High time for all to wake up
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Shamsher Chowdhury
VIOLENCE begets violence. The latest mayhem by the students organisation claiming its ‘loyalty’ to the main ruling party bears testimony to the fact. Not that violence never took place at educational institutions on earlier occasions prior to this; but then this happens to be worst in recent memory. Ironically enough I have just learnt that a complete list of the concerned students belonging to that organisation has been in existence for long but the police could not take any action since the go-ahead signal could not reportedly be obtained from the government. This was, as the report indicated, disclosed by a senior police officer to a media representative of one of leading dailies in Bengali. To top it all, it was also revealed that these so-called students are involved in all sorts of criminal acts like drug trafficking, mugging, all sorts of terror acts including tender snatching. Imagine, all this taking place at the University of Dhaka including several other colleges. It’s a dismal scenario indeed. Amidst all this, none other than the concerned minister comes up with such a statement that incidents like these may take place. This is like hitting someone below the belt.
Education is the backbone of the nation. Without education you can do nothing and achieve nothing. The government has so far done little to rid our educational institutions of wanton violence and vandalism. The alarm bell has rung. It is time for all of us to put an end to all this. The teachers should stop playing politics. The vice chancellors should stop holding briefs for different political parties. We must rid all our educational institutions of all forms of political pollution. For God’s sake, stop giving empty warnings and meaningless directives. The time is running out. We wish to see some real actions on the ground. As it is we are tired of the deteriorating state of law and order. I have this feeling that we are gradually approaching anarchy. The incidents at the International Trade Fair the other day and the burning of shops etc., at Chittagong are yet indicative of the fact as to how volatile the situation has become. Where are we heading towards? When this democratically elected government assumed office, I, like many, were hopeful for better days. It now looks like our expectations have been dashed. Of relevance also is the fact that some section of the media seem to have also become partisan in their news and views and not helping the situation in any way. We all know how the caretaker government and the past coalition government have failed, but can that be the reason for the ruling party to step into their shoes just to despise its opponents?
I, too, like many, happen to be a son of the soil and have seen the liberation war unfolding through the thick and thin of it all. I too have lost one of my brothers, an illustrious son of the soil and a leading intellectual of the country, but that does not give me the right to cast aspersions and take my anger and grief on any one that comes my way. I was highly disturbed, when I saw news report of a house of one of the brothers of the condemned in the Bangabandhu Murder case who is currently “hiding” abroad, was vandalised and torched. A dangerous legacy in the making. Excepting some reservations I am generally happy with the way the trial was conducted and justice delivered. But the way the post-celebrations, orchestrated by the power-that-be and its cadres, took place were not in the best of taste, meant to display the strength of the administration. Actions like these have the potential of lowering our image in the international community. It is high time Bangladesh should be able to come out of its shell and be able to relate to the international community and think globally.
Philosophically, ethically and morally, any death is a somber occasion. Let us remember that in the final analysis it is Allah who is the sole giver and taker of our lives. We also know that HE does not like those who cross their limitations. As much as we must be fair, and honest in dispensation of justice, we also must not play “God”.
Wherever we turn our eyes, it is difficult to see anything but a fierce engagement by the ‘politically’ powerful in serving their narrow interests ahead of the country. Besides, I find today more is more autocratic than democratic features. Nothing seems to move without a directive from the most powerful authority. I do not understand as to why none other than such authority has to be involved in every aspect of day to day administration like the traffic jam, cleansing and dredging of rivers, demolishing of unauthorised structures you name it. It is my impression that most of it is by design and part of it by default. Who does not like absolute power when surrounded by a bunch of sycophants ready to oblige. I wonder as to what all other functionaries are there for?
Let me now turn our attention to a few other vital issues facing the country today. Our health services have broken down. It is inaccessible for the majority of the country’s population. Our rivers for all practical purposes are choking. Our streets have become ever more unsafe. In not too distant a future, we may run out of water either for drinking or for agricultural purposes etc. Our municipal services, to say the least, are almost non-existent. We are tired of hearing about mega plans being undertaken aimed at improving the critical state of power supply and power generation and yet our sufferings continue due to regular power outages and load shedding.
I do not know as to what else to say. It is all too depressing. I wonder as to what legacy are we to leave behind for our future generation with the current state of our education and health services progressively getting worse. I am not one of those professional optimists who are comfortable with the idea that things will turn out for better by 2015 or 2021 or even 2030 at a time when people have already reached the peak of their sufferings. Frankly if the present is any indication of the future, I have ample reasons to worry.
May Allah in HIS infinite mercy protect us!! ...
