Digital or divisive Bangladesh?
The AL-led government, before the 9th parliamentary elections, declared a 'Charter for Change of Days' that would bring about a qualitative change in politics and national life and time and again pledged to translate the country into a 'Digital Bangladesh'. Reasonably, the people of all quarters of society with the hope of promised change in the political landscape and national affairs entrusted them with an unpredictably overwhelming mandate.
Regrettably, we are to read the news reported in more than two Bengali dailies on May 25, 2009 that the Prime Minister Secretariat has asked the presidents and the general secretaries of the Upazila and Thana Awami League committees to prepare lists with bio-data and photographs of uneducated party men to provide them with employment opportunities in phases, with a view to stopping the activities causing social disorder and social instability committed by this ominously influential lot. We would like to remind the government that implementation of this plan will result in social division among the masses, chronic frustration and deviation among the educated apolitical sections and will pave the way for the opposition parties to protest against the misdeeds and decadent move of the present government, that will consequently lead to an intractable nation-wide disorder and instability. The government should bear in mind that they are a democratic government and should uphold the democratic principles inherent in the constitution of Bangladesh and shun the activities, plans and projects that are against the interest of the general masses. We would also like to remind the government that we all, both political and apolitical, are citizens of the state and deserve to be equally treated in every sphere of life, irrespective of caste, religion and party loyalty.
So, the government should remember that they are responsible for the whole nation, rather than a political party.
We urge the government to live up to the pledge of Digital Bangladesh that requires unity and to shun the plan that will inevitably divide the nation and destroy the spirit and motivation of institutional education.
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