Much of what the senators say in their letter is what we have been saying all along editorially. However, we do have certain reservations about the tone and tenor of it, especially when we think that the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and the United States warrant a sympathetic understanding of the issues that Dhaka or for that matter Washington might face from time to time. Those who have signed the letter are held in the greatest esteem in Bangladesh, which is why we would have thought they would demonstrate a little more sensibility while commenting on our political situation.

However unfortunate and perhaps abrasive the nature of the letter may be, we do acknowledge the gravity of the issues we as a nation are expected to tackle in these critical times. We realise that the crisis we face today has largely been a result of the failure of those from whom we expected better in terms of governance. In a blunt manner of speaking, we have ourselves created the conditions which in turn have led to concerns of the kind expressed by the fifteen American senators. The Election Commission has not moved fast enough on the matter of preparing a voter list, which has been a key demand of the nation. At the same time, movement on the question of electoral and political reforms has been too slow or has not been there at all. The authorities, much to the nation's disappointment, have been giving mixed signals about the need to lift the ban on indoor politics anytime soon despite the widespread feeling that such a ban ought to go in order to enable both the Election Commission and the political parties to begin tackling the crucial issues before the country.

In the matter of dealing with corruption, it is true that a good number of influential figures have been taken into custody and charges are being pressed against them. But we have also noticed a very perceptible degree of arbitrariness here. Additionally, the way in which the chiefs of the Awami League and the BNP have lately been treated has been little short of the amateurish. Finally, the government has failed to place proper focus on extra-judicial killings. That is worrying.

The letter from the senators saddens us. And yet it could be an eye-opener for all of us in Bangladesh at this point.