At the moment, the cold hearted politicians are engrossed in scheming and steaming, wheeling and dealing, all with the intent of grabbing power, because they know that if they can grab state power they will get the power to grab land, water, air, industry, factories, railways, property, graveyards and so on. Hence, in their rush towards the corridors of power they are trampling on the mutilated and bleeding bodies of their priyo janagan. But do they feel anything? Do they hear the screams of the janagan? No, because their hearts have tuned cold. Therefore, even if the cold winter ends, it is no good news for the people.

Sleeping with the enemy?

Though sleeping with strangers oftentimes leads to devastating consequences, the politicians of Bangladesh are going haywire searching for bed partners to stay warm till the next elections. In their desperation they are even ready to sleep with the enemy, only if it propels them to power. What they would not do to selflessly "serve" the people?!?

To be candid, self-respecting citizens were forced to witness all sorts of unsavoury things, like the cajoling, coaxing and cooing that have been going on in the dark alleys of politics in Bangladesh in the past months. For example, there was open bickering over the possession of a "hot" partner, who was a sworn enemy only yesterday. While one alliance pulled this hot stuff by the hand, the other alliance pulled him by the leg. And from the sideline, cynics asked one another: "Besides giving some seats to the political party that he joins, what has he got to give to the nation?" Then, with other potential partners, some quite obscure, various tricks are still being used, such as emotional exploitation, financial exploitation, religious exploitation and familial exploitation. One strategy will hit the jackpot, won't it?

Then there are the group shows to entertain the crowd. Jogais and Madhais, Morod Alis and Surat Alis are joining one party today, and another tomorrow, with a large group of people trailing behind them. They are ready to oblige the media with fixed smiles on their faces, and large bouquets of flowers in their hands, as they meet the party chairperson. The party chairperson welcomes them and then gives a look at the camera that says: "See, you could not get this ugly lot, I did. Just wait and see how I dump them after I go to power. Right now I allow them to enter my office because I need their votes." So much for the love of the people!

In the month of December, the month when brave Bengalis had snatched victory and created the country called Bangladesh, Awami League offered something rotten to its supporters and sympathizers. Failing to consolidate its power and position in the last five years for launching a decisive movement to make the 4-party alliance unpopular, the largest party of the country (up until now) is now frequenting the dark alleys for partners. Abdul Jalil, who is deft at talking without thinking, came up with another of his legendary trump cards (he has an un-ending supply of such cards). But this time it was not an invisible card. This time it manifested itself in the shape and garb of Shaikhul Hadis, or whatever, and scared the hell out of the progressive people. Abdul Jalil appears to be ecstatic because he has this old, controversial man as his bed partner, and justifies his decision by giving all sorts of ridiculous arguments.

Readers were aware of the consequences of sleeping with the enemy during the rule of the 4-party alliance, when militants belonging to JMB, and other factions, proliferated under a sympathetic administration and began to kill people in the name of establishing their brand of Islamic rule. These people have a long history of turning on their own mentors one day to grab absolute power, and that's exactly what they did. But leaders in power remain blinded by the glare of the cameras, and as such cannot distinguish between friends and fiends.

Now, the Awami League, in its quixotic trance, believes that such a tiny obscurantist entity as Khelafat would strategically become useful to counter the aggression of the larger Islamic parties in the country. But it is too late Mr. Jalil. Maybe you and other Awami League leaders should have been up and awake, and been more attentive to the media outcry for the last twenty years about the rise of the militants across the country. If Awami League had played its due role when it was needed the necessity for such an ignominious alliance would not have become so pressing today. This apparently friendly person may turn into a monster one day. Abdul Jalil should read Mary Shelly's "Victor Frankenstein" for some useful tips.

It bewilders commoners like us to the extent of making us grapple in the dark in our quest for answers to the disturbing question: When will politics in Bangladesh become people-centric rather than power-centric?

Shahnoor Wahid is a Senior Assistant Editor of The Daily Star.