Another year slipped by, good or bad or both; it has passed. Could there be some value in looking back? If nothing else, the year’s lessons might assist in predicting what is to come. Prediction, prophecy, soothsaying or fortune-telling are exciting – but only if one does not have to be accountable for the forecast. Revered figures practised the trade, a few took on predicting the doomsday; none has yet proved to be true. Fascinatingly, though, the trade continues and there remains an unquenchable interest in predicting the future.
Given the previous year’s events, and as the nation heads towards another tumultuous year, I wonder whether opinion makers (as they predict as much as they analyse events, notably political events) can conjure up some different predictions, even a few positive ones.
Remaining positive in the face of unending tyranny is, after all, a well-regarded Bangladeshi virtue. It is essentially what keeps us going. We are defiant and patient and we can remain optimistic. Need any proof? Imagine the boundless support and applause our cricket team has been receiving since the early ‘90s, when they started their quest to become a Test-playing nation, in spite of their variable and at times frustrating performance.
Think about the unconstrained praise and encouragement that students, mediocre or bright, get from their parents, telling them that with hard work they will be able to overcome their shortcomings eventually. They are destined to shine, they are told to inspire them. Even better, consider the fantasy (and the hard work directed towards it) harboured by the poor — someday they will be able to support their families and enable their children to be in a better situation.
Still need more convincing? Remember the government’s election campaign four years ago: the central theme was a promise of ‘Din Bodol’, resonating with an overwhelming majority. Our ever- optimistic spirit prompted us to give them another go, when we were neither cynical nor able to find a worthy alternative. We voted for them.
With the power of sorcery, I would have cast a spell to do away with all the negatives. In the absence of such magical power, let’s try some wild prophesy for next year: Padma-bridge finance problems and associated afflictions will be sorted; the War Crime Tribunal will be rehashed to lead it towards verdicts but this time with conviction and competence followed by due process; sinners, killers — or criminals at large — will be punished to improve the eroding situation in law and order; consistent economic growth will be maintained and it will be inclusive; and above all, an agreement will be reached with the opposition on the mechanics of the next election.
At this, you may find it difficult to suppress a grin or a smirk. Let’s try something else. The Ready Made Garment industry along with the government and its wealthy buyers will take tangible steps to address the issues it faces. In particular, genuine steps will be taken to ensure workers’ safety. Employees will be paid a fair wage on time without haggling. There will be no more economic rationalisation from owners to justify the dereliction of their responsibilities.
Let me be bolder. There will be less of the power shortage which now cripples our industries and torments ordinary householders, students and businesses. Endemic corruption, mismanagement, red tape will vanish to ease overhead in running businesses, making employee and employer both a little bit happier.
For city dwellers, there will be less of those suffocating traffic jams which someday, around the peak of summer, can provide the perfect impetus to suicide. We will achieve this as our metropolitan and intercity transport infrastructures see rapid and efficient progress.
I want to be more sanguine. Distrust between government and opposition parties will disappear, avoiding deadly protests, strikes and violence. The New Year will introduce a meaningful newness among the old foes, instead of ruthless arguments they will choose dialogue, discussion and colloquy. They will be united on national issues as they realise (better late than never) that fracture bode ill for the nation.
Pun aside, optimism is our wild card. As we are a survivor. We progress in spite of domestic political anxiety or global economic downturn. In fact, we have advanced, even though slowly, against the worst predictions of the fortune-tellers. Our success in improving lives of the poor and women, and improvement in basic human development indicators such as life expectancy or the number of children at school have caught the eyes of the world.
This is special when our governance is perceived to be dysfunctional and our private sector could be stronger. The work of a large network of world-class NGOs has effectively filled the gaps and the sizable remittance contributed by a large number of our compatriots toiling abroad fuels the economy.
Positive hope that tomorrow will be better and a die-hard will not to give up is the basis, as much for the nation as for individuals, of our thriving tale so far. But it could have been so much better, with similar keenness at the top.
All points of view are far from perfect; how they interweave with reality may be important in realising our goals. An epiphanic silver bullet is unlikely to be found in the new year.
Critical examination and soul searching are not only integral to wisdom but crucial to the prosperity and sanity of a society. Traditionally, philosophers, artists or intellectuals lead us on this. In the present context, the powerful and privileged bear the onus – will they show us reasons to be positive? Will they opt to utilise the extraordinary potential of young, energetic and aspirational population, eager to learn, to achieve and to improve itself.
As to leaving it to media, newspapers and blog sites to instil ideas and propose ways forward, only seem to reinforce the sense of a nation hopelessly caught between eternal enthusiasm and an obsessional negativity.
May 2013 knock this loose.
Source: bdnews24
