Ramadan and our duties
The DS “ Lifestyle” section of 01 Sept had a very commendable list of what we all could do, this and indeed, every Ramadan. I would slightly disagree on only one action. “Giving an umbrella to the Traffic Controllers, who spend a lot of gruelling time in sun and rain directing traffic”.
In normal circumstances, I would be all for it, because I consider them to be one of the most hardworking people standing out in the smog amidst the pandemonium of gridlocks for long hours (12-16 hours) without adequate food, sleep, rest or remuneration. They are for the most part, in my personal experience, simple countrymen with heaps of sympathy for the down-trodden. But please reflect on the job they are FORCED to do by their superiors.
First, they have to keep the roads, streets and lanes clear so that the lakhs of stretched-out Gas Guzzling Monstrosities of the 1-2% privileged class have free access for their licensed/unlicensed, fit/unfit, taxed/untaxed, empty/half-empty vehicles driven by genuine/fake licensed drivers. Next, they have to turn a blind eye to these GGMs parked illegally here, there and everywhere. Then they are required to kowtow and salute whenever a superior, flagged or an important looking/expensive car passes by and see to its free access (even if it is empty).
Now we come to the unpleasant part. First they are ORDERED to strike a telling blow to the livelihood of about 20-25 lakh rickshaw-related people by forcibly denying them their constitutional rights of free access to public roads. Worse, they deny the same rights to 40-50 lakh Dhakabashis by forcibly ejecting the old, women, children, disabled, ill, infirm and those going home with some iftari, from their rickshaws on the so-called rickshaw-free roads. I have seen the sympathy in the eyes of most of them while they puncture/seize rickshaws. Will they ever, if they still have a conscience, be able to respect their superiors by forcing their own countrymen to kneel, grovel and plead with them for their daily bread?
Lastly, we come to the few conscienceless people who ORDER the cops to take such drastic, anti-people, repressive and unconstitutional action. They are after all enjoying to the hilt the lavish facilities given to them at public, company or corporate expense. Please, NBR, is this not another way to cheat on taxes?
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