A Boston based organisation, "Democracy and Development in Bangladesh Forum" (founded by Professor Kazi Jalal in 2006), and the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School, which co-sponsored the October 9 and 10 conference with the Bangladesh Development Initiative, have made democracy and governance (DAG) issues one of the prime focuses for the participants.

The discourses on strengthening DAG in seminar and plenary sessions were lively but not much edifying -- mostly rehashing what we already know. The paper, "Role of Civil Society in Bangladesh's Democratic Transition," presented by Professor Badiul Majumdar of Shujan drew my keen interest.

Over the years, Badiul has contributed significantly on issues of DAG in all media outlets. During lunch, he asserted that rule of law was far from being functional and the government's going back on the promises of empowering the local elected government was a shocking disappointment to the people. We realise that seminars and conferences won't solve endemic maladies that are politically ingrained. We all agreed that democracy, rule of law, and prosperity were entrenched.

However, with autocracies like China and Russia poised for economic prosperity, making the case that democracy and prosperity are inextricably linked isn't easily convincing. A just published study by the London based independent think tank Legatum Institute claimed that, based on "wealth and well being," the top countries of the 104 (comprising over 90% of the global population) surveyed were flourishing democracies, with Hong Kong (ranked 18) and Singapore (23) being two aberrations.

Democracy is now being enjoyed by the former European communist countries. Taiwan (24) and South Korea (26), long ruled by military autocrats, are examples of how democratisation and rising prosperity can thrive in tandem. Legatum's "Prosperity Index" makes a powerful case for the long-term benefits of democracy, free speech and the rule of law. Unfortunately, in Bangladesh, whichever party comes to power democratically rule of law tends to become "ruling party's law."

Lack of enforcement of the rule of law is the only reason why 17 lawmakers, including a minister, a state minister and a whip, had violated the legal requirement of providing income tax information with their applications for contesting in the last election. For the same reason, 42 lawmakers from both the treasury and the opposition benches, including three state ministers, have never paid any income tax (claiming no taxable income) even though they each spent over Tk.15 lakhs in parliamentary election (NBR report).

Property right is one of the pillars of development and growth in a country. Once that right is breached, life and living become burdensome and loathsome. Unfortunately, land grabbing and extortion have become a daily occurrence. How dare the sons of a ruling party MP grab a ship- breaking yard in broad daylight as reported in the media?

Textile minister Latif Siddiqui recently observed that tender manipulation and land grabbing had become a social problem. Actually, to me, it's not a "social problem" -- it's a problem of whichever party comes to power. In his October 24 piece Asadullah Khan wrote: "Increasingly, people are joining politics to make money or stay out of jail."

On October 28, ministers Ashraful and Sahara warned that stern action would be taken against tender manipulators, land grabbers, extortionists and other criminals. Why say "would be" -- why not tell us what actions are being taken against the perpetrators of crimes already committed?

So far "actions would be taken" are unheeded as mere warning. and has become another tired expression which party affiliated crime kingpins hardly take seriously. This claim is instantiated by the responses of three poll questions posted in The Daily Star's Internet issues:

October 18: Do you think NBR will be able to take action against the MPs who're not paying taxes? No: 76.6%; Yes: 21.9%.

October 20: Do you think the administration will be able to take legal actions against the land grabbers, river encroachers -- no matter how influential they are -- following the PM's directive? No: 84.6%; Yes: 13.5%.

October 24: Do you think the 17 MPs intentionally or knowingly violated electoral laws by not submitting tax returns? Intentionally: 92.8%, Unknowingly: 6.4%

Although, four parliamentary elections were held since 1991, democracy in Bangladesh is still evolving with the recurrence of antagonistic environment. Democracy watchers at home and abroad are still doubtful about the prospects of a properly functioning democracy in Bangladesh.

Professor Adam Przeworski of New York University conducted an extensive study linking per capita income (PCI) and the survival of democracy, which included every transition to democracy around the globe. His findings: Transition to democracy is virtually guaranteed if PCI exceeds $6,000; those between $3,000 and $6,000 survival of democracy is less than 50-50; and those below $3,000 have virtually no chance of survival as a functional democracy.

Throughout human history, about 70 democracies that have crumbled over time were in low PCI countries -- whereas as many as 35 democracies prevailed over 1,000 years under more economic affluence.

Professor Przeworski's estimates further reveal: Between 1951 and 1999, the expected life of democracy (ELOD) in countries with PCI under $1,000 is about 11 years; with PCI ranging $1,000 to $3,000, the ELOD is roughly 27 years; between $3,001 and $6,055, the ELOD is 78 years; and above $6,055, democracies are expected to be everlasting.

The biggest threat to democracy in a vast majority of the low PCI countries, including Bangladesh, isn't only low PCI. In these countries, the population lacks the values and customs needed to make democracy function. Besides, antagonistic politics, lack of rule of law, overlooking of political corruption, intimidation of the media, government's intolerance to criticism, and non-adoption of scientific and technological advances also deter the proper functioning of democracy.

In prosperous democracies criminals are punished -- not warned. So, stop telling us what "would be done;" instead, tell us what you have done to enforce the rule of law.

Dr. Abdullah A. Dewan, founder of politicinomy.com, is a Professor of Economics at Eastern Michigan University.