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OPINION

When Clinton Comes to Town...

Aziz Amirul
If everything goes well, March 20. 2000 will be a special day for Bangladesh. U.S. President Bill Clinton is due to arrive in the capital on a compact daylong tour as a part of his visit to some South Asian nations.
As part of the official protocol of the White House, a number of Pre-advance and Advance delegations from Washington are visiting Dhaka during the last few weeks to assess the local situations and welcoming preparation by our government. Here the security measures taken by the local authorities are being scrutinised and surveyed very closely. Already, some left political wings have expressed their resentment over the visit of the U.S. President. Besides, the overall political scenario of the country' is also depicting a grim picture with frequent general strikes, blockades and demonstrations by the opposition parties demanding the present government to step down from power.
But what is happening in Dhaka prior to the President's visit is of grave concern. Days after the implementation of the Public Safety Act. 2000 (PSA), a series of cracker-explosions in two five-star hotels seriously hampered the security record's of Bangladesh in the eyes of the foreigners. Amidst tight security of the hotels. Sheraton and Sonargaon. some vested quarters hurled home-made crackers in the car parking-lots and thdt also within a span of few hours in the late afternoon and evening of March 1. Wednesday. The most concerning issue is that during the untoward Incidents one of these two hotels was having the honour of accommodating the high-level Pre-advance survey delegation from the United States.
According to newspaper reports, four persons have been
taken into police custody for hurling crackers at the scenes injuring a car-driver and damaging some limousines. Under the interrogation of the Special Branch, the arrested persons have confessed that they were financially hired by some quarters to do the act. Presently, both the hotels are under heavy security protection by the lawenforcing agencies' besides strong vigilance In and around the diplomatic zone in Barid-hara. Dhaka where the U.S. Embassy is situated.
Reviewing the Incidents from a neutral point of view, one can only find the ever-deteriorating nasty politics of Bangladesh. Though the motives of the above cracker hurling are still very unclear, but still one general mind can discover no major reason other than a mean attempt and conspiracy by some sneaky group to foil the visit of such a distinguished world leader in our country.
Not to mention, politics in Bangladesh largely revolves round the filthy world of meanness and unfair objectives. which is nothing new for the general public to observe. Here in this country, a party dealing with politics can do anything and everything dirty to achieve its goal whatever be the consequence to other innocent beings. The leaders, whichever party or faction they belong to, can execute the most Inhuman act to flourish and fulfil their own desires. To file a false case and harass, political parties or leaders even dare to slaughter their own activists and put the responsibility on the opponent's shoulder. What a shame and pity for a country which earned liberation through the sacrifice of three million of its valiant sons and daughters!
To many Individuals the
cracker-hurling incident at the hotels may be a childish prank or of less Importance than other more vital Issues of the nation. However, one cannot stay silent but say how mean can it be. whoever does it. to create unnecessary panic in the minds of the foreign guests just when the arrival of such a dignitary is knocking at our door.
Now. assuming the worst, if the Important trip of tire US President to Bangladesh is totally avoided then who will take the responsibility? What will be the image of the government in front of the entire world? What will be their final report when the U.S. Pre-advance team which came here to assess the overall situation, specially the security provisions. while they themselves were "near" the scene and became part of the news when panic was created inside the boundary of their hotel? They, obviously, will include the ifews of this incident tn their submitting papers and this will have a serious impact, which is quite clear to all.
Only time will reveal very’ shortly, what will be the outcome. Of course, according to the media, a lot of lobbying to the U.S. government is going on by our Government's Foreign Ministry in favour of the strong security system and smooth preparations in Bangladesh prior to the visit of the US President and we really hope for the better.
Usually in our country requests seem futile to the headstrong opponents, but one would still like to earnestly beg all the opposing minds to refrain from any unpleasant activities that would critically tarnish the image ol this nation to the whole world, only to bring shame and mockery for us.