Idle speculation 1: Awami League’s next generation
During Hasina’s press release (scheduled at 11am, started nearly an hour later), TV channels (I flicked between Channel I, ATN Bangla, Ekushey) kept showing Radwan Mujib Siddiq, his lovely bride, and Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapash. Missing was of course the party chief’s kids, neither of whom were in Dhaka. Tulip Siddiq featured prominently in the campaign, courting the youth vote.
Is it too early to speculate about the new Awami scions — the three present in Dhaka and the two absent?
nothing changes. as long as you carry Mujib genes in your body, you can parachute in from Mars if necessary and assume some position of netritto. amazing.
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Yes, it is too early. It is not unexpected to have near and dear ones surronding you after you have had such a big win. In USA as well, family of the candidates always accompany the leaders. Nothing wrong with that.
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I agree with FZ. Besides what is wrong with Mujib genes?
Joy has a harvard degree, Boby has a LSE degree. Putul got best student award from her university. Tulip will start her MSS and active member of British Labour Party and Ruponti is going to oxford. If they come to BD politics then I don’t see any problem.
At least they are doing their homework.
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If the grassroots workers don’t like them, they won’t work for them.
If the military doesn’t like them, assuming the August 15th solution no longer an option, they can try the minus solution … oh, I just remembered, that doesn’t work
If the electorate doesn’t like them, they won’t vote for them.
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Nothing wrong with family accompanying politician. Problem is when family BECOMES the govt, with all power positions, regardless of their merit or experience, like a monarchy. or SHEIKHDOM !
That becomes the mother of Nepotism, a No-No for democracy!
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This might be ok for the first time after winning but if this becomes permanent situation than it won’t a good picture for AL image. I also hope that AL does not start changing the name of bridges, airports and others which will give impresseion about Monarchy, not democracy.
I hope that someone is listening in AL.
Regards,
M. M. Chowdhury
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I think it is great that Sheikh Hasina is being surrounded by educated young family members. It is good that these people are close to her and can give her honest advice without becoming sychophants. Plus, if they were not there the vacuum created would attract other unsavoury characters…remember the balcony scene when she was first released from the Special Jail…I recall seeing the illiterate mastan from Dhanmondi, Nixon (allegedly also a distant family member) standing besides Sheikh Hasina. It’s best that you have people like Radwan and Tulip close to Sheikh Hasina…that way the thugs can be kept at bay.
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A Harvard degree does not mean much! Remember Benazir Bhutto studied at Harvard and Oxford! ZA Bhutto studied law at Oxford.
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, murder of Daniel Pearl, studied at the London School of Economics.
A good Western education provides excellent training, among other things, in the art of corruption and technicalities of capital flight!
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Those universities have also produced greatest mind of our time. Pot toll, you see the dark side… i rather hope for the best.
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Guys, there is nothing interesting about speculating whether Hasina or Rehana’s kids will join politics. If the party members want them, they will get leadership. If they fail, people will reject them. Dynasty name by itself doesn’t work. If it did, BNP grassroots wouldn’t refer to Tarique’s exile as ‘apod gese’.
I think a more interesting speculation (and let me stress: speculation) is, why are Rehana’s kids here and not Hasina’s? It’s like Obama wins, and is surrounded by his sister’s family.
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As far I know, Joy and Putul both are working and did not get leave from their work. Joy also wanted to stay away from public appearance. He did not want to give wrong impression to young voters.
As for Sheikh Rehena’s family, Ruponti wanted to visit Bangladesh before she starts her Oxford life. Tulip is more interested to gather information for her MSS thesis. Boby wanted to visit Bangladesh with his wife.
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Jyoti, ” If the party members want them, they will get leadership……Dynasty name by itself doesn’t work.”
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Yes, but if there is a Dynasty name, then party members WILL want them, and they will get party leadership.
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Isn’t taking over the family business a tradition all over the world? Not just in politics but in all other spheres?
In politics- The Gandhi dynasty in India, the Bhuttos in Pakistan, the Bushes and Clintons in the USA, and Caroline Kennedy is contemplating taking a Senate seat, and one does not need to mention the Middle East kingdoms.
Even in other spheres in Bangladesh people are taking over businesses and professions from their fathers/mothers: Tamara Abed (daughter of BRAC’s Mr Abed running Aarong); Sara Hossain (daughter of Dr. Kamal Hossain); Tania Amir (daughter of Barrister Amirul Islam); The deputy editor of a leading newpaper is the son of the owner; children of almost all big businessmen (QC Shipping, Beximco, Square, et al) in Bangladesh are running their parents’ businesses.
