Why is our civil society silent now?
Shimul Chaudhury
Civil societies worldwide are dedicated to establishing human rights and people's welfare. But the role of the civil society in Bangladesh provokes an interesting study for researchers. Here are some thoughts on it. During the BNP rule and before Awami League came to power in 2009, a catch phrase that the people of this country heard again and again was 'civil society'. People in the higher strata with enormous privileges and foreign links use the banner of 'civil society' to wield power in Bangladesh without directly becoming involved in political parties.
Pros and cons
An objective research on the pros and cons of this group will show that, the loyalty of the members of this amorphous coterie is clearly divided. They are torn between their country of birth (Bangladesh) and the rich countries where their children are now comfortably settled. Many of them maintain second homes in other countries.
Pros and cons
An objective research on the pros and cons of this group will show that, the loyalty of the members of this amorphous coterie is clearly divided. They are torn between their country of birth (Bangladesh) and the rich countries where their children are now comfortably settled. Many of them maintain second homes in other countries.
A sad phenomenon in Bangladesh is that such people who choose foreign lands for their children seem to have a stronger say on the country's policy matters. Unfortunately, this privileged group always dominates the common people.Although the civil society preaches neutrality and refuses to admit that they maintain favoritism for one political party or the other, their sympathy for Awami League and for the current regime in Bangladesh is undeniable.
Anarchy and silence
Consider, for example, their past cries about violations of human rights at the time of the previous political government in Bangladesh and their dead silence now when lawlessness and countrywide anarchy perpetrated by the affiliates of the ruling party has surpassed any such records of the last few decades. Are the rank and file of Awami League heading towards a turmoil? The widespread serious crimes carried out by them remind people of the Rakkhi Bahini during the first Awami government in the early 1970s.
Anarchy and silence
Consider, for example, their past cries about violations of human rights at the time of the previous political government in Bangladesh and their dead silence now when lawlessness and countrywide anarchy perpetrated by the affiliates of the ruling party has surpassed any such records of the last few decades. Are the rank and file of Awami League heading towards a turmoil? The widespread serious crimes carried out by them remind people of the Rakkhi Bahini during the first Awami government in the early 1970s.
Murders, rapes (Juba League men alleged of rape http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2010/04/28/29382 and then threatening the victims and their families are now commonplace and taken-for-granted matters for the cadres of Awami League. Attacking people of opposition political parties, teasing women and raping them occupy newspaper columns. Unfortunately, these do not seem to draw the attention of the so-called civil society. Nor can they elicit statements of condemnation from them.
http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2010/04/24/28910
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