Wed 29 Nov 2006
According to the Daily Star, The first Bangladeshi Nobel laureate, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, urged the battling political parties to sign a peace accord, agree to participate in the coming elections and pledge themselves to form a coalition government whatever the election results.
Under Yunus’ draft proposals the party to lose the election would still get one third of the posts in the cabinet. The tenure of the coalition government would be one year and it would be charged with devising a long-term solution to the political crisis.
November 29th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
I’d like to thank Dr. Yunus for such pragmatic sulotion to our national crisis. I hope our political leaders from both camps take this solution very seriously. Other wise dark days are ahead of us. I was also surprised to see that no leader of 14 party was present at the Songdordhona.
November 29th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
I am glad that Dr. Yunus is voicing his opinions and offering his wise solutions to the current crisis. The solution would probably work in most places but in current Bangladesh where the political rivalry has been brought down to personal level between the main leaders – it may not be so easy then again nothing worthwhile is ever easy.
I was just imagining one of his statements in reality with the current leaders - “After the election a coalition government would comprise leaders of both alliances. The majority party in parliament would hold the post of prime minister with a new post of deputy prime minister coming from the other alliance”.
Say BNP wins the election and Khaleda Zia comes PM and based on this Sheikh Hasina would become Deputy PM. Can you just imagine how the parliament meetings would look like? Think again – WWF wrestling, Chula Chuli? Did Hasina and Khaleda ever exchange a word?
November 29th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Rehan I hear you. I think recently they both attended a reception and were only 20 feet apart or so - however refused to acknowledge the presence of theother.
Unfortunately for Bangladesh, our two leaders have egos that come before national interest.
November 29th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
Let’s face it: we wouldn’t be in this mess today had the BNP-Jamaat jote not tried to undermine this great concept of “caretaker govt”. With all due respect to Yunus chacha (I do know him personally), what makes you think that another year of a new experiment, i.e. a coalition not provided for in our constitution, will really solve our problems? I can rely upon AL’s fair-mindedness, because they did allow a neutral CG, eventually losing the election. But not BNP — they will continue to undermine the democratic process: because they know (with real intelligence gathered using our Police/SB) that they have earned the wrath of the people. And losing the next election will mean losing everything they have robbed and stolen. Not to mention well-deserved further retribution.
November 29th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
Pragmatic solution??
Khaleda Zia and Shiekh Hasina have hardly looked at each other let alone talk over the last decade and half. Now you want them to become PM & Deputy PM? One unity government with these two people in the helm?
Do you really think anything will get agreed to over the proposed two years? Any decision be made? Any progress? Any development? Are we willing to wait two years in interim as the world zips ahead?
Ofcourse we don’t want the aborodh. Economy is on a life support and all the political drama isn’t helping. Doc Y is absolutely right to call for peace. He is on the ball about the need for sensible and practical solution. Unfortunately he has not proposed one!
November 29th, 2006 at 4:29 pm
I think Ynus chaha is a great man in economic issues. But whe nit comes to Bnagladesh politics, he is out of touch. He gave Iaijja A+, without taking any exam. What about now, after the exam? Is he willing to keep his A+ or change it to F?
Now he comes with another solution. This soultion will save the looters and razakars and they will get away with their lootings (maal-e-ganimat!!!).
Why did not he take up the charge? once again, I have respect for Ynus chaha in economic front. Desnti cannot perform heart surgery.
November 29th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
Initial comments on the speech is here
http://www.drishtipat.org/blog/2006/11/26/yunus-film-subtitling-beta/#comment-50186
November 29th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
Before critisizing Dr. Yunus, can anyone one of you guys be so wise and come up with a practical solution?
November 29th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Although Professor Yunus’ solution would be ideal to resolve the crisis Bangladesh is facing, my feeling is both BNP and Awami League will reject it and the violence will continue for sometime.
November 29th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
I want to add a bit tips with his solution.
1.DR iajuddin should 1ST handover the CG to the Army.
2.They will be committed to rule for 6 months with the present 10 advisers.
3.In this process the 1st thing should be done to find those pplz who r really corrupted politicians but not to hamper to civillians.
4.Build a new election commission under their provision and promote a fresh new voter list including ID CARDS. As they can do it. They will go to house to house and take picture from there. its possible for them.
5.Atlast again represent the constitution giving respect to it all parties will be invited to participate the fair election.
November 29th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
The mind and the education needed to understand Dr Yunu’s proposal is at great lack in our political culture. We know how to do bhangchor and maramari kata kati and aborodh.
Our leader would never sit down to find a solution than the business of Politics would be stopped in Bangladesh and the so called corrupt leaders and Ghulshan Banani people would come to the street because they won’t be able to make money.
Mr ikramuddi Your posting with a glimse give me the true image of AWL bashing.Man we have enough in this blog already do we need more?
None of the party has ever done anything for the country except their own interest and party interest.So please we need to open our eyes and see what is water and what is milk. We don’t need to a Rocket scientist to understand that.
thanks
Kawser Jamal
http://www.changeBangladesh.com
Always stand for truth and justice any where any time.
November 29th, 2006 at 5:40 pm
I am really taken aback by the offense taken by some readers at Yunus’ suggestions. Someone talking of a unity government is “unclean” or a stooge of BNP? I am sad to see this.
What Yunus suggests at least changes the zero sum nature of our political process. And what he suggested is within a democratic framework. It is a bold idea that is a “thesis.” And he said he wants changes, modifications, suggestions. He wants a debate and we give him self-righteous rage.