So what is wrong if a member of a political family wants to get into politics? At least they still have to run for office and get the mandate from the people of Bangladesh before they can run the country. The same cannot be said for other people who takes over businesses from their parents. If the AL workers want someone from the Sheikh family to run their party then that is their prerogative.
The bottom line is one must be competent to do the task that one is taking over.
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they sound like technocrats with little proven mojo.
Omar Sheikh never finished at the lse. Jyoti’s issue with the limitations technocrats also comes into play here. A lot of people are allowed to study at institutions because the country likes to program and westoxify pseudo elites. It is sad that folks dont recognise this factor.
wise people might be encouraged to make things easier for for quality people to rise, rather than scum. This is the essential problem in the society. Arguing about the pro’s and con’s of a certain family, even if you regard them as royalty, is not optimal.
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Folks,
USA was the shining example of ANTI-dynasty, when in 18th century Pioneers escaped from British Family Monarcy, to build a new nation of dynasty-free democratic governance. GW Bush was an aberration (a freak accident) of voter disillusioning, by 9/11 propaganda. The results of such BUSH dynasty failure is clear today, a failure of mega proportion. USA will be careful NOT to vote dyansties again for a LONG time to avoid repeating history of GBush Dynasty disaster
Democracy is a system of governance where corruption is eliminated by controling nepotism, family connections, insider trading, bribery and mastani caused by Dynasty politics. Its a political system, the anti-thesis of monarchy, dictatorship, autocracy and nepotism. It is NOT a family business. Family dynasties are the rule of Italian mafia godfathers, and crime is their currency, their system is the opposite of democracy.
Democracy was first developed in the medieval days when the world was constantly being exploited by FEUDAL Dynasty kingdoms of Nawabs, maharajas, moguls and emperors. Those families ruled with iron rods, while poverty and injustice was widespread, demanding that people WORSHIP them like gods. Cult followings and royalty worshipping were common and the only benefiaries were the Dynasty, not people.
Indo Pak and Bdesh today, are sad examples of the FAILED results of centuries of Dynasty Devastation caused by family monarchy, nawabism, british Dynasty Colonialism, and hindu brahmin raja-ism. They were all family dynasties.
We in Bangladesh must make sure that we dont get disillusioned AGAIN by the glamour of Dynasty family worship, to avoid the devastation that family worship can do a nation’s growth and development, and the ‘true democracy’ we envisioned in freedom 1971.
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True enough Omer Sheikh never quite got his degree from the London School of Economics, but he did study Applied Mathematics and Economics at the LSE for more than a year.
The key point is that lot of scums study at Western institutions of higher learning. Many gain entrance because of their family connections, such as Bushes, Kennedy. That a few Sheikhs have received degrees from Harvard, or Oxford, LSE, or have been nominated the Global Young Leaders Forum does not mean anything.
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hi guys,
why make the self confessed illiterates and razakar of raozan happy, by scoring goals into empty nets??? don’t you people realize your write-ups are an insult to civilization??? for god’s sake don’t belittle the importance of harvard &/or cambridge pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez
jamal
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I don’t really know Sheikh Hasina’s children so I cant vouch for them, but Bobby, Tulip and Ruponti are all bright kids who got into the universities they go to or have been to through hard work and merit. You can’t assume that they got in because of their family connections just because they have those connections.
And, if they do get into politics, I’m sure we will all have great fun taking them apart for their every mistake. But till they actually get into politics, or till we can find some evidence of them abusing power, lets cut them some slack. I think they atleast deserve that much.
Also, you guys really need to find better things to discuss.
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Yeap, guys. Please do give them a break. We had enough of guilt by association in the past two years. If you believe in democracy, you also have to respect Awami League members’ prerogative towards electing Hasina again and again. Perhaps, that’s exactly why you are not AL’s member. Since you are not and you obviously have not started your own political party, you perhaps understand how difficult establishing and running a political party is in Bangladesh.
I am also getting a bit wary of various roundtables and commentaries about letting Hasina know what her ‘Acid test’ is from the very same people who failed their Acid tests as newspaper editors in the last two years. Its one thing giving her friendly suggestions but another thing about trying to dictate her work in the name of civil society pressure. Let the woman do her job and have faith on her abilities. If the last two years is any indication, she understands the people and country far better than these people who are giving her the advice.
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Asif, the Dynasty point is NOT about Hasina – she has gained her political eligibility by decades of AL activity and leadership.
The point is about automatic Dynasty positions given to all OTHER family members in the party, and the party’s blind DEVOTION to them, using the Mujib legacy as a hereditory qualification, and claiming that automatism to be ‘democracy. That is the danger of dynasty politics.
