When the movement gathered, many people came and gathered. Already the opposition parties were definitely behind the anti-government movement. There is no reason to think that they will sit quietly to oust the government. But students, ordinary people, common people, general people have given the lead. They have gathered like a stream. Shots, attacks, resistance took to chest. At last all resistance was pushed and the protest was carried forward. Common people were the main force of 2024 government fall in Bangladesh.
It is said that people are the source of power, not the barrel of a gun. The more the word is said, the less it is believed or obeyed. Instead of crowd power muscle, power, guns are used to stay in power. Even if it survives for some time, the end is not saved. Common People Power wins out in the end. The current situation in Bangladesh is the best proof of this.
The bloody change of power in Bangladesh once again proved the power of common people. At the same time, the tragic consequences of neglecting the common people. Common people are used to gain power in the game of politics but most of the time this main source is forgotten or neglected. The circle of power is created excluding the masses through flatterers, oilers, bureaucrats, cadres etc. Day by day that circle becomes a point from being deserted. Then there is nothing to do but fall.
In developing countries, such as Bangladesh, the relationship between the main source of power, the people, and power is illusory. By relying on the power of the people, the ruling party first rejected their demands and responsibilities towards them. Bosses focus on looting and appeasing themselves and their allies. As if harvesting their own sugarcane using the crowd is the real work. In this, although the health of themselves and their children is good, their future becomes dark and their fall is imminent. As many governments have fallen from power in the past, the issue of disunity can be seen behind all of them. No matter how strong a government is, it cannot survive if it is divided and fails to protect the interests of the people.
Focusing on one and others, the consequences of neglecting and disregarding our people are fatal. They do not even feel the need to treat them with respect and listen to them seriously. The accumulated resentment of this neglect erupted like a volcano at one point. Then the cream eater cannot stop the flow of lava. The flatterers-obedient clan was the first to flee.
As a result, if the primary condition of democracy is to forget the responsibility and duties towards the people, and if it moves away from the common people, no government can gain popularity and survive. Even the basic functions of good governance for the people are not done then. It is not seen whether people live or die. People get angry and don't care whether the government lives or dies.
When the party in power makes thousands of crores of money, earns hundreds of crores of takas, and the common people struggle to meet the daily market expenses, then the love and support of the people is bound to turn into anger. When people do not get jobs, do not get the slightest service in hospitals-railways-road-offices, do not get security from the police station-police, have nothing but money, cannot do business without paying subscriptions to party terrorists, then surely they will not be happy. Hatred and resentment will fill his mind.
A mob that brings a party to power on the hope of democracy, and sees that party devouring everything, cannot bear it. Again, in a democracy, the government and the opposition are like two legs. If you go to power and break a leg, the opponent is finished. The damage is then more serious and terrible. If there is a political opponent, the path open to him for a peaceful transfer of power is also closed. Its place is occupied by inauspicious conditions of strife, bloodshed and anarchy.
The political landscape of Bangladesh has given birth too many desirable and undesirable events, but has taught a lesson that the people should not be dismissed with contempt and neglect. There is no turning back from the basic demands of the masses. People need to be alone in their joys and sorrows.
Chennai Express is a very popular romantic-comedy starring Shahrukh Khan and Deepika. Shahrukh has a dialogue in the film, 'Don't Underestimate Power of Common man'. Don't underestimate the power of ordinary people. For now, this dialogue has come back as a big lesson for Bangladesh.
Especially, when the student-mob did not leave the streets even after the fall of the government and those who still occupy the ground with death after death, it is especially important to sense the pulse of them. A movement which had political power behind it and students in front, it would not be good to capture or mislead the harvest of that movement. The burning fire will increase and not decrease. Those in power understood this truth at great cost. Those who come to power must also deeply value the power of the masses. The consequences of disregarding public expectations and demands by paying too much attention to parties and groups are, sooner or later, always dire. Therefore, under any circumstances 'Don't Underestimate Power of Common man'.
Dr. Mahfuz Parvez: Associate Editor, Barta24.com; Professor, Department of Political Science, Chattogram University and Executive Director, Chattogram Center for Regional Studies, Bangladesh (CCRSBD).