The crux of his speech to me was that some form of unity is needed for a more permament solution to our electoral woes. If through some form of wretched unity (need not be a unity govt) we can achieve some form neutrality of the electoral process like India has, I would gladly let the present transgessors (BNP-Jamaatis naked depravity) save some face today. Because rememeber, the good fighters today will be the oppressors tomorrow if the system allows them to be that way. Regarding power it is safe to say that no one stands the test of time.
Right now the country is at the brink of disaster and the only way the catastrophe can be avoided is by some compromise on both sides. There is no other solution. And for us sitting here it is ok for there to be bloodbath back home, even for politicians it is ok because the costs are marginal to us. But I think if you go ask people and a large majority would want peace, whatever way it is acheivable.
The main message I got out of Dr. Yunus’ speech was his desire for a clean system. His main proposal is of reform and to him the only way meaningful reform can be carried out is if there is unity regarding reform. That is why the talk of a two-year unity government where democracy is reflected (the majority party will have more seats). He understands political reality of Bangladesh well enough that he knows that the present politicians cannot be made irrelevent (and frankly nor should they be made irrelevent). It is his segacity that he did not suggest a two year caretaker government with memebers of the civil society as rulers (much less army rule). Whatever comes out will come out of the present politicians.
Ridicule him all you want, but I challenge you that 90 percent of the people would want what he is suggesting (but what do the simpletons know … we are so much wiser, right?). The politicians will not want it, but as members of the civil society if we also clamor for blood all hope is lost. Think about all the ships that are now docked at the Chittagong port, think about all the petty traders lives during the oborodh, and the list goes on. Ours is inherently an unstable country. A little push and it is a bottomless pit.
If Cambodia can have a unity government, philosophically speaking we can too. The practicality is another matter, as demonstrated by a majority of people who have written in the blog. The idea is also not necessarily a unity government, but understanding that there needs to be some accomodation for different political parties. It seems a civil war would be easier.
November 29th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Umar,
Your point noted and there is no doubt he has good intentions. But our expectiation from him is much higher. That is why the reactions are so strong when it was not met.
1. This solution in Bangladesh’s present context is totally unrealistic
2. This would mean that whatever happened in the past 5 years, no body will be accountable.
3. This solution implicitly accepts the wrong that has been done in the past few months which destroyed the notion of the caretaker governement.
4. This solution will mean a handful of minority (I think this is happening just to save a few people) who are bending all the rules by partisan people are the winner.
What would be approiate for him to say?
1. Aborodh destroys economy, so find something alternative
2. Address specifically how the person whom he gave A+ has been performing and rebuke him.
3. Ask that the systems should be fixed before the elections happen.
When he says that there should be another election in a year with a new election commission and a new president and a new voter list, he is technically accepting that the current commission and the president is not neutral and the next election will be a sham. Why is he not saying it then? Then why is he not proposing to get advice from the Supreme Court to move the election to a month later and fix the voter list and the commission in the meantime?
This is where I have the problem.
November 29th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
What Ynus has proposed missed the ground reality. Did not he see what his A+ has done so far? Would that be illogical if some people claim he is playing in BNP-Jamat’s hands after his A+ for Iaija, and keeping silent after what has been done? Now keeping silent about his A+ guy, he is asking for a hault on “oborudh”. I am interested to know if Ynus would reconsider his grade now. For a utopian society the treaty looks very good, glaring. Let me point out what will happen if Ynus’s formula is accepted by all:
1. The election takes place under present setting.
2. With spineless cowered like Iaijja as a puppet in the center stage, BNP-Jamat will control everything to grab two-third seats. I am not so oblivious to forget 1986.
3. They will scratch-off the treaty down the drain and change the constitution to abolish caretaker system.
4. Then they will say “bring it on”.
I am not sure how Yunus can make sure that his proposal will be applicable in the ground. What is his solution to the scenario I presented? I don’t want to criticize a man like Ynus, I am just cynical.
November 29th, 2006 at 7:04 pm
Absolutely right Asif. He is accepting that the current system is totally biased. Then why not change the system now instead of forming a farcical coalition govt and waiting for 2 years ? He criticised oborodh, but did not utter a single word against the inefficiency of the caretaker govt, especially Iajuddin (whom he already gave an A+).
I admire him tremendously, but this political stand I cannot support.
FZ
November 29th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
I am not sure that Asif’s idea of holding the previous government accountable for its misrule
is any more workable than Dr. Yunus idea of getting a cabinet sharing arrangement between Khaleda and Hasina. One cannot do something against the wishes of a substantial fraction of the people. This is true not only in BD, but also in the US. Note how carefully the democrats were treading the topic of impeachment of Bush during the last election campaign.
Bangladesh is highly polarized along two diametrically different notions of nationhood. BNP-Jamaat has and will continue to remain a choice for a substantial number of Bangladeshis for whom religious identity is more important than their cultural and linguistic heritage. The same could be said about Awami League and its following among those who identify themselves with cultural and linguistic heritage more than religious. Each of this group has its own version of history, heros and icons and does not recognize the other or even the right of the other group to rule. The extreme machination by BNP-Jamaat to stay in power at any cost is a reflection of this attitude. The AL also tried the same in 2001 with a lot of last minute appointments in key bureaucratic positions, which the then care-taker government of Latifur Rahman undid to the dismay of AL. The scale and gusto with which the BNP-Jamaat carried out their current politicization of administration is of course much more severe. However, given the past history of precedents, I would not be surprised if the AL outdo the current BNP-Jamaat administration if and when they come to power.
