Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has commented that the people’s aspirations for the establishment of a democratic new Bangladesh are being trampled on, despite the rhetoric of reform, while in practice the culture of domination, occupation and extortion continues.
The organization made this comment in a press release sent to the media on Sunday (August 24).
It states that the ‘now is our turn’ behavior of some political party leaders and activists in the country is increasing alarmingly due to the misuse of power. This is reflected in the multi-dimensional factionalism, extortion, occupation, looting of state assets, lawsuit trading, arrest trading, bail trading, tag trading and party dominance-centered violence across the country since the fall of authoritarianism; which is a bad sign for the goal of a new political settlement in the new Bangladesh. With reforms on the face but the culture of dominance, occupation and extortion continuing in practice, the people’s aspirations for the establishment of a democratic new Bangladesh are being trampled on. Contrary to the opportunity for fundamental change in politics created by the fall of authoritarianism, this is our turn to abuse power with this mentality, some political party leaders and activists are creating suicidal obstacles on the path to the possibility of healthy political development free from corruption.
In a statement, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, “In the wake of the fall of authoritarianism, the activities of a section of the leaders and activists of the political parties considered to be the most influential in the past year are developing as a reflection of the misuse of the multifaceted power of the government party during the fallen authoritarian period and unhealthy practices for self-interest. Malicious political activities have once again become normal due to the direct and, in some cases, mutual collusion involvement of a section of the leaders and activists of the power-seeking and influential parties.”
Unfortunately, in many cases, the fallen political forces are also silently involved in this conspiracy. Traditional factionalism, occupation and position trading have intensified, and some violent party conflicts have been seen to create violence at the local level as well as rare instances of declaring a strike. In many cases, in addition to the use of force to achieve demands, the countrymen have had to witness the experience of deprivation of the rights of minorities, gender-based, indigenous and marginalized communities under the guise of so-called authoritarianism, horrific attacks on the efforts to establish women’s rights, and brutal attacks on traditions and cultural activities.
On the other hand, citing the irresponsibility of some of the leaders and activists of the political parties concerned, their desire to achieve their own interests, and the worrying lack of internal accountability and control systems, the TIB Executive Director further said that a significant number of organizational steps are being taken from the high levels of the parties concerned, starting from warnings in some cases. However, just as the law enforcement agencies and administration are failing as usual to effectively remedy these, they are also playing a supportive and protective role in many cases, and no specific preventive and corrective strategies are being adopted by the political parties. Rather, many of the local leaders and activists at the district, upazila, and union levels have been involved in occupation, extortion, and political influence-building since the fall of the authoritarian government, and the extent of this is constantly increasing.
He said, “Now it’s our turn – by engaging in this culture, political parties as well as the government, especially the administration and law enforcement agencies, have revived the example of partnership along with the failure to control at the local level in many cases. The resurgence of the cycle of seizure of transport terminals, mineral resources, bridges, markets and water palaces and extortion is also keeping alive the continuity of the misrule of the past authoritarian regime in the political arena. Although the new political parties, which emerged from the anti-discrimination movement, have also promised to represent good governance, transparency and a corruption-free political culture, in reality, a section of their leaders and activists have been involved in various irregularities including extortion, accepting the existing self-interested and corrupt political practices as a role model and have chosen a suicidal path.”
He further said, “Above all, the much-anticipated new political settlement following the fall of authoritarianism has created a risk of being increasingly held hostage by the old, sick political culture. Are the political parties and forces sending the message to the countrymen that although they have organized and made it possible to overthrow the authoritarian government through bloody movements, they are not interested in ending authoritarian practices, but rather, their goal is to nurture these practices?”
Dr. Zaman said, it is time for political parties to introspect. It is their responsibility to avoid suicidal political practices and learn from the core spirit of the movement against authoritarianism and discrimination, considering the political party as one of the most important institutions of democracy, and to develop a people-oriented political culture through the development of democratic practices, accountability, honesty and ethical activities within the party. If political parties cannot ensure their own internal accountability, ethical practices and democratic management process, the disappointment of the martyrs, injured and affected people in the historic July Movement, as well as the general public, will increase. In order to fulfill the dream of establishing a new Bangladesh, it is now necessary to find a way for the political party to seek a path of fundamental change based on constructive introspection and at the same time find a way to move away from the culture of corruption through mutual dialogue and cooperation. Otherwise, it will be impossible to find a difference between the politics of new Bangladesh and the fallen authoritarianism.
