Editorial
The corrupt and the criminals in politics
Urgent need for laws to debar them
In expressing his wishes to see politics purged of the bad eggs, the AL secretary general has exposed the polluted nature of our politics very clearly, while also acknowledging the presence of criminals and the corrupt in the political parties. Thus it would be very pertinent to ask how the criminals and the black money holders came to find a place in both the AL and the BNP.We recall that both Abdul Jalil and Mannan Bhuyian, several years ago, made public pledges from the same platform, not to nominate black money holders, criminals and godfathers of the criminals, for election. But the nation was disappointed to see that nominations were sold, at very high prices, by both the parties to people who, in public perception, were of dubious antecedents, not only in 2001 election, but also in the preparations to the one scheduled for 2007. It betrays the lack of moral conviction and sincerity to say that if a party were to purge its ranks of the criminals and the corrupt others would take them into their folds. This has also exposed the symbiosis between the criminals and the politicians that has corrupted our political culture. At the same time, it has demonstrated the fact that it is political expediency only that parties rely upon for political gains. Unfortunately for the nation, politics is now captive in the hands of these elements that call the shots, and getting rid of them may cause one party to end up in the losing side, as acknowledged by no less than the secretary general of the AL. Cleansing of politics is a popular demand; without it the system cannot be redeemed. And this demands of the politicians to base their acts on morality and ethics. No amount of laws and legislations can infuse these essential qualities in any political party; it has to develop from within. While we welcome the intention of the AL secretary general to rid the political parties of the criminals, their godfathers and the corrupt we feel that one does not have to wait for legislation to actualize the need. It requires internal policies and actions of the political parties based on moral and ethical values, not on political convenience. However, while cleansing of the political parties must come from within and initiated by the parties, the election commission also should consider introducing such electoral laws that would debar people of questionable background from participating in politics and elections.
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