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To the Editor...
Letters will only be considered if they carry the writer's full name, address and telephone number (if any). The identity of the writers will be protected. Letters must be limited to 300 words. All letters will be subject to editing.
Blaming Sheikh Hasina
Two letters on former PM Sheikh Hasina entitled "A great sense of humour"(Dec 29) and "Former PM's observations"(Dec31) published in your column have drawn my attention. I always read Mr. Azad Miah's letter with much interest. But I wonder whether he had written any letter on the former PM in the past. Before he stepped into criticising Sheikh Hasina, I found his letters to be thought provoking, especially those related to the ME and US policies bore many important pieces of information. But whenever he took up the matter of country politics, he seemed to have lost his objectivity, transparency and even neutrality. He blamed the ex-PM for spreading rumours, even compared her with Donald Rumsfield and LK Advani, both of whom are known to be bearers of anti humanistic values. I think, Mr. Miah would agree, that Sheikh Hasina is much more humane than these two. At least she does not have an intention or desire to destroy civilisation. If what she says are supposed to be rumours, where were the voices of people like Mr. Azad Miah when the present PM said that 24000 activists if her party (BNP) had been murdered during the AL rule? Where were the evidences then?
Mr. Azad Miah's another comment "If Nelson Mandela can go to jail for his people, why couldn't Sheikh Hasina go to parliament for her people?" is noteworthy. The irony is that Sheikh Hasina had been able to bring Nelson Mandela to this country on Independence Day celebrations. Nelson Mandela knew well What values she represents as a daughter of the founding father of the nation. No question of comparison arises here; he simply honoured the daughter of a great leader like him by his humble presence.
It's the country's unhealthy politics which is at fault for the current scenario. What will Sheikh Hasina do in the parliament where treasury bench members raise her personal matters in a filthy language (some of whose qualifications as members have been questioned in the recent TI report on Bangladesh Parliament activities). At least we have not yet seen the opposition members posing to beat the speaker with their microphones. Sheikh Hasina must
deserve thanks for this.
I am not surprised to read the letter by Mr. Dewan G. Ahmed, because he also seems to be partial. Have you forgotten how the present PM along with his associates lied to the nation during the AL rule? I am sure Mr. Dewan is very much aware where he would stand without a political connection in present Bangladesh. Don't you feel helpless sometime somewhere without a political link? Of course if you have political or bureaucratic high ups, you may not be able to feel how the 80 per cent of our people feel at every step of their life. Prosperity of the country is not possible if the so-called educated people like us can not see our own faces in the mirror and start know-
ing ourselves. How can you expect prosperity when the head of a severed body is found near a garbage container on Ring Road near Shamoly (your neighbourhood)? Is this not an evidence of jeopardising peace in the society by releasing a lot of criminals from the jails? How can you expect rule of law a judge is accused of taking bribe from a client?
Kamaluddin Ahmed
Shamoly, Dhaka
Probe irregularities
Recently, the parliamentary standing committee on the education ministry has asked the authorities of two public universities to investigate irregularities in appointment during the Awami League. Those Universities are Bangladesh Open University and University of Rajshahi. This is a good initiative indeed.
But my question is why was the Standing Committee asked to investigate the irregularities in the appointment during the Awami Leauge regime only and why only
two universities. Evidences from the newspaper reports show that irregularities in the appointment of teachers as well as officials in the universities during the BNP regime were also evident. In some universities, even the teachers loyal to the ruling party have raised the issue of irregularities in the appointment of teachers. So it's not clear to me why the standing committee does not ask those authorities to investigate the irregularities in the appointment. The responsibility of the standing committee is not only to look into irregularities of the Awami League regime but also of BNP. Otherwise, the committee will lose its credibility.
Mallik Akram Hossain
Hong Kong
Example of brotherhood
Thank you for publishing my letter the 'Alarming News' in your newspaper. Another news punished in your newspaper on December 26 was very tragic and heart-stopping one. The news was about five
children who embraced death by falling into an open water tank in a building under construction. Before anything else, we should look for any negligence of the house owner or any other criminal activities behind their death. Those responsible (if their are any) for
their death, must be punished. Life is too precious to have ended i such a cruel manner.
In early investigation, it was evident that these five playmates died trying to save each other. With my deep condolences to their families I want to say that these innocent children established a vivid example of brotherhood. We have a lot to learn from their death. In a world full of jealousy and conflict, where we are making destructive weapons to destroy our civilisation and mankind, these five playmates taught us how to sacrifice everything even life for others.
May Allah the almighty keep their souls in eternal peace in heaven and enable their families to endure this mournful event.
Dr. Chy. Jalal Uddin Murshed
Rumi
Kalibari Road, Sunamganj
Freedom of ...
During her visit to Dhaka University, our hon'ble PM uttered the long cherished words "I may differ with your opinion but I would defend your freedom of expression till death." OK, that gives us big hope, high hope. Let us be sincere in words and in works. Do you believe what you have said? Do your active party workers (people like to call them 'cadres' for obvious reasons) believe that?
