Third force in politics

Now the main question is -- what is the motive of the much-talked about Third Force? If it is a political party what is its symbol? Besides, it did not unveil its political commitment to ensuring the establishment of the rule of law and to the security of the people. So If it turns out to be a political party it has to be politically well-organised standing as an alternative force to fight violence and widespread corruption. If it is a platform involving the civil society then it is just nothing new, I think, to the people as the civil society has been existing for a long time in the country, and it is frequently found holding seminar, symposium or round-table meetings on various national issues across the country in making the people conscious about their constitutional rights and in helping them to unite to move forward to combat rampant violence or pervasive corruption by so called rulers and their patronised of armed groups. But we did not see the civil society acting as a pressure group to push the government, by staging a strong demonstration, to arrive at a decision on any national issue of importance, ie the export of gas, the separation of judiciary and the independence of Anti-corruption Commission, etc.

The people of the country, presently, seem to have lost faith in the prevailing political activism and also have been tired of watching the deceptive activities of the politicians, hearing their demagogue, observing their double standard and seeing the breach of promise, uttered in the manifesto before election. People now want to get rid of the deception of current politics being displayed by the politicians and of the widespread nepotism of the ruling party in every sector. Even they do not want to see any new presentation of the existing political trend.

Prof. Badruddoza Chowdhury was the key man in organising the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. In addition, while he was in power he did not try to make any change in his party, nor did he call upon the people to unite against the misrule of the government. Rather, since the day he left the coveted seat of the president he, appearing as a savior of the nation, has started talking about the constitutional rights of the people. The whole situation grew so confusing that the people are in dilemma whether they should rely on the so-called third force or reject its maiden approach. Unlike Prof Baduddoja, Dr Kamal Hossain seems to be active to voice his commitment to the betterment of the people, to upholding the constitution and establishing the rule of law in the state. But, unfortunately, he has so far failed to acquire a positive response from the people, although he has his own political party. May be it is his political fiasco or the people's failure of choosing the right person in the election.

Actually people now want an alternative force that will, virtually, show to them the right path of making a unified effort to come out of the vicious circle of the prevailing confrontational politics. So if Badruddoza's third force can, eventually, turn out to be the real one in the political arena, for which the nation has been waiting for long, it has to clear its political stand or motive and also has to ensure the establishment of the constitutional rights of the people, the independence of judiciary, the installation of Ombudsman, the independence of the Election Commission, the appearance of an Independent Human Rights Commission and of an Independent Anti-corruption Commission. Otherwise, this so-called "Third Force" should not come out of the political womb just to add to the number of the political parties of the same sort.

Sheikh Nahid Neazy is a freelance writer.