SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 100
Join us
Bank Recruitment
Exam Boost
The Daily Star
Editorial
English to Bangla
Translation
File create by : JM Abdullah (Admin), Bank Recruitment Exam Boost(Group)
March 02, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
**************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
=================
ā§§āĨ¤ Negligence of authorities­āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ
āĻĒ āĻ° āĻ…āĻŦ āĻšāĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§¨āĨ¤ ruining­ āĻ‚āĻ¸ āĻš Íž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ A recent report published by this daily revealed that­āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻĄāĻ‡āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ•āĻžā§Ÿ/āĻāĻ‡
āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ•āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻļāĻ¤ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻ āĻ¨ āĻœāĻžāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ the main way­ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻĨ/āĻ°āĻž āĻžÍž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ a dilapidated state­ āĻŽāĻ°āĻžāĻŽāĻ¤āĻšā§€āĻ¨/ āĻ‚āĻ¸ āĻž āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžÍž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ the concerned authorities­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻŋ āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ
āĻĒ Íž
ā§­āĨ¤ have paid no attention (to)­āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻĻā§ŸāĻŋāĻ¨Íž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ the dire condition­āĻ­ā§ŸāĻžāĻŦāĻš/āĻ­ā§€āĻˇāĻŖ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžÍž
ā§¯āĨ¤ hundreds of vehicles­āĻļāĻ¤āĻļāĻ¤ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻ¨Íž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ commuter­āĻ¯āĻž ā§€Íž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ capacity­āĻ¸ āĻŽāĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ the absence of a footpath­āĻĢ
ā§
āĻŸāĻĒ āĻĨāĻ° āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻĒāĻŋ āĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ thousands of pedestrians­āĻšāĻžāĻœāĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻœāĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻĨāĻšāĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ thoroughfare­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻ¨āĻŦ āĻ˛ āĻ°āĻž āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ chaos­ āĻ¨āĻ°āĻžāĻœ Íž āĻŋāĻŦāĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ the asphalt on the road­āĻ¸ā§œ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ“āĻĒāĻ° āĻŋāĻĒāĻš āĻĸāĻžāĻ˛āĻžāĻ‡Íž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ erode­āĻ§ā§€ āĻ° āĻ§ā§€ āĻ° ā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ cluttered bricks and stones­āĻ āĻ˛āĻž āĻŽ āĻ˛āĻž/āĻŋāĻŦāĻļā§ƒāĻ˛ āĻ‡āĻŸ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻĒāĻžāĻĨāĻ°Íž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ a myriad of potholes­āĻ…āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻ—āĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ full of mud­āĻ•āĻžāĻĻāĻžā§Ÿ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻĒā§‚
āĻŖÍž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ during monsoon­āĻŦāĻˇāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻ˛Íž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ dust­āĻ§ā§‚
āĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ occurrences of multiple minor accidents­ āĻ›āĻžāĻŸāĻ–āĻž āĻŸāĻž āĻ…āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻĻā§
āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ˜āĻŸāĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ indifference ­āĻ”āĻĻāĻžāĻ¸ā§€āĻ¨ / āĻ…āĻ¯ Íž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ excuse for­āĻ…āĻœā§
āĻšāĻžāĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ lack of maintenance work of a road­āĻ¸ā§œ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ•āĻž āĻœāĻ° āĻ° āĻŖāĻž āĻŦ āĻŖāĻ° āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦÍž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ exert pressure (on)­āĻšāĻžāĻĒ ā§ŸāĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ prioritise­āĻ… āĻžāĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻĻā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ crucial ­āĻ…āĻ¤ āĻĒā§‚
āĻŖÍž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ a matter of concern ­āĻ‰ āĻ—āĻ° āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻ°/āĻŋāĻŦāĻˇā§ŸÍž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ all over the country­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻĻ āĻļ/ āĻĻāĻļāĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€Íž
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ in a bad condition­āĻ–āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻĒ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ the road crashes­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĻā§
āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ precious lives­āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻŦāĻžāĻ¨ āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨'Íž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ Clearly­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ° āĻžāĻ°āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž āĻ¸ā§ āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ well aware of­āĻ­āĻž āĻ˛āĻžāĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ…āĻŦāĻŋāĻšāĻ¤Íž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ repair­ āĻŽāĻ°āĻžāĻŽāĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
*****āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ******
Negligence of authorities ruining Sonadanga Bypass Road
************************
A recent report published by this daily revealed that Sonadanga Bypass Road, the
main way leading in and out of Khulna, is in a dilapidated state because the
concerned authorities have paid no attention to the dire condition it faces. With
hundreds of vehicles plying the road on a daily basis, the bypass must bear the
onslaught of cars, buses and commuters, the combination of which far exceeds its
capacity. And in the absence of a footpath, thousands of pedestrians risk their lives
trying to make their way along the thoroughfare, contributing to the chaos.
Since its completion in 2013, no repair work has been done at all. Even the asphalt
on the road has eroded overtime. To make matters worse, cluttered bricks and
stones along with a myriad of potholes—full of mud during monsoon or dust
otherwise—are now a trademark of Sonadanga Bypass Road, with occurrences of
multiple minor accidents on a regular basis. Why then this indifference from the
concerned authorities?
There is really no excuse for this total lack of maintenance work of a road that is so
vital for safe, efficient movement of vehicles and people. The government should
exert pressure on the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) to prioritise the
maintenance of a road as crucial as the one in question. It is a matter of concern that
there are many roads and bridges all over the country that are also in a bad
condition, adding to the road crashes that are taking precious lives every day.
Around 25 percent of the country's roads under the Road and Highways Department
are in "poor, bad or very bad" shape, according to an RHD survey conducted on
17,452 km of roads last March. Clearly, the RHD is well aware of the situation and
should repair these roads on an urgent basis.
March 03, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
**************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
=================
ā§§āĨ¤ A losing war­āĻŦ āĻĨ āĻ¯ā§
Íž
ā§¨āĨ¤ on drugs­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻŋāĻŦāĻˇ ā§ŸÍž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ The authorities­āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ
āĻĒ Íž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ acknowledge­ ā§€āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻŽ āĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ tactics ­ āĻ•ā§—āĻļāĻ˛Íž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ have failed­āĻŦ āĻĨ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž āĻ…āĻ¸āĻĢāĻ˛ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž
ā§­āĨ¤ drug lord­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŸÍž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ reportedly­āĻŋāĻŦāĻŦāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž
ā§¯āĨ¤ at the highest level­āĻ¸ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§ŸÍž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ a hiatus of around two years­ āĻžā§Ÿ āĻĻā§
āĻ‡ āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°āĻ° āĻŋāĻŦ āĻĻ/āĻŋāĻŦāĻ°āĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ the anti­narcotics crackdown­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ began in 2018­ā§¨ā§Ļā§§ā§Ž āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛ āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ reclaim­āĻ‰ āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ throne­āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ
Íž āĻ­ Íž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ infested areas­āĻ‰āĻĒ āĻ¤ āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ According to­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž āĻ­āĻžāĻˇ āĻŽ āĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ over 90,000 pills­ā§¯ā§Ļ āĻšāĻžāĻœāĻž āĻ°āĻ°āĻ“ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļ āĻŦā§œÍžāĻŋ◌
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ are sold daily­ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋ āĻšā§ŸÍž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ are filed with Mohammadpur Police Station­ āĻŽāĻžāĻšāĻž āĻĻāĻĒā§
āĻ° āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨āĻžā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻž ā§ŸāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻšā§ŸÍž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ per month­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŽāĻž āĻ¸Íž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ narcotics cases­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻŽāĻžāĻŽāĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ related to­āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ•āĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ Therefore­āĻ¸ā§
āĻ¤āĻ°āĻžāĻ‚Íž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ gang­āĻĻāĻ˛Íž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ rebuild­āĻĒā§
āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ some of his associates­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻš āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—ā§€Íž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ were arrested­ āĻĢāĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ the beginning of the anti­narcotics drive­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻž āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ .The main reason­ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖÍž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ empire­āĻ¸āĻž āĻžāĻœ Íž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ corrupt law enforcers­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻž āĻ° āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻĻā§
āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒāĻ°āĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ payroll­āĻŽāĻžāĻ‡ āĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ a top underworld criminal­āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§āĻœāĻ— āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ‰ āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§ŸāĻ° āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€Íž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ a life term­āĻ¯āĻžāĻŦ ā§€āĻŦāĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ some officers at Mohammadpur Police Station­ āĻŽāĻžāĻšāĻž āĻĻāĻĒā§
āĻ° āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ every night­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ°āĻž āĻ¤Íž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ detectives­ āĻ—āĻž ā§Ÿ āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ to run his business­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻŦ āĻŦāĻ¸āĻž āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ without hindrance­āĻŦāĻžāĻ§āĻž āĻ›āĻžā§œāĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ return to the country­ āĻĻ āĻļ āĻŋāĻĢ āĻ° āĻ†āĻ¸āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ the massive wealth­āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻ•/āĻŋāĻŦāĻĒā§
āĻ˛/ āĻšāĻ° āĻ¸ āĻĻÍž
ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ amass­āĻĒā§
āĻŋ āĻ­āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ¸ ā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ the Anti­Corruption Commission­āĻĻā§
āĻ¨ ā§€āĻ¤ āĻĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻļāĻ¨Íž
ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ However­āĻ¤ āĻŦÍž
ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ the question remains­ āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž āĻ† āĻ›Íž
ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ become so powerful­āĻ–ā§
āĻŦāĻ‡ āĻ­āĻžāĻŦāĻļāĻžāĻ˛ā§€ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ powerful individuals­ āĻ­āĻžāĻŦāĻļāĻžāĻ˛ā§€ āĻŦ āĻŋ Íž
ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ unscrupulous law enforcers­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻž āĻ° āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻ… āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž
ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ reality­āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ we cannot help but ask ­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻœ āĻžāĻ¸āĻž āĻ¨āĻž āĻ• āĻ° āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ the anti­narcotics drive has achieved­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž
ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ lives­āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨Íž
ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ suspicious­āĻ¸ āĻšāĻœāĻ¨āĻ•Íž
ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ "gunfights" ­āĻŦ ā§
āĻ•āĻ¯ā§
Íž
ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ the supply of drugs­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ°āĻŦāĻ°āĻžāĻšÍž
ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ in any shape or form­ āĻ¯ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ•āĻž āĻ° āĻŦāĻž āĻŋāĻ¨ā§Ÿ āĻŽÍž
ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ the drug menace­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻ āĻ•āĻ° āĻŽāĻŋāĻ•Íž
ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ prosecution­āĻŽāĻžāĻŽāĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ masterminds­āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻšāĻžāĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ such as­ āĻ¯āĻŽāĻ¨Íž
ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ crooked law enforcers­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ ā§ŸāĻžāĻ—āĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ…āĻ¸ā§Ž āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž
ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ bring to book­āĻļāĻžāĻŋ āĻ° āĻ†āĻ“āĻ¤āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ†āĻ¸āĻž
*****āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ*********
A losing war on drugs
The authorities should acknowledge their tactics have failed
*************************
Mohammadpur Geneva Camp's drug lord Ishtiaq Ahmed is reportedly back in the
drug game at the highest level. After a hiatus of around two years—after the anti­
narcotics crackdown began in 2018—the big­time narcotics dealer has reclaimed his
throne in one of the worst drug infested areas of Dhaka city.According to police
intelligence, over 90,000 pills are sold daily in the Mohammadpur area. And out of
the 150 cases that are filed with Mohammadpur Police Station per month, around 75
are narcotics cases related to the Geneva Camp area. Therefore, Ahmed's gang,
which he managed to rebuild since some of his associates were arrested following
the beginning of the anti­narcotics drive, continues to have a big influence on the
city's drug scene.The main reason for his success in rebuilding his empire has been
the backing he receives from corrupt law enforcers—who are on his payroll—and a
top underworld criminal who had got a life term but came out of jail recently,
according to intelligence and camp sources. Reportedly, Ishtiaq's men give Tk 8­10
thousand to some officers at Mohammadpur Police Station every night and Tk 75
thousand to detectives every week to run his business without hindrance. Last
month, Ahmed even felt safe enough to return to the country and is now running his
business from India, having reorganised his gang.With the massive wealth he
amassed, Ishtiaq has over 100 bighas of land in Savar and Ashulia, and cases
against him are pending with the Anti­Corruption Commission. However, the
question remains on how Ishtiaq managed to become so powerful in the first place.
It is clear, given his background as a ragpicker, that Ishtiaq had to have the backing
of powerful individuals in his bid to become a big­time drug dealer. And it is similar
backing from unscrupulous law enforcers and others that has allowed him to return
to the top of the drug running industry.Given this reality, we cannot help but ask what
the anti­narcotics drive has achieved. Except for claiming over 400 lives, has it really
achieved anything?The fact remains that killing small time yaba carriers in suspicious
"gunfights" will not slow down the supply of drugs in any shape or form. The only
way the drug menace can be overcome—from the supply side of it—is through the
arrest and prosecution of big­time drug dealers and masterminds, such as Ishtiaq
Ahmed. At the same time, crooked law enforcers and politicians such as the ones
shielding him must also be brought to book.
March 04, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
**************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
==================
ā§§āĨ¤ crossfires­ āĻ¸āĻĢāĻžā§ŸāĻžāĻ°Íž āĻ—āĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻŋāĻ˛āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽā§ŸÍž
ā§¨āĨ¤ the new normal (Phrase)­āĻĒā§‚
āĻŦ āĻ…āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻž āĻ… āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻŋāĻŦāĻ• āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¤ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋ āĻ• āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžā§Ÿ
āĻĒ āĻ¨āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ Our law enforcement ­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻž āĻ° āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¨ā§€Íž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ seem­ āĻ¤ā§€ā§ŸāĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖāĻž āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ lack faith­āĻ† āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ/āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ in the judicial process­āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ° āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§­āĨ¤ trouble­āĻ‰āĻŋ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž āĻ… āĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻĢāĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ deeply troubled­āĻ—āĻ­ā§€āĻ°āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ‰āĻŋ Íž
ā§¯āĨ¤ suspected Rohingya robbers­āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ­āĻžāĻœāĻ¨ āĻ°āĻžāĻŋāĻš āĻž āĻĄāĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ¤/āĻĻāĻ¸ā§
Íž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ were killed­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ in an alleged gunfight­āĻ•āĻŋāĻĨāĻ¤ āĻŦ ā§
āĻ• āĻ¯ā§Íž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ the highest number of casualties­āĻšāĻ¤āĻžāĻš āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ¸ āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ justification ­āĻŦ āĻžāĻ– āĻžÍž āĻ† āĻĒ ­āĻ¸āĻŽāĻĨāĻ¨Íž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ follow­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¸āĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ the same narrative ­āĻāĻ•āĻ‡ āĻŋāĻŦāĻŦāĻ°āĻŖ/āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¨ā§€Íž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ other cases of "gun fights"­āĻŦ ā§
āĻ• āĻ¯ā§āĻ° āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ the criminals­āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ opened fire on them­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ‰āĻĒāĻ° āĻŋāĻ˛āĻŦāĻˇāĻŖ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ they were "forced" to fire shots­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ˛
āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ in retaliation­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻļāĻž āĻ§Íž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ retaliate­āĻĻā§
āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻœāĻŦāĻžāĻŦ āĻĻā§
āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻŽāĻžāĻ§ āĻŽ āĻĻāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ Rab also claimed­āĻ°Â 
◌ āĻžāĻŦ āĻ† āĻ°āĻž āĻĻāĻžāĻŋāĻŦ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ recover­āĻ‰ āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ abandoned bullet shells­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ¤ āĻŦā§
āĻ˛ āĻŸāĻ° āĻ–āĻžāĻ˛āĻ¸Íž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ from the spot­āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ˛ āĻĨ āĻ•Íž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ the right to use­āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ their weapons ­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ… Íž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ in self­defence­āĻ† āĻ° āĻž āĻĨÍž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ remind them ­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻŽ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻŋāĻ° ā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ under the most extreme cases­āĻ…āĻ¤ āĻšāĻ°āĻŽ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻ§ā§€āĻ¨/āĻŽā§
āĻ–āĻžāĻŽā§
āĻŋāĻ– āĻš āĻ˛Íž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ run out of all possible options­āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŦ āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻ‰āĻĒāĻžā§Ÿ āĻ…āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ However­āĻŋāĻ• Íž āĻ¤ āĻŦÍž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ‡ āĻšāĻžāĻ•Íž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ deaths from "gun fights"­āĻŦ ā§
āĻ•āĻ¯ā§ āĻšāĻ¤ āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ At least­āĻ•āĻŽāĻĒ Íž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ the government launched­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻ˛ā§
āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›/ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ anti­narcotics drive­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ In many cases­āĻ… āĻ¨āĻ• Íž
ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ the victims were allegedly picked up­āĻ­ āĻ­āĻžāĻ—ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻ¤ āĻ˛ āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—
āĻ‰āĻ  āĻ›/āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻ† āĻ›Íž
ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ from their own homes­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨āĻœ āĻ—ā§ƒ
āĻš āĻĨ āĻ•Íž
ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ but were later found shot­āĻŋāĻ• āĻĒ āĻ° āĻŋāĻ˛āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžā§Ÿ āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻž āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ provide credible evidence­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻĻāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ the alleged criminals ­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯ā§ āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€:
ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ armed­āĻ¸āĻļ Íž
ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ The sheer volume of deaths from encounters­āĻ† āĻ° āĻž āĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽ ā§ŸāĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžā§Ÿ
āĻšāĻ¤ āĻžāĻ°
āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ›āĻ•/āĻ¸ ā§‚
āĻŖ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ the impunity with­āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°āĻšā§€āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžÍž āĻĻ āĻŽā§āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ get away with­āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ• āĻ°āĻ“ āĻĒāĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ give us pause for reflection­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻš āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ believe­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻŽ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ an acceptable alternative to the judicial process­āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ° āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻŖ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻŋāĻŦāĻ• Íž
ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ surprise­āĻ† āĻ¯Íž āĻŋāĻŦ ā§ŸÍž
ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ members of the parliament ­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž
ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ earlier this year­āĻāĻ‡ āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°āĻ° āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤endorsed ­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž āĻĻāĻžāĻŋāĻŦ āĻ¸āĻŽāĻĨāĻ¨ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ extrajudicial killings­āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°āĻŦāĻŋāĻ­āĻ¤ āĻšāĻ¤ āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻŖāĨ¤āĻĄÍž
ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ a preferred means ­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻ¤āĻ° āĻĒāĻ› āĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ/ ā§Ÿ āĻ‰āĻĒāĻžā§Ÿ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒ āĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ of addressing criminal offences­ āĻĢā§—āĻœāĻĻāĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ āĻĻāĻŽ āĻ¨āĻ°Íž
ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ frank admission ­āĻ…āĻ•āĻĒāĻŸ ā§€āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ the deliberate use of "crossfire"­ āĻ¸āĻĢāĻžā§ŸāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻ‡ āĻžāĻ•
ā§ƒ
āĻ¤/āĻ¸ā§
āĻŋāĻšāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ to punish so­called criminals ­āĻ¤āĻĨāĻžāĻ•āĻŋāĻĨāĻ¤ āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻļāĻžāĻŋ āĻĻā§ŸāĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ alongside­āĻĒāĻžāĻļāĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻļÍž
ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ on a dangerous path­āĻŋāĻŦāĻĒ āĻ¨āĻ• āĻĒ āĻĨÍž
ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ no point of return­āĻ† āĻ˛āĻžāĻšāĻ¨āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ… āĻ—āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŦāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¨āĻ‡ āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§Ÿ āĻĒā§—āĻ›āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ in due process­āĻ¸āĻŋāĻ āĻ• āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ citizens of the country­ āĻĻ āĻļāĻ° āĻ¨āĻžāĻ—āĻŋāĻ°āĻ•Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ afford­ āĻĻā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ complacent­āĻ† āĻ¤āĻŋ Íž
ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ lawmakers­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻŖāĻ¤āĻžÍž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ answer for­āĻĻāĻžā§Ÿā§€ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ extrajudicial measures­āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°āĻŦāĻŋāĻšāĻ­āĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž
******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ*****
Are “crossfires” the new normal?
Our law enforcement seems to lack faith in the judicial process
****************************
We are deeply troubled by the news that seven suspected Rohingya robbers were
killed in an alleged gunfight with Rab in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf on March 2, in what
was the highest number of casualties in an encounter in the country in recent times.
The justification offered by the law enforcement agencies follows the same narrative
as that of other cases of "gun fights"—that the criminals opened fire on them and
that they were "forced" to fire shots in retaliation. Rab also claimed to have
recovered three pistols, seven one­shot guns,12 bullets and 13 abandoned bullet
shells from the spot.
While law enforcement has the right to use their weapons in self­defence, we should
not have to remind them that they must do so only under the most extreme cases
and when they have run out of all possible options. However, deaths from "gun
fights" seem to have become the new normal, with a total of 15 Rohingyas killed by
law enforcers in similar encounters since February alone. At least 786 people have
been killed in encounters since the government launched its anti­narcotics drive in
May 2018. In many cases, the victims were allegedly picked up from their own
homes but were later found shot. In other cases, the police could not provide
credible evidence that the alleged criminals were armed.
The sheer volume of deaths from encounters—and the impunity with which law
enforcers are allowed to get away with these deaths—should give us pause for
reflection. Do our law enforcers now believe that "crossfire" is an acceptable
alternative to the judicial process? It would hardly be a surprise if they did, given that
members of the parliament earlier this year endorsed extrajudicial killings as a
preferred means of addressing criminal offences. Their frank admission about the
deliberate use of "crossfire" to punish so­called criminals should be read alongside
these seven deaths.
We are now on a dangerous path from which there appears to be no point of return.
If law enforcers themselves no longer believe in due process, why should citizens of
the country have faith in it? We cannot afford to be complacent, and our lawmakers,
and law enforcers, must both answer for the impunity enjoyed by law enforcing
agencies in meting out extrajudicial
March 05, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
**************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
==================
ā§§āĨ¤ Air pollution­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§
āĻĻā§‚
āĻˇāĻŖÍž
ā§¨āĨ¤ shorten­āĻ•āĻŽāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ•
ā§
āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻŋ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ life expectancy­āĻ†ā§Ÿā§
Íž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ Air pollution shortening life expectancy­āĻ†ā§Ÿā§
āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽ ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻĻ āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§
āĻĻā§‚
āĻˇāĻŖÍž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ the government­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ any concrete plan­āĻŦāĻž āĻŦ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§­āĨ¤ to address this­āĻāĻŸāĻž āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ°/ āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ shocking­āĻŽāĻŽāĻ˜āĻžāĻ¤ā§€Íž āĻŽāĻŽāĻžāĻŋ āĻ•Íž
ā§¯āĨ¤ to note­āĻ˛ āĻ• āĻ°Íž āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻŋāĻĻ ā§ŸÍž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ the apathy of our policymakers­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻŖāĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ°/āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ āĻĻāĻ°
āĻ…āĻ¨ā§€āĻšāĻž/āĻ‰āĻĻāĻžāĻ¸ā§€āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ in addressing the issue of air pollution­āĻ†ā§Ÿā§
āĻĻā§‚
āĻˇ āĻŖāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦāĻˇā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻ§āĻž āĻ¨Íž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ take its toll=āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ•āĻž āĻ°āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ•āĻ›āĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž (āĻāĻ‡ Phrase āĻŋāĻŸ
āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻāĻ•āĻž āĻĄāĻŋāĻŽ āĻŋāĻĄāĻ•āĻļāĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ¤ āĻ¨āĻ‡)Íž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ on public health for long­āĻĻā§€āĻ˜ āĻ¸āĻŽā§Ÿ āĻ§ āĻ°/āĻĻā§€āĻ˜ āĻŽā§ŸāĻžāĻĻā§€ āĻœāĻ¨ āĻž āĻ°Íž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ A recent international research found that­āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ† āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ— āĻŦāĻˇāĻŖāĻžā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻ–āĻž
āĻ— āĻ› āĻ¯Íž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ air pollution shortens lives­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§
āĻĻā§‚
āĻˇāĻŖ āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨ āĻ• āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽ ā§Ÿ/ āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ• āĻ° āĻŋāĻĻ ( āĻĻā§Ÿ)Íž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ nearly three years­ āĻžā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻŦāĻ›āĻ°Íž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ on average­āĻ— ā§œÍž āĻ—ā§œāĻĒā§œāĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ premature deaths­āĻ…āĻ•āĻžāĻ˛āĻŽā§ƒ
āĻ¤ Íž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ annually­āĻŦāĻžā§ŽāĻ¸āĻŋāĻ°āĻ•Íž āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°Íž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ mainly­ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨āĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ increased mortality­āĻŦāĻŋāĻ§āĻ¤/āĻŦā§ƒ
āĻŋ āĻž āĻŽā§ƒ
āĻ¤ āĻšāĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ cardiovascular diseases­ āĻĻ āĻ°āĻžāĻ—Íž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ respiratory infections­ āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ• Íž āĻžāĻ¸āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻž āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻŽāĻŖÍž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ The study mentioned that­āĻ— āĻŦāĻˇāĻŖāĻžāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ‰ āĻ– āĻ• āĻ° āĻ› āĻ¯Íž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ compare to­āĻĒāĻ° āĻ°āĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ āĻŋāĻŽāĻ˛/āĻ¸ āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ causes of premature death­āĻ…āĻ•āĻžāĻ˛ āĻŽā§ƒ
āĻ¤ āĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ/ āĻšāĻ¤ āĻ¸āĻŽā§‚
āĻšÍž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ air pollution kills 19 times more people­ā§§ā§¯ āĻŖ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļ āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§
āĻˇ āĻ• āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§
āĻĻā§‚
āĻˇāĻŖ āĻšāĻ¤ āĻž
āĻ•āĻ° āĻ›/ āĻ‚āĻ¸ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ›Íž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ each year­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ›āĻ°Íž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ than malaria­āĻŽ āĻž āĻ˛āĻŋāĻ°ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻš ā§ŸÍž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ nine times more than HIV/AIDS­āĻāĻ‡āĻšāĻ†āĻ‡āĻŋāĻ­/āĻāĻ‡āĻĄāĻ¸ āĻāĻ° āĻš ā§Ÿ ā§¯ āĻŖ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļÍž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ three times more than alcohol ­āĻāĻ˛ āĻ•āĻžāĻšāĻ˛ āĻāĻ° āĻš ā§Ÿ ā§Š āĻŖ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļÍž
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ poses a larger public health risk­āĻœāĻ¨ āĻž āĻ° āĻŦā§ƒ
āĻšā§Ž āĻ
ā§
āĻŋāĻ• āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻ° āĻ›Íž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ tobacco smoking­āĻ¤āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻ• āĻ¸āĻŦāĻ¨Íž āĻ§ā§‚
āĻŽāĻĒāĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ According to the 2019 World Air Quality Report­ā§¨ā§Ļā§§ā§¯ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛āĻ° āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§
āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨
āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ air quality in Bangladesh­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻ āĻļ āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§
āĻ° āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ the worst in the world­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ° āĻ¸āĻŦ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ–āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻĒÍž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ among the capital cities­āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ā§€ āĻļāĻšāĻ° āĻ˛āĻžāĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ Íž
ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ Moreover­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ›āĻžā§œāĻžÍž āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ• Íž
ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ the highest number of deaths­āĻŽā§ƒ
āĻ¤ āĻ° āĻ¸ āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžÍž āĻ¸ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽā§ƒ
āĻ¤ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ associated with air pollution­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§
āĻĻā§‚
āĻˇ āĻŖāĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨ āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ•āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ took place­āĻ˜ āĻŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛/āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ˜āĻŋāĻŸāĻ¤ āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ Reportedly­āĻŋāĻŦāĻŦāĻ°āĻŖ/ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž
ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ the main sources of air pollution­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§
āĻĻā§‚
āĻˇ āĻŖāĻ° āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ‰ā§ŽāĻ¸Íž
ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ the smog­ āĻ§āĻžā§ŸāĻžāĻļāĻžÍž āĻ•
ā§
ā§ŸāĻžāĻļāĻž āĻ“ āĻ§āĻžā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻŋāĻŽ āĻŖÍž
ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ generate­āĻ‰ā§ŽāĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ brick kilns­āĻ‡āĻŸāĻ­āĻžāĻŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ black smoke from unfit vehicles­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻĒāĻ¯ā§ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻ¨ āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ•āĻž āĻ˛āĻž āĻ§āĻžā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ dust­āĻ§ā§
āĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ from constructions sites­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻĨ āĻ•Íž
ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ including the mega projects­ āĻŽāĻ—āĻž āĻ• āĻ¸āĻšÍž
ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ Worldwide­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€Íž
ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ a major source of air pollution­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§
āĻĻā§‚
āĻˇ āĻŖāĻ° āĻŦā§ƒ
āĻšā§Ž āĻ‰ā§ŽāĻ¸Íž
ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ coal­fired power plants­āĻ•ā§ŸāĻ˛āĻž āĻŋāĻŦāĻĻā§
ā§Ž āĻ• Íž
ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ emit ­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ—āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ dangerous levels­āĻŽāĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ• āĻĒāĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ particulate matter ­āĻŦ āĻ•āĻŖāĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ long exposure­āĻĻā§€āĻ˜ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨/ āĻ•āĻžāĻļÍž
ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ a huge threat to human health­āĻœāĻ¨ āĻž /āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻŦ āĻž āĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŽāĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ• āĻŽāĻŋāĻ•Íž
ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ under construction­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽāĻžāĻŖāĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ the government has planned to build­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻ¨āĻž āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ by 2031­ā§¨ā§Ļā§Šā§§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛āĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ Íž
ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ released a report­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻļ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ in November last year­āĻ—āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°āĻ° āĻ¨ āĻ­ āĻ°Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ according to­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ the most polluted places­āĻ¸āĻŦ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻĻā§‚
āĻŋāĻˇāĻ¤ āĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ power plants­āĻŋāĻŦāĻĻā§
ā§Ž āĻ•āĻ¨ Íž
ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ more and more­āĻ‰ āĻ°āĻž āĻ°Íž āĻŽāĻžāĻ—āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ national and international research organisations ­āĻœāĻžāĻ¤ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ“ āĻ† āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ on the quality of air­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§
āĻ° āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦāĻˇ ā§ŸÍž
ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ breath­ āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¨āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ abandon­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ¤ āĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ coal­powered projects­āĻ•ā§ŸāĻ˛āĻž āĻŋāĻŦāĻĻā§
ā§Ž āĻ• Íž
ā§­ā§ŠāĨ¤ look for­āĻ… āĻˇāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ–āĻžāĻœāĻžÍž
ā§­ā§ĒāĨ¤ renewable sources of energy.­āĻ¨āĻŦāĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻļāĻŋ āĻ° āĻ‰ā§ŽāĻ¸Íž
ā§­ā§ĢāĨ¤ At the same time­āĻāĻ•āĻ‡āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž
ā§­ā§ŦāĨ¤ take some basic policy decisions­āĻŋāĻ•āĻ› āĻŽā§—āĻŋāĻ˛āĻ• āĻ¨ā§€āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŋāĻ¸ āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§­ā§­āĨ¤ illegal brick kilns­āĻ… āĻŦāĻ§ āĻ‡āĻŸāĻ­āĻžāĻŸāĻžÍž
ā§­ā§ŽāĨ¤ eco­friendly bricks­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ° āĻŦāĻļāĻŦāĻž āĻŦ āĻ‡āĻŸāĻ­āĻžāĻŸāĻžÍž
ā§­ā§ŽāĨ¤ using standard methods­āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻ¸ āĻ¤ āĻĒ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°Íž
***********āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ*******
Air pollution shortening life expectancy
Does the government have any concrete plan to address this?
*********************
it is shocking to note the apathy of our policymakers in addressing the issue of air
pollution which has been taking its toll on public health for long. A recent
international research found that air pollution shortens lives by nearly three years on
average and also causes 8.8 million premature deaths annually, mainly as a result of
increased mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and respiratory infections.
The study mentioned that compared to other causes of premature death, air
pollution kills 19 times more people each year than malaria, nine times more than
HIV/AIDS, and three times more than alcohol and also poses a larger public health
risk than tobacco smoking.
According to the 2019 World Air Quality Report, air quality in Bangladesh is the
worst in the world with Dhaka's air being the second worst among the capital cities.
Moreover, a 2017 Lancet report said that the highest number of deaths associated
with air pollution took place in Dhaka. Reportedly, the main sources of air pollution in
the country are the smog generated from brick kilns, black smoke from unfit vehicles
and dust generated from constructions sites, including the mega projects.
Worldwide, a major source of air pollution is coal­fired power plants which emit
dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate
matter (known as PM2.5), long exposure to which pose a huge threat to human
health. We also have a number of coal­fired power plants operating in the country at
present while some of them are under construction. Reportedly, the government has
planned to build 17 coal­fired power plants in Cox's Bazar by 2031. Bangladesh
Poribesh Andolon and Waterkeepers Bangladesh released a report in November
last year according to which Cox's Bazar will be one of the most polluted places in
the country when all the power plants start operating. As more and more reports are
being released by national and international research organisations on the quality of
air that we breath, the government can no longer downplay the issue anymore. It's
time for the government to abandon coal­powered projects and look for renewable
sources of energy. At the same time, it should take some basic policy decisions,
including shutting down the operation of illegal brick kilns, using eco­friendly bricks,
containing pollution in the construction sites using standard methods, identifying and
making sure vehicles emitting black smoke are taken off the streets.
March 06, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
**************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
=================
ā§§āĨ¤ BIWTA­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻāĻļ āĻ…āĻ­ āĻ°ā§€āĻŖ āĻ¨ā§—­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ
āĻĒ Íž
ā§¨āĨ¤ stand up to­āĻ•āĻž āĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻŦāĻĒ āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ¨ ā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻžā§œāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ a lawmaker­āĻāĻ•āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻŖāĻ¤āĻžÍž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ Íž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ river encroacher­āĻ… āĻŦāĻ§āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ¨āĻĻā§€ āĻĻāĻ–āĻ˛āĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ Sincerity of public officials­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ† āĻŋāĻ°āĻ•āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ work wonders­āĻŋāĻŦ ā§ŸāĻ•āĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻœ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ…āĻ¸ āĻŦ āĻ• āĻ¸ āĻŦ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ… āĻ˛ā§—āĻŋāĻ•āĻ• āĻ•āĻžāĻœ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§­āĨ¤ pleased to learn ­ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻ–ā§
āĻŋāĻļ/āĻ¸ Íž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ the brave and determined stance­āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻ¸ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻĻā§ƒ
ā§ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§¯āĨ¤ of officials of the BIWTA­āĻŋāĻŦāĻ†āĻ‡āĻĄāĻŋ āĻ‰āĻŋāĻŸāĻ āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ encroach upon­āĻ… āĻŦāĻ§āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻĻāĻ–āĻ˛ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ a large and crucial area­āĻŦā§ƒ
āĻšā§Ž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻĒā§‚
āĻŖ āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ of the Buriganga River­āĻŦā§
āĻŋā§œāĻ— āĻž āĻ¨āĻĻā§€āĻ°Íž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ During the eviction drive­āĻ‰ āĻĻ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻž āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ¸āĻŽā§ŸÍž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ the lawmaker came to the spot­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ˛ āĻ†āĻ¸āĻŋāĻ› āĻ˛āĻ¨Íž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ with around 80 people­ āĻžā§Ÿ ā§Žā§Ļ āĻœāĻ¨āĻ¸āĻš/āĻ¸āĻšāĻ•āĻž āĻ°Íž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ no doubt­ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ¸ āĻš āĻ¨āĻ‡Íž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ intimidate­ āĻžāĻŋāĻ¸āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ­ā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻ–āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ laudably­ āĻļāĻ‚āĻ¸āĻžāĻœāĻ¨āĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ the BIWTA team­āĻŋāĻŦāĻ†āĻ‡āĻĄāĻŋ āĻ‰āĻŋāĻŸāĻ āĻĻāĻ˛Íž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ was ready to confront­ āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻž āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻ¤ āĻŋāĻ› āĻ˛āĻ¨Íž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ refused to budge­āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻœÍž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ they were helped by the law enforcers­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻž āĻ° āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻžāĻ¯
āĻĒ ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ chase away­ āĻœāĻžāĻ°āĻĒā§‚
āĻŦāĻ• āĻ¤āĻžāĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĻā§ŸāĻžÍž āĻš āĻ˛ āĻ¯ āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ the cohorts of the lawmaker­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸ āĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĒāĻž Íž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ commend­ āĻļāĻ‚āĻ¸āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ resolute­āĻĻā§ƒ
ā§āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ• Íž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ in carrying out the eviction drive­āĻ‰ āĻĻ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ of illegal structure­āĻ… āĻŦāĻ§ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ despite­āĻ¸ āĻ“Íž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ in such a powerful position­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ­āĻžāĻŦāĻļāĻžāĻ˛ā§€ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻž āĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ We need such public officials­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻž āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻĻāĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ who are not intimidated or influenced­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ­ā§€āĻ¤ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ­āĻžāĻŋāĻŦāĻ¤ āĻš āĻŦāĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ by political figures­āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻŦ āĻŋ āĻĻāĻ° āĻžāĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ who abuse their power­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŽāĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻĒāĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ° āĻ• āĻ°Íž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ for self­aggrandisement­āĻ† ­ āĻŽāĻ¤āĻž/āĻŋāĻ¨āĻœ āĻŽāĻ¤āĻž āĻŦāĻžā§œāĻž āĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ all government drives­āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ to stop encroachment of rivers­āĻ¨āĻĻā§€ āĻĻāĻ–āĻ˛āĻĻāĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻŦ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž
ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ According to this paper­āĻāĻ‡ āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŦāĻ°āĻž āĻ¤ āĻœāĻžāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ the lawmaker filled up around 20 acres of the river ­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ āĻ¨āĻĻā§€āĻ° āĻžā§Ÿ ā§¨ā§Ļ
āĻāĻ•āĻ° āĻœāĻŋāĻŽ āĻ­āĻ°āĻžāĻŸ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ to make two extensions­āĻĻā§
āĻ‡āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¸ āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ sprawl­āĻšāĻžāĻ¤ āĻĒāĻž āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻļāĻžā§ŸāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻ¸āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ leisure retreat­āĻ…āĻŦāĻ¸ āĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ† ā§ŸÍž
ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ block­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ the entire breadth­āĻ¸āĻŽ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ¸āĻ°Íž
ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ of Buriganga offshoot­āĻŦā§
āĻŋā§œāĻ— āĻžāĻ° āĻļāĻžāĻ–āĻžÂ­ āĻļāĻžāĻ–āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ eventually­āĻ…āĻŦ āĻļ āĻˇÍž
ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ converge­āĻāĻ•āĻ‡ āĻŋāĻŦ ā§
āĻ¤ āĻ āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ¤ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ with the Dhaleswari River­āĻ§ āĻ˛ āĻ°ā§€ āĻ¨āĻĻā§€āĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨÍž
ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ in turn­āĻĒāĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻŽÍž āĻāĻ• āĻāĻ• āĻ• āĻ°Íž
ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ branch of the Buriganga ­āĻŦā§
āĻŋā§œāĻ— āĻžāĻ° āĻļāĻžāĻ–āĻž āĻ¨āĻĻā§€Íž
ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ tragedy­āĻĻā§
:āĻ–āĻœāĻ¨āĻ• āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ violate the law­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻ˛ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ the damage to a river ­āĻ¨āĻĻā§€āĻ° āĻ‚āĻ¸Íž
ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ particular area­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻĻ /āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ the Water Body Conservation Act 2000­āĻœāĻ˛āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ° āĻŖ āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨Â­ā§¨ā§Ļā§Ļā§ĻÍž
ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ the Bangladesh Environmental Protection Act 1995­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻāĻļ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ° āĻŦāĻļ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ° āĻŖ
āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨Â­ā§§ā§¯ā§¯ā§ĢÍž
ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ mention­āĻ‰ āĻ– āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ disregarded ­āĻ… āĻžāĻš Íž āĻ…āĻŦ āĻšāĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ the High Court's declaration­āĻšāĻžāĻ‡ āĻ•āĻž āĻŸāĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻˇāĻŖāĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ living entities­āĻœā§€āĻŦ āĻ¸ āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ legal persons­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻ—āĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻŋ Íž
ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ protect­āĻ° āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ The PM has also called for joint initiatives­ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨āĻŽ ā§€āĻ“ āĻ¯ā§—āĻĨ/āĻ¸āĻŋ āĻŋāĻ˛āĻ¤ āĻ‰āĻĻ āĻž āĻ—āĻ°
āĻ†āĻšāĻŦāĻžāĻ¨ āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ ā§Ÿ āĻ›āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ to save Buriganga ­āĻŦā§
āĻŋā§œāĻ— āĻž āĻ• āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻž āĻ¤/āĻ° āĻž āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ severe action­āĻ• āĻ āĻžāĻ° āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ against all river grabbers­āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻ¨āĻĻā§€ āĻĻāĻ–āĻ˛āĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦ Íž
ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ therefore­āĻ…āĻ¤āĻāĻŦÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ a significant victory­āĻ‰ āĻ– āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— / āĻĒā§‚
āĻŖ āĻŋāĻŦāĻœā§ŸÍž
ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ withstand­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ āĻ•āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ the pressure of a lawmaker­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸ āĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻĒÍž
ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ for the sake of saving a vital part of the Buriganga­āĻŦā§
āĻŋā§œāĻ— āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒā§‚
āĻŖ āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ
āĻ° āĻžāĻ° āĻž āĻĨÍž
ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ demonstrate­ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§­ā§ŠāĨ¤ accomplish­āĻ¸ā§
āĻ¸ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§­ā§ĒāĨ¤ sincere about their duties­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻĻāĻžāĻŋā§Ÿ āĻ¸ āĻ• āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨Íž
ā§­ā§ĢāĨ¤ around 450 rivers ­ āĻžā§Ÿ ā§Ēā§Ģā§ĻāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¨āĻĻā§€Íž
ā§­ā§ŦāĨ¤ countless other waterbodies­āĻ…āĻ—āĻŋāĻŖāĻ¤ āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻœāĻ˛āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§­ā§­āĨ¤ threatened by illegal land grabbing­āĻ… āĻŦāĻ§ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻĻāĻ–āĻ˛āĻĻāĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ° āĻŽāĻŋāĻ•āĻ° āĻŽā§
āĻ–Íž
ā§­ā§ŽāĨ¤ We hope that ­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻŽ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻŋāĻ°Íž
ā§­ā§¯āĨ¤ this instance of courage and honesty ­āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻ¸āĻ¸ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻ‡ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§Žā§ĻāĨ¤ all throughout the country­āĻ¸āĻŽ āĻĻāĻļāĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€Íž
ā§Žā§§āĨ¤ so that ­āĻ¯āĻž āĻ¤Íž
ā§Žā§¨āĨ¤ water bodies ­āĻœāĻ˛āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻžÍž āĻœāĻ˛āĻŽāĻšāĻ˛Íž
ā§Žā§ŠāĨ¤ flow freely­āĻŽā§āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
*****āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ*******
BIWTA stands up to a lawmaker and river encroacher
Sincerity of public officials can work wonders!
**************************
We are more than pleased to learn about the brave and determined stance of
officials of the BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) who stood up
to a lawmaker who has encroached upon a large and crucial area of the Buriganga
River in Charwashpur. During the eviction drive, the lawmaker came to the spot with
around 80 people, no doubt to intimidate the BIWTA officials. But laudably the
BIWTA team was ready to confront them and refused to budge and they were
helped by the law enforcers who chased away the cohorts of the lawmaker.
We commend the BIWTA for being so resolute in carrying out the eviction drive of
illegal structures despite them belonging to someone in such a powerful position. We
need such public officials who are not intimidated or influenced by political figures
who abuse their power for self­aggrandisement. And that is how it should be in the
case of all government drives to stop encroachment of rivers that have rendered
many of them beyond saving.
According to this paper, the lawmaker filled up around 20 acres of the river to make
two extensions to his Maisha power plant along with a sprawling leisure retreat. This
has blocked the entire breadth of Buriganga offshoot that eventually converges with
the Dhaleswari River. This, in turn, has rendered that branch of the Buriganga dead
with other encroachers grabbing the area. It is a tragedy that a lawmaker would
violate the law so blatantly with no regard for the damage to a river that is a lifeline
for the city. By encroaching that particular area, he has violated the Water Body
Conservation Act 2000 and the Bangladesh Environmental Protection Act 1995, not
to mention disregarded the High Court's declaration that rivers are living entities and
legal persons and the government must protect them. The PM has also called for
joint initiatives to save Buriganga and has asked for severe action against all river
grabbers.
It is therefore a significant victory of the BIWTA team that they have managed to
withstand the pressure of a lawmaker for the sake of saving a vital part of the
Buriganga. It demonstrates what public officials can accomplish if they are sincere
about their duties. There are around 450 rivers and countless other waterbodies in
this country, most of them threatened by illegal land grabbing. We hope that this
instance of courage and honesty will be replicated all throughout the country during
such eviction drives by the BIWTA so that our rivers and water bodies can once
again flow freely and become the lifelines of the cities and villages they once were.
March 07, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
**************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
==================
ā§§āĨ¤ Historic 7th March­āĻāĻŋāĻ¤āĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻ¸āĻ• ā§­āĻ‡ āĻŽāĻžāĻšÍž
ā§¨āĨ¤ red­letter day­ āĻĒā§‚
āĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻ°āĻŖā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨Íž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ A red­letter day for Bangladesh­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻ āĻļāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ°āĻŖā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨Íž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ several days­āĻ•āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒā§Ÿ/āĻ• ā§ŸāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨Íž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ emboss­ āĻ–āĻžāĻĻāĻžāĻ‡ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ are embossed in gold­ āĻŖāĻž āĻ° āĻŋāĻ˛āĻŋāĻ–āĻ¤/ āĻ–āĻžāĻĻāĻžāĻ‡āĻ•
ā§ƒ
āĻ¤Íž
ā§­āĨ¤ in its history­āĻāĻŋāĻŸāĻ°( āĻĻ āĻļāĻ°) āĻ‡āĻŋāĻ¤āĻšāĻž āĻ¸Íž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ March 7 of 1971 is one of them­ā§­āĻ‡ āĻŽāĻžāĻš āĻ¸ āĻ˛āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸÍž
ā§¯āĨ¤ turn­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŖāĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻŽāĻžā§œ āĻ¨āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ the course of history­āĻ‡āĻŋāĻ¤āĻšāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ—āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒāĻĨ/āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻž/āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯āĻĒāĻ° āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ for the nation and the subcontinent as a whole­āĻ¸āĻŽ āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ‰āĻĒāĻŽāĻšāĻž āĻĻ āĻļāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ The day, 49 years ago­ā§Ēā§¯ āĻŦāĻ›āĻ° āĻ† āĻ— āĻāĻ‡ āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨āĻŋāĻŸÍž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ stand out­āĻ…āĻ¸āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻļ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž āĻ…āĻ¸āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ for two main reasons­āĻĻā§
āĻ‡āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ the oratorial brilliance of Bangabandhu ­āĻŦ āĻŦ ā§
āĻ° āĻ–āĻ° āĻŦā§
āĻŋ āĻŽ āĻžāĻ° āĻ­āĻžāĻˇāĻŖÍž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ brilliance­ āĻ–āĻ° āĻŦā§
āĻŋ āĻŽ āĻžÍž āĻ­āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ demonstrate­ āĻĻāĻļāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ in the 23 minutes of extempore delivery­ā§¨ā§Š āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻŸāĻ° āĻ‰āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻŦ ā§ƒ
āĻ¤āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ tempered by­āĻŋāĻŽ āĻŖ āĻžāĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ logic, reason and sobriety­āĻ¯ā§
āĻŋ , āĻ¨ āĻžā§ŸāĻ¸ āĻ¤ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ† āĻŋāĻ¨ā§Ÿ āĻŖÍž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ delivered without a pause or hesitation­āĻŋāĻŦāĻ°āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ…āĻĨāĻŦāĻž āĻŋ āĻ§āĻž āĻ›āĻžā§œāĻžāĻ‡ āĻĻ Íž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ for the substance­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻŦ /āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻ•āĻĨāĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ as well a­āĻĒāĻžāĻļāĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻļÍž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚Íž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ the soul of the words­āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻ°/āĻ•āĻĨāĻžāĻ° āĻ… āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻļāĻŋ Íž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ Bangabandhu uttered­āĻŦ āĻŦ ā§
āĻ‰ āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ› āĻ˛āĻ¨/ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¤ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ› āĻ˛āĻ¨Íž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ in the impassioned speech­ āĻĻā§Ÿ āĻžāĻšā§€/āĻ† āĻŦāĻ—āĻŽā§Ÿ āĻŦ āĻŦ Íž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ to the Bengalis in 1971­ā§§ā§¯ā§­ā§§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛ āĻŦāĻžāĻ™āĻžāĻŋāĻ˛ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ•Íž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ rate­āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻŋāĻŦ āĻšāĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ among the best speeches­āĻ¸āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻ˛āĻžāĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ Íž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ any world leader­ āĻ¯ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ in the annals of world history­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ‡āĻŋāĻ¤āĻšāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻŦāĻˇāĻĒāĻŋ āĻ¤Íž
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ under Bangabandhu's direction­āĻŦ āĻŦ ā§
āĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ started its final preparation­ āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛ āĻāĻ° āĻšā§œāĻž āĻŋāĻ¤/āĻ† ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨'Íž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ the concluding stages­ āĻļāĻˇ āĻĒāĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ the liberation of the people ­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ— āĻŖāĻ° āĻŽā§
āĻŋ Íž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ the formation of an independent nation­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ¨ āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ—āĻ āĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ with a Flag and a Country of its own­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻ¤āĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨āĻœ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ
āĻĻāĻļāĻ¸āĻš/āĻ¸āĻšāĻ•āĻž āĻ°Íž
ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ lay out­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ clear guidance for the Bengalis­āĻŦāĻžāĻ™āĻžāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻ¤ā§ƒ
/āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨āĻž/āĻĒāĻĨāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļÍž
ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ as to­āĻ¸ āĻ•Íž āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻž āĻ°Íž
ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ how to conduct themselves­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻš āĻŦÍž āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ
āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ¤ āĻš āĻŦÍž
ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ during the interregnum­āĻ…āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻŽā§ŸÍž
ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ issue a warning­āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ•āĻŦāĻžāĻ¤āĻž āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ to the Pakistani military junta­āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ• āĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻžāĻŽāĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻœāĻž āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ to shun the path of violence and force­āĻ¸āĻŋāĻšāĻ‚āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻļāĻŋ āĻ° āĻĒāĻĨ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ has been included in UNESCO'S Memory of the World Register ­
ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ documentary heritage­(āĻŋāĻŦ ) āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻāĻŋāĻ¤āĻš Íž
ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ encapsulate­āĻŋāĻ˜ āĻ° āĻĢāĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ brilliantly­āĻŦā§
āĻŋ āĻĻā§€ āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž
ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ the struggle of the Bengalis­āĻŦāĻžāĻ™āĻžāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽÍž
ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ for their political rights­āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ post­1947­ā§§ā§¯ā§Ēā§­ āĻ¸āĻžāĻ˛ āĻĒāĻ°āĻŦāĻ¤ Íž
ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ the continuation of the yoke­āĻĻāĻžāĻ¸ āĻ° āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ deprivation and repression under British rule­āĻŋ āĻŋāĻŸāĻļ āĻļāĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ…āĻ§ā§€āĻ¨ āĻŦ āĻ¨āĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚
āĻĻāĻŽāĻ¨āĻ¨ā§€āĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ despite being the majority­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻž āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻž āĻ¸ āĻ“Íž
ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ an authentic testimony­āĻ¸ā§ āĻŽāĻžāĻŖ/āĻ¸āĻž Íž
ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ the failure of multicultural­āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻš āĻ§āĻŽ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° āĻŦ āĻĨāĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ multiethnic societies­āĻŦ āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻœÍž
ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ coagulate­āĻ˜āĻŋāĻŖāĻ­āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ as a nation­āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŋāĻšāĻ¸āĻž āĻŦÍž'
ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ under misrule­āĻ•
ā§
āĻļāĻžāĻ¸āĻ¨/āĻ…āĻĒāĻļāĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ…āĻ§ā§€āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ motivated by­( āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ•āĻ›āĻ° āĻžāĻ°āĻž) āĻ‰ /āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻžāĻŋāĻŖāĻ¤Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ prejudice­āĻ•
ā§
āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ a politically bigoted polity­āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ—āĻžā§œāĻž āĻļāĻžāĻ¸āĻ¨āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ unwilling to feel­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ­āĻŦ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ•Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ the pulse and the sentiments of the majority of the people­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžāĻŋāĻ§āĻ• āĻœāĻ¨āĻ— āĻŖāĻ°
āĻ°āĻŖāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ­āĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ concede­ āĻŽ āĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§€āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ the majority will­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ‚āĻļ/āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžāĻŋāĻ§ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ‡ āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ effectively a declaration of the independence of Bangladesh­āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯āĻ•āĻŋāĻ°āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ
āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻ āĻļāĻ° āĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻˇāĻŖāĻžÍž
ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ For the final words­āĻ¸āĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ•āĻĨāĻž āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ of the memorable speech­ āĻ°āĻŖā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻ°Íž
ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ The struggle this time is for emancipation­āĻāĻŦāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽ āĻŽā§
āĻŋ āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽÍž
ā§­ā§ŠāĨ¤ the struggle this time is for independence­āĻāĻŦāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽ āĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽÍž
ā§­ā§ĒāĨ¤ launched the people into the final phase of the independence struggle of the
Bengalis­āĻŦāĻžāĻ™āĻžāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ° āĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻž āĻŽāĻ° āĻšā§œāĻž āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§Ÿ āĻœāĻ¨āĻ—āĻŖ āĻ• āĻ‰ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§­ā§ĢāĨ¤ launch into­āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻž āĻœ āĻŦā§ƒāĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§­ā§ŦāĨ¤ our glorious Liberation War­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŽāĻŋāĻšāĻŽāĻžāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻž āĻ—ā§—āĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻŽā§
āĻŋ āĻ¯ā§
Íž
*******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ******
Historic 7th March
A red­letter day for Bangladesh
*************************
For Bangladesh, several days are embossed in gold in its history. March 7 of 1971 is
one of them, for it turned the course of history for the nation and the subcontinent as
a whole. The day, 49 years ago, stands out for two main reasons—the oratorial
brilliance of Bangabandhu demonstrated in the 23 minutes of extempore delivery
tempered by logic, reason and sobriety, and delivered without a pause or hesitation.
It stands out also for the substance as well as the soul of the words that
Bangabandhu uttered in the impassioned speech to the Bengalis in 1971, which will
rate among the best speeches by any world leader in the annals of world history. It
was also the day that the nation, under Bangabandhu's direction, started its final
preparation for the concluding stages of the liberation of the people and the
formation of an independent nation, with a Flag and a Country of its own. It laid out
clear guidance for the Bengalis as to how to conduct themselves during the
interregnum and issued a warning to the Pakistani military junta to shun the path of
violence and force.
The speech, which has been included in UNESCO'S Memory of the World Register
as a "documentary heritage", encapsulates brilliantly the struggle of the Bengalis for
their political rights. For the Bengalis, post­1947 was the continuation of the yoke of
deprivation and repression under British rule, despite being the majority. It was an
authentic testimony of the failure of multicultural and multiethnic societies to
coagulate as a nation under misrule, motivated by prejudice and a politically bigoted
polity that was unwilling to feel the pulse and the sentiments of the majority of the
people and concede to the majority will.
The speech was also effectively a declaration of the independence of Bangladesh, if
not a direct call to arms. For the final words of the memorable speech, "The struggle
this time is for emancipationÍž the struggle this time is for independence", carries no
other meaning. And those are the words that launched the people into the final
phase of the independence struggle of the Bengalis, our glorious Liberation War,
from March 26, 1971.
March 08, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
***************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
====================
ā§§āĨ¤ Road crash casualties­āĻ¸ā§œ āĻ• āĻžāĻŖāĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§¨āĨ¤ rising­ āĻŦ ā§œāĻ‡ āĻšāĻ˛ āĻ›Íž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ by the day­āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻĒāĻ° āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨Íž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ 23 lives lost in a single day!­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ¨āĻ‡ ā§¨ā§ŠāĻŋāĻŸ āĻžāĻŖ āĻ āĻ° āĻ—āĻ˛Íž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ shocked to learn­ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŽāĻŽāĻžāĻšāĻ¤Íž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ at least 23 people­āĻ•āĻŽāĻĒ ā§¨ā§Š āĻœāĻ¨ āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§
āĻˇÍž
ā§­āĨ¤ were killed ­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ nine others injured­āĻ† āĻ°āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻœāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž
ā§¯āĨ¤ n separate road crashes­āĻĒā§ƒ
āĻĨāĻ• āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĻā§
āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ across the country­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻĻ āĻļÍž āĻĻāĻļāĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€Íž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ on March 6­ā§Ŧ āĻ‡ āĻŽāĻžāĻšÍž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ Ten people were killed ­āĻœāĻ¨ āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§
āĻˇ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ crash­ āĻ­ āĻš āĻ° āĻāĻŋāĻ— ā§Ÿ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ into a roadside tree­āĻ°āĻž āĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻž āĻŦāĻ¤ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ—āĻž āĻ›āĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ Íž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ all of them­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸āĻŦāĻžāĻ‡Íž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ were going to attend­āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻšāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻ¯āĻžāĻŋ āĻ˛Íž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ an engagement ceremony­āĻŦāĻžāĻ—āĻĻ āĻž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻž āĻ¨Íž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ were burnt to death­āĻĻ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻŽāĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻ— ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ when a gas cylinder of a microbus caught fire ­āĻ¯āĻ–āĻ¨ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŽāĻžāĻ‡ āĻžāĻŦāĻž āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ¸āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻžāĻ°
āĻ— āĻž āĻ¸ āĻ† āĻ¨ āĻ§ āĻ° āĻŋāĻ— ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ after it collided with a bus­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ˜ āĻˇāĻ° āĻĒāĻ°Íž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ on Dhaka­Sylhet highway­āĻĸāĻžāĻ•āĻžÂ­āĻŋāĻ¸ āĻ˛āĻŸ āĻŽāĻšāĻžāĻ¸ā§œ āĻ•Íž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ On the same day­āĻāĻ•āĻ‡ āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ¨Íž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ when a bus hit his motorcycle­āĻ¯āĻ–āĻ¨ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻŽāĻŸāĻ°āĻ¸āĻžāĻ‡ āĻ•āĻ˛āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ• āĻ†āĻ˜āĻžāĻ¤ āĻ• āĻ°Íž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ in the capital's Banani area­āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻŦāĻ¨āĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ worries ­āĻĻā§
āĻŋ āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ such horrible accidents­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦāĻ­ā§€āĻŋāĻˇāĻ•āĻžāĻŽā§Ÿ āĻĻā§
āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ despite taking place­āĻ˜āĻŸāĻž āĻ¸ āĻ“Íž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ on our roads regularly­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸ā§œ āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŽāĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ the road transport authorities­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ
āĻĒ Íž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ as well as­āĻĒāĻžāĻļāĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻļÍžāĻ¸āĻšÍž āĻ“Íž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚Íž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ the transport owners and workers­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻŽāĻžāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ• āĻ“ āĻŋāĻŽāĻ•Íž
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ the victims' families ­āĻ­ āĻ­āĻžāĻ—ā§€āĻ° āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ suffer in silence ­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻŦ āĻ­āĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻŦ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ their fight to get justice for their loved ones­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻœ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻž āĻ°āĻ°
āĻ˛ā§œāĻžāĻ‡Íž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ never ends­āĻ•āĻ– āĻ¨āĻžāĻ‡ āĻļāĻˇ āĻšā§ŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ According to ­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ a report by the Road Safety Foundation­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ°āĻžāĻĒ āĻž āĻĢāĻžāĻ‰ āĻļāĻ¨ āĻāĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ
āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ at least­āĻ•āĻŽāĻĒ Íž
ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ The alarming increase­āĻ­ā§Ÿ āĻ°/ āĻžāĻ¸āĻœāĻ¨āĻ• āĻŦā§ƒ
āĻŋ Íž
ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ indicates that­āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ¯Íž
ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ all the initiatives­āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻ‰ āĻĻ āĻžāĻ—Íž
ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ taken by the government­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ
āĻ• āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ the formulation of the Road Transport Act 2018­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨Â­ā§¨ā§Ļā§§ā§Ž āĻŖā§ŸāĻ¨Íž
ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ observance of Police Week ­āĻĒā§
āĻŋāĻ˛āĻļ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻš āĻ‰āĻĻāĻ¯āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨Íž
ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ make the commuters and pedestrians aware of traffic rules­ āĻžāĻŋāĻĢāĻ• āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻ§/āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨
āĻ¸ āĻ• āĻ¯āĻž ā§€ āĻ“ āĻĒāĻĨāĻšāĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ the PM's directives given in 2018­ā§¨ā§Ļā§§ā§Ž āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨āĻŽ ā§€āĻ° āĻĻ āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ including limiting the drive­time of the drivers ­āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ• āĻĻāĻ° āĻ—āĻžāĻŋā§œ āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻŽā§Ÿ
āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ¸āĻšÍž
ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ on long­route vehicles­āĻĻā§€āĻ˜ āĻ¯āĻž āĻžāĻ° āĻ—āĻžāĻŋā§œ āĻ¸ āĻ•/āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻž āĻ°Íž
ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ have failed to bring order ­āĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻž āĻ†āĻ¨ āĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻĨ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž
ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ The reasons behind the rise in road accidents­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĻā§
āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻŦā§ƒ
āĻŋ āĻ° āĻŋāĻĒāĻ› āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖÍž
ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ have already been identified­āĻ‡ āĻ¤āĻžāĻŽ āĻ§ āĻŋāĻšāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž
ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ by the transport experts­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ° āĻžāĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ the organisations working on road safety­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ°āĻžāĻĒāĻĻ āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ ā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻžāĻœ āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ—āĻ āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ unfit vehicles­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻĒāĻ¯ā§ āĻ—āĻžāĻŋā§œÍž
ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ reckless driving­ āĻŦāĻĒ āĻ°āĻžā§ŸāĻž āĻ—āĻžāĻŋā§œ āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ drivers' incompetence and their physical or mental unsuitability­āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ• āĻĻāĻ°
āĻ… āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻ¤āĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻļāĻžāĻ°ā§€āĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻ…āĻĨāĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¸āĻ• āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻĒāĻ¯ā§āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ unregulated working hours for drivers­āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ• āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦāĻ°āĻŋāĻ¤āĻšā§€āĻ¨āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ•āĻžāĻœ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ poor traffic management­ āĻŋāĻŸāĻĒā§‚
āĻŖ āĻžāĻŋāĻĢāĻ• āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ the inefficiency of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) ­āĻŋāĻŦāĻ†āĻ°āĻŋāĻŸāĻāĻ°
āĻāĻ° āĻ…āĻĻ āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ the lack of knowledge about traffic rules­ āĻžāĻŋāĻĢāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ā§ŸāĻŽ āĻ¸ āĻ• āĻž āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ/āĻ… āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ among the general people­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻœāĻ¨āĻ— āĻŖāĻ° āĻŽāĻž āĻÍž
ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ the tendency to disregard them­ āĻžāĻŋāĻĢāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ā§ŸāĻŽ āĻ¨āĻž āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻŦāĻŖāĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ wake up to the reality ­āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻ¤āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻœāĻžāĻ— āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ make all­out efforts­āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻš āĻž āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ to properly implement the Road Transport Act 2018­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨Â­ā§¨ā§Ļā§§ā§Ž
āĻ¯āĻĨāĻžāĻ¯āĻĨāĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ Besides­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ›āĻžā§œāĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ increase the number of skilled drivers­āĻĻ āĻžāĻ‡āĻ­āĻžāĻ°/āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ• āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻž āĻŦā§ƒ
āĻŋ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ construct road dividers on all highways­āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻŽāĻšāĻžāĻ¸ā§œ āĻ• āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻŋāĻŦāĻ­āĻžāĻœāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽāĻžāĻŖÍž
ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ fix salaries­ āĻŦāĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖÍž
ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ working hours of drivers ­āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ• āĻĻāĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯āĻ¸āĻŽā§ŸÍž
ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ ban low­speed vehicles on highways­āĻŽāĻšāĻžāĻ¸ā§œ āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ—āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻˇ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ has also recommended­āĻ† āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸ā§
āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ°āĻļ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž
********āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ******
Road crash casualties rising by the day
23 lives lost in a single day!
***************************
We are shocked to learn that at least 23 people were killed and nine others injured in
separate road crashes across the country on March 6. Ten people were killed when
a microbus crashed into a roadside tree in Habiganj (all of them were going to attend
an engagement ceremony in Sunamganj), while in another accident, six people were
burnt to death when a gas cylinder of a microbus caught fire after it collided with a
bus on Dhaka­Sylhet highway. On the same day, a student of Dhaka University was
killed when a bus hit his motorcycle in the capital's Banani area. What worries us
most is the fact that such horrible accidents, despite taking place on our roads
regularly, seem to have no effect on the road transport authorities as well as the
transport owners and workers. It is only the victims' families who suffer in silence as
their fight to get justice for their loved ones never ends.
According to a report by the Road Safety Foundation, at least 445 people were killed
and 834 others injured in 340 road accidents across the country in January alone
this year. The alarming increase in road accidents indicates that all the initiatives
taken by the government— the formulation of the Road Transport Act 2018,
observance of Police Week to make the commuters and pedestrians aware of traffic
rules, the PM's directives given in 2018, including limiting the drive­time of the
drivers on long­route vehicles, etc.—have failed to bring order on our roads.
The reasons behind the rise in road accidents have already been identified by the
transport experts as well as the organisations working on road safety, which include
unfit vehicles, reckless driving, drivers' incompetence and their physical or mental
unsuitability, unregulated working hours for drivers, poor traffic management, the
inefficiency of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the lack of
knowledge about traffic rules among the general people or the tendency to disregard
them.
Since cases of road accidents and the deaths resulting from them are rising by the
day, the government must wake up to the reality and make all­out efforts to properly
implement the Road Transport Act 2018. Besides, initiatives should also be taken to
increase the number of skilled drivers, construct road dividers on all highways, fix
salaries and working hours of drivers and ban low­speed vehicles on highways, as
the Road Safety Foundation has also recommended.
March 09, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
***************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
==================
ā§§āĨ¤ women’s political participation­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻšāĻŖÍž āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¤ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ°
āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻšāĻŖÍž
ā§¨āĨ¤ still so low­āĻāĻ–āĻ¨āĻ“ āĻ–ā§
āĻŦāĻ‡ āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻŽā§
āĻ–ā§€Íž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ Only five parties­ āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛/ āĻ§ā§
ā§ĢāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĻāĻ˛Íž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ the required representation­ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ§ Íž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ make up­āĻ—āĻ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ a third of any political party­ āĻ¯ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻĻ āĻ˛āĻ° āĻāĻ• āĻ¤ā§ƒ
āĻ¤ā§€ā§ŸāĻžāĻ‚āĻļÍž
ā§­āĨ¤ as stipulated by the Representation of the People Order­āĻ—āĻŖ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ§ āĻ† āĻĻ āĻļ
āĻ¯āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ‰ āĻ– āĻ† āĻ›Íž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ except for five parties­ā§ĢāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĻāĻ˛ āĻ›āĻžā§œāĻžÍž
ā§¯āĨ¤ no other political party in the country­ āĻĻ āĻļ āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻĻ āĻ˛ āĻ¨āĻ‡Íž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ the required percentage of women's participation­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻš āĻŖāĻ° ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ
āĻļāĻ¤āĻžāĻ‚āĻļ/āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻĒāĻžāĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ Although­āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻāĻ“Íž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ reserving 33 percent of the committee positions for women­āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻŸāĻ° āĻĒāĻĻ āĻ˛āĻž āĻ¤
āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ ā§Šā§Š āĻļāĻ¤āĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ°āĻŋ āĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ be registered with the Election Commission­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻļ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ requirement­ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ meet­āĻĒā§‚
āĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ should be met by 2020­ā§¨ā§Ļā§¨ā§Ļ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛āĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ āĻĒā§‚
āĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻ‰āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻš āĻŦÍž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ only nine months for the deadline­āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻŋ āĻ° āĻ¤āĻžāĻŋāĻ°āĻ–/ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ¤āĻžāĻŋāĻ°āĻ– āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ¨ā§Ÿ āĻŽāĻžāĻ¸Íž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ to end­ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ most of the political parties­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻĻāĻ˛ āĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ have not managed to meet the requirement­ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻ• āĻĒā§‚
āĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž
āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ¨Íž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ What is more­āĻ† āĻ°āĻž āĻĒā§‚
āĻŖ āĻš āĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ only four of the parties have women as their heads­ āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛ ā§ĒāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĻ āĻ˛āĻ° āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ including the Awami League and the BNP­āĻ†āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžāĻŽā§€ āĻ˛ā§€āĻ— āĻ“ āĻŋāĻŦāĻāĻ¨āĻŋāĻĒ āĻ¸āĻšÍž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ Our reporter has talked to leaders of 25­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ• ā§¨ā§Ģ āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž/ āĻ¨āĻ¤ā§ƒ
āĻŦā§ƒ āĻ°
āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨ āĻ•āĻĨāĻž āĻŦ āĻ˛ āĻ›āĻ¨Íž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ out of the country's 41 registered political parties­ā§Ēā§§āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ°āĻŋāĻœāĻŋ āĻ­ āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ•
āĻĻ āĻ˛āĻ° āĻŽāĻ§ āĻĨ āĻ•Íž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ found a rather ­āĻŦāĻ°āĻ‚ āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻž āĻ— āĻ›Íž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ dismal picture of women's participation­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻš āĻŖāĻ° āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨āĻžāĻĻāĻžā§ŸāĻ•/āĻĻā§
:āĻ–āĻĻāĻžā§ŸāĻ•
āĻŋāĻš Íž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ in these parties­āĻāĻ‡ āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻĻāĻ˛ āĻ˛āĻž āĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ What is most shocking­āĻ…āĻ¤ āĻŽāĻŽāĻžāĻŋ āĻ•/ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨āĻžāĻĻāĻžā§ŸāĻ• āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻ° āĻš āĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ the ruling AL­ āĻŽāĻ¤āĻžāĻ¸ā§€āĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžāĻŽā§€ āĻ˛ā§€āĻ—Íž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ only nineteen women­ āĻ§ā§
ā§§ā§¯ āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ in its 74­member central committee­ āĻ• ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻŸāĻ° ā§­ā§Ē āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸ āĻ° āĻŽāĻ§ Íž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ meaning that­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻĨ āĻĻāĻžā§œāĻžā§ŸÍž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ…āĻĨ āĻš Íž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ only 26 percent of the committee positions­āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻŸāĻ° āĻĒ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛ ā§¨ā§Ŧ āĻļāĻ¤āĻžāĻ‚āĻļÍž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ are held by women­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻĻāĻ– āĻ˛Íž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ advisory body­āĻ‰āĻĒ āĻĻ āĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻĄÍž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ However­āĻŋāĻ• Íž
ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ have claimed that­āĻĻāĻžāĻŋāĻŦ āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ ā§Ÿ āĻ›āĻ¨ āĻ¯Íž
ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ women constituted 33 percent of each of their central committees­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ°
āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ• ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¤ ā§Šā§Š āĻļāĻ¤āĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ† āĻ›Íž
ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ Given the situation­āĻāĻŽāĻ¤āĻžāĻŦ āĻžā§ŸÍž āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ we need to find out­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ–ā§
āĻœ āĻŦāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻĻāĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ precisely­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ­āĻ˛āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž
ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ have failed to achieve­āĻ…āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻĨ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž
ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ Clearly­ āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ˛ āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ¤ āĻšā§ŸÍž
ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ was not given much attention­āĻ¯ āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻ†āĻ•āĻˇāĻŖ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ¨Íž
ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ by our political leaders­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ°Íž
ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ because of­āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž āĻœ āĻ¨ Íž āĻĻ āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ patriarchal mindset­āĻĒā§
āĻˇāĻļāĻžāĻŋāĻ¸āĻ¤ āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻŦÍž
ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ let alone­āĻĻā§‚
āĻ° āĻĨāĻžāĻ•Íž āĻĻā§‚
āĻ°āĻ° āĻ•āĻĨāĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ in the various committees­āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻ­ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ According to ­āĻŽ āĻ¤Íž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž
ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ women's rights activists­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻŽ Íž
ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ women members of our political parties­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻĻāĻ˛ āĻ˛āĻžāĻ° āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž
ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ generally­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖāĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž
ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ do not have any decision­making power­ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¸ āĻž āĻš āĻŖāĻ° āĻŽāĻ¤āĻž āĻ¨āĻ‡Íž
ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ they are always looked down upon by their male counterparts­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻĒā§
āĻˇ
āĻ¸āĻšāĻ•āĻŽ āĻ° āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻšā§€āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦāĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻĨāĻž āĻ•Íž
ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ male counterparts­āĻĒā§āĻˇ āĻ¸āĻšāĻ•āĻŽ Íž
ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ definitely discourage­āĻŋāĻ¨:āĻ¸ āĻš āĻŋāĻ¨ ā§ŽāĻ¸āĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻ• āĻ°Íž
ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ the educated and intellectually active women­āĻŋāĻļāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻŦā§
āĻŋ āĻŦā§ƒ
āĻŋ āĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ¸āĻŋ ā§Ÿ
āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ to come to politics­āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¤ āĻ†āĻ¸āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ Such attitudes of our political parties ­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻĻāĻ˛ āĻ˛āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻŽāĻ¨
āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ/āĻĻā§ƒ
āĻŋ āĻ­āĻŋ Íž
ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ must change­āĻ…āĻŦāĻļ āĻ‡ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻš āĻŦÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ if we are to bring more women into politics­ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ† āĻ°āĻž
āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¤ āĻ†āĻ¨ āĻ¤ āĻšā§ŸÍž
******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ*****
Why is women’s political participation still so low?
Only five parties have the required representation!
***************************
While women should make up a third of any political party, as stipulated by the
Representation of the People Order, except for five parties, no other political party in
the country has the required percentage of women's participation. Although
reserving 33 percent of the committee positions for women is a prerequisite for any
political party to be registered with the Election Commission and this requirement
should be met by 2020, with only nine months for the deadline to end, most of the
political parties have not managed to meet the requirement. What is more, only four
of the parties have women as their heads, including the Awami League and the BNP.
Our reporter has talked to leaders of 25 out of the country's 41 registered political
parties and found a rather dismal picture of women's participation in these parties.
What is most shocking is the fact that even the ruling AL has only nineteen women
in its 74­member central committee, meaning that only 26 percent of the committee
positions are held by women. While the BNP has 11 percent women's participation
in its advisory body, the Jatiya Party seems to have no data on women's
participation in the party. However, five parties, including Gono Front, Zaker Party
and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, have claimed that women constituted 33 percent of
each of their central committees.
Given the situation, we need to find out precisely why our political parties have failed
to achieve the goal set some 12 years ago. Clearly, the issue was not given much
attention by our political leaders because of their patriarchal mindset which still
makes them doubt the necessity of including women in the party, let alone in the
various committees. According to women's rights activists, women members of our
political parties generally do not have any decision­making power and they are
always looked down upon by their male counterparts, which definitely discourage the
educated and intellectually active women to come to politics. Such attitudes of our
political parties must change if we are to bring more women into politics.
March 10, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
***************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
===================
ā§§āĨ¤ panic­āĻ†āĻ¤ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§¨āĨ¤ prudent­āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ•Íž āĻĻā§‚
āĻ°āĻĻāĻļ Íž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ about coronavirus­āĻ• āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¸ āĻ•Íž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ Precautionary measures­āĻĒā§‚
