Where are we heading?

There can be debate over whether dengue has taken on epidemic proportions in the country or not, but there can be no debate over the fact that we, as a society, are faced with a crisis of ethics, values and principles. Some see this as a destruction of morals. The fact remains that whether it is in the sector of politics, education, society, even in religious spheres, there is moral degeneration everywhere.

Just two days ago, the imam of a mosque was arrested for raping a two-year-old girl. Then to cover his misdeed, he tried to get the child abducted from hospital and killed. This reminds us of the brutality of the madrasa principal in Feni, Siraj Uddin.

Places of education and religious instruction are considered sacred. Those who run such institutions must be highly principled and role models in society. But the actions of some of these people are reprehensibly the opposite.

This lack of morals exists in the institutions of higher education too. When, in the oldest university of the nation, senate members manipulate the names on the list of vice chancellor candidates, there is no room to have confidence in the system. When violence breaks out, with leaders of a student organisation assaulting those deprived of posts, it is evident that muscle rules, not ideals. Even in the student organisation of the political opposition, the activists are busier squabbling over posts and positions, rather than rallying for the release of their party’s leader.

It is no different in the administration. The Rooppur nuclear power plant is the largest development project of the country till date. Despite misgivings over the risk factor involved, the people felt this project would resolve the power problems of the country. But the blatant corruption in the purchase of items for the residential facilities of the project, has shocked the people and given rise to questions of how it will actually benefit the public.

While the people are alarmed by the spread of dengue all over the country, a certain state minister crassly said this was a sign of development. This is a cruel jab at the people who are suffering from the illness and to those who have died.

And just a few days ago there was a wave of mob lynching based on rumours of child abduction. Rather than taking measures to prevent such heinous killings, the state machinery was busy trying to blame their political opposition for the violence. Neither from the government nor from the opposition did anyone go forward to offer their condolences to the families of those killed in these cruel beatings.

Instead of practicing politics for the people, our politicians are busy seeking vengeance against each other. Where will such politics take us? Where are we heading?