Minimizing ordeals during the Eid
Friday, 12 November 2010
THE observation of the Eid-ul-Azha is only days away. The event is associated with all kinds of activities which require efficient and truly dedicated actions on the part of the government to make it less stressful for people. For example, a great many number of people usually travel to different destinations for some days before Eid day. From Dhaka city alone some five to six million people make journeys to their points of origin as Dhaka is but a temporary abode for them where they stay in relation to their occupations. From other big cities also similar temporary movement of people takes place.
Thus, there is a role for the administration to play in making these journeys as hassle-free as possible. The highways need to be kept clear of obstructions of any type and jams on them need to be prevented from forming. Policing the highways to safeguard people from snatching, accidents and other mishaps also need to be ensured. Like the highways, similar special security measures are needed to be organized for the riverways and trains. Particularly important is helping people to get tickets for their journeys at fair prices and smoothly.
How far the government is ready this time to help people out effectively in these and other matters during the upcoming Eid is questionable. Some pro-activism could have helped things a great deal. But only in the last hour, it seems, a cell has been created under the home ministry to attend to all sorts of issues during the Eid. The cell already has its hands full. For example, the sacrificial animals are allowed to be brought and sold only at authorized places in Dhaka city for the obvious reasons of sanitation and law and order problems. But according to media reports, persons claiming powerful political links have brought the sacrificial animals in at least twelve places in the city without any permission whatsoever from the authorities. They are flexing their muscles and throwing a challenge to anybody daring to evict them. Thus, law and order conditions could decline in the city any time if the authorities seek to enforce their decisions and apply their powers.
As for sparing people from ticket black-marketing, nothing worthwhile appears to have happened. Like in other years, people wanting to buy tickets at counters of bus, launch and train stations are facing disappointment on being told that all tickets have already been sold off. But these tickets are available with black-marketers who sell them at twice or even thrice their normal prices. Why this severe exploitation of people every time during Eid cannot be stopped for good with some hard activism is a big question mark.
Specially, people's disgruntlement would be deeper this year on this score because of the promises made earlier by the administration about addressing such mundane problems like Eid-time ticket black-marketing. The people experienced similar problems during the last Eid-ul-Fitr. As such, there is little scope, on the part of the administration, for citing the excuse about inexperience in these matters or in getting acts together to deliver people from the great torment of ticket black-marketing. Even now, the government administration should aim to make allout efforts in the remaining days until the observance of Eid, to reduce stresses on people as much as possible. Doing of that would earn for the government much appreciation.
Thus, there is a role for the administration to play in making these journeys as hassle-free as possible. The highways need to be kept clear of obstructions of any type and jams on them need to be prevented from forming. Policing the highways to safeguard people from snatching, accidents and other mishaps also need to be ensured. Like the highways, similar special security measures are needed to be organized for the riverways and trains. Particularly important is helping people to get tickets for their journeys at fair prices and smoothly.
How far the government is ready this time to help people out effectively in these and other matters during the upcoming Eid is questionable. Some pro-activism could have helped things a great deal. But only in the last hour, it seems, a cell has been created under the home ministry to attend to all sorts of issues during the Eid. The cell already has its hands full. For example, the sacrificial animals are allowed to be brought and sold only at authorized places in Dhaka city for the obvious reasons of sanitation and law and order problems. But according to media reports, persons claiming powerful political links have brought the sacrificial animals in at least twelve places in the city without any permission whatsoever from the authorities. They are flexing their muscles and throwing a challenge to anybody daring to evict them. Thus, law and order conditions could decline in the city any time if the authorities seek to enforce their decisions and apply their powers.
As for sparing people from ticket black-marketing, nothing worthwhile appears to have happened. Like in other years, people wanting to buy tickets at counters of bus, launch and train stations are facing disappointment on being told that all tickets have already been sold off. But these tickets are available with black-marketers who sell them at twice or even thrice their normal prices. Why this severe exploitation of people every time during Eid cannot be stopped for good with some hard activism is a big question mark.
Specially, people's disgruntlement would be deeper this year on this score because of the promises made earlier by the administration about addressing such mundane problems like Eid-time ticket black-marketing. The people experienced similar problems during the last Eid-ul-Fitr. As such, there is little scope, on the part of the administration, for citing the excuse about inexperience in these matters or in getting acts together to deliver people from the great torment of ticket black-marketing. Even now, the government administration should aim to make allout efforts in the remaining days until the observance of Eid, to reduce stresses on people as much as possible. Doing of that would earn for the government much appreciation.