A challenge for political management

Rounaq Jahan

Photo:star

AFTER one year in office, Sheikh Hasina's government has earned good marks in two polls published by the two leading daily newspapers Prothom Alo and the Daily Star. The polls have generally measured the government's performance in two areas: governance and delivery of development efforts in various sectors. The government should justifiably be pleased about the poll results. After all, citizens tend to form their opinion of government along these two broad measures; and the two poll results indicate that up to now they are on the whole satisfied with the government's performance.

In the first year of a government's tenure, people do not necessarily look for immediate results; rather they judge performance by intents and efforts of a government. Sheikh Hasina's government appears to have received the support of a significant majority of people behind its various policy and action measures. The high approval rating augurs well for the government because it faces enormous challenges not only in correcting many of the wrongs of the past, but also setting the country in a new path as it takes incremental steps to implement its electoral pledge of Din Bodol.

Nobody expects miracles or significant overnight changes. What we are looking for is a beginning, concrete actions to demonstrate that we are now in a new order, that the old ways of doing things violating laws of the land and our sense of common decency and probity will no longer be tolerated.

Sheikh Hasina has been excellent in staying on the message of new order in all her public statements. So far the government has avoided committing major blunders or getting embroiled in any major scandal. Not only has it avoided actions that would have negative fallouts, it has also undertaken several positive and bold steps in domestic as well as foreign policy areas. This has encouraged many to be optimistic about the future, and to think, that indeed this time around the government will be able to bring some qualitative change in the way government and policy regimes function in the country.

However, Sheikh Hasina will be well advised to keep in mind that public opinion is often fickle and can shift quickly as a result of mishandling of only a few issues. During its last tenure (1996-2001) the AL government started well and maintained its popularity through its half way mark; but it appeared to lose momentum during the last half. Particularly in the last year the government faced criticisms from many quarters, especially over the two issues of law and order and corruption. The present government under Sheikh Hasina's leadership needs to be vigilant about maintaining its momentum all through its five years of tenure.

This will not be easy because all governments, world over, tend to lose momentum after a few years in office. The government also needs to demonstrate results on the ground to showcase Din Bodol in at least a few concrete areas. Again, this will not be easy as vested interests against change will resist and sabotage reform efforts. However, what will help the government is to be patient with criticisms, which are inevitable in a democracy.

Certainly the government needs to respond to criticisms and it needs to do it promptly but a better way of response is to counter criticisms with counter facts and evidence and not answer criticisms by simply attacking the critics. To sustain popular approval a democratically elected government needs to simultaneously manage administration and politics and it is not going to be easy to manage both in a way that creates positive synergy between the two.

Since the return of electoral democracy in 1991, bad politics has often stood in the way of good governance. The loyalists of ruling parties have demanded financial and material rewards from the government, sometimes in violation of established rules and laws that have tarnished the image of the government. The partisan award of tenders, appointments and promotions had raised questions about the fairness and neutrality of administration. The impunity of maastans under the patronage of party leaders, and the violent contestations between parties, and even between factions of the ruling party had eroded the government's capacity to establish the rule of law.

Indeed, managing the party and finding a proper role for the party loyalists had been a headache for both the AL and the BNP when they were in power in the past. During the last BNP led government (2001-2006), it was the alleged activities of Hawa Bhabon that drew the loudest criticisms. Similarly during the last AL led government (1996-2001), misdeeds of several high profile party stalwarts brought disrepute to the government.

Sheikh Hasina needs to break out of the old mould of party politics where seeking patronage when in power and agitating on the streets when in opposition appear to be the only two roles of the political party. She has taken on a very daunting task for herself as she is both the head of the government and the head of the party. Indeed the general secretary of the party, Syed Ashraful Islam also holds an important government portfolio heading the Local Government Ministry. It will be a major challenge for both of them to vitalize the party and find roles for party loyalists without recourse to simple patronage politics as had been the practice in the past.

Already there are signs of contestations between members of parliament and elected members of local government. A major issue in this contestation is control over public resources, which fuels political patronage and builds local power base. The issues about the separation of roles and powers of elected local governments and members of parliament need to be resolved quickly; otherwise it will weaken the grassroots support base of the government.

By strengthening local governments, Sheikh Hasina can create opportunities for local party leaders to gain experiences in governance and development activities and not be mere supplicants for access to and patronage from central leaders. A new cadre of party leadership with grassroots connections and experiences will strengthen the party and expand its support base.

Another disturbing area of political conflict that deserves immediate attention is the violence on various campuses perpetuated by the so called student fronts of political parties including the Chhatra League. Sheikh Hasina has disassociated herself from the Chhatra League but this has not diminished its capacity to engage in a kind of politics that has been publicly disavowed by her.

Rebuilding the party as the main instrument to promote the message of Din Bodol as well as monitor the progress of its implementation will be a major challenge. First and foremost, it will be necessary to create a team who will be dedicated full time to the task of party building. After all, the AL was built in the 1950s and 1960s as a result of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his team's full time dedication to the job of party organisation.

Second, the team will have to be led by a gifted leader who will combine skills of both communicating with people and pay attention to organizational details. Bangabandhu was one of those rare individuals who mastered both skills and thus was so successful in building a party in a relatively short time span.

Third, specific policies and programmes will have to be developed that can be associated with the message of Din Bodol and "Digital Bangladesh." As of now these messages are only slogans. Policies and programmes will have to be elaborated and debated within the party and outside to translate these messages into implementable actions. Technical as well as political people will have to work in teams to develop these policies and programs. In the 1960s, Bangabandhu put together such teams when he developed the message of Six Points Programme that caught the imagination of the Bengali nation.

Last but not the least, the party would have to build solid bases of support in new constituencies, which are still relatively untapped. Women constitute one such potential constituency. After all they are half of the electorate. Over the last quarter century, there has been a major transformation in the economic role of women. Both in rural and urban areas women's economic contributions are visible and recognised by families and communities.

They are the backbones of Bangladesh's "success stories" in readymade garments and micro-finance. Time has come to now politically empower women. During the last election a record number of 19 women won in general seats in parliament. But 19 out of 300 is only a beginning. The AL needs to develop specific women-friendly policies to attract women voters; nurture a group of women candidates to contest in both parliamentary and local elections, and support them to be effective after they are elected.
.................................................................
Dr. Rounaq Jahan is an Adjunct Professor of International Affairs, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, USA.

© thedailystar.net, 2010. All Rights Reserved