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To the Editor...
***Letters for publication in these columns should be addressed to the Editor and legibly written or typed with double space. For reasons of space, short letters are preferred, and all are subject to editing and cuts. Pseudonyms are accepted. However, all communications must bear the writer's real name, signature and address.***
Text-book prices
Sir. The prices of many text books prescribed by the English-medium schools in the city are exorbitantly high. For example, the English Reader costs above Taka 500. Several other books are priced between Tk 400-650 each. These publications are printed abroad; while some of the other books are printed in a neighbouring country. Very few books are locally published and /or printed.
For a poor country like Bangladesh, this is an unrealistic situation. Many guardians have no option but to place their wards initially in an English-medium school, as their children were living abroad and were studying in the English medium. Here they take up Easy Bengali course to start with (this course is fortunately available).
The educational authorities should review the working of the English-medium schools in the major cities of the country, and strengthen the monitoring system to tighten up on the compliance of the national guide-line on the running of such schools. The cost of education must commensurate with our standard of living, notwithstanding the fact that there is great disparity between the top and lower brackets.
It is disquieting to note that education is being commercialised in the city, with tutorial centres sprouting like mushrooms. When I asked a guardian why one tutor was not enough to teach two or three subjects at school level, I was told that nowadays the private tutors are "specialised" in "subjects' (maybe armed with their photo-copied notes)!
"The O' level examination is quite popular here, but it is not clear how the local publishers are co-operating in this English-medium sector. Vis-a -vis the booksellers. who would be content to import the books. We can hardly afford to waste foreign exchange on the import of text books at school level (we do not have enough FE for higher education).
A Guardian
Dhaka
Waiting room at bus stand
Sir, The bus passengers of Patiya Sadar (former Sub-Divisional HQ) feel a great inconvience in absence of waiting rooms and other facilities at Monsef Bazar, Old bus stop and Court Area bus stand in Patiya town.
Hundreds of bus passengers, both male and female, badly suffer for want of waiting rooms. Female passengers are often found insecurely standing on the road. Absence of toilets also is causing immense problem for the passengers specially the females and the children. Their suffering becomes more acute during the rainy season when they find no alternative but to stand under the open sky and brave the brunt of rains. Also the terminal becomes muddy in the rainy season, there is no systematic parking of vehicles either Buses and mini-buses are parked helter skilter creating much trouble for the passengers.
I would urge the concerned authority for construction of at least a Unshed, waiting room and arrange for other amenities at Patiya town bus stand, at the earliest.
Faridul Alam Chowdhury
Patiya. Chittagong
More flowers for our delight
Sir, There was a time when flowers for sale are not a common sight in Dhaka. Things are different and much better now. Not only do we have more florists in town but we notice street vendors selling flowers, particularly rojonigandha, marigold, roses etc.
The price of flowers have also gone down. Previously there was only one place i.e. the gate of the High Court, where flowers were available. Thus the price was also very high. But now due to easy availability the situation improved. We would like to see such improvements in other things too. so that we do not have to depend on a other countries for a lot of things, as we do now.
Tawheed Anwar
Sobhanbagh
Dhaka
Inconsiderate neighbours
Sir, Through the columns of your esteemed daily I wish to bring to your notice the plight of those who are burdened by inconsiderate neighbours. I am a resident of Kalabagan Bashiruddln Road, living in my own three storied house on the ground floor, while the rest is rented out. It is my only source of income having invested my entire savings including my earnings in the last few years. Unfortunately life is becoming extremely difficult due to the peculiar habit of a neighbour who Is driving me crazy and my tenants away.
This man. no doubt mentally abnormal gets to the top of his house and sings very loudly on certain nights. This severely disturbs my tenants who have complained to me. I took up the matter but he claims fundamental right. I discussed it with the local Ward Commissioner but he is missing since the fall of Ershad. The police won't take a case but asks me to 'make up'. But how can I make up. The other neighbours are very heavy sleepers and don't mind but my tenants are threatening to leave.
Under the circumstances what should I do ? The man is generally well behaved except for his singing.
Dr. Alfaz Tarafder
Kalabagan
Dhaka.
Movies in cinema halls
Sir, It has been a long time since I and my family have seen an English movie at cinema hall though there is nothing to bar us from watching them at home courtesy, the family VCR. But somehow VCR provides a different kind of fun then going to the movies and we do miss it.
Right from buying the ticket in advance, to getting dressed and reaching the hall on time is gone. The atmosphere provided by the decor, the lobby restaurants, chips and coke all together provided a kind of family entertainment which VCRs can't. They focus on the movie alone which after a time becomes Just another kind of glorified TV watching
The authorities cant argue in terms of censorship because we want to watch family movies and VCRs have made the idea of censorship redundant anyway. So could we have our beloved movies back? Movies can never replace the ordinariness of home viewing.
Dr. Fortaz All
Sobhanhagh. Dhaka.