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TO THE EDITOR
"Religious group halts women's football"
The news item on a religious group halting a women's football match at Netrokona (January 23) causes one to ponder about the image of the country in the eye of the US and other Western countries. The Indian eve's team was invited by the BFF, being inspired by FIFA, and the 'panic-stricken' team had to rush back the same afternoon.
At least in this case the responsibility of damaging our 'image' should be laid on the BFF instead of the favourite ones.
MAH
Dhaka
* * *
It was quite amusing to read "Religious group halts women's football" (January 23). Not that this is the first such incident and definitely not the last. I just wondered how the Calcutta press would make out of this whole thing. Can you blame them now if they call Bangladesh a Talibanized country? Previously they had nothing but speculation to work with. Now they have an actual incident to gloat upon.
On a different thread, now that we have, in reality, established that women's legal rights do not mean anything in this country, can we make it official?
Would it not be a better state of affairs than this farce of equal sociopolitical and economic rights of women that we say exists in the current version of the constitution?
Yahya
USA
"Well Done Hasina"
I was shocked to read some views under "Well done Sheikh Hasina". We are too much involved in partisan feelings and are incapable of a neutral perception even in a national crisis.
a. During Afghan war, CNN time to time showed procession of Jamaat and other Islamic groups in Bangladesh protesting U.S. action on Talibans. Without going in favour or against it, I like to say that U.S. govt. saw that some people of our nation have support for the Talibans.
b. The statement of Khatib of Baitul Mukarram mosque against America and President Bush was even protested by the U.S. State dept.
c. When chief of U.S. operations against Taliban Gen. Tommy Franks on a regular briefing mentioned Bangladeshis along with few other nationals who were fighting in favour of the Talibans, no one from Bangladesh govt. protested that.
d. We are the 2nd largest Muslim populated nation. When there is an allegation that U.S. govt. is profiling Muslims all over the world, can we expect the exemption from their point of view?
Rumana USA
Shocking decision
It is really shocking as well as absolutely unexpected for the Bangladeshis to have Bangladesh included in the latest list of "terror -risk countries" made by the US administrations. Termed as a moderate and tolerant Muslim country, Bangladesh has always been strictly committed to the US platform of fighting international terrorism. We, the Bangladeshis, were not at all prepared to have such a humiliating and disgraceful certificate from US authorities, although Bangladesh is always considered a staunch collaborator of all US efforts, particularly in curbing international terrorism.
It is doubted that "irresponsible statements" by some of the main opposition leaders and antiBangladesh "media propaganda" might have prompted the US administrations to take such a decision against Bangladesh.
Now we all are worried about its impact. First of all, our garment sector could be seriously affected as US is the main customer or investor of this sector. Secondly, many expatriates having no legal residency documents might face difficulties to stay there. Meanwhile, they are in fear of deportation. Thirdly, a large number of students pursuing their study in US or intending to have visa to go to US for their higher education might face a lot of problems being questioned by the US embassy. Finally, the county will be deprived of a huge remittance coming from the expatriates.
What is now more important is to free our country from such stigma. The government should take immediate diplomatic steps to make the US authorities withdraw their decision. We must hope that besides the government's effective action in this regard, the main opposition party and the party committees of both AL and BNP running in US should come forward, without finding faults with each other's activities, to co-operate the government to press the US authorities to drop Bangladesh from INS registration program for vigi-
lance against terrorism.
At this critical juncture, no individual or party, we hope, should have an aimed attempt to take advantage of the setback because it is a question of our national prestige and also of the dignity of our country.
Sk Nahid Neazy
Mohammadpur, Dhaka
With a mission or a strategy!
The recent upheaval related to listing Bangladesh as a terrorist risk nation by the US has added a new dimension to our Foreign Policy Doctrine. The motto of "friendship and malice to none" needs to be upgraded to "strategic alliances and malice to none" in order to survive this ever changing geo-political arena.
It is true that it would be tough to take of our name from the INS list, does not matter how many times our Foreign Minister comes to Washington. What amazes me that our US Embassy/Foreign Ministry had no clue at all, about this impending diplomatic catastrophe. All the signs were there and a little accountability and professionalism would have delayed this disaster, giving more time to a negotiated mutual understanding.
Now, mere protests of this unfair heavy- handed decision and requests to drop our name will not help. A good number of countries are listed who are more strategically important to US than Bangladesh. We need to give US a valid alternative, that is to drop us from the terrorist risk nation, but our Bangladeshi Nationals will list as per new Immigration Policy requires. Which is supposedly the main reason of this policy as mentioned by the US Ambassador to Bangla- desh on numerous occasions. Also, Oil and Gas bait can also be used but we need to be sure whether that is viable in the long run. We must work with other nations who have more lobbying power and try to emulate their successful strategy in order to surf the rough water.
So, I would request our Foreign Minister to have a STRATEGY NOT A Mission if we do not get de-listed. Please, be ready to negotiate a deal related to financial transactions, so that at least we get some sort of clearance or waiver.
NK
USA
To stay or not to stay?
Recently I have browsed through an American daily, "Arizona Daily Star". It is stated that males 16 and over has to register with the INS bureau. Except Bangladesh the other countries are Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait. In fact these countries are the latest additions in the INS list.
