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To the Editor
MPs have every right to raise their benefits (?)
It is very nice to know that our MPs have passed a bill in the Jatiya Sangsarl. our national parliament, to raise their allowances. It is their magnanimity that they have enhanced the allowances only 100 to 600 per cent, and not 1000 to 2000 percent, which they could have done at their sweet will. We, the Kle, of Bangladesh are so lucky
M have sb'iptidyel'ahll.julii / dntylvt'oulcl(ike to'dfaw thekind attention of our MPs to a very important fact dial the British Parliament. which is known as the
Mother of all the parliaments, when passes a bill, enhancing the remuneration and/or allowances of MPs, the members of the Parliament, which has passed the bill are not allowed to enjoy the benefits. Only the members of the subsequent parliaments can enjoy those enhanced benefits.
It looks odd indeed that a person or i body enhances its benefits, which affects public exchequer. It looks extremely odd when the persons are public representatives, is notit,Sifs? 1 ' •'‘ - •'
Fartique Hasan
Dhanriiondi; Dhaka
The government recently has introduced bills with a view to enhance
salary and other allowances of tbc MPs, including the prime minister and ministers. The proposed increase Is substantial. But, in the last budget (2003-04) comparatively less privileged government servants has got only 10 per cent increase. It is surprising that the Finance Minister did not feel any qualms about it! Some of the proposed perks do not seem to be at all justified.
Why there sltould be enhancement in the allowance for MPs for attending the parliament Which is their duty. Moreover,' there is another proposal of allottih^ flats for them in the newly built NAM buildings. It seems there is no end to their perks.
I Jahan
Onee-rnail
Independent anti-graft body for Bangladesh At last Bangladesh is going to have a "self-governing" anti-corruption body, albeit brought on by the major donors and the Transparency International instead of the establish-mentitself.
However, the question is whether it's possible for Bangladesh to have an independent organisation, let alone independent anti-graft body. The anti-corruption commission act as approved recently by the cabinet, corroborates that apprehension beyond any reservation. If the ministers and the government-appointed high officials (no matter whether they hold constitutional posts or not) are involved in the selection process of the chairman and members of the anti-graft body, tiie latter would be anytlting but independent for the simple reason that normally political consideration is almost unavoidable in appointing the ministers or the chairmen of the constitutional entitles.
Then where we might look for any semblance of independence and impartiality?
Still, it is the judiciary and judiciary alone which is recognised as unbiased and above board and there is no scope to dilute the sublime image of the judiciary with any other high office. It follows therefore that the full bench of the Supreme Court by majority decision may recommend to the President a panel of six distinguished personalities with no known political affiliation and the President may appoint any three of them as the chairman and the members of the proposed anti-graft body, with the rank and status and pay of the judges of tile appellate division of the Supreme Court.
However, it is not enough just to appoint the highest echelon of the body, The chairman and the members should be given adequate legal authority to hire and fire necessary subordinates and staffs along with appropriate financial provisions to run the commission smoothly and efficiently Last but not the least, the commission has to he powerful enough take all necessary measures to contain corruption at any level of the government and beyond.
Hafeejul Alam Dhaka
Bumper hamper
It is good to see that the car owners are finally getting rid of their extra bumpers. These bumpers that
people of Bangladesh fit around their cars is useless. Because if it did have a proper reason then people around the globe would be using I hem. This is seen exclusively in Bangladesh and I have never seen and neither heard of using such bumpers in other countries.
If a metallic bumper was used in other countries, then it surely has to be automobile company certified -that the extra bumper will not hamper the overall aerodynamics of the car and at the same time all the passive safely features will be Working properly. But In ofir Country, all thdsc important aspects do not seem to bother most of our citizens.
All original bumpers in cars today are made of plastic, which enables them to take small Impacts (our citizens are not secured enough with them) and at the same time retract back to its original shape if hit hard from a certain speed above which cars in Dhaka do not usually go. The small impacts usually leave a black spot, which can be easily removed by polishing it.
New and re-conditioned cars that are hitting the roads today (except the Indian ones) all come equipped with 'SRS Airbags', wliich is considered as a breakthrough in technology. But with these extra bumpers that people fit Is nothing but malting a mockery of the money invested and the successful projects of the automobile companies.
Maximum car owners in the country are not well aware of automobiles. Therefore, it was really wise of the. government to take the decision. It will save lives and make our citizens understand that extra bumpers are not the only solution to safe driving!
MasrurAli
Dhaka
It refers to the front-page news about court's decision regarding iron bumpers.
I must thank Mr. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury for his action to challenge the authorities for their hasty decision for removal of metal protective bumpers from cars. I must also thank all others who have voiced their protest on this decision. I must thank the additional attorney General Mr. A.J. Mohammad Alt for his remarks ana show causing the authorities.
People sitting on the helms of affairs in the government must exercise their intelligence and power of judgement before really asking the public for a major compliance. They must understand the impending problems related to the issue. There are several hundred poor families involved with this bumper making trade. The taxpayer who attaches the bumper to ids car does so to protect his car from damages done by the rickshaws who knowsnolaw.
