IQRA Editorials

Still no headway (অগ্রগতি, সামনে আগানো) in investigations
Coordinated efforts of security agencies crucial
The Daily Star, 06-10-2015

It is of concern that little palpable (স্পষ্টভাবে অনুভব করার মত) headway has been made in the investigations of the killings of Italian aid (সাহায্য/সহযোগিতা) worker Cesare Tavella and Japanese national Kunio Hoshi that took place within a span (দূরত্ব) of five days. Although it has been established that both foreign nationals were murdered in a premeditated (পূর্বপরিকল্পিত) manner, intelligence and law enforcement agencies seem to have hit_a_snag (বিপদে পরা) in terms of finding the killers. Meanwhile, a flimsy (ঠুনকো) claim by supposed (কল্পিত) IS militants has created a sense of panic and confusion.

This is worrying for Bangladesh on several_counts (বিভিন্ন বিবেচনায়). Apart_from_security_alerts (নিরাপত্তাজনিত সতর্কতা ছাড়াও) from several countries to their nationals in Bangladesh, there have been reports of international retailers (খুচরা বিক্রেতারা) postponing (স্থগিত করা) meetings in Dhaka with garment makers because of security concerns after the two murders. The possible_linkage (সম্ভাব্য যোগসূত্রটা) to IS militants is spreading paranoia (ধারণামূলক বৈকল্য/সমস্যা), smearing (নষ্ট করা) our image internationally. Such connections should be properly probed (গভীরভাবে অনুসন্ধান করা) into with conclusive (সমাপ্তিকর/পরিনামক) results to allay (লাঘব করা) the fear of IS targeting foreigners on Bangladeshi soil.

The killing of foreign nationals must be treated as special cases and investigated expeditiously (দ্রুততার/তৎপরতার সাথে). The investigations are being led by the CID and DB and we understand that other agencies are working on them too. We think it might be more expedient (নীতিবিরোধী হলের কার্যকর/উপযোগী) to coalesce (একীভূত করা) all investigative resources and entrust one single agency to lead both investigations. If need be, assistance (সহযোগিতা) can be sought (খোঁজা) from international agencies. These might help the government unravel (উন্মোচন) the mystery (রহস্য) faster.

Anarchy (নৈরাজ্য, বিশৃঙ্খলা) in city transport fares (যানবাহনের ভাড়া)
Commuters (ট্রেন, বাস ইত্যাদিতে নিয়মিত যাতায়াত করে এমন লোক) being taken for a ride
The Daily Star, 05-10-2015

Dhaka commuters are in_a_fix (অচল অবস্থায়) as bus operators, human haulers and other transports have hiked fares arbitrarily. Investigative journalism by a leading Bangla daily reveals (উন্মোচন করা) that most bus operators have not bothered to put up government-fixed fare charts in their buses and fares are being charged as per the will of owners of privately owned buses. The situation gets more chaotic (নৈরাজ্যিক) when one takes into account smaller transports like mini-buses and the so-called “legunas” and “human haulers”, which conveniently (সুবিধাজনকভাবে) fall out of the purview (সীমা, ব্যাপকতা, এলাকা) of any government oversight (সতর্ক দৃষ্টি). This is a failure of enforcement by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and something needs to be done about it.

While the government increased fare by Tk 0.10 per kilometre with the increase in CNG prices, we are witnessing increases far greater than what has been decided by authorities. According to the revised fare charge, a trip from Mirpur 1 to Motijheel (via Farmgate), a distance of 13 km, should be Tk 21 per passenger. The interesting thing is that prior_to (পূর্বে) raising of fuel prices, the fare was already Tk 23, which has now been raised to Tk 27 by bus operators.

That privately owned bus operators can and do charge whatever fare they feel like is a direct challenge to the writ (আদেশ) of BRTA. So who looks after commuter's_interests (যাত্রীদের লাভ, স্বার্থ) if not the BRTA? Why should commuters be left in the lurch (বিপদের সময়) because the authority responsible for enforcing a government decision fails to live_up (পূরণ করা) to its obligations (নৈতিক বা আইনগত বাধ্যবাধকতা)? The situation is unacceptable and we hope remedial_measures (প্রতিকারক/সংশোধক পদক্ষেপ) are going to be taken against errant (ভ্রান্ত, বিপথগামী) operators.

Materialisation of a dream
School for the underprivileged
30-09-2015, The Daily Star

It is not every day we get to hear a story like this. Bijoy Rahul Paul, whose father is a bicycle mechanic and mother works in a tea garden, was born into a life of hardship and had to drop out of secondary school due to poverty. Yet a decade on, we witness Paul running a community school for the underprivileged children of tea workers, so that they may never have to interrupt studies because money was in short supply. His journey to finish school was no mean feat. Having had to put in back breaking work for two years just to collect fees for SSC and then wait another four years to save up for HSC, his story is one of resolve and perseverance that stands apart from the norm.

Paul worked two jobs – one in the tea estate where his mother was employed and the other meant putting in hours daily to repair bicycles; this rigorous regime prepped him both physically and mentally to do what needed to be done to fulfil his dream of completing his education. Coming from a family where three square meals were not always guaranteed, we salute this young warrior who is now employed as a Mutation-cum-Certificate Assistant employed by the government.

The Chhota Dhamai Ideal Academy was set up in January, 2011 where some 60 children now study. The operational expenditure of the school comes out of his salary, as do the stipends for meritorious students. We applaud his efforts in achieving the unthinkable and hope that he and his institution will receive some recognition for making “education for all” a reality for the downtrodden in society.

We mourn (দুঃখ প্রকাশ করা) the deaths at Mina
Daily Prothom Alo, 28-09-2015

We deeply mourn the deaths of the Hajj pilgrims who were trampled to death on 24 September, at Mina near Makkah. We pray for the departed souls and extend our condolences to their grieving families.

According to the international media, 769 persons have been killed in the incident, the largest stampede in 25 years, since 1990. A total of 934 have been injured. The Bangladesh embassy in Saudi Arabia states that 98 Bangladeshis remain missing. Nine are confirmed dead.

The Saudi authorities haven’t made any official statement concerning the cause behind the tragic incident. They have ordered investigation into the matter. Once the investigations are done, they will issue an official statement.

In 2006, a total of 360 hajis had been trampled to death underfoot. Muslims of various countries and cultures assemble at Makkah to perform Hajj. When about two million pilgrims were performing the ritual of stoning the devil, disorder erupted and the stampede took place.

It is obvious that further security measures need to be adopted and the Saudi authorities must take this into cognizance. All security measures must be stepped up to ensure such a tragedy is not repeated in future.

The pain and loss of the families of the deceased pilgrims is immeasurable. Even so, the Saudi authorities should look into the possibility of providing some sort of compensation to the families of the victims.