āĻŦ āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛āĻ• āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ speed up­ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ•āĻ›āĻ° āĻŦāĻ— āĻŦā§ƒ
āĻŋ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ heartened­āĻ‰ āĻŋāĻ¸āĻ¤Íž
ā§­āĨ¤ by the Prime Minister's assurance­ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨āĻŽ ā§€āĻ° āĻ† āĻž āĻ¸Íž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ the government is taking all measures ­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž āĻŋāĻ¨ Íž
ā§¯āĨ¤ to make sure­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ Bangladesh can handle­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻāĻļ āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻž āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻĒāĻž āĻ°Íž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ onslaught­ āĻš āĻ† āĻŽāĻŖÍž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ the onslaught of the coronavirus­āĻ• āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻš āĻ† āĻŽāĻŖÍž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ we cannot help but feel concerned­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻ‰āĻŋ āĻ¨āĻž āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ regarding­āĻ¸ āĻ•Íž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ our preparedness­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ a possible epidemic­āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŦ āĻŽāĻšāĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ three confirmed cases­āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋ āĻ¤ Íž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ the intense density of population­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦāĻĒā§
āĻ˛ āĻ˜āĻ¨ Íž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ in our cities and towns­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¨āĻ—āĻ° āĻ“ āĻļāĻšāĻ° āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ a new dimension­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻŽāĻž āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ the crisis­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ•āĻŸÍž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ Thus­āĻ¸ā§
āĻ¤āĻ°āĻžāĻ‚Íž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ the need for preparedness­ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§ŸāĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ for taking measures­āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ to minimise the suffering of people­āĻœāĻ¨āĻĻā§
āĻ­āĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻŽāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ an outbreak of the virus occurs­āĻ¸ā§ƒāĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻžāĻĻā§
āĻ­āĻžāĻŦÍž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ emphasis­ āĻĻāĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ True­āĻ¸āĻ¤ āĻš āĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ the government has provided hotlines­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻŸāĻ˛āĻžāĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻŦāĻ°āĻžāĻš āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ for the public­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ— āĻŖāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ to call and get help­āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻĻā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻžāĻ¯ āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ the actual healthcare facilities­ āĻ•
ā§ƒ
āĻ¤ āĻž āĻ¸āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸ā§
āĻŋāĻŦāĻ§āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ According to experts­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻĻāĻ° āĻŽ āĻ¤Íž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ the high contagiousness of the virus ­āĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ‰ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻŽāĻŖāĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ solely­ āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛āĻŽāĻž Íž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ spread­āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĒā§œāĻžÍž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ Greater awareness­āĻŦā§ƒ
āĻš āĻ° āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ among the public­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ— āĻŖāĻ° āĻŽāĻž āĻÍž
ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ health professionals­āĻŋāĻšāĻŋāĻ•ā§ŽāĻ¸āĻ•Íž
ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ who will be in direct contact with patients­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸āĻŋāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻ—ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—
āĻ•āĻ° āĻŦÍž
ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ Although­āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻāĻ“Íž
ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ many hospitals­āĻ… āĻ¨āĻ• āĻšāĻžāĻ¸āĻĒāĻžāĻ¤āĻžāĻ˛Íž
ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ have not yet received­āĻāĻ–āĻ¨āĻ“ āĻšāĻŖ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ¨Íž
ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ on an urgent basis­āĻœ āĻŋāĻ° āĻŋāĻ­āĻŋ āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ infection from this virus ­āĻāĻ‡ āĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸ āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻŽāĻŖÍž
ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ globally­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€Íž
ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ People have been advised to wash their hands­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ—āĻŖ āĻ• āĻšāĻžāĻ¤ āĻ§ā§—āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻŽāĻļ
āĻĻā§ŸāĻž āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž
ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ frequently ­āĻŦāĻžāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ°Íž āĻ˜āĻ¨āĻ˜āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ with soap and water ­āĻ¸āĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻ¨ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻž āĻ¯ Íž
ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ the basic preventive measures­ āĻŽā§—āĻŋāĻ˛āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛āĻ• āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ such facilities­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ¸ā§
āĻŋāĻŦāĻ§āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ in densely populated areas­āĻœāĻ¨āĻŦ āĻ˛ āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ like slums­āĻŦāĻŋ āĻĻāĻ° āĻŽāĻ¤Íž
ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ Of course­āĻ…āĻŦāĻļ āĻ‡Íž
ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ feeling helpless­āĻ…āĻ¸āĻšāĻžā§Ÿ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ­āĻŦÍž
ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ a prudent move­āĻŋāĻŦāĻš āĻŖ āĻĒāĻĻ āĻĒÍž
ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ the government has postponed­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŋāĻ—āĻ¤ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž
ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ the March 17 grand rally­ā§§ā§­āĻ‡ āĻŽāĻž āĻšāĻ° āĻŦā§ƒ
āĻšā§Ž āĻ¸āĻŽāĻž āĻŦāĻļÍž
ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ in view of­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ° āĻŋ āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ We hope that­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻ†āĻļāĻž āĻ•āĻŋāĻ°Íž
ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ other public gatherings­āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻœāĻ¨āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻ—āĻŽÍž
ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ We also expect­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻ¤ āĻžāĻļāĻžāĻ“ āĻ•āĻŋāĻ°Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ assess the situation­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ consider what precautions should be taken­ āĻĒā§‚
āĻŦāĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛āĻ• āĻ¯ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻž āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›
āĻ¤āĻž āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ educational institutions­āĻŋāĻļ āĻž āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ stay on alert­āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ• āĻĨāĻžāĻ•āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ especially­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ• āĻ°Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ low immunity­āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻŽāĻž āĻ¨āĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ°āĻžāĻĒ āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ asthma and other respiratory problems­āĻšāĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻžāĻ¸āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻŽāĻ¸ āĻžÍž
ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ at risk ­āĻ
ā§
āĻŋāĻ• āĻ¤Íž
ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ severely ­āĻ• āĻ āĻžāĻ°āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž
ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ affected­āĻ† āĻž Íž
*******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ*******
Don’t panic but be prudent about coronavirus
Precautionary measures must be sped up
*************************
While we are heartened by the Prime Minister's assurance that the government is
taking all measures to make sure Bangladesh can handle the onslaught of the
coronavirus, we cannot help but feel concerned regarding our preparedness for a
possible epidemic, if it comes to that. With three confirmed cases in Bangladesh and
given the intense density of population in our cities and towns, there is a new
dimension that has been added to the crisis. Thus, the need for preparedness and
for taking measures to minimise the suffering of people, should an outbreak of the
virus occurs, cannot be emphasised enough.
True, the government has provided hotlines for the public to call and get help, but
what about the actual healthcare facilities? According to experts, the high
contagiousness of the virus warrants having healthcare facilities solely for Covid­19
patients so that it does not spread. Greater awareness regarding precautions are
needed not only among the public, but also health professionals who will be in direct
contact with patients. Although the government has started distributing personal
protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals, there are still many hospitals that have not
yet received them. PPEs and other necessary equipment and measures have to be
in place in hospitals on an urgent basis, given the speed with which infection from
this virus spreads, as we have seen globally. People have been advised to wash
their hands frequently with soap and water as one of the basic preventive
measures—how readily available are such facilities in densely populated areas like
slums, in bazaars, in schools or even in health care complexes?
Of course there is no value in panicking and feeling helpless. But we must take all
the measures that can be taken to prevent infections from spreading. It is a prudent
move that the government has postponed the March 17 grand rally in view of the
coronavirus crisis and with three confirmed cases in Bangladesh. We hope that
other public gatherings will be kept on hold for the time being. We also expect the
government will assess the situation and consider what precautions should be taken
with regards to educational institutions. The public and health care professionals
must stay on alert, especially with regard to the elderly, people with low immunity
and those who already have pre­existing health conditions such as asthma and
other respiratory problems, all of whom are particularly at risk of being severely
affected if infected by the virus.
March 11, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
***************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
==================
ā§§āĨ¤ Public awareness­āĻœāĻ¨Â­āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§¨āĨ¤ in tackling coronavirus­āĻ• āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸ āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ Make available clear guidelines­āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻž āĻ°āĻžāĻĒ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—ā§€ āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ° āĻ• āĻ¨Íž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ daily awareness drives­ āĻĻāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ• āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ The response to the news­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻŦāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ of coronavirus cases­āĻ• āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§­āĨ¤ being reported in Bangladesh­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻ āĻļ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻļ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ widespread panic­ āĻ¤ āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĒā§œāĻž āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻ• āĻ†āĻ¤ Íž
ā§¯āĨ¤ According to a report by The Daily Star­ āĻĄāĻ‡āĻ˛ āĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ greet with­(āĻ–āĻŦāĻ°, āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ‡āĻ¤ āĻžāĻŋāĻĻ) āĻšāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ buying and hoarding­ ā§Ÿ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻŽāĻœā§
āĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ antiseptic liquids­āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§
āĻ¨āĻžāĻļāĻ• āĻ¤āĻ°āĻ˛ āĻĒāĻĻāĻžāĻĨÍž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ protection­āĻ¸ā§
āĻ° āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ a potential spread of the virus­āĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŦ āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĒā§œāĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ globally infected­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻŋāĻŽāĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ killed ­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ at least­āĻ•āĻŽāĻĒ Íž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ so far­āĻ āĻ¯āĻžāĻŦā§ŽÍž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ report­āĻŋāĻŦāĻŦāĻ°āĻŖ āĻĻāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ a shortage of these items­āĻāĻ¸āĻŦ āĻ‰āĻĒāĻ•āĻ°āĻŖ āĻŋāĻ˛āĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ thanks to ­āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž āĻœ āĻ¨ Íž āĻĻ āĻŖÍž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ stockpiling­āĻ¸āĻšāĻ°āĻžāĻšāĻ° āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻž āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻœāĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ• āĻ¨ āĻŽāĻœā§
āĻ¤ āĻ°āĻžāĻ–āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ the demand for tissue paper­āĻŋāĻŸāĻ¸ā§āĻĒāĻĒāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻĻāĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ special protection ­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ¸ā§
āĻ° āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ almost­ āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ doubled overnight­āĻ°āĻžāĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŋ āĻŖ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ retailers­āĻ–ā§
āĻšāĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ a buying frenzy­ āĻ•āĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ‰ āĻ¤āĻž/ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¯āĻžāĻŋāĻ—āĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ well­known­āĻ¸ā§
āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤Íž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ deprive those who might need them­āĻ¯āĻž āĻĻāĻ° ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ• āĻ°Íž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ unchecked­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ¨ā§ŸāĻŋ āĻ¤Íž āĻ…āĻŦāĻžāĻ§Íž
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ the effects of panic­buying and hoarding ­āĻ†āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ¨āĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻŽāĻœā§
āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻ­āĻžāĻŦÍž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ eventually ­āĻĢ āĻ˛Íž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ extend ­āĻŦāĻžāĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ daily essentials­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¤ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻœāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¸āĻĒ Íž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ resulting in­āĻĢ āĻ˛Íž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ total chaos in the market­āĻŦāĻžāĻœāĻž āĻ° āĻ¸ ā§‚
āĻŖ āĻ¨āĻ°āĻžāĻœ /āĻŋāĻŦāĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ desirable ­āĻ•āĻžāĻŋ āĻ¤
ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ at this stage­āĻāĻ‡ āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§ŸÍž
ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ Experts ­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ some explanations­āĻŋāĻ•āĻ› āĻŦ āĻžāĻ– āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ extremes­āĻšāĻ°āĻŽāĻ¸ā§€āĻŽāĻžÍž āĻšāĻ°āĻŽ āĻŽāĻž āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ because of ­āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž
ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ unpredictability­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ mysteries­āĻ°āĻšāĻ¸ Íž
ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ the lack of a clear direction­ āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤/āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦÍž
ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ as well as­āĻĒāĻžāĻļāĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻļÍž āĻ“Íž
ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ the lack of preparedness ­ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ from health officials, etc­āĻŋāĻšāĻŋāĻ•ā§ŽāĻ¸āĻ• āĻ‡āĻ¤ āĻžāĻŋāĻĻāĻ° āĻĒ āĻĨ āĻ•Íž
ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ Whatever the reason­āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ‡ āĻšāĻžāĻ• āĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ find a way to address­āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻ§āĻž āĻ¨āĻ° āĻĒāĻĨ/āĻĒ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ clear communication­āĻ…āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—Íž
ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ essence­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻ‚āĻļÍž āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¸Íž
ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ want to limit­āĻ¸ā§€āĻŽāĻž āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻšāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ the public engagement issue­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ¸ ā§ƒ āĻŋāĻŦāĻˇā§ŸÍž
ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ responsible behaviour­āĻĻāĻžā§ŸāĻŦ āĻ†āĻšāĻ°āĻŖÍž
ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ enormous help­ āĻšāĻ° āĻ¸āĻšāĻžā§ŸāĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ coming from abroad­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻĻāĻļ āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ†āĻ¸ āĻ›Íž
ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ in particular­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ• āĻ°Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ to the authorities­āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ
āĻĒ āĻ° āĻ•āĻž āĻ›Íž
ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ should be strongly dealt with­āĻ• āĻ āĻžāĻ°āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻž āĻ‰āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤Íž
ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ health officials­ āĻž āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻŦā§ƒÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ daily awareness campaigns­ āĻĻāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ• āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ social media­āĻ¸āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻŋāĻœāĻ• āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻŽāĻžāĻ§ āĻŽÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ advantages ­āĻ¸ā§
āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—­āĻ¸ā§
āĻŋāĻŦāĻ§āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ for example­āĻ‰āĻĻāĻžāĻšāĻ°āĻŖ āĻĒÍž
ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ they have formed a cell ­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¸āĻ˛ āĻ—āĻ āĻ¨ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ to counter the spread of misinformation­āĻ­āĻ˛ āĻ¤āĻĨ āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĻā§ŸāĻž āĻ āĻ•āĻž āĻ¤/ āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻž
āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ mount­ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ a massive cleaning campaign­āĻŋāĻŦāĻļāĻžāĻ˛ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ every single household­ āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻāĻ•āĻ• āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ however­āĻŋāĻ• Íž
ā§­ā§ŠāĨ¤ undertake­āĻĻāĻžāĻŋā§Ÿ āĻ­āĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§­ā§ĒāĨ¤ the gravity of the situation­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžÍž
*******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ*******
Public awareness is a must in tackling coronavirus
Make available clear guidelines, daily awareness drives
******************************
The response to the news of coronavirus cases being reported in Bangladesh has
been one of widespread panic. According to a report by The Daily Star, the news
has been greeted with panic­buying and hoarding of face masks, hand sanitisers
and antiseptic liquids as protection against a potential spread of the virus, which has
globally infected over 100,000 people and killed at least 4,028 so far. In Dhaka, a
number of pharmacies and superstores have reported a shortage of these items,
thanks to coronavirus fears leading to stockpiling. Even the demand for tissue paper,
which is not known for offering special protection against the virus, has almost
doubled overnight, according to some retailers. The risks associated with such a
buying frenzy are well­known: it can, for one, deprive those who might need them. If
left unchecked, the effects of panic­buying and hoarding of such items may
eventually extend to daily essentials resulting in total chaos in the market, which is
anything but desirable at this stage.
Experts have offered some explanations for the panic: that people are resorting to
extremes because of the unpredictability of the disease and the mysteries
surrounding itÍž that they are reacting to the lack of a clear direction as well as the
lack of preparedness from health officials, etc. Whatever the reason, the government
must find a way to address it. Public awareness and clear communication are of the
essence if we want to limit the damage of this pandemic with any degree of success.
There are two sides to the public engagement issue: first, people should be made
aware that responsible behaviour on their part would be of enormous help. This
means, no panic­buying. Families of persons coming from abroad, in particular, who
may have passed the initial screening but start showing symptoms later, must report
such cases to the authorities. Those trying to profit from hoarding should be strongly
dealt with. Secondly, health officials and those in charge of tackling the crisis should
make available clear guidelines on what to do and undertake daily awareness
campaigns using electronic, print and social media.
One of the advantages of the coronavirus entering late in Bangladesh is that we can
learn from global best practices. In Kerala, for example, they have formed a cell to
counter the spread of misinformation. In Singapore, they have mounted a massive
cleaning campaign and even reportedly employed the army to pack masks in their
millions to be distributed freely to every single household in the country. These are
but a few examples we can learn from. Nothing, however, will be of much use if
citizens do not behave responsibly and the authorities do not undertake programmes
consistent with the gravity of the situation.
March 12, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
**************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
=================
ā§§āĨ¤ inferno­āĻ…āĻŋ āĻ•āĻž Íž
ā§¨āĨ¤ happen­āĻ˜āĻŸāĻžÍž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ the homeless­āĻ—ā§ƒ
āĻšāĻšā§€āĻ¨Íž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ shocked­āĻŽāĻŽāĻžāĻšāĻ¤Íž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ a fire that broke out in Rupnagar slum­ āĻĒāĻ¨āĻ—āĻ° āĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĒā§œāĻž āĻ† āĻ¨Íž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ in the city's Mirpur area ­āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻŋāĻŽāĻ°āĻĒā§
āĻ° āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§­āĨ¤ on Wednesday morning ­āĻ—āĻ¤ āĻŦā§
āĻ§āĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻ•āĻž āĻ˛Íž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ has destroyed­ āĻ‚āĻ¸/āĻ¨ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ— āĻ›Íž
ā§¯āĨ¤ at least 200 shanties­āĻ•āĻŽāĻĒā§ ā§¨ā§Ļā§ĻāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ•
ā§
ā§œāĻ˜āĻ°Íž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ leaving hundreds­āĻļāĻ¤ āĻļāĻ¤ āĻ¤ āĻžāĻ— (āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›)Íž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ residents homeless­āĻŦāĻ¸āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸āĻ°āĻ¤ āĻ—ā§ƒ
āĻšāĻšā§€āĻ¨Íž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ The fire also spread­āĻ† āĻ¨ āĻ† āĻ°āĻž āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĒ ā§œāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ to a nearby six­storey building­āĻĒāĻž āĻŦāĻ¤ āĻ›ā§Ÿ āĻ¤āĻ˛āĻž āĻ­āĻŦ āĻ¨Íž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ was doused later.­āĻĒ āĻ° āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĸāĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ douse­āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĸāĻžāĻ˛āĻž/āĻŋāĻ›āĻŸāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž āĻœāĻ˛āĻŽ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ Thankfully­ āĻ¸ā§—āĻ­āĻžāĻ— āĻŽÍž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ no lives were lost­ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻžāĻŖāĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ˜ āĻŸāĻŋāĻ¨Íž āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨ āĻ¨ āĻšā§ŸāĻŋāĻ¨Íž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ in the incident­āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ Frequent fires occurring at the city's slums­āĻ¨āĻ—āĻ°ā§€āĻ° āĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ…āĻŋ āĻ•āĻž āĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻžā§Ÿ
/āĻŦāĻžāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸāĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ just go to show­ āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ•āĻžāĻļ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ›Íž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ our lack of awareness­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ/āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ to the fore­āĻšāĻž āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ•āĻž āĻ›Íž āĻ¤ā§Ž āĻŖāĻžā§ŽÍž āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ˛Íž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ ill­prepared­āĻŦāĻž āĻœ āĻ¤Íž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ the authorities­āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ
āĻĒ Íž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ in handling such incidents­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ In many previous fire incidents­āĻĒā§‚
āĻŦ āĻ…āĻŋ āĻ•āĻž āĻ° āĻ… āĻ¨āĻ• āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ one of the main reasons of delay­ āĻĻāĻŋāĻ°āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻŋāĻ˛āĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸÍž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ in controlling the fire­āĻ† āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨ā§Ÿ āĻŖÍž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ the lack of natural water sources­ āĻžāĻ•
ā§ƒ
āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ¸ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ ponds or canals­āĻĒā§
āĻ•
ā§
āĻ° āĻ…āĻĨāĻŦāĻž āĻ–āĻžāĻ˛Íž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ in the respective areas­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻŋ āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžā§Ÿ
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ fire­fighters struggled to bring water­āĻĢāĻžā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻžāĻŋāĻ­āĻ¸ āĻ•āĻŽ āĻ°āĻž āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ¨ āĻ¤ āĻš āĻž/āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽ
āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ to douse the fire­āĻ† āĻ¨ āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ›āĻŸāĻž āĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ scarcity of water­āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ in this congested city­āĻāĻ‡ āĻœāĻ¨āĻŦ āĻ˛ āĻ¨āĻ—āĻ°ā§€ āĻ¤Íž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ the required preparation­ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ¤Íž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ the narrow roads­āĻ¸ /āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ•ā§€āĻŖ āĻ°āĻž āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ a constant reality in Dhaka­āĻĸāĻžāĻ•āĻžā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¤ /āĻŦāĻžāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸ āĻ› āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻ¤āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ procure the necessary equipment ­ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ‰āĻĒāĻ•āĻ°āĻŖ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻš āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ navigate­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ Sometimes­āĻŽāĻž āĻ āĻŽāĻž āĻÍž
ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ a fire in a slum­āĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ…āĻŋ āĻ•āĻž Íž
ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ the exact reason behind­āĻŋāĻĒāĻ› āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ†āĻ¸āĻ˛ āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖÍž
ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ ascertain­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ are identified­āĻŋāĻšāĻŋ āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ a faulty electric line ­ āĻŋāĻŸāĻĒā§‚
āĻŖ āĻŋāĻŦāĻĻā§
ā§Ž āĻ˛āĻžāĻ‡āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ a leaked gas pipe­āĻŋāĻ› āĻ¯ā§ āĻ— āĻžāĻ¸ āĻĒāĻžāĻ‡āĻĒÍž
ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ corrective steps­āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ form to ascertain­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻ—āĻ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ come up with­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ—āĻžāĻ˛ āĻ§āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ conclusive answer­āĻšā§œāĻž āĻœāĻŦāĻžāĻŦÍž
ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ go into oblivion with time­āĻ¸āĻŽ ā§ŸāĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨ āĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻ° ā§Ÿ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž āĻŋāĻŦ ā§ƒ
āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ we hope­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻ†āĻļāĻžāĻ•āĻŋāĻ°Íž
ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ would be identified soon­ āĻ¤ āĻŋāĻšāĻŋ āĻ¤/āĻ¸āĻ¨āĻž āĻš āĻŦÍž
ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ affected by ­āĻ† āĻž Íž
ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ will be rehabilitated immediately­āĻ…āĻŋāĻŦāĻ˛ āĻĒā§
āĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻ¸āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻš āĻŦÍž
ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ the low­income people­āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ† ā§ŸāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨āĻ—āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ so that ­āĻ¯āĻž āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ face the dangers of living­āĻœā§€āĻŋāĻŦāĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦāĻĒ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸ ā§
āĻ–ā§€āĻ¨ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ go to sleep every night­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ°āĻž āĻ¤ āĻ˜ā§
āĻŽāĻž āĻ¤ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
********āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ*****
Rupnagar’s inferno
What will happen to the homeless?
***************************
We are shocked that a fire that broke out in Rupnagar slum in the city's Mirpur area
on Wednesday morning has destroyed at least 200 shanties, leaving hundreds of its
residents homeless. The fire also spread to a nearby six­storey building which was
doused later. Thankfully, no lives were lost in the incident. Frequent fires occurring
at the city's slums just go to show our lack of awareness, among other things, and
the time it takes for the fire service to douse the fire brings to the fore how ill­
prepared the authorities are in handling such incidents.
In many previous fire incidents in the city, including those in the slums, one of the
main reasons of delay in controlling the fire has been the lack of natural water
sources like ponds or canals in the respective areas. The situation was the same
this time as fire­fighters struggled to bring water to douse the fire. Since scarcity of
water has always been and will always be an issue in this congested city, shouldn't
the fire service have the required preparation for that? Also, the narrow roads and
lanes being a constant reality in Dhaka, shouldn't they procure the necessary
equipment to navigate through these areas?
Sometimes when there is a fire in a slum, we are told that the exact reason behind it
couldn't be ascertained. And in cases where the reasons are identified—where fire
either originates from a faulty electric line or a leaked gas pipe—no corrective steps
are taken. The committees formed to ascertain the reasons hardly come up with any
conclusive answer, as the incidents go into oblivion with time.
This time, we hope the reasons for the Rupnagar fire would be identified soon and
acted upon, and those affected by it will be rehabilitated immediately by the
government. Also, the government should come up with a functional housing policy
for the low­income people in the city so that they do not have to face the dangers of
living in slums, fearing for their lives as they go to sleep every night.
March 13, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
**************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
==================
ā§§āĨ¤ Give kidney patients­ āĻ°āĻžāĻ—ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻĻā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§¨āĨ¤ the right to save their lives­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨ āĻ° āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ The law ­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻŋāĻŸÍž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ stop­āĻŦ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ from receiving transplants­āĻļāĻ°ā§€ āĻ°āĻ° āĻ… āĻ¤ āĻāĻ• āĻĻāĻš āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻĻ āĻš āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻšāĻŖ
āĻĨ āĻ•
ā§ŦāĨ¤ According to­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž
ā§­āĨ¤ estimated­āĻ†āĻ¨ā§
āĻŽāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ• (āĻŋāĻšāĻ¸āĻžāĻŦ)Íž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ in the country ­ āĻĻ āĻļÍž
ā§¯āĨ¤ suffer from­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ kidney disease­āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻ°āĻžāĻ—Íž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ every year ­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ›āĻ°Íž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ Although­āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻāĻ“Íž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ the annual demand for kidney transplant ­āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻžāĻĒ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻŦāĻžā§ŽāĻ¸āĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻĻāĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ renal­āĻŽā§‚
āĻžāĻļā§Ÿ āĻ¸ ā§€ā§ŸÍž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ undergo­ āĻ­āĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ the thousands of patients­āĻšāĻžāĻœāĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻœāĻžāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻ—ā§€Íž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ receive a kidney transplant­āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻšāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ the first blind lawyer of Faridpur Bar Association­āĻĢāĻŋāĻ°āĻĻāĻĒā§
āĻ° āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻœā§€āĻŦā§€ āĻ¸āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻ¤āĻ°
āĻĨāĻŽ āĻ… āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻœā§€āĻŦā§€Íž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ recipient ­ āĻšāĻŖāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ no eligible­ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻ¨ā§ŸÍž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ immediate and extended family­āĻ†āĻ¸ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¯ā§—āĻĨ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ difficult­āĻ•āĻŋāĻ āĻ¨Íž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ because of ­āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ the social taboo­āĻ¸āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻŋāĻœāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻˇ Íž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ removing organs from the body­āĻļāĻ°ā§€āĻ° āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ… āĻ¤ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ dead patient­āĻŽā§ƒ
āĻ¤ āĻ°āĻžāĻ—ā§€Íž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ unless­āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ the Organ Transplantation Act 1999­āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻŦ āĻĻāĻš āĻ… āĻ¤ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻ¯āĻžāĻœāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨, ā§§ā§¯ā§¯ā§¯
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ voluntary kidney donations­ āĻžā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻĻāĻžāĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ Last December­āĻ—āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°āĻ° āĻŋāĻĄ āĻ¸ āĻ°Íž
ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ the High Court even ordered the government­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ• āĻšāĻžāĻ‡ āĻ•āĻžāĻŸ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļ
āĻŋāĻĻ ā§Ÿ āĻ›āĻ¨Íž
ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ to make such an amendment ­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž
ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ within six months­āĻ›ā§Ÿ āĻŽāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ Íž
ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ Unfortunately­āĻĻā§
:āĻ–āĻœāĻ¨āĻ• āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻ° āĻš āĻ˛āĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ the drafting of the amendment­āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§āĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻ–āĻ¸ā§œāĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ at its primary stage­ āĻžāĻĨāĻŋāĻŽāĻ• āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§Ÿ (āĻ† āĻ›)Íž
ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ as this newspaper reported yesterday­āĻ—āĻ¤āĻ•āĻžāĻ˛ āĻāĻ‡ āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ•āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻļāĻ¤ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨
āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž
ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ the law prohibits ­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻŦāĻžāĻ§āĻž āĻĻā§ŸÍž
ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ voluntary kidney donations­ āĻžāĻ•
ā§ƒ
āĻ¤ āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻĻāĻž āĻ¨Íž
ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ hundreds of Bangladeshis­āĻļāĻ¤āĻļāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻāĻŋāĻļÍž
ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ are forced to travel abroad­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻĻāĻļ āĻ¯ āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻš (āĻšā§Ÿ)Íž
ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ in search of a life­saving kidney transplant­āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨ āĻ° āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨
āĻ… āĻˇ āĻŖÍž
ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ resort to ­āĻ† ā§Ÿ āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻ…āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ middlemen­āĻĻāĻžāĻ˛āĻžāĻ˛Íž
ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ the black market­āĻ•āĻž āĻ˛āĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ°Íž
ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ convince ­āĻ•āĻžāĻ‰ āĻ• āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ the economically poor­āĻ†āĻŋāĻĨāĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ/āĻ…āĻĨ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ—āĻŋāĻ°āĻŦÍž
ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ become donors­ āĻĄāĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻŦāĻž āĻĻāĻžāĻ¤āĻž āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ take advantage of­āĻ¸ā§
āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻšāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ hefty sums of money­āĻŦā§œ āĻ…āĻ‚ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ…āĻĨ/āĻŸāĻžāĻ•āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ hefty­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ—ā§œāĻžÍž āĻĒā§
Íž
ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ promising lives­āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŦāĻ¨āĻžāĻŽā§Ÿ āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨Íž
ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ are lost every year­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ›āĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻ°āĻž Íž
ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ due to­āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž
ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ roadblocks­āĻŦ āĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻĄÍž āĻĒāĻĨ āĻ°āĻžāĻĻÍž
ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ stagger­āĻŋāĻŦāĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻšāĻžāĻŸ āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ remove­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ unacceptable.­āĻ… āĻšāĻŖ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— Íž
ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ indefinitely­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ for the government­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻž āĻ°āĻ°Íž
ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ slowly­āĻ§ā§€āĻ°āĻ—āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¤Íž
ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ able to get ­ āĻĒ āĻ¤ āĻ¸ āĻŽÍž
ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ procedure­āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯ āĻŖāĻžāĻ˛ā§€Íž āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ needs to urgently amend­āĻœ āĻŋāĻ° āĻŋāĻ­āĻŋ āĻ¤/āĻ…āĻŋāĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻĻāĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž
ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ as per the High Court's directive­āĻšāĻžāĻ‡ āĻ•āĻž āĻŸāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨āĻž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§
āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž
ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ launch an awareness campaign­āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻšāĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ feasible­āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯āĻ•āĻ°Íž
******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ******
Give kidney patients the right to save their lives!
The law shouldn’t stop patients from receiving transplants
*********************
According to the High Court, an estimated 20 million people in the country suffer
from some form of kidney disease every year and about 35,000­45,000 of them die
of kidney failure. Although the annual demand for kidney transplant is somewhere
between 5,000­9,000, only about 120­130 end­stage renal failure patients can find
healthy donors and undergo kidney transplant per year.
Among the thousands of patients hoping to receive a kidney transplant is the first
blind lawyer of Faridpur Bar Association and a recipient of The Daily Star and IPDC
Finance's Unsung Women Nation Builders Awards 2020, Marjia Rabbani Shoshi.
Marjia has no eligible and willing donor in her immediate and extended family, which
means her only option is a nonrelative donor or a cadaveric one. The latter is
difficult because of the social taboo about removing organs from the body of a brain­
dead patient, while the former cannot be done unless the Organ Transplantation Act
1999 is amended to allow voluntary kidney donations. Last December, the High
Court even ordered the government to make such an amendment within six months.
Unfortunately, the drafting of the amendment is still only at its primary stage, as this
newspaper reported yesterday.
Because the law prohibits voluntary kidney donations, hundreds of Bangladeshis are
forced to travel abroad in search of a life­saving kidney transplant. Others have to
resort to middlemen and the black market, who convince the economically poor to
become donors and take advantage of them, while charging the patients hefty sums
of money.
The number of promising lives that are lost every year due to such roadblocks is
staggering. And the fact that the government isn't moving quicker to remove them is
unacceptable. People like Marjia should not have to wait around indefinitely for the
government to slowly reframe the law. They should be able to get a procedure that
could save their lives done immediately.
The government needs to urgently amend the Organ Transplantation Act 1999, as
per the High Court's directive. It should also launch an awareness campaign so that
it becomes more feasible for kidney patients to receive transplants from cadaveric
donors.
March 14, 2020
The Daily Star Editorial
**************************
āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡
==================
ā§§āĨ¤ Reading and planting trees­āĻŦāĻ‡ āĻĒā§œāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ—āĻžāĻ› āĻ˛āĻžāĻ—āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
ā§¨āĨ¤ as punishment­āĻļāĻžāĻŋ āĻŋāĻš āĻ¸ āĻŦÍž
ā§ŠāĨ¤ Magura court’s novel idea­āĻŽāĻž āĻ°āĻž āĻ†āĻĻāĻžāĻ˛ āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¨āĻŦ āĻŋāĻš āĻžÍž
ā§ĒāĨ¤ of correcting young offenders­āĻŋāĻ• āĻļāĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§ āĻ¨āĻ°Íž
ā§ĢāĨ¤ commendable­ āĻļāĻ‚āĻ¸āĻ¨ā§€ā§ŸÍž
ā§ŦāĨ¤ pleasantly surprised to learn­ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°āĻŽāĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤Íž
ā§­āĨ¤ from a Prothom Alo report that­ āĻĨāĻŽ āĻ† āĻ˛āĻž āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻĨ āĻ•Íž
ā§ŽāĨ¤ rather than­āĻŦāĻ°āĻ‚Íž
ā§¯āĨ¤ sentencing nine youths­āĻ¨ā§Ÿ āĻ¯ā§
āĻŦ āĻ•āĻ° āĻļāĻžāĻŋ Íž
ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ aged between 19 and 24­āĻ¯āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŦā§ŸāĻ¸ ā§§ā§¯ āĻĨ āĻ• ā§¨ā§Ē āĻŦāĻ›āĻ°Íž
ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ three months imprisonment ­ā§Š āĻŽāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻĻ Íž
ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ in a drug abuse case filed against them­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦ āĻĻāĻž ā§ŸāĻ°āĻ•
ā§ƒ
āĻ¤ āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻŽāĻžāĻŽāĻ˛āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ a regular sentence in such cases­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻŽāĻžāĻŽāĻ˛āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻļāĻžāĻŋ Íž
ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ a Magura court has put these youths under probation­āĻŽāĻž āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ†āĻĻāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¤
āĻāĻ¸āĻŦ āĻ¯ā§
āĻŦāĻ• āĻ• āĻŦāĻļ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ…āĻ§ā§€ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻĻ ā§Ÿ āĻ›āĻ¨Íž
ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ and directed them­āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļ āĻŋāĻĻ ā§Ÿ āĻ›āĻ¨Íž
ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ to read books­āĻŦāĻ‡ āĻĒā§œ āĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ watch films ­āĻŋāĻ¸ āĻ¨āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ– āĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ and plant trees­āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ—āĻžāĻ› āĻ˛āĻžāĻ—āĻž āĻ¤Íž
ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ According to the court verdict­āĻ†āĻĻāĻžāĻ˛ āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ°āĻžā§Ÿ āĻĨ āĻ• āĻœāĻžāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž
ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ under the supervision of a probation officer ­ āĻŦāĻļāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻžāĻŦāĻ§āĻž āĻ¨Íž
ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ of the local social welfare office­ āĻžāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻœ āĻ‰ ā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻŋāĻĢ āĻ¸āĻ°Íž
ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ for one year­āĻāĻ• āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°āĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ if they break any of the conditions ­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻļāĻ¤ āĻ­ āĻ• āĻ°Íž
ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ and engage in any kind of criminal activity­āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛āĻ• āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻž
āĻœāĻŋā§œāĻ¤ āĻšā§ŸÍž
ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ during this time­āĻāĻ‡ āĻ¸āĻŽ ā§ŸÍž
ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ they will then be given three­months imprisonment­āĻ¤āĻ–āĻ¨ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• ā§Š āĻŽāĻž āĻ¸āĻ°
āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻĻ āĻĻā§ŸāĻž āĻš āĻŦ/ā§Š āĻŽāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻĻ āĻ¤āĻ–āĻ¨ āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ­āĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻ° āĻŦÍž
ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ The court deserves our appreciation ­āĻ†āĻĻāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¤ āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻļāĻ‚āĻ¸āĻž āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— Íž
ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ for implementing such a novel idea of punishment­āĻļāĻžāĻŋ āĻ° āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¨āĻŦ āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖāĻž
āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž
ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ Taking corrective measures­āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§āĻ¨āĻŽā§‚
āĻ˛āĻ• āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻžÍž
ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ against young offenders­āĻŋāĻ• āĻļāĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦ Íž
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]
Editorial translation practice(march)  [www.onlinebcs.com]

