Now is the time

Suddenly you may think, what time you are in right now? Did the time machine take you back to 2003? Or in 2005 or 2006. Unbridled load shedding, energy crisis, dollar crisis. Industrial factories are in turmoil due to fuel shortage. Syndicate in the commodity market. Rampage of corruption by a few individuals. People are disoriented by the increase in commodity prices. We have gone through a similar situation one and a half decade ago. Then there is a story of turning around of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has achieved the capacity of 100% electricity production. Bangladesh's progress from 2009 to 2021 has surprised the whole world. Bangladesh's development has also defied fairy tales. Development does not mean only bridges, culverts, roads and big buildings. Development of Bangladesh has been multi-dimensional. From village to city. The image of Bangladesh is changing everywhere. The image of Bangladesh is changing everywhere. There is a huge variation in development from one end of Bangladesh to the other. Ashrayan project, community clinics, agricultural revolution, awakening of Small Medium Industries, a trend of self-reliance of youth in villages, success stories of educated youths in farming, success of women awakening in employment, Padma Bridge, Metrorail, Karnaphuli Tunnel, Bangabandhu Satellite, the development of the past era is as diverse as the seven colors of the rainbow. In agriculture, industry, education, health, infrastructure, communication and information technology, such a balanced development has been achieved in very few countries in the world. Developments in Bangladesh are complementary and supportive of each other. Information Technology has empowered agriculture. Communication has boosted export trade. This is how every branch of development has evolved over the past decade. The destination of these developments is to make Bangladesh the 'Golden Bangla' of Bangabandhu's dream. Standing at the threshold of that dream journey, Bangladesh celebrated the birth centenary of the father of the nation and the golden jubilee of independence. Bangladesh is liberated from the chains of poverty. The has moved from the list of least developed countries to developing countries. 50 years later the basket case of 71 became the role model of success in the world. Till 2008, Bangladesh was a failed and pitiful country. But only in one era Bangladesh was recognized as the fastest growing country in the world. Above all, the people of this country learned to dream. Achieving the 'impossible'. And the shaper of this overwhelming progress is only one - Sheikh Hasina. This achievement was only possible for her thought, philosophy, integrity and prudence.

But the history of the Bengali nation is full of tragedy. Before enjoying the satisfaction of an achievement, the Bengali nation faced another tragedy. Whenever this nation is a little better, then the storm of destruction that destroys everything. Again that ominous cloud. The main reason for this is the global situation. Russia-Ukraine War. But besides this the failure of some younger rubbish is no less responsible. Being in power for a long time, opportunistic flatterers tend to crowd the center of power. Gradually incompetent, the younger became the masters of everything.  They did not join any movement in their life. There is no minimum contribution for the team. There is no sign of practice of Bangabandhu's ideal - some such persons have become ministers, advisers, MPs like getting the lamp of Aladdin's. They do not understand the meaning of these developments. They do not know the history of Awami League's sacrifice. They only care for their own interests. Because of them, all the achievements of thirteen years are now fading away. Their main activities are corruption, looting and extorting people. For example, one of the luckiest people in this country appeared in an event last Sunday (October 23). Tawfiq-e-Elahi, the energy adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The aggrieved industrialists invited him as the chief guest at a discussion on 'Solution of Fuel Crisis in Industry' organized by Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI), hoping to hear some words of hope. Hoping to hear that the government is on their side in this crisis. Where is the assurance, where is the promise to stand by? The advisor said, 'We have no other option but to be cost-effective in using electricity. If necessary, using electricity should be stopped during the day. Our reserves are very low. We don't have money. We cannot say what will happen in the future. At first I could not believe that the Prime Minister’s adviser could say such irresponsible words. Tawfiq-e-Elahi is a brave freedom fighter. I respect him for his contribution in the liberation war. But he is one of the people responsible for leading the power sector to the dire straits it is today.  I will not go into whether there is selfishness or lust in his every plan and thought. But as a citizen of Bangladesh, some basic questions are in my mind. Why people will pay about 90 thousand crore Taka for capacity charge or power plant rent. Again, many of these power plants do not even have production capacity. Why is there no large and permanent supply agreement to buy oil and gas from OPEC, OPEC plus countries? In whose interest is the commission-friendly decision to buy 50 percent of total imports from the spot market? Countries such as Qatar and Oman offered major gas supply contracts. But then the government did not accept it. But now they have applied through diplomatic channels to get gas from those two countries. But they have already started selling gas in Europe. Who is responsible for this?

However, the day after the speech of the energy adviser, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, "The speech of the energy adviser is personal." The government has not taken any such decision. It was this adviser who said in June, "Load shedding should be done in future." On July 19, the government officially announced load shedding. However, load shedding started outside Dhaka a few days before this. The Minister of State for Energy said that load shedding will be done during the day.  Now there is five to six hours’ load shedding in Dhaka city itself. The Minister of State for Energy said that load shedding will be lessen by September. He said in October that there is no possibility of reducing the power crisis before winter. During the BNP-Jamaat coalition government, the child Naureen was shot and died in broad daylight in her father's arms. The Home Minister of that time had said at that time 'Allah's wealth has been taken by Allah'. Now our Minister of State for Energy has left the responsibility of solving the power crisis to nature.