Let us have a look at some of the actions BNP has taken:
1) Police attacked a procession in support of the "alternative stream" in Rajshahi and with every effort your government opposed Dr. B Chowdhury's new movement (sending police detectives with video cameras and even sending detectives from the defense), (are you nervous?)
2) Very recently, BNP workers in Jhalakhati attacked journalists, threatened them to life. 3) Ward commissioners were murdered on a regular basis by your party members.
4) These days even your own party workers are being murdered by rival factions in the same party.
5) Just after you came to power, ALL students supporting the main opposition party were evicted from the campus which was led by Alhaz(!!) Nasir-ud-din Pintu.
Let us look at the international press freedom index: Bangladesh gets position 118 with North Korea getting the lowest 138. Will you tell us what kind of freedom of expression you are talking about? What actions from your government support your stated positions? Being a former DU student (I just passed in 1992), I have experienced how brutal leaders of your student wing could be if you differ with them.
Please try to understand, this is not we want. Being the PM you come with highest power and biggest responsibility. Do you have the heart to listen to the plight of the people? They are crying for justice, for their rights.
Md Masrur Hossain
Physics and Astronomy, University Of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada
Against hartal
I express my deep hatred against the Jan 3 hartal .I want to know the actual intention of that political party to declare hartal. Is it only to cause misery in peoples life? Is it what we call democracy? I am a student and we have term final exams on January 3 and it will continue through the month. Don't they have any concern about the students' life? I know a lot have been said and discussed about the issue, but what's been the result ? I request you all including the journalists, to save the people and as well as the country from this mess.
Mr. Sayez
On e-mail
Mass movement coming?
The ruling regime appears to be taking the growing public dissatisfaction with the law and order situation (led by political nepotism) which has led to insecurity of life at every level of the society, lightly. Now government engineers are fleeing from sites on armed threats to life. The society is breaking down and jungle law is prevailing.
The point is not what other individuals or groups can do or cannot do to unseat the regime. It is the public backing to any movement that counts. Ershad left in a week after nine years of autocratic presidential rule. The situation in CHT is of concern. And the religious movements involving minorities and Ahmadiyas appear to be planned political moves against the regime by vested groups, including foreign interests.
The situation may blow out of control any moment. It must be remembered that a major world power is not looking kindly at the stance of the two major political parties as it hampers with its longterm strategies for the rich South
Asia.
India and Pakistan are already in its grip, and puny Bangladesh has no power to prevent the next takeover (not militarily).
The angry masses are fed up with impotent politics of the decade based on charisma. There are still no schemes for laying gas pipelines to the northern districts; the separation of the judiciary is being intentionally delayed by the civil service cadre. Rajshahi
is already fuming with this type of long-range inaction in development planning.
Nothing can be done without bribing (number one corrupt nation in the world, as recognised internationally). The armed mastaans are dictating everything at all levels. This is possible only with political connivance. The police service conditions are poor, hence corruption cannot be minimised unless this low morale is tackled by the government.
We need a national government for at least five years, but political rivalry supersedes national priori-
ties. The politicians are losing their image and market (I have lost faith in politics). Why the political leaders are encouraging mass movement against bad politics?
Well, what would be the next move by Khaleda Zia to save my family? I represent millions of homes.
A Husnain
Dhaka
Point of no-return
Both the major political parties, Awami League and BNP are fast approaching the point of no return, in the fast changing world of politics, local or international. It has to take major decision on the future role of the party; because if there is no decision at the point of no return -- it is too late.
The top leadership is under test on posterity. Old style politics will not sustain the parties on charismatic props. There is nothing called negative production. There are two sides: the survival of the party; and its public performance. There is no point in being obsessed with the former and neglecting the other. Sustainability is selfpropelled; as is leadership. No props, no trimmings.
Today's leaders take more than what they give voluntarily. Acts of sacrifice are very much visible; however indirect. Now the dissenters are at the very top of the society, and these grumbling cannot be ignored by the isolated and the insulated leaders. Another form of insulation is to be surrounded by rings of sycophants, who lack weight, anchoring, and direction. Sustainability at the top is daunting (as Saddam and Bush have realised). The people cannot be shortchanged.
These thoughts after the recent Victory Day exuberance follow naturally, realising the sad plight of the local political culture today. The point of concern is that whether the very foundation of politics needs to be replaced it would be disastrous to build the new structure over the old and corrupt foundation. The founders are in short supply, while the
demand for revitalised and clean politics is echoing around. Today the ordinary routine lives are
not safe, and the political masters look so helpless in their ranting.
We need silent dedicated workers working behind the scene. The front stage is too crowded.
A Mawaz
Dhaka
Abbreviations
In recent days I have noticed a trend in the pages of DS which is disorienting and sometimes even misleading. Yes, I am touching on the issue of writing abbreviations and acronyms in all capitals which should be the proper way to do. When we see "Rat" instead of "RAT" and "Rab" instead of "RAB" in the headlines or otherwise, don't their appearances become really deceptive?
CNR
Chittagong