Credibility at stake

There has now been a big credibility gap between what the govt. says and what actually is happening all over the country. When an engineer was gunned down the other day in the city the home minister termed it as a stray (bichinno) event but when Barrister Tapash miraculously survived a bomb attack only a couple of days later in front of his own office at Motijheel, none believed it to be so as the latter is a sitting MP and nephew of the PM herself. What is notable is that the incident took place only a few hours after the departure of the PM on an official visit abroad. Besides, everybody knows Mr. Tapash has been playing a very vital role in all important cases including those of the BDR mutiny, war criminals and the Bangabandhu murder case. Whatever the nature of the incidents, they all indicate that our law and order situation is far from normal and the failure of the home ministry is quite obvious.

Extortion and tender manipulation including fierce fight for the same even in Dhaka(recent DCC incident, for example)appear to be unbelievable after repeated warnings of the PM against all these activities. The home minister also sounded the same cautionary signals but why no action has yet been taken against the criminals is difficult to understand. As a result, rent seeking, extortion and illegal occupation of public land and property are going on unabated. Isn't stern action necessary before it is too late and the credibility gap widens beyond repair?

The border movements of the Nasaka forces along our common frontier have been termed as routine by Myanmar and our foreign minister has also stated it to be nothing worth worrying but the question is why have they moved a large number of forces along the border, dug hundreds of bunkers and erected barbed wire fences? The media may be blamed for many things but how can we disbelieve our own eyes even after seeing the live pictures? So it is better to keep our forces alert and we hope the govt. has already taken all necessary steps in this regard. What is noteworthy is that all these Myanmar activities, routine or otherwise seem to have something to do with our efforts at looking for deep-sea oil and gas. In fact, they have already claimed a part of our maritime territory as theirs. Our government's seeking UN arbitration in this regard appears to be a wise decision but the problem is will Myanmar heed to international advice, as they are a strange nation under army rule for ages and giving a damn to all rights and norms--national and international. Still let's hope for the better and wait for the best.