EDITORIAL : THE DAILY STAR, BANGLADESH

           

 

Aug 21 grenade attack case

The trial should be transparent

One can assume that with the submission of supplementary charge-sheets of the August 21 grenade attack case, the process of investigation has ended and the trial would commence soon. It has consumed nearly seven years for the investigation, into what was perhaps the most blatant act of violence in recent history of Bangladesh, to be completed. It has taken fourteen extensions, before the CID could submit the supplementary charge sheets accusing 30 new persons of involvement with the dastardly attack.

However, what we are concerned most about is the comment of the Metropolitan Public Prosecutor that the investigation has found evidence that the attack was planned and conducted in collaboration with some militant organisations, the party office of the then prime minister, and in which the administration played a collusive role. The supplementary charge-sheets include, among others, names of a many political personalities belonging to the senior BNP ranks and retired military and police officers holding senior posts during that time.

The attack on the AL meeting on August 21 2004 was unlike any other bomb or grenade attack, whose possible impact, had it succeeded, God forbid, in taking out the intended targets, we shudder even to contemplate. One recalls with a sense of abhorrence how the course of investigation was sought to be diverted, and how persons with the remotest connection with the incident were roped in, to, as one can assume, hide the real perpetrators and the planners of the attack, during the erstwhile 4-party regime.

The BNP has made this into a political issue, terming the charge-sheets as an attempt to defile the Zia -- family image. We are not surprised at the reaction of the BNP. Given the nature of the family centric politics in Bangladesh, such reactions are only but natural. But, while we do not want to comment on the accused, we insist on the need for a transparent trial where the result of the investigation is established through incontrovertible evidence, all the more so because the nation would like to know the real brain behind a most condemnable act that took the lives of 24 besides injuring hundreds others.

SWAN conference

Women's role indispensable for a green economy

The conference of South Asian Women's Network (SWAN) which ended recently with the Dhaka Declaration has called for peace and a green economy, highlighting the role of women in South Asia in establishing both. For this, however -- as was pointed out by the participants at the two-day conference -- women must have equal access to resources and a greater role in development policy-making.

Women have an unequal share of the world's resources and relatively few are to be found at the policy-making level. According to a UN study in 2000, women do 60% of the world's work, make 10% of the world's income and own 1% of the world's property. Yet, the fact that women influence some 85% choices of consumer products goes to show their influence on the economy.

While privatisation and commoditisation have been inevitable features of capitalist economies, a line must be drawn between profit-making and the destruction of nature and its resources. Women's knowledge, skills and best practices, such as that of growing indigenous crops, fruits and vegetables as opposed to the mono-crop culture can save nature as well as the economy more than technology and artificial methods of production can.

Security and human rights of women themselves were also issues raised at the conference, and, while Afghanistan is a country of key concern, in Bangladesh too, women's rights -- despite several progressive policies and even bigger promises -- are yet to be realised. Without protecting the rights and security of half the world's population, security of nature and the economy can hardly be ensured.

SWAN has called for green ways of economy that are "diverse, decentralised and a path of empowerment for all". We hope that the call and pledge will be realised beyond the declaration and incorporated in development policy around the world for a greener economy, sustainable environment and more secure future for our coming generations.