Politics of the apparent truths

The country seems to be breeding the spoilt, the blind and the insane.

The latest report from the BSF has identified Yakub Ali, who is only 25, of Keragachi village, and Abdul Hamid, 30, of Sharsha of Jessore as criminals. The two, suspected to be "smugglers" have been shot by the BSF. Out of the other five arrested are all under-age and yet have been handed over by the BSF to the Indian police force. So, now…the BSF is demanding punishment for the illegal immigrants and the "apparent" smugglers from Bangladesh! Oh…ok!

"Apparently" the commercial banks have responded to a Bangladesh Bank call to regulate loans to buy luxury and 'less necessary' products to keep inflation under check. Oh, really? Who are the ones who really need loans to buy homes and cars? Isn't it the middle-class trying to keep up with the consumerism promoted by the elite? Why does the central bank not watch over the rich and the spoilt? Is it because that at more than 1 million US dollars each, the six franchises of BPL: Barisal Burners a.k.a Alif Group, Chittagong Kings a.k.a SQ sports, Dhaka Gladiators a.ka. Europa Group, Khulna Royal Bengals a.k.a Orion group, Duronto Rajshahi a.k.a Digital Auto Care and Sylhet Royals a.k.a Walton Group, in spite of the latest match-fixing rumors, have "apparently" placed Bangladesh cricket in the map of the "rich" world of cricket? Oh…ok!

A particular barrister-cum-politician has just come out with the latest formula of sharing power between the two leading parties for five years stating clearly that a transition is not healthy. Therefore, the country "apparently" needs these two parties to rule for 5 years each. The Barrister has also stated that this system will not have any requirement for elections. Democracy is to be run without elections, as "apparently" the only right of power belongs to either of the parties and no other party or person will qualify to lead the people of Bangladesh. The cooperative power-sharing theory will "apparently" lead to a peaceful transition in the country! Oh…ok!

I just finished watching a particular minister going from one bridge to another, from one road to another, abusing the irresponsible officials and calling a few over the phone, threatening to sack them if he senses any further callousness from their part. The entire television crew moved along with him, recording him in action. Mr. Obaidur Quader, the outspoken minister seems to be resorting to "camera politics". In which country of the world have we watched this unique technique of reproducing political reality in real time? "Apparently", people need to be informed about every move he makes in order to make his position and stand very clear. It is, once again, "apparently" the best approach to transparency! Oh…ok!

A particular sitting minister of the Government of Bangladesh, who after a nine-year-old was crushed under the wheels of a bus in Dhaka, has commented about how "pointless" it is to protest against and blame the government for deaths in road mishaps as according to him: "An accident is an accident". The same minister has also offended limits of international diplomacy and has casually said: "If any major terrorist attack happens in Bangladesh, it would be rooted in London." It was again the same minister who downplayed the border killings by the Indian BSF and said that these incidents happened all the time and "apparently" there were more important issues to be considered by the government other than these killings! Really? Oh…ok!

At this point, might I humbly remind that once upon a time, creatures like a certain large-antlered elk became extinct as its great rack kept on getting tangled in forest branches. Evolutionary biologists termed it as a "biological suicide."

And, the elks fell.

Similarly, the beauty of its magnificent tail causes the fall of the peacocks. As per their evolutionary biology, a peacock's tail has grown more flamboyant over the centuries as well-feathered peacocks have had more mating opportunities and sexual preferences as a marker of healthy male. But with time, this tail cost a lot to the peacocks; it had been expensive and had needed nutrients to grow. Therefore, eventually the peacock population began to decline, even as the tails kept getting longer.

Why do we have BPL peacocks in the land? Can we afford our BPL tail? Why do we have "camera" ministers in here? Can we afford a media drama? Why do we have insane politicians preaching insane political strategies of power sharing being discussed in the open? Why do we have such a subservient attitude towards a murderous border? Why do we subject ourselves to blindness that is gripping the nation?

Even if the regular citizens are treated as bats, let the people remind the state actors that even bats can also see lower wavelengths of light and that people may also use neurons in their brains to sense direction. If the people are deprived of their sight, the pattern of falls around the globe will soon engulf the system and the people too will fall prey to multiple plots that may not be from within them, but from beyond. Democracy won't matter then. Nothing will…

Therefore, the answer lies in defying puppetry, defying tails, defying dramas, defying set plots, and defying portrayals.

This country was not born for "apparent" truths; this country wasn't meant for complicit, naïve acceptance of prompted dialogues; this country isn't to be split and shared amongst the two. This country was born with a promise to free our children from the clutches of corporate and political greed. So be it.

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Rubana Huq, Managing Director, Mohammadi Group