For the new year our wish is to make a new beginning without violence

We are in the trap created naively for lack of political leaders having no familiarity with practical politics of running the government democratically. That requires knowledge or education for practicing democracy even if they had all the good intentions.

Like communist countries people have no constitutionally guaranteed human rights. Thus there was no problem in forming BAKSAL one party rule by throwing away the democratic Constitution. The current govern pursuing BAKSAL policy under the name of Awami League founded by HS Suhrawardy who founded it to fight for democracy. Under his leadership undemocratic Muslim League was wiped out in the free elections held in 1954.

The present changed Constitution has made free election impossible and rights of the people ineffective without tolerating a strong judiciary. Easy police cases and imprisonments have become justice system acceptable to the government.

The opposition held with previous permission mass marches on Friday in the capital on demanding resignation of the failed and most corrupt and unelected current government in an intimidating situation. Jamaat and Shibir had clashes with the police for not obtaining police permission. The Awami League workers were placed at convenience places along with the police.

While remaining busy with looting and plundering, the government had no time for worrying about the acute miseries of the general people caused by the mismanagement of the government. The government has no shame in lying about their huge popularity for costly mega projects but not agreeing to free elections.

India is being misunderstood. Like friendship with other countries, we value friendship with India but it has to be people to people and the fear is that the government’s position is such that it cannot meet the people in free elections.

The government says we have a democratic Constitution but the government itself does not follow it neither in respect of free elections nor in respect of people’s rights. Police power is their protection.

The yearning of our people has always been to live under democracy where the people have their rights guaranteed including the right to choose their government in a free election. Experiment with BAKSAL type one party socialism miserably failed

Awami League has returned to its original democratic party name. But the dream of the luxury of one party unaccountable rule is not easy to give up. It is suspected that the outside encouragement has not ceased also. There are many lies and conspiracies that must lie hidden. In the book Blood Telegram the former US consul general in Dacca then mentioned about what he called India’s secret war in East Pakistan.

Democracy is a system which requires knowledge to learn and training to practice. The hereditary leadership without political competence has degenerated politics into a money making business.

The country is owned by the people but the people have no right to choose government to serve their interests. Both the leaders of Awami League and BNP tried to manipulate elections to come to power. The non- party caretaker government during election was Awami League’s demand. But Awami League banished election altogether.

The government should know it has two options: either to give up power quietly or stick to the addict of power and face the new angry wrath of the people. The violence should not be our wish for the new year.

Not only change of government is urgently needed but defining who is a politician is no less urgent if democracy is to be sustainable.