Scapegoats!
The information minister told parliament that the government had not shut down the Bengali daily and that it was the deputy commissioner of Dhaka, who ordered its closure for alleged violation of the publication law. He said this while responding to the allegation made by a BNP lawmaker that the government had shut the newspaper. "The deputy commissioner, be it of Sherpur or Dhaka district, is the authority to give declaration of newspapers. The DC can cancel the publication in case of any of violation of the law," said the information minister. At one stage, during his prolonged speech, he resorted to personal attack against an opposition MP. The Speaker intervened, saying, "Honourable minister, your point is: the deputy commissioner has closed the Amar Desh and the court shut the Channel One". "Yes, Honourable speaker," said the minister adding the present government believed in free flow of information.
It is their political masters who take decisions that are many a time contrary to the advice of the officials, to suit their political ends. The action is meant only to protect the politicians. Bureaucrats are being made scapegoat. Bureaucrats are paid taxpayers' money to advise the government without fear or favour. Just as the armed forces are expected to fight the enemy without regard to their safety, bureaucrats are duty-bound to note down their opinions fearlessly in files. Any risk they are exposed to because of frank and fearless expression of opinions should be treated as a legitimate occupational hazard. The basis of a democratic government is the opinion of the people. Unless the people become conversant with the operation of the Right to Information Act, the purpose of the act will be nullified.
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