I have noticed one thing -- you seem to entertain an eerie belief that whilst people in almost all-important strata of society have gone corrupt and dishonest; the only ones that have survived the decadence are the journalists. They have almost an angelic idea. You have said it umpteen times, directly or indirectly, before, and you have said again in your last piece on November 27 titled: "Eureka! The real culprit has been found." Is it what you call your honest and impartial journalism?

Why do you have to pretend that the journalists here in our country are the most puritanical and that they are totally unblemished by this carbuncular cancer called corruption? You should know in your heart of hearts that the facts are quite the opposite. You do know the extent to which the journalists are engaged in making quick bucks, and the blackmail they resort to in order to achieve that end. You do know that there are journalists having posh residential buildings in Dhanmandi, Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara. A number of them have buildings in all the four areas. You do also know that there are journalists having ranches in several areas of Bangladesh. One of them has more than 100 acres of land on Dhaka-Maoa Road. You are probably as well aware that a journalist owns at least three cinema halls in the neighbourhood of Dhaka city. You also know that there are at least a dozen journalists who use posh and expensive cars that are incompatible with their incomes. You also know that there are some journalists who use chauffer-driven cars, although they do not have any incomes.

You do not point any finger at them. On the contrary, you have upbraided our "venerable foreign minister" who "suggested that the media were responsible for our image as the 'most corrupt country', because we report on corruption."

Yes, you do report on corruption, rightly or wrongly. But what about your corruption, sir? Who will report on that? Don't misread me, please. By 'your corruption' I mean corruption in your community. Is it what you call honest and impartial journalism?

Set your own house in order before trying to find fault with others. Otherwise it will look like the pot calling the kettle black.

I don't expect you to print this missive. The reason being that it will need some extra courage to do so. I doubt if you have that courage to expose your community to some public scrutiny. Journalists in our country -- from the cub reporters to the top -- think that they are all angels and, therefore, any kind of criticism of them is a sin. Until this notion is changed and realisation brought to bear on them that they are pretty ordinary, this country has no future. If you really want to be a guardian angel in defending our so-called journalists, the foremost you need to do is address this notion first of all.