Bastobota without reality chara

Bangladeshi blogosphere got fired up.

Articles, comments and advises are floating like Tsunami for the last three days and all for good reasons. For a moment, it became inevitable that writing in blogs is not that ‘a small gig anymore’ – it can smash the government and get notify by the extreme rulers. The support and concern the bloggers showed regarding Tasneem Khalil issue is the greatest asset for any blogger. Time will tell us whether the ‘Tasneem Khalil issue’ was a gimmick or a typical military act; one thing is for sure – we all are united and will try to defend ourselves as long as freedom-of-speech is concerned. Bangladeshi pioneer bloggers including SalamDhaka, Rezwanul and international human rights watch covered the news with intensity while the Bangladeshi TV channels and newspapers totally failed to cover the incident on time.

Intentions of maintaining blogs and posting comments in forums / blogs / newspapers differ but one common thing that ties up everybody is that a thinking progression is on. Bloggers are continuously updating events and analyzing in a unique manner that is missing in the printed and electronic media. Bloggers take their stand on different issues and start debating – a wonderful thing this is. It is however shocking to read slang and threats in the blogs as much it is shocking to realize that blind supporters of a particular community is still favouring ‘dynasty politics’ and corrupt politicians in the name of human rights and democracy.
Bangladeshi blogosphere got all fired up right after some bold decisions taken by the current caretaker government; bloggers showed amazing skills in analyzing the situation. What's right is not what's popular and vise versa. ‘January 2007’ government made it absolutely clear from the day one that it wants to purge the nation out of corruption by any means. That seemed its first agenda; the course is still on with some hilarious decisions in-between. Bloggers pointed out the loopholes, gave advices and suggested a better route. In the process, some rent seekers plugged-in their thoughts for obvious future benefits; and that is of course in the name of freedom-of-speech and so called democracy which they do not practice even in their social life, to be exact.

Lack of transparency is never a good sign and the current government is guilty of this for sure; but only as much as the democratic parties were during their rules. Democracy in Bangladesh always worked as a dictatorship of the majority. BNP and BAL did not practice democracy for a single day; they used it for personnel benefits and brought the nation to a complete standstill whenever they desired. There is no significant deference between the ‘January 2007’ government and democratic regimes of 1991, 1996 & 2006. All of them came to power with support from the Cantonment dudes, to be precise. Both BNP and BAL ‘on the regime / off the regime’ got away by massive destructions only because the majority remained with them; and now this caretaker government is trying to clean up the mess as most of the Bangladeshis want that to happen but creating few more confusions in the process without realizing it. If, due to present consequences, Bangladesh is better-off after five years from now, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed along with his band of brothers (snobby educated advisors and Cantonment dudes) surly will get praise by the bloggers and the history. If they fail for their ill decisions, the history itself will punish them ruthlessly. Failing to bring stability and calm however leave with two options - one more caretaker government backed by another bunch of ambitious Army officers or Army all by itself – the last thing Bangladesh needs. Cantonment dudes are no saints and there is no reason to trust that they can bring stability though the current military leadership tried to impose the idea that it intervened and formed a new set of advisors to save the country as it was going towards a turmoil - half truth really. The top generals were challenged and took action only at the point, where they almost lost the power game to their next line. They intervened just to retain their positions; bringing stability in Bangladesh was the second thing in the list, as it has always been; may it be part of a democratic regime or an autocratic one.

Role of the Bangladeshi bloggers are quite huge now, as is seems that the rulers and their backbones do read blogs with passion. Instead of criticizing the government in an abusive manner, we must take a stand to suggest our views accordingly for the betterment of the nation. If some bloggers still believe the existing BNP and BAL leaders can direct Bangladesh towards a bright future, they must be having a good reason for it; a wrong good reason that is.