A call for sanity
These are difficult times, rhe hot summer is arriving and our political scene also seems to be heating up. It seems that the whole nation isbeing held to ransom by two stubborn ladies.
When one puts forward unreasonable conditions to the other for stepping down, the other reacts wi th ultimatums. The result is chaos for our civil life. No schools for children, the day labourers suffer, office work slows to a halt and street fights, bomb hurling, car wrecking become the order of the day. Just what do these leaders think of themselves that they can jeopardise (he lives and property of (he citizens of Bangladesh?
I don't know why being part of the silent majority, we have to take all thislyingdown. 1 think the time is now ripe for a people's forum to speak out for the vast silent majority. It is about lime that we told both leaders that we are sick of them. We are sick of their squabbling, pettiness, use of filthy language, their hired hoodlums.
There is only one sane alternative and I had suggested this five years ago: let there be a caretaker government, for at least two years.
Just imagine, no hartals, no car breaking, no mass rallies and thus no traffic jams, two years of unrestricted schooling, non-politicised universities, no walking to work due to strikes/harlals. No chandabaji, tad birbaji or pol i i ical ki111 ngs.
in these two years we would want to see the real 'deshpremic' politi-
cians carrying out social work and development work, with the people, for (he people. Then with an all ou( international polling system with international observers let there be for once, a free and fair election in thiscountry.
Where is the brave majority to get this done?
Wasif Islam
Dhaka
Indecent remarks
Our politicians' intolerance of all opposing views from all quarters is simply repulsive. Unless they learn lo develop respect for opposing view’s, sanity will never prevail in the political arena.
The Prime Minister's indecent remarks against the Opposition leader regarding hartal on the public meeting held on March 30, clearly revealed the immaturity and incompetence of our politicians. 'Ihe country cannot he run in a democratic way unless leaders learn to act maturely. It is natural to have differences and opposite views but that doesn't give anyone the right (o resort to political unrest like hartal or make indecent remarks.
The politicians are the ones who lead the people. Therefore, no matter how much grudge (hey have against each other, they should restrain themselves and follow the path of democracy.
Nila Khan
Shanlinagat, Dhaka
Royal Bengal Tiger
Ibis is in reference (o (he news item "Royal Bengal Tiger killed 360 in 12 years' (March 13). 1 question the continuing use of the title "royal" for the world famous Bengal Tiger whose scientific name is Panrhera rigris tigris. We have become independent twice in the last five decades, but we still display a subject-like altitude to our past rulers, the British. The name Bengal Tiger is (he original English name for the tiger subspecies mentioned above. This subspecies is not the sole properly of Bangladesh as tigers live in South Asia from the foothills of Nepal, Tibet, through India, to Bhutan and Bangladesh to western part of Mynamar. bordering India and Bangladesh. None has used (he (erm “Royal' before the Bengal I iger. not even the country like Nepal and Bhutan where there exist Royally of some kinds. Then, why are some Bangladeshis so keen to use the term "Royal"? I know some of my teachers from Dhaka University, who had their hay days during British, used to add the prefix Royal" before many things I wonder why we should be doing it now? I propose that we officially dissociate ourselves from (he ghosts of British rule and start calling our tiger the Bengal Tiger, which is its official name, in official zoological records and international organisations like the IUCN, WWF, dropping
the prefix" Royal" to honour the long struggleoftheBengali people.
Dr. Reza Khan
Head of Dubai Zoo, Dubai. UAE
Plight ofthe Garos
We condemn in strongest possible language and demand justice of (he murder for a Garo woman. Gidita Rema who died at the hands of (he so-called Bengali settlers at Madhupur. How brutal anil ghastly could this incident be at a time when so much is being voiced to safeguard the interest of the minorities in this country! Such political 'settlers' or namesake 'economic migrants' have always posed a great threat to the lives and property of the minorities in many places of the country.CI IT is a burningexample!
What the government needs to do at this hour is. afford all possible succour and legal help to these Garos and other oppressed indigenous people discaiding commonly practised lip service. We should remember that they are the ancient custodians of this land. May we implore to the government to order an immediate inquiry into (his gruesome murder and met out justice so that no mote Garo blood is spilled. I also urge upon the NGOs working on Human Rights issues to take up this matter and do everything possible to help (he suffering Garos.
Shah Mushtaque Ahmed Lake Circus. Dhaka