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Gazi,
Are you a Flaw seeker in each and every where In Political system? Can you show me one instance of Subcontinent that Next generation of Political Dynasty is not accepted by root level? Or you thought Root level workers are too raw to distinguish between honest and Corrupt People.
I have watched when ever you get chance you start to bash the politicians with out any reasons. But Fact is that Generals , Beaurocrats , Business men are not
better than Politicians. I don’t compare with the politics but as for example Dhiru Bhai Ambani has established the Reliance . His successor is become Anil or Mukesh Ambani . Both brothers have already reached in Top chart. Should Dhiru Bhai declares Efficient CEO of Reliance Mobile or Chemicals as their successor. Morally there are lots of better people are there in same company.
In our region Gandhi Family, Sheikh Family, Bhutto Family ,Bandaranaike or Aung sang suki are treated as the symbol of Unity.
Even Congress was divided into three /four parts on the leadership of Sitaram kesari Congress was divided in to three/four parts. Later on Madam Gandhi needs to come from the self exile of Politics to unite the party.
Let me tell you one things ” These families have given blood for the country.”
They don’t have the less affection for the country than you or I.
So be practical.
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Tanoy,
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From Daily Star
TIB clarifies Muzaffer comment
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday said its chairman’s comment on December 31 about the chief of the winning party in national polls was his personal opinion, not the TIB’s stance.
In a seminar titled “Curbing Corruption and Good Governance in future Bangladesh”, Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said, “The chief of the winning party, now on parole, should not swear in as the prime minister until the pending cases filed against her are disposed of.”
“The comment he [Muzaffer] made in the seminar is his own opinion; it is not TIB’s stance,” said a TIB’s press release yesterday.
It said there is no connection between the comment of its chairman Prof Muzaffer and the organisation.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “The people who participated in the elections maintaining proper process and were elected as peoples’ representatives are fully eligible to be sworn in as the members of the parliament as per the constitution and laws concerned.”
“Cases of corruption or breaching law would be disposed of as per proper legal and judicial process if they have any case or allegation against them,” he said in the press release.
TIB expects that the corruption allegations and other related issues would be settled through neutral judicial process, he said, adding that none can be regarded as guilty until being proved in proper judicial system.
At the same time it is not rational to deprive someone of constitutional rights on the basis of mere allegation or case, he said in the press release.
Gazi your opinion please
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[...] by involving her family into the matter. Surely, there are very few people in Bangladesh who think dynasties are the future of politics in [...]
Last month a bill was passed to allow Special Security to Hasina as PM, and as daughter of Mujib. Understandaby, that is obvious and every nation provides leaders’ security. The day before bill passed, DS had a Poll in their paper (do you agree with Hasina’s security Bill?), I quickly voted YES to support such security to HASINA, and 90% of voters supported it also.
But to my surprise (or maybe not so surprised), when the Bill was passed, the news said – “Special Security” was approved not only for Hasina – but her ENTIRE family, and even more stunning was – it was passed for their “LIFELONG security” for ALL of them.
“Lifelong security for ALL of them”?? Remember, when KZ was challenged about her Cantt home, Hasina argued she needed a STATE home also for her “security”. So lifelong security for ALL of Hasinas family members could mean a State Home for EACH of ALL her family, plus all kinds of state properties and assets and perks and REVENUES from the State – for “lifelong security”??
How many generations does this Bill for “ALL her family” continue until? Her great grandchildren?, her nephews’ 3rd cousins, her great great great great son in laws? Where does that list end?? Does that “security” include property purchase in UK, USA EU etc also with BD State money?
We know that with Sk Rehana selected as Exec President of AL, that party politics in BD is just a Dynasty cult. But does anyone see the clear definition of monarchy in practice?
Is the property of People being abused in the name of “democracy” in a nation of desperately poor, by those who behave like monarchs?
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yes my dear. monarchies tend to posess, inherit and develop a sense of class.
the pull of the father’s next generation depends on how insulated they are from the spirit of the ganj, their choices and the power of the personality cult in the minds of the Leaguers
A more interesting question for me is of how young people may gain a political tutelage, intellectual gunnery, deeni depth and ethical social technique in today’s bangladesh.
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‘young people’, in fact ALL people in BD are the “native peasants” – they dont count. in BD ‘democracy’ is of the monarchs, for the monarchs and by the monarchs.
