We are shocked
We do not understand why the good politicians, especially the educated ones, always get killed. We are really very shocked at the killing of such a renowned personality as Shah AMS Kibria? This is a total anarchic situation. What could we say here?
Ashiqul Islam Sudin
Dhaka
* * *
Shah AMS Kibria’s death indicates a phenomenon very transparently indeed. It seems to corroborate our opposition leader’s long time claim about a cleansing of opposition leaders. The apparent indifference, especially on the part of the government, seems to promote this deep-rooted belief within general public and civil society. This is a red alert time for the government. It must take substantial and decisive steps against these concealed perpetrators, or else it may have to suffer severe consequences in the near future. The post-Jan 27 action of the government must in no way resemble the August 21 one. There will be no support for the government if it fails to bring these thugs to justice.
Zahedul Amin
Malibagh, Dhaka
Grenades and government
Reports in New Age and other papers published expose the government’s incapability, intentional or otherwise; to resolve the morbid trend of assassination and wanton killings of citizens not in their party fold. It points to a failed government whose sole claim to democracy (in name only) is limited to parliamentary election. Immediately after the Habiganj assassination, the law minister said “Can any responsible and elected government be a party to such heinous deed”. He has forgotten history, for such were the sentiments expressed by Hitler in pre WW 2 days while the Nazi Party was exterminating the opposition.
The US authorities have now openly criticised the lack of accessibility and information provided by the government in the earlier grenade episode in Dhaka. The EU has diplomatically stated that “failed probe leads to a climate of impunity”, a very true and grave accusation levelled at the government. Does the government care? From facts and official statements the inescapable conclusion is it couldn’t care a fig! The law minister with his background of deft and cunning party hopping to any available power base sums it all up in two words “opposition non-cooperation”. If only the facts were so simple. Possibly he is too busy planning the next power hop to care about the total lack of law and order and the rule of the jungle that epitomises Bangladesh politics today, with the party in power calling the shots. This possibly sums up his negative role in the very important portfolio that he holds.
The Bangla Bhai fiasco and the inability to protect the Ahmadiyyas highlight the Nazi style of this morally corrupt and incompetent coalition wedded to the extremists that rules Bangladesh today.
So, despite all investigations and probes and reports that are kept confidential, and never published; the bottom line is, this government has totally failed in keeping law and order and protecting all citizens. Only heightened police action based on created intelligence reports and letting the police, RAB and what not to kill, maim and torture more people in a modern version of Nazism in action will not work. May Allah save us!
A non-political citizen
Dhaka
Habiganj and Kibria’s death
From Ariel Sharon to George Bush and then Khaleda Zia, all represent politics of intolerance and conspiracy, including secret and violent killings. Just like George Bush, here in Bangladesh “you are with us or against us”. The Awami League does not like the BNP and the BNP does not like the Awami League. The entire nation stands divided, civil society, the intellectual community, the business community so on and so forth. Over the years our political leadership has not only getting poorer in the country but also becoming the leading cause for our failures in nearly all vital spheres of life, such as establishing the values of democratic tradition.
All this has only given rise to an endemic state of apathy towards politics on the part of the general members of the public.
Today I remember the incident, the most shameful and the darkest chapter of our history, the assassination of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman. Had people in general stood up in nationwide protest on the day, perhaps the political history of our country would be totally different from what it is today. Frankly, no political party since the liberation of Bangladesh has taken the people into confidence. The result: politics has now been compartmentalised and each of the party’s activities rally round to individual party cadres and activists.
Be that as it may, these senseless killings must come to an end. The ruling coalition must act here and now and come up with answers and bring the culprits to book. It is not good enough to make statements saying that every effort is being made to nab the criminals. We wish to see some real results and not sheer empty promises. Mr. Kibria was one of the more sober individuals in the Awami League hierarchy and hence to me his death is immensely tragic. We all have to die someday but what a way to die!! In the meantime, let us all take to the streets in silent protest through formation of human chains, organising hunger strikes, street corner meetings, displaying placards and posters calling for unity. Hartals will take us nowhere. On the contrary, they may give rise to more violence, destruction of public property and end up vandalising the very image of their proponents.
Shamsher Chowdhury
Dhaka
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