Government's reaction to Mahfuz Anam's article

Our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Mahfuz Anam for the commentary 'Lessons from NCC verdict' published in The Daily Star on November 4, 2011. His observation is one hundred percent correct and to the point. He spoke on behalf of the people who have become outraged and very disappointed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's attitude towards Shamim Osman. Sheikh Hasina should have been sensitive to people's feelings.
He wrote, "…Shamim was invited at the same time, reportedly without Ivy's knowledge, and was called to the PM's presence together, both when she met them in a closed door meeting and then in the session where others were present."
"Then comes the bombshell. As reported, Sheikh Hasina asked the elected Mayor of NCC to "work together" with Shamim Osman in developing the city. Work together? With whom?"
We wish there were people around Sheikh Hasina to advise her, who have the capacity for th sound judgment.
On November 6, 2011 a rejoinder from PMO was published in The Daily Star in response to the commentary. The contents are so funny that I had to ponder who wrote it. At one place it said, "In his commentary Mr. Anam brought some unfounded and imaginary allegations against Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina". How could it be called unfounded and imaginary when the whole country observed the NCC drama? In another place it read, "Mahfuz Anam time and again had called for holding meeting between AL President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia." How could these two be compared?
The writer then doggedly went on referring to the US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It is so preposterous. How could Shamim Osman be compared to Hillary? She is the most accomplished woman, highly educated, a former first lady; she is not a gangster, people are not afraid of her.
So, in a nutshell, the PMO's rejoinder does not carry any weight.