Gross mismatch between words and actions

As ordinary citizens, we cannot but express our serious concern about the controversy over the probe committe report on the share market scam. There is every reason to feel concerned about the fate of the enquiry that has dealt with an important public interest matter and which has to do with the hard-earned assets of hundreds and thousands of small investors. A concerted effort has been on, in order to discredit both the report and its principal author. Petty flaws are being exaggerated to look like big mistakes. Twisting a simple remark about how the legal system works in a democracy and giving it a completely opposite meaning, the chair of the enquiry body is being dragged into a controversy, with the aim of diluting the importance of the report. We take strong exception to such efforts which are being orchestrated by people likely to be exposed if the report is followed by a government investigation. The report names a good number of influential people and corporations against whom the findings have established some prima facie evidence. Soft-pedaling on the matter or indeed putting the wraps on it will only discredit the government. Now, in a strange twist of policy, the government has unfolded the process for arranging a multi-billion taka loan to help augment the finances of some public sector enterprises or units. Why is the Finance Ministry looking for such loan to re-capitalise at this point of time? All official and independent evaluations indicate that the state-owned banks and the banking sector as a whole are in a critical shape. Bangladesh has somehow managed to escape the worst of a financial crisis by following its own path - the case about the impact of a new one, now in the wake of the curozone crisis is different here - even if the overarching approach has remained to be one of global integration and gradual financial liberalisation. Is our government now preparing to do the opposite of what stood by it in good stead? Such transactions go through because there is no meaningful political debate on vital issues within or outside parliament. The public has a right to know of the proposed borrowing. It is strange that our leaders, while agreeing, on one hand, that the financial practices followed by Bangladesh over the last decade have helped the country to tide over the impact of the global recession of 2007 and 2008, seek to implement policies that are quite contradictory to their words, on the other. Gopal Sengupta Canada E-mail: gopalsengupta@aol.com Let corruption stop Enough talk shows relating to many aspects are being produced as we can watch over television; but we have never come across any talk show relating to corruption, the number one problem of the nation. As a resident of Rashed Khan Menon Sarak in the Moghbazar area, we are tired of corruption compelled by a section of Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) revenue officials. Fortunately we were better off during the caretaker government as these WASA revenue officials refrained from doing underhand open deals. Should the country's TV channels be gracious enough to arrange some talk-shows on corruption -- be it WASA, income tax, Dhaka City Corporation, communications ministry, custom, PDB etc? The Prime Minister does often talk about corruption-control, while visiting abroad or receiving foreign dignitaries in her office. She can surely unearth the prevailing corruption in the WASA. Let something happen in reality in the name of corruption control. Mahmud Ali New Eskaton Road, Dhaka-1000