More Related Content

More from Itmona

More from Itmona (20)

Road transport (brta) motor vehicle inspector examination question paper 2017...
Road transport (brta) motor vehicle inspector examination question paper 2017...Road transport (brta) motor vehicle inspector examination question paper 2017...
Road transport (brta) motor vehicle inspector examination question paper 2017...
 
Post office job question 2016 [www.onlinebcs.com]
Post office job question 2016 [www.onlinebcs.com]Post office job question 2016 [www.onlinebcs.com]
Post office job question 2016 [www.onlinebcs.com]
 
41st bcs written question mathematical reasoning
41st bcs written question mathematical reasoning41st bcs written question mathematical reasoning
41st bcs written question mathematical reasoning
 
41st bcs written exam subject mental skills
41st bcs written exam subject mental skills41st bcs written exam subject mental skills
41st bcs written exam subject mental skills
 
41st bcs written math question 2021
41st bcs written math question 202141st bcs written math question 2021
41st bcs written math question 2021
 
41st bcs written exam question solution mental skills
41st bcs written exam question solution mental skills41st bcs written exam question solution mental skills
41st bcs written exam question solution mental skills
 
41st bcs written test mathematical reasoning solution 2021
41st bcs written test mathematical reasoning solution 202141st bcs written test mathematical reasoning solution 2021
41st bcs written test mathematical reasoning solution 2021
 
41st bcs written bengali question
41st bcs written bengali question41st bcs written bengali question
41st bcs written bengali question
 
4 december kgdcl question solution 2021
4 december kgdcl question solution  20214 december kgdcl question solution  2021
4 december kgdcl question solution 2021
 
Bangladesh gas field job question solution 2021
Bangladesh gas field job question solution 2021Bangladesh gas field job question solution 2021
Bangladesh gas field job question solution 2021
 
Ministry of defense junior teacher of dhaka cantonment 2021
Ministry of defense junior teacher of dhaka cantonment 2021Ministry of defense junior teacher of dhaka cantonment 2021
Ministry of defense junior teacher of dhaka cantonment 2021
 
Dshe accounting assistant exam questions solution 2013
Dshe accounting assistant exam questions solution 2013Dshe accounting assistant exam questions solution 2013
Dshe accounting assistant exam questions solution 2013
 
Dshe office assistant exam questions solution 2021
Dshe office assistant exam questions solution 2021Dshe office assistant exam questions solution 2021
Dshe office assistant exam questions solution 2021
 
Road transport (brta) motor vehicle inspector examination question paper 2017
Road transport (brta) motor vehicle inspector examination question paper 2017Road transport (brta) motor vehicle inspector examination question paper 2017
Road transport (brta) motor vehicle inspector examination question paper 2017
 
National security intelligence agency (nsi) field officer 2018[www.onlinebcs....
National security intelligence agency (nsi) field officer 2018[www.onlinebcs....National security intelligence agency (nsi) field officer 2018[www.onlinebcs....
National security intelligence agency (nsi) field officer 2018[www.onlinebcs....
 
