We are astounded at the ostentatious reception arranged for the home minister at Feni on his way to Khagrachari. The local AL lawmaker and his party men put up 273 arches, each costing Tk 9,000, at a 27 kilometre stretch along the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. We wonder, why this lavish treatment? The MP has claimed that this was a show of love for the minister by the local party men. But why is it for the home minister? He is not even a representative of the area. Even if he was, such wastefulness displays a lack of taste. More importantly, we would like to know: who will foot the bill? To the public this is a senseless waste of money especially when we see major development projects remaining suspended in the area for years due to shortage of funds. 

Surprisingly, the minister actually appreciated the pomp and show. Why are our ministers so fond of such blatant fawning? Why don't our public representatives show such loyalty to the people to whom they are oath bound to serve while in their privileged positions? It's time that the political parties instructed their party members and senior leaders not to indulge in such irrational and wasteful display of 'affection'.