Whither Leadership in Bangladesh? My comments on the Probe Report

Ref: http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=5074

I must say that the Probe report, despite some small flaws, is a good analysis on political, civic and military leadership in today’s Bangladesh. The retired Commandant from the NDC, Aminul Karim, Ph.D., PSC, NDC, was a Lt. General and not Major General when he was asked to retire. [I deplore many such decisions of the current government, which effectively has gotten rid of some highly talented and honest individuals who still had years to serve our nation efficiently. Professional jealousy runs so nasty in many government departments that even when an officer is honest, non-partisan, or at least not pro-previous administration, he/she could be perceived as a liability to the new administration. I am told that the former Secretary Mr. H.T. Imam and (retd.) Maj. Gen. Tareq Siddiqui are behind many such orders of reassignment and retirement today.]

Crime and Corruption:
It goes without saying that like most under-developed and third or fourth world countries Bangladesh has her share of crime and corruption, and most politicians are not immune from such vices. We also don't have an effective system that checks and balances so that individuals -- whoever they are -- are held accountable for their actions. There is also the fear among the general population that if they were to complain, let alone become a government witness against the political Mafia Dons, they may need more than one head over their shoulders! Thus, an utterly corrupt individual can steal millions of dollars and money-launder, grab someone's land and yet there is nothing that could redress the matter. That was one of the reasons why the ACC effort failed miserably to put such criminal politicians behind the bar. And the most appalling perception today is judiciary can be bought for the right price. I don't think it is false perception though given the lifestyle maintained by many magistrates and judges, which could not have been maintained without such kickbacks. So, it is almost an impossible fight to root out crime and corruption in our society.

In a country which has not learnt how to effectively fight crime and corruption, it is thus not difficult to understand why in general mostly the mastans, extortionists, Mafia Dons get elected. Naturally, these are the same people that get nominated by most political organizations. The political leadership is often time duped into thinking that if it doesn't nominate such Dons the party may lose election. And then there is the question of forced 'ransom' money collected in the name of the party or leader; so only those with mostly filthy money are preferred candidates. Very rarely do candidates like Dr. Dipu Moni get nominated. [Note: I am not unaware of the particular reason, namely her companionship during Hasina's trips overseas in the aftermath of 1/11, as to why she was nominated by the ruling party, but do want to emphasize here the fact that she did not have the kind of money usually required for running as an MP candidate.] The exceptions are people like Matia Chowdhury, Rashed Khan Menon with long political career and deep grass root support. Again, as we have seen over and over again, the latter combination may not be enough for winning an election in a country like ours where people usually vote more for the party symbol than candidate's personality, qualities, qualifications, etc. The bottom line is: what we have in Bangladesh is a vicious cycle in which each driving element plays its role to sustain and reenergize the process of crime and corruption.

I am, therefore, not surprised to read that some of the most criminal and corrupt politicians are still thought to have a political comeback, probably with a firmer footing than before, something that we have already observed with some “jail-ferat” politicians last year. So energized were some of those corrupt politicians with criminal background that once released from the prison they had no fear and no remorse about threatening all those who might have provided the caretaker government with supporting evidences of their crimes. The louder their gutsy threats were the more they were sought and nominated. It is truly a national disgrace! There was also an unmistakable, almost insidious, atmosphere of revenge that showed that those (outside a few exceptions) who had honestly clamored for a change in political style, leadership - all legitimate demands for reform within our established political establishment - were considered ‘rebels’ and thus, not nominated by any of the major political parties. So, what does it say about our political leadership, and its foresight?

A nation that rewards its criminals and corrupt folks does not have what it takes to become a great nation. It has no room for honest and talented folks whose service is essential not only to arrest the vicious cycle but also to take the next step towards progress. It is this factor alone, if not anything else, which translates into a brain-drain phenomenon, something that no nation that is serious about technology transfer can afford. Just to put this into context, from my own BUET class of 1977, more than 80% of the First Class recipients today are living outside Bangladesh that are now gainfully employed in various university campuses and the corporate world.

