Self complacency: A political malady
The letter "AL's Self Complacency" by Mr. A Hussain on October 15 has drawn my attention. I agree with him that the modern political culture has changed a lot. But the Self Complacency he has mentioned is not a problem of the AL. It's a political disease. No party -- BNP, JP or Jamaat -- is immune from this disease. Everybody says "Janagan Amader Shathe Ache" (People are with us). They all try to sell everything in the name of people. Self complacency is there because hardly does any party practise democracy to choose leaders. In an atmosphere of self complacency the leaders unfortunately remain in the dark, as the sycophants enjoy the fruits. Mr. Hussain has asked the AL to give up secularism. I think as one of the oldest political parties , it would be difficult for the AL to deviate from this particular ideology. Our Liberation War was not a religious war; it was a war against a force which oppressed us economically, politically in the name of Islam. It is a sign of great hope that the AL still sticks to secularism, although it has been threatened since the early 90's. Our people were always religious, but they were never communal.
Bars were disallowed by AL forefathers, although they were secular in thoughts. Islam forbids wine strictly, but what the age of religion is witnessing today in Bangladesh is really confusing. These religious people are enjoying the sufferings of fasting Muslims by increasing prices of food items during the month of Ramadan. It is not a problem of the religion ; it's a problem of the followers, because they do not practise what Islam teaches.
It is not possible for the AL to give up certain values adopted by their forefathers, as it is not possible for Mr. Hussain to throw away the traditions his forefathers taught him.
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