Terrorists rule the State by proxy

By Romeo Ahmed, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
22 January 2004, 18:00 PM
The government is very vocal about the freedom of local newspapers in the country. But the people behind the newspapers who work day and night in the quest for the truth ...to deliver the facts, at our door everyday are now in the line of fire. Manik Saha, a veteran freedom fighter of Khulna is the latest victim to the fallen journalists' list. His death is not an isolated brutality rather a well-planned conspiracy to extinguish the sincere people working as a mirror of the nation. In Barisal, Jhalokathi and Patuakhali, journalists are constantly being targeted, they are fleeing for their lives.

The information minister has declared that no short cut will be accepted in the investigation of the murder of Manik Saha, his killers will be brought to justice and the attack on the professionals will not be tolerated. With all due respect I would like to ask the minister -- what was the outcome of the previous murders? What has he done about the bomb blasts at Ramna botomul, Udichi programme, in the triple blasts of Mymensingh cinema halls? What did the government do all this time? What has the home minister done so far, why is he being paid his salary, allowances, house rent, telephone bills and so many other amenities from the poor people's pockets?

The Prime Minister in her first address after the election acknowledged the consent of the people as a silent revolution. We the poor people always struggling to survive, dreamt for a better tomorrow. That dream has apparently turned into a nightmare. Life has become the cheapest commodity in this land of anarchy, the state sponsored terrorists rule the state by proxy. Does this statement offend our lawmakers? I think they have crossed that level of conscience, nothing can offend them. I really wonder how long the general people can afford to bear it. Some day their patience is bound to break down. Do our lawmakers foresee it?