THE departure of six experts from the committee handling the Shwadhinota Sthamba project is not only regrettable but a huge embarrassment, for the government and for the country. The embarrassment comes through the experts' decision to quit being a fallout of certain irresponsible remarks made by the minister of state for liberation war affairs to a newspaper more than a week ago. We fully understand the sentiments of the experts, all of whom are highly respected individuals in society. For the minister to suggest that work on the project is being held up owing to the ego of these experts is actually to look away from the reality. He would have done better had he examined the bureaucratic reasons behind the delay in project implementation.

Work on the Shwadhinota Sthamba at Suhrawardy Uddyan has already been much delayed. Our suggestion is that a specific time table be set for its completion. Meanwhile, the real reasons why it has been proceeding at a slow pace must be identified by the minister of state. Obviously, the departure of the six experts is a blow that has hit the government badly. It should also be regarded as a message to the government, which is that eminent citizens whose services are sought by the state must be treated with the dignity they deserve. Minister of State Tajul Islam has neither denied nor expressed regrets over his remarks. He calls the whole episode a misunderstanding. If it was, it turned out to be rather costly.

The government owes the nation an explanation on the matter. It is inconceivable that men like Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, Muntassir Mamoon, Hashem Khan, Shamsul Wares, Rabiul Husain and Mubashhar Hasan should be treated in such despicable manner. Damage