Food department's assistant sub food inspector question ‍solution 2021
Food department's assistant sub food inspector  question ‍solution 2021Food department's assistant sub food inspector  question ‍solution 2021
Food department's assistant sub food inspector question ‍solution 2021
 
Titas gas transmission and distribution company limited assistant manager 2018
Titas gas transmission and distribution company limited assistant manager 2018Titas gas transmission and distribution company limited assistant manager 2018
Titas gas transmission and distribution company limited assistant manager 2018
 
Assistant manager, gas transmission company limited
Assistant manager, gas transmission company limitedAssistant manager, gas transmission company limited
Assistant manager, gas transmission company limited
 
Dbbl probationary-officer-software-job-exam-question
Dbbl probationary-officer-software-job-exam-questionDbbl probationary-officer-software-job-exam-question
Dbbl probationary-officer-software-job-exam-question
 
Education and research institute upazila [www.onlinebcs.com]
Education and research institute upazila [www.onlinebcs.com]Education and research institute upazila [www.onlinebcs.com]
Education and research institute upazila [www.onlinebcs.com]
 

Editorial translation practice(march) [www.onlinebcs.com]

  • 1. Join us Bank Recruitment Exam Boost The Daily Star Editorial English to Bangla Translation
  • 2. File create by : JM Abdullah (Admin), Bank Recruitment Exam Boost(Group) March 02, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial ************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ================= ā§§āĨ¤ Negligence of authorities­āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ āĻĒ āĻ° āĻ…āĻŦ āĻšāĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§¨āĨ¤ ruining­ āĻ‚āĻ¸ āĻš Íž ā§ŠāĨ¤ A recent report published by this daily revealed that­āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻĄāĻ‡āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ•āĻžā§Ÿ/āĻāĻ‡ āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ•āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻļāĻ¤ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻ āĻ¨ āĻœāĻžāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§ĒāĨ¤ the main way­ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻĨ/āĻ°āĻž āĻžÍž ā§ĢāĨ¤ a dilapidated state­ āĻŽāĻ°āĻžāĻŽāĻ¤āĻšā§€āĻ¨/ āĻ‚āĻ¸ āĻž āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžÍž ā§ŦāĨ¤ the concerned authorities­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻŋ āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ āĻĒ Íž ā§­āĨ¤ have paid no attention (to)­āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻĻā§ŸāĻŋāĻ¨Íž ā§ŽāĨ¤ the dire condition­āĻ­ā§ŸāĻžāĻŦāĻš/āĻ­ā§€āĻˇāĻŖ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžÍž ā§¯āĨ¤ hundreds of vehicles­āĻļāĻ¤āĻļāĻ¤ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻ¨Íž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ commuter­āĻ¯āĻž ā§€Íž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ capacity­āĻ¸ āĻŽāĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ the absence of a footpath­āĻĢ ā§ āĻŸāĻĒ āĻĨāĻ° āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻĒāĻŋ āĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ thousands of pedestrians­āĻšāĻžāĻœāĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻœāĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻĨāĻšāĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ thoroughfare­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻ¨āĻŦ āĻ˛ āĻ°āĻž āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ chaos­ āĻ¨āĻ°āĻžāĻœ Íž āĻŋāĻŦāĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ the asphalt on the road­āĻ¸ā§œ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ“āĻĒāĻ° āĻŋāĻĒāĻš āĻĸāĻžāĻ˛āĻžāĻ‡Íž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ erode­āĻ§ā§€ āĻ° āĻ§ā§€ āĻ° ā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ cluttered bricks and stones­āĻ āĻ˛āĻž āĻŽ āĻ˛āĻž/āĻŋāĻŦāĻļā§ƒāĻ˛ āĻ‡āĻŸ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻĒāĻžāĻĨāĻ°Íž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ a myriad of potholes­āĻ…āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻ—āĻ¤Íž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ full of mud­āĻ•āĻžāĻĻāĻžā§Ÿ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻĒā§‚ āĻŖÍž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ during monsoon­āĻŦāĻˇāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻ˛Íž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ dust­āĻ§ā§‚ āĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ occurrences of multiple minor accidents­ āĻ›āĻžāĻŸāĻ–āĻž āĻŸāĻž āĻ…āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻĻā§ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ˜āĻŸāĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ indifference ­āĻ”āĻĻāĻžāĻ¸ā§€āĻ¨ / āĻ…āĻ¯ Íž
  • 3. ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ excuse for­āĻ…āĻœā§ āĻšāĻžāĻ¤Íž ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ lack of maintenance work of a road­āĻ¸ā§œ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ•āĻž āĻœāĻ° āĻ° āĻŖāĻž āĻŦ āĻŖāĻ° āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦÍž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ exert pressure (on)­āĻšāĻžāĻĒ ā§ŸāĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ prioritise­āĻ… āĻžāĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻĻā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ crucial ­āĻ…āĻ¤ āĻĒā§‚ āĻŖÍž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ a matter of concern ­āĻ‰ āĻ—āĻ° āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻ°/āĻŋāĻŦāĻˇā§ŸÍž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ all over the country­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻĻ āĻļ/ āĻĻāĻļāĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€Íž ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ in a bad condition­āĻ–āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻĒ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ the road crashes­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĻā§ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ precious lives­āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻŦāĻžāĻ¨ āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨'Íž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ Clearly­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ° āĻžāĻ°āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž āĻ¸ā§ āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ well aware of­āĻ­āĻž āĻ˛āĻžāĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ…āĻŦāĻŋāĻšāĻ¤Íž ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ repair­ āĻŽāĻ°āĻžāĻŽāĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž *****āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ****** Negligence of authorities ruining Sonadanga Bypass Road ************************ A recent report published by this daily revealed that Sonadanga Bypass Road, the main way leading in and out of Khulna, is in a dilapidated state because the concerned authorities have paid no attention to the dire condition it faces. With hundreds of vehicles plying the road on a daily basis, the bypass must bear the onslaught of cars, buses and commuters, the combination of which far exceeds its capacity. And in the absence of a footpath, thousands of pedestrians risk their lives trying to make their way along the thoroughfare, contributing to the chaos. Since its completion in 2013, no repair work has been done at all. Even the asphalt on the road has eroded overtime. To make matters worse, cluttered bricks and stones along with a myriad of potholes—full of mud during monsoon or dust otherwise—are now a trademark of Sonadanga Bypass Road, with occurrences of multiple minor accidents on a regular basis. Why then this indifference from the concerned authorities? There is really no excuse for this total lack of maintenance work of a road that is so vital for safe, efficient movement of vehicles and people. The government should exert pressure on the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) to prioritise the maintenance of a road as crucial as the one in question. It is a matter of concern that there are many roads and bridges all over the country that are also in a bad condition, adding to the road crashes that are taking precious lives every day. Around 25 percent of the country's roads under the Road and Highways Department are in "poor, bad or very bad" shape, according to an RHD survey conducted on 17,452 km of roads last March. Clearly, the RHD is well aware of the situation and should repair these roads on an urgent basis.
  • 4. March 03, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial ************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ================= ā§§āĨ¤ A losing war­āĻŦ āĻĨ āĻ¯ā§ Íž ā§¨āĨ¤ on drugs­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻŋāĻŦāĻˇ ā§ŸÍž ā§ŠāĨ¤ The authorities­āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ āĻĒ Íž ā§ĒāĨ¤ acknowledge­ ā§€āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻŽ āĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§ĢāĨ¤ tactics ­ āĻ•ā§—āĻļāĻ˛Íž ā§ŦāĨ¤ have failed­āĻŦ āĻĨ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž āĻ…āĻ¸āĻĢāĻ˛ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž ā§­āĨ¤ drug lord­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŸÍž ā§ŽāĨ¤ reportedly­āĻŋāĻŦāĻŦāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž ā§¯āĨ¤ at the highest level­āĻ¸ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§ŸÍž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ a hiatus of around two years­ āĻžā§Ÿ āĻĻā§ āĻ‡ āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°āĻ° āĻŋāĻŦ āĻĻ/āĻŋāĻŦāĻ°āĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ the anti­narcotics crackdown­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ began in 2018­ā§¨ā§Ļā§§ā§Ž āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛ āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ reclaim­āĻ‰ āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ throne­āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ Íž āĻ­ Íž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ infested areas­āĻ‰āĻĒ āĻ¤ āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ According to­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž āĻ­āĻžāĻˇ āĻŽ āĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ over 90,000 pills­ā§¯ā§Ļ āĻšāĻžāĻœāĻž āĻ°āĻ°āĻ“ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļ āĻŦā§œÍžāĻŋ◌ ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ are sold daily­ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋ āĻšā§ŸÍž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ are filed with Mohammadpur Police Station­ āĻŽāĻžāĻšāĻž āĻĻāĻĒā§ āĻ° āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨āĻžā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻž ā§ŸāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻšā§ŸÍž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ per month­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŽāĻž āĻ¸Íž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ narcotics cases­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻŽāĻžāĻŽāĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ related to­āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ•āĻ¤Íž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ Therefore­āĻ¸ā§ āĻ¤āĻ°āĻžāĻ‚Íž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ gang­āĻĻāĻ˛Íž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ rebuild­āĻĒā§ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
  • 5. ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ some of his associates­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻš āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—ā§€Íž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ were arrested­ āĻĢāĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ the beginning of the anti­narcotics drive­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻž āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ¤Íž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ .The main reason­ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖÍž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ empire­āĻ¸āĻž āĻžāĻœ Íž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ corrupt law enforcers­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻž āĻ° āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻĻā§ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒāĻ°āĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ payroll­āĻŽāĻžāĻ‡ āĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ a top underworld criminal­āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§āĻœāĻ— āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ‰ āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§ŸāĻ° āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€Íž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ a life term­āĻ¯āĻžāĻŦ ā§€āĻŦāĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ some officers at Mohammadpur Police Station­ āĻŽāĻžāĻšāĻž āĻĻāĻĒā§ āĻ° āĻĨāĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ every night­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ°āĻž āĻ¤Íž ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ detectives­ āĻ—āĻž ā§Ÿ āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ to run his business­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻŦ āĻŦāĻ¸āĻž āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ without hindrance­āĻŦāĻžāĻ§āĻž āĻ›āĻžā§œāĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ return to the country­ āĻĻ āĻļ āĻŋāĻĢ āĻ° āĻ†āĻ¸āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ the massive wealth­āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻ•/āĻŋāĻŦāĻĒā§ āĻ˛/ āĻšāĻ° āĻ¸ āĻĻÍž ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ amass­āĻĒā§ āĻŋ āĻ­āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ¸ ā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ the Anti­Corruption Commission­āĻĻā§ āĻ¨ ā§€āĻ¤ āĻĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻļāĻ¨Íž ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ However­āĻ¤ āĻŦÍž ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ the question remains­ āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž āĻ† āĻ›Íž ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ become so powerful­āĻ–ā§ āĻŦāĻ‡ āĻ­āĻžāĻŦāĻļāĻžāĻ˛ā§€ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ powerful individuals­ āĻ­āĻžāĻŦāĻļāĻžāĻ˛ā§€ āĻŦ āĻŋ Íž ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ unscrupulous law enforcers­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻž āĻ° āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻ… āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ reality­āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ we cannot help but ask ­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻœ āĻžāĻ¸āĻž āĻ¨āĻž āĻ• āĻ° āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ the anti­narcotics drive has achieved­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ lives­āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨Íž ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ suspicious­āĻ¸ āĻšāĻœāĻ¨āĻ•Íž ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ "gunfights" ­āĻŦ ā§ āĻ•āĻ¯ā§ Íž ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ the supply of drugs­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ°āĻŦāĻ°āĻžāĻšÍž ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ in any shape or form­ āĻ¯ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ•āĻž āĻ° āĻŦāĻž āĻŋāĻ¨ā§Ÿ āĻŽÍž
  • 6. ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ the drug menace­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻ āĻ•āĻ° āĻŽāĻŋāĻ•Íž ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ prosecution­āĻŽāĻžāĻŽāĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ masterminds­āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻšāĻžāĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ such as­ āĻ¯āĻŽāĻ¨Íž ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ crooked law enforcers­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ ā§ŸāĻžāĻ—āĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ…āĻ¸ā§Ž āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ bring to book­āĻļāĻžāĻŋ āĻ° āĻ†āĻ“āĻ¤āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ†āĻ¸āĻž *****āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ********* A losing war on drugs The authorities should acknowledge their tactics have failed ************************* Mohammadpur Geneva Camp's drug lord Ishtiaq Ahmed is reportedly back in the drug game at the highest level. After a hiatus of around two years—after the anti­ narcotics crackdown began in 2018—the big­time narcotics dealer has reclaimed his throne in one of the worst drug infested areas of Dhaka city.According to police intelligence, over 90,000 pills are sold daily in the Mohammadpur area. And out of the 150 cases that are filed with Mohammadpur Police Station per month, around 75 are narcotics cases related to the Geneva Camp area. Therefore, Ahmed's gang, which he managed to rebuild since some of his associates were arrested following the beginning of the anti­narcotics drive, continues to have a big influence on the city's drug scene.The main reason for his success in rebuilding his empire has been the backing he receives from corrupt law enforcers—who are on his payroll—and a top underworld criminal who had got a life term but came out of jail recently, according to intelligence and camp sources. Reportedly, Ishtiaq's men give Tk 8­10 thousand to some officers at Mohammadpur Police Station every night and Tk 75 thousand to detectives every week to run his business without hindrance. Last month, Ahmed even felt safe enough to return to the country and is now running his business from India, having reorganised his gang.With the massive wealth he amassed, Ishtiaq has over 100 bighas of land in Savar and Ashulia, and cases against him are pending with the Anti­Corruption Commission. However, the question remains on how Ishtiaq managed to become so powerful in the first place. It is clear, given his background as a ragpicker, that Ishtiaq had to have the backing of powerful individuals in his bid to become a big­time drug dealer. And it is similar backing from unscrupulous law enforcers and others that has allowed him to return to the top of the drug running industry.Given this reality, we cannot help but ask what the anti­narcotics drive has achieved. Except for claiming over 400 lives, has it really achieved anything?The fact remains that killing small time yaba carriers in suspicious "gunfights" will not slow down the supply of drugs in any shape or form. The only way the drug menace can be overcome—from the supply side of it—is through the arrest and prosecution of big­time drug dealers and masterminds, such as Ishtiaq Ahmed. At the same time, crooked law enforcers and politicians such as the ones shielding him must also be brought to book.
  • 7. March 04, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial ************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ================== ā§§āĨ¤ crossfires­ āĻ¸āĻĢāĻžā§ŸāĻžāĻ°Íž āĻ—āĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻŋāĻ˛āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽā§ŸÍž ā§¨āĨ¤ the new normal (Phrase)­āĻĒā§‚ āĻŦ āĻ…āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻž āĻ… āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻŋāĻŦāĻ• āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¤ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋ āĻ• āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžā§Ÿ āĻĒ āĻ¨āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§ŠāĨ¤ Our law enforcement ­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻž āĻ° āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¨ā§€Íž ā§ĒāĨ¤ seem­ āĻ¤ā§€ā§ŸāĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖāĻž āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§ĢāĨ¤ lack faith­āĻ† āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ/āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§ŦāĨ¤ in the judicial process­āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ° āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžā§ŸÍž ā§­āĨ¤ trouble­āĻ‰āĻŋ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž āĻ… āĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻĢāĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§ŽāĨ¤ deeply troubled­āĻ—āĻ­ā§€āĻ°āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ‰āĻŋ Íž ā§¯āĨ¤ suspected Rohingya robbers­āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ­āĻžāĻœāĻ¨ āĻ°āĻžāĻŋāĻš āĻž āĻĄāĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ¤/āĻĻāĻ¸ā§ Íž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ were killed­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ in an alleged gunfight­āĻ•āĻŋāĻĨāĻ¤ āĻŦ ā§ āĻ• āĻ¯ā§Íž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ the highest number of casualties­āĻšāĻ¤āĻžāĻš āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ¸ āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ justification ­āĻŦ āĻžāĻ– āĻžÍž āĻ† āĻĒ ­āĻ¸āĻŽāĻĨāĻ¨Íž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ follow­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ the same narrative ­āĻāĻ•āĻ‡ āĻŋāĻŦāĻŦāĻ°āĻŖ/āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¨ā§€Íž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ other cases of "gun fights"­āĻŦ ā§ āĻ• āĻ¯ā§āĻ° āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ the criminals­āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ opened fire on them­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ‰āĻĒāĻ° āĻŋāĻ˛āĻŦāĻˇāĻŖ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ they were "forced" to fire shots­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ in retaliation­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻļāĻž āĻ§Íž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ retaliate­āĻĻā§ āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻœāĻŦāĻžāĻŦ āĻĻā§ āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻŽāĻžāĻ§ āĻŽ āĻĻāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ Rab also claimed­āĻ°Â  ◌ āĻžāĻŦ āĻ† āĻ°āĻž āĻĻāĻžāĻŋāĻŦ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ recover­āĻ‰ āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ abandoned bullet shells­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ¤ āĻŦā§ āĻ˛ āĻŸāĻ° āĻ–āĻžāĻ˛āĻ¸Íž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ from the spot­āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ˛ āĻĨ āĻ•Íž
  • 8. ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ the right to use­āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ their weapons ­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ… Íž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ in self­defence­āĻ† āĻ° āĻž āĻĨÍž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ remind them ­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻŽ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻŋāĻ° ā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ under the most extreme cases­āĻ…āĻ¤ āĻšāĻ°āĻŽ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻ§ā§€āĻ¨/āĻŽā§ āĻ–āĻžāĻŽā§ āĻŋāĻ– āĻš āĻ˛Íž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ run out of all possible options­āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŦ āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻ‰āĻĒāĻžā§Ÿ āĻ…āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ However­āĻŋāĻ• Íž āĻ¤ āĻŦÍž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ‡ āĻšāĻžāĻ•Íž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ deaths from "gun fights"­āĻŦ ā§ āĻ•āĻ¯ā§ āĻšāĻ¤ āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ At least­āĻ•āĻŽāĻĒ Íž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ the government launched­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻ˛ā§ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›/ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ anti­narcotics drive­āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ In many cases­āĻ… āĻ¨āĻ• Íž ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ the victims were allegedly picked up­āĻ­ āĻ­āĻžāĻ—ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻ¤ āĻ˛ āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻ‰āĻ  āĻ›/āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻ† āĻ›Íž ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ from their own homes­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨āĻœ āĻ—ā§ƒ āĻš āĻĨ āĻ•Íž ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ but were later found shot­āĻŋāĻ• āĻĒ āĻ° āĻŋāĻ˛āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžā§Ÿ āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻž āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ provide credible evidence­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻĻāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ the alleged criminals ­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯ā§ āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€: ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ armed­āĻ¸āĻļ Íž ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ The sheer volume of deaths from encounters­āĻ† āĻ° āĻž āĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽ ā§ŸāĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžā§Ÿ āĻšāĻ¤ āĻžāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ›āĻ•/āĻ¸ ā§‚ āĻŖ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ the impunity with­āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°āĻšā§€āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžÍž āĻĻ āĻŽā§āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ get away with­āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ• āĻ°āĻ“ āĻĒāĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ give us pause for reflection­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻš āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ believe­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻŽ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ an acceptable alternative to the judicial process­āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ° āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻŖ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻŋāĻŦāĻ• Íž ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ surprise­āĻ† āĻ¯Íž āĻŋāĻŦ ā§ŸÍž ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ members of the parliament ­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ earlier this year­āĻāĻ‡ āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°āĻ° āĻ¤Íž ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤endorsed ­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž āĻĻāĻžāĻŋāĻŦ āĻ¸āĻŽāĻĨāĻ¨ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ extrajudicial killings­āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°āĻŦāĻŋāĻ­āĻ¤ āĻšāĻ¤ āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻŖāĨ¤āĻĄÍž
  • 9. ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ a preferred means ­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻ¤āĻ° āĻĒāĻ› āĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ/ ā§Ÿ āĻ‰āĻĒāĻžā§Ÿ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒ āĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ of addressing criminal offences­ āĻĢā§—āĻœāĻĻāĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ āĻĻāĻŽ āĻ¨āĻ°Íž ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ frank admission ­āĻ…āĻ•āĻĒāĻŸ ā§€āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ the deliberate use of "crossfire"­ āĻ¸āĻĢāĻžā§ŸāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻ‡ āĻžāĻ• ā§ƒ āĻ¤/āĻ¸ā§ āĻŋāĻšāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°Íž ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ to punish so­called criminals ­āĻ¤āĻĨāĻžāĻ•āĻŋāĻĨāĻ¤ āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻļāĻžāĻŋ āĻĻā§ŸāĻžāĻ°Íž ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ alongside­āĻĒāĻžāĻļāĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻļÍž ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ on a dangerous path­āĻŋāĻŦāĻĒ āĻ¨āĻ• āĻĒ āĻĨÍž ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ no point of return­āĻ† āĻ˛āĻžāĻšāĻ¨āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ… āĻ—āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŦāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¨āĻ‡ āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§Ÿ āĻĒā§—āĻ›āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ in due process­āĻ¸āĻŋāĻ āĻ• āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžā§ŸÍž ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ citizens of the country­ āĻĻ āĻļāĻ° āĻ¨āĻžāĻ—āĻŋāĻ°āĻ•Íž ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ afford­ āĻĻā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ complacent­āĻ† āĻ¤āĻŋ Íž ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ lawmakers­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻŖāĻ¤āĻžÍž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ answer for­āĻĻāĻžā§Ÿā§€ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ extrajudicial measures­āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°āĻŦāĻŋāĻšāĻ­āĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž ******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ***** Are “crossfires” the new normal? Our law enforcement seems to lack faith in the judicial process **************************** We are deeply troubled by the news that seven suspected Rohingya robbers were killed in an alleged gunfight with Rab in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf on March 2, in what was the highest number of casualties in an encounter in the country in recent times. The justification offered by the law enforcement agencies follows the same narrative as that of other cases of "gun fights"—that the criminals opened fire on them and that they were "forced" to fire shots in retaliation. Rab also claimed to have recovered three pistols, seven one­shot guns,12 bullets and 13 abandoned bullet shells from the spot. While law enforcement has the right to use their weapons in self­defence, we should not have to remind them that they must do so only under the most extreme cases and when they have run out of all possible options. However, deaths from "gun fights" seem to have become the new normal, with a total of 15 Rohingyas killed by law enforcers in similar encounters since February alone. At least 786 people have been killed in encounters since the government launched its anti­narcotics drive in May 2018. In many cases, the victims were allegedly picked up from their own homes but were later found shot. In other cases, the police could not provide credible evidence that the alleged criminals were armed.
  • 10. The sheer volume of deaths from encounters—and the impunity with which law enforcers are allowed to get away with these deaths—should give us pause for reflection. Do our law enforcers now believe that "crossfire" is an acceptable alternative to the judicial process? It would hardly be a surprise if they did, given that members of the parliament earlier this year endorsed extrajudicial killings as a preferred means of addressing criminal offences. Their frank admission about the deliberate use of "crossfire" to punish so­called criminals should be read alongside these seven deaths. We are now on a dangerous path from which there appears to be no point of return. If law enforcers themselves no longer believe in due process, why should citizens of the country have faith in it? We cannot afford to be complacent, and our lawmakers, and law enforcers, must both answer for the impunity enjoyed by law enforcing agencies in meting out extrajudicial March 05, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial ************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ================== ā§§āĨ¤ Air pollution­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§ āĻĻā§‚ āĻˇāĻŖÍž ā§¨āĨ¤ shorten­āĻ•āĻŽāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ• ā§ āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻŋ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§ŠāĨ¤ life expectancy­āĻ†ā§Ÿā§ Íž ā§ĒāĨ¤ Air pollution shortening life expectancy­āĻ†ā§Ÿā§ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽ ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻĻ āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§ āĻĻā§‚ āĻˇāĻŖÍž ā§ĢāĨ¤ the government­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§ŦāĨ¤ any concrete plan­āĻŦāĻž āĻŦ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§­āĨ¤ to address this­āĻāĻŸāĻž āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ°/ āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§ŽāĨ¤ shocking­āĻŽāĻŽāĻ˜āĻžāĻ¤ā§€Íž āĻŽāĻŽāĻžāĻŋ āĻ•Íž ā§¯āĨ¤ to note­āĻ˛ āĻ• āĻ°Íž āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻŋāĻĻ ā§ŸÍž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ the apathy of our policymakers­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻŖāĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ°/āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ…āĻ¨ā§€āĻšāĻž/āĻ‰āĻĻāĻžāĻ¸ā§€āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ in addressing the issue of air pollution­āĻ†ā§Ÿā§ āĻĻā§‚ āĻˇ āĻŖāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦāĻˇā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻ§āĻž āĻ¨Íž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ take its toll=āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ•āĻž āĻ°āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ•āĻ›āĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž (āĻāĻ‡ Phrase āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻāĻ•āĻž āĻĄāĻŋāĻŽ āĻŋāĻĄāĻ•āĻļāĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ¤ āĻ¨āĻ‡)Íž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ on public health for long­āĻĻā§€āĻ˜ āĻ¸āĻŽā§Ÿ āĻ§ āĻ°/āĻĻā§€āĻ˜ āĻŽā§ŸāĻžāĻĻā§€ āĻœāĻ¨ āĻž āĻ°Íž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ A recent international research found that­āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ† āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ— āĻŦāĻˇāĻŖāĻžā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻ–āĻž āĻ— āĻ› āĻ¯Íž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ air pollution shortens lives­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§ āĻĻā§‚ āĻˇāĻŖ āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨ āĻ• āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽ ā§Ÿ/ āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ• āĻ° āĻŋāĻĻ ( āĻĻā§Ÿ)Íž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ nearly three years­ āĻžā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻŦāĻ›āĻ°Íž
  • 11. ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ on average­āĻ— ā§œÍž āĻ—ā§œāĻĒā§œāĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ premature deaths­āĻ…āĻ•āĻžāĻ˛āĻŽā§ƒ āĻ¤ Íž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ annually­āĻŦāĻžā§ŽāĻ¸āĻŋāĻ°āĻ•Íž āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°Íž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ mainly­ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨āĻ¤Íž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ increased mortality­āĻŦāĻŋāĻ§āĻ¤/āĻŦā§ƒ āĻŋ āĻž āĻŽā§ƒ āĻ¤ āĻšāĻžāĻ°Íž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ cardiovascular diseases­ āĻĻ āĻ°āĻžāĻ—Íž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ respiratory infections­ āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ• Íž āĻžāĻ¸āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻž āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻŽāĻŖÍž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ The study mentioned that­āĻ— āĻŦāĻˇāĻŖāĻžāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ‰ āĻ– āĻ• āĻ° āĻ› āĻ¯Íž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ compare to­āĻĒāĻ° āĻ°āĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ āĻŋāĻŽāĻ˛/āĻ¸ āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ causes of premature death­āĻ…āĻ•āĻžāĻ˛ āĻŽā§ƒ āĻ¤ āĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ/ āĻšāĻ¤ āĻ¸āĻŽā§‚ āĻšÍž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ air pollution kills 19 times more people­ā§§ā§¯ āĻŖ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļ āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§ āĻˇ āĻ• āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§ āĻĻā§‚ āĻˇāĻŖ āĻšāĻ¤ āĻž āĻ•āĻ° āĻ›/ āĻ‚āĻ¸ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ›Íž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ each year­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ›āĻ°Íž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ than malaria­āĻŽ āĻž āĻ˛āĻŋāĻ°ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻš ā§ŸÍž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ nine times more than HIV/AIDS­āĻāĻ‡āĻšāĻ†āĻ‡āĻŋāĻ­/āĻāĻ‡āĻĄāĻ¸ āĻāĻ° āĻš ā§Ÿ ā§¯ āĻŖ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļÍž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ three times more than alcohol ­āĻāĻ˛ āĻ•āĻžāĻšāĻ˛ āĻāĻ° āĻš ā§Ÿ ā§Š āĻŖ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļÍž ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ poses a larger public health risk­āĻœāĻ¨ āĻž āĻ° āĻŦā§ƒ āĻšā§Ž āĻ ā§ āĻŋāĻ• āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻ° āĻ›Íž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ tobacco smoking­āĻ¤āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻ• āĻ¸āĻŦāĻ¨Íž āĻ§ā§‚ āĻŽāĻĒāĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ According to the 2019 World Air Quality Report­ā§¨ā§Ļā§§ā§¯ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛āĻ° āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§ āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ air quality in Bangladesh­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻ āĻļ āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§ āĻ° āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ the worst in the world­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ° āĻ¸āĻŦ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ–āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻĒÍž ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ among the capital cities­āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ā§€ āĻļāĻšāĻ° āĻ˛āĻžāĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ Íž ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ Moreover­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ›āĻžā§œāĻžÍž āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ• Íž ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ the highest number of deaths­āĻŽā§ƒ āĻ¤ āĻ° āĻ¸ āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžÍž āĻ¸ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽā§ƒ āĻ¤ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ associated with air pollution­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§ āĻĻā§‚ āĻˇ āĻŖāĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨ āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ•āĻ¤Íž ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ took place­āĻ˜ āĻŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛/āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ˜āĻŋāĻŸāĻ¤ āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ Reportedly­āĻŋāĻŦāĻŦāĻ°āĻŖ/ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ the main sources of air pollution­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§ āĻĻā§‚ āĻˇ āĻŖāĻ° āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ‰ā§ŽāĻ¸Íž ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ the smog­ āĻ§āĻžā§ŸāĻžāĻļāĻžÍž āĻ• ā§ ā§ŸāĻžāĻļāĻž āĻ“ āĻ§āĻžā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻŋāĻŽ āĻŖÍž ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ generate­āĻ‰ā§ŽāĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ brick kilns­āĻ‡āĻŸāĻ­āĻžāĻŸāĻžÍž
