Politics comes to Parliament from the kitchen table as a shopping list, a neglected application form, or a parent worried about his daughter coming home late. Is there money to buy food that will not kill children after rent is paid? Does all the effort of schooling provide possibilities of meaningful work? Can a citizen ask for justice without resources, clout, and politics? Those are the kinds of questions people ask themselves to understand the exercise of power.
Gandhi offers us a morality that can help here: “Bear in mind the face of the poorest and weakest man whom thou mayest have seen.” The revered leader encourages decision-makers to consider the impact their decisions will have on people. This means that for Bangladesh, the task is to base political discussion on the issues of price, labour, safety, and respect. Credibility emerges from reducing suffering, giving opportunities, and protecting dignity. Elections give political power; experience legitimises its exercise.
Whether an employee receiving a salary, the garment sector or the tiny trader, understands the economy through purchasing power. A country’s growth rates may matter, but their importance declines when the share of spending on essential needs rises. The political ramifications transcend economic considerations, since continued reductions in food intake or delayed health care raise the question of whether policymakers understand the predicament.
Current events clearly show how external pressure becomes domestic reality. According to Reuters, Bangladesh increased its fuel prices on September 21 because of rising oil prices abroad and shipping prices related to the Middle East conflict. Fuel prices can affect many parts of the economy, including transportation, agriculture, distribution, and prices. The government cannot make the international markets obey its regulations. It may, however, justify its actions, explain the effects that will follow, and protect at-risk families through assistance.
Market regulation should distinguish between justifiable price hikes and illegal actions. The government cannot resort to arbitrary inspections and dramatic statements. People deserve to know what the government can control, what is beyond its control, and when there is hope for help. PR will be better with acceptance of problems than with denial.
Employment connects economic policy with personal dignity. A job provides income, but it also enables independence, family formation, professional identity, and confidence in the future.
A country’s development is far off for a graduate who fails to secure a job. An employee in irregular employment may be unhappy about his employability because he does not earn enough to make ends meet. The employment debate must therefore address the quality of work: wages, security, working conditions, opportunities for advancement, and fair access to recruitment.
Government cannot employ every job seeker. Its responsibility is to create conditions in which productive businesses can invest and expand. Reliable energy, predictable regulation, accessible finance, and protection from extortion all influence whether an entrepreneur hires another worker.
Universities too have obligations. University learning needs to instill critical thinking while also providing better opportunities to transition into professional life. This can be done by offering internships, apprenticeships, collaborations, and industry relationships.
All of these should create more opportunities, not just for those with powerful contacts. Similarly, transparency in recruiting is essential. Meritocracy wins respect from institutions, even from those who do not succeed. Society not only squanders its possibilities, but also its belief in opportunity when gifted young people lose their sense of hope for equal opportunity.
Public safety is usually spoken about in terms of statistics and enforcement operations. Citizens experience it directly when moving to and from work, closing shops, requesting help, or considering reporting harassment. Safeguarding entails the absence of danger of physical force, threats of intimidation, blackmail, and arbitrary conduct. Safeguarding also implies confidence that the police will behave acceptably and that there will be access to justice.
One should never find oneself in a situation where a criminal’s power puts one at risk of trouble for reporting. A complaint should not need political cover before becoming credible. Policing and responsible policing are linked through a positive feedback loop. Effective investigations, timely responses, complaint procedures, and fair treatment promote public cooperation. Fear might make people temporarily silent, but confidence makes them speak up and demand justice. Equal citizenship is demonstrated by equal access to protection for women, minorities, labourers, and underserved communities. The security of the individual citizen in terms of being treated equally and with respect. Safety should be measured by citizens’ sense of safety in daily life.
Prices, employment, and safety connect to the bigger question of whether the government acts reasonably and competently. An unanswered letter, an unexpected payment, an ignored request for assistance, or an unreachable person may be the first sign of the state from a citizen’s perspective. A polite answer and a prompt solution, however, may raise confidence. These encounters all sum up to something. Citizens’ trust comes from the ongoing proof that institutions deliver on their promises, uphold the rules, and correct mistakes. Transparency enables assessment. The government should provide necessary information regarding service delivery, staff recruitment, expenditures, and complaints handling. This promise becomes more credible when citizens can identify those involved and how it will be assessed.
In addition, independent journalism can reveal problems, explain the reasons behind policies, and show progress. Critical comments can warn about existing problems before they worsen. Treating any unpleasant question as hostility suggests the government lacks the information needed to govern. Finally, citizens must distinguish between a preexisting issue, an unexpected shock, and administrative error. To do so, one needs both.
Bangladesh requires a governing agenda communicated in outcomes that people can relate to – less burdensome household costs, effective job opportunities, secure environments, and services that do not humiliate people.
A corresponding set of duties and promises should accompany each of these goals. Programmes aimed at helping others should declare their requirements. Employment programmes should consider future placement of participants. Security measures should indicate case status. Agencies in public administration should explain their services and complaint procedures.
Political opponents share these duties. Criticism works best in combination with suggestions for solutions. Politics serves citizens’ interests by enabling better decisions and exposing problems.
The ultimate test of governance comes off camera. It happens when the mother buys food, the young person looks for a job, the woman returns to her hometown, and the citizen meets the public official. As these interactions become less costly, less dangerous, and less unfair, public confidence has good reason to grow. A compelling political accomplishment is establishing a government whose effectiveness enables individuals to plan for tomorrow.
The test of political leadership lies in bringing back trust in everyday life. In Bangladesh, progress will be meaningful when it ensures that a family can afford necessities, a young person has the opportunity to earn a dignified living, a woman can walk freely without fear of being threatened, and every individual receives justice. All this will bring democracy to life and give government institutions the authority they need.
The public cannot be commanded by rhetoric but by competence, fairness, and keeping promises. Leaders who listen to the woes of the common man and solve them through action not only gain legitimacy but also build institutions. To build a bright future for Bangladesh, the primary aim of political power should be to respect citizens’ dignity. The definition given by Abraham Lincoln for a government – “A government of the people, by the people, and for the people” is perfect for this purpose.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author
The writer is a Professor and Former Chair, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Savannah State University, Georgia, USA
