Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Article in Daily Star
Daily Star has published a slightly modified version (edited for newspaper by me) of my post "What if people power is not right". It is viewable at [http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/09/05/d609051501130.htm] or by clicking on the headline of this post which will take you to the relevant page on the Daily Star site.
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5 comments:
What about publishing the Bengali version in all regional news papers published from Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet, Rangpur, Bogura , Rajsahi and other centres.
This article can be the lead for yelling truth to the readers and give birth in future to a movement for change in the attitude of Fulbari locals.Congratulations. Very well concieved.Sujay Nag
Maybe Mr. Ishfaq would feel differently if one of those shot dead were his family member.
Very pertinent comments, Farhan! However, I am compelled to think that rationality is not the commonest of approaches people tend to take to such issues.
For example, the street protestors in Phulbari was at par with members of US Congress in terms of rationality, if you consider that the latter was consistently talking against various commercial deals [including one for P&O, which is based in London, but owned by a Dubai-based group].
Such debates are raging all over the world, regarding free trade vs national interest [US ports], Development vs Resettlement issues [every major dam in the world], progress vs change in the way of life [casinos in London Millennium Dome]. And, honestly, if you look at each case, either the big money or the media sentiments winnning the game, not rationality.
In any case, my greatest take-away from your article is the main point you make - the failure of established norms of debates and discussions, Jatiya Sangsad. Clearly, the people on the street does not trust the MPs to sort it out for them. This, I am sure, is a more dangerous trend.
Phulbari will be settled one way or another, and life will go on [except for those dead and wounded, for whom I feel deep sorrow], but the corrosion of faith in established channels of decision making will only slide everyone into anarchy. Street power, or Mob Power, always undermine people power, and I hope we will be able to turn back to our senses before we descend into abyss.
Hi Farhan Bhai,
I have highlighted two of your posts including this in the Global Voices Online.
Thanks for the comments everyone (And Rezwan for the plug on Global Voices!)
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