For the others there is NO security, security is only for the Royal family. Funniest thing is – PEOPLE seem to go along with this, and ACCEPT & even encourage the royal family as celebrities, while cheering the so called ‘democracy’ and live happily in a Third World failed state monarchy, while the ENTIRE Royal Family jet-set in UK, USA and EU.
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What’s so wrong about ensuring security for Sheikh family members ? I thought most of the family members were already killed? Isn’t ensuring the security for remaining others the logical thing to do? Wasn’t there an assassination attempt on Hasina on August 21, 2005?
Also When did Sheikh Rehana become Exec President in AL?
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The law and enforcement always requires that Security for Mujib family members is, and has always been, top priority in BD. No security in BD can be more stronger than that. Thats the prevailing law and security requirement. Now, If the 2005 assasinatioin attempt happened despite that priority, then how will a BILL PASSED prevent other future attempts ?? (God forbid).
So to pass a BILL to ensure their “LIFELONG security” must have some other ulterior motive – most likely to ensure legalized ACQUISITION (abuse) of state property, Mansions, ownership of national assets and revenue to be given to Hasina family members. This is not just a guess, because in 2001 the same story was a BIG issue with Hasina family claiming natl property in the name of ’security’.
[Sheikh Hasina is expected to be the president again while {Sk Rehana} .... is going to be the Executive President of the Party, souces said. The new post of Executive president will be created in the council, insiders said.]
http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=276001
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What law in Bangladesh ‘require[s] that Security for Mujib family members is top priority in BD?’
You can’t have an analysis based on assumptions created on gut feelings and false news.
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Well, you’ll probably also be hard-pressed to locate where in the law it says that ministerial convoys can disregard traffic laws.
At first glance, this law is largely moot. As long as there is an AL government, Sheikh Hasina and the six other individuals covered by this law will get full-time protection anyways. And the next non-AL government will probably just rectify the law to protect all former PMs, rather than Hasina.
In my personal opinion, it is Hasina’s own actions, rather than her family history, that make her worthy of protection. Given that the other six stay abroad, one wonders why they need protection/lodging in Bangladesh. Moreover, given their history with the Army, one wonders how comfortable they will feel in SSF protection.
http://bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=90809&hb=3
The law says Sheikh Mujib’s two daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana and their children will be entitled to special lifelong security, which will entail affording them protected houses with SSF guards.
The law defines “the family of the Father of the Nation” as his two daughters and their children, the press secretary said.
It will remain effective through an executive order until passage in parliament.
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“The law defines ‘the family of the Father of the Nation’ as his two daughters and their children.” Does that seem ironic to anyone else?
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Are we heading towards ” Constitutional Monarchy ” ? Well, it’s started having all the traits of it ! Stately mansions, Flashy Cars,Jet setting around the globe,Staff and Security ! Why not ?
I am all for appropriate security based on existing Threat Perception. Even it’s fine for PM’s immediate family. But why for life ? Look at Ershad . He created PSF with licenses to kill. He used to be surrounded and followed by hundreds of security personnel all the time during his hey days. What’s happening now ? He dosn’t even get security allowed for Ex -President ! All he gets is perks allowed as Ex- Army Chief !! He is no more important to be on the hit list . His ladies dumped him too !!
The cabinet has approved the draft, it surely will get stamped by the parliament. We the subjects probably can do nothing about it. All I know that we tax payers will foot the bill. I hope the cost is published for democracy’s sake.
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Sheikh Mujib’s family is a high risk family. It has enemies both at home and abroad. She has already survived an assassination plot in the August grenade blast. As long as the self-confessed assassins of Mujib are able to freely move across the world and Indian terrorists hiding in Bangladesh the PM and her family must be protected from killers and assassins no matter what the costs are. We cannot afford to lose our leaders any more as such losses take us back eons with blockhead generals grabbing power illegally. Khaleda Zia correctly said the last illegal CTG took us back 20 years into the past retarding our growth and democracy.
Generals of the past illegitimate regime like Moin, Hassan Mashud, Matin and other scoundrels under CHAPRASHI Fakruddin clearly exposed the dullheaded intellect of these goofs who repeatedly raped the concept of reform under the banner of army-backed CTG.
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Terrorists and assassins are inherently illegal, so Laws and Bills to provide security to politicians in a democracy are indeed moot, laws dont deter assasinations. (again God forbid).
The Kennedys in USA were also high risk families, so were the Indira and Rajeev Gandhi family, did their surviving family members get STATE homes/palaces? No. Because they are a democracy, and only in Monarchies do people get lifetime PERSONAL PALACES and Castles from the State.
The way I read the news, the KEY to this Bill was more to provide personal ESTATES to the family members than security. The Hon PM herself should have resisted it, in the interest of democracy.
