Anatomy of the Economist report on Bangladesh Do they really understood exact situation in Bangladesh, or were just convinced to published

rather a biased report by an unnamed reporter who wrote a story on present realities in Bangladesh under the caption of 'A different sort of emergency'? Yes, food crisis in Bangladesh is acute till date and at least ! million people are in regular starvation while the chief of army "eneral #oeen $ Ahmed is continuing to suggest people of switching their 'food habit' from rice to potato% &t is 'uite natural for a political na(ve "eneral to suggest people in doing so as the government in Dha)a, which in fact runs under army's direct instructions, are getting increasing worried and frustrated as series of problems are becoming louder everyday% *ood crisis is one of the issues while shortage of electricity and gas is no less important% *rom various reports from Dha)a it is understood that the existing silent famine may get little resolved when the nation will start getting new harvest or already are in process of getting the same% But, according to experts, such relaxed period won't last for long% Bangladesh may witness even worst form of food shortage in the coming months as the global price of rice is in increasing trend% +n the other hand, from next month, ,hina would double the export price of fertili-er, which will directly affect the farmers% .ossibly Bangladeshis will never be able to buy rice at the price they had been buying even few months bac)% And the food crisis or famine li)e situation in the /outh Asian nation will last for indefinite time% Acute food shortage in Bangladesh although has nothing to do with the ongoing anti0corruption drive of the interim government, the 1conomist rather tried to draw a picture as if such drive against social evils were the ultimate curse for the people% 2he newspaper even tried to somehow tell its readers that corruption charges are helping Awami 3eague chief /hei)h 4asina in becoming increasing popular and the potential future .rime #inister for the second term% 5idiculous, isn't it? &n the report, the 1conomist wrote, 62he army's main headache is /hei)h 4asina, whose party is widely expected to win the election% 4er detention on corruption charges has made her more popular than ever% /enior leaders of the 3eague say it will boycott the election if the courts convict her% 2he threat might be empty% But it is a ris) the army cannot afford to ta)e% 2he patience of 7estern governments, which bac)ed the state of emergency, is wearing thin% 4uman0rights abuses continue unabated%6 2he 1conomist is 'uite convinced that Awami 3eague is the potential winner in the next general election% 7hy? Because, this is exactly how the pro0Awami 3eague thin) tan)s are continuing to predict in Bangladesh% /o, naturally the next 'uestion which would stri)e the people of conscious mind is, who influenced the prestigious newsmaga-ine in ma)ing this commentary% Awami 3eague or its supporters? 3et us have a loo) into another part of the comments in the same report, where the 1conomist, commenting on trying war criminals wrote, 6&t also badly needs to sustain the rising flow of billions of dollars in remittances, which have lifted millions of Bangladeshis out of poverty% 2his complicates the government's stated plan of considering prosecution of those who assisted the .a)istani army in a campaign that left 8m Bengalis dead in the country's liberation war in 9:;9% /audi Arabia, which accounts for <!= of total

remittances, objects to an international war0crimes tribunal% &f the two big political parties had their way, a large number of leaders of >amaat0e0&slami, Bangladesh's largest &slamist party, would stand trial%6 4ah? &t hurts me to believe that such an important newsmaga-ine li)e 1conomist can even afford to write a biased comment on the issue of trying war criminals% & have already discussed this issue in another article titled @ation in ,onfrontation, which had been published in a number of international news media% &f my readers will go through it, they too will understand that, trying war criminals, according to international conventions shall not only put >amaat0e0&slami in trouble% &t will go against everyone, who violated the codes of international conventions and committed war crimes% A large section of freedom fighters Amany of whom are belonging to both Awami 3eague and Bangladesh @ationalist .artyB will also have to see the trial dais once the government starts trying the war criminals% +ne particular point, the 1conomist mentioned is a matter of real concern% &t wrote, 6But to hold truly free and fair elections, the army will need to reach an accommodation with the parties% 2here is tal) of a face0saving deal allowing /hei)h 4asina to go abroad for medical treatment, in return for a promise that the 3eague will not boycott the election% 4ardliners in the army will not li)e it% But they have largely been sidelined%6 Does it mean that, corrupt /hei)h 4asina may be finally accorded an exit path to flee Bangladesh against a promise for her party in running the next election? 4ere & have two 'uestions% +ne, why /hei)h 4asina does not have any confidence on Bangladeshi doctors? /he hates them? +r she is trying to somehow leave Bangladesh to escape possible series convictions as she is 'uite sure of her previous misdeeds? +n the other hand, once Awami 3eague joins the election and wins Aas per prediction of the 1conomistB, /hei)h 4asina will get a heroic come bac) to Bangladesh and shall opt for trying all those 'betrayer' army officers and members of the interim government for their 'anti state' activities% >ust remember, 4asina never excused )illers of her father% /he certainly shall never forget the humiliation she suffered from the present regime in Dha)a and definitely try them all not only to ta)e a proper revenge but also to show to the people that, in fact, these people Athe interim government and its driving forcesB were real evils and enemies of democracy% 5emember /hei)h 4asina's secret agreement with former military ruler 4ussein #uhammed 1rshad in 9:CD? /he participated in an election under 1rshad's rule for reason un)nown to many% But, finally she abandoned him A1rshadB and joined Ehaleda Fia in anti 1rshad movement% Yes, she is a smart woman% Enows the precise art of ta)ing the advantage of every situation% #ay be rulers in Dha)a are forgetting the past or are not ta)ing any lesson from the history% &n fact, no one does that%