Genocide
Photo: Amdadul Huq / driknews
My dictionary defines genocide as simply “The act of killing a whole group or race of people”. How, when or why they do it, is not relevant. Therefore, if any 'act' results in the death of a group or race of people, then that act is “genocide”. In Bangladesh today, many people, usually for profit, indulge in acts of instant or slow killing of groups of people, openly, without remorse and usually without any fear of retaliation or punishment, such as: 1. Massive adulteration of most food items with chemicals, pesticides, fertilisers, brick dust, sand, pebbles, metals etc, causing death, disability, disease and debilitation to 'that idiot, the common man'. 2. Some drugs and medicines 'makers' using cheap and harmful chemicals that cause death, disability and paralysis to the self-same idiot. Many children are already dead, how many deaths went unreported is anyone's guess. 3. Unlicensed & fake drivers, unregistered and unfit vehicles haunt the roads of Bangladesh killing and maiming thousands of 'idiots' every year. 4. Unfit launches, barges and boats, without licenses or approved blue-prints of sea-worthiness, over-loading, without proper lights or navigation aids and other devices for safe journeys, flood our water-ways, sinking and drowning thousands of “idiots” every year. 5. Poisoning our land, waters and air by every conceivable way to make profits, include grabbing wetlands, destruction of forests and habitats and mass killing of marine life, fauna and flora has become a national pastime. Thus contributing to the early extinction of the “idiot” race-GENOCIDE? The above is only a partial list, so the question arises, why have those who condone/assist and are directly responsible for this sorry state of affairs, not been prosecuted for genocide and crimes against humanity? They should be very easy to find with plenty of evidence against them! For thousands of years, those in power have resorted to “spectacles” to keep the “idiots” busy, when they were about to ask awkward questions. The “Games” of ancient Greece and the “Gladiatorial” contests of the Romans are two of the prominent ones. Today, it seems the authorities here are resorting to the same “Tamasha”. Only this time the venue will be, not the Coliseum but special courts. The weapons hurled will not be swords, lances, tridents or nets but writs, injunctions and decrees. In the end, perhaps after years, at heavy cost paid by the 'idiots', even if the bearded four get their just desserts, it will clean just a little bit of only one side of a very dirty coin. The other side is, of course, just as dirty! Pandora, where is your box?
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments