Improper language in parliament

Our former law minister and a lawmaker were highly upset by frequent use of indecent and vulgar words in parliament, saying that the languages used by some lawmakers "were not even used in the red-light district". And the Speaker requested the lawmakers to refrain from using unparliamentary language in the House and to make constructive criticism in the parliament so that it can be made effective. Like other ordinary citizens, I was pained to read the language used by members of the parliament during the current session of parliament. The spat between the leaders of the major national parties in parliament has only served to devalue that institution. That will certainly send a wrong message to the outside world, especially at a time when Bangladesh is under attack from outside forces. The issue will lead to a further erosion of our unity. Both the ruling and the opposition parties are responsible for whatever has happened in the past as well as the recent time. After starting the war of words, the government is now finding it difficult to digest the rebuttals. Bangladesh is a democracy, not a dictatorship where a so-called abusive leaders or parliament's members can do what they like. Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them. In order to govern, the question is not to follow out a more or less valid theory but to build with whatever materials are at hand. The inevitable must be accepted and turned to advantage. There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit. Apart from the fact that the present government requires a consensus, the Prime Minister is expected to take her cabinet and the party of the majority into confidence before taking any major decision. If our premier consults her political partners and the senior leaders of her own party on all issues, it would only mean that our democracy is mature and strong. I hope the ruling party will change course and confine itself to policies rather than personalities. Gopal Sengupta Canada E-mail : gopalsengupta@aol.com