Is it possible to reverse this brain-drain trend? Sure. Political leadership can reverse the process by enabling an environment that not only retains its talented folks but also attracts its talented expatriate community and even foreigners who sincerely would like to bring about the desired change within. This is something that the current leadership in Bangladesh ought to take a deep look at if it is truly sincere in translating its stated goal of Digital Bangladesh by the end of the next decade.

To get out of our national disgrace, I have for quite sometime tried to make a case for rediscovering and recapturing our inner resources that define our very humanity. (Interested readers may, e.g., like to read my article: A leadership primer - why we are failing miserably? http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_leadership_primer_why_we_are_failing_miserably1/) Sadly, such suggestions sometimes are viewed as an eyesore to our secular and almost agnostic intelligentsia that like to discover fundamentalism with everything. They forget that religion has a tremendous influence in developing people’s character. In their zealous rejection of religious teachings, they also forget that OBL and his comrade Dr. Ayman al-Jawahiri are products of secular education system, and not religious institutions.

I am told that today's school children in Bangladesh are not taught lessons in morality, at least anything that has any religious nuance. If that is true, can they be blamed if they become tomorrow's SaQa, Mamun, Koko, etc.? To add salt to our injuries we are reminded that today's leaders were yesterday's students who were taught such high-sounding virtues, and yet they have failed to live up to the dictates of those higher values. So, many naysayers would ask: what good can such lessons of morality do to change our national behavior that values material success over living an honest life? The simple answer is that while morality like education is neither a sure guarantee for everyone's becoming knowledgeable nor of transforming one into a better human being, it is still the best remedy we have. It is like a vitamin pill that one takes towards preventing a disease from taking its root in the body. One can only hope that majority of the students would grow up to become better human beings who know their accountability not only in front of God but also to the very society and environment that they came from. Words backed up virtuous actions can do miracles, and a wise leadership through its prudence, courage and vision, and ultimately walking the talk, can facilitate and germinate such a process to take its root in the fertile soil of Bangladesh. Leadership matters to initiate and execute such a change.

War Crimes:
The Probe report also cites some politicians who may be tried for war crimes of 1971. The matter of trial has become a national demand, being part of the manifesto of the ruling party. It is now being steered by some powerful elements within the broader secular society. In the midst of such excitement, we should not forget that it is also the touchiest of subjects requiring careful consideration so that it is not misused for political expediency. There are too many in politics who like to politicize such issues so that the playing field is cleared of political rivals so that they could be reelected without much opposition. Branding someone as a war criminal goes a long way to fulfill that selfish desire.

In my personal opinion, only those criminals who were directly involved in committing the crimes of murder, rape, loot, arson, destruction, etc. should be prioritized, and not every Kalimuddin who may not have welcomed the emergence of Bangladesh. That is, no party should be incriminated solely for its political ideology of being Pakistan-pasand. This means, political parties like the Muslim League, PDP, Jamat, Nizam-e-Islam, etc. should not be targeted for their political ideologies that favored a united Pakistan over an independent Bangladesh. However, anyone who had, e.g., a hand in killing, irrespective of his/her political affiliation, cannot hide behind an ideology to protect him or her, and need to be tried.

If we fail in making this important distinction between a failed ideology and its executors, as an ardent student of history, I can see a fractured nation that is bound to revisit its bloody history of assassination, rebellion, mutiny, coup, etc. So, while the cautionary steps and moderation suggested above by me do not translate into ultimate justice they do nevertheless leave behind enough good-will glues to piece us together to function as a more cohesive society. It is the bitter pill that we need to swallow for better good of our nation.
I am reminded here that the Nuremburg Trial did neither go after ordinary soldiers who fought in the WW II nor those who worked in the so-called gas chambers, crematoria, etc., but only after their Nazi leaders who issued such orders. Even a hatemongering, xenophobic intellectual like Julius Streicher did not escape from being prosecuted and found guilty. (See this author’s article on xenophobia: http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/xenophobia_a_brief_analysis/)

Many concerned intellectuals have even suggested following South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation formula to address the issue of war crimes of 1971. A thorough evaluation of the various options is needed here keeping in mind what is good for our nation, without unduly polarizing a segment against another. Let wisdom and not political expediency guide our path.

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