Unfortunately, this Bill actually takes back and delays the concept of democracy from BD by decades, and strengthens the foundation of nawabism and dynasty cult in Bangladesh.
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Millions if not billions of dollars on security of international leaders, their spouses and family members not only in the West but leaders and family members of countries like China, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
I see nothing wrong if our PM and her family is provided the same level of security and protection. I do not understand why some mean-minded people make issues out of everything to wage a propaganda war against the AL.
Hasina and her family deserves more protection than anyone else in the country. I am sure the expenses will be a tiny fraction of the money spent on Gandhi and other former Indian PM families.
The Kennedy’s and Gandhi’s own huge estates that enjoy all kinds of high-tech security as long as they hold government positions. Even when they are out of office they enjoy SSF-like facilities that are not envied by mean-spirited lowly scums so much prevalent in Bangladesh.
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I have a little mental exercise I like to call the 1/11 test. It goes like this: I take some action by a democratic government, and then I think, “If Mahfuz Anam, or Zafar Sobhan, were writing an op-ed about how our politicians have utterly failed us, would this action be something they would put in their article in support of their contention, or would this be something that would run counter to their argument?”
Unfortunately, I think this move by Sheikh Hasina fails the 1/11 test rather badly. She is reducing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to “Father of the Family.”
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Sikander Ali,
Nobody sees anything wrong with spending money for security for PM and family, anybody would RECOMMEND it, even the “mean-spirited lowly scums” would.
But the fine line is:
1) Kennedy’s estates are paid frrom their OWN Personal wealth, NOT from state’s.
2) In a democracy, politicians are humans not Kings and Queens, all people are equal.
3) In a nation of desperately poor people, state wealth is for the people, not for dynasty families. Every penny must go to people’s welfare.
4) Every penny that a politicians gets from the state, MUST be accounted for – whether its Hasina or Khaleda.
5) to uphold DEMOCRACY, not a kingdom, Hasina ( or any minister) must reject ANY state property given to them. They should not even be offerred any, by law.
6) In BD many politicians are known to DEMAND that a property be written in their name forever. Hasina was known to demand Bongobhavan in 2001 for lifetime, in her OWN personal name, which was built as the nations White House.
Now, if Obama DEMANDED the US White House, would you be so broad-minded, (not so mean-spirited) to give it to him for lifetime? After all, the blacks had a really tough time in US history. or would that be a joke, in a democracy?
We need to re-understand the meaning opf democracy, if we need to build one.
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We probably are in ” Democratic Autocracy “, It may well be “Autocratic Democracy ” but doesn’t feel like Democracy we were fighting for . Enacting a law to allow privileges to particular Family is surely unprecedented. It will create a privileged class and it’s discriminating. It may contradict provisions of constitution which calls for equality. It’s done in very bad taste.
A quick google search about ” democratic autocracy ” will take you to :
” If correct, the hegemony theorists’ analysis has many implications for education, two of which are fundamental. First, it appears that society is educating in deeply contradictory ways. On the one hand, citizens are taught in the schools and through the media that they live in a democratic society. On the other hand, they are taught through daily experience not to expect participation in fundamental decisions affecting their lives. Finally, they are not educated by either school or society to examine and question such contradictions between rhetoric and reality. Instead, citizens learn from an early age to tolerate the contradictions if they see them at all. It requires nothing less than indoctrination to convince people in a hegemonic, nondemocratic society that democracy is working well. “
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What is so bothering about BD “democracy” , is that people cry in BD for election-election, democracy-democracy, but have no worries when their party politicians bathe themselves in a sea of corruption, leaving the whole nation water-clogged, rain flooded, toxic poisoned in load shedded darkness.
“Well they are our own AL – BNP folks, so what if they steal a billion or two”. Or, “she is a daughter of the nation, so what if she has her own gold crown, palace and diamond throne right in the middle of the capital city. Her FAMILY deserves it”!?
Folks, this is not how democracy works.
The concept (of democracy) must be TOO NEW in BD, and people havent really caught up yet, the system is still working like the more FAMILIAR ‘rajotto’ , ‘nawab-proja’ ‘raja-badsha’ ’shomrat jahapona’ moghul bahadur shah, brahmin shudra, british raj, KIND OF system – where the word “democracy” was totally taboo and illegal.
Where ‘PEOPLE’ were just submissive peasants (projas) kicked-arouind and oppressed to the bones, while the leaders were their gold-covered nawabs who were worshipped as godly statues of perfection, living in Taj Mahals !
Are we building that type of ‘democracy”??
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