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AL politics and the new generation

3 July 2006, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Md. Anwarul Kabir Assistant Professor & Research CoordinatorAmerican International University
3 July 2006, 18:00 PM
. PHOTO: AFP
Positive thinkers (from the older generation) of the country are more inclined towards the AL than any other party in Bangladesh. Perhaps, this is due to AL's historical role during our War of Liberation. If we observe the political arena of Bangladesh then it will be revealed that most of the older citizens of the country (especially who are free thinkers and secular in mind) are the supporters of the AL. But what about the new generation? The people from the new generation who were born after the Liberation War are not taking that much interest in AL politics. We need to find out the real causes behind this. My own analysis has revealed some of the causes as described below:

The AL always tries to focus on its role in the Liberation War. It is true that the AL played the key role in 1971. But to the young generation it does not matter that much. Besides, due to post -1975 propaganda concerning AL's role after the War (during 1972-73) the new generation people are left confused. Many members of the new generation have come to view Sheikh Mujib as an autocrat due to his initiation of a one-party system. Unfortu-nately, the AL has failed to convince the new generation in this matter.

The AL has failed to fight for the people in the contemporary context. As for example, during the current government's tenure, the AL could successfully organise the people to fulfil their demands on certain issues (like the electricity crisis, water crisis, price hike etc). The AL has missed the train again and again to be a people oriented party. On the contrary, from the beginning of the formation of this government, the only agenda that has been adopted by the party is toppling the government by any means. The young people do not like this attitude of the AL.

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The AL has no future vision. What is its plan for the next 10 years? In the present globalised world the younger generation wants to analyse the future perspective of the party. Unfortunately, there is no such future perspective of the AL that may attract the new generation.

At the organisational level, the AL has failed to create new leadership from the new generation. If it could give more emphasis on creating honest and sincere leadership from the new generation, then no doubt the party would be the most popular among the new generation. At present, the new generation thinks that it is a party of older people.

To make the party popular among the students, it could initiate some student-oriented projects (e.g. providing scholarships, initiating institutes).

If the leaders of the AL seriously think about the above-mentioned issues and take some positive steps then definitely the party will be popular among the new generation.