So when Tarek Zia hits out at civil society for daring to speak out, Mahfuz Anam quite rightly used the front page of the Daily Star to write a trenchant piece on Tarek’s effrontery. And we feel proud that people are up for the fight. But wait - have you checked today’s news? When Mahmudur Rahman tried to use the courts to muzzle leading civil society figures ( who are part of the civil society coalition, as it were, with the Daily Star and Prothom Alo) guess what happens? They reach an out of court settlement! Eh? You wot mate? Yes you read correctly. They have reached an out of court settlement.  An amicable settlement even. Dear god. Does this mean Rehman Sobhan and Debapriya are somehow acknowledging they were at fault with the things they were saying in scholarly papers and international conferences and to which Rahman took such exception? I don’t think they are but it certainly looks like it does it not? Why not stick to your guns and see how far this Rahman can take his nonsensical charge? Why not put the boot in and use the platform provided to further argue your case? If you are sure about your research and your statements why not stick by them? Why appear to come to some sort of agreement which to all intents and purposes sounds like capitulation?? And why in heaven’s name have the Ambassador of the USA and the High Commissioner of the UK broker this ? What kind of precedent does this set? Dear me. Talk about immaturity or what.