Bangladesh and EU

The hon'ble Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) also did not explain the allegation raised by a section of the national newspapers of the country that the original resolution was drafted in Dhaka in consultation with the Ambassadors at the behest of the opposition activists who were lobbying for the opposition parties. I read in a Bangla newspaper how some opposition activists took part in the lobbying, by travelling to Brussels and staying there for months. True or not, now the burden of proof is on the MEPs that they acted in a fair way and didn't sell themselves to the opposition party of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is going through a critical phase in its history of democratisation. The ruling government despite much of its inaction and failure in many instances took some commendable initiatives in the recent times. The law and order situation has certainly improved during the last six months. Rab is doing excellent work. In my view, this is the time for encouragement, and not unwarranted criticism. Instigated by the opposition activists, the MEPs have become blind about the timing.

The MEPs have been critical of the police of the country. But will they sanction 100 million Euro for the reform and modernisation of the police force which this poor country cannot afford? Well Excellencies, then bring a Motion for a special grant of Euro 100 million for Bangladesh, to be disbursed in one instalment by 1 July 2005, without any strings or conditionalities.

I know European Parliament is nothing more than a paper tiger and such Resolutions are the ways that MEPs must adopt to justify their fat salary, but two words, namely, morality and ethics, still exist in the dictionary without their meaning lost.