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TO THE EDITOR
Bus arson and our politics
On the eve of the last hartal, called by main opposition party AL, another despicable and barbaric act took the lives of some innocent passengers who were on board of that bus. Hartal, perhaps the most frequently used political arms in Bangladesh than any other part of the world. People elect their representatives to speak on behalf of them, but they prefer to say outside the Sangsad.
The duty of the government is to initiate the way through their comprehensive and generous steps. The respect towards public opinion is imperative to lead the
democracy in its most prolific way. It seems both sides of our leaders hardly recommend this point.
Tawhidur Rahman
Nazrul Islam Hall, BUET
Our country's image
Mr. Shadman's observation on 14 June issue drew my attention. The writer expressed that being a Bangladeshi he felt 'ashamed' and 'disgusted' while living abroad due to ongoing situation at home. I would like to start with a verse of our famous poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, "Ever high is my head" which makes us proud time and again that we earned our independence through a series of struggle. Political scenario in most of the developing countries is not any
better than Bangladesh. If one observes the developing countries of South America, Asia, Africa or the Middle East, he would realise that all are captives to the political disorders for understandable reasons. There are many success stories that makes Bangladesh 'a small but emerging' country in the global outfit with enormous potentials -- contribution of our ready made garments in American and European markets as one of the top manufacturers, recognition of micro credit model in the developed nations, the top most contribution of our Armed Forces in the United Nation's peace keeping operation all over the world or even the recognition as a Test playing country are examples that would certainly make any Bangladeshi feel
'elevated' and 'proud' in a foreign soil.
Democracy matures with time and patience; so is the vision and practices of our different political parties. Democracy and politicsfriendly situation that we witness in the West is the culmination of hundred year old practices. In my understanding, it is premature to conclude on performance of any single political party, for -- major parties would necessitate several opportunities to exhibit and implement their respective political manifestos. Our nationals in foreign soil are our proud flag-bearers; they have a noble job to elevate 'country's image in their respective capacities. Political turmoil is part of every democratic/political sys-
tem; people of this country have witnessed that no single party could succeed in the face of 'breaking the trust'. Irrespective of country, place or situation, let us be optimistic and work together for the betterment of this country; because it is our soil that rewarded us to be born as a 'Bangladeshi'.
Mahbub
Dhaka
Hartal: a destructive play
Hartal was an effective medium of protest against the British colonisation and other aggressive foreign powers. But, in the age of democracy, it comes ineffective. A hartal
means a battle against ourselves which brings irreparable loss of our national property.
But, I do believe that this hartal culture is not only a political tendency or an outcome of social distress. Rather, the root of this culture is deeply connected to our Bengali instinct and social culture. From the days of the British reign, this culture was appreciated by the people of the colonised India. People thought that a man could contribute to his country througsh "blood shed". A man can contribute by serving his life to increase the level of his social or economical position -- this kind of social exercise was always ignored.
Government has proposed to make an anti-hartal law. It sounds
irrational because a law can never uproot hartal. So, we need the moral correction from the grass root level and effective alternative mediums (such as human chain, hunger strike etc.) to protest.
Rizwan-ul Huq
KU
Bangla Bhai
I am really surprised why the government is not being able to catch the now infamous "Bangla Bhai". The government is aware of his illegal activities but is yet to bring this terrorist to book. Yes, Bangla Bhai should be labelled as a "terrorist" because the activities he is conducting simply reflects the activities of one. He and his group
of supporters must be captured for the betterment of the people.
We do not want this kind of brutal people roaming freely in the country. Nowhere in Islam it is said that one has the right to kill a man and hang him from a tree, even of the person is your enemy. If they think that they are following Islam and Quran and Hadith, then they are simply wrong. Only because of these thugs, the westerners think that Islam encourages terrorism and brutality. But this is not what our religion tells us. I strongly hope that the government will do everything possible in its capacity to catch Bangla Bhai. We want to see him behind bars.
Minhaj Ahmed
Uttara, Dhaka