The Energy and Power Adviser and the Information and Broadcasting Minister are both key figures in the government. When one refutes another's statement in this way, the instability and lack of coordination of the government is revealed. This is not the first such incident, for the past few days, the ministers' opposition statements have increased. Foreign Minister made a comment about India. In fact, two or three ministers countered. One minister even said that he is not a member of the Awami League. Even two heavyweight ministers made opposing statements about the number of people they brought to BNP's public meeting in Chittagong. Later one spat and spoke in the opposite tone. Ministers are more interested in other ministries than their own. For example, the Health Minister on Wednesday discovered a new theory about the increase in commodity prices. The government has not increased the prices of goods in the country's market. The price has increased by itself. What a strange explanation. Trees grow as you grow. As the flower grows from the bud, so does the fruit. Similarly, commodity price is a living being. The price of which increase automatically. Is market supervision the job of the Ministry of Health or not? This is how the cabinet works. The prime minister, who has been in power for three consecutive terms, took two exceptional initiatives. The first is the big surprise in the cabinet every term. The second is an attempt to separate the government and the party. It was a great opportunity for the newcomers of Awami League. In the first phase (2009-2013) Begum Matia Chowdhury, late Syed Ashraful Islam and Abul Mal Muhit later Obaidul Quader and Jahangir Kabir Nanak (Minister of State) did not get any heavyweight leader in the cabinet. Besides, Awami League had a lot of time at that time. People wanted to test the period of newcomers. In the political crisis in 2013, the Prime Minister called national leaders like Tofail Ahmed, Amir Hossain Amu, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haque Inu. At that time, no one joined the cabinet due to various reasons. But before the 2014 elections, Sheikh Hasina gave a political image to the cabinet. A wise cabinet helped Sheikh Hasina to some extent to get through the tumultuous election on January 5. Tofail Ahmed, Rashed Khan Menon joined the election ministerial meeting to break the shame, giving precedence to national interest over personal interest. After the 2014 elections, the Awami League president brought forward her 'A' team. It was one of the best Cabinets in my opinion politically wise. After the 2018 elections, many were shocked to see the shape of the current cabinet. A class of bureaucrats actually started a conspiracy to destroy the achievements of Awami League through that election. Among those who became ministers after 2018, except for one or two exceptions, all are dull. Inactive to deal with the crisis. Unwilling to take responsibility. I think the bureaucrats persuaded the Prime Minister to form such a cabinet to fully ax their authority. The Prime Minister conducted a political audit through this ministerial meeting. But most of them fail this test. As the Lands Minister has proved, a ministry can be made clean and corruption free with skills, competence and talent. The home minister was also praised for his modest, elegant choice of words. But their numbers are very few. A painful aspect of this cabinet is that most of the ministers have no roots in politics. The shrill voices of the sitting ministers gradually filled the ears. Former Jaksu VP of Jahangir Nagar University, former president of Chhatra League, Enamul Haque Shamim has been appointed as namely minister. In my opinion, the current cabinet is not even the 'C' team of Awami League. Almost half of them were not even leaders of Awami League. Some businessmen who are not in touch with the workers and childish fools have turned the ministry into a farce. The Prime Minister undertook this risky audit from a noble and far-reaching perspective. But ministership is not a job. It's not even a lottery ticket. Ministry is a responsibility. One of the toughest tests of national service. In an interview, Mrs. Indira Gandhi said 'Ministership is not a matter of celebration. To put himself to the test in front of the people at every moment.' This is an extreme reality in a democratic system. A minister has to be constantly tested by the people, the Parliament and the Prime Minister. And if he fails this test, he has to leave or removed. But after the heinous killings of 1975, ministership became a chance to join the millionaires' club. Money making machine. Ministers themselves do not resign themselves to failure due to lack of accountability. And the instances of removing them too are becoming rare. People are reassured when the failed ones are removed and qualified ones are brought forward. Government employees get speed up. This is the reality. In India, Narendra Modi has made major changes in the cabinet to overcome the Covid crisis. He has restored the confidence of the common people. Three Prime Ministers were elected in two months in Britain. But there is a common perception in Bangladesh that admitting the failure of a minister means proving that the government has failed. Handing over arms to opposition parties. But the prime minister has dismissed numerous such false theories in Bangladesh politics. In Awami League, there are 100 such dedicated people including old, mature and young, who can stop this activity of 'destroying achievements' if they become ministers. Their job is only one, to exactly follow Sheikh Hasina's instructions. Will complete the responsibility given by Sheikh Hasina at any cost. There is no lack of such leaders. In Awami League, there are many leaders who will be applauded and cheered by the people if they become ministers. People will be hopeful. Now is a time of crisis. In this crisis, the government should be freed from the garbage and save the country. All those incompetents who talk about Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina all the day but the opposite should be identified and removed. Now is the time to resist those who have turned the Ministry into a business center. The number of wicked, miscreants, flatterers is less. But they are organized under the shadow of the administration. They are the ones who roam around the head of government. They will run away in the time of crisis. The families who lost everything in 75, the young teenagers who dedicated their youth to Bangabandhu's ideology, who fought in the streets against the dictatorship from 82 to 90, those who have practiced meritocracy, those who have fought with their lives to establish the right to vote for the restoration of democracy since 1991, those who have resisted the BNP-Jamaat demonic attack in 2001, those who are against the conspiracy of one-eleven, who were adamant about the ideals of the party and the leader, who love the people, and dedicated to the welfare of people, number of self-sacrificing, idealistic leaders in Awami League are many. They weep quietly. Pain bursts in their heart. They are waiting. Still these devoted and experienced workers hope that Sheikh Hasina will remove all these garbage. Now is the time to bring forward the worthy. For the real game. The 'A' team must come down on the field.