Editorial
We are taken aback!
Ministers' remarks insensitive to public sentiments
LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam's view that the government is not much worried about the recent degrading incident of torture of one of our citizens on the Bangladesh-India border is not only surprising but also embarrassing for the nation. That he could treat such incidents in a cavalier fashion leaves the government in a bad light. In much the same manner, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's remark that such issues should not be blown out of proportions makes us wonder about the insensitivity shown to the sensibilities of Bangladeshi citizens.
The attitude demonstrated by the Bangladesh and Indian ministers is deplorable, to say the least. It cannot go down well with people either in Bangladesh or India. That such incidents will recur only because the two countries share a long border is not acceptable for the simple reason that the Indian government stood repeatedly committed to avoiding violence at the border. Where Mr. Mukherjee's comment is concerned, may we remind him and everyone else that only recently Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram stated publicly that not a single individual would die on the border between his country and Bangladesh? And yet an individual was killed only the other day. Now, with Mukherjee and Syed Ashraf expressing their views on the matter, it is clear that public sentiment is being ridden roughshod here. The attitude could be taken as a broad hint that brutal torture or even deaths of individuals on the frontier can be ignored, which is extremely distressing to note.
One would like to know if Syed Ashraful Islam's statement is his own or reflects the government's position. For all we know, the government has protested; but have they followed up on it? More importantly, hasn't the LGRD minister spoken out of turn, considering that he does not hold a portfolio which allows him to comment on border or security-related issues?
It is the mindset of a blasé attitude towards such border incidents that will have to be changed for building good relations on a durable basis.
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