Three decades have elapsed, and in Bangladesh we have witnessed the repetition of the same style of politicspre-election tall talks fall flat in post-election period; terrorism increases with new dimensions; and more than anything, the amassing of wealth by every coterie increases leaps and bounds. The rulers turn a deaf ear; see no evil, hear no evil.

On the platform, demagogues promise everything for the public to the extent that is humanly and economically impossible. Sycophants shout thunderous slogans and the general people clap as a mark of their appreciation. Our leaders become highly pleased and profoundly happy with the response from the gathering. Unfortunately, the real ball game they missthe rule of law and good governance that the majority of the population dearly want.

What our lawmakers fear most of all are the journalists. Journalists report the facts. Lawmakers hate the journalists because the journalists bring their hidden desires to light. Plain truth. So what must be done? Subdue them by any means. They are easy prey. The reason is simple. They have no weapon, no musclemen. Further to their misery, they have no money to buy judicial favour.

Hence, they have been targets of brutalitykilling, hacking, lynching, terrorising are a few of the many examples that we saw in the recent past. Browsing through the newspapers, one would have the impression that the politicians have declared war against the news reporters.

A very recent example is the Kushtia episode where a small gathering of the reporters was dispersed by the all too powerful local musclemen. TV news telecast showed a very senior journalist, among many others, standing helplessly and profusely bleeding. As reported, the local lawmaker had a hand in it. Protests from different corners were raised, but the state machinery has done nothing to bring those responsible to book. The government's complacency is a naked example of favouritism for a party man who is an individual more precious than the party and more sacred than the country. Gresham's law seems to be working in our country as in the circulation of currency; bad money tends to drive good money out of circulation. Noble deeds must be annihilated while the wicked must persist.

Let's take the example of the rise of the tyrant Bangla Bahi. The news media portrayed the truth with evidence of his reign of terror. We haven't forgotten those gruesome photographs of Bangla Bhai's torture victims that were published in the newspapers.

Let's revisit a few samples of the published reports: a) men kidnapped, beaten to death in front of villagers, and then hung upside down from a tree; b) while they tortured they even amplified the victim's cries using a loudspeaker; c) Khejur Ali, a helpless victim's body was cut into tiny pieces; d) some were murdered after day-long announcement that public must attend the "ceremonial" killing; e) a recent media report states that some people are still maimed and Bangla Bhai still haunts them in their nightmares.

One could write volumes after volumes about the atrocities committed by the so-called ultra "jihadists." Their acts are barbaric by all standards and irreligious by all religions.

However, it is very sorrowful to note the negative reaction of the government at that time. While Bangla Bhai was brandishing his weapon in a broad day-light procession at Rajshahi, the government termed him a "fictitious character," creation of the media, no Bangla or English Bhai, etc etc. The Government found the media reports very hard to swallow. They termed it a cooked up scheme aimed at tarnishing the "ever increasing popularity" of the ruling alliance.

Thus the so-called "fictitious character" lived free and ran a parallel government in the northern districts much to the shame of our government. The fact that the JMJB remained uncontrolled for so long gives rise to serious doubts and questions in the public mind. The issue of collusion, sponsorship, and blind support from a certain section of the party in power obviously comes up, viz. people have serious doubts about their trial; sceptics believe nothing will happen to them.

To combat these national ailments all we need is honest politicians and no demagogues. The definition of honest politician is a simple one. I will quote from Bertrand Russell's Sceptical Essays: "One whose political actions are not dictated by a desire to increase his own income; … whose political actions are not dictated by desire to secure or preserve his own power any more."

The politician must have appropriate knowledge and strong goodwill to manage the affairs of the state in an honest way. We do not have any dearth of knowledgeable and honest people in the country, but they must be heard. Again in the words of Bertrand Russell: "Knowledge exists, and goodwill exists; but both remain impotent until they possess the proper organs for making themselves heard."

The above snap-shots bring forth one question: did we want a Bangladesh like this? Yes, everyone has his own words and interpretation. I would like to take the readers back to 1971 when a group of college students (all teen-agers including this writer) discussed in a remote village how should an independent Bangladesh be. Socialist republic, communist economy, secular treatment to all citizens, presidential form, parliamentary form, all came up in the discussion.

However, the discussion drew its conclusion with very simple ideas for an independent Bangladesh: a) liberal social environment; b) tolerant political atmosphere, and c) secular treatment to all citizens. Economic emancipation for all citizens was a hot discussion but not considered, as it was not an easy task to attain in the shortest time.

On the other hand, the enumerated ideas were simple social tasks that only needed political goodwill of the politicians. That group of 1971 college students is now in the mid-fifties. We see with utter frustration, a diametrically opposite Bangladesh. With the passage of time, all those little dreams vanished, as the children's rhyme says: "One flew east, one flew west, one flew over the cuckoo's nest."

Ulfat Hussain is a freelance contributor to The Daily Star.