Immunity for giant moneylenders
The government should listen to the speeches of dignitaries at seminars and symposia in recent days. Particularly, the lead news of New Age on 15 May should not go without drawing the attention of the parliamentarians, especially the prime minister, finance minister, and the speaker. If they overlook such arguments, probably they can overlook any valid petition of people. The government has to satisfy people who are opposing 'Immunity for the World Bank' with clear explanation why immunity is so urgently required for the World Bank only in Bangladesh and what difficulties arose for Bangladesh that cannot function without approving the immunity bill in the parliament.
If it is very much essential for the country that there should not be any difficulties in holding a discussion before placing the bill for voting in parliament and that should include the participation of opposition members. In no circumstances the bill should go for voting in absence of opposition members. The ruling alliance has no mandate for passing and pulling such risk in their shoulder alone. The country belongs to people, government is supposed to listen to people not any moneylender. Moneylenders pour their money to poor to keep them poor not to emancipate from poverty. Many African and Latin American nations are good examples.
M Hoque
Dhaka
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I note with interest the possible passage of a bill though parliament as well as the many protests from various quarters.
The principles on which such immunity is given in international law or convention are simple. These are equality, mutuality or reciprocity as is reflected in the Geneva Convention for diplomats. Diplomats of country A have immunity in country B simply because of reciprocal arrangement of similar immunity of diplomats of country B in country A.
Such immunity certainly is not based on presumptions of superiority or privileged position or 'holiness' or 'highness' or 'carrying on good work' etc, on the part of international institutions seeking immunity in a sovereign country.
It may be noted that immunity given by countries to Asian Development Bank is based on mutuality of nations in this part of the world and therefore is not an apposite precedent to claim similar immunity or privileges for the WB (or for that matter IMF).
These worldwide 'august' organisations therefore must try very hard to include themselves in the Geneva Convention for diplomats by widening its principles. If that is not possible, they can only be given immunity from any particular national civil court action if they can show to the satisfaction of the court that adequate and satisfactory provisions for arbitration and compensation exist under any deal, proposal, contract or memorandum which can be availed by any aggrieved party instead of the domestic court action. Such immunity from civil action would only be on case by case basis without any blanket immunity. On criminal matters there should be no immunity at all.
Shafi Ahmed
London, UK
Qur’an desecration
American soldiers, yet again, exposed their deep malice against the Muslims and their total disrespect for our religion by keeping stacks of Qur'ans in the toilets at the US detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Not only that they even flushed at least one Qur'an down the toilet according to US magazine Newsweek (NA news, May 12, 13). What ignorance!
Yes, Americans are dumb and arrogant, hey, what else can we expect from them? That's why, I am not angry with the Americans. But I am wondering what are the Muslim leaders (although most of them are American puppets) around the world doing? So far, protests in Afghanistan left seven people dead and 80 others injured according to Reuters. I am against any kind of destructive demonstrations, still, I couldn't help wondering: are the Afghanis only Muslims who care for Islam?
Shukla Mirza
Doha, Qatar
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