To bolster my point about party faithfuls, no matter how their governments perform, I note the fairly steady numbers supporting each party in the last few elections, The only reason AL lost in 2001 was the electoral arithmetic–Jamaat always gets somewhere in the neighborhood of 5-10 percent votes and that was the difference.
I think Dr. Yunus realizes that unless there is some kind of accomodation between politicians of different color, the nation is not going to go anywhere. If you agree with this assesment, what he is saying does have some merit, regardless of whether or not all parts of his proposal are workable or not. This nation cannot survive by accentuating further the divergent national trends which can only lead to a civil war like Somalia; only an accomodation of some kind can clear the way for stable government.
November 29th, 2006 at 7:55 pm
Tanveer bhai,
by holding accountable for their past deeds, I mean them facing a fair election. If that’s not realistic, then we might as well go home and keep quiet. I do accept the country is polarised. But I don’t believe majority of the BNP supporters will support a sham election where BNP wins. I believe the desperation to cling on to power in ANY means is being done to protect a very small group of people in BNP. That’s why this proposal is catapulation of huge moral figure like Dr. Yunus to that tiny minority. Even if he qualified it with putting some blame to the people who are responsible for this mess, it would have been more understanding but when he summarily charges 14 party with the blame of taking the country to destruction with Aborodh and does not have anything to say about the President who single handedly is pushing the country to civil war, then I have serious doubt about his political acumen.
November 29th, 2006 at 8:30 pm
Politics is a zero sum game everywhere. If one side picks up a higher share of votes, then the other side must get less. That’s not the problem in Bangladesh. The problem is that in Bangladesh, the winner takes all. Dr Yunus’s proposal has the merit that it gives the loser (who represented at least one-third of the votes cast in the past 3 elections) a stake in the system. There are other ways of giving the loser a stake - elected local governments with actual responsibilities for example.
Also, it is probably being too pessimistic to say that all our politicians are bad, or that all governments have been worse than the one before. Khaleda Zia’s first term was better than Ershad’s under any quantifiable measure. Hasina government was worse than Khaleda’s first government in many ways, law and order being the most important case, but it was also successful in some things - dealing with the 1998 flood and the CHT peace treaty come to mind. So our politicians are more capable than we give them credit for. Will a coalition government work? Maybe not, but it cannot be ruled out directly.
But most people argue that what CAN be ruled out is a genuine election under the present set up. And Asif says, this is because of a handful of people in BNP. To ensure a genuine election is the first task. Reforming the system or devising mechanisms to ensure the loser’s participation in the system are also important, but they cannot be done now. When someone is getting a heart attack, you don’t tell them to exercise, even if they are grossly obese!
And if you argue that democracy can wait because development is more important (as if the 2 are mutually exclusive), then you might as well say that the whole human rights thing is a waste of time.
November 29th, 2006 at 8:56 pm
My problems with Dr Yunus (I realize some of which had been discussed here already);
is that he’s accounting the two major alliances as just two opposing parties, where as in reality the 4 party front leaders (ministers and MPs and party secretaries) are alleged to have robbed the country of thousands of crores of takas, and continue to remain as the spin doctors – having the CA and the ECs in their pockets.
If the two alliances were in the states they were back in 1991, then Dr Yunus’s proposal could be considered seriously. Put them together to run the govt and have some check-and-balance.
But under the circumstances, when the balance is so lopsided…I don’t see how we can just go ahead with the election process. How can Dr Y totally ignore the complete manipulation of the 4-parties…in the judicial, in the EC…everywhere?!
There was a TV forum where actress Shubarna Mustafa was one of the panelists. I was impressed with the clarity and directness of everything she said. That’s exactly how people should be thinking. NO to blockades, and NO to election engineering.
Why couldn’t our dear Dr Yunus just say once that way election schedule was announced in the mess of all this is not acceptable, CA’s neglect of the advisers is not acceptable, the partisan poll officers positioned strategically by the 4-parties are not acceptable…
Why couldn’t he seize the moment and speak for the people – the people who put him on the pedestal, and looked up to him for direction as a lost child? I am not angry with Dr Y, I have way too much respect for him to ridicule him…but I sure am not happy with his speech.
November 29th, 2006 at 10:44 pm
I have one point to mention - regarding Dr. Yunus accepting the current system (president or ECs) — Is there any other direct choice rather than accepting them? Because as per constitution and law there is no other alternative. As our main political parties are divided (intentionally), there is now no working parliament and the posts of president and ECs are constitutional posts – in real time – there is no chance to change them. Technically it is impossible. So I think Dr. Yunus’s proposal the temporary measure for fixing the system and after that a new election under that system is quite a reasonable one.
Points to be noted that –
1) Both the political party has population based support. So we cannot do anything without one of them
2) And in this moment I do not believe that the political parties will agree to Dr. Yunus’s proposal only because – this proposal does not do any good for them (materialistically)
3) The political party chiefs are at odds from each other only from personal disliking. So how can we expect reasoning from them!
Conclusion: Please pray for the best and think that miracle will happen to save us.
Personal Thoughts: Believe me, sometimes I get so frustrated that I would even like to see the non democratic powers get into solving the situation.
Million dollar question:
Are we heading to Pakistan situation?????????
From my personal direct experiance I have seen that the general people there was happy to see Musharraf , as they were fed up with Newaz and Benzir.