  • 12. ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ black smoke from unfit vehicles­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻĒāĻ¯ā§ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻ¨ āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ•āĻž āĻ˛āĻž āĻ§āĻžā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ dust­āĻ§ā§ āĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ from constructions sites­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻĨ āĻ•Íž ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ including the mega projects­ āĻŽāĻ—āĻž āĻ• āĻ¸āĻšÍž ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ Worldwide­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€Íž ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ a major source of air pollution­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§ āĻĻā§‚ āĻˇ āĻŖāĻ° āĻŦā§ƒ āĻšā§Ž āĻ‰ā§ŽāĻ¸Íž ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ coal­fired power plants­āĻ•ā§ŸāĻ˛āĻž āĻŋāĻŦāĻĻā§ ā§Ž āĻ• Íž ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ emit ­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ—āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ dangerous levels­āĻŽāĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ• āĻĒāĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ particulate matter ­āĻŦ āĻ•āĻŖāĻžÍž ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ long exposure­āĻĻā§€āĻ˜ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨/ āĻ•āĻžāĻļÍž ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ a huge threat to human health­āĻœāĻ¨ āĻž /āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻŦ āĻž āĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŽāĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ• āĻŽāĻŋāĻ•Íž ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ under construction­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽāĻžāĻŖāĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ¨Íž ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ the government has planned to build­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻ¨āĻž āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ by 2031­ā§¨ā§Ļā§Šā§§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛āĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ Íž ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ released a report­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻļ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ in November last year­āĻ—āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°āĻ° āĻ¨ āĻ­ āĻ°Íž ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ according to­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ the most polluted places­āĻ¸āĻŦ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻĻā§‚ āĻŋāĻˇāĻ¤ āĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ power plants­āĻŋāĻŦāĻĻā§ ā§Ž āĻ•āĻ¨ Íž ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ more and more­āĻ‰ āĻ°āĻž āĻ°Íž āĻŽāĻžāĻ—āĻ¤Íž ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ national and international research organisations ­āĻœāĻžāĻ¤ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ“ āĻ† āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ on the quality of air­āĻŦāĻžā§Ÿā§ āĻ° āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦāĻˇ ā§ŸÍž ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ breath­ āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¨āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ abandon­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ¤ āĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ coal­powered projects­āĻ•ā§ŸāĻ˛āĻž āĻŋāĻŦāĻĻā§ ā§Ž āĻ• Íž ā§­ā§ŠāĨ¤ look for­āĻ… āĻˇāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ–āĻžāĻœāĻžÍž ā§­ā§ĒāĨ¤ renewable sources of energy.­āĻ¨āĻŦāĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻļāĻŋ āĻ° āĻ‰ā§ŽāĻ¸Íž ā§­ā§ĢāĨ¤ At the same time­āĻāĻ•āĻ‡āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž ā§­ā§ŦāĨ¤ take some basic policy decisions­āĻŋāĻ•āĻ› āĻŽā§—āĻŋāĻ˛āĻ• āĻ¨ā§€āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŋāĻ¸ āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§­ā§­āĨ¤ illegal brick kilns­āĻ… āĻŦāĻ§ āĻ‡āĻŸāĻ­āĻžāĻŸāĻžÍž
  • 13. ā§­ā§ŽāĨ¤ eco­friendly bricks­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ° āĻŦāĻļāĻŦāĻž āĻŦ āĻ‡āĻŸāĻ­āĻžāĻŸāĻžÍž ā§­ā§ŽāĨ¤ using standard methods­āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻ¸ āĻ¤ āĻĒ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°Íž ***********āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ******* Air pollution shortening life expectancy Does the government have any concrete plan to address this? ********************* it is shocking to note the apathy of our policymakers in addressing the issue of air pollution which has been taking its toll on public health for long. A recent international research found that air pollution shortens lives by nearly three years on average and also causes 8.8 million premature deaths annually, mainly as a result of increased mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and respiratory infections. The study mentioned that compared to other causes of premature death, air pollution kills 19 times more people each year than malaria, nine times more than HIV/AIDS, and three times more than alcohol and also poses a larger public health risk than tobacco smoking. According to the 2019 World Air Quality Report, air quality in Bangladesh is the worst in the world with Dhaka's air being the second worst among the capital cities. Moreover, a 2017 Lancet report said that the highest number of deaths associated with air pollution took place in Dhaka. Reportedly, the main sources of air pollution in the country are the smog generated from brick kilns, black smoke from unfit vehicles and dust generated from constructions sites, including the mega projects. Worldwide, a major source of air pollution is coal­fired power plants which emit dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (known as PM2.5), long exposure to which pose a huge threat to human health. We also have a number of coal­fired power plants operating in the country at present while some of them are under construction. Reportedly, the government has planned to build 17 coal­fired power plants in Cox's Bazar by 2031. Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon and Waterkeepers Bangladesh released a report in November last year according to which Cox's Bazar will be one of the most polluted places in the country when all the power plants start operating. As more and more reports are being released by national and international research organisations on the quality of air that we breath, the government can no longer downplay the issue anymore. It's time for the government to abandon coal­powered projects and look for renewable sources of energy. At the same time, it should take some basic policy decisions, including shutting down the operation of illegal brick kilns, using eco­friendly bricks, containing pollution in the construction sites using standard methods, identifying and making sure vehicles emitting black smoke are taken off the streets.
  • 14. March 06, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial ************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ================= ā§§āĨ¤ BIWTA­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻāĻļ āĻ…āĻ­ āĻ°ā§€āĻŖ āĻ¨ā§—­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ āĻĒ Íž ā§¨āĨ¤ stand up to­āĻ•āĻž āĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻŦāĻĒ āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ¨ ā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻžā§œāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§ŠāĨ¤ a lawmaker­āĻāĻ•āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻŖāĻ¤āĻžÍž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ Íž ā§ĒāĨ¤ river encroacher­āĻ… āĻŦāĻ§āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ¨āĻĻā§€ āĻĻāĻ–āĻ˛āĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž ā§ĢāĨ¤ Sincerity of public officials­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ† āĻŋāĻ°āĻ•āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§ŦāĨ¤ work wonders­āĻŋāĻŦ ā§ŸāĻ•āĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻœ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ…āĻ¸ āĻŦ āĻ• āĻ¸ āĻŦ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ… āĻ˛ā§—āĻŋāĻ•āĻ• āĻ•āĻžāĻœ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§­āĨ¤ pleased to learn ­ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻ–ā§ āĻŋāĻļ/āĻ¸ Íž ā§ŽāĨ¤ the brave and determined stance­āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻ¸ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻĻā§ƒ ā§ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§¯āĨ¤ of officials of the BIWTA­āĻŋāĻŦāĻ†āĻ‡āĻĄāĻŋ āĻ‰āĻŋāĻŸāĻ āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ encroach upon­āĻ… āĻŦāĻ§āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻĻāĻ–āĻ˛ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ a large and crucial area­āĻŦā§ƒ āĻšā§Ž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻĒā§‚ āĻŖ āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžÍž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ of the Buriganga River­āĻŦā§ āĻŋā§œāĻ— āĻž āĻ¨āĻĻā§€āĻ°Íž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ During the eviction drive­āĻ‰ āĻĻ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻž āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ¸āĻŽā§ŸÍž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ the lawmaker came to the spot­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ˛ āĻ†āĻ¸āĻŋāĻ› āĻ˛āĻ¨Íž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ with around 80 people­ āĻžā§Ÿ ā§Žā§Ļ āĻœāĻ¨āĻ¸āĻš/āĻ¸āĻšāĻ•āĻž āĻ°Íž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ no doubt­ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ¸ āĻš āĻ¨āĻ‡Íž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ intimidate­ āĻžāĻŋāĻ¸āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ­ā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻ–āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ laudably­ āĻļāĻ‚āĻ¸āĻžāĻœāĻ¨āĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ the BIWTA team­āĻŋāĻŦāĻ†āĻ‡āĻĄāĻŋ āĻ‰āĻŋāĻŸāĻ āĻĻāĻ˛Íž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ was ready to confront­ āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻž āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻ¤ āĻŋāĻ› āĻ˛āĻ¨Íž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ refused to budge­āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻœÍž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ they were helped by the law enforcers­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻž āĻ° āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻžāĻ¯ āĻĒ ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ chase away­ āĻœāĻžāĻ°āĻĒā§‚ āĻŦāĻ• āĻ¤āĻžāĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĻā§ŸāĻžÍž āĻš āĻ˛ āĻ¯ āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ the cohorts of the lawmaker­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸ āĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĒāĻž Íž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ commend­ āĻļāĻ‚āĻ¸āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
  • 15. ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ resolute­āĻĻā§ƒ ā§āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ• Íž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ in carrying out the eviction drive­āĻ‰ āĻĻ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ of illegal structure­āĻ… āĻŦāĻ§ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ despite­āĻ¸ āĻ“Íž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ in such a powerful position­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ­āĻžāĻŦāĻļāĻžāĻ˛ā§€ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻž āĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ We need such public officials­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻž āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻĻāĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ who are not intimidated or influenced­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ­ā§€āĻ¤ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ­āĻžāĻŋāĻŦāĻ¤ āĻš āĻŦāĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ by political figures­āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻŦ āĻŋ āĻĻāĻ° āĻžāĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ who abuse their power­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŽāĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻĒāĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ° āĻ• āĻ°Íž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ for self­aggrandisement­āĻ† ­ āĻŽāĻ¤āĻž/āĻŋāĻ¨āĻœ āĻŽāĻ¤āĻž āĻŦāĻžā§œāĻž āĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ all government drives­āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ to stop encroachment of rivers­āĻ¨āĻĻā§€ āĻĻāĻ–āĻ˛āĻĻāĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻŦ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ According to this paper­āĻāĻ‡ āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŦāĻ°āĻž āĻ¤ āĻœāĻžāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ the lawmaker filled up around 20 acres of the river ­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ āĻ¨āĻĻā§€āĻ° āĻžā§Ÿ ā§¨ā§Ļ āĻāĻ•āĻ° āĻœāĻŋāĻŽ āĻ­āĻ°āĻžāĻŸ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ to make two extensions­āĻĻā§ āĻ‡āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¸ āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ sprawl­āĻšāĻžāĻ¤ āĻĒāĻž āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻļāĻžā§ŸāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻ¸āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ leisure retreat­āĻ…āĻŦāĻ¸ āĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ† ā§ŸÍž ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ block­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ the entire breadth­āĻ¸āĻŽ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ¸āĻ°Íž ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ of Buriganga offshoot­āĻŦā§ āĻŋā§œāĻ— āĻžāĻ° āĻļāĻžāĻ–āĻžÂ­ āĻļāĻžāĻ–āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ eventually­āĻ…āĻŦ āĻļ āĻˇÍž ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ converge­āĻāĻ•āĻ‡ āĻŋāĻŦ ā§ āĻ¤ āĻ āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ¤ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ with the Dhaleswari River­āĻ§ āĻ˛ āĻ°ā§€ āĻ¨āĻĻā§€āĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨÍž ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ in turn­āĻĒāĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻŽÍž āĻāĻ• āĻāĻ• āĻ• āĻ°Íž ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ branch of the Buriganga ­āĻŦā§ āĻŋā§œāĻ— āĻžāĻ° āĻļāĻžāĻ–āĻž āĻ¨āĻĻā§€Íž ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ tragedy­āĻĻā§ :āĻ–āĻœāĻ¨āĻ• āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ violate the law­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻ˛ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ the damage to a river ­āĻ¨āĻĻā§€āĻ° āĻ‚āĻ¸Íž ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ particular area­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻĻ /āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ the Water Body Conservation Act 2000­āĻœāĻ˛āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ° āĻŖ āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨Â­ā§¨ā§Ļā§Ļā§ĻÍž
  • 16. ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ the Bangladesh Environmental Protection Act 1995­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻāĻļ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ° āĻŦāĻļ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ° āĻŖ āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨Â­ā§§ā§¯ā§¯ā§ĢÍž ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ mention­āĻ‰ āĻ– āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ disregarded ­āĻ… āĻžāĻš Íž āĻ…āĻŦ āĻšāĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ the High Court's declaration­āĻšāĻžāĻ‡ āĻ•āĻž āĻŸāĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻˇāĻŖāĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ living entities­āĻœā§€āĻŦ āĻ¸ āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ legal persons­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻ—āĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻŋ Íž ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ protect­āĻ° āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ The PM has also called for joint initiatives­ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨āĻŽ ā§€āĻ“ āĻ¯ā§—āĻĨ/āĻ¸āĻŋ āĻŋāĻ˛āĻ¤ āĻ‰āĻĻ āĻž āĻ—āĻ° āĻ†āĻšāĻŦāĻžāĻ¨ āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ ā§Ÿ āĻ›āĻ¨Íž ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ to save Buriganga ­āĻŦā§ āĻŋā§œāĻ— āĻž āĻ• āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻž āĻ¤/āĻ° āĻž āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ severe action­āĻ• āĻ āĻžāĻ° āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ against all river grabbers­āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻ¨āĻĻā§€ āĻĻāĻ–āĻ˛āĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦ Íž ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ therefore­āĻ…āĻ¤āĻāĻŦÍž ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ a significant victory­āĻ‰ āĻ– āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— / āĻĒā§‚ āĻŖ āĻŋāĻŦāĻœā§ŸÍž ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ withstand­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ āĻ•āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ the pressure of a lawmaker­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸ āĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻĒÍž ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ for the sake of saving a vital part of the Buriganga­āĻŦā§ āĻŋā§œāĻ— āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒā§‚ āĻŖ āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻ° āĻžāĻ° āĻž āĻĨÍž ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ demonstrate­ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§­ā§ŠāĨ¤ accomplish­āĻ¸ā§ āĻ¸ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§­ā§ĒāĨ¤ sincere about their duties­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻĻāĻžāĻŋā§Ÿ āĻ¸ āĻ• āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨Íž ā§­ā§ĢāĨ¤ around 450 rivers ­ āĻžā§Ÿ ā§Ēā§Ģā§ĻāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¨āĻĻā§€Íž ā§­ā§ŦāĨ¤ countless other waterbodies­āĻ…āĻ—āĻŋāĻŖāĻ¤ āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻœāĻ˛āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§­ā§­āĨ¤ threatened by illegal land grabbing­āĻ… āĻŦāĻ§ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻĻāĻ–āĻ˛āĻĻāĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ° āĻŽāĻŋāĻ•āĻ° āĻŽā§ āĻ–Íž ā§­ā§ŽāĨ¤ We hope that ­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻŽ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻŋāĻ°Íž ā§­ā§¯āĨ¤ this instance of courage and honesty ­āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻ¸āĻ¸ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻ‡ āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§Žā§ĻāĨ¤ all throughout the country­āĻ¸āĻŽ āĻĻāĻļāĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€Íž ā§Žā§§āĨ¤ so that ­āĻ¯āĻž āĻ¤Íž ā§Žā§¨āĨ¤ water bodies ­āĻœāĻ˛āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻžÍž āĻœāĻ˛āĻŽāĻšāĻ˛Íž ā§Žā§ŠāĨ¤ flow freely­āĻŽā§āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž
  • 17. *****āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ******* BIWTA stands up to a lawmaker and river encroacher Sincerity of public officials can work wonders! ************************** We are more than pleased to learn about the brave and determined stance of officials of the BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) who stood up to a lawmaker who has encroached upon a large and crucial area of the Buriganga River in Charwashpur. During the eviction drive, the lawmaker came to the spot with around 80 people, no doubt to intimidate the BIWTA officials. But laudably the BIWTA team was ready to confront them and refused to budge and they were helped by the law enforcers who chased away the cohorts of the lawmaker. We commend the BIWTA for being so resolute in carrying out the eviction drive of illegal structures despite them belonging to someone in such a powerful position. We need such public officials who are not intimidated or influenced by political figures who abuse their power for self­aggrandisement. And that is how it should be in the case of all government drives to stop encroachment of rivers that have rendered many of them beyond saving. According to this paper, the lawmaker filled up around 20 acres of the river to make two extensions to his Maisha power plant along with a sprawling leisure retreat. This has blocked the entire breadth of Buriganga offshoot that eventually converges with the Dhaleswari River. This, in turn, has rendered that branch of the Buriganga dead with other encroachers grabbing the area. It is a tragedy that a lawmaker would violate the law so blatantly with no regard for the damage to a river that is a lifeline for the city. By encroaching that particular area, he has violated the Water Body Conservation Act 2000 and the Bangladesh Environmental Protection Act 1995, not to mention disregarded the High Court's declaration that rivers are living entities and legal persons and the government must protect them. The PM has also called for joint initiatives to save Buriganga and has asked for severe action against all river grabbers. It is therefore a significant victory of the BIWTA team that they have managed to withstand the pressure of a lawmaker for the sake of saving a vital part of the Buriganga. It demonstrates what public officials can accomplish if they are sincere about their duties. There are around 450 rivers and countless other waterbodies in this country, most of them threatened by illegal land grabbing. We hope that this instance of courage and honesty will be replicated all throughout the country during such eviction drives by the BIWTA so that our rivers and water bodies can once again flow freely and become the lifelines of the cities and villages they once were. March 07, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial ************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ==================
  • 18. ā§§āĨ¤ Historic 7th March­āĻāĻŋāĻ¤āĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻ¸āĻ• ā§­āĻ‡ āĻŽāĻžāĻšÍž ā§¨āĨ¤ red­letter day­ āĻĒā§‚ āĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻ°āĻŖā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨Íž ā§ŠāĨ¤ A red­letter day for Bangladesh­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻ āĻļāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ°āĻŖā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨Íž ā§ĒāĨ¤ several days­āĻ•āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒā§Ÿ/āĻ• ā§ŸāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨Íž ā§ĢāĨ¤ emboss­ āĻ–āĻžāĻĻāĻžāĻ‡ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§ŦāĨ¤ are embossed in gold­ āĻŖāĻž āĻ° āĻŋāĻ˛āĻŋāĻ–āĻ¤/ āĻ–āĻžāĻĻāĻžāĻ‡āĻ• ā§ƒ āĻ¤Íž ā§­āĨ¤ in its history­āĻāĻŋāĻŸāĻ°( āĻĻ āĻļāĻ°) āĻ‡āĻŋāĻ¤āĻšāĻž āĻ¸Íž ā§ŽāĨ¤ March 7 of 1971 is one of them­ā§­āĻ‡ āĻŽāĻžāĻš āĻ¸ āĻ˛āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸÍž ā§¯āĨ¤ turn­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŖāĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻŽāĻžā§œ āĻ¨āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ the course of history­āĻ‡āĻŋāĻ¤āĻšāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ—āĻŋāĻ¤āĻĒāĻĨ/āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻž/āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯āĻĒāĻ° āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ for the nation and the subcontinent as a whole­āĻ¸āĻŽ āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ‰āĻĒāĻŽāĻšāĻž āĻĻ āĻļāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ The day, 49 years ago­ā§Ēā§¯ āĻŦāĻ›āĻ° āĻ† āĻ— āĻāĻ‡ āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨āĻŋāĻŸÍž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ stand out­āĻ…āĻ¸āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻļ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž āĻ…āĻ¸āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ for two main reasons­āĻĻā§ āĻ‡āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ the oratorial brilliance of Bangabandhu ­āĻŦ āĻŦ ā§ āĻ° āĻ–āĻ° āĻŦā§ āĻŋ āĻŽ āĻžāĻ° āĻ­āĻžāĻˇāĻŖÍž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ brilliance­ āĻ–āĻ° āĻŦā§ āĻŋ āĻŽ āĻžÍž āĻ­āĻžÍž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ demonstrate­ āĻĻāĻļāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ in the 23 minutes of extempore delivery­ā§¨ā§Š āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻŸāĻ° āĻ‰āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻŦ ā§ƒ āĻ¤āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ tempered by­āĻŋāĻŽ āĻŖ āĻžāĻ°āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ logic, reason and sobriety­āĻ¯ā§ āĻŋ , āĻ¨ āĻžā§ŸāĻ¸ āĻ¤ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ† āĻŋāĻ¨ā§Ÿ āĻŖÍž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ delivered without a pause or hesitation­āĻŋāĻŦāĻ°āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ…āĻĨāĻŦāĻž āĻŋ āĻ§āĻž āĻ›āĻžā§œāĻžāĻ‡ āĻĻ Íž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ for the substance­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻŦ /āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻ•āĻĨāĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ as well a­āĻĒāĻžāĻļāĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻļÍž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚Íž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ the soul of the words­āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻ°/āĻ•āĻĨāĻžāĻ° āĻ… āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻļāĻŋ Íž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ Bangabandhu uttered­āĻŦ āĻŦ ā§ āĻ‰ āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ› āĻ˛āĻ¨/ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¤ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ› āĻ˛āĻ¨Íž ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ in the impassioned speech­ āĻĻā§Ÿ āĻžāĻšā§€/āĻ† āĻŦāĻ—āĻŽā§Ÿ āĻŦ āĻŦ Íž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ to the Bengalis in 1971­ā§§ā§¯ā§­ā§§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛ āĻŦāĻžāĻ™āĻžāĻŋāĻ˛ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ•Íž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ rate­āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻŋāĻŦ āĻšāĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ among the best speeches­āĻ¸āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻ˛āĻžāĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ Íž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ any world leader­ āĻ¯ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ in the annals of world history­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ‡āĻŋāĻ¤āĻšāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻŦāĻˇāĻĒāĻŋ āĻ¤Íž
  • 19. ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ under Bangabandhu's direction­āĻŦ āĻŦ ā§ āĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ started its final preparation­ āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛ āĻāĻ° āĻšā§œāĻž āĻŋāĻ¤/āĻ† ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨'Íž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ the concluding stages­ āĻļāĻˇ āĻĒāĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ the liberation of the people ­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ— āĻŖāĻ° āĻŽā§ āĻŋ Íž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ the formation of an independent nation­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ¨ āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ—āĻ āĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ with a Flag and a Country of its own­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻ¤āĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨āĻœ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¸āĻš/āĻ¸āĻšāĻ•āĻž āĻ°Íž ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ lay out­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ clear guidance for the Bengalis­āĻŦāĻžāĻ™āĻžāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻ¤ā§ƒ /āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨āĻž/āĻĒāĻĨāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļÍž ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ as to­āĻ¸ āĻ•Íž āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻž āĻ°Íž ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ how to conduct themselves­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻš āĻŦÍž āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ¤ āĻš āĻŦÍž ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ during the interregnum­āĻ…āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻŽā§ŸÍž ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ issue a warning­āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ•āĻŦāĻžāĻ¤āĻž āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ to the Pakistani military junta­āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ• āĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻžāĻŽāĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻœāĻž āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ to shun the path of violence and force­āĻ¸āĻŋāĻšāĻ‚āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻļāĻŋ āĻ° āĻĒāĻĨ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ has been included in UNESCO'S Memory of the World Register ­ ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ documentary heritage­(āĻŋāĻŦ ) āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻāĻŋāĻ¤āĻš Íž ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ encapsulate­āĻŋāĻ˜ āĻ° āĻĢāĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ brilliantly­āĻŦā§ āĻŋ āĻĻā§€ āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ the struggle of the Bengalis­āĻŦāĻžāĻ™āĻžāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽÍž ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ for their political rights­āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ post­1947­ā§§ā§¯ā§Ēā§­ āĻ¸āĻžāĻ˛ āĻĒāĻ°āĻŦāĻ¤ Íž ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ the continuation of the yoke­āĻĻāĻžāĻ¸ āĻ° āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ deprivation and repression under British rule­āĻŋ āĻŋāĻŸāĻļ āĻļāĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ…āĻ§ā§€āĻ¨ āĻŦ āĻ¨āĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻĻāĻŽāĻ¨āĻ¨ā§€āĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ despite being the majority­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻž āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻž āĻ¸ āĻ“Íž ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ an authentic testimony­āĻ¸ā§ āĻŽāĻžāĻŖ/āĻ¸āĻž Íž ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ the failure of multicultural­āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻš āĻ§āĻŽ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° āĻŦ āĻĨāĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ multiethnic societies­āĻŦ āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻœÍž ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ coagulate­āĻ˜āĻŋāĻŖāĻ­āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ as a nation­āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŋāĻšāĻ¸āĻž āĻŦÍž'
  • 20. ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ under misrule­āĻ• ā§ āĻļāĻžāĻ¸āĻ¨/āĻ…āĻĒāĻļāĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ…āĻ§ā§€āĻ¨Íž ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ motivated by­( āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ•āĻ›āĻ° āĻžāĻ°āĻž) āĻ‰ /āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻžāĻŋāĻŖāĻ¤Íž ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ prejudice­āĻ• ā§ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ a politically bigoted polity­āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ—āĻžā§œāĻž āĻļāĻžāĻ¸āĻ¨āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ unwilling to feel­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ­āĻŦ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ•Íž ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ the pulse and the sentiments of the majority of the people­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžāĻŋāĻ§āĻ• āĻœāĻ¨āĻ— āĻŖāĻ° āĻ°āĻŖāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ­āĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ concede­ āĻŽ āĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§€āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ the majority will­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ‚āĻļ/āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžāĻŋāĻ§ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ‡ āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ effectively a declaration of the independence of Bangladesh­āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯āĻ•āĻŋāĻ°āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻ āĻļāĻ° āĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻˇāĻŖāĻžÍž ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ For the final words­āĻ¸āĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ•āĻĨāĻž āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ of the memorable speech­ āĻ°āĻŖā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻ°Íž ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ The struggle this time is for emancipation­āĻāĻŦāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽ āĻŽā§ āĻŋ āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽÍž ā§­ā§ŠāĨ¤ the struggle this time is for independence­āĻāĻŦāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽ āĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽÍž ā§­ā§ĒāĨ¤ launched the people into the final phase of the independence struggle of the Bengalis­āĻŦāĻžāĻ™āĻžāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ° āĻžāĻ§ā§€āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻž āĻŽāĻ° āĻšā§œāĻž āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§Ÿ āĻœāĻ¨āĻ—āĻŖ āĻ• āĻ‰ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§­ā§ĢāĨ¤ launch into­āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻž āĻœ āĻŦā§ƒāĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§­ā§ŦāĨ¤ our glorious Liberation War­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŽāĻŋāĻšāĻŽāĻžāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻž āĻ—ā§—āĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻŽā§ āĻŋ āĻ¯ā§ Íž *******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ****** Historic 7th March A red­letter day for Bangladesh ************************* For Bangladesh, several days are embossed in gold in its history. March 7 of 1971 is one of them, for it turned the course of history for the nation and the subcontinent as a whole. The day, 49 years ago, stands out for two main reasons—the oratorial brilliance of Bangabandhu demonstrated in the 23 minutes of extempore delivery tempered by logic, reason and sobriety, and delivered without a pause or hesitation. It stands out also for the substance as well as the soul of the words that Bangabandhu uttered in the impassioned speech to the Bengalis in 1971, which will rate among the best speeches by any world leader in the annals of world history. It was also the day that the nation, under Bangabandhu's direction, started its final preparation for the concluding stages of the liberation of the people and the formation of an independent nation, with a Flag and a Country of its own. It laid out clear guidance for the Bengalis as to how to conduct themselves during the interregnum and issued a warning to the Pakistani military junta to shun the path of violence and force.
  • 21. The speech, which has been included in UNESCO'S Memory of the World Register as a "documentary heritage", encapsulates brilliantly the struggle of the Bengalis for their political rights. For the Bengalis, post­1947 was the continuation of the yoke of deprivation and repression under British rule, despite being the majority. It was an authentic testimony of the failure of multicultural and multiethnic societies to coagulate as a nation under misrule, motivated by prejudice and a politically bigoted polity that was unwilling to feel the pulse and the sentiments of the majority of the people and concede to the majority will. The speech was also effectively a declaration of the independence of Bangladesh, if not a direct call to arms. For the final words of the memorable speech, "The struggle this time is for emancipationÍž the struggle this time is for independence", carries no other meaning. And those are the words that launched the people into the final phase of the independence struggle of the Bengalis, our glorious Liberation War, from March 26, 1971. March 08, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial *************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ==================== ā§§āĨ¤ Road crash casualties­āĻ¸ā§œ āĻ• āĻžāĻŖāĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§¨āĨ¤ rising­ āĻŦ ā§œāĻ‡ āĻšāĻ˛ āĻ›Íž ā§ŠāĨ¤ by the day­āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻĒāĻ° āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨Íž ā§ĒāĨ¤ 23 lives lost in a single day!­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ¨āĻ‡ ā§¨ā§ŠāĻŋāĻŸ āĻžāĻŖ āĻ āĻ° āĻ—āĻ˛Íž ā§ĢāĨ¤ shocked to learn­ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŽāĻŽāĻžāĻšāĻ¤Íž ā§ŦāĨ¤ at least 23 people­āĻ•āĻŽāĻĒ ā§¨ā§Š āĻœāĻ¨ āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§ āĻˇÍž ā§­āĨ¤ were killed ­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž ā§ŽāĨ¤ nine others injured­āĻ† āĻ°āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻœāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž ā§¯āĨ¤ n separate road crashes­āĻĒā§ƒ āĻĨāĻ• āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĻā§ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ across the country­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻĻ āĻļÍž āĻĻāĻļāĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€Íž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ on March 6­ā§Ŧ āĻ‡ āĻŽāĻžāĻšÍž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ Ten people were killed ­āĻœāĻ¨ āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§ āĻˇ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ crash­ āĻ­ āĻš āĻ° āĻāĻŋāĻ— ā§Ÿ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ into a roadside tree­āĻ°āĻž āĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻž āĻŦāĻ¤ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ—āĻž āĻ›āĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ Íž
