Confusion, Once Again
Confusion once again centered round the sighting of Shawal moon. The announcement over Radio and TV heralding Eid-ul Fitr came late as a vast majority of people were preparing for another day of fasting and in many mosques the jamaat for Tarabi was held as usual. Those who relaxed for the Eid on Wednesday were suddenly caught on the wrong foot and sprinted for last minute shopping paying penalties for their naivety to the guiles of greedy shopowners. Due to the last minute announcement of Eid the traditional Eid Mubarak could not be offered to our dear readers, patrons and well-wishers. We extend, though late, a warm Eid greetings to you all. Even in this age of extraordinary scientific developments, the sighting of moon and calculations of the lunar months remain as primitive as ever. We would like to appeal to the government, Islamic Foundation and other related organisations and wise people to sit together to find out a more scientific, realistic and acceptable solution to this perennial problem.
At the end of the month-long Siaam, the people of Bangladesh are faced with the horrendous prospect of political acrimony between the opposition combine and the government. This is the Eid gift the politicians are offering to the people. The citizens of the country are already scared about the prospect of an uncertain future after the Eid holidays. As the opposition parties are sharpening their preparations to attack the government, the latter, on its part, is also preparing to reply 'befittingly'. The net result will be the loss to the economy. A sense of uncertainty and lack of confidence among the ordinary law abiding citizens has set in. The postures the politicians have taken against each other and the degrading vocabulary they have been using to defame each other, all testify to the disturbing, even turbulent, times ahead after the festival. It seems that no amount of Siaam, sacrifice and discipline of the holy month of Ramadan have had any sobering effect on the psyche of our politicians. We have had enough of their tirades in the name of the people's right to vote and food. We have had enough of their rhetorics in the name of the citizens. All these have turned out to be lies or half-truths. For God's sake, get a hold on yourselves, try to realise the predicament of the ordinary law-abiding, taxpaying citizens and behave like caring human beings with love and compassion for your fellow beings.
We pray to the Almighty for an Eid gift - the sanity of our politicians.
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