Detestable acts in parliament
Is it possible for our politicians to degrade the quality of our politics anymore? The detestable references that some of the ruling party lawmakers made about the leader of the opposition during the proceedings of the parliament no doubt reflect the ugly side of our politics at its worst. By dragging his feet on the issue of expunging the remarks, the acting speaker brought under question his neutrality in conducting the proceedings of the parliament.
While we feel sympathy and support for the opposition in their protest against the BNP lawmakers on the issue, it must also not be forgotten that the AL itself, while it was in power, had indulged in making remarks no less detestable than the ones against which they have now raised hue and cry. In fact, some of the remarks that Sheikh Hasina herself made in parliament when she was the prime minister against her nemesis, the present prime minister, were no less detestable than what Pintu and his colleagues are now being accused of making.
The architectural beauty of the Sangsad Bhavan, a dream of Louis Kahn, would make any country proud. Unfortunately, those who use our parliament are far from making anyone proud. Opposition that makes any parliament vibrant, lively and excitable has traditionally shunned this august body. The government has always used this as a rubber stamp. Now we are witnessing inside this body its members indulge in name calling that should shame any group of people organised for any purpose. Against this shameless conduct of our lawmakers who are also among the worst offenders of telephone bills ( among many detestable activities they are known to indulge in like spending more time in the lobbies of the secretariat peddling influence for money), our lawmakers are now seeking shorter sessions so that they can watch the World Cup. For them it is just a matter of coincidence that the budget session is on for they know, whatever they may do or may not do, the budget will be passed anyway.
Observing our parliamentarians' at work, one can only make one comment: what: a monstrous waste of one of the most beautiful buildings of the world!
Shahjahan Ahmed
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
* * *
This government has messed governance in such a way that it is now no longer governance that we have in this country but something else, something eerie, something surreal. We have two presidents, one ill and another acting, who has left his substantive duty of a Speaker where his deputy is merrily messing up the parliament to earn for Bangladesh the dubious distinction of having two presidents at the same time!
Much has been said of the CEC whose comic acts have now gone beyond everybody's limit of tolerance. In the drama that these people are now playing on the political stage, we have forgotten what ails Bangladesh the most, the unbelievable hatred that our two leading ladies have for each other. In the surreal drama we are now witnessing, thanks to the president, the acting president (!), the CEC, no one has taken note of the incredible diatribe that Sheikh Hasina hurled at the parliament that most newspapers did not print as the language was too filthy. A younger brother who read Skeikh Hasina's utterances in parliament in print in one of the few papers that carried the item had to leave the room when he gave this to his elder brother to read as he was too ashamed to face his brother while he read such filth.
The surreal picture of our politics that now prevails in the country has made the ordinary people of this unfortunate country despondent at a time when here exists in the country such hope for optimism; for an economic miracle that is now within our reach only if the politics in the country was not so outlandishly corrupt and degenerated. Except for these corrupt politicians and their equally corrupt supporters who are engaged in active politics, no one believes that any of the two major political parties would add anything but more misery, no matter which one of the two wins the next election.
Rashed Ahmed
Gulshan, Dhaka
Gate-lock service
It is true that our transport sector has improved and been modernised lot. The introduction of Volvo double-decker bus is worth mentioning. The service of BRTC double-deckers has also been improved. But the quality of private mini bus, especially the so-called gate-lock direct services, has deteriorated. The exploitation of the passengers with higher fares, etc. continues unabated in this so-called 'gate-lock' system. The middle-class city dwellers who mostly depend on bus services have become the worst sufferers of their exploitation.
Let me cite an example of direct gate-lock bus service from Mirpur, Section No. 1 to Gulistan. This so-called direct gate-lock bus charges Tk. 10/- from Mirpur to Gulistan. The fare is higher than other buses plying on the route but their services are not up to the standard. In a 29-seat capacity mini bus at least 40/42 passengers are usually carried. These buses pile up 10 to 12 passengers on the engine chamber itself. Two passengers sit on the gearbox for which it becomes difficult for the driver to handle the gearbox properly. As a result, sometimes during emergency, the driver cannot control his vehicle and therefore accident occurs.
The seats are so congested that the passengers' legs are squeezed and they remain half-seated between the seats. Every year BRTA renews their Fitness Certificate without any physical changes. Why doesn't the BRTA take note of these irregularities?
Asima
Dhaka
|
New Age requests readers to send letters and opinions to letters@newagebd.com, newage.feedback@gmail.com or ‘Feedback’, Holiday Building, 30 Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. All submissions are subject to editing. Letters must be signed and include valid mailing address, e-mail address and telephone number (if any).
|
MAIN PAGE | TOP
|
|