The government should prevent accidents rather than penalise the taxpayers, car owners in particular. Government should scrutinise the activities of the law enforcing agents regarding their sincerity to duty. Government should consider enforcement of existing traffic safety rules rather titan act Imprudently to jeopardise the already-chaolic traffic situation. I can't imagine what will happen to the cars once the rickshawalas find out that there are no protective bumpers in cars. They will have fun while the car owner will get hypertension. This is
notjustified.
Has anyone really considered finding out reasons of road accidents? Allow me to narrate some. First of all question the drivers' license issuingauthority. Money will get anyone a 5-year-old driving license in Bangladesh. If this is the criterion for obtaining permission to drive, no one can stop road accidents. Most of the drivers have fake licenses issued by the cops themselves. If you talk of fitness, maximum cars are In good running conditions most of the time, its the government and private busses, trucks, and till sundry public transport including police vans that are not for tiie road. They neither have qualified drivers nor are they fit enough to be on the road. Who is responsfbleforthismcss?
So 1 suggest, keep tiie roads in good condition, issue licenses to qualified drivers, keep unfit vehicles out of the roads, ensure sincere traffic control, manage rickshaws and pedestrians properly and above all prevent cops from taking bribe -there will be hardly any road accidents.
Shah
Dhaka
The controversy of whether to take off the bumpers from the cars or not, has now taken another turn with Mr. AsifurRahman'ssuggcstion (DS July 11) "to get rid of the rickshaws out of the city streets", before passing orders for reinstatement of bumpers. How irrational and unjust he is! Who knows maybe someone might suggest next time if an accident occurs, that get rid of the wheels of a car or even ban cars from the streets! These can not be a solution.
The writer ventured to give an estimated loss to owners of cars for supposed repair work at their cost but does he have an estimate about the sufferings of the poor and middle class people (who are already undergoing untold sufferings for declaring right and left 'rickshaw-free roads without minimum consideration of their plight) whose principal mode of transport is rickshaw. And what will happen to the rickshawpullers?
The poor and middle class can never dream of having a motor car but can afford a rickshaw ride -while going to school, market or to places of work. etc. The rickshaw pullers, however, would find it too difficult to even to survive if they have to leave the present profession. Because they are illiterate and not fit for any other profession - - they arc mostly rustic freshers from far flung districts. Do we consider their loss as worthyofconsideration?
So, in my opinion, the pragmatic decision should be: disciplining the whole traffic system of tiie metropolis not by dismantling tiie bumpers and closing several roads and lanes to rickshaws but by renovating all (he roads, inducting stiff piles and regulations and make the police, in particular traffic police, well trained, more vigilant and duty bound on the street and subjection to strict compliance of rules and to penalise both the drivers and police if found irresponsible ahd negligent on duty and leave the car owner at their own to decide as to how to protect their valuable transport. If needed, some out dated British rules can be revised and improved to suit the modern day requirements.
lai me point out that I have
observed many a times a traffic police gossiping with other colleague or talking with truck drivers leaving his post and ignoring traffic Dow. For such negligence and irresponsible behaviour by the traffic police drivers often cross intersections beyond instructions.
FBR
Dhaka
Double standards
ofUSA
The US allegation against Iran's nucleanprogrammes is hypocritical to say tfte least. BBCs recent docu-1 mentary on Israel's nuclear programme has revealed the US position and we are convinced that
the US has no moral authority to question any other country on the nuclear programme issue, not even about the North Koreans.
The US attitude about Israel' is now a clear example of how the rest of the world views tiie US today a super power shamelessly practising a policy of double standards. Here you have the Israelis who have produced all conceivableWMDs but the US exempting it from any international Inspection. But Iran who is accused of producing it, threatened by tiie USA for inspection.
The only conclusion one can draw is thai, Iran's fault (as was Iraq's under Saddam Hussein) is not pursuing the nuclear option (if it is so) but probably being an Islamic state. What distresses me even more than die double standard of the US isthepositionofthe rich Arab states. Why can't these countries join together and ask the US to apply the same conditions on Israel that has already been applied on Iraq and 'threatened to apply' on Iran? They have the financial sirength to do so.
On my part, I have no hope butto wait for spmqtlivjne intervention to make tiie US see how wrong it is to keep a double standard. The total subservience of the US administration on Israeli interests and of US
foreign policy are not democratic and it is only a matter of time that the common people of United States would see the folly of their neoconservativeleaders and will bring a change.
Shalljahan Ahmed
Dhaka
Betterment of the common people and Ordinance 13(A)
In terms of drug manufacturing "one mistake may result deaths of
hundreds of thousands of lives". And manufacturing drugs is not an easy task. One have to be fully alert while drug manufacturing. It is impossible for one to deal with medicines if he does not have the knowledge of the following few subjects collectively. Such as Pharmacology andToxicology, Medicinal Chemistry. Physiology, Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and some other related sciences.
• So hiy'ehtneM-repeat to the Iqgjplatyp hodifSjtqMqep efpon the-welfare of our common' people because they take medicines keeping faith on us. Besides, this is a developing sector and It needs
national support to go further.
To secure their own interest some unscrupulous bodies are trying to manipulate the positive sign of 13(A), which is being unjust and unlawful as well. I llilnk those legislative bodies are unable to estimate what could be the Impact on general people if withdrawal of 13(A) takes place. Being cognisant of the consequences 1 hope that the authority concerned will not take any decision that may welcome disorders for common people.
M Hasel
Juhangirnagar University
Savar; Dhaka