As a humble citizen of this country I have few questions to all. Can we afford to spend so much money for holding elections, which never reflect original public representation? The representatives who don't think of the people, their welfare and the country are not real representatives.

We elected our representatives several times since we achieved independence, but no government could ensure uninterrupted electricity supply. No government actually thought of establishing power plants for keeping pace with the increasing amount of electricity needed to feed the ever-growing industries, business establishments, and domestic demands.

Rural life goes without electricity. Getting several hours uninterrupted electricity in the areas under Rural Electrification Board is a rare happening. But every moment of city life depends on electricity.

Our previous governments did not take any pragmatic steps to mitigate the sufferings of the citizens. The mosquito is another evil which no government tried to save the city from.

When the countrymen are undergoing shortage of electricity and suffering from mosquito bites, the nation is planning to spend millions of dollars for holding elections. Why? To elect some public representatives? Why ? So that they can pocket the nation's money and make their fortune utilizing and distributing the national wealth among the party supporters. The present scenario in the nation amply proves it.

Common people don't want to be billionaires, or save money in foreign banks. They don't want to live in palatial houses located at Baridhara, Gulshan, Banani or Uttara. They just want uninterrupted supply of electricity, no mosquito biting, jam free roads, secure life, and prices of commodities within their reach. They just want to work and earn something.

But our masters failed to ensure these simple things. Why? They were not sincere, they were not efficient, they were not honest, and they were self-centered. Their infatuation with individual interest and love for the party kept the nation and national issues neglected for years. How hapless the nation is!

What magic do the politicians hold in their hands that will change the whole scenario in the country if democracy prevails? The ways and ideals of democracy are stored and sleeping in the constitution and the law books. There materialization and practical use has never appeared.

Just see, you are a lover of democracy and a patriot, but don't have any black money. You will be sued by an influential person whom you didn't like, or vote for. He will file a case against you. Police will arrest you like a criminal.

You will be produced before the court. As you don't have money, no lawyer will move for you and you may be put in jail. No democracy has ever made any room for protecting this honest citizen.

The police are always powerful. They can do anything they like. What democracy will ensure that police will not harass the honest citizens? When the police, nurtured by the taxpayer's money, commit a crime or harass an honest citizen, is our democracy able to give punishment to them? No, never.

The police are used by the power in party to subdue the opposition, and because of that opportunity they do whatever they like. And the party in power can never punish them for two reasons. One is due to their own immorality, and the other is to save the police for their own interest and gain.

No party has any agenda or plan or strategy, no means, actually, to solve the basic problems of the country. How they will change the electricity situation? They will have to satisfy the party men, they will have to satisfy the goons, the corrupt officials, the party supporters, the dishonest but powerful members of the party. All these elements will stand in the way of materialization of any honest and public-welfare oriented endeavour.

If the nation can ensure continuous supply of electricity industry and agriculture, the two vital sectors of the nation, will run at a high speed, steering the country forward at double pace.

But who will ensure it, and how it will be ensured? It's not an easy task, but a gigantic undertaking, which entails true patriotism and genuine ability. But the political culture we have developed so far cannot ensure these things.

Yes, they can ensure how many hartals and aborodhs will be enforced this week, the next week. They will ensure blockade of the whole country in twenty-four hours. They can ensure that nobody will be in the industrial units for work. They can ensure that hundreds of vehicles will be destroyed and set ablaze in twenty-four hours.

The gift of the gab, telling a series of lies, and making the people emotional by inciting speeches can give a nation nothing but false hopes, and degradation and frustration. Which is what we had been witnessing till now.

Definitely, we would have seen many hartals, many cars and vehicles damaged, and several million dollars wastage of national wealth had this interim government not been in power.

Bangladesh Biman suffers billions of dollars loss. No democratic movement could do anything about it. Can we afford to continue nurturing this serious losing concern of the state at the cost of poor people's tax?

What argument and answer will our politicians give? Why did you not privatize it? Where is your weakness? Or is it your inability? What to do with an elephant like Biman? The present government has taken some stern and pragmatic steps to save this losing concern.

Please, don't show us your crocodile tears for democracy. We have witnessed your way of dealing with democracy. Now let the country stand keeping its backbone, which you have broken seriously, straight.

As soon as a party government comes to power, all the national thieves and plunderers will be in their positions again, at the cost of billions to the nation. So, why do we cry for this kind of democracy? I just cannot understand. Can we afford to nurture the national plunderers with the poor people's money?

As a common citizen of this country I feel forced to ventilate my feeling towards the present development and future of this country. We are the victims of circumstances. We no more want to see the most corrupt people run the country. We don't want to see people becoming hero from zero with the blessings of party men.

We don't want to see the most inefficient people at the helm of affairs by virtue of nepotism. We don't want to see the people who are supposed to be in jail run the state, and reign over our national assembly house.

Yes, the nation needs an election to learn whether people want a party government or a national consensus government. They don't want to surrender state power to a group of people who are inefficient, who didn't have any bright academic career, and who are not patriotic but corrupt. The nation has closely observed their contribution toward building the nation for long thirty-six years.

This land sees six months natural of calamities and six months of political calamities, when the whole country remains hostage to the will of our politicians who have shown quite no consideration for people's lives, security, and the greater interest of the nation. People have not forgotten those horrible days.

Our political gurus and masters are crying crocodile tears for democracy. What the nature of democracy is in our country, and in almost all the third world countries, is well known to us.

The nation needs time to stand on its own feet. The backbone has been broken by natural and political calamities. Not for a single month has the nation seen real peace. How will it stand straight? It was being driven backward by the people called politicians.

Let us utilize the opportunity to run the country forward, keeping the evil claws of politics, which has vitiated every aspect and side of the state. We should not be moved by their shrewd and motivated persuasion.

Md. Masum Billah works for Post Primary Basic And Continuing Education ( Pace) Program