The accolades of Bangabandhu’s ideals are tailored to cover over some of the hard, harsh comments the man had on elements of society that required collective handling.
His vision of cooperatives down to village level was designed at ensuring fair prices to farmers and consumers. His tirade, persuasion, and pleas against hoarding and profiteering at levels previously unheard of were listened to but not heard. The people close to him could have but didn’t make much effort and rather, mostly joined the unholy fray. After his time, through the combination of military rule, quasi-military administration, and even democratic governance, the seeds were allowed to sprout and be watered leading to what is the present day chaos.
Transport owners rule over the indiscipline on roads ranging from unabashed plying of unfit vehicles, through maddening driving by unlicensed personnel, over-charging fares all while the administration watches in silence with the occasional war-cries. We know nothing more of a government decision to ban unfit vehicles on roads, of the 100-plus demands put forward by the transport owners countering a new government law and the ways to circumvent innovative designs of private transport.
The committees galore set up before major festivals and otherwise to gain a semblance of control remain limited to discussions, seminars, meetings all descending into silence.
Farmers have no platforms to raise their views and concerns on crop inputs, fertilizer, insecticides and prices. They too have abandoned thought-through processes and joined the merry profiteering bandwagons.
The unplanned urbanization and gross violation of the basics of residential areas has been allowed and abetted. And now with disaster after disaster, death after death, after the initial “oh dear,” we are reminded of 3,00,000 buildings in the capital built by defying approvals required. List after list of high risk buildings and markets are published, warnings issued, and nothing happens. The actions, if any are taken, somehow reprieve those responsible for approvals and inspection whether in the past and certainly in the present.
Bangabandhu’s vision of illuminated citizens that would carve the nation’s progress to the future began with the Qudrat e Khoda Education Commission that frankly, 50-plus years on is hardly relevant. The new way forward remains uncharted as a whole, confined to bandage strips applied to address immediate ugly gaps.
Few know, let alone understand the far reaching ramifications or connections between the six-point movement, the four fundamental state pillars, the three organs of state, and above all social equity. Fewer want to accept that many of the factors of the above are irrelevant and require new definitions or even policy.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took pride in claiming that we have jute, have gas, and we have our people. The first “have” is teetering on extinction; the second is headed towards scarcity. The third continues to grow in numbers but arguably well short of quality. For these are they that can hear the words of wisdom without listening. They read history without learning from it. They are showered with the great leader’s vision and wisdom but only look the other way.
Mahmudur Rahman is a writer, columnist, broadcaster, and communications specialist.
