What is wrong with us?

After the fall of the autocratic regime in 1990 and the free and fair election of 1991, people saw a ray of hope again for the first time after independence. Despite difficulties, things were beginning to get better. People started feeling empowered. The private sector started to flourish under the congenial policy environment of the democratic environment.

However, for reasons best known to perhaps only the Almighty, peoples' hope and confidence began to erode. While the private sector continued to flourish, the benefits of it started to accumulate in only a few hands, thanks to the rampant corruption that allowed for an evil nexus between political leaders, businessmen and the civil servants. While the political parties exploited Bangladesh's number one ranking in the Corruption Perception Index, little was done to check it. Now, we seem to have accepted it as our fate to be the number one for years to come.

Deep-rooted hatred and mistrust among the two major political parties have gone so far as to threaten holding of another free and fair election. The activities of the CEC have been unprecedented. The opposition as usual is making the ordinary people hostage by creating chaos and anarchy in the streets.

It's a pity that the ordinary people are made to endure so many problems, many of which are our own making. I wonder whether the dream of the ordinary people to live a peaceful and happy life will ever be fulfilled.