Political approach

How the party should decide on a new policy? Not on its own survival, right or wrong, but what is good for the vast majority of citizens, who are not actively and directly involved in politics.

Why the politicians disturb others? This is not the norm in any profession. Some say politics is an avocation, while others cynically remark that now it has become a nasty and profitable business, without public interest. Non-politicians with money are encouraged to join politics, for quick investment returns. Why political shares are not sold in the stock exchange?

The other quirk is the hankering for virtual leadership-not to serve people (there are too many examples to jot down here). The factories in the public sector have failed due to political patronisation of the trade/labour unions: and the higher educational institutions have been poisoned with political arsenic. Why not ban political poly-bags?

One of the problems is party ego. Then why political leaders change floors? In the under-developed countries, the approach is too traditional and conservative, based on self-security. Watch how power and positions are misused; and the lust for office-leadership. Note how decentralisation of power (to the districts and rural areas) is being sabotaged, year after year. The Savar RMG factory collapse is an example of weak foundation and weak structures--it reflects the inside story of our politics. More structural collapses are coming, including tsunami in politics!

The other parties' manifestos are never good enough! Any hate campaign is bound to return to the originator, as per timeless mystic laws. The official party goal is not to live untidily. That is why we see the society divided today into different camps; and almost ALL sectors are victims of political pressures. The professionals and the middle class have receded into the background, and money, riches, and acts of terrorism have invaded politics.

Now religion has entered into the mess, dominated by the heart (faith), in contrast to rationality in politics, ruled by the head. The head and the heart have to be separated for the politics (and policies) to survive in black and white (in writing), in contrast to colourful panoramas depicted by the passionate (misplaced) activists of particular clans (tribalism rituals).

Which comes first: the survival of the country (society), or that of the particular party? The majority of the voters is ignored, or has no say, as most of the political field works and activation are conducted by the student and labour unions, and confined to the urban areas. Hence a vast communication gap is created, which is widening day by day, for the last three decades. Even today, the very survival of politics is at stake, as we have witnessed in past examples in Dhaka.

There are modular solutions for a healthy integrated picture: reduce the systems losses inside the prevailing political culture. Some random, but healthy exercises are missing. The spirit of sacrifice (and self-suffering) has evaporated (spirits do evaporate!).

Parliamentary practice is not popular. There is a hankering for fast politics, like fast food, creating fast problems and fast tempers!

The virtues of patience and tolerance are under-nourished; as suitable gardeners are not available. Vegetarian politics, or meaty morsels? Take your choice, before outsiders take over (once again)! The latter culture is still in vogue in many parts of the globe.