The New Nation - Internet Edition

A team from Germany visited Bangladesh recently as part of a fact finding mission to ascertain the overall conditions in this country. The visit would have been counted helpful if it was limited to only tying to know what conditions are really prevailing in this country. The surprising thing was that the team members blurted out their observations even before their trip ended. They commented even before hearing all sides; they looked like reaching conclusions not from what they were told by everybody or what they could see for themselves.

Thus, well before leaving Bangladesh, the German team made some hurried statements that sound like prejudicial. For example, they said that the German government would unhesitatingly take a stand against the present government of Bangladesh if elections are not held by the end of 2008. They also expressed their concern for the human rights abuses, specially in the prisons. International laws and practices are against such interventionism. External concern about a country’s domestic situation can only be based on a correct evaluation of conditions in it and only to the extent of the perceived wrongs.

The incumbent government is seen as preparing to hold elections. But are the political parties playing their part? The people are all for not only holding an election to hand over power to whosoever but they want political stability beyond the election, good governance by the winners of the election and retention of the good works done so far. The fulfilment of such aspirations remains largely uncertain. The German team members were probably not aware of these aspects. If they were, then they would probably have chosen their words carefully. The responsibility of having a good understanding of the situation rests on the visitors. Yet the government also needs to better clarify the issues.