The third force: A myth of yesterday or a reality for tomorrow?

Despite some vague, half-hearted contending of the showered disgrace worked out by the Transparency International, the deep scar on the national fabric of respectability shall take a long time to efface. In the latest supplementary report of TIB some expenses made by the speaker of Jatiya Sangsad were alleged to have been spurious. Of course the speaker considered the views on Jatiya Sangsad expenditure to the tune of 2 crore 80 lakh taka beyond TIB's organisational limits and found the report as preposterous for not being specific.

Irrespective of party affiliation corruption has spread its vicious tentacles to every sector of our national life. The long-felt Independent Commission for prevention of corruption is yet to become a reality. The process of forming such a commission is presently trapped by the rigmarole of bureaucracy and apparent lack of interest of the people who matter. On the other hand, law and order situation across the country has no sign of improvement despite wishful statements to the contrary. Prices of consumable items, edible oil, rice, onions, etc. continue on the abnormally high side. The winter vegetables too are being sold at prices beyond reach of the ordinary people. A total chaos persists all around and an abhorring state of insecurity at every stage of citizens' life has been the rule of the day. This is the scenario drawn up by any commoner free from any political leaning.

Against such a backdrop, and amid loud protests of the opposition parties a demand, purported to have been from the civil society is heard. The initiative in this regard is being shared by separate platforms headed by Professor Badruddoza Chowdhury, former President of Bangladesh for one and the other by Dr Kamal Hossain, President, Gono Forum and Convener, Oikya Prochesta. Both are however expressly ready to join hand, to forge into a common, single platform when things mature.

Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury has taken a new office (at Baridhara) to commence his new chore of a social activist for the time being. The transformation into a full-fledged political party later would depend much on the response from the civil society. He is about to launch a massive 'meet the people' tour of the country. Meantime, newspaper reports convey the impression that committees are being constituted all over Bangladesh to provide spontaneous support to Dr Chowdhury's alternative political trend.

Dr Kamal Hossain, on his part, has also announced similar programme and tentative itinerary on visiting different places of country. He met the lawyers on 21, December (Sunday) to commence implementation of his programme ahead of Dr B Chowdhury. Dr Hossain exhorted his colleagues in the profession to take initiative towards rousing people's passion for a constructive movement against the marauders of our social and economic life. He considered his effort at creating a third force or an alternative movement as the only tangible source of national salvation. By and large, his own appreciation of the present dismal situation and ideas to contain it for a better scenario coincide with those of Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury's. Dr Chowdhury said in the recent past that he would not hesitate to join hands with Dr Kamal Hossain if invited as such.

Pending such a possible merger of the present two entities it may be pertinent to look at the personal impacts these two eminent individuals might carry. Meantime, a most valid question. May be put to Dr . Kamal Hossain if, as one of the architects of 1972 constitution shall he adhere to Bangalee Nationalism and Secularism, two of the four principles of our statehood?

If yes, will Dr B Chowdhury forsake his Bangladeshi Nationalism and covert religious-political leaning and follow Dr Hossain?

Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury, until recently, was an important member of BNP, its first secretary general and licensee deputy leader of the House and last but not the least, President of Bangladesh with his 'own' party's support. And he was forced by the party leadership to resign. In moments the party high command forgot the architect of "Shabash Bangladesh" and the most formidable one spearheading the 2001 election campaign to its landslide victory. And over the past two years he plunged himself into bitter controversy, the latest being his public utterance on the failure of BNP government to control corruption, prices of essential commodities, ever deteriorating law and order situation etc. and on his programme towards national emancipation.

By the way, one may recall that this apparently decent gentleman and diehard stalwart of BNP was seen in frenzy and rushing towards JS speaker Humayun Rashid Chowdhury, his right hand close-fisted, trampling down the BTV camera stand and making filthy harangues at the chair. His creation 'Shabash Bangladesh' was also a political insinuation not relished much by the 'civil society', his present target to infatuate.

As a very good and reputed physician he has diagnosed the ills of the society correctly and the prescription he is likely to give may also effect some positive denting. But the people he proposes to commence his journey are yet to be named and only vaguely hinted now.

Apparently on a social platform at the moment he will have to launch a political party of 'like minded people'. And here lies the illusion notwithstanding the time required to make a fruitful offensive. In this, and as already noticed , he is not likely to have a smooth sailing primarily because of unwholesome interception of intelligence engaged by his old party power.

It is good to see Dr Kamal Hossain committing himself to rouse the whole nation against the abject penury caused by untamed corrupt practices of the two major political parties for the past three decades. He too foresees a change to an alternative trend would be of larger interest of the nation. But his 'Oikya Prochesta' seeking unity of the 'imaginary third force' vests with such leadership beside Dr Kamal Hossain which may not inspire many with potentiality to join hands. His experience with Gano Forum could be cited as a pointer. This time he has some noted freedom fighters whose activities since independence till now would demand much to be questioned.

Perhaps it would be over a decade now that Kamal Hossain floated his 'Gano Forum'. His running mates were chosen from CPB and other smaller political parties of name only and expelled 3rd/4th ranking leaders of major parties having not enough clean personal image. This 'forum' till now, could not make any major headway. Practically it is functioning almost as a 'seasonal party' because the chief has not been able to give full time to its organisation.

His present anxiety-borne endeavour at taking corrective measures to undo the mischief, in his own words, perpetrated by the leading two political parties, would again demand continuos, full-time intervention and organised movements. This would naturally necessitate fast mobilisation of massive support in order to neutralise the strongholds of the two major political parties, namely Awami League and BNP. It will also have to await joining hands by the saner elements in these two parties and the dissidents who have earlier parted with their respective party. Till then the ultimate success of the 'third force' shall continue to remain a 'myth' for all practical purposes.

Moreover, the ever busy personality, both nationally and quite often internationally, Dr Kamal Hossain shall have to make a bigger sacrifice in his huge professional callings. The other names appearing with him in the news media may not be able to hold on the air ballooning the new move. It will indeed require comprehensive motivational and mass awareness programme over at least a five-year period if consistently pursued.

Change for the better is certainly welcome. But such expected change shall never come overnight. The people at the helm of affairs -- Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury and/or Dr Kamal Hossain do/does not have magic wand in their hands. They can only approach the 'unpredictable people' and subject to any sizeable response they may succeed in the long run. Till then the reality of tomorrow or the day after will have to be very carefully and objectively worked out, today. A consistent and continuous process shall be something that will mater most. They will have to simultaneously prepare themselves to effectively face the tough resistance from the two major political parties who would not give in easily.

Kazi Alauddin Ahmed is an industrial consultant.