A generation has grown up without actual exercise of elections

Rayhan Ahmed Topader :

That an election is nothing without the voters goes without saying. And more often than not, young first-time voters can become the deciding factor in the polls since they are most likely to cause a swing towards whichever platform catches their fancy.

The vibrancy of an election particularly hinges on these youths, who add to the overall heady atmosphere leading up to voting day. This has been a common phenomenon in Bangladeshi electoral politics, which is why the national elections often take on the mood of a large festival irrespective of religion or race.

But gone are those days. No longer is an election festive in Bangladesh. Nor do the first-time voters show much enthusiasm. More importantly, the political parties, especially the ruling one, care little about the voters.

This frustrating trend was clear in the 2014 elections when 153 lawmakers were elected uncontested thanks to the main opposition camp boycotting the polls and voters were deprived of the value of their vote.

The voting atmosphere, especially since the beginning of what is said to be modern democracy in Bangladesh in 1991, has gradually waned and is possibly at its historical low now.

The media reported heavily that many voters could not even cast their votes in the 2018 election. What’s worrying is that an entire generation has grown up without being accustomed to the actual exercise of elections.

It may not sound very alarming, but the impact is severe. If they grow up knowing that public representatives can be elected without voting and that there is no system of accountability, if they grow up in a winner-take-all culture, then the future of the nation is bleak, indeed.

Even more worrying is the fact that youths have turned away from politics out of frustration. We may keep blaming poor politics, corrupt politicians, and a rotten society, but to resolve our problems, we need solid political leadership to steer the nation in the right direction.

A bureaucrat, a business person, a social worker, or a journalist can only extend their support, but leadership must come from the political figures.

Right now, in absence of that lead, the young generation is becoming increasingly disinterested in politics.

A fourth of the country’s population is in the 16-29 age group.

In numbers, the country’s current youth population is around 45.9 million, according to the census report published by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics While the elderly will certainly provide guidance, the youth must be the foot soldiers, and the relationship should not be just unidirectional but reciprocal.

Whatever approach we have must blend the experience and wisdom of the elderly with the technical savviness and creativity of the youth. This combination is imperative for the advancement of any society. The wider the gap, the poorer the nation will be.

Therefore, we have to keep in mind that young people have been missing out on being part of the democratic process, the voting environment, and rights. They need to connect with a mainstream political process that accommodates diverging and opposing views.

There must be a healthy debate of conflicting ideas to enlighten the young. Otherwise, there won’t be any progress. We will only hurtle back from the light of reason, away from the benefits of a democratic process that preaches equality. A violation of human rights anywhere is indeed a violation of humanity overall and deserves immediate global attention and response.

In the UK and USA, for example, there are countless political commentators who create content specifically for the youth on a range of social media platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram. Politics is not something limited to the dry language of newspapers and old-fashioned, boring talk shows there. In fact, even a comedy show can sometimes be a great start to learn about ongoing American political crises.

Perhaps what stops the youth from learning and spreading awareness about the Bangladeshi political scene is the state of freedom of speech here. With new forms of censorship being imposed every now and then, motivation to post about one’s political views often takes the back burner.

This fear of unprovoked intimidation is possibly what leads to ageism when it comes to discussing politics in Bangladesh. Young people are often taught to avoid political conversations for their own good and also because it is often considered impolite in our culture.

This restriction in open discourse only means that the youth often remain in the dark about their own country’s policies and decisions. When they do want to learn about it, they usually are unable to find a reliable, engaging source to start with.

Politics, even when it doesn’t look like it, affects us all. It affects things as sexual abuse case settlements and things as seemingly ordinary as our access to education.

When we are the future of our nation, it is very crucial that space is made for us to know exactly how and what decisions have been made in our country so far, because ultimately, only an informed present can ensure a better future.

The new generation is suffering in the contemporary socio-political cultural reality of Bangladesh and it is the youth who are responsible to turn the table for the betterment of society.

Any resisting voice form the youth are dealt with utmost force by the state, protesting youths are being man-handled by the students of the ruling party and sarcastically, it is the protesters who are facing the law.

Even the teachers who stand along the students are facing severe consequences from the authority, which means, our spaces of resisting are shrinking.

However, I believe, through intellectual practice and demonstrating that zeal of the youth while protesting irregularities can be our only pathway to a society of betterment.

Our cultural practices allow less logic and more authority in most of the cases. A modern state allows an individual to achieve his or her maximum potential by creating an environment of cooperation and knowledge practice.

How far are we from such a state? Our youth needs to be open to newer ideas and thought processes. Their energy is now wasted on protests, but these times could be invested in more meaningful activities.

(The writer is a researcher and can be contacted at: [email protected])