November 30th, 2006 at 2:30 am
Dr. Yunus is on the right track to bring up the concept of coalition governments. Technically, the 4 party alliance is already a coalition govt. But we have never seen a true coalition across the great divide similar to Likud-Labor in Israel for example. I think true coalition govts will serve Bangladesh well, how you get them and what the mechanics are may be much more complex than what Dr. Yunus laid out.
The last couple of elections, as somone pointed out, saw both parties/alliances at 40-46% of the popular vote. Perhaps the popular vote should count more - either by increasing the number or % of seats needed to form a majority govt, or by mandating that the majority party must form a coalition govt if it has less than 50% of the popular vote.
November 30th, 2006 at 4:39 am
@Umar Serajuddin: on your comment “Ridicule him all you want, but I challenge you that 90 percent of the people would want what he is suggesting (but what do the simpletons know … we are so much wiser, right?).”
How much money are you going to save, leaving those ports at work and talking all with your sympathy towards petty traders, well there is no hope for this country if BNP is reelected, as for Chinese Fundamentalism what they believe, I will kill my generation for the sake of the next one. If you let them form a coalition government as what Dr. Y mentioned it’s not impossible but never possible. Nothing will change and the fate will be same for you, me and everyone else who have plenty of time to think about but not good enough in the field where it actually matters
And as for your suggestions “If Cambodia can have a unity government, philosophically speaking we can too.”
My father who served Bangladesh Army for almost one third a century, he believes that forming such a government in Bangladesh like Cambodia is not only ridiculous but also objectionable. And do you know why his opinion counts, because he was the Team leader of the Multinational UN force that was eventually successful to bring peace in that very country after so many casualties on both sides.
@Ehsan: take no offense but your first point is out of question. Internationally such a CG will never be approved. As for the rest of the points, I appreciate your thinking ability.
And as for those who though Dr. Y’s speech was something that will pave the way for a better future, I guess I am the goat here thinking what seems quite obvious that there was a degree of partisan going on, when actually I am the only one who does not support neither AL nor BNP.
As for the Blog itself which quotes “Unheard Voices”, well I had been blessed to melt myself to the larger population of this country, that is the lower middle class and the deprived ones, whose voices will never come to Drishtipat, can assure you that on the basis of the last two years I have never came across anyone who will dare vote BNP again. And my unofficial self organized survey includes Dhaka, Savar, Gazipur, Sylhet, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Ghorashal, Mymensingh.
Opinions that really count of those who are the majority of this country, to begin with, village farmers, petty traders, rickshaw pullers, bus, cab and CNG Auto Rickshaw drivers. Unfortunately enough they don’t have the pleasure like we have, typing all day long just to make others hear our Unheard Voices, when what actually matters is the larger population whose vote will be the decisive factor if there is ever going to be a true election without any conspiracy.
If Yunus by any chance been diverted from the one whom we knew a month back, a huge population (mainly a large section of village women) will just act the way Yunus wants them to act, leading to the benefit of you know who is behind the changed Yunus. Again I hope I am the goat making a mistake.
As for the politicians I wish I had a “Death Note”. If you watch Japanese Anime then check out this masterpiece, its way better than Hollywood usual craps. Getting out of the topic you think: well check it out and I am sure you will start to wish if only you possessed a death note, to get rid of the scum bag politicians from this country…
November 30th, 2006 at 5:44 am
I think no one is opposed to a coalition government. But the one suggested by Doc Y is not only impractical but also politically naive.
His suggested solution was to hold an election and choose a coalition government. If we could hold a fair election, why would we need a coalition government anyway? Isn’t the peoples verdict good enough?
Instead why don’t we actually have an “extended” (both in numbers and in duration) caretaker government headed by an impartial Chief. This CTG can have representatives of the current CTG plus reps from other stakeholder groups. (Including the main political parties)
November 30th, 2006 at 6:28 am
In Rwanda as many as a million people were slaughtered in about 100 days. In South Africa all kinds of atrocities were committed in the name of apartheid. In Northern Ireland hundreds of years of religious rivalry accounted for hundreds of human lives destroyed.
Yet, all those countries have come out of their darkest days. In comparison, surely we must believe that Bangladesh’s issues can be solved.
The concept used in Africa of “Truth and Reconciliation” Commissions has really helped to heal the hurt there. All the time people are hanging on to the injustices of the past, there can be only limited progress forwards.
These are not simply about forgiveness or letting people off for everything they have done in the past. Yes, if there has been corruption attempts need to be made to get that money back for the nation. But, at the end of the day, solutions have to lie in looking forward and leaving the past behind.
November 30th, 2006 at 7:22 am
Genius!
only thing is that this still gives power to both sets of tyrants.
practicaly i dont know what it would take for both the groups to humble themselves.
I eagerly await to see what other brilliant moves Dr Yunus, the Advisors and Prof/Pres can pull off. Arguably Dr Yunus is a little freer, all this nobel prize political capital and all.
Maybe creativity and intellect can help us out manouvre the powerful fools who keep us poor, uneducated and harrassed!
November 30th, 2006 at 7:40 am
Reconciliation and starting with a clean slate means all parties would have to acknowledge that there could be no way back to the bad old days.
Essentially, they would all be told that if they wished to have a say in the future then they have to put the old ways behind them and turn over a new leaf. After the cleansing process any wrongdoers would have to be dealt with strongly, but without raking over all the old coals over and over.
