Readers Respond
Here are some comments that came in response to Sunday's The Daily Star news report headlined “Quader slaps railway staff”
Dr M A Obaydullah
A minister like Obaidul Quader should have the power to dismiss the staff. X. Gomes, USA
By slapping the employee, the minister just brought himself down to the employee's standard. Robin
At last a Bangladeshi politician takes a stand against corruption. A. Rahman
A few days ago I praised the minister. Today I condemn him. The minister could have taken any official action against the corrupt train attendant but slapping him. Secular
It is easy to set an example by slapping someone from the minority community. I would like to see extensive action against corruption. Then it will be truly believable that government is serious about the issue. Pokraj
An educated person can not slap another person. A minister always has all the instruments to punish a guilty person, instead of taking law in his own hands. Mizan
If this had happened in any civilised country, the minister would have been sued for physically abusing the train attendant. Md. Tawheed Mamor
Bangladesh Railway has been losing its reputation because of a few corrupt staff. It is great that our communications minister is trying to stop corruption in this sector. If our minister goes ahead this way, one day the railway sector will turn into a profitable one. Shaikh Wazir
Obaidul Quader is trying his best to improve the condition of this sector. For a long-term solution, slapping or transferring corrupt staffs will not be enough. Rather daily operational system is needed. However, I praise the minister. M. K. Alam
Quader is the only minister who has the courage to take bold steps. He set a rare example. Thanks to the minister. Please go ahead, people will support you. Taj Hashmi
This is for the first time that a minister hit a government employee. In any country with some semblance of law and order, such minister would have lost his job. This is a disgraceful incident. Raihan Sharif
We all can understand the minister's frustration at the lack of progress in his campaign to modernise the railway, but publicly slapping an employee was perhaps taking it too far. However, this minister has to be commended for taking reform steps seriously. Ashraf Ali Arman
I am not a supporter of Awami League but I salute Obaidul Qader, the railways minister. All the people should have guts to do this. Jumana Sarwar
The comments by the Prothom Alo readers suggest that people liked the incident. However, this incident and the reaction of people suggest that ministers as well as the public don't have any faith in our justice system. Otherwise, a responsible person can not take law in his own hands. RNY
If slapping a staff can fix it, then, how many slaps would be required for the most corrupt personnel or officers of the government?
A minister like Obaidul Quader should have the power to dismiss the staff. X. Gomes, USA
By slapping the employee, the minister just brought himself down to the employee's standard. Robin
At last a Bangladeshi politician takes a stand against corruption. A. Rahman
A few days ago I praised the minister. Today I condemn him. The minister could have taken any official action against the corrupt train attendant but slapping him. Secular
It is easy to set an example by slapping someone from the minority community. I would like to see extensive action against corruption. Then it will be truly believable that government is serious about the issue. Pokraj
An educated person can not slap another person. A minister always has all the instruments to punish a guilty person, instead of taking law in his own hands. Mizan
If this had happened in any civilised country, the minister would have been sued for physically abusing the train attendant. Md. Tawheed Mamor
Bangladesh Railway has been losing its reputation because of a few corrupt staff. It is great that our communications minister is trying to stop corruption in this sector. If our minister goes ahead this way, one day the railway sector will turn into a profitable one. Shaikh Wazir
Obaidul Quader is trying his best to improve the condition of this sector. For a long-term solution, slapping or transferring corrupt staffs will not be enough. Rather daily operational system is needed. However, I praise the minister. M. K. Alam
Quader is the only minister who has the courage to take bold steps. He set a rare example. Thanks to the minister. Please go ahead, people will support you. Taj Hashmi
This is for the first time that a minister hit a government employee. In any country with some semblance of law and order, such minister would have lost his job. This is a disgraceful incident. Raihan Sharif
We all can understand the minister's frustration at the lack of progress in his campaign to modernise the railway, but publicly slapping an employee was perhaps taking it too far. However, this minister has to be commended for taking reform steps seriously. Ashraf Ali Arman
I am not a supporter of Awami League but I salute Obaidul Qader, the railways minister. All the people should have guts to do this. Jumana Sarwar
The comments by the Prothom Alo readers suggest that people liked the incident. However, this incident and the reaction of people suggest that ministers as well as the public don't have any faith in our justice system. Otherwise, a responsible person can not take law in his own hands. RNY
If slapping a staff can fix it, then, how many slaps would be required for the most corrupt personnel or officers of the government?
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