It’s that time of the cycle again

Once again, we read that things are hotting up in the political sphere, as if to keep up with the unbearable summer. Many people in the country suffer from the incessant load-shedding, boundless inflation, endemic unemployment and corruption that is exacerbated by recent Hartals.

Our generation did not see the Liberation War but witnessed at first hand the struggle and enormous sacrifice made to re-establish democracy in the late eighties/early nineties. Youth then hoped that the fall of the authoritarian regime would be the harbinger of a new start to a prosperous, constructive path for our nation.

Tragically, the two political parties which led that movement, have since been at loggerheads. The early nineties, when overwhelming bipartisan cooperation between these two parties saw constitutional amendments, including the provision of a Caretaker Government headed by the Chief Justice to oversee general elections, are now distant fond memories.

To our nightmare, we observed irresponsible agitations from both parties. Instead of participating in parliamentary debates they indulge in tit-for-tat actions and when they find no other ways to resolve their differences they resort to Andolon, a disruptive measure that holds everyone hostage, interrupting normal life.

A tested but familiar script is followed: try to find or invent an issue, organise picketers and then declare that there is going to be non-stop disruption. An edgy government and protest leaders spend days bickering over this issue; the protests go ahead defying civil pleas; violence ensues, hundreds get arrested; the economy further deteriorates; government feigns an apology and fudges some actions; everyone goes home till the next phase of Andolon is triggered by another issue.

Utilising this method, they have alternately remained at the helm, for the last twenty years, leading the nation with such virtuosity that foreign aides and patronage pour over us – the most tolerant and pluralist democracy in the developing world, an example to the world, some assert, possibly ironically.

Consider the promise of building national superhighways, supposedly the largest this region would ever see, by the present government upon its election. Who cares now that after three and half years not even 25% of the work is completed and the projects are nearly stalled?

Fascinating it is that they have been able, so far, to elude us with the hope that tomorrow will be better, and with the affirmation that they will be better in the next term.

And this is not conspicuous only in Bangladeshi politics but remains ubiquitous, existing in neighbouring regions like India or in such far away, mightier and established places as the United States, England or France. In all instances we can find incumbent governments failing to live up to their promises to varying degrees and doing everything they can to the chagrin of each nation, to stay in power.

What is not found in these countries, however, are mindless destructive Hartals. As chaos emanate, national resources are deployed to prevent demolition but nothing can stop the collateral damage. While the economy and businesses suffer most, the lives of ordinary people, even students and labourers, are hampered to a deplorable level.

Hartals were very effective, participated and supported by the mass when used against the authoritarian regime of the eighties. Neither a free-media nor a properly elected parliament existed to voice concerns and protests of the opposition, then.

Twenty years into the so-called parliamentary democracy, we find our politicians not mature or sensible enough to engage in dialogues or to invent other means than Hartals to find answers for their discontent, even when they lose government for a term.

But then they still expect us to believe that they are doing all this to make the country better, and vote for them in subsequent elections.

As is the case elsewhere, they get away with doing this, knowing that we have no other alternatives. Or maybe they suffer from a chronic Schadenfreude, a borrowed word from German, meaning pleasure derived from others' misfortune.

If it is any comfort, citizen, brace for another turbulence. It is likely that you will see this disorder through, as you have resiliently in the past, and till of course the next cycle hits you.

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Irfan Chowdhury writes from Canberra, Australia.