Dr. Kamal vs Dr. B

People's support (to any cause or any party) can only be tested by election or referendum.

Now Dr. B has started campaigning for a 'third force', whereas Dr. Kamal is saying that "without people's support it would weaken the country's foundation". Of course we believe in the people, but no more in the marked politicians -- with whom people are not there. And I ' being one of the 'people' (totally non-political)' do extend my support to the possible 'third force' -- which I am convinced is the cry of the day.

And if the people have lost faith (as claimed by the opposition parties and the discussants at a conference in the city on 2nd December) in their elected government, let's go for a referendum to find out what people really want. It's okay that the discussants dwelt on law and order but blaming "repression on the religious minority" (as articulated by Taslima Nasreen in her book) appears to me as dictated by some external agency or their agents inside the country.

I am also with them to stress the unity of civil society members but do not agree that "religious militancy" exists in Bangladesh (as already acknowledged by the US and the West) and wonder how under the sun the JSD's Hasanul Haq Inu declared in the conference that "we are creating a situation for foreign aggression in the country". It will perhaps be reasonable to ask him to further clarify this unwarranted claim.

I want to reiterate that we have tried the old politicians of several parties and no more want to fossilise our politics; rather we would like to look for the 'third force' (for our salvation).