The foreign office yesterday issued a second rejoinder to The Economist article on Dhaka-New Delhi ties, demanding the London-based weekly carry it in its next print edition.
"We have asked the Economist to publish our (second) rejoinder in its next print edition as the weekly already carried our earlier protest in its online edition," a foreign ministry spokesman said.
He added that the rejoinder reminded the Economist of its comments highly appreciating the landmark December 2008 general elections that installed the ruling Awami League to power with three fourth majority as the weekly endorsed the polls to be the "fairest ever" elections in Bangladesh.
The spokesman said Economist management also promised the foreign office to carry the rejoinder, which actually was the shorter version of the previous rejoinder sent to The Economist for its online edition against its article titled "India and Bangladesh: Embraceable you" that it carried in its July 30 issue.
"The article is disappointing, and totally lacks decency and professional ethics. The accusation that the Awami League assumed power through 'bags of Indian cash and advice' is a blatant lie and a slur on the democracy-loving people of Bangladesh," the rejoinder said.
It said the presumption expressed the article that the transit arrangement is intended to create an "Indian security corridor" at the expense of Bangladesh's interests was ignorant of the relevant international laws while the "arrangement is widely considered a win-win for both countries and the region".
Referring to the Economist criticism of the trial for the 1971 war crimes, it said Bangladesh initiative to try the people involved in genocide and war crimes under national and international law stems from the norms of any civilised society and is not a vendetta against any political party and "it is meant to bring justice to victims and to end the culture of impunity".
"And three, Bangladesh honoured Indira Gandhi for her seminal role during Bangladesh's independence, an honour which you ridiculed," the rejoinder read.
The foreign office protest said the manner "in which you (Economist) raised the issues indicate that you are carrying out the agenda of a quarter out to wage a smear campaign against Bangladesh and its government".
"Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister, has, through her extraordinary courage, personal sacrifice and inspiring visionary leadership, brought Bangladesh back on track to democratic governance, made it a model for women's empowerment, food security, disaster management and poverty alleviation and she is pursuing people-centric peace-building policies," it said.
It also said the people in the region are already enjoying the benefits of her government's strong stand against terrorism and extremism.
The rejoinder recalled and reminded the Economist of its analysis of the 2008 elections in an article titled "The tenacity of hope" published in its December 2008 issue.
"Against all the evidence of past experience, Bangladesh's voters enjoy a moment of optimism after a pretty clean election and a decisive result," the weekly wrote in the article just a day after the elections two and half years ago.
Source : The Daily Star