  • 22. ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ all of them­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸āĻŦāĻžāĻ‡Íž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ were going to attend­āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻšāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻ¯āĻžāĻŋ āĻ˛Íž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ an engagement ceremony­āĻŦāĻžāĻ—āĻĻ āĻž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻž āĻ¨Íž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ were burnt to death­āĻĻ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻŽāĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻ— ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ when a gas cylinder of a microbus caught fire ­āĻ¯āĻ–āĻ¨ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŽāĻžāĻ‡ āĻžāĻŦāĻž āĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ¸āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻžāĻ° āĻ— āĻž āĻ¸ āĻ† āĻ¨ āĻ§ āĻ° āĻŋāĻ— ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ after it collided with a bus­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ˜ āĻˇāĻ° āĻĒāĻ°Íž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ on Dhaka­Sylhet highway­āĻĸāĻžāĻ•āĻžÂ­āĻŋāĻ¸ āĻ˛āĻŸ āĻŽāĻšāĻžāĻ¸ā§œ āĻ•Íž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ On the same day­āĻāĻ•āĻ‡ āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ¨Íž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ when a bus hit his motorcycle­āĻ¯āĻ–āĻ¨ āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻŽāĻŸāĻ°āĻ¸āĻžāĻ‡ āĻ•āĻ˛āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ• āĻ†āĻ˜āĻžāĻ¤ āĻ• āĻ°Íž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ in the capital's Banani area­āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻŦāĻ¨āĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ¤Íž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ worries ­āĻĻā§ āĻŋ āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ such horrible accidents­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦāĻ­ā§€āĻŋāĻˇāĻ•āĻžāĻŽā§Ÿ āĻĻā§ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ despite taking place­āĻ˜āĻŸāĻž āĻ¸ āĻ“Íž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ on our roads regularly­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸ā§œ āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŽāĻ¤Íž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ the road transport authorities­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ āĻĒ Íž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ as well as­āĻĒāĻžāĻļāĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻļÍžāĻ¸āĻšÍž āĻ“Íž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚Íž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ the transport owners and workers­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻŽāĻžāĻŋāĻ˛āĻ• āĻ“ āĻŋāĻŽāĻ•Íž ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ the victims' families ­āĻ­ āĻ­āĻžāĻ—ā§€āĻ° āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ suffer in silence ­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻŦ āĻ­āĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻŦ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ their fight to get justice for their loved ones­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻœ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦāĻšāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻ˛ā§œāĻžāĻ‡Íž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ never ends­āĻ•āĻ– āĻ¨āĻžāĻ‡ āĻļāĻˇ āĻšā§ŸāĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ According to ­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ a report by the Road Safety Foundation­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ°āĻžāĻĒ āĻž āĻĢāĻžāĻ‰ āĻļāĻ¨ āĻāĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ at least­āĻ•āĻŽāĻĒ Íž ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ The alarming increase­āĻ­ā§Ÿ āĻ°/ āĻžāĻ¸āĻœāĻ¨āĻ• āĻŦā§ƒ āĻŋ Íž ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ indicates that­āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ¯Íž ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ all the initiatives­āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻ‰ āĻĻ āĻžāĻ—Íž ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ taken by the government­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ āĻ• āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ the formulation of the Road Transport Act 2018­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨Â­ā§¨ā§Ļā§§ā§Ž āĻŖā§ŸāĻ¨Íž
  • 23. ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ observance of Police Week ­āĻĒā§ āĻŋāĻ˛āĻļ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻš āĻ‰āĻĻāĻ¯āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨Íž ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ make the commuters and pedestrians aware of traffic rules­ āĻžāĻŋāĻĢāĻ• āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻ§/āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻ¸ āĻ• āĻ¯āĻž ā§€ āĻ“ āĻĒāĻĨāĻšāĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ the PM's directives given in 2018­ā§¨ā§Ļā§§ā§Ž āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨āĻŽ ā§€āĻ° āĻĻ āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ including limiting the drive­time of the drivers ­āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ• āĻĻāĻ° āĻ—āĻžāĻŋā§œ āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻŽā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ¸āĻšÍž ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ on long­route vehicles­āĻĻā§€āĻ˜ āĻ¯āĻž āĻžāĻ° āĻ—āĻžāĻŋā§œ āĻ¸ āĻ•/āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻž āĻ°Íž ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ have failed to bring order ­āĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻž āĻ†āĻ¨ āĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻĨ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ The reasons behind the rise in road accidents­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĻā§ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻŦā§ƒ āĻŋ āĻ° āĻŋāĻĒāĻ› āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖÍž ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ have already been identified­āĻ‡ āĻ¤āĻžāĻŽ āĻ§ āĻŋāĻšāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ by the transport experts­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ° āĻžāĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ the organisations working on road safety­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ°āĻžāĻĒāĻĻ āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ ā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻžāĻœ āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ—āĻ āĻ¨Íž ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ unfit vehicles­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻĒāĻ¯ā§ āĻ—āĻžāĻŋā§œÍž ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ reckless driving­ āĻŦāĻĒ āĻ°āĻžā§ŸāĻž āĻ—āĻžāĻŋā§œ āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ drivers' incompetence and their physical or mental unsuitability­āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ• āĻĻāĻ° āĻ… āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻ¤āĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻļāĻžāĻ°ā§€āĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻ…āĻĨāĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¸āĻ• āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻĒāĻ¯ā§āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ unregulated working hours for drivers­āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ• āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦāĻ°āĻŋāĻ¤āĻšā§€āĻ¨āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ•āĻžāĻœ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ poor traffic management­ āĻŋāĻŸāĻĒā§‚ āĻŖ āĻžāĻŋāĻĢāĻ• āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ the inefficiency of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) ­āĻŋāĻŦāĻ†āĻ°āĻŋāĻŸāĻāĻ° āĻāĻ° āĻ…āĻĻ āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ the lack of knowledge about traffic rules­ āĻžāĻŋāĻĢāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ā§ŸāĻŽ āĻ¸ āĻ• āĻž āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ/āĻ… āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ among the general people­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻœāĻ¨āĻ— āĻŖāĻ° āĻŽāĻž āĻÍž ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ the tendency to disregard them­ āĻžāĻŋāĻĢāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ā§ŸāĻŽ āĻ¨āĻž āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻŦāĻŖāĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ wake up to the reality ­āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻ¤āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻœāĻžāĻ— āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ make all­out efforts­āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻš āĻž āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ to properly implement the Road Transport Act 2018­āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨Â­ā§¨ā§Ļā§§ā§Ž āĻ¯āĻĨāĻžāĻ¯āĻĨāĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ Besides­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ›āĻžā§œāĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ increase the number of skilled drivers­āĻĻ āĻžāĻ‡āĻ­āĻžāĻ°/āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ• āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻž āĻŦā§ƒ āĻŋ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ construct road dividers on all highways­āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻŽāĻšāĻžāĻ¸ā§œ āĻ• āĻ¸ā§œāĻ• āĻŋāĻŦāĻ­āĻžāĻœāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŽāĻžāĻŖÍž ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ fix salaries­ āĻŦāĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖÍž ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ working hours of drivers ­āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ• āĻĻāĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯āĻ¸āĻŽā§ŸÍž ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ ban low­speed vehicles on highways­āĻŽāĻšāĻžāĻ¸ā§œ āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ—āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻˇ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
  • 24. ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ has also recommended­āĻ† āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸ā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ°āĻļ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž ********āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ****** Road crash casualties rising by the day 23 lives lost in a single day! *************************** We are shocked to learn that at least 23 people were killed and nine others injured in separate road crashes across the country on March 6. Ten people were killed when a microbus crashed into a roadside tree in Habiganj (all of them were going to attend an engagement ceremony in Sunamganj), while in another accident, six people were burnt to death when a gas cylinder of a microbus caught fire after it collided with a bus on Dhaka­Sylhet highway. On the same day, a student of Dhaka University was killed when a bus hit his motorcycle in the capital's Banani area. What worries us most is the fact that such horrible accidents, despite taking place on our roads regularly, seem to have no effect on the road transport authorities as well as the transport owners and workers. It is only the victims' families who suffer in silence as their fight to get justice for their loved ones never ends. According to a report by the Road Safety Foundation, at least 445 people were killed and 834 others injured in 340 road accidents across the country in January alone this year. The alarming increase in road accidents indicates that all the initiatives taken by the government— the formulation of the Road Transport Act 2018, observance of Police Week to make the commuters and pedestrians aware of traffic rules, the PM's directives given in 2018, including limiting the drive­time of the drivers on long­route vehicles, etc.—have failed to bring order on our roads. The reasons behind the rise in road accidents have already been identified by the transport experts as well as the organisations working on road safety, which include unfit vehicles, reckless driving, drivers' incompetence and their physical or mental unsuitability, unregulated working hours for drivers, poor traffic management, the inefficiency of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the lack of knowledge about traffic rules among the general people or the tendency to disregard them. Since cases of road accidents and the deaths resulting from them are rising by the day, the government must wake up to the reality and make all­out efforts to properly implement the Road Transport Act 2018. Besides, initiatives should also be taken to increase the number of skilled drivers, construct road dividers on all highways, fix salaries and working hours of drivers and ban low­speed vehicles on highways, as the Road Safety Foundation has also recommended.
  • 25. March 09, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial *************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ================== ā§§āĨ¤ women’s political participation­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻšāĻŖÍž āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¤ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻšāĻŖÍž ā§¨āĨ¤ still so low­āĻāĻ–āĻ¨āĻ“ āĻ–ā§ āĻŦāĻ‡ āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻŽā§ āĻ–ā§€Íž ā§ŠāĨ¤ Only five parties­ āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛/ āĻ§ā§ ā§ĢāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĻāĻ˛Íž ā§ĒāĨ¤ the required representation­ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ§ Íž ā§ĢāĨ¤ make up­āĻ—āĻ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§ŦāĨ¤ a third of any political party­ āĻ¯ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻĻ āĻ˛āĻ° āĻāĻ• āĻ¤ā§ƒ āĻ¤ā§€ā§ŸāĻžāĻ‚āĻļÍž ā§­āĨ¤ as stipulated by the Representation of the People Order­āĻ—āĻŖ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ§ āĻ† āĻĻ āĻļ āĻ¯āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ‰ āĻ– āĻ† āĻ›Íž ā§ŽāĨ¤ except for five parties­ā§ĢāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĻāĻ˛ āĻ›āĻžā§œāĻžÍž ā§¯āĨ¤ no other political party in the country­ āĻĻ āĻļ āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻĻ āĻ˛ āĻ¨āĻ‡Íž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ the required percentage of women's participation­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻš āĻŖāĻ° ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻļāĻ¤āĻžāĻ‚āĻļ/āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ Although­āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻāĻ“Íž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ reserving 33 percent of the committee positions for women­āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻŸāĻ° āĻĒāĻĻ āĻ˛āĻž āĻ¤ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ ā§Šā§Š āĻļāĻ¤āĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ°āĻŋ āĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ be registered with the Election Commission­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻļ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ requirement­ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ meet­āĻĒā§‚ āĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ should be met by 2020­ā§¨ā§Ļā§¨ā§Ļ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ˛āĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ āĻĒā§‚ āĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻ‰āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻš āĻŦÍž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ only nine months for the deadline­āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻŋ āĻ° āĻ¤āĻžāĻŋāĻ°āĻ–/ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ¤āĻžāĻŋāĻ°āĻ– āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ¨ā§Ÿ āĻŽāĻžāĻ¸Íž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ to end­ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ most of the political parties­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻĻāĻ˛ āĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ have not managed to meet the requirement­ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻ• āĻĒā§‚ āĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ¨Íž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ What is more­āĻ† āĻ°āĻž āĻĒā§‚ āĻŖ āĻš āĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ only four of the parties have women as their heads­ āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛ ā§ĒāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĻ āĻ˛āĻ° āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž
  • 26. ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ including the Awami League and the BNP­āĻ†āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžāĻŽā§€ āĻ˛ā§€āĻ— āĻ“ āĻŋāĻŦāĻāĻ¨āĻŋāĻĒ āĻ¸āĻšÍž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ Our reporter has talked to leaders of 25­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ• ā§¨ā§Ģ āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž/ āĻ¨āĻ¤ā§ƒ āĻŦā§ƒ āĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨ āĻ•āĻĨāĻž āĻŦ āĻ˛ āĻ›āĻ¨Íž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ out of the country's 41 registered political parties­ā§Ēā§§āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ°āĻŋāĻœāĻŋ āĻ­ āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻĻ āĻ˛āĻ° āĻŽāĻ§ āĻĨ āĻ•Íž ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ found a rather ­āĻŦāĻ°āĻ‚ āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻž āĻ— āĻ›Íž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ dismal picture of women's participation­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻš āĻŖāĻ° āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨āĻžāĻĻāĻžā§ŸāĻ•/āĻĻā§ :āĻ–āĻĻāĻžā§ŸāĻ• āĻŋāĻš Íž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ in these parties­āĻāĻ‡ āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻĻāĻ˛ āĻ˛āĻž āĻ¤Íž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ What is most shocking­āĻ…āĻ¤ āĻŽāĻŽāĻžāĻŋ āĻ•/ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨āĻžāĻĻāĻžā§ŸāĻ• āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻ° āĻš āĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ the ruling AL­ āĻŽāĻ¤āĻžāĻ¸ā§€āĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ“ā§ŸāĻžāĻŽā§€ āĻ˛ā§€āĻ—Íž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ only nineteen women­ āĻ§ā§ ā§§ā§¯ āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ in its 74­member central committee­ āĻ• ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻŸāĻ° ā§­ā§Ē āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻĻ āĻ¸ āĻ° āĻŽāĻ§ Íž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ meaning that­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻĨ āĻĻāĻžā§œāĻžā§ŸÍž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ…āĻĨ āĻš Íž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ only 26 percent of the committee positions­āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻŸāĻ° āĻĒ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛ ā§¨ā§Ŧ āĻļāĻ¤āĻžāĻ‚āĻļÍž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ are held by women­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻĻāĻ– āĻ˛Íž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ advisory body­āĻ‰āĻĒ āĻĻ āĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻĄÍž ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ However­āĻŋāĻ• Íž ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ have claimed that­āĻĻāĻžāĻŋāĻŦ āĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ ā§Ÿ āĻ›āĻ¨ āĻ¯Íž ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ women constituted 33 percent of each of their central committees­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ• ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¤ ā§Šā§Š āĻļāĻ¤āĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ† āĻ›Íž ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ Given the situation­āĻāĻŽāĻ¤āĻžāĻŦ āĻžā§ŸÍž āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¤Íž ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ we need to find out­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ–ā§ āĻœ āĻŦāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻĻāĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ precisely­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ­āĻ˛āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ have failed to achieve­āĻ…āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻŦ āĻĨ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ Clearly­ āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ˛ āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ¤ āĻšā§ŸÍž ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ was not given much attention­āĻ¯ āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻ†āĻ•āĻˇāĻŖ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ¨Íž ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ by our political leaders­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ°Íž ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ because of­āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž āĻœ āĻ¨ Íž āĻĻ āĻ¨Íž ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ patriarchal mindset­āĻĒā§ āĻˇāĻļāĻžāĻŋāĻ¸āĻ¤ āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻŦÍž ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ let alone­āĻĻā§‚ āĻ° āĻĨāĻžāĻ•Íž āĻĻā§‚ āĻ°āĻ° āĻ•āĻĨāĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ in the various committees­āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻ­ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¤Íž ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ According to ­āĻŽ āĻ¤Íž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž
  • 27. ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ women's rights activists­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ•āĻŽ Íž ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ women members of our political parties­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻĻāĻ˛ āĻ˛āĻžāĻ° āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻ¸āĻĻāĻ¸ Íž ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ generally­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖāĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ do not have any decision­making power­ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¸ āĻž āĻš āĻŖāĻ° āĻŽāĻ¤āĻž āĻ¨āĻ‡Íž ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ they are always looked down upon by their male counterparts­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻĒā§ āĻˇ āĻ¸āĻšāĻ•āĻŽ āĻ° āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻšā§€āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦāĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻĨāĻž āĻ•Íž ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ male counterparts­āĻĒā§āĻˇ āĻ¸āĻšāĻ•āĻŽ Íž ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ definitely discourage­āĻŋāĻ¨:āĻ¸ āĻš āĻŋāĻ¨ ā§ŽāĻ¸āĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻ¤ āĻ• āĻ°Íž ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ the educated and intellectually active women­āĻŋāĻļāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻŦā§ āĻŋ āĻŦā§ƒ āĻŋ āĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ¸āĻŋ ā§Ÿ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ to come to politics­āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¤ āĻ†āĻ¸āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ Such attitudes of our political parties ­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻœ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻĻāĻ˛ āĻ˛āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ/āĻĻā§ƒ āĻŋ āĻ­āĻŋ Íž ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ must change­āĻ…āĻŦāĻļ āĻ‡ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻš āĻŦÍž ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ if we are to bring more women into politics­ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ† āĻ°āĻž āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¤ āĻ†āĻ¨ āĻ¤ āĻšā§ŸÍž ******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ***** Why is women’s political participation still so low? Only five parties have the required representation! *************************** While women should make up a third of any political party, as stipulated by the Representation of the People Order, except for five parties, no other political party in the country has the required percentage of women's participation. Although reserving 33 percent of the committee positions for women is a prerequisite for any political party to be registered with the Election Commission and this requirement should be met by 2020, with only nine months for the deadline to end, most of the political parties have not managed to meet the requirement. What is more, only four of the parties have women as their heads, including the Awami League and the BNP. Our reporter has talked to leaders of 25 out of the country's 41 registered political parties and found a rather dismal picture of women's participation in these parties. What is most shocking is the fact that even the ruling AL has only nineteen women in its 74­member central committee, meaning that only 26 percent of the committee positions are held by women. While the BNP has 11 percent women's participation in its advisory body, the Jatiya Party seems to have no data on women's participation in the party. However, five parties, including Gono Front, Zaker Party and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, have claimed that women constituted 33 percent of each of their central committees. Given the situation, we need to find out precisely why our political parties have failed to achieve the goal set some 12 years ago. Clearly, the issue was not given much
  • 28. attention by our political leaders because of their patriarchal mindset which still makes them doubt the necessity of including women in the party, let alone in the various committees. According to women's rights activists, women members of our political parties generally do not have any decision­making power and they are always looked down upon by their male counterparts, which definitely discourage the educated and intellectually active women to come to politics. Such attitudes of our political parties must change if we are to bring more women into politics. March 10, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial *************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ =================== ā§§āĨ¤ panic­āĻ†āĻ¤ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§¨āĨ¤ prudent­āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ•Íž āĻĻā§‚ āĻ°āĻĻāĻļ Íž ā§ŠāĨ¤ about coronavirus­āĻ• āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ¸ āĻ•Íž ā§ĒāĨ¤ Precautionary measures­āĻĒā§‚ āĻŦ āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛āĻ• āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž ā§ĢāĨ¤ speed up­ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ•āĻ›āĻ° āĻŦāĻ— āĻŦā§ƒ āĻŋ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§ŦāĨ¤ heartened­āĻ‰ āĻŋāĻ¸āĻ¤Íž ā§­āĨ¤ by the Prime Minister's assurance­ āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨āĻŽ ā§€āĻ° āĻ† āĻž āĻ¸Íž ā§ŽāĨ¤ the government is taking all measures ­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž āĻŋāĻ¨ Íž ā§¯āĨ¤ to make sure­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ Bangladesh can handle­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻāĻļ āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻž āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻĒāĻž āĻ°Íž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ onslaught­ āĻš āĻ† āĻŽāĻŖÍž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ the onslaught of the coronavirus­āĻ• āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻš āĻ† āĻŽāĻŖÍž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ we cannot help but feel concerned­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻ‰āĻŋ āĻ¨āĻž āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ regarding­āĻ¸ āĻ•Íž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ our preparedness­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ a possible epidemic­āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŦ āĻŽāĻšāĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ three confirmed cases­āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋ āĻ¤ Íž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ the intense density of population­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ– āĻžāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦāĻĒā§ āĻ˛ āĻ˜āĻ¨ Íž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ in our cities and towns­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¨āĻ—āĻ° āĻ“ āĻļāĻšāĻ° āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻ¤Íž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ a new dimension­āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻ¨ āĻŽāĻž āĻžÍž
  • 29. ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ the crisis­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ•āĻŸÍž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ Thus­āĻ¸ā§ āĻ¤āĻ°āĻžāĻ‚Íž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ the need for preparedness­ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§ŸāĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ for taking measures­āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ to minimise the suffering of people­āĻœāĻ¨āĻĻā§ āĻ­āĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻŽāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ an outbreak of the virus occurs­āĻ¸ā§ƒāĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻžāĻĻā§ āĻ­āĻžāĻŦÍž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ emphasis­ āĻĻāĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ True­āĻ¸āĻ¤ āĻš āĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ the government has provided hotlines­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻŸāĻ˛āĻžāĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻŦāĻ°āĻžāĻš āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ for the public­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ— āĻŖāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ to call and get help­āĻ•āĻ˛ āĻĻā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻžāĻ¯ āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ the actual healthcare facilities­ āĻ• ā§ƒ āĻ¤ āĻž āĻ¸āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸ā§ āĻŋāĻŦāĻ§āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ According to experts­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻĻāĻ° āĻŽ āĻ¤Íž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ the high contagiousness of the virus ­āĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ‰ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻŽāĻŖāĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ solely­ āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛āĻŽāĻž Íž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ spread­āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĒā§œāĻžÍž ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ Greater awareness­āĻŦā§ƒ āĻš āĻ° āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ among the public­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ— āĻŖāĻ° āĻŽāĻž āĻÍž ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ health professionals­āĻŋāĻšāĻŋāĻ•ā§ŽāĻ¸āĻ•Íž ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ who will be in direct contact with patients­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸āĻŋāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻ—ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻ° āĻŦÍž ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ Although­āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻāĻ“Íž ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ many hospitals­āĻ… āĻ¨āĻ• āĻšāĻžāĻ¸āĻĒāĻžāĻ¤āĻžāĻ˛Íž ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ have not yet received­āĻāĻ–āĻ¨āĻ“ āĻšāĻŖ āĻ• āĻ°āĻŋāĻ¨Íž ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ on an urgent basis­āĻœ āĻŋāĻ° āĻŋāĻ­āĻŋ āĻ¤Íž ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ infection from this virus ­āĻāĻ‡ āĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸ āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻŽāĻŖÍž ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ globally­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€Íž ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ People have been advised to wash their hands­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ—āĻŖ āĻ• āĻšāĻžāĻ¤ āĻ§ā§—āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻŽāĻļ āĻĻā§ŸāĻž āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ frequently ­āĻŦāĻžāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ°Íž āĻ˜āĻ¨āĻ˜āĻ¨Íž ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ with soap and water ­āĻ¸āĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻ¨ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻ¸āĻžāĻšāĻž āĻ¯ Íž ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ the basic preventive measures­ āĻŽā§—āĻŋāĻ˛āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ°āĻžāĻ§āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛āĻ• āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž
  • 30. ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ such facilities­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ¸ā§ āĻŋāĻŦāĻ§āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ in densely populated areas­āĻœāĻ¨āĻŦ āĻ˛ āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ like slums­āĻŦāĻŋ āĻĻāĻ° āĻŽāĻ¤Íž ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ Of course­āĻ…āĻŦāĻļ āĻ‡Íž ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ feeling helpless­āĻ…āĻ¸āĻšāĻžā§Ÿ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ­āĻŦÍž ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ a prudent move­āĻŋāĻŦāĻš āĻŖ āĻĒāĻĻ āĻĒÍž ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ the government has postponed­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŋāĻ—āĻ¤ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ the March 17 grand rally­ā§§ā§­āĻ‡ āĻŽāĻž āĻšāĻ° āĻŦā§ƒ āĻšā§Ž āĻ¸āĻŽāĻž āĻŦāĻļÍž ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ in view of­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ° āĻŋ āĻ¤Íž ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ We hope that­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻ†āĻļāĻž āĻ•āĻŋāĻ°Íž ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ other public gatherings­āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻœāĻ¨āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻ—āĻŽÍž ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ We also expect­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻ¤ āĻžāĻļāĻžāĻ“ āĻ•āĻŋāĻ°Íž ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ assess the situation­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ consider what precautions should be taken­ āĻĒā§‚ āĻŦāĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛āĻ• āĻ¯ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻž āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ› āĻ¤āĻž āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ educational institutions­āĻŋāĻļ āĻž āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ stay on alert­āĻ¸āĻ¤āĻ• āĻĨāĻžāĻ•āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ especially­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ• āĻ°Íž ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ low immunity­āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻŽāĻž āĻ¨āĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ°āĻžāĻĒ āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ asthma and other respiratory problems­āĻšāĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻžāĻ¸āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻŽāĻ¸ āĻžÍž ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ at risk ­āĻ ā§ āĻŋāĻ• āĻ¤Íž ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ severely ­āĻ• āĻ āĻžāĻ°āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ affected­āĻ† āĻž Íž *******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ******* Don’t panic but be prudent about coronavirus Precautionary measures must be sped up ************************* While we are heartened by the Prime Minister's assurance that the government is taking all measures to make sure Bangladesh can handle the onslaught of the coronavirus, we cannot help but feel concerned regarding our preparedness for a possible epidemic, if it comes to that. With three confirmed cases in Bangladesh and given the intense density of population in our cities and towns, there is a new
  • 31. dimension that has been added to the crisis. Thus, the need for preparedness and for taking measures to minimise the suffering of people, should an outbreak of the virus occurs, cannot be emphasised enough. True, the government has provided hotlines for the public to call and get help, but what about the actual healthcare facilities? According to experts, the high contagiousness of the virus warrants having healthcare facilities solely for Covid­19 patients so that it does not spread. Greater awareness regarding precautions are needed not only among the public, but also health professionals who will be in direct contact with patients. Although the government has started distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals, there are still many hospitals that have not yet received them. PPEs and other necessary equipment and measures have to be in place in hospitals on an urgent basis, given the speed with which infection from this virus spreads, as we have seen globally. People have been advised to wash their hands frequently with soap and water as one of the basic preventive measures—how readily available are such facilities in densely populated areas like slums, in bazaars, in schools or even in health care complexes? Of course there is no value in panicking and feeling helpless. But we must take all the measures that can be taken to prevent infections from spreading. It is a prudent move that the government has postponed the March 17 grand rally in view of the coronavirus crisis and with three confirmed cases in Bangladesh. We hope that other public gatherings will be kept on hold for the time being. We also expect the government will assess the situation and consider what precautions should be taken with regards to educational institutions. The public and health care professionals must stay on alert, especially with regard to the elderly, people with low immunity and those who already have pre­existing health conditions such as asthma and other respiratory problems, all of whom are particularly at risk of being severely affected if infected by the virus. March 11, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial *************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ================== ā§§āĨ¤ Public awareness­āĻœāĻ¨Â­āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§¨āĨ¤ in tackling coronavirus­āĻ• āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸ āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§ŠāĨ¤ Make available clear guidelines­āĻŦ āĻŦāĻšāĻž āĻ°āĻžāĻĒ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—ā§€ āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ° āĻ• āĻ¨Íž ā§ĒāĨ¤ daily awareness drives­ āĻĻāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ• āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§ĢāĨ¤ The response to the news­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻŦāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¤āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§ŦāĨ¤ of coronavirus cases­āĻ• āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻžāĻ¸ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§­āĨ¤ being reported in Bangladesh­āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻ āĻļ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻļ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžā§ŸÍž ā§ŽāĨ¤ widespread panic­ āĻ¤ āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĒā§œāĻž āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻ• āĻ†āĻ¤ Íž