(The writes can be reached at e-mail: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com)
VIOLENCE begets violence. The latest mayhem by the students organisation claiming its ‘loyalty’ to the main ruling party bears testimony to the fact. Not that violence never took place at educational institutions on earlier occasions prior to this; but then this happens to be worst in recent memory. Ironically enough I have just learnt that a complete list of the concerned students belonging to that organisation has been in existence for long but the police could not take any action since the go-ahead signal could not reportedly be obtained from the government. This was, as the report indicated, disclosed by a senior police officer to a media representative of one of leading dailies in Bengali. To top it all, it was also revealed that these so-called students are involved in all sorts of criminal acts like drug trafficking, mugging, all sorts of terror acts including tender snatching. Imagine, all this taking place at the University of Dhaka including several other colleges. It’s a dismal scenario indeed. Amidst all this, none other than the concerned minister comes up with such a statement that incidents like these may take place. This is like hitting someone below the belt.
Education is the backbone of the nation. Without education you can do nothing and achieve nothing. The government has so far done little to rid our educational institutions of wanton violence and vandalism. The alarm bell has rung. It is time for all of us to put an end to all this. The teachers should stop playing politics. The vice chancellors should stop holding briefs for different political parties. We must rid all our educational institutions of all forms of political pollution. For God’s sake, stop giving empty warnings and meaningless directives. The time is running out. We wish to see some real actions on the ground. As it is we are tired of the deteriorating state of law and order. I have this feeling that we are gradually approaching anarchy. The incidents at the International Trade Fair the other day and the burning of shops etc., at Chittagong are yet indicative of the fact as to how volatile the situation has become. Where are we heading towards? When this democratically elected government assumed office, I, like many, were hopeful for better days. It now looks like our expectations have been dashed. Of relevance also is the fact that some section of the media seem to have also become partisan in their news and views and not helping the situation in any way. We all know how the caretaker government and the past coalition government have failed, but can that be the reason for the ruling party to step into their shoes just to despise its opponents?
I, too, like many, happen to be a son of the soil and have seen the liberation war unfolding through the thick and thin of it all. I too have lost one of my brothers, an illustrious son of the soil and a leading intellectual of the country, but that does not give me the right to cast aspersions and take my anger and grief on any one that comes my way. I was highly disturbed, when I saw news report of a house of one of the brothers of the condemned in the Bangabandhu Murder case who is currently “hiding” abroad, was vandalised and torched. A dangerous legacy in the making. Excepting some reservations I am generally happy with the way the trial was conducted and justice delivered. But the way the post-celebrations, orchestrated by the power-that-be and its cadres, took place were not in the best of taste, meant to display the strength of the administration. Actions like these have the potential of lowering our image in the international community. It is high time Bangladesh should be able to come out of its shell and be able to relate to the international community and think globally.
Philosophically, ethically and morally, any death is a somber occasion. Let us remember that in the final analysis it is Allah who is the sole giver and taker of our lives. We also know that HE does not like those who cross their limitations. As much as we must be fair, and honest in dispensation of justice, we also must not play “God”.
Wherever we turn our eyes, it is difficult to see anything but a fierce engagement by the ‘politically’ powerful in serving their narrow interests ahead of the country. Besides, I find today more is more autocratic than democratic features. Nothing seems to move without a directive from the most powerful authority. I do not understand as to why none other than such authority has to be involved in every aspect of day to day administration like the traffic jam, cleansing and dredging of rivers, demolishing of unauthorised structures you name it. It is my impression that most of it is by design and part of it by default. Who does not like absolute power when surrounded by a bunch of sycophants ready to oblige. I wonder as to what all other functionaries are there for?
Let me now turn our attention to a few other vital issues facing the country today. Our health services have broken down. It is inaccessible for the majority of the country’s population. Our rivers for all practical purposes are choking. Our streets have become ever more unsafe. In not too distant a future, we may run out of water either for drinking or for agricultural purposes etc. Our municipal services, to say the least, are almost non-existent. We are tired of hearing about mega plans being undertaken aimed at improving the critical state of power supply and power generation and yet our sufferings continue due to regular power outages and load shedding.
I do not know as to what else to say. It is all too depressing. I wonder as to what legacy are we to leave behind for our future generation with the current state of our education and health services progressively getting worse. I am not one of those professional optimists who are comfortable with the idea that things will turn out for better by 2015 or 2021 or even 2030 at a time when people have already reached the peak of their sufferings. Frankly if the present is any indication of the future, I have ample reasons to worry.
May Allah in HIS infinite mercy protect us!! ...
(The writes can be reached at e-mail: chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com)