Cap Phantom

I’m from a family of doctors & engineers. My training under my Govt. officer father’s eye was of a sternly simple life. He was determined that I should not be an exception in the family. And with the help of Almighty I didn’t grow up as an exception. In fact, If I divide life into two parts: “End of the Beginning” and “Beginning of the End”, I’m quite proud for a happy ending of the Beginning by pursuing a Bachelor in Computer Science.

But the story of the second part “Beginning of the End” is quite different. My whole family is settled in USA & I’m also in the pipeline for immigration. But may be the story of my life could be different if I could arrange that hefty amount of money I was asked by a broker to bring to the residence of a PSC (Public Service Commission) member. Thus, a terrible family crisis precipitated with rapidity. At one side, there was not only my strong desire to join cadre service at any cost prompted by the sorrow stories of my BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service) failed brilliant friends living abroad but also my dissatisfaction over private jobs.

On the other hand, all my conservative family members from the USA was against my need to bribe, ridiculed me for being so dumb … saying you wont need to stay in a country where no one is safe and there isn’t any opportunity to explore your true energy, creativity & potentiality …Even now a days the life of an honest govt. official is not safe like our fathers time, cause if you don’t have link with political party high ups you could jeopardize your career and secured personal life. Despite all their heartbreaking teasing, I really wanted a simple living like the hero of my life “My Father” albeit he was single-minded that I should not be a black ship in his family.

Still now after years whenever I think of those crucial hours of my life, I just find myself in a mad rage over that PSC(Public Service Commission) official’s demand, feel so bad about the fighting with all my family members, relatives …begging money to my poor colleagues. Good thing is, now I want to assure them that I’ve totally got those stupid thoughts, angers out of me and I beg apology to them for all those misconducts.

Indeed all together that was a bitter lesson – the bitterest I think so far that really is playing a great role in the second part of my life “Beginning of the End”.

How time flies… All my childhood dreams crushed into real life. … …practicing life in the hardest way…very little energy left for pleasurable family life, friends after looking at all the horrific happenings around me.. this is what life is all about right now in Bangladesh.

Being at the brutal “Beginning of the End” of life is the hardest thing on earth at this moment. However, looking at the political turmoil during the last few months, questions arouse in my mind: does democracy exist in this country? Is it why my father fought for this country, though he didn’t care for a freedom fighter certificate?

In fact the way I see it, after all this episode of political game is over,

BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) or AL (Awami League) whoever is chosen by this ever forgetting/ forgiving nation with mountain of thunderous promises, they will blatant selfishly only uphold and safeguard the interest of their electors by shamelessly ignoring the actuality and will be more concerned about taking bigger bribes and come out with more safety measures to steal even bigger objects.

Same thing is occurring in this part of the world for centuries. Sometimes I wonder, Is it true that the present political situation arouses out of our forefathers mistakes, made one after another without foreseeing the upcoming blow?

Right now the nation is fighting an uphill battle against corruption. In our 36- years history, this is the first time we are seeing such a large number of rich, powerful and untouchable people behind bars. All these are taking place under a caretaker government whose legitimacy is overwhelmingly accepted but credibility is still untested. Time will say whether to congratulate them for their unprecedented, bold and historical move against the corrupt leaders. The people of Bangladesh will remember this CG (Caretaker Government) for a long time if they could wipe out corruptions from every sector of the society by bringing all the criminals behind the bars ensuring justice is done and sending the traditional family oriented political practice into museum who were using Bangladesh as their private business ground ignoring the normal citizens hassle.

Of course they can’t invent any instant remedy to restore decaying social mores of decades prompted by those in the highest seats of power in the country as they repeatedly rewarded widespread fraud over truthful warden ship, commode incompetence over professional competence, personal or party fidelity over merit and all other associates that fly in the face of unfair demeanor, meritocracy and rule of law. We have to give this CG (Caretaker Government) enough time to bring qualitative change in the political culture of the country as a whole so that democracy here starts to learn how and why they should elect the best man to public offices who will set the radar of the country towards the right direction without any fear.

I want to see alternative leaderships in the Bangladesh as all of the ex-ruling parties are seriously suffering from intelligibility, sincerity, answerability, inequity, intra-party democracy….(it wont finish). It’s our pride that despite the mountain of burdens, literacy rate is doubled over the last 35 years. Surely the days of politics with left or right, underworld or family-world are shrinking when I see Dr. Yunus (Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2006) accompanied with different mindset people entering politics. I know they can’t change everything overnight. But definitely they are only hope left for us who can show us the silver lining after the blood baths for the ast 36 years. I’m wishing the best of luck to all the bold efforts taken so far. Definitely someday these will crate better opportunities for happy beginning or ending of every life and bring the best out of this hardworking nation.