New Age 20/2/09
http://www.newagebd.com/2009/feb/20/fb.html
Yes-yes Rahman!
A common topic of gossip these days in dinner parties in Dhaka is an interview given by the new president of Bangladesh Zillur Rahman to ATN channel’s Munni Saha. The president was asked first what he would do if he thought that the prime minister needed to be advised about something that he thought was not correct. Zillur Rahman did not wait for Munni Saha to complete the question and in a parrot-like fashion he answered that his ‘Netri’ cannot do anything wrong! Munni Saha also asked the president about August 21 bombing in which his wife was brutally killed, her legs blown off before she expired later in the hospital. Again, in a robot-like fashion, he told the interviewer that the August 21 attack was a conspiracy against the ‘Netri’ and that his only wish is to be by her side to protect her from conspiracy against her life. Poor Munni Saha could only mumble that as president he would not be able to do that, meaning be with the prime minister the way he said he would!
What exactly is the office of the president of Bangladesh? In theory, the president is the head of state, the most important person in the country in terms of protocol. He lives in the best residence in Dhaka surrounded by fanfare fitter for royalty. His powers are also extensive should he care to use it. Once elected, he also cannot be removed by anybody’s wish or whim. Why then cannot we have a president who would behave like one even if he may not wish to act like one? We have all seen the seven years of the Iajuddin presidency. In fact, it was Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself who felt so disgusted by the former president’s sycophancy that he named her ‘yes-uddin’. There are so many stories about him and his sycophancy that a book could be written on it. While we all joked about it, in the end it is his sycophancy that brought so many miseries to so many people that these jokes are indeed cruel ones. We are already reading in the press that it may not be easy to joke about his sycophancy anymore and let him go and indeed he may be charged with serious violation of the constitution that he committed not for his own sake but to please his leader, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, out of sycophantic zeal.
I am not sure if the new president is aware that it is not dignified for him or the country to say things that he said in the interview on the ATN. Also, he should take lessons from his predecessor and look at personal risks of such undiluted worship of a leader. He can be loyal to his ‘Netri’ but this loyalty can be done in a much better fashion. He should see the ATN interview again and ask himself what he meant when he said his ‘Netri’ cannot do anything wrong. As for the prime minister, she should feel embarrassed at such adulation. In fact, she should have a private chat with the president, pat him on the back, and assure him that he will remain president as long as the AL is in office and that he should see some video tapes of his predecessor and avoid his style and personality. He is at present not just following it; he is doing better. He is becoming yes-yes Rahman to Sehikh Hasina!
Rashed Ahmed
Gulshan, Dhaka
__._,_.___
[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com 
__,_._,___