Resolutions for the New Year

Prothom Alo Illustration
Prothom Alo Illustration

The year 2019 has disappeared into the endless chasm of time. Done with the successes and failures of the past year, we start the new year with fresh hope for peace and happiness.

In the political sense, the year had been stable. There is no guarantee that a government that comes to power through free and fair elections will be better than the previous one. Even so, people still want free, fair, inclusive and neutral polls. The election commission failed in that respect. However, no matter how the 30 December 2018 election may have been, the government that was formed under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, was a continuity of the preceding one. So there were no bottlenecks to implementing the projects which the government had previously taken up.

Politics, though, has been stagnant in the past year. People’s relations with the political leaders were cool, and it was same in the opposition camp. The political opposition failed to put forward any alternative to the present government before the public. The opposition had formed a coalition during the December election, but that failed to gel and there was a lack of unity among the parties. In the absence of its leader Khaleda Zia, the coalition’s main party BNP faced a crisis. The weakness of the opposition gave the ruling party added clout, though they hardly used that well. They could have cashed in on the opposition’s weakness and won further public support, but the leaders of the ruling party preferred to rely on the administration and the law enforcement rather than the people.

In democracy, people’s empowerment is key. In a democratic system, trust must be placed in the people. Bureaucracy is not an alternative to democracy. The ruling party alone cannot be blamed for the political vacuum that prevails. The abject failure of the opposition is to blame too. The make-belief opposition had no place in parliamentary democracy.

There are multiple reasons why this present year is an important one. The government is taking all sorts of preparations to celebrate the centenary of Bangabandhu’s birth. This is also a year to prepare for the country’s 50th independence anniversary. If the government and Awami League want to take full credit for celebrating these events, then the gravity of the events will diminish.

Per capita income has increased in the country and so has the GDP and overall development. Along with that, people’s expectations have also increased. If those expectations are not timely met, frustration will grow. It is not only the middle class but the lower class too that will want good education, the workers will want realistic wages, farmers will want fair prices for their produce, educated youth will want jobs suited to their skills, the people will want modern healthcare, small and medium entrepreneurs will want state backing. Unless these expectations are fulfilled, unrest will grow. The result of such outburst could be manifest in various ways and the conventional methods of quelling such protest are not always effective.

If a welfare state is to be built, we must move away from old concepts. Before extreme poverty was the focus, now it is achieving the SDGs. This requires wisdom and farsightedness.

Bangladesh is graduating from a least developed country to a developing country. This is a happy matter, but a challenge too. As a developing country, Bangladesh will not get the market access of a least developed country when it comes to exports. Bangladesh gets foreign loans on easy terms and low interest, but that will no longer be so. Grants from development partners will decrease. If revenue income does not increase, development work will be hampered.

Last year export earnings hit an 18-year low. Import expenditure is relatively higher. Readymade garments are the main source of export earnings. The large industries rule this sector rule, while the small and medium ones are faltering. This will have a negative impact on the economy.

The wealthy persons in society, who have built their riches by corrupt means and are pilfering public resources, are destroying social equity. The common people are frustrated. This hampers the growth of a peaceful society. It is not possible to save society from the grasp of corruption simply by sending 50 people to jail. The doors of corruption must be shut. This needs change in the overall system.

The economy is growing but the businessmen are hesitant about investing capital. The capital market is not growing adequately. Equity comes from the capital market. Presently the capital is coming from banks. The banks are totally mismanaged and are losing the capacity to provide capital. Some financial institutions are on the brink of bankruptcy. Unless the prevailing culture of default loans is dealt with, indiscipline in the financial sector cannot be dispelled. Economists are dismayed at the lack of competence in Bangladesh Bank and the finance ministry.

Bangladesh is facing all sorts of dangers. Bangladesh had been recognised as a humanitarian state for providing shelter to the Rohingya refugees. But it has failed to take a strong stance to deal with this crisis. Its lack of diplomatic prowess is glaringly obvious. We need to bolster the strength our foreign ministry with skilled diplomats.

Bangladesh’s foreign policy is fairly good, not for or against anyone. We want friendship with all. But if that means we won’t get anyone by our side in times of distress, then our diplomacy is a failure. That is what we have learnt from the Rohingya crisis.

The universities are to produce future leaders of the state. But Bangladesh’s higher studies are in dire straits. There is no dearth of meritorious students, but the education institutions are failing to provide them with appropriate education.

One fourth of the population comprises a young workforce. A large percentage of them are educated youth. Many of them are frustrated. They have no jobs. Conditions are not conducive for them to do business either. They are dismayed at the overall state of the country.

Remittance sent in by expatriate workers makes up 22 per cent of the country’s foreign exchange. The labour market is now shrinking. The government is arranging for a 2 per cent incentive for remittance sent though legal channels. That is a laudable measure. But now they also have to stop the harassment of these migrant workers at the airports. Stern measures must be taken against fraudulent recruiting agents.

Bangladesh is one of the seven countries most affected by climate change which has been triggered by global warming. Strong negotiation skills are required to ensure fund in this regard. But while the government officials are eager to join international climate change conferences, their performance there is dismal.

The environment is in a mess due to illegal occupation and pollution. Influential people are simply filling up the rivers. The government has taken several initiatives to free the rivers from their grasp, but if the government officials give in their their pressure, then these initiatives will fall flat on their face. Despite the prime minister’s admonitions, brick kilns are being set up on cropland. Stern punitive action must be taken. The people of Dhaka must be saved from the dust and pollution.

The government in the past years has not treated the political opposition or critics well. There are plenty instances of human rights violations. Those in power must wield their power prudently, in keeping with the constitution.

The government has brought militancy under control. Now there is need for a unity among all quarters, regardless of party affiliation, to build a peaceful society free of crime and terror. Let that be the nation’s resolution for the New Year.

* Syed Abul Maksud is a writer and researcher. This piece appeared in the print edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir.