Kansat and government
We hope the government will take a positive and appropriate initiative to resolve the Kansas problem on a permanent basis. Already, it has turned into a political hotbed. By the way I want to ask television networks that what you have ever been telling and showing on Kansat are no doubt good and quality journalism but who are your target viewers ?
Thanks to the government for the progress in resolving the Kansat crisis. We wish the rest of the issues would be solved amicably. We hope the concerned parties have learnt that there is no alternative to amicable solution.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Like religious hardliners, we have hardcore political leaders in the mainstream of politics. It is necessary to keep them away while dealing with politics and the people. We have observed that the process of peaceful solution to political problems is downplayed by primitive and harmful comments on the issue.
We are also observing emergence of a third force under the banner of intellectuals. I hope that their agenda will be clear and transparent to the people so that they can play a meaningful and non-partisan role in the matter.
A reader On-e-mail
The police brutalities like we have been witnessing in recent times in Bangladesh are outrageous and out of proportion.
These have to come to an end immediately if we are to prove ourselves to be civilised. The people from all walks of life must demonstrate and protest against the barbaric actions of the police and the ruling party cadres. We simply cannot go back to stone ages.
I wonder if there is any system in Bangladesh to safeguard its citizens. Is the famous phrase "Government is for the people....." wrong for Bangladesh?
If the government cares about people's welfare or its mandate, then it must stop the brutalities right away.
People need to bring the inefficiencies of the government and the local administration to rule of court. It is a shame that people of an independent country are facing such criminalities of their own government.
Mamun Ahmed Las Vegas, NV, USA
The recent atrocities committed by the police in Chapainawabganj are horrifying. Opening fire on a crowd of demonstrators is not only brutal and inhumane but also a blatant disregard of the democratic rights of the people. The involved police officers and magistrates should be held accountable for their actions. No one is above the law - not even the law enforcement agencies should get away with violating the law. People responsible for the barbaric acts in Chapainawabganj must be prosecuted.
Newspapers and other media should not be afraid of condemning such brutalities in a strong language. Your commentary on April 14, 2005 is a good beginning in this regard. However, the tone of the commentary was pessimistic.
Over the last four months, I did not notice any strong condemnation either from the media or the political parties. Even the left parties have largely ignored the issue.
It seems that beyond Kansat, life is going on as usual. Of course, the ruling party would want to downplay the significance of the events in Kansat. But, how come there is no public outcry about the issue? How come there are no mass rallies all over the county condemning the brutalities?
How come the massacre of our citizens is such a non-issue?
I am particularly distressed by the fact that there is a certain degree of tolerance of police brutality by the public. We have come to accept murders committed by Rab to be very normal.
Abuse of power is a dangerous thing. The abusers will love to move on to the bigger and more horrific crimes, if they are not challenged. We have to protect our democratic rights to speak out against the things that bother us. We have to protect our rights to be safe from the violence on the part of the state.
We cannot afford to sit quiet and mind our own business.
Humayun Kabir On e-mail