According to the daily, inclusion of the five latest countries will affect thousands of long term male visitors to the United States. Males from 16 and above from over 25 countries (including Bangladesh) has to register in the INS offices to be photographed and fingerprinted. These countries included are considered potential havens for terrorists.
It also states that the registration is part of a broader INS plan to set up (by 2005), a comprehensive system detailing who is entering, exiting and staying in US. Long term visitors
from the listed countries have to register by February 24th to March 28th in the local INS offices. This does not effect diplomats, refugees, and permanent resident aliens those holding green card or US citizens.
Still it will be a great hassle for the travellers, business executives, and visitors. Now every visitor will think twice before going to the states. This will not only hamper our commercial sector but also diplomatic.
Khalid Rahman
Dhaka
Impending US attack on Iraq
The USA seems determined to invade Iraq and there is an air of inevitability about it. If USA indeed invades, then international law and principles that guide it are about to be re-written, for the worse.
Iraq's fault is it has angered the world's superpower by violating a UN Security Council resolution and allegedly for developing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). These are grievous faults but Iraq is not the only nation in violation of a UN Security Council resolution or in developing WMD.
The USA is set to punish Iraq while ignoring North Korea and encouraging Israel for the same violations of international law. This leads us to look into the real causes for USA's stand against Iraq.
Following 9/11 incident, the USA had a rare opportunity to combine its status as the world's only superpower with respect. The world was ready to accept the USA as such with no questions asked. It just had to do one thing; take a just stand on Palestine. If the USA had pressured Israel to withdraw from its occupation, give Palestine its own state and thereby respect US resolutions, then the wind would have been taken away from the sails of the so-called Islamic terrorists. But the US government did the contrary.
Shahjahan Ahmed Dhanmandi, Dhaka
Government and
NGO affairs
It is a good precedence for the government to take appropriate steps in respect of NGO affairs, bring their events and operations well under the knowledge of the government policymakers, and make them accountable for the aid received and expenditure justified. The Committee formulated by the government comprised of nonpolitical, non-prejudiced team of senior officials has produced unbiased and impartial recommendations for the government to adapt and review activities of NGOs through a systematised process thereby appraise feasibility towards building a sustainable economy for rural development.
Some major NGOs established in the recent years are in turbulent state having distrustful relationship between the workers and management, non-compliance with the financial and administrative regulations and nepotism in staffing. There appear to be gross deficiency in wage administration, funds management, default in operations, violation of human rights etc.
It is a matter of guiding principle as to how the government would protect the pilferage of squandering and maintain a close supervision, when these NGOs are direct beneficiaries of aid or grant from the donors. A rational guideline would be to develop co-ordination between the government and the donors to ensure that all funds disbursed to the recipient NGO would be granted with an intimation to the Bureau of NGO affairs. A separate cell should be created comprising of outgoing retired government officers who would submit reports analytic findings to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.
D Rasul
Dhaka
"Indemnity Ordinance 2003: A rational Judgement"
This refers to the opinion "Indemnity Ordinance 2003: A rational judgement".
Mr. Mila Mohammad is definitely entitled to his opinion as much as any one else. Like him I too had carefully gone through the Editor's comments wherein he referred to "gaining a place in "Guinness Book of World Records". The learned Editor may have gone overboard in his description and assessment of the ill effects of the Indemnity Ordinance, however the fact remains that this is certainly a most senseless and anti-people step taken by the Government. This also brings back to memory yet another Indemnity of the kind which was enacted earlier aimed at exonerating and protecting the actors of Bangabandhu murder.
Why not put the few reportedly responsible for the alleged deaths in custody, face the process of law, as a result of the Joint Drive, for the sake of gaining the confidence and support of the "entire nation" and at the same time help establish accountability and transparency of the Operation Clean Heart.
By the by, what happened to our police and other law-enforcing agencies? I see no initiative from the government's side in re-vamping the police force.
Shamsher Chowdhury
Dhaka
Biman - the most illogical airline on earth
I have to be in Hong Kong for an exhibition in February 2003 and, thought to go over Dhaka and stop for couple of days to pay a visit to the family. Naturally thought of Bangladesh Biman out of sympathy to Bangladesh. After all helping Biman is helping Bangladesh.
After searching, finding and contacting Biman office in London with no response, finally I managed to find some agencies that works with the Biman. The ticket from London Heathrow to Hong Kong cost £708 (British pound, £ 1= 95Tk), but if I stopped on the way to visit Dhaka it would cost me £830, that is £122 more. I was surprised with the logic of Biman Bangladesh Airline. Is it possible that they are discouraging foreigners to visit Bangladesh? Or simply Bangladesh do not want any visitors from outside world? The agencies also mentioned that Biman authorities are very rude and dominating.
Harun Biswas
UK
Needs unity
Literally, there exists a yawning, gulf of difference between the concept of opposition parties and the ruling party. But systematically they are close to each other in a model democratic country. Democracy will be meaningless, if the existence of opposition parties are denied. This is why, it is called that the opposition parties are the integral part of the govt. Through their effective criticism they help to run the statemachinery smoothly. If 'this concept' is incorporated in politics, then the country will definitely be flourished. But it is regretted that in our country where democracy is practised for a long time a yawning gap exists
between these two institutions. They are hostile to each other
and never tried to narrow this gap.
