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TO THE EDITOR
Why caretaker government?
Mr SAMS Kibria wrote a carefully drafted, diplomatic commentary (DS, Nov 23) on the need of a neutral non-political caretaker government (CTG), based on the argument that it was essential to reform its provisions for the next general elections.
On principle, as a senior citizen, I find it difficult to support the very concept and approach to the issue of having a CFG. If our political culture is not yet mature enough for the political parties or the politicians to be able to run the parties and the government in a way transparent in public interest, dien they should cleanse themselves and get promoted, step by step, for higher responsibilities. What is the hurry? Warped ambitions .ire not eligible for public indulgence.
Since 1971 politics in Bangladesh could not train and discipline itself ————————
for proper public service. Millions of voters (citizens) are under the clutches of those posing as political workers. Indirectly it is our fault that we support incompetent leadership which is not willing to make sacrifices, and suffer. Politics today is introverted, self-seeking, corrupt, and based on terrorism. The elections have no meaning, as there is none (generally speaking) suitable to vote for.
The politicians have damaged their image themselves, and public confidence has sapped. This is not an unusual situation in Bangladesh -- the pattern is similar in many emerging nations in the third world. The leaders have polarised fixations, and used the electorate for ulterior motives. This unfair exploitation of the masses has to end.
The 1971 revolution is not enough. Some more phases of cleansing and stabilisation are necessary (separate the chaff from
the grain). The society today is impatient, and intolerant, and infected with killer instinct. Good political leadership is supposed to enhance the reforms in the society. But the tool (politics) is contaminated. A bad medium cannot carry a good message. The solution is beyond a mere caretaker governmentconcept.
AMahasen
Dhaka
Re-election of George W. Bush
US President George W. Bush has won November 2 election and has been re-elected for the 2nd term in office.
So what? We should neither rejoice nor mourn the victory of George Bush. He is neither the President of our country nor the (President of the world. He is the President of a lone, far away devel-
oped country, USA. We need not poke our nose in the internal matter of any foreign country.
What surprises and shocks us most is the political maelstrom of the USA where conscious and peace loving Americans in millions protested, held demonstrations and rallies and called George W Bush a monster for invading Iraq, but later on turned around and put a golden crown on the head of Bush for his war mongering policy and crimes against humanity! Is it the noble standard and latest style of American democracy?
We are not concerned whether Bush is pushed in or pushed out from White House or Senator Kerry fails to carry the coveted Oval Office chair of Washington DC with him. With the policies and programmes of both Bush and Kerry almost remaining the same, the former has won and the latter has lost the race. But the race is not over.
Iraq war and the genocide of the Iraqis by the US forces have not come to an end, normalcy and democracy in Afghanistan have been camouflaged, US-Israel duo occupation, oppression and suppression of the Palestinians, US threat to Iran, Syria, North Korea and Waziristan area of Pakistan and US war on so-called international terrorism continue unabated.
O.H. Kabir
Dhaka-1203
Disconcerting experience
As a Bangladeshi living abroad for many years, I was travelling to Dhaka from Paris on August 8th by Bangladesh Biman. 'The experience was extremely disconcerting to say the least. More for the shame it made me feel about it being representative of Bangladesh than any personal discomfort I had to undergo. While one can understand the dearth of
national finance to run an airline (I saw no such dearth among the private sector in Dhaka where frivolous multi-million dollar projects of shopping plazas abound) it is hard to understand mismanagement that is wholly within the human control. If Bangladesh Biman aspires to be an international airline it must meet the bare minimum standards that would enable it to be included in that group.
I wouldn't like to list the blemishes here, that ran from being listed as 'on time' on the departure board for an hour after the original flight time to reading lights not working in a whole section of the plane to '50 blankets for 100 passengers' (I quote the steward here) to a toilette that resembled one I once saw in a ghetto in Philadelphia... for fear of exceeding the space permitted in the letters section of your publication.
I do not know how profitable the international sector is for BB and cannot imagine the raison d'etre for
its existence other than national pride. But should the very tiling that one has propped up for national pride become a joke that makes Bangladesh a laughing stock of the kind strictly reserved for banana republics, we should seriously reconsider the merits and demerits for its continued existence. Even as someone who has always tried to give his business to a Bangladeshi concern, I seriously doubt I will fly BB ever again if I have an alternative.
My suggestion is that BB immediately disbands to save this much maligned nation further embarrassment. The routes it currently plies can be auctioned to other airlines or private sector. I rest my pen dreading my trip back to Paris next week. RIazQuadir On-email
Unfortunate statement by Thai Queen
I am rather surprised to read a news
despatched by Reuter^ and published in our local press quoting the Thai Queen Sirikit's recent address urging the Thais to help the government fight Muslim unrest. The Queen asked the Southern Army Commander to train female Buddhists to this use and said that she herself would get enrolled soon.
Without mentioning the deaths of 85 Muslims, most of whom suffocated in army custody in Tak Bai, Queen Sirkit said, "I promise that at the age of 721 will learn how to shoot guns without using my glasses".
I wonder how a Queen could make such an unfortunate statement which, I am sure, instead of going for a peaceful solution will trigger violence between Buddhists and Muslims inThailand!
Zahidul Haque
Chainnan
Department of Language Sher-e- Bangla Agricultural University
Dhaka-1207