Editorial
Ruling party needs to reciprocate
opposition leader’s gesture
THE tone of reconciliation that the leader of the opposition in parliament and Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, took during an exchange of views with editors and senior journalists of print and electronic media and news agencies on Monday was indeed refreshing and reassuring, especially in view of the growing apprehension that the rival political camps may be slowly but surely headed for yet another confrontation. According to a report front-paged in New Age on Tuesday, Khaleda was emphatic in her assertion that the opposition wanted ‘the constitutional government to continue functioning’ and was ‘for cooperation with the government to [help it] stay in power’ because it did not ‘want to see any unconstitutional government [usurp power] any more.’ Equally encouraging was her disclosure that the opposition would return to and stay in the parliament while, at the same time, it would also be ‘on the streets in the coming days to raise voice against the anti-people activities of the government.’ Besides, it is indeed praiseworthy that the opposition is willing to take part in any discussion on issues of national interest, if the government so requests, although Khaleda bemoaned that the ‘government has never approached us’ for such discussion. On the whole, the opposition leader’s assertions and assurances, if reciprocated by the ruling party, could lead to a significant de-escalation of tension on the one hand and pave the way for the two camps to forge some kind of a workable relationship on the other. What remains to be seen is if the ruling party is willing to meet its end of the bargain.
Needless to say, the ruling party is generally expected to play a greater role than the opposition, to make the parliament functional and to ensure a healthy political environment. Here, expectation from the Awami League-led ruling alliance is certainly even greater especially because of its self-professed commitment to bringing about positive changes in politics and governance. Regrettably, thus far, it has all remained in the realm of rhetoric rather than being translated into reality. Many may even argue that the AL-led alliance has consistently tried to further vitiate the political atmosphere and appeared only too eager to keep the opposition away from the parliament. The enthusiasm displayed by some ruling party lawmakers to denigrate the opposition and especially the opposition leader, and level unsubstantiated allegation against them, at every opportunity that they get, inside or outside the parliament, only lends credence to such an argument. Meanwhile, the ruling party’s argument that why should it invite the opposition to discussion on issues of national interest when the latter never did so while it was in power is not only flawed but also premised on falsehood. One may recall that, in the wake of the August 17, 2005 series of explosions across the country, the BNP-led alliance government did invite all political parties to a national dialogue, and that, barring the Awami League, every political party took part in the discussion.
Hence, if the ruling alliance is sincerely committed to making the parliament functional and bringing about change in politics and governance, it needs to respond positively to the opposition leader’s gestures. It may start by reining in the lawmakers who have made it a habit to take a swipe at the opposition every now and then. Everyone must keep in mind that the continuity of the democratic political process is consequent upon sincere efforts from both the ruling and opposition parties. That’s why, even if the governing party does not cooperate, the opposition must not seek to use such non-cooperation as a justification to not work for continuity of constitutional governance. The opposition needs to realise as well that the people will not forget or forgive should it make any breach of promise.
A truly memorable SA Games
THE 11th South Asian Games, which ended on Tuesday, will be remembered as possibly one of the most successful in the short history of the games. Apart from a freak off-the-field accident hours before the opening ceremony, in which six athletes and one official of Nepal were injured when an overloaded lift at their hotel hurtled down the ground, the 12-day carnival passed without any hitch or glitch. People turned up at different venues in droves, even to watch such little-known sports as wushu, not only cheering on the local athletes but also appreciating the individual and collective excellence on display. In the end, the games showcased the indomitable human spirit on the one hand and fraternity of the peoples of the region on the other. Such expression of solidarity and fraternity, if extended to and maintained at the political level, could one day translate into reality a dream that the peoples of the region hold so close to their hearts – a prosperous South Asia, free from mutual mistrust and recrimination.
These games also ushered in an unprecedented success for Bangladesh in the sporting arena. The final gold tally of 18 was by far the best showing for the host nation, surpassing its previous best of 11 in the 1993 games. The success was especially sweet in view of the country’s dismal showing in the previous two editions of the games, in Islamabad and Colombo, where it managed only three gold medals each. Significantly still, the female athletes led the charge in these games. While they could not manage a single gold in the previous games, the female athletes accounted for eight of the 18 gold that Bangladesh won this time around.
Bangladesh’s unprecedented success in the games, we believe, sends across two clear messages. First, the country has the potential to shine at the regional level and beyond in a number of sports; hence, the government needs to come out of cricket- and football-centricity, and start patronising these sports as well. Second, the female athletes can bring more glory for the nation, if provided with adequate patronage, not only from the government but also from non-governmental organisations.
