Democracy and good governance

Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
Bangladesh is now an independent country. But, did we become free so easily? The answer is known to all. We had to cross a vast ocean to reach at the shore of independence. We had to cross an impassible road. The opposition party played a vital role in this respect. During the British and Pakistani periods, the ruling party tried to choke the leaders of the opposition parties. Many people were exiled to isolated or distant places. But they could not last forever. We find the important role of the opposition leaders. Pakistani leaders used their stem-rollers upon us but they could not remain in power forever. They were compelled to leave this country. Opposition parties played very important role in this regard. Our undaunted soldiers had sacrificed their lives willingly for the freedom of Bangladesh.
Democratic ideology has developed step by step among the people of Bangladesh at different times. Since the colonial rule, Bangladesh has come to know a type of nominal democracy that is authoritarian democracy. The knowledge of democratic rights in a limited form during the British rule later made the people aware of their democratic rights. This democratic spirit prompted the movement against the British government to establish democracy in India. Political scientists have defined democracy in various ways. Social, cultural, economic and political aspects of democracy are reflected in the definitions. However, these dimensions of democracy do not always focus on democratic practice. Although democracy has been defined in various ways, the essence of democracy is rule by the people. The practice of democracy in Bangladesh faces problems. Because democratic culture was almost absent in Pakistan at that time. As a result, the struggle for independence of the people of Bangladesh became intertwined with the democratic struggle. In fact, the 1971 war of independence was the result of the Pakistani rulers for not accepting the 1970 general election result.
In modern states the inevitable roles of political parties in practicing and building democracy can hardly be over emphasized. Both in political and governmental processes the omnipresence of political parties is greatly visible through their participation in electoral politics, national representative institutions and state organs. In a democratic political system, political parties work as tools for exercising political power. It is through their activism political parties influence the lives of the citizens and in the process they appear as guide and change agent of the people to set value goals for the society by preserving normative relationships. As such political party building as institutions is extremely significant for the overall socio-political development and for ensuring proper role-playing human organizations. Because of the extended role and wide ranging effects of parties, democracy is explained positively by scholars as ‘partycracy’. However, partycracy can also signify pessimism in the context of the parties’ unremitting command, manipulation, and monopoly over the affairs of representation and governance and the mass of the people keep on just as quiet or silent watchers.
Since independence, mainly three political parties – Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party have been ruling the country. Awami League has ruled the country for the longest time, about 23 years. The party is still in power. BNP has ruled the country for more than 14 years with four terms, since its establishment in September 1978. However, Ziaur Rahman ruled the country for almost two years in military uniform before establishing the party. Jatiya Party ruled the country for five years after its establishment in January 1986. However, HM Ershad ruled the country for four years in military uniform before founding the party. None of these three political parties ruling the country are serious about institutionalizing democracy in the country. When the second most powerful person of Awami League, who has been in power for 14 consecutive years, says, ‘Democracy is a developing process, it is not a magical transformation that will change overnight’, then it is natural to ask how much time is needed to complete the process and institutionalize democracy. How helpful were the activities of the ruling party in the last 14 years in the development and institutionalization of democracy?
The role that the opposition parties played to overthrow the autocratic regime is known to all. In order to drive away the ruling party, the opposition parties called hartals for days. It brought untold sufferings. None the less, the opposition parties played important role in some respects. Bangladesh is a developing country. Opposition parties have duties for the development of Bangladesh. Without the co-operation of the opposition parties, a ruling party cannot do well. At every stage, opposition parties have the same duties as the ruling party. Sometimes, the government or the ruling party/parties takes wrong decisions. The opposition parties can correct these. Sometimes, a ruling party is misguided by some corrupt leaders. The opposition parties can play a very important role at this stage. So the role of the opposition parties in Bangladesh is beyond description. Co-operation, patience, tolerance, sincerity etc. are very necessary for any party. It is a matter of shame that, we do not find these in our leaders. What are we noticing now? One party cannot tolerate the other party. There are great gaps between the government and the opposition parties. It is very harmful for the country.
In fine, effort should be continued to make our people politically aware and habituated with democratic norms, values and practices. As a result, the media, civil society and socio-political organizations and institutions must play the pioneering role. On the other hand, good governance has recently become a concerned issue in the world, especially in the third world countries where corruption absence of government and administrative liability and human rights are very common. In fact, the role of political parties in a democracy is particularly important. Democratic governance is unthinkable without the existence of party system. And democratic governance currently refers to party governance. The essentiality of party system in democracy lies in the qualities of party system. Today, every democratic state in the world has realized the importance and recognized the necessity of party system. Nowadays, democracy and party system are closely related. Democracy cannot be thought of without party system. Political parties are the lifeblood of modern democracy.

(The writer is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP).