Flooding and government (in)action!
Any government action, or lack of it, is open to sceptical and distrustful interpretation, often with good reasons. While the administration is reluctant to accept immediate disaster relief, it apparently will lobby for and eagerly welcome cash donation for rehabilitation and reconstruction. Some say that the government is less inclined to seek disaster relief because the opportunity of pilfering significant amount of cash is limited. It would rather ask for cash contribution from donors for reconstruction, where the possibility of pocketing substantial amount of the aid money is endless!
Right now the country is grappling with an unprecedented calamity. More than 41 districts in this country have been submerged & approximately two crore people are directly affected. They are living in the schools, community centres, even on the highways. I'm appalled, knowing that there is sloth in relief distribution. Reportedly, many countries and agencies like the UK and the IDB have announced a big amount of relief for the flood affected people. I'm happy that this amount will be channelled through UNFPA and UNDP, where there is little scope for corruption. The UN resident mission has formed a draft which will be submitted to the UN, and after that many of our development partners will hopefully provide the necessary funds.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. I hope we shall overcome the crisis with sincere efforts.
Anis Rahman
Zahurul Haq Hall, Dhaka University
Monday July 26th a Daily Star journalist reports '... "If you don't bring any relief what use of you then?" a woman grumbles ...' The eternal dilemma of every journalist in a nutshell.
The truth is that you can do something - maybe it's in the pipeline, we hope so.
Daily we read the reports about people affected by the floods and by the government's continued refusal to declare a state of emergency. We are all agreed it seems, apart from the government, that we are in the middle of a disaster. Would The Daily Star as a leader of journalistic integrity in this country, consider running a headline to this effect?
Maybe The DS can link with other newspapers and run it on the same day -- 'reports prove we are in a state of emergency' or something similar, with a full table of comparisons of this to previous emergency situations. The government perhaps is not privy to the impartial information that independent journalism can supply. If it is shouted from every Bangla and English daily loud and clear, the message may just get through this bizarre charade and make sense to someone with the power to bring relief to this woman who grumbled .
I hear people say the BNP's reluctance is something to do with 'sonman', 'respect' - that somehow they would lose face if an emergency were declared in their tenure; that the AL would somehow 'use it' against them. Are the needy being held hostage to a bunch of fatalistic soothsayers? If so, will the truth carry any weight at all? .
A concerned friend, Dhaka
As a nation, we are heading towards a natural calamity. Every day flood water is creeping in like a silent monster across the country. Thousands of people are reeling under flood-water without food, drinking water, medicine. In some far-flung areas the inundation has been more catastrophic than the 1988 deluge. One third of the Dhaka city is bobbing on flood-water which is contaminated as well.
At last, the government seems to have awakened from its slumber to face the alarming situation. Sadly enough, the relief materials are quite meagre to meet the increasing demands. Staggeringly, people in some areas got mock relief of 75 paisa per head and this may be simply due to our bureaucratic tangle and political influence. At a crisis moment like this, we the residents of Dhaka should come forward with an open mind and bring succour to the destitute people. And this is a reminder to our politicians of ruling and opposition parties that it is the time to work hand in hand. No more politics with the miseries of the people.
I urge the government not to drag its foot in calling up the assistance from the army and making sure that the relief goods reach the flood stricken.
Md. Nazrul Islam Sumon Department of English, University of Dhaka