A good gesture by PM
It was a good call of duty the Prime Minister intended to redeem entirely out of her own volition. She dashed to grieving BNP chief Khaleda Zia's office on Saturday night to personally condole the premature death of her younger son Arafat in Malaysia.
Unfortunately, the PM's spirit in that very humane circumstance went unrequited as the two could not see each other. One realises how the BNP chief could not predictably be in a mental or physical condition, having been put on sedation, to be to be adequately responsive to the PM's gesture. That is understandable, but what clearly beggars belief is the brusquely insensitive manner in which the gate was not opened to Hasina, nor was there anybody to receive her, although senior party leaders were present in the building. She could have been ushered in, seated and extended due courtesies and requested to sign the condolence book. At least, her going all the way merited minimum goodwill under the full glare of the public eye. Thus, we regard the episode as gross discourtesy shown to her as a person and the position she holds.
The situation is all the more regrettable in that Khaleda Zia met some of her senior party and coalition colleagues who went to personally extend their condolences to her.
We like to think, however, that Khaleda Zia has muffled the situation somewhat by thanking the PM for her gesture after she woke up. Let's see where they go from here.
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