November 30th, 2006 at 8:54 am
Ten years ago I first attended a speech of Dr Yunus. It was University of Michigan. In front of a spellboud audience he laid forward his plan of Grameen phone for the poor rural women in Bangladesh. The western audience embraced the plan with thunderous cheers and a awe. But I thought exactly the same way some of our respected commentators are thinking here in DP. I thought he must have been smoking some stuff before coming up with the ” idea impractical in Bangladesh reality”. Ten years later we all know how I was proved wrong.
We all have to remember, thanks to his global image and clout, he is logically the most free thinker in Bangladesh. He has nothing more to gain from anybody.
If he makes a serious statement we all should give him the benefit of doubt that he is indeed telling the spade a spade. He dares do that with his current clout.
Protesting one atrocity does not mean to support other atrocity. And since when speaking up against hartal, oborodh makes one a public enemy? I noticed Dr yunus was made a public enemy and free for all to ridicule yesterday here in Drishtipat blog.
November 30th, 2006 at 9:00 am
I appreciate Mr. Yunus proposal but I am not sure how it can be implemented since all parties are ready to die to go to the power. I am not trying to take any credit from this proposal.
I actually proposed this kind of solution in http://www.bangladesh- web.com a week ago. My proposal was to form a unity government with BNP and AWL. President will be from one party and Prime minster will be from other party. Since both parties are ready to die to come to power, one of the solution will be unity government. They also forget that only one party can be elected to run the country, So we need to accomodate both parties to be in the power with unity government. I believe that poor people will be happy to get their life back from those political parties.
Constitution will bar this proposal to be implemented in Bangladesh. Personal hatred between Khalida and Hasina is another problem to adopt this proposal. I also need to ask questions do you want constitution to live and accept Bangladesh becomes a country like Somalia, or change constitution and stop political agitation and save this country?
Best wishes,
M. M. Chowdhury
http://www.amreteckpharma. com
November 30th, 2006 at 9:24 am
What Prof Yunus is proposing is akin to what Noam Chomski called “procedural democracy”.
In “procedural democracy” the elite view the role of the public as essentially one of ratification at the polls. It is consciously regarded to be the duty of the public and also for the public to know just enough to be able to do their duty, which is to ratify decisions at the polls. They don’t have to know any more than that. The general attitude of this system of authority towards the public is of an enemy, because they have to be kept under control. If they get out of control they might do all sorts of dangerous things, and typically a state regards its population as a potential enemy.
This is the attitude of BNP towards the public today and Dr. Yunus formally condones it.
Farhad
November 30th, 2006 at 9:29 am
Lets do this together. We need to implement instead of talking too much about this.
1. Sign a peace deal
2. Keep the economy going.
3. Don’t destroy the future of students.
Bangladesh politicians need to feel more pressure and the Bangaldeshi diaspora can. It is the best that we can do and probably the most effective role that we can play.
I would suggest the following action items to all:
- Write to Bangladeshi embassies in US
- Use our own personal connections to communicate directly with politicians we know
- Write to US congressional officials, UN officials and other third parties who can also apply pressure
- Set up online petition, letter writing, phone call drives.
I feel that we as non Bangladeshi residents have huge stake in this situation, maybe not much in financially but in dignity to the world. Rest assured that I am ready to help. Damn the political parties - they can’t ruin people lives in Bangladesh!
November 30th, 2006 at 9:43 am
Regardless of how far fetched Yunus’s proposal is, considering the present chaos where all indications suggest that the crisis is fast going to a point of no return, personally I feel that his solution offers merit for consideration. We can all go back & forth trying to identify the reason(s) for the present crisis; which I hope all will agree is a never ending inquisition. Sometimes abstract ideas do yield results that conventional way of thinking fails to produce. So it may very well be possible that, building on Yunus’s initial draft proposal, an acceptable solution can be developed that can show the country a way out of the present crisis. I accept & recognize the idealistic differences between BNP & AL, not to mention the personal disliking between Khaleda & Hasina. But, using Yunus’s draft proposal as a building block, a refined version of the same deserves consideration by the people. A version that will FORCE these two parties to participate in a system that obliges them to work together.
As such may I request all not to reject his proposal in haste and rather add comments on how you feel the proposal can be refined to make it more palatable and practical. Personally I would prefer Yunus’s proposal revised to allow the Army become part of the interim system. This I feel can work as a buffer between the two conflicting camps. I realize that making the Army part of civil governance offers threat of eventual military take over of total power. But then again, considering the track record of all political parties, how much worse can the situation get? Democracy can be an affective tool if used appropriately. But in order to rip the benefits that democracy offers, one must first understand, appreciate and respect the system. I have started to believe that, our country is not yet ready to use democracy for the goods it offers to humanity. We may have over the years achieved an understanding of the system, but we for sure have not yet learned to respect it yet. To this end, I find Yunus’s proposal fresh and progressive. But feel that it still needs the “mirchi” factor and including Army in the new process may just serve the purpose.
Cheers
November 30th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Asif,
Both BNP and AL are 2 sides of the same coin (i.e. utterly corrupt and power and money hungry}. They are willing to sell their parents and children in the name of “jonogon” shamelessly. We have seen what AL did to BD when they were in the GOVT and BNP as opposition party {i.e. hortal}. What Dr. Yunus proposed is very practical solution for our so called “current democractic situation” as a way forward from this deadlock situation. Dr. Yunus is a true patriot. Because he went back to BD as opposed to staying in the U.S. when he had a chance to do so after completing his education. How many of us educated diasporas has done that? Dr. Yunus is a dreamer. And look what his dream took him and Bangladesh. His contribution is huge in the arena of proverty reduction in BD. We need more dreamers like him and lot less critical people like the bloggers in this forum. Hell I wish we could change our constitution and ban both Khaleda and Hasina family to do politics in BD forever and make it unconstitutional for a person to become PM for more than once or twice. That should have solved 90% of our political caos.
