The interim government’s advisor for the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Supradip Chakma, is coming to Khagrachari to observe the flood situation. Many people have been called to attend the meeting in the city. There’s excitement about attending the meeting, but it’s like a lamp flickering out without any wind.

Many have interpreted his statement in various ways. However, I sense the presence of the military in his words.

For some reason, I am reminded of an incident from my childhood.

While living in the Panchram Para refugee camp in Tripura, India, I suddenly heard that someone’s goat didn’t eat rice plants. The goat would be let loose in the paddy fields of Panchram, where it would graze along the edges and eat grass, but it wouldn’t touch the rice plants.

I was surprised when I heard it.

One day, I went to see for myself! The goat’s neck was tied to its front legs in such a way that it couldn’t lift its head. To eat the rice plants, it would need to raise its head. It could eat the grass along the edges, but it couldn’t lift its head to eat the rice plants. So, how could the goat possibly eat the rice?

Supradip Chakma’s situation is similar. He’s like that tied-up goat who can see the problems in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and even understand them, but he can’t speak out. He’s a man appointed by the military. How can he speak for the people? Of course, he’ll speak in the language of the military, right?

But where is his fault in this?

A few days ago, I saw many respected individuals singing his praises in lengthy Facebook posts. When those who lead the nation do this, what will the ordinary people do?

No one works for the survival of the nation anymore. Everyone works for their own interests, for their own party. Our regional parties are just like our leaders.

The self-serving sycophants of the military are always afraid to speak the truth, whether in public or on social media. They are like that obedient goat that doesn’t eat the rice plants.

Does our nation want to be that goat, bound with a rope around its neck as proof of its ‘honesty’? Or will we have the courage to break those bonds and speak the truth?

Our beloved queen Yan Yan has already given this message to the hill people through her protests. But who listens to her? Now, go on and live your life with your obedient goat.