1.Year of soaring crimes:

Surveys carried out by some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) show that the number of homicides rose to 3,450 in 2003 from 2,773 in 2002 and rape incidents almost tripled from 119 in 2002 to 327 in the year that ended yesterday.

2. Women repression doubles:

The incidents of women repression doubled last year compared to 2002, a study carried out by a legal aid group said yesterday. The Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) study said 5,207 women were repressed last year, up from 2,511 in 2002. It said 1,550 women were raped and 424 women and children were gang-raped last year. One hundred and sixty-six women were killed after rape and 15 committed suicide.

Please note difference in the numbers of rapes -- 327 versus 1,550 -- in an authoritative newspaper like the Daily Star.

In a Bangla daily, the number of murders has been reported to be 3832. All of the papers put this figure below 4,000. But our Hon'ble ex-PM has said 24,000 murders were committed last year. Who will judge which is the correct figure?

We are very irresponsible as a nation because we do not need to be answerable to anyone. Our consciences do not work because we are running after our own gains unbridled. We do not think about this poor land (we shed crocodile tears sometimes) because we know about ourselves only. 34 years ago, anybody earning 'upri' (earning by corrupt means) was hated and condemned by all. Now, corruption is a symbol of pride, expressed in having a number of expensive cars and well-decorated houses in posh areas. We feel proud. Shame to our leaders first, then to whole nation. May Allah save us from this depth of lawlessness.