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Whom shall we trust ?

17 February 2005, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Hafeejul Alam On e-mail
17 February 2005, 18:00 PM
. PHOTO: AFP
Whom shall we trust ? the government version of the political and religious situation in Bangladesh or the one given by the local as well as the world media? We were told by the government high-ups in the foreign office and elsewhere that Eliza Grisworld's article in the New York Time Magazine of January 23,2005 ( The Next Islamist Revolution? ) is "one sided, baseless and politically motivated". Is it so? Do the people at the helm of affairs take it for granted that the whole world would just shut their eyes over Bangladesh even after a series of political killings over the past few years ? It is very sad that even less than 1% religious bigots are now dictating terms over 99% progressive people of Bangladesh and that we have an establishment presiding over all these. I don't know if Bangladesh will ever get a talented diplomat and politician of international stature like the late SAMS Kibria; but what I know is that pithy remarks of well-dressed government functionaries can hardly contribute to boosting our national image.
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The whole nation got dumbfounded at the blood-curdling news that another grenade attack had claimed the most invaluable life of a wise man, dedicated and devoted to the welfare of the country, SAMS Kibria, along with four other citizens.

The foreign diplomats including the members of the European Ambassadors' Union have severely condemned the heinous attack on the leaders of the main opposition Awami League. They reinforced the fact that the attack is similar to the one that took place on August 21on as attempt to kill Sheikh Hasina, and the government's inability to dig out the TRUTH and punish the criminals has enhanced the same deadly assault on the political leaders belonging to the AL.

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The country has witnessed the cruel murders of quite a few great political personalities in just a few months, the point raises the sensible question in the sensible minds: how much blood do we need? At this ominous juncture, we urge the government not to remain indifferent to such unheard of incidents in our country and strongly demand a very fast and just in-depth probe to bring out the criminals to public focus. No crossfire solution would suffice, rather it would push the whole issue into the quagmire of doubts. Taking a close look at history, we can assess the bare fact that evil, whatever its size or strength is, does succumb to its ultimate failure.

In addition, we strongly believe that we don't need any Interpol or foreign investigating team to do the needful, our police and other law enforcement agencies are good enough to solve the issue.

Rafiqul Islam Rime Agrabad, Chittagong

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"First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me. --- Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945" Mr. Kibria's death is not a partisan issue. Political killings of this sort have to be stopped in the bud if we don't want to fall further into the dark abyss we seem to be slipping into.

The government has to make an independent investigation into the matter and bring the parties responsible to justice.

K Siddique Uttara, Dhaka