In the heat of the chase

by Habibul Islam

Often in the heat of the chase (for rogues and criminals, or for cows and horses, or for power and pelf) an assortment of other factors is ignored, not necessarily deliberately but mainly due to the focus on the goal or goals, as the case may be. And there’s the rub.

Unfortunately, in this instance, it’s a combination of factors in Bangladesh that were asking for some serious attention but clearly didn’t get the required amount. While hounding dissenters, political nitpickers, rights activists, critical commenters, it turns out some significant aspects were simmering under the tarp. Unnoticed.

For one example: One hundred million US greenbacks---or perhaps, one billion greenbacks (it makes no difference what the precise figure is to an ordinary mortal merely because the number is way too much for people like us to comprehend) were being pilfered from the account of the central bank. And for an entire one month the nation knew nothing about its stolen money.

Once the news exploded the first reaction was that it was the fault of the US Federal Reserve where the aforementioned fund was stored. The second reaction was that Bangladesh was going to sue the Federal Reserve. (This, incidentally, was declared even before the person asserting that right was fully aware of the details. But so be it.)

Lately, it appears, in fact there were chinks (to use a euphemism as demanded by present conditions) at this end and as the investigation continues one hopes the facts will trickle and dribble out; and there will be daylight. Simultaneously, as [bad] luck would have it, in the footsteps of Australia Britain, too, has concluded that it’s inadvisable to permit direct flights from Dhaka airport to go to that country.

The decision was made due to a perceived and felt lack of adequate security and safety measures at this country’s premier airport. Evidently, given the circumstances around the world, the relevant authorities in Dhaka should’ve been up to speed on this and similar matters. But alas, the obvious isn’t obviously so obvious especially to those to whom they should matter.

Naturally, these aren’t issues to trifle with. Just the economic and financial implications can be mighty weighty. But in the extant situation to what extent these will be looked into---rather than carrying on business as usual---remains to be witnessed.