  • 32. ā§¯āĨ¤ According to a report by The Daily Star­ āĻĄāĻ‡āĻ˛ āĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ greet with­(āĻ–āĻŦāĻ°, āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ‡āĻ¤ āĻžāĻŋāĻĻ) āĻšāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ buying and hoarding­ ā§Ÿ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻŽāĻœā§ āĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ antiseptic liquids­āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§ āĻ¨āĻžāĻļāĻ• āĻ¤āĻ°āĻ˛ āĻĒāĻĻāĻžāĻĨÍž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ protection­āĻ¸ā§ āĻ° āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ a potential spread of the virus­āĻ­āĻžāĻ‡āĻ°āĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŦ āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĒā§œāĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ globally infected­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒā§€ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻŋāĻŽāĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ killed ­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻšāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ›Íž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ at least­āĻ•āĻŽāĻĒ Íž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ so far­āĻ āĻ¯āĻžāĻŦā§ŽÍž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ report­āĻŋāĻŦāĻŦāĻ°āĻŖ āĻĻāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ a shortage of these items­āĻāĻ¸āĻŦ āĻ‰āĻĒāĻ•āĻ°āĻŖ āĻŋāĻ˛āĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ thanks to ­āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž āĻœ āĻ¨ Íž āĻĻ āĻŖÍž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ stockpiling­āĻ¸āĻšāĻ°āĻžāĻšāĻ° āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻž āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻœāĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¸ āĻŋāĻ• āĻ¨ āĻŽāĻœā§ āĻ¤ āĻ°āĻžāĻ–āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ the demand for tissue paper­āĻŋāĻŸāĻ¸ā§āĻĒāĻĒāĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻĻāĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ special protection ­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ¸ā§ āĻ° āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ almost­ āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ doubled overnight­āĻ°āĻžāĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŋ āĻŖ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ retailers­āĻ–ā§ āĻšāĻ°āĻž āĻŋāĻŦ āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ a buying frenzy­ āĻ•āĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ‰ āĻ¤āĻž/ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¯āĻžāĻŋāĻ—āĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ well­known­āĻ¸ā§ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤Íž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ deprive those who might need them­āĻ¯āĻž āĻĻāĻ° ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ• āĻ°Íž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ unchecked­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ¨ā§ŸāĻŋ āĻ¤Íž āĻ…āĻŦāĻžāĻ§Íž ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ the effects of panic­buying and hoarding ­āĻ†āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ¨āĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻŽāĻœā§ āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻ­āĻžāĻŦÍž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ eventually ­āĻĢ āĻ˛Íž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ extend ­āĻŦāĻžāĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĻāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ daily essentials­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¤ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻœāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¸āĻĒ Íž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ resulting in­āĻĢ āĻ˛Íž ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ total chaos in the market­āĻŦāĻžāĻœāĻž āĻ° āĻ¸ ā§‚ āĻŖ āĻ¨āĻ°āĻžāĻœ /āĻŋāĻŦāĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ desirable ­āĻ•āĻžāĻŋ āĻ¤ ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ at this stage­āĻāĻ‡ āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§ŸÍž
  • 33. ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ Experts ­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ some explanations­āĻŋāĻ•āĻ› āĻŦ āĻžāĻ– āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ extremes­āĻšāĻ°āĻŽāĻ¸ā§€āĻŽāĻžÍž āĻšāĻ°āĻŽ āĻŽāĻž āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ because of ­āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ unpredictability­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ mysteries­āĻ°āĻšāĻ¸ Íž ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ the lack of a clear direction­ āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤/āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦÍž ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ as well as­āĻĒāĻžāĻļāĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻļÍž āĻ“Íž ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ the lack of preparedness ­ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ from health officials, etc­āĻŋāĻšāĻŋāĻ•ā§ŽāĻ¸āĻ• āĻ‡āĻ¤ āĻžāĻŋāĻĻāĻ° āĻĒ āĻĨ āĻ•Íž ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ Whatever the reason­āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ‡ āĻšāĻžāĻ• āĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ¨Íž ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ find a way to address­āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻ§āĻž āĻ¨āĻ° āĻĒāĻĨ/āĻĒ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ° āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ clear communication­āĻ…āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—Íž ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ essence­āĻ¸āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻ‚āĻļÍž āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¸Íž ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ want to limit­āĻ¸ā§€āĻŽāĻž āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻšāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ the public engagement issue­āĻœāĻ¨āĻ¸ ā§ƒ āĻŋāĻŦāĻˇā§ŸÍž ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ responsible behaviour­āĻĻāĻžā§ŸāĻŦ āĻ†āĻšāĻ°āĻŖÍž ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ enormous help­ āĻšāĻ° āĻ¸āĻšāĻžā§ŸāĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ coming from abroad­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻĻāĻļ āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ†āĻ¸ āĻ›Íž ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ in particular­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻļāĻˇ āĻ• āĻ°Íž ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ to the authorities­āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ āĻĒ āĻ° āĻ•āĻž āĻ›Íž ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ should be strongly dealt with­āĻ• āĻ āĻžāĻ°āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻž āĻ‰āĻŋāĻšāĻ¤Íž ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ health officials­ āĻž āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻŦā§ƒÍž ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ daily awareness campaigns­ āĻĻāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ• āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ social media­āĻ¸āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻŋāĻœāĻ• āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—āĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻŽāĻžāĻ§ āĻŽÍž ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ advantages ­āĻ¸ā§ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ—­āĻ¸ā§ āĻŋāĻŦāĻ§āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ for example­āĻ‰āĻĻāĻžāĻšāĻ°āĻŖ āĻĒÍž ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ they have formed a cell ­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ¸āĻ˛ āĻ—āĻ āĻ¨ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›Íž ā§Ŧā§ŽāĨ¤ to counter the spread of misinformation­āĻ­āĻ˛ āĻ¤āĻĨ āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĻā§ŸāĻž āĻ āĻ•āĻž āĻ¤/ āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻž āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž ā§Ŧā§¯āĨ¤ mount­ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž
  • 34. ā§­ā§ĻāĨ¤ a massive cleaning campaign­āĻŋāĻŦāĻļāĻžāĻ˛ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§­ā§§āĨ¤ every single household­ āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻāĻ•āĻ• āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ°Íž ā§­ā§¨āĨ¤ however­āĻŋāĻ• Íž ā§­ā§ŠāĨ¤ undertake­āĻĻāĻžāĻŋā§Ÿ āĻ­āĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§­ā§ĒāĨ¤ the gravity of the situation­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŋ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ…āĻŦ āĻžÍž *******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ******* Public awareness is a must in tackling coronavirus Make available clear guidelines, daily awareness drives ****************************** The response to the news of coronavirus cases being reported in Bangladesh has been one of widespread panic. According to a report by The Daily Star, the news has been greeted with panic­buying and hoarding of face masks, hand sanitisers and antiseptic liquids as protection against a potential spread of the virus, which has globally infected over 100,000 people and killed at least 4,028 so far. In Dhaka, a number of pharmacies and superstores have reported a shortage of these items, thanks to coronavirus fears leading to stockpiling. Even the demand for tissue paper, which is not known for offering special protection against the virus, has almost doubled overnight, according to some retailers. The risks associated with such a buying frenzy are well­known: it can, for one, deprive those who might need them. If left unchecked, the effects of panic­buying and hoarding of such items may eventually extend to daily essentials resulting in total chaos in the market, which is anything but desirable at this stage. Experts have offered some explanations for the panic: that people are resorting to extremes because of the unpredictability of the disease and the mysteries surrounding itÍž that they are reacting to the lack of a clear direction as well as the lack of preparedness from health officials, etc. Whatever the reason, the government must find a way to address it. Public awareness and clear communication are of the essence if we want to limit the damage of this pandemic with any degree of success. There are two sides to the public engagement issue: first, people should be made aware that responsible behaviour on their part would be of enormous help. This means, no panic­buying. Families of persons coming from abroad, in particular, who may have passed the initial screening but start showing symptoms later, must report such cases to the authorities. Those trying to profit from hoarding should be strongly dealt with. Secondly, health officials and those in charge of tackling the crisis should make available clear guidelines on what to do and undertake daily awareness campaigns using electronic, print and social media. One of the advantages of the coronavirus entering late in Bangladesh is that we can
  • 35. learn from global best practices. In Kerala, for example, they have formed a cell to counter the spread of misinformation. In Singapore, they have mounted a massive cleaning campaign and even reportedly employed the army to pack masks in their millions to be distributed freely to every single household in the country. These are but a few examples we can learn from. Nothing, however, will be of much use if citizens do not behave responsibly and the authorities do not undertake programmes consistent with the gravity of the situation. March 12, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial ************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ================= ā§§āĨ¤ inferno­āĻ…āĻŋ āĻ•āĻž Íž ā§¨āĨ¤ happen­āĻ˜āĻŸāĻžÍž ā§ŠāĨ¤ the homeless­āĻ—ā§ƒ āĻšāĻšā§€āĻ¨Íž ā§ĒāĨ¤ shocked­āĻŽāĻŽāĻžāĻšāĻ¤Íž ā§ĢāĨ¤ a fire that broke out in Rupnagar slum­ āĻĒāĻ¨āĻ—āĻ° āĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĒā§œāĻž āĻ† āĻ¨Íž ā§ŦāĨ¤ in the city's Mirpur area ­āĻ°āĻžāĻœāĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻŋāĻŽāĻ°āĻĒā§ āĻ° āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžā§ŸÍž
  • 36. ā§­āĨ¤ on Wednesday morning ­āĻ—āĻ¤ āĻŦā§ āĻ§āĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻ•āĻž āĻ˛Íž ā§ŽāĨ¤ has destroyed­ āĻ‚āĻ¸/āĻ¨ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ— āĻ›Íž ā§¯āĨ¤ at least 200 shanties­āĻ•āĻŽāĻĒā§ ā§¨ā§Ļā§ĻāĻŋāĻŸ āĻ• ā§ ā§œāĻ˜āĻ°Íž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ leaving hundreds­āĻļāĻ¤ āĻļāĻ¤ āĻ¤ āĻžāĻ— (āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›)Íž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ residents homeless­āĻŦāĻ¸āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸āĻ°āĻ¤ āĻ—ā§ƒ āĻšāĻšā§€āĻ¨Íž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ The fire also spread­āĻ† āĻ¨ āĻ† āĻ°āĻž āĻ›āĻŋā§œ ā§Ÿ āĻĒ ā§œāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ to a nearby six­storey building­āĻĒāĻž āĻŦāĻ¤ āĻ›ā§Ÿ āĻ¤āĻ˛āĻž āĻ­āĻŦ āĻ¨Íž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ was doused later.­āĻĒ āĻ° āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĸāĻžāĻ˛āĻž āĻš ā§ŸāĻŋāĻ›āĻ˛Íž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ douse­āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĸāĻžāĻ˛āĻž/āĻŋāĻ›āĻŸāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž āĻœāĻ˛āĻŽ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ Thankfully­ āĻ¸ā§—āĻ­āĻžāĻ— āĻŽÍž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ no lives were lost­ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻžāĻŖāĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ˜ āĻŸāĻŋāĻ¨Íž āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨ āĻ¨ āĻšā§ŸāĻŋāĻ¨Íž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ in the incident­āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ Frequent fires occurring at the city's slums­āĻ¨āĻ—āĻ°ā§€āĻ° āĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ…āĻŋ āĻ•āĻž āĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻžā§Ÿ /āĻŦāĻžāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸāĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ just go to show­ āĻ•āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ•āĻžāĻļ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ›Íž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ our lack of awareness­āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ/āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž
  • 37. ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ to the fore­āĻšāĻž āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ•āĻž āĻ›Íž āĻ¤ā§Ž āĻŖāĻžā§ŽÍž āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻ˛Íž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ ill­prepared­āĻŦāĻž āĻœ āĻ¤Íž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ the authorities­āĻ•āĻ¤ā§ƒ āĻĒ Íž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ in handling such incidents­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻž āĻŽāĻžāĻ•āĻž āĻŦāĻ˛āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ In many previous fire incidents­āĻĒā§‚ āĻŦ āĻ…āĻŋ āĻ•āĻž āĻ° āĻ… āĻ¨āĻ• āĻ˜āĻŸāĻ¨āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ one of the main reasons of delay­ āĻĻāĻŋāĻ°āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻŋāĻ˛āĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸÍž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ in controlling the fire­āĻ† āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨ā§Ÿ āĻŖÍž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ the lack of natural water sources­ āĻžāĻ• ā§ƒ āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ• āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ¸ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ ponds or canals­āĻĒā§ āĻ• ā§ āĻ° āĻ…āĻĨāĻŦāĻž āĻ–āĻžāĻ˛Íž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ in the respective areas­āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻŋ āĻāĻ˛āĻžāĻ•āĻžā§Ÿ ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ fire­fighters struggled to bring water­āĻĢāĻžā§ŸāĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻžāĻŋāĻ­āĻ¸ āĻ•āĻŽ āĻ°āĻž āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ¨ āĻ¤ āĻš āĻž/āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻžāĻŽ āĻ• āĻ° āĻ›āĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ to douse the fire­āĻ† āĻ¨ āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ›āĻŸāĻž āĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ scarcity of water­āĻĒāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ° āĻ˜āĻžāĻŸāĻŋāĻ¤Íž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ in this congested city­āĻāĻ‡ āĻœāĻ¨āĻŦ āĻ˛ āĻ¨āĻ—āĻ°ā§€ āĻ¤Íž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ the required preparation­ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ¤Íž
  • 38. ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ the narrow roads­āĻ¸ /āĻ¸āĻ‚āĻ•ā§€āĻŖ āĻ°āĻž āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ a constant reality in Dhaka­āĻĸāĻžāĻ•āĻžā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ¤ /āĻŦāĻžāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻ˜āĻŸ āĻ› āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻ¤āĻžÍž ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ procure the necessary equipment ­ ā§ŸāĻžāĻœāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ‰āĻĒāĻ•āĻ°āĻŖ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻš āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ navigate­āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻšāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨āĻž āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ Sometimes­āĻŽāĻž āĻ āĻŽāĻž āĻÍž ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ a fire in a slum­āĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ…āĻŋ āĻ•āĻž Íž ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ the exact reason behind­āĻŋāĻĒāĻ› āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ†āĻ¸āĻ˛ āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻŖÍž ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ ascertain­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ are identified­āĻŋāĻšāĻŋ āĻ¤Íž ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ a faulty electric line ­ āĻŋāĻŸāĻĒā§‚ āĻŖ āĻŋāĻŦāĻĻā§ ā§Ž āĻ˛āĻžāĻ‡āĻ¨Íž ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ a leaked gas pipe­āĻŋāĻ› āĻ¯ā§ āĻ— āĻžāĻ¸ āĻĒāĻžāĻ‡āĻĒÍž ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ corrective steps­āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ form to ascertain­āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤ āĻ—āĻ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ come up with­āĻ¨āĻžāĻ—āĻžāĻ˛ āĻ§āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ conclusive answer­āĻšā§œāĻž āĻœāĻŦāĻžāĻŦÍž
  • 39. ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ go into oblivion with time­āĻ¸āĻŽ ā§ŸāĻ° āĻ¸āĻž āĻĨ āĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻ° ā§Ÿ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž āĻŋāĻŦ ā§ƒ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻš ā§Ÿ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ we hope­āĻ†āĻŽāĻ°āĻž āĻ†āĻļāĻžāĻ•āĻŋāĻ°Íž ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ would be identified soon­ āĻ¤ āĻŋāĻšāĻŋ āĻ¤/āĻ¸āĻ¨āĻž āĻš āĻŦÍž ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ affected by ­āĻ† āĻž Íž ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ will be rehabilitated immediately­āĻ…āĻŋāĻŦāĻ˛ āĻĒā§ āĻ¨āĻŦāĻžāĻŋāĻ¸āĻ¤ āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻš āĻŦÍž ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ the low­income people­āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻ† ā§ŸāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨āĻ—āĻ¨Íž ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ so that ­āĻ¯āĻž āĻ¤Íž ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ face the dangers of living­āĻœā§€āĻŋāĻŦāĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦāĻĒ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸ ā§ āĻ–ā§€āĻ¨ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ go to sleep every night­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ°āĻž āĻ¤ āĻ˜ā§ āĻŽāĻž āĻ¤ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ********āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ***** Rupnagar’s inferno What will happen to the homeless? *************************** We are shocked that a fire that broke out in Rupnagar slum in the city's Mirpur area on Wednesday morning has destroyed at least 200 shanties, leaving hundreds of its residents homeless. The fire also spread to a nearby six­storey building which was doused later. Thankfully, no lives were lost in the incident. Frequent fires occurring at the city's slums just go to show our lack of awareness, among other things, and
  • 40. the time it takes for the fire service to douse the fire brings to the fore how ill­ prepared the authorities are in handling such incidents. In many previous fire incidents in the city, including those in the slums, one of the main reasons of delay in controlling the fire has been the lack of natural water sources like ponds or canals in the respective areas. The situation was the same this time as fire­fighters struggled to bring water to douse the fire. Since scarcity of water has always been and will always be an issue in this congested city, shouldn't the fire service have the required preparation for that? Also, the narrow roads and lanes being a constant reality in Dhaka, shouldn't they procure the necessary equipment to navigate through these areas? Sometimes when there is a fire in a slum, we are told that the exact reason behind it couldn't be ascertained. And in cases where the reasons are identified—where fire either originates from a faulty electric line or a leaked gas pipe—no corrective steps are taken. The committees formed to ascertain the reasons hardly come up with any conclusive answer, as the incidents go into oblivion with time. This time, we hope the reasons for the Rupnagar fire would be identified soon and acted upon, and those affected by it will be rehabilitated immediately by the government. Also, the government should come up with a functional housing policy for the low­income people in the city so that they do not have to face the dangers of living in slums, fearing for their lives as they go to sleep every night. March 13, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial ************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ================== ā§§āĨ¤ Give kidney patients­ āĻ°āĻžāĻ—ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻĻā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§¨āĨ¤ the right to save their lives­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨ āĻ° āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ§āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§ŠāĨ¤ The law ­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻŋāĻŸÍž ā§ĒāĨ¤ stop­āĻŦ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§ĢāĨ¤ from receiving transplants­āĻļāĻ°ā§€ āĻ°āĻ° āĻ… āĻ¤ āĻāĻ• āĻĻāĻš āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ…āĻ¨ āĻĻ āĻš āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻšāĻŖ āĻĨ āĻ• ā§ŦāĨ¤ According to­āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸āĻž āĻ°Íž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž ā§­āĨ¤ estimated­āĻ†āĻ¨ā§ āĻŽāĻžāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ• (āĻŋāĻšāĻ¸āĻžāĻŦ)Íž ā§ŽāĨ¤ in the country ­ āĻĻ āĻļÍž
  • 41. ā§¯āĨ¤ suffer from­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ kidney disease­āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻ°āĻžāĻ—Íž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ every year ­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ›āĻ°Íž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ Although­āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻāĻ“Íž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ the annual demand for kidney transplant ­āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻžāĻĒ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻŦāĻžā§ŽāĻ¸āĻŋāĻ°āĻ• āĻšāĻžāĻŋāĻšāĻĻāĻžÍž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ renal­āĻŽā§‚ āĻžāĻļā§Ÿ āĻ¸ ā§€ā§ŸÍž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ undergo­ āĻ­āĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ the thousands of patients­āĻšāĻžāĻœāĻžāĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻœāĻžāĻ° āĻ°āĻžāĻ—ā§€Íž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ receive a kidney transplant­āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻšāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ the first blind lawyer of Faridpur Bar Association­āĻĢāĻŋāĻ°āĻĻāĻĒā§ āĻ° āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻœā§€āĻŦā§€ āĻ¸āĻŋāĻŽāĻŋāĻ¤āĻ° āĻĨāĻŽ āĻ… āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨āĻœā§€āĻŦā§€Íž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ recipient ­ āĻšāĻŖāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€Íž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ no eligible­ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻ¨ā§ŸÍž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ immediate and extended family­āĻ†āĻ¸ āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¯ā§—āĻĨ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ°Íž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ difficult­āĻ•āĻŋāĻ āĻ¨Íž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ because of ­āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ the social taboo­āĻ¸āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻŋāĻœāĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻˇ Íž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ removing organs from the body­āĻļāĻ°ā§€āĻ° āĻĨ āĻ• āĻ… āĻ¤ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ dead patient­āĻŽā§ƒ āĻ¤ āĻ°āĻžāĻ—ā§€Íž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ unless­āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻāĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ the Organ Transplantation Act 1999­āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻŦ āĻĻāĻš āĻ… āĻ¤ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻ¯āĻžāĻœāĻ¨ āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨, ā§§ā§¯ā§¯ā§¯ ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ voluntary kidney donations­ āĻžā§Ÿ āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻĻāĻžāĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ Last December­āĻ—āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°āĻ° āĻŋāĻĄ āĻ¸ āĻ°Íž ā§Šā§§āĨ¤ the High Court even ordered the government­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ• āĻšāĻžāĻ‡ āĻ•āĻžāĻŸ āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļ āĻŋāĻĻ ā§Ÿ āĻ›āĻ¨Íž ā§Šā§¨āĨ¤ to make such an amendment ­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ¤Íž ā§Šā§ŠāĨ¤ within six months­āĻ›ā§Ÿ āĻŽāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻŽ āĻ§ Íž ā§Šā§ĒāĨ¤ Unfortunately­āĻĻā§ :āĻ–āĻœāĻ¨āĻ• āĻŦ āĻžāĻĒāĻžāĻ° āĻš āĻ˛āĻžÍž ā§Šā§ĢāĨ¤ the drafting of the amendment­āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§āĻ¨ā§€āĻ° āĻ–āĻ¸ā§œāĻžÍž ā§Šā§ŦāĨ¤ at its primary stage­ āĻžāĻĨāĻŋāĻŽāĻ• āĻĒāĻ¯āĻž ā§Ÿ (āĻ† āĻ›)Íž ā§Šā§­āĨ¤ as this newspaper reported yesterday­āĻ—āĻ¤āĻ•āĻžāĻ˛ āĻāĻ‡ āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ•āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ•āĻžāĻŋāĻļāĻ¤ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž
  • 42. ā§Šā§ŽāĨ¤ the law prohibits ­āĻ†āĻ‡āĻ¨ āĻŦāĻžāĻ§āĻž āĻĻā§ŸÍž ā§Šā§¯āĨ¤ voluntary kidney donations­ āĻžāĻ• ā§ƒ āĻ¤ āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻĻāĻž āĻ¨Íž ā§Ēā§ĻāĨ¤ hundreds of Bangladeshis­āĻļāĻ¤āĻļāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻāĻŋāĻļÍž ā§Ēā§§āĨ¤ are forced to travel abroad­āĻŋāĻŦ āĻĻāĻļ āĻ¯ āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻš (āĻšā§Ÿ)Íž ā§Ēā§¨āĨ¤ in search of a life­saving kidney transplant­āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨ āĻ° āĻžāĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§€ āĻŋāĻ•āĻĄāĻ¨ā§€ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻ… āĻˇ āĻŖÍž ā§Ēā§ŠāĨ¤ resort to ­āĻ† ā§Ÿ āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻ…āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§ĒāĨ¤ middlemen­āĻĻāĻžāĻ˛āĻžāĻ˛Íž ā§Ēā§ĢāĨ¤ the black market­āĻ•āĻž āĻ˛āĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻœāĻžāĻŋāĻ°Íž ā§Ēā§ŦāĨ¤ convince ­āĻ•āĻžāĻ‰ āĻ• āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Ēā§­āĨ¤ the economically poor­āĻ†āĻŋāĻĨāĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ/āĻ…āĻĨ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ¤āĻ•āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻ—āĻŋāĻ°āĻŦÍž ā§Ēā§ŽāĨ¤ become donors­ āĻĄāĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻŦāĻž āĻĻāĻžāĻ¤āĻž āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ēā§¯āĨ¤ take advantage of­āĻ¸ā§ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— āĻšāĻŖ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ĻāĨ¤ hefty sums of money­āĻŦā§œ āĻ…āĻ‚ āĻ•āĻ° āĻ…āĻĨ/āĻŸāĻžāĻ•āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§§āĨ¤ hefty­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ—ā§œāĻžÍž āĻĒā§ Íž ā§Ģā§¨āĨ¤ promising lives­āĻ¸ āĻžāĻŦāĻ¨āĻžāĻŽā§Ÿ āĻœā§€āĻŦāĻ¨Íž ā§Ģā§ŠāĨ¤ are lost every year­ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻ›āĻ° āĻšāĻžāĻ°āĻž Íž ā§Ģā§ĒāĨ¤ due to­āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻŖÍž ā§Ģā§ĢāĨ¤ roadblocks­āĻŦ āĻžāĻŋāĻ° āĻ•āĻĄÍž āĻĒāĻĨ āĻ°āĻžāĻĻÍž ā§Ģā§ŦāĨ¤ stagger­āĻŋāĻŦāĻļā§ƒāĻ˛āĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻšāĻžāĻŸ āĻ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§­āĨ¤ remove­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž ā§Ģā§ŽāĨ¤ unacceptable.­āĻ… āĻšāĻŖ āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— Íž ā§Ģā§¯āĨ¤ indefinitely­āĻ…āĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ­āĻž āĻŦÍž ā§Ŧā§ĻāĨ¤ for the government­āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻž āĻ°āĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž āĻ¸āĻ°āĻ•āĻž āĻ°āĻ°Íž ā§Ŧā§§āĨ¤ slowly­āĻ§ā§€āĻ°āĻ—āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¤Íž ā§Ŧā§¨āĨ¤ able to get ­ āĻĒ āĻ¤ āĻ¸ āĻŽÍž ā§Ŧā§ŠāĨ¤ procedure­āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯ āĻŖāĻžāĻ˛ā§€Íž āĻŋ ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§ĒāĨ¤ needs to urgently amend­āĻœ āĻŋāĻ° āĻŋāĻ­āĻŋ āĻ¤/āĻ…āĻŋāĻŦāĻ˛ āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§āĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻž āĻĻāĻ°āĻ•āĻžāĻ°Íž ā§Ŧā§ĢāĨ¤ as per the High Court's directive­āĻšāĻžāĻ‡ āĻ•āĻž āĻŸāĻ° āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļāĻ¨āĻž āĻ…āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¯āĻžā§Ÿā§€Íž ā§Ŧā§ŦāĨ¤ launch an awareness campaign­āĻ¸ āĻšāĻ¤āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻšāĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻŋāĻ­āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžÍž ā§Ŧā§­āĨ¤ feasible­āĻ•āĻžāĻ¯āĻ•āĻ°Íž
  • 43. ******āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻ° āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛ āĻ¸ āĻžāĻĻāĻ•ā§€ā§ŸāĻŋāĻŸ āĻĒāĻŋā§œ****** Give kidney patients the right to save their lives! The law shouldn’t stop patients from receiving transplants ********************* According to the High Court, an estimated 20 million people in the country suffer from some form of kidney disease every year and about 35,000­45,000 of them die of kidney failure. Although the annual demand for kidney transplant is somewhere between 5,000­9,000, only about 120­130 end­stage renal failure patients can find healthy donors and undergo kidney transplant per year. Among the thousands of patients hoping to receive a kidney transplant is the first blind lawyer of Faridpur Bar Association and a recipient of The Daily Star and IPDC Finance's Unsung Women Nation Builders Awards 2020, Marjia Rabbani Shoshi. Marjia has no eligible and willing donor in her immediate and extended family, which means her only option is a nonrelative donor or a cadaveric one. The latter is difficult because of the social taboo about removing organs from the body of a brain­ dead patient, while the former cannot be done unless the Organ Transplantation Act 1999 is amended to allow voluntary kidney donations. Last December, the High Court even ordered the government to make such an amendment within six months. Unfortunately, the drafting of the amendment is still only at its primary stage, as this newspaper reported yesterday. Because the law prohibits voluntary kidney donations, hundreds of Bangladeshis are forced to travel abroad in search of a life­saving kidney transplant. Others have to resort to middlemen and the black market, who convince the economically poor to become donors and take advantage of them, while charging the patients hefty sums of money. The number of promising lives that are lost every year due to such roadblocks is staggering. And the fact that the government isn't moving quicker to remove them is unacceptable. People like Marjia should not have to wait around indefinitely for the government to slowly reframe the law. They should be able to get a procedure that could save their lives done immediately. The government needs to urgently amend the Organ Transplantation Act 1999, as per the High Court's directive. It should also launch an awareness campaign so that it becomes more feasible for kidney patients to receive transplants from cadaveric donors. March 14, 2020 The Daily Star Editorial ************************** āĻĨ āĻŽ āĻļ āĻžāĻĨ āĻŋāĻ˛ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻ¨āĻ‡ ================== ā§§āĨ¤ Reading and planting trees­āĻŦāĻ‡ āĻĒā§œāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ—āĻžāĻ› āĻ˛āĻžāĻ—āĻž āĻ¨āĻžÍž
  • 44. ā§¨āĨ¤ as punishment­āĻļāĻžāĻŋ āĻŋāĻš āĻ¸ āĻŦÍž ā§ŠāĨ¤ Magura court’s novel idea­āĻŽāĻž āĻ°āĻž āĻ†āĻĻāĻžāĻ˛ āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¨āĻŦ āĻŋāĻš āĻžÍž ā§ĒāĨ¤ of correcting young offenders­āĻŋāĻ• āĻļāĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§ āĻ¨āĻ°Íž ā§ĢāĨ¤ commendable­ āĻļāĻ‚āĻ¸āĻ¨ā§€ā§ŸÍž ā§ŦāĨ¤ pleasantly surprised to learn­ āĻœ āĻ¨ āĻŽ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°āĻŽāĻ­āĻž āĻŦ āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋ āĻ¤Íž ā§­āĨ¤ from a Prothom Alo report that­ āĻĨāĻŽ āĻ† āĻ˛āĻž āĻĒāĻŋ āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻŋāĻ¤ āĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ āĻĨ āĻ•Íž ā§ŽāĨ¤ rather than­āĻŦāĻ°āĻ‚Íž ā§¯āĨ¤ sentencing nine youths­āĻ¨ā§Ÿ āĻ¯ā§ āĻŦ āĻ•āĻ° āĻļāĻžāĻŋ Íž ā§§ā§ĻāĨ¤ aged between 19 and 24­āĻ¯āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŦā§ŸāĻ¸ ā§§ā§¯ āĻĨ āĻ• ā§¨ā§Ē āĻŦāĻ›āĻ°Íž ā§§ā§§āĨ¤ three months imprisonment ­ā§Š āĻŽāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻĻ Íž ā§§ā§¨āĨ¤ in a drug abuse case filed against them­āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦ āĻĻāĻž ā§ŸāĻ°āĻ• ā§ƒ āĻ¤ āĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻ• āĻŽāĻžāĻŽāĻ˛āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§§ā§ŠāĨ¤ a regular sentence in such cases­āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻŽāĻžāĻŽāĻ˛āĻžā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖ āĻļāĻžāĻŋ Íž ā§§ā§ĒāĨ¤ a Magura court has put these youths under probation­āĻŽāĻž āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻāĻ•āĻŋāĻŸ āĻ†āĻĻāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¤ āĻāĻ¸āĻŦ āĻ¯ā§ āĻŦāĻ• āĻ• āĻŦāĻļ āĻ¨āĻ° āĻ…āĻ§ā§€ āĻ¨ āĻŋāĻĻ ā§Ÿ āĻ›āĻ¨Íž ā§§ā§ĢāĨ¤ and directed them­āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• āĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĻāĻļ āĻŋāĻĻ ā§Ÿ āĻ›āĻ¨Íž ā§§ā§ŦāĨ¤ to read books­āĻŦāĻ‡ āĻĒā§œ āĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§­āĨ¤ watch films ­āĻŋāĻ¸ āĻ¨āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ– āĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§ŽāĨ¤ and plant trees­āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ—āĻžāĻ› āĻ˛āĻžāĻ—āĻž āĻ¤Íž ā§§ā§¯āĨ¤ According to the court verdict­āĻ†āĻĻāĻžāĻ˛ āĻ¤āĻ° āĻ°āĻžā§Ÿ āĻĨ āĻ• āĻœāĻžāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžā§ŸÍž ā§¨ā§ĻāĨ¤ under the supervision of a probation officer ­ āĻŦāĻļāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻžāĻŦāĻ§āĻž āĻ¨Íž ā§¨ā§§āĨ¤ of the local social welfare office­ āĻžāĻ¨ā§€ā§Ÿ āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻœ āĻ‰ ā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻŋāĻĢ āĻ¸āĻ°Íž ā§¨ā§¨āĨ¤ for one year­āĻāĻ• āĻŦāĻ› āĻ°āĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§¨ā§ŠāĨ¤ if they break any of the conditions ­āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ¯āĻŋāĻĻ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻļāĻ¤ āĻ­ āĻ• āĻ°Íž ā§¨ā§ĒāĨ¤ and engage in any kind of criminal activity­āĻāĻŦāĻ‚ āĻ•āĻžāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛āĻ• āĻ•āĻŽāĻ•āĻž āĻœāĻŋā§œāĻ¤ āĻšā§ŸÍž ā§¨ā§ĢāĨ¤ during this time­āĻāĻ‡ āĻ¸āĻŽ ā§ŸÍž ā§¨ā§ŦāĨ¤ they will then be given three­months imprisonment­āĻ¤āĻ–āĻ¨ āĻ¤āĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻ• ā§Š āĻŽāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻĻ āĻĻā§ŸāĻž āĻš āĻŦ/ā§Š āĻŽāĻž āĻ¸āĻ° āĻ•āĻžāĻ°āĻžāĻĻ āĻ¤āĻ–āĻ¨ āĻ¤āĻžāĻ°āĻž āĻ­āĻžāĻ— āĻ•āĻ° āĻŦÍž ā§¨ā§­āĨ¤ The court deserves our appreciation ­āĻ†āĻĻāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¤ āĻ†āĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻ° āĻļāĻ‚āĻ¸āĻž āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻž āĻ¯āĻžāĻ— Íž ā§¨ā§ŽāĨ¤ for implementing such a novel idea of punishment­āĻļāĻžāĻŋ āĻ° āĻāĻŽāĻ¨ āĻ…āĻŋāĻ­āĻ¨āĻŦ āĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻžā§ŸāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ°āĻžāĻ° āĻœāĻ¨ Íž ā§¨ā§¯āĨ¤ Taking corrective measures­āĻ¸āĻ‚ āĻļāĻžāĻ§āĻ¨āĻŽā§‚ āĻ˛āĻ• āĻŦ āĻŦ āĻž āĻ¨ā§ŸāĻžÍž ā§Šā§ĻāĨ¤ against young offenders­āĻŋāĻ• āĻļāĻžāĻ° āĻ…āĻĒāĻ°āĻžāĻ§ā§€ āĻĻāĻ° āĻŋāĻŦ Íž