Ban oborod and hortal forever as it is flagrant violation of human rights.
Peace
November 30th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Both the Awami League and BNP instantly rejected Professor Yunus’ proposal for a coalition government on the ground that any resoultion has to be ‘within the framework of constitution’. Oh the defenders of the constitution! These parties, as we all know are more like gangsters than political entities! Everytime they blockade the country, they break the constitution themselves!
To put things in proper perspective, Bangladesh’s constitution is not the Koran that it cannot be changed or put on hold for the good of the country! In fact, the constitution had been put on hold or changed several times in the past for the convenience of the party or entity in power. The changes were not always made with best interest of people in mind. If it were so, Bangladesh would not be in the current crisis. Bangladesh’s constitution needs revamping at the appropriate time in future in my opinion. But for the current situation, Professor Yunus’ proposal for the parties to make a Peace treaty and go into polls is most appropriate as the enemity between these two entitites is real and is the crux of the problem. To be more accurate - It is the enemity between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina that is the root cause of suffering of the country. Unfortunately, these two parties call the shots in Bangladesh politics and they will continue do so unless there is emergence of a third force that is pro-people enough so that majority Bangladeshis can trust it and stand behind it rejecting both BNP and Awami League. That third force may be in the form of military instead of a political party if the situation gets further worse. If BNP and Awami League dont want to get wiped off the map of Bangladesh politics, they must learn to coexist together in civility and go into polls as Dr. Yunus has proposed . Otherwise, Bangladesh’s fate may be similar to Somalia - a country without a government and run by armed militias.
November 30th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
We are all proving here that really we are Bangali Bangladeshi. A nation from who you can never earn trust and admiration neither Mujib nor Zia not any one will ever gain.
I am not in total support for the proposal but it does have some merits.Rather than a coalition goverment Dr Yunus should have said that we should do a National Goverment for some interim period to clean up the election enginering mess created by immediate past goverment and from some of other political parties.
Why don’t we all the NRB people who are concerned about Bangladesh design a proposal for this mess and submit to Dr Yunus to review and see if we can make some sense to him?
He has given a proposal we can put more values.
I respect and honour Dr Yunus but his field his only Economics and I know he well rounded person but he is not the guru all the subject matters of the world. If we can bring some other big people on the board and discuss this with Dr Yunus we can ake some changes to his proposal and than ask the Political parties to give their feed back on this.
Any one is interested on this or just interested in writing on blogs on leisure time?
We need to take a step to save our country. I respect everybody who are concerned here and also put their valuable time and energy to write in this blogs and others don’t we have more to do than this?
This is the same reason I opposed on Dr Yunus to form a political party or accept the Post of the Care take goverment chief. In one night people like you and all of our would have brought this Nobel Piece winner to the street of Bangladesh and through rotten eggs and shoes.
Please people show some respect here. We can solve our problem we just need to keep cool and listen with our eyes open and heart clean.
thanks
Kawser Jamal
http://www.changeBangladesh.com
Come Join Hands to Change Bangladesh
We have a country we just need to fix it.
There are millions in the world with no country to say their own.We are fortunate ones but can’t let BNP,AWL,Jamaat and JP,LDP to ruin it for their only political and self interest gain.
They have to look upon us on our good too as a common citizen.
November 30th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
I agree with Rumi…just because Dr.Yunus is somehow doing less then our expectiation does not give us the right to write him off like that. I can understand how most of us are feeling that the future of Bangladesh is bleak. But why take it out on the only light (Dr. Yunus) visible in this darkness?
November 30th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
My prediction: Army will eventually take over the reigns of the country if there is no meaninful goverment post January 21 - i.e. if Awami League does not participate in the elections. Such an election will be not be legitimate and will not be accepted by the international community either. Imagine the level of violence it will reach after the elections. There will be nonstop blockades if AL follows through with its agenda. Iajuddin will use the the army to maintain order on the election day but do you think there will be a significant voter turnout? No one in their sane minds can hope for such an election. So what is the alternative. As it stands, Iajuddin has failed to reform either the Election commission or create a new voter list free of fake voters. Even with these two reforms what Bangladesh needs most is a legal framework and enforcement whereby there is a guarantee that only people with good moral character are nominated for elections. Will he do all these necessary reforms in the next 60 days? Very unlikey. Iajuddin is a sick old man who is a puppet of BNP. He missed a chance to set the country on the right path. I am sure history will never forgive him for his failures. The best option for both AL and BNP now is to accept Yunus’ proposals. Otherwise be prepared for a Army takeover. It will come to pass if the both parties dont come to senses and continues to harm Bangladesh the way they have harmed so far.
December 1st, 2006 at 6:06 pm
Here’s my proposal: let’s do away with elections altogether. BNP and AL (along with their jote members) alternate in power for five year terms each. Nobody can switch party (or jote) for the next twenty years. After we learn to live by constitution and follow the rules, we can go back to normal elections.
I even got a new slogan that everybody and all parties can use: Joy Bangladesh!
