A critical phase

Bangladesh has now entered the most critical phase of its political transition. The most recent events of student unrest and public outburst all over the country make us very concerned about the process of establishing a democratic and accountable government. This has given rise to many pertinent issues. Some of them are important and seen as negative fallouts from the current events.

1. I quote a news item from one Internet edition of news letter (e-mela.com) published probably from New York, USA, on August 27, 2007. It says that more than 87,000 people, including teachers and students, are facing cases filed against them. We think this new model of" Police case" would definitely pave the way for a new dimension of human rights violation in Bangladesh. Given the fact that

the human rights groups in Bangladesh are not effective enough to be heard by the authorities, we do not know how one can get rid of this situation. I am not a lawyer and can not pass any opinion on the legal side of the issue.

However, my question is: how the law of the land interprets it from the perspective of human rights?

2. A more serious concern is the negative fallout of the events on the overall relation between the student community and the law enforcers. The situation has been further aggravated due to the alleged undignified behaviour with the arrested senior teachers of the universities.

We think the CTG would put all its resources in a conciliatory manner to redress the issue of student unrest, and would not allow any political inhibition to stand on the way of reconciliation. The military backed government is

definitely powerful enough to achieve a few short term goals, but ultimately the path of dialogue and reconciliation has to be chosen.

Therefore, the sooner the better forall concerned.

3. We think it is high time for the CTG to proceed with the formation of the "Human Rights Commission" and create a civil check and balance.

A reader

On e-mail

The arsenic bomb

We the people of the Gangetic delta of this subcontinent have more to fear the "arsenic bomb" rather than any "Atom or Hydrogen Bomb'. Arsenic leaching into our subsoil water will slowly but surely lead to higher incidence of cancer and other associated fatalities for human beings.

Chances of birds and animals being wiped out due to these fatal

infections are also there.

A recent newspaper report (Sept:01) presents a frightening scenario for our young generation, who may have to face its vicious effects later.

Globally, about 140 million people are at risk in Asia and Africa! This dismal observation by Allan Smith of the University of California, Berkley, is worthy of repetition. He said: "I don't know of one government agency which has given this the priority it deserves". May be we are too busy quibbling over political and trade issues to visualise this dismal future that lies ahead for us!

Maybe, we should seriously consider the alternative for using untreated well water as the main source of potable and daily use water. The CTG should take up this grave national issue and marshal the needed resources for research and study on a priority basis, and not wait for the elected government's coming into office. For this vital need, the government, NGOs and all concerned should jointly appeal to the international donors to help us in this important matter!

It is unfortunate that wells are our primary potable water source all over the country. The need is installing and operating technically viable de-arsenification plants all over the country. It is a huge task, and needs a gigantic effort to implement it. Should we not commit ourselves to containing this vital problem facing us?

S.A. Mansoor

Gulshan, Dhaka

Labour Day in Canada

Labour Day is an important event in the national life in Canada . This day is celebrated on the 1st Monday of September in Canada since 1880. This year, the day was observed on 3rd September2007.

Toronto printers went on strike in 1872 to establish 54 hrs work week, while union activity was considered illegal by the government. Protesters eventually established their rights when Prime Minister Sir John McDonald agreed to repeal the anti-union laws and arranged the release of protest organisers as well. Thus the Labour Day of Canada is different from the May Day, although the spirit of establishing the workers' rights was almost similar.

Kumar Prithwiraj Nath

Toronto, Canada

Campus violence

Since the incident at Dhaka University on 20 August 2007, many people are thinking how a trifling matter can lead to a volcanic-eruption like situation that compelled the CTG to impose curfew in the divisional cities to bring it under control. Expressing deep regret from the government, withdrawal of army camp from the varsity campus and the beginning of the process of judicial enquiry failed to satisfy the students. So thousands of them came out of the dormitories with sticks and stones and fought with police injuring over 150 people and damaging at least 100 vehicles. Even the girl students came out in large numbers with bamboo sticks on their hands.

We should think howourchildren who are studying at the highest level become so furious and go for such violent acts that bring disgrace to all of us. No doubt, the incident that triggered the violence was the act of some individuals. But what our students, the future of the nation, did cannot be accepted. We, the guardians of the students, should regularly monitor their activities and behaviour even if they are grown up and studying in varsities where they are supposedly being taken care of by their teachers. But ultimately they are our children and what they are learning & what character they are building there is very important for the families they belong to.

So, let us open our eyes and try to find out what is going wrong that encourages them to be so hostile that just out of anger they are indiscriminately damaging government & private properties, including private vehicles that some one might have purchased with his hard earned savings or against loansfrom the banks.

Let us also take into account the statement of the army chief that an evil force poured in crores of taka to instigate this vandalism.

Engr. Md. Aminul Hoque Khalishpur, Khulna

Arrests of teachers

With the detention of a number of university teachers who are alleged to have incited the recent violence on and outside campuses across the country, the notion that teaching is a noble profession is now under dispute among many. With their

positions tenured and a performance scrutiny mechanism nonexistent, many of these self-styled intellectuals for years have not produced academic papers of some repute, lot of them have routinely affixed signatures on questionable statements, and a great number have been profiting enormously from coaching at private institutions. They, indeed, are modern day smooth operatives, just like politicians, and surely do

not invoke the image of their predecessors much respected for dedication in shaping young minds. It is also naive to view them as 'genius' just because they happen to have good academic credentials; they are no more different from others who have opted for different professions and creditably performing in a competitive, unsheltered world. If our former president, prime ministers, and legislators can be questioned,

booked, and jailed for their misdeeds, we do not see why the teachers should be immune from questioning for their suspected role in the violence that saw so much destruction.

We, however, hope that they would come out clean, and help salvage whatever image of their profession is left out.

Nayeem Jafar

New Jersey, USA