Of course, the most classical definition of democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is the people who are suppressed to occupy the centre stage. But what we see today is just the opposite. Today everything is done in the name of democracy for establishing people's rights or basic human rights. But to fight for establishing democratic rights one is not entitled to adopt undemocratic means. It does not mean that when there is a 'hartal' call by a party, its activists would go round to 'teach lessons' to the 'disobedient' venturing to go round with their work, disregarding the hartal call.

Historic exception
However, the recently held CCC Mayoral election of Mr ABM Mohiuddin for a consecutive third term, a glorious hat-trick for him, was wonderfully a historic exception. A peaceful and fair election could be held as the people occupied the centre-stage to run the show and win that they wanted, instead of leaving it solely in the hands of so-called leaders who talk much but agitate more. Mr Mohiuddin, although himself a devoted AL leader, had wisely decided not to fight from his party platform, rather he preferred a neutral citizens' committee as his platform where cross-section of people could assemble without any hesitation. That was the golden key for Mr Mohiuddin's victory. This platform without any political label, coupled with the sincere work done by the security forces, made the sailing smooth. It was rather unimaginable in a country like Bangladesh where political leaders, particularly of the two major parties, always had kept the pot boiling to serve their purpose and strategy.

But can the Chittagong success be emulated in the rest of Bangladesh in the next general election? Only time will prove that. In undivided India, a great Indian politician had once said that "What Bengal thinks today. India thinks tomorrow." Can we change this great saying a little bit ( with all apology the soul of Gokhle), and say, "What Chittagong thinks today, Bangladesh thinks tomorrow"? A great expectation, no doubt!

Who's fooling whom?
Bangladesh had achieved independence in 1971 from the colonial rule of Pakistan, after making supreme sacrifices in millions of lives and enormous property, being inspired by the right of self-determination of establish our identity in the comity of nations. We crossed the bridge with great hardship but that bridge of faith, devotion and commitment seems to have broken down leaving us in the lurch. Much water had flown down the Ganges since we had achieved independence and became a member of the world body. But have the things moved forward since then? Have we learnt to evaluate the price of democracy in the true sense of the term? It needs a lot of heart-searching and stock-taking to find out 'who is fooling whom'.

Since the fall of one-man rule of Gen. Ershad, who it must be admitted, was successful in, giving some semblance of stability and discipline, we have the experience of enjoying democratic rule beginning in 1991. The next being in 1996 and the third in 2001, which is now on its last leg. Of these, the first government was led by BNP 1991-'96, the

second from 1996-2001 by Awami League and the third and incumbent again by BNP -- all not much satisfaction of the people. And if the up-coming general election to be held in 2006, becomes a nasty game of 'black money' and 'muscle power' to throttle our nascent democracy, then the future of this country and its democratic process is bound to face the worst situation in its history.

To quote from Munir Report, prepared by Justice Munir, on the disturbances in the Pakistan Punjab in the fifties: "If democracy means subordination of law and order to political ends, then Allah knoweth the best..." This is a great lamentation by a judge! We agree that Allah "knoweth the best", but the people should also realise, even if late in the day, as to whose game they had been playing as a pawn in their hands, for the ruination of the country and that also in the name of democracy and human rights. Chittagong should open our eyes to read the writings on the wall to foresee the future shape of our present day politics that thrives on spreading and counter spreading of hate and violence against one another.

Victim of partisan politics
In fact, we have been suffering from a 'desperate disease', making hatred against each other 'the capital' of our politics. Perhaps, that is why we need a 'desperate remedy' to save our country and nascent democracy from ruination. As Editor Mahfuz Anam, in a special commentary (D.S. 14th Anniversary Special, 14 January, 05) had pointed out that "our democracy appears usurped by narrow partisan politics and the 'winner-take all mentality' of election victors is turning the mandate to govern into licence to oppress the opposition." He hit the right chord when he said that "both BNP and Awami League are guilty of sowing the seeds of public suspicion in the electoral process."

Might is right ?
As part of our 'desperate remedy' the desperate political disease, the first thing that we would have to do is to vow to give up or totally abandon the habit of posing ourselves as 'omniscient', leaving others in the cold as 'fools.' Hence we must try to learn 'ABC' of democracy from our neighbouring countries, like India, as to how they run their democratic government and how they peacefully change their government through periodic elections, without staging violent demonstrations and burning private and public vehicles and destroying public and private property. We will have to give up the policy of "might is right" and politely accept the people's verdict, as they did in the recent election in Great Britain. It also conveys a big lesson for us.

Can't we follow the democratic norm and form set by the leaders of both the Labour and Conservative Parties? Look, how the leader of the defeated Conservative Party, Mr. Howard, accepted gracefully the defeat of his party and congratulated Tony Blair for his party's victory. And not only that, Howard also announced his resignation from party leadership, recognising his failure to lead his party to victory. This is indeed a bright example of what true democracy means. Can any of our defeated leaders or party members such an example? Is it possible in our country where leaders carry 'democracy' in their pockets to use in 'emergency' cases?

Where from here?
So the most burning and urgent question is: where from here we go? As a Welsh proverb says "he who would be a leader must be a bridge." Do our present day top leaders serve as 'bridge' for taking the people to the destination of a welfare state? Or, rather they try utmost to break each other's 'bridge' to sink the nation in the sea of chaos and destruction? Enough is enough. Time has come to put a full stop to unbridled 'mobocracy' that rules the roost. During the last several years the country had witnessed enough of horrific scenes of destruction, vandalism, killing, looting and arson. A grand show of black money and muscle power in the name of poor democracy! But now no more.

Conclusion
We shouldn't forget the old adage that "any Jack ass can kick a barn down, but it needs a carpenter to build it." We should look for an expert carpenter or carpenters to rebuild the broken 'barn' of our democracy. For that we need immediate change of present old and hackneyed leadership. Let the new generation throw up new leadership with broad new ideas to put the derailed democracy on the right track. Only new 'carpenters' can build a new 'barn' for the protection and blooming of our nascent democracy from further attacks of any mischievous 'Jack ass', roaming around with wrong and destructive ideas.

AMM Shahabuddin is a retired UN official.