December 2nd, 2006 at 3:24 am
What the pragmatic professor has proposed has the potential to create a long-term solution for Bangladesh. But will the parties have the political will to come to the table to device a constructive solution? What if it really happens? If the parties do agree to the proposal, I was wondering, what specifically would the coalition do in order to create a long term cure for the relapsing political illness of Bangladesh? How exactly will they make sure that future elections are by design free and fair? No doubt many changes need to be made to the system. What are some of those changes? I guess one of many required changes could be around creating a transparent political fund raising process– a set of guidelines the parties will discuss, debate, and agree upon. This system will prescribe an honest full-disclosure fund-raising infra-structure. What? Legalized chadabajee? Well, here are some of my humble thoughts.
Why the current system is so corrupted is too big of a question with many possible answers. After all, there’s not just one way to reach Mecca. One of the answers may be found in the challenge of fund raising. Some (or even most) people ‘in power’ engage in various activities to accumulate wealth– raise capital so to speak. Why is that? Yes, part of if pure greed. Some of it may due to pure corruption– the kind of corruption only power can fuel. But that’s not all. I think a significant part of it has to do with raising enough money to fight the next election or possible the next two elections. If they don’t raise money, how are they going to fund their election activities? How are they going to pay their political workers– the ‘kormees’? How are they going to run the infrastructure that spreads across the countries and reaches into every corner of the country? As a result, they start collecting a percentage or commission from all businesses and transactions that fall within the sphere of influence. Hence the wheel of systematic corruption keeps spinning. It is the lack of a solid fund raising system that causes mush of the corruption (at higher echelons on the government) and chadabajee at the lower levels. This void breads corrupted political god-fathers and thugs in guise of political workers.
Poor politicians! What else can they do? Well, this is certainly NOT the sentiment here. The reality is that parties need to raise funds, and we cannot depend on the personal goodness of the politicians to make sure that their fund-raising efforts are free of corruption. So, I hope the country will focus on creating a set of fund raising policies. I hope if a coalition is formed, it will spend some time on this matter. I hope the media will focus on this matter. I hope we will see to it.
It is no panacea—just one of many steps the country needs to take.
December 2nd, 2006 at 4:21 am
The intrusion of ‘common sense’ into our political bloodstream would be nothing short of a miracle.This co-habitation and separation of power has worked well for France, who by the way have a presidential system. But we all know that rationality and unity amount to blasphemy for our respected representatives. I applaud Dr. Yunus for introducing this possible solution, but I doubt its applicability in our present political scenario.
December 2nd, 2006 at 11:29 pm
Here is a piece from today’s Daily Star on how Dr. Yunus’s proposed Peace Agreement was misread by intellectuals and the press:
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/12/03/d612031503104.htm
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:13 am
A coalition of two major parties or national government essentially means absolute lootocracy. If this level of looting is not enough for us. I coalition will ensure that it multiplies many times. Two major parties will join together in lootings, with no meaningful threat from opposition.
A strong opposition is a prerequiste for democracy. The outcomes of 2/3 majority for a single party in 71-75 and 2001-2006 are enough to prove that. We don’t need a worse one.
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:31 am
Here’s my proposal. Since we can’t get along with each other - lets devide the country into two. (1947 style)
December 3rd, 2006 at 3:28 am
[...] tions to tackle it. The Nobel Laurate Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s solution to the crisis is brewing much debate at Drishtipat blog. According to Change Banglade [...]
December 3rd, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Our beloved country is being destroyed by this destructive “oborodh”. No matter how much CTG, EC or whoever is at fault for whatever, nothing could rationalize for this kind of distructive movement. I think our political leaders does not care about Dr. Yunus’s good proposal at all. Their main goal is to go to the power by any means. So here is my proposal although it may sound extreme.
1) Do not bother about any election. Just let Sk. Hasina to take over the country and form Govt. And enjoy the loot all by them selves.
2) Reject SK Hasina’s el al for ever as it looks like they do not want any compromise other than destroying our country.
Hey extreme situation calls for extreme measure.
I am truly disgusted and angry.
December 5th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Hi: I had the honor of interviewing Professor Yunus a few weeks ago. Check out my two video installments with the Nobel Peace Prize winner. (He was so eloquent, we had to make two videos!!)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6lya8f8RAag and http://youtube.com/watch?v=2H0PEle9G0U
December 19th, 2006 at 1:00 am
Younus could be sued for theft of intelectual property. Akther Hamid Khan and Mahbubul Aam Chasi were the pioneers. Not Younus as broadcast wrongly in the West controlled media. His solution for the country sounds foolish. He can never match the political might of the political parties in Bangladesh.
He is just an agent for gobal megacompanies’entrance into poor countries. Telenor of Norway does more business than Grameen Bank. Grameen Bank is the shield that camouflages Telenor’s mutimillion dollar business in Bangladesh. Norway’s popuation is ony 4.6 milion whereas Bangladesh’s population is 145 million.
Naturally, they have picked a heavily populated poor country for profiteering. Just imagine multiplying 10 milion times 3/4 takas per minute times 1 year for the 10 million subscribers using Grameen phone daily. Ultimately, Bangladesh finances a part of Norway’s economy anually through the courtesy of Younus.
If you don’t get it, you don’t get it.
December 19th, 2006 at 8:42 am
‘lootocracy’ - genius!
culturally i think the younger generation, or at least parts of it are becoming a little more balanced than the previous one. Look at families with political mix and generational mix, partition of whats now essentially a slightly industrialised east bengal is loony!
