Editorial
28th of July
Down to the waterline
The floods came again. People all over the world see
the pictures of people climbing on the roofs of their little
huts in fear of the roaring waters down below.
Hundreds drowned, hundreds of thousends, even millions, left
homeless. This is Bangladesh in the eyes of the world.
Every year this happens. Many people here keep wondering why?
Cant the goverment make any kind of precautions to prevent this
from happening? Why do the people build their huts so close
to water? Why dont we blame the global warming as everybody
else?
There are not many reasons for the floods. The only one being
that it is a natural thing to happen in the biggest delta of
the world during the rainy season. But the reasons for so many
lost lives and huge economical losses are more diversed. But
also quite logical, if you think of it.
For common people the rivers are the only way to travel and
move around. People seek to live by the rivers. The soil near
the rivers is very fertile, because rivers bring nutrisious
humus from the upstream. That is why everybody wants to have
their little farm by the river. Forests are being cut down off
the way to make fields and pasture. Erosion eats the banks little
by little and makes the floods more severe each year.
Rich city folk buy huge areas of land and drive off the poor
people to the cities or to riverside areas which are sometimes
above the water and sometimes not. Its packed here. Everywhere.
The goverment isnt really capable (or willing) to contribute
much resources to fight against the floods. Not that it could
erase the whole problem, because that would require a whole
new kind of infrastructure and social system. And to create
something which would really help this country, this goverment
is too stupid and blind. You can't even imagine what I have
seen and heard...
Probably they are thinking that it pays off better this way.
To build some huge flood-pool or dam would then close all the
foreign flood-aid money and politicians would left without their
bribes and dirty money.
So I am basically saying that there is no hope at all?
Hmm, I didnt want to say that. I wanted to say something good.
People should know something else about this country besides
the floods.
There is hope, but right now when the power is in hands of morons,
outside world has little to do. Maybe the politicians in their
neverending greed manage to create something good too. Like
in order to fill their own pockets they try to make it easier
for foreign investors to come and invest on this country. Because
it is, like I have many times said, land of opportunities. The
whole Far East Asia is.
Come see it for yourself. My feelings are too contradictory
at the moment to praise this place up to heavens. But it definitely
an educative experience to live here.
Yes, it is quite tough to say something good about this. Maybe
when I am back in Finland every memory already has a golden
lining...
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Interesting
facts
Did you know that most of the flood aid-money&goods given
to rural district leaders, is being stored and sold afterwards
to the flood survivors with good profit.
Bangladesh News Flash (Week 18)
An election Bangladeshi way. Read it and weep. Or laugh. Or
whatever.
The
Daily Star
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