Today we see scientists and engineers in the West working on quantum computers, particle accelerator, frozen light, black holes, nano technology, space station, theory of everything like the string theory, wormholes and even quantum teleportation (teleportation of photon has already been achieved!).

These things may appear out-of-this world to many people in our country; even to those with university education. Looking at the picture of the Super Kamiokande detector, for example, would scare the hell out of many people. This huge tank is filled with 50,000 tons of ultra-pure water and 13,000 photomultipliers are submerged inside the tank that looks like something either from Hollywood or from few thousand years in the future! But there are human beings like us on this planet, who are making these things while we can barely make a humble tyre. Amazing and amusing, isn't it?

Now lets look at the issues we Bangalis are working on. Our people go in the "chaa stalls" and offices and talk about what Saifur Rahman, Kibriya, Tofael or Samad Azad said in their speeches. They go to an extraordinary length to discussing and arguing about what some internationally unknown, third-class politicians have said. Then there is the mother of all conversations; the hartal talk!

While people in other countries are mapping the entire human genome code, we in Bangladesh are busy mapping out where to start our hartal tomorrow. China has put its man in space and, make no mistake, our neighbour India will be going soon. But we Bangalis are busy sending our loyal illiterate gangs on the street, shouting "omuk bhaiyer charitra, phooler motho pabitra"!

Really? Other countries spend billions in research and development, but our leaders spend millions of our precious money organising rallies, hartals and agitation with their thugs and hoodlums. Why is it that we never get sick and tired of the same pointless and disgraceful activities? When are we going to learn and put a stop to these crimes against humanity?