It was also during the rule of 4-party alliance that some efforts were exerted on the newspapers and their journalists to publish news in their favour and suppress those which were not so. But at that time, it was not done so openly, possibly because the then ruling alliance had some control over their people. But now it seems that the supreme leader has lost the lever. Her appealing words of dissatisfaction do not seem to be effective in soothing the goons. They are desperate to make up the loss that they have incurred during the past six years of other governments. Perhaps that is why even in a remote area in Kushtia, a journalist has been arrested under a false and fabricated plea and the families of two journalists are on the run to avoid harassment. This is just because they were trying to bring out the facts about the ill efforts of the Chhara League and Jubo League.
   So, may we request the PM to be vigilant over the activities of her goons whose muscles were used for propaganda purposes and realise that the ‘winter is not over in one month of ‘magh’.
   Dr SA Miah
   Quebec, Canada

We have heard of a lot of terms in political science about weak states, namely banana republic, soft state, etc. but which classification suits to the present-day Bangladesh? The way things are moving for Bangladesh now, it’s up to the political thinkers to search for a new terminology for us.
   No excuses can be acceptable for our failures in punishing lawbreakers and combating prevailing corrupt practices, but does it permit a few envoys of foreign countries to keep on conducting unbridled activities in almost all the matters of our national life? If you talk of receiving aids, which the country, baring a few, does not receive that? But do the ambassadors (who are just mid-level salaried-government servants in their own countries) keep on giving sermons to the whole system in those countries? Have you ever seen foreign envoys making such indiscriminate remarks on local issues even in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka? No way! And why do they talk of providing assistance only? Are these countries not making money in Bangladesh in one way or other? Why then are these holy sermons?
   The irony is that we have transformed ourselves into a sermon-happy nation! In the name of receiving foreign assistance, we have opened a Pandora’s Box. It may well be noticed that we have been receiving foreign assistance, through some NGOs, in some unnecessary sectors — something which resultantly, allows unwarranted interference of the so-called donors. Why can’t we restrict foreign assistance in some sectors? The role of media is of prime importance in this regard. We notice a general tendency of our newspapers of providing undue coverage to foreign envoys. We are a democratic country; and of course we have problems, but who doesn’t have those? We are definitely better-off than what we are being portrayed to be. It’s just a matter to be a little assertive on our part.
   Let’s have a little respect for ourselves first. If we don’t respect ourselves, nobody will respect us. Charity begins at home. The media, more importantly, our newspapers have a very important role to play in inculcating an awareness campaign to that end. Otherwise, we will soon become a nation of clowns and apes by every definition. Let’s wake up and live with dignity!
   Rizwan ul Alam
   On e-mail