Recently, Bangladesh is incorporated in the so-called 'terror risk list' by the USA. The chief opposition party leader in her traditional reaction urged the govt. to resign immediately. She added that the govt. will have to bear the responsibility for its grave failure in dealing with the foreign policy. But it is not a wise solution to this created problem. It is a national crisis and we have to tide over this crisis unanimously irrespective of any political creed. Resignation of the govt. cannot be the only solution. They should provide some suggestions how to cope with this crisis. In this respect, unity is needed between these two organs. And the people also expect the same from them.
MD. Kamal Hossain Meahzi
CU
On science and technology
Every ten years, our total scientific knowledge is doubling: we knew twice as much about the world in 1950 than in 1940, four times as much by 1960, 8 times as much by 1970 By the year 2003, we will
know 60 to 100 times as much as we did then. Despite this phenomenal increase in our knowledge we still use only 25% of our brain. There is a philosophical question we face now that if anytime in future, our capacity to use our brains increases to 100% what we would become. Looking at some of the areas of our lives where science is encroaching, such as human cloning, can we say that there should be a limit where science should stop? This question becomes more imperative when we perceive a world of cloned human beings without any emotion, family ties or concern for anything we value as human beings now. This scenario brings back the fear of a barren world of writer T.S.Eliot. The progress of science unhindered by moral checks is a constant threat to our cherished values. A debate is already raging as to the position of a cloned human being in the society.
The long history of our social evolution never had to face such perplexing questions as we face in this century. The whole gamut of the established norms and values are under heavy pressure to adjust with the unthinkable changes. A profound array of contradictions are to be settled to have a peaceful transition but how much we are ready to do that?
Akbar Hussain
Toronto, Canada
"Saddam Hussain and Iraq"
This is a reply to the letter written be Shukla Mirza on January 23.
Mr. Mirza, these are the answers to your question:
Firstly, I am not very clear on what you meant by "dumping friends when you don't need their help".
And speaking of ethical and moral values, let me ask you a few questions. Do you think it's ethical that Saddam Hussain used chemical weapons against his country's Kurdish minority? It was one of the many notable genocide committed in the history of mankind. Do you think it's ethical that this leader kills his own prisoners in an inhumane way? How would you feel if you were jailed and then killed just because you expressed an idea which is against the government's policy.
How ethical is it that he invaded Kuwait just because it was once a part of Iraq? How would you feel if Pakistan invades us tomorrow on the ground that Bangladesh was once a part of Pakistan? I am sure that you wouldn't call it 'moral' or 'ethical'.
And finally I never said that Saddam Hussein is the only cruel leader in this world and I don't want war in Iraq myself. There are always alternative methods to bring him down without any civilian casualty.
And please don't ask me to do research while you ask me biased questions. I am not 'pro-American' and I dislike President Bush's policy myself. My initial letter was about war against Saddam Hussein not Iraq.
A. Imtiaz
NSW, Australia
A very uncommon school
We have many educational institutions in our country established in the past by generous donors and philanthropists. All these have been contributing tremendously for eradication of illiteracy a curse that we are fighting for ages.
A school with a big difference in very rural environment I happened
to see on 19th January can be sited as an example of the desired change. The occasion was its annual prize distribution. The founders of this noble and unique institution have their vision to make the rural folks educated as well as employed. Around 800 students of which 60% boys and 40% girls are all given vocational training in various fields so that while studying they are capable of earning sufficient amount to support themselves at times also help their parents. The demonstration and exhibition of their works in a large compound was a wonderful example of their objectives and goal. Such types of schools with teachers professionally sound and dedicated to the cause can bring in the revolution of our society in a very a short time. It was also significant to see the functions and the displays being witnessed by many high-profile dignitaries.
In my humble opinion such indi-vidual/family efforts for community services in our country like the Kumudini Welfare Trust and Ispahani Memorial hospi-tal/educational centres should be projected properly for the benefit of our society and widely supported by the concerned authorities . The school is at Delduar some distance away from Tangail and Mr. Delwar Hossain a fomer multinational CEO as well as a former sector corporation Chairman with members of his family are behind this great success story.
Let us hope many more amongst us with resources and abilities do
likewise at their respective villages to transform this land of ours from the gloom and darkness to better days ahead.
Z .Rahman
Gulshan, Dhaka
"Campaigners toss girl into oven"
Could someone please give me a valid reason why expatriates should continue to try and promote the good image of Bangladesh abroad when animals such as Golam Kibria (January 23, "Campaigners toss girl into oven") and his goons are doing a perfectly good job in destroying its image by tossing a helpless child into an oven, knowing full well that since they belong to the same side of the Government, that little or nothing will be done against them?
I would like to see no arrests, no trial and no jail for these monsters. As inhumane as it sounds, I wish nothing more than these four so-called human beings to be tossed into an oven without a chance of escape!
Abdul M. Ismail
England, UK