Whether this (more mature balance) gets represented in the national politics is interesting. in the real world, democratic elites do not represent the people they ‘lead’ they just tell tales and manufacture consent. Their interests are different from the peoples. The tension between the political group that have already constituted themselves and the actual picture of the people may produce some new trends over the medium term.
It is to these that i recommend giving attention, however heart breaking the present situation is.
December 26th, 2006 at 3:17 am
[...] mostly aired on TV channel’s news. So once again, he’s in a fairytale land and talking gibberish. In his ideal world, we should form [...]
February 5th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Nobel Laureate Dr. Yunus : Let charity begin at home
In a recent interview with a young group of representatives of the Hong Kong Bridge Society, Professor Yunus identified the weak political system as the root cause of corruption and held the political parties responsible for nourishing the same. In his typical style, especially after wearing the current crown of the debated Nobel Peace Prize, he prescribed yet again a poor and wilfully “distracting from the root cause” solution, by asking the children to revolt against their parents by showing strong hatred to them in such cases. Although I do not endorse his ideas or solutions, I would expect him to let charity begin at home in testing his own prescription. Professor Yunus must be aware that an official request has already been made on 10.12.06, in response to an appeal by the Durniti Daman Commission (a new and supposed to be independent version of the former Anticorruption Bureau) to enquire on the allegation of illegally smuggling out of Bangladesh, thousands of crores of taka (worth a few thousand Nobel prize money and the highest-scale corruption in a single sector which evidently made Bangladesh much poorer and the drainage of huge amount of money is still continued) by the Grameen Phone and the Grameen Bank. The complaint also includes illegally snatching sky-high interests by bluffing the 70 lac simple women folk borrowers. The matter was published on 04.12.06 in the Daily Ittefaq too. According to a report published in the daily Ittefaq on 18.12.06, Professor Yunus confessed that a share holder of Grameen Phone is responsible for illegally snatching crores of taka from the poor people of Bangladesh. Grameen Phone was enjoying the monopoly of mobile phone business since 1996. Recently, in the competitive market, they had to drastically reduce the price of their sim cards to Tk. 500/- from Tk.1,50,000/- (!) , call charge per minute to Tk.0.80 from Tk. 7.00, recharge system to monthly/biyearly/yearly basis from only 21 days, which obviously makes the allegation of illegally smuggling out of Bangladesh, thousands of crores of taka justifiable, on the basis of their more than 1-crore subscribers. It is not unknown anymore to anybody that because of the friendship with Mr. Clinton (since his studentship) and Ms. Hillary and the service of President Clinton as the “Chief Publicist” of Professor Yunus and “many other reasons ” which pleased (!) the western world, Professor Yunus was a top favorite person to the West. Therefore, the people certainly has the right to ask Professor Yunus, how effective was his influence (backed by the interested powerful western countries) in getting the right of monopoly mobile phone business in the country for Grameen Phone and which government(s) and govt. servant(s) were responsible for giving that gift of monopoly, and why he is admitting all these now after thousands of crores of taka have already been looted out illegally from the poor people of Bangladesh and why didn’t he unveil the conspiracy beforehand. Regarding Grameen Bank, let a research oriented write-up styled as “Grameen Bank : Poverty alleviation or elevation” (1994), published in 1995 in largely circulated dailies and periodicals be referred to. The research work was sent to many places both at home and abroad including Grameen Bank, Ministry of Finance and Bangladesh Bank for their comments and necessary action. Later, many similar write-ups and letters on Grameen Bank and NGO’s have also been published, each in the largely circulated dailies and periodicals in the last more than one decade. But no reply has yet been received from any authority including Grameen Bank. Although, there were many allegations against Grameen Bank in those write-ups and letters, only 4(four) of them are placed today. (1) Effective minimum rate of interest on general loans of Grameen Bank is 36% (correctly 43.63%). (2) It is better to take loans from the blood-sucking money lenders offering loans @ 219% interest than from Grameen Bank, because of the additional hard conditions of Grameen Bank, besides interests. (3) The propaganda that “Grameen Bank gives loan without any security” is nothing but a complete bluff. (4) The Western countries become very happy if a portion of their uncountable and surplus wealth from the sale of arms is reinvested in the exorbitantly high interest oriented poverty business, since they get hardly any place to invest such a huge wealth with guaranteed return. Elaborate discussions have been made in the above mentioned write-ups. In a recent interview with the TV channel-I, Professor Yunus, on the question of money lending at exorbitantly high rate of interest replied “various comments are normal in new kinds of ventures”. No, Dr. Yunus, your such answers or even hundreds of foreign Nobel certificates aren’t acceptable answers to the very serious type of allegations against Grameen Bank. Therefore, I would expect the family members of Professor Yunus to revolt and pressurize him either to accept the serious allegations like making the motherland poorer to a great extent and illegally snatching sky-high interests by bluffing 70 lacs of simple women folk borrowers or to face the long over due challenges with courage and honesty, by arranging a seminar in the presence of a patriotic media.
On the question of root causes of corruption, well-planned poverty sustainability and moral degradation programs, discussions have been made in the above mentioned write-ups and also in a recent world wide widely publicized (more than 6090 international sites including Wikipedia and Guardian Unlimited, many commercial CDs have also been brought) article titled “100-Dollar Laptop: UN Secretary General’s Office shouldn’t be used for exploiting the poor”.
Nazmul Huda
38/10 Siddheswari Road, Dhaka-1217 nazinvbd@yahoo.com
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