Wedding Dress Shopping in Kolkata Could be Avoided

Siddiqur Rahman

Siddiqur Rahman

Recently there has been much talk about Indian Visa restrictions,  doctor’ s  refusal to offer treatment to Bangladeshis and declaration of non-availability of hotel accommodation in Calcutta.  Such news are definitely outrageous and humiliating to the Bangladeshi people. I wondered  what is the wrong committed by us that triggered the Indian media to spread the above news through their news media, not only that but also propagated fabricated narratives about our communal harmonious life and caused some violent activities in Dhaka and Chattogram by the Awami League Activists, even murdered an eminent advocate in Chittagong. They made the situation violent and dreadful in the city of Chittagong and Dhaka. Obviously it was an evil design to disturb the law and order and destabilise the political calm and quiet situation of the country. Our Consulate in Tripura has been attacked, national flag is burnt down resulting in closure of  Tripura and Calcutta Consulates  without delay to safeguard our officials in there. Have we ever expected such hostile behaviour towards us from the neighbouring country while both the countries are more or less dependent on each other in many perspectives. 

What I want to drive at here is that we should focus on unfriendly attitude of India to Bangladesh.  We have experienced during the last regime –how this country exerted hegemony on our different policies, specifically  during General Elections and some other aspects. It is in our memory that Pranab Mukherjee and Sujata Sen visited Bangladesh  and persuaded the then President, General Ershad of Jatyo Party to be the obedient opposition party of Ex PM, Hasina Government.  

Here is not the end, there was a plan to perpetuate the Awami regime for a long uncertain period through intimidation, violence, imprisonment and killing of hundreds and thousands of people of our country. What terrible, torturous and inhuman policies were designed to be executed to stay in power. The oligarchy and oligarchs before fleeing from the country due to mass uprising, law enforcing forces and Chatra League caused deaths  of more than 1500 people, crippled  and maimed above 20 thousands across the country. What is most striking — in spite of unlimited  homicide, sufferings and afflictions of our people during the last regime, India seems least concerned about it and has openly taken the side of Awami League and become obsessed with making  false propaganda against the current democratic interim government.  

Given the above, we suggest that since  there are many good doctors,  specialists  and standard hospitals in our country, we minimise our visits to India on purpose of medical treatment  and it is better to stop going for wedding dress shopping in Calcutta and for  other luxuries as there are available numerous standard shopping centres in our big cities. 

In conclusion, we urge our doctors to be more caring and  more friendly with the patients so that they don't think of going abroad for treatment.  Hospitals should make the bed  charges affordable  to  all  patients regardless of wealthy and less privileged ones.  Our shopping centres should avoid exorbitant price of garments and occasional dresses and welcome our customers providing with cordial ambience. Thus we may keep encouraging people to consume our own products and to consult with our physicians and professionals in the greater interest of the nation as a whole. 

(Writer: Mohd Siddiqur Rahman, Ex Country Manager in Germany, Biman Bangladesh Airlines.)