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Why this fear?

15 July 2004, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By A worried citizen, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
15 July 2004, 18:00 PM
Recently prominent personalities, journalists and teachers have received death threats from Islamic zealots. Why is this happening? We have a visionless education system in our country-- Bengali, English, Semi-English, Fazil, Kamil, Kaumi and what not. On one side, students are westernised, viewing Islam as a package programme of five things; and, on the other, some illiterate mullahs are produced knowing nothing about modernity and little about actual Islam. Therefore a cold war is going on between modernists, who don't mix with mullahs thinking that they are backdated, and mullahs, who think none will go to heaven except them. So our motley education system is the first reason why we are facing a crisis.

The second reason is the insensible freedom "Freedom of speech". The US speaks of it highly but it doesn't practise it. In the US, there are laws of defamation and you can't speak against democracy. By this they mean freedom to speak against Islam which doesn't hamper their interest. Bangladesh is no different. The government is allowing some people to speak against religion freely and also the fanatics to issue death threats. It's only natural for uneducated mullahs to get excited. So "Freedom of speech" should be specified by DOs and DON'Ts .

Finally, I don't understand why some people are trying to relate Hizb-ut-Tahrir with Islamic zealots. The members of HT are well educated students and professionals. Also they use modern technology effectively. They conduct all their programmes openly. The old habit of "doubting everybody for one" seems to reign supreme.

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