Political infighting

The opposition '5-year itch' is contagious to all parties demoted (yes, demoted, say the disgruntled politicians) into the opposition camp by the voters. It is not possible to clap with one hand, hence the role of the opposition has to be appreciated by the 'undisciplined' players themselves.

The electorate is bugged with two kinds of hunger : the hunger of the belly, and the hunger for power. Then the various kinds of thirst have to be quenched (who will make the list of the drinks or sherbet available through the back doors?). More requisitions : the ornaments and adornments displayed by this exclusive clan of the enriched-coated society -- certainly beyond the means of a poor MP of a poor country, hawking poor politics to the poor voters!

The pre-budget deliberations are useless : who cares for the guidelines when the going is good (just read the story of 180-year jail sentence to a former high officer of BTTB for embezzling Tk ten crore from several projects). The right hand does not see what the left hand does.

That is the lure -- materialistic temptations galore. Lately I could decipher the message -- why the politicians are so fond of mentioning bridges, roads and culverts in their public speeches. Perhaps the attitude has something to do with the high rate of launch capsizes -- the unofficial investment return in the IWT sector is not brighter.

Why not decentralise into provinces with governors and more MPs at the provincial level -- more democratic dispensation of the black goodies. Not share power, then how about sharing sympathy? No deal, no human element in the madding chase.

What are the voters supposed to do? Copy the neighbour at the next general elections in Bangladesh? Tit for tat.