ASIA/BANGLADESH - Social and political uncertainty, country needs reconciliation and improvements in education: Xaverian missionary reports

Friday, 19 January 2007

Dacca (Agenzia Fides) - “This situation of uncertainty is expected to last for several months until the elections, the date of which has yet to be set. The state of emergency and interim government continues, and tension persists in a country apparently polarised in two positions. However what the people want is peace and work”, Italian Xaverian missionary in Bangladesh Fr Silvano Garello told Fides with regard to the political crisis which threatens to paralyse economic activity further penalising one of the world’s poorest countries.
The cause of the crisis was a clash in view of general elections between the two principal political coalitions, the Nationalist Party led by Khaleda Zia and the Awami League headed by Hasina Wajed. Elections had been set for this month, but the Awami League accused the interim government (charged with leading Bangladesh to the elections) of fraud and withdrew its candidates and destabilising the situation. Following protests the government declared a state of emergency and postponed the elections.
Fr. Garello said the polarisation affects Bangladesh at every level: “What the country needs is genuine and in depth reconciliation, beginning with the fractures caused by civil war at the time of separation from Pakistan. Today’s political groups appear to be inspired by ideological banners and a thirst for power: they have no clear social or political proposals to identify them”.
“The country - the Xaverian continues - needs reforms, plans and especially investment in education. Otherwise the exodus of unqualified Bangladeshis seeking better fortune in other countries will continue. It needs a government that will work hard to put the country on the road to development, economic, social and cultural”.
From the local Church Fr . Garello encourages “greater efforts in the decisive field of education campo, putting aside the logic of being a minority and encouraging the healthy forces of civil society with formation for Catholic lay men and women to enable them to make their contribution towards building up the nation”.
For the moment the alarm over Islamic radicalism has been dropped: “Pressure from Islamic radicals has been neutralised although a few small violent groups still exist. However by nature Bangladeshis are tolerant and peaceful. With a population young and willing to work, the country can look to the future with hope”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/1/2007righe 31 parole 312)


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