Pearls before swines

There is a saying in many South Asian languages that the wicked rarely listen to reason, let alone morality…kind of like the pearls before swines adage. Bangladesh’s one-party, one-family regime is no different. Messages, diplomatic notes, exhortations, and cautionary advice to these people is unlikely to do much. Short of Magnitsky type sanctions on key regime figures like the ministers, police chiefs, election commissioners, party leaders, university chancellors, the junta’s key business allies in the apparel sector, and their respective families, little is going to change. The Bengali mind is not yet ready for shame emanating from the sage advice emanating from friends (let alone foes) if that advice is not backed up with consequences. In the Bengali ruling class, we are not dealing with the Marquis of Queensberrry-rules sort of people; sad but true.