Let’s work together and get Bangladesh right this time

Bangladesh Flag. Wikimedia Commons.

Any call for early elections just cannot be justified. Let Prof Muhammad Yunus and his interim government sort out the mess that’s been like a boil festering and oozing puss on the back of the nation since 1972

Capt. Iqbal Hossain (Retd.)

The latest efforts  by the BNP party, as announced by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, is worrisome, likely to do BNP more harm than good, and heighten any mistrust held by the people towards the party.

He said their party wants the election to be held quickly as only an elected government can make visible changes to the country, but that does’t mirror the thinking of the people in the slightest.

What he seemingly fails to realize is that the people of Bangladesh are full up to the necks with the scurrilous politics of the past. They’ve had enough of the disgraceful politics they’ve witnessed for over five decades that’s driven the nation into the sewer. In that time the people have been lied to, cheated, robbed of valuable resources while those in positions of power, with offshore bank accounts, have become obscenely financially obese.

And if we are to be totally honest and call a spade a spade, BNP wasn’t squeaky clean when it was in power. Certainly no way comparable to the gang that has just been kicked out, but nevertheless, they were no saints. It’s also worrisome that after AL were booted out in August, it’s alleged (and hopefully that’s all it is) that BNP immediately moved in and seized control of the lucrative extortion rackets AL had on the go. That needs to be brought to the surface and addressed transparently.

Having said that, all available evidence suggests that BNP and Jamaat has every chance of scoring a massive victory when the elections are eventually held. BNP paved the way for the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement to take root and provided support.

Perhaps for the first time ever, the nation is united in abolishing corruption in all its ugliness. Apart from the enormous harm it causes to the people and to the nation it is a sinful practice detested by Allah. Hypocritically many who have been caught and found guilty of the despicable crime, have been to Hajj, attend the mosque regularly like good muslims and pray for Allah’s blessings (and assumably His forgiveness). It’s obvious when there’s a choice between what’s right, noble, honest, and money … money wins most times; causing Allah to shed tears.

Bangladesh Jatiyo Party (Manzu) Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho recently proposed the formation of a commission on "Laundered Money Recovery" so that stolen money can be brought back from abroad. That’s an admirable suggestion and inline with the populace.

Sir Frank Peters, the esteemed non-political foreign friend and former Senior Advisor to Saudi royalty goes beyond that to ensure no skulduggery occurs with the said commission (or ACC, or any other agency engaged to recoup what effectively belongs to the people. 

Sir Frank brilliantly suggested a team of Allah-fearing incorruptible individuals of impeccable character similar to the Eliot Ness team during the American prohibition be established. Acting with patriotism, goodness in their hearts, preferably independent of the ACC and given all the back-up support it needs. 

Eliot Ness, for those who do not know, was leader of a nine-man team of law enforcement agents, handpicked by him for their incorruptibility and were nicknamed “The Untouchables”. In the pursuit of justice and adherence to the law they put their lives on the line 24/7 and were not influenced by offers of bribery, intimidation, or even death threats. 

A combination of Andaleeve Partho and Sir Frank’s recommendations have great merit.

The honorable Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir noted that the government has taken steps for various reforms. He said:  "These reform proposals need to be taken to parliament and passed there through debate. The public representatives must accept these reform proposals. So, the sooner the election is held, the better it will be for the country," he said.

He is right in one regard about the government needing to debate and pass the reforms. However, The exercise the Professor Yunus interim government is conducting is one that is crucial to the nation’s integrity and survival. He’s attempting earnestly to name, shame and punish those who have been involved in corruption and rid the nation of corruption FOREVER.

With no disrespect intended to BNP or any other political party, if the septic tank cleaning operation is stopped now and prevented from completing its admirable clean-up operation and new elections held, we would never know if the new government was squeaky clean (as the people desires) or if it prevented the clean-up operation from continuing and naming and shaming some of their own.

It’s best for the nation… it’s best for everyone, including ALL of the political parties that the anti corruption exercise runs its course and be allowed to continue unhindered, even if some of their members are named, shamed and jailed.

Surely all political parties would want a blemish-free white wall on which they can write history that brings credit to themselves and applause from the nation and not one that is so muddied and soiled from the past misdeeds, making it difficult to tell the crooks from the good guys. Any political party that acts in the best interests of the people henceforth is guaranteed a position for life.

When asked if  Prof Muhammad Yunus has failed and is unable to run the state, Fakhrul replied: "I tell them there is no question of it. The people of the whole country trust him. He is running the country wonderfully."

Fakrul has echoed what the nation feels in its collective heart while simultaneously making it crystal clear that any call for early elections just cannot be justified. Let Prof Muhammad Yunus and his interim government sort out the mess that’s been like a boil festering and oozing puss on the back of the nation since 1972. This is a once in lifetime opportunity to get it right for once and for all, so let’s get it right.