Bangladesh crisis reveals that rulers can ignore people at their own peril

These days, politicians irrespective of their political affiliations are displaying unbridled arrogance of power immediately after coming to power. Astonishingly, this is happening in their first term itself. But those politicians who realise that the key to their path to power is in the hands of people will survive long in the corridors of power. Others will simply perish and slip into oblivion. In a democracy, people have real power. That’s the reality.

Let me start this with a cliché. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is increasingly becoming a norm in most of the countries that boast of democracy these days. This is amply reflected in the abrupt end to the reign of Sheikh Hasina Wazed, Bangladesh’s longest-serving Prime Minister, last week. Daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh, she was prime minister from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from 2009 to till last week. In all, she was the country’s prime minister for over 20 years. Interestingly, under her stewardship, Bangladesh had achieved remarkable economic progress in the last 15 years. It was such an extent that this small country even outsmarted India in per capita income for over four years till recently. As of now, Bangladesh’s per capita income stands at a decent $2,646 while that of India is slightly higher at $2,731.

But Bangladesh has been faring poorly on the political front. Sheikh Hasina, who is also president of Bangladesh Awami League, started her second innings after winning elections in January 2009. But her re-election in 2014 was marred by the boycott of polls by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by arch rival Begum Khaleda Zia, who has twice served as the country’s prime minister. Khaleda Zia was jailed in 2018 on corruption charges and her party kept itself away from the General Elections held in January this year. Though Hasina secured her fourth consecutive victory in that election, the US and other international observers described those polls as being far from fair.

Reports indicated rampant corruption in Hasina’s government. Her autocratic and arrogant style of governance seemed to have backfired. Students’ agitation in July against reservations for descendants of freedom fighters proved to be the last straw, forcing her to flee the country on August 5. Agitators even laid siege to her residence minutes after she fled the country. Of course, India has accorded her temporary asylum. Subsequently, an interim government was formed under the leadership of Dr Muhammad Yunus, winner of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, and founder of Grameen Bank. But it’s going to be a Herculean task for him to bring Bangladesh back on the right track. Further, the continuous attacks on minorities, including Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh are disturbing. Yunus’ first priority should be to take care of minorities in his country. Otherwise, the country will slip into a bigger political, economic and humanitarian crisis.

But the sudden anger among students is a clear indication that people will not tolerate reservations in jobs and educational institutes beyond a point. Further, undeserved people benefitting from the quota system obviously fuels resentment. This apart, Hasina’s sudden fall from grace clearly shows that mere economic progress will not keep people happy and there is a need for an equitable development that lifts living standards of all people.

In India also, there is growing resentment about the way reservations are being implemented. Many opine that there is a need for a cream layer across reservations as all people in each category are not benefitting from the current reservation system. Further, there is no point in allowing a handful of people to enjoy the fruits of reservations while others in the same social-economic strata languish in poverty.

This applies to political reservations as well, wherein ‘family packs’ and political dynasties have become the norm in India these days. Will India’s political leadership learn any lessons from Bangladesh’s latest bitter experience?

The chaotic developments in Bangladesh evoked interesting reactions from India’s main Opposition. Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid claimed that India could go the Bangladesh way even though everything looked normal in our country. Another Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar also tried to compare the situation in Bangladesh with that of India. Of course, Aiyar is known to shoot his mouth off frequently.

But I don’t think that will happen in India. Whether one agrees or not, India is a matured democracy and the people here know how to overthrow governments with their votes, not with violence.

Lest one forgets, India achieved its independence from British shackles with non-violent struggles. So, there is no chance whatsoever of Indians turning violent to dethrone their governments.

Frankly speaking, they did not do that even when Indira Gandhi, the country’s two-time prime minister, imposed emergency in June 1975. Why will they do it now?

However, Congress leaders’ comments stem from their eagerness to come back to power at the Centre at the earliest possible time. But that may not be possible now and neither in the next elections scheduled for 2029 if Congress doesn’t sharpen its strategies and improve its performance.

However, Sheikh Hasina and her team are not alone in displaying arrogance while in power. These days, politicians irrespective of their political affiliations are displaying unbridled arrogance immediately after coming to power. Astonishingly, this is happening in their first term itself. But those politicians who realise that the key to their path to power is in the hands of people and remain humble will survive long in the corridors of power when it comes to democracies. Others will simply perish and slip into oblivion.

In democracy, people have real power in the long run. They have the power to make someone a ruler. At the same time, they can throw that ruler into the dustbin if push comes to shove. The fate of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is a classic example of the ‘voter decides’ phenomenon. That’s the reality.