Overall, the 11th South Asian Games afforded the nation a host of reasons to be proud of – the organisers have shown that they can successfully host a regional sporting carnival, the athletes have made it clear that they are not pushovers and, last but not least, the people have once again proved that they are as good aficionados of sports as anyone in the world.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Connecting Dhaka with its parts
and on making Dhaka liveable
Amanatullah Khan
We need leaders who realise that development of a nation is intractably linked with the efficiency of its cities. We need leaders who realise that the development of cities is as good as development of agriculture or industry. Cities are the focal points and major locations of all economic, social, economic and cultural activities of a nation. Failure to upgrade the ‘quality of life’ in cities makes all other developmental efforts meaningless and wasteful
IF YOU remember, two weeks back I was on this topic. It appears that all have resigned to the fate that there is no escape from the ‘connectivity’ that these streets provide. Our working hours are destined to be spent in the streets. Listening to the ramblings of the emerging RJs and their anglicised Bangla monologues over the FM radio or watching the marketing antiques of the intersection beggars (Oxford Dictionary is yet to define the term) – ‘one who begs at Dhaka’s intersections’!
The topic, however, is too important and urgent to be dealt with in the cavalier way that everyone in the administration is trying to handle it now. What do you mean, you may ask? How is it then that the prime minister herself has put her prestige on the four new satellite towns project, or the home minister’s experiment with the three-lane formula driving, to give the citizens some comfort on their way from home to work and back, you may further ask?
You may also point out that in venting out my frustration I have ignored the great war of words that the lawyer state minister for works is waging along with his deputy at Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha who swear by God (at every TV opportunity) to become a martyr for the cause of the city, if need be.
I am not impressed with such theatrics. I need results.
Actually, we need no martyrs. We need leaders who realise that development of a nation is intractably linked with the efficiency of its cities. We need leaders who realise that the development of cities is as good as development of agriculture or industry. Cities are the focal points and major locations of all economic, social, economic and cultural activities of a nation. Failure to upgrade the ‘quality of life’ in cities makes all other developmental efforts meaningless and wasteful.
Look at the leading nations of the world now or the leading nations of the past. The ones with efficient system of cities were the ones most developed and most powerful. Take this lesson from history. If you want to see your ‘Sonar Bangla’ developed and powerful, give it an efficient system of cities.
If you can do that, I bet you will be solving most of our developmental problems. The measure of good governance is not the number of problems the government solves but it is the extent of the enabling environment that the government creates. Citizens solve their problems by themselves in an enabling environment.
See how the emerging powers are investing in their cities. Send some of your advisers to Beijing or Shanghai or even to New Delhi. Even Kolkata can teach your people a lot. Ask them to study how they are approaching urban development – in terms of planning, financing, scheduling, implementing and monitoring.
They should also note how high in the decision hierarchy the urbanisation and urban planning issues are taken up. How much time the top decision-makers spend on these issues? You will have some clue.
All these are priority projects. Very much timed. High quality, world class professionals are engaged. Direct control and supervision of the highest decision-making authority is maintained.
We need to copy this process. The prime minister could take up the issue as a priority project. Have the resources allocated, physical plans laid out, professionals taken on board, schedules agreed – get set go!
Given the urgency of the situation, I cannot think of any other strategy, even though what I have suggested may sound no less dramatic than the theatrics I have referred to earlier.
Rajuk’s naïveté over the years have allowed the destruction of the basic fabric of the capital city. The city street pattern as was laid by them could never adequately respond to the needs of its citizens. Efficient street patterns along with a rational traffic management plan make a city efficient. It has nothing to do with the 25 per cent of land area to be allocated for laying out streets – a fiction I wonder where they have found! Not in a planning manual.
What do you need to make a good city?
An efficient street layout to go with a rational traffic flow control plan. A rational demarcation of the different residential areas and other land uses with strict land use control, maintaining height restrictions and other planning controls, and efficient lay out of utilities and strict maintenance of such facilities.
See that numerous agencies who are involved in the making of a good city. Who is the boss?
That is the million dollar question! This question has always killed the energy of our city fathers. Remember Mayor Hanif!
In Dhaka is it Rajuk? Or the city corporation? Or the local government ministry? WASA? The electric supply authorities? The gas company?
Dear prime minister, you need to address all these questions. These questions are not new. We have been asking these questions for a long time. Every time a government comes, they promise us that they will do things differently and solve these problems. Since you came to power with the promise of change, maybe one can expect these changes.
Like the way your ministries are laying out one after another elegant policies – education policy, health policy, industrial policy, agricultural policy – please commission an urbanisation and urban planning policy. The policy will tell you how many cities you want this country to have, how these cities will be distributed in terms of their levels, i.e. mega-cities, metropolitan centres, regional cities, district cities, upazila cities and so on.
You will then realise if we need four satellite towns or eight satellite towns. Whether these will be set up on vacant khas lands or will be on existing towns that have natural advantages for growth. Whether you will take the risk of antagonising the real estate developers or take them on board.
For implementation of the policies and plans you need to merge all the various departments related to urbanisation and urban planning into one single decision-making body. And this should be under your direct command.
This new mega organisation will not try to solve the problems. Please try to create the ‘enabling environment’ using this organisation under your command. This lays out the ground, creates the infrastructure. As I have observed earlier, people will solve their problems.
A good government is less government.
amanat.ullah@gmail.com
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