Bangladesh: Searching for democracy in the family bedroom
GM Solaiman
June 03, 2009
So many times, I have heard that the joke of democracy in South Asia should be attributed to its poor uneducated constituency. What we see there is essentially monarchy in the name of democracy. I have listened to so many pundits uttering this assertion that I was almost beginning to accept it. However, I always have an uneasy feeling deep inside. Is it really the case? If we some how educate these ignorant mass, we can move beyond the legacy of sixteen century dynastic politics. That was the hope. Apparently, feeling my pain, Dr Absar came to my rescue. Who would dare to call her a poor, uneducated ignorant?
I do not want to loose anything in translation. I would like to offer an exact quote from one of our finest. I did not have any prior knowledge of her before I tumbled into an article published in Energy Bangla (Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina, DR SYEDA SHARMIN ABSAR, Thursday, 05.28.2009).
I am assuming that she is a die hard supporter of BAL. Few click in Google confirmed my suspect. There is nothing wrong with that. More than half of the population, according to December 2008 election results, is in fact supported BAL.
Most of the articles seemed bias but reasonable. This is usual for an opinion piece.
"Is it good to adopt such measures by a democratically elected country? Why not?" She questioned in reference to undemocratic practice of power play of previous administrations.
"Any new encounter will tarnish the human rights record of the clean Awami government," she said.
However, the last paragraph of the article is totally out of the line. I was quiet surprised by this. After all, she advertises herself associated with human rights, women rights, and UN initiatives.
"Simultaneously, we need to create future leadership for Bangladesh. The world will accept a Harvard degree holder and simultaneously an IT guy, Sajib Wajed Joy as PM of Bangladesh vis-ā-vis Rahul in India and Bilawal in Pakistan but when will Joy enter the field and get ready for the job? Perhaps Sheikh Rehana can actively play the role of Sanah Bhutto (Benazir's sister living in London and is a strong critic of Zardari). Sheikh Rehana like always can guide and advise her nephew in many aspects. The people need to know in advance that if Joy is not being groomed on the ground, then who is going to lead the Awami League and Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina?"
Apparently, this is her conclusion of the article and this is where the title of the article came from. Is that what democracy mean to her? Which dictionary has she used?
Looking for democracy in the bedroom is a very interesting idea. The so-called "future leadership" has to come from family bedroom. According to her understanding, the leadership of a party or a country is a family property, a kingdom to pass down. The people need to know in advance, who will inherit it.
This is not about Dr Absar. This is not about Sheikh Family. This is not about Bangladesh. This is something much bigger than this. I brought up her argument as an example of where we stand.
Just think about this. A leading human right champion, with a western degree, with some experience of UN activity, is thinking like this! What do you think an average person from one of the most disadvantageous region of the world would think? They got no chance.
By the way, if it is any consolation, here is a sweet family inheritance planning in one of the bedroom across the border. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi appointed his younger son as Deputy CM. According to news report, M.K. Stalin is his father's "chosen heir apparent" and "possibly rule the state one day". Same news report said, "Stalinīs elevation comes a day after his elder brother M.K. Azhagiri was sworn in as the central minister for chemicals and fertilizers Thursday in New Delhi". See how the "property" has been distributed inside bedroom.
Why do we blame all those average Joe? Why do we call them ignorant? Houston, we have a problem, a big ugly problem. This is not shallow as skin deep. We have no magic lotion to cure it. The source of the problem is much deep inside, probably at the core. I wonder if our DNA was screwed up by centuries of foreign rule.
I do not want to loose anything in translation. I would like to offer an exact quote from one of our finest. I did not have any prior knowledge of her before I tumbled into an article published in Energy Bangla (Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina, DR SYEDA SHARMIN ABSAR, Thursday, 05.28.2009).
I am assuming that she is a die hard supporter of BAL. Few click in Google confirmed my suspect. There is nothing wrong with that. More than half of the population, according to December 2008 election results, is in fact supported BAL.
Most of the articles seemed bias but reasonable. This is usual for an opinion piece.
"Is it good to adopt such measures by a democratically elected country? Why not?" She questioned in reference to undemocratic practice of power play of previous administrations.
"Any new encounter will tarnish the human rights record of the clean Awami government," she said.
However, the last paragraph of the article is totally out of the line. I was quiet surprised by this. After all, she advertises herself associated with human rights, women rights, and UN initiatives.
"Simultaneously, we need to create future leadership for Bangladesh. The world will accept a Harvard degree holder and simultaneously an IT guy, Sajib Wajed Joy as PM of Bangladesh vis-ā-vis Rahul in India and Bilawal in Pakistan but when will Joy enter the field and get ready for the job? Perhaps Sheikh Rehana can actively play the role of Sanah Bhutto (Benazir's sister living in London and is a strong critic of Zardari). Sheikh Rehana like always can guide and advise her nephew in many aspects. The people need to know in advance that if Joy is not being groomed on the ground, then who is going to lead the Awami League and Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina?"
Apparently, this is her conclusion of the article and this is where the title of the article came from. Is that what democracy mean to her? Which dictionary has she used?
Looking for democracy in the bedroom is a very interesting idea. The so-called "future leadership" has to come from family bedroom. According to her understanding, the leadership of a party or a country is a family property, a kingdom to pass down. The people need to know in advance, who will inherit it.
This is not about Dr Absar. This is not about Sheikh Family. This is not about Bangladesh. This is something much bigger than this. I brought up her argument as an example of where we stand.
Just think about this. A leading human right champion, with a western degree, with some experience of UN activity, is thinking like this! What do you think an average person from one of the most disadvantageous region of the world would think? They got no chance.
By the way, if it is any consolation, here is a sweet family inheritance planning in one of the bedroom across the border. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi appointed his younger son as Deputy CM. According to news report, M.K. Stalin is his father's "chosen heir apparent" and "possibly rule the state one day". Same news report said, "Stalinīs elevation comes a day after his elder brother M.K. Azhagiri was sworn in as the central minister for chemicals and fertilizers Thursday in New Delhi". See how the "property" has been distributed inside bedroom.
Why do we blame all those average Joe? Why do we call them ignorant? Houston, we have a problem, a big ugly problem. This is not shallow as skin deep. We have no magic lotion to cure it. The source of the problem is much deep inside, probably at the core. I wonder if our DNA was screwed up by centuries of foreign rule.
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