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Anti-war protest
'Protest' Bangladesh style!
It wasn't surprising to see Bata trying to distance itself from the Americans by taking out that front-page advertisement on The Daily Star (April 7).
I would have expected those violent anti-war protesters to know that Bata is Canadian.
One of the other multinationals that were targeted was DHL whose van was set alight. Ironically DHL is owned by Deutsche Post, the pacifist Germans.
Although I do find it ironic that the US based DHL Airways which is owned by DHL claims it had "played a significant role in advancing US national security and military objectives as our nation approaches military conflict with Iraq".
I rather doubt if our protesters knew that!
Shonku, Dhaka
* * *
I am sure our left wing parties are overjoyed at the sight of the proletariat burning the symbols of the American and British imperialists.
A few words of advice for the protesters. First, Bata was originally Czech and later Canadian not American or British. Canada has been far more anti-war than any other country given their proximity and dependence on the US. This is also the first time apart from Vietnam that the Canadians have been so opposed to an American war.
Bata, amazingly enough for a multinational, has been one of the most loyal companies doing business in our country. How many managers of foreign companies fought in '71?
The ransacking of Alico's office was also unfortunate. First of all, it was an agency office i.e. wholly owned by a Bangladeshi who had worked like anything flogging life insurance to come up to this level. Our anti-war protesters only hurt a fellow Bangladeshi.
I saw that a DHL van was set alight. As a garments exporter, thus by definition a real patriot and social worker, I can appreciate the shock of seeing a DHL van burnt. My export documents may be in that van. My urgent samples that needed to be in Paris yesterday could have been in that van.
In light of the rising fundamentalism and left wing sabotage, I would request our esteemed editor and the rest of our many antiAmerican contributors to call for peace and respect for the law, not in Iraq but in Dhaka.
Azad, Dhaka
* * *
Well I am glad to see that our left wing press and many contributors like Arid Klokkerhaug have finally achieved their aims. Did you enjoy the scenes on TV the other day? Protesters running riot, burning vehicles, destroying property and of course protesting the war. Interesting to see that the police took no special precautions even though emotions are running high and post Friday prayers is a favourite time for such protests.
The riot should be a wake up call for our government. After the war when there is a reckoning, who will stand by us? We will pay dearly for the obvious strength of the fundamentalist forces in our country and government.
Masood Rana, Dhaka
* * *
As the citizens of a democratic country, we have a right to express our opinion and oppose the US-British war on Iraq. But we do not have the right to get violent and burn down business establishments and personal properties.
By boycotting Western goods we will only be hurting ourselves since the employees of these establishments here are thousands of Bangladeshi workers. We cannot let our emotion ruin our country's future by being violent against the West. The West do not need us, we need them. We have to think about our own future first instead of crying for the so-called Muslim umma. When was the last time those so-called Muslim brothers fought for or supported our causes?
We can disagree with the West on different issues but we must shun the violent path to protest it.
Sahalam Hoque, Los Angeles, California, USA