Generate confidence, dispel panic

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THE first thing that comes to my mind is to tell the caretaker government to dispel panic and fear that are so pervasive among the broad sections of the people because of the task that it has assumed for cleansing the accumulated dirt of past three and a half decades more because of the malfunctioning of the system of governance and less because of crime by the ordinary citizens, barring the 'bigwigs' who have deliberately looted the national wealth. This is important for generating confidence among the ordinary citizens, particularly those belonging to the middle class, for tax evasion, petty financial crimes or small wrong-doings in a situation where nothing went in accordance with the letter of the law. There can be a general amnesty for all such things and the government should make efforts for setting the basics right while holding speedy trial of those alleged to have made tonnes of money. The present flood situation is an opportunate occasion for the government to unite the nation, by instilling confidence in the minds of the broad sections of the people and dispelling panic among them, so that the nation can bravely face the fall-outs from such a devastating natural calamity. Given the opportunities, the Bangladeshis, irrespective of banners, can certainly take care of things.
Instead of creating confusion because of lack of planning, the government should do what it can do and allow everyone who wants to come with caps or with 'gamcha' on their head and help the people who are suffering. And I hope the caretaker government will sit down now, plan post-flood recovery measures and take care of the affected people.
Sometimes good intentions are not enough; you need people with real leadership and guts to take care of things even at the risk of being blamed because everyone cannot be helped simultaneously or satisfactorily. So again I say for God's sake take the right steps and consider the ground-level realities in a pragmatic way. The patriots will come from all over the country and abroad to meet the exigencies of the situation.
Ali Haider
New York City