Besides, those who flout the nation’s vision as enshrined in the Constitution cannot expect their visions of doing good to the people will be taken seriously by others.
The real crisis of the country is not vision but the absence of competent leadership for saving and working the democratic Constitution successfully. This is also no less a crisis that police can no longer be trusted as the people’s friends for the protection of law.
No vision has been shown for failed leaders to give up and make way for the new ones. There is no vision for democratising their parties though both the parties in their respective visions talk of parliamentary democracy, good governance and improving quality of services to the people. Then answers have to be given to the question what were the difficulties for them in not following the Constitution of the people.
There is no vision either for getting rid of young musclemen as political workers, many of whom earn money through crimes of muscle power with political impunity. Our leaders have no vision for political reforms necessary in party politics for the success of democracy.
The original Constitution of 1972 is the nation’s vision for good governance and democratic way of life. The people’s vision of living in safety and security of life and property under the rule of law remains ignored.
The fundamental thing about democracy is accountability of the government to the people. At no level the government officials, known as public servants, feel obliged to serve the people. For that, they must be paid extra. Those who are honest are considered not smart enough and loyal enough.
Any true politician would know that politicisation of police meant abusing law politically by police. This is not believing in democracy when journalists are encouraged to be party activists of their undemocratic politics.
This is not good governance when police are suspected to be committing crimes hand in hand with other criminals.
In the recent shocking rape case in a Dhaka hotel the part police played is being questioned. The OC of Banani Police Station had to be suspended for complicity. Many such instances of indiscipline are published in the media almost everyday.
It is suspected that many other ways of corruption will be resorted to by others when corruption is endemic. The owners of the jewellery shop is in trouble losing money for alleged involvement of his son in the offence of rape. There is no protection of rule of law.
Law is an excuse, abuse of law is the reality.
The judiciary is hindered to play its role of safeguarding the rights of the individuals and helping good governance possible. If the judiciary does not become strong in saving the criminal justice system from being used politically to deny freedom then there will be more frustration and insecurity in public life.
Though facing all kinds of challenges from the government, the judiciary is the only democratic institution still surviving and fighting for survival.
As our last resort for freedom and justice the judiciary has to be saved. The lawyers and judges must join together to uphold the cause of justice and save the judiciary from being used politically.
The police are to be saved as impartial law enforcers. The police cannot be the political arm of the government destroying its professional role and image.
Now we are living in a situation where the democratic institution of free election is in denial. The election under the sitting partisan government is not an insurance for a free election. We have a Parliament without the democratic opposition which is contrary to the Constitution. The journalists as party activists are not the fourth pillar of democracy.
We are tolerating all wrongs and injustices still we call ourselves a nation of heroes. The United Nations and the Amnesty International have been expressing anxieties for forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The incidents of terrorists committing suicide when surrounded by police are unheard of elsewhere. But for the people, it is living in panic for the safety and security of life.
