Editorial
Three years of Sk. Hasina's rule
Massive mandate, mostly wasted
When Sheikh Hasina promised a "politics of change" in 2008 people just loved it and massively voted for it, simply because they so desperately wanted it. At the end of the third year of a five year mandate, there is no sign of any change, especially in politics, governance and corruption, the three areas where change was needed and people expected most. Regrettably all the indications are of a return to politics of violence, police oppression, use of mastans, black money, etc in politics and related areas. The above facts along with price hike of essentials, widespread corruption, extra-judicial killings, recent disappearance and partisanship in most of the activities of the government have overshadowed its considerable achievements in education, rice production, fertilizer distribution and power generation.
Both in terms of reach and quality, education can be termed as this government's most successful effort. Power generation, though highly laudable, came at a price which the country is finding almost impossible to bear. Distribution of fertilizer, another great success is marred by its high price, which is caused by international market and the government cannot be blamed for. Food production is another sphere where Sheikh Hasina's government rightly deserves a lot of credit.
War criminals trial, arresting rise of fundamentalism with an iron hand, and hunting down and destroying extremists' hideouts have been some remarkable achievements of this government.
Extending a hand of friendship to India was one of Sheikh Hasina's boldest move in foreign policy that called the bluff of the anti-Indian lobby as to their popular base. Given that we have extended the full gamut of our co-operation India's slow and so far unsubstantial response makes our PM appear anxious and out-maneuvered.
Our opinion poll, fifth in a row, which we publish today as a special tabloid, reveals a massive drop in government's popularity but still holding to its core voting block. This indicates a window of opportunity to recover in the last two years if some effective steps are taken to stem corruption, partisanship, mal-governance and repression of the opposition.
The opposition, on its part, has done nothing to deserve the rise of its popularity indicated in our survey, evidence of the 'negative' nature of our politics in which a party never wins, the other party loses.
Our survey, along with most others that have been published, show a significant shift of "swing voters" whose massive support gave the 'Moha Jote" its four-fifth parliamentary strength in 2008. This should serve as a "wake-up" call for Awami League and Sheikh Hasina's government. Will she and her government heed this message?
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