****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.•

Development of northern districts

Sir, It is good that the new government is keen to develop the less developed regions of the country. To remove the bottle necks faced by the private sector in the areas the government, like the past gov ernments, may declare some concessions in the industrial policy for the entrepreneurs of the backward regions. But concessions alone in respect of payment of comparatively low rates of taxes, duties, simplification of sanctioning procedure, relaxation of formalities etc., may not yield spectacular

districts are concerned, it would be worthwhile to analyse the causes of the past failure.

There is an acute irregularity in supply of electricity. The sooner the continuity of its supply is ensured, the better for industrialisation. There is no gas. The region needs to be supplied with gas for commercial and domestic use. In the field of communication the northern districts are the most backward area. Many important places are still deprived of any mentionable road while many of the important roads are in deplorable condition. Similar Is the condition of the railway communication. The tele-communication facil-

ily within the region also is not modern.

Steps to modernise Mongla Port with storage facilities and improved communication by rail and road to and from the port may help bring about the desired results. A refinery at Khulna will reduce the cost of petroleum products.

The construction of Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge will serve the purpose to the greatest extent.

The northern districts are primarily dependent on agriculture. In respect of production of sugar and tobacco, the whole country is dependent on the northern part. In respect of paddy, pulse, onion, zinger etc. more than 65% of the country's requirement Is met by the northern districts. But deforestation particularly due to the absence of gas aggravates the agricultural problem there. There is an abrupt fall in the underground water level and drought is a common phe-

of deep tubewells needs to be increased and water reservoirs need to be built up.

The trade, commerce and Industry particularly in the northern part of the country are in their infancy. There is as yet no sound footing to have the required amount of subsidies, assistance and protection from various corners. The single chamber perhaps fails to serve the purpose of the less developed region. The government's latest action to have a separate chamber for industries at the national level bears testimony to the fact that the single chamber at a certain stage fails to serve the purpose.

In a single chamber, the traders or the people of the developed region have wider scope of claiming and establishing supremacy over that of the less developed region be cause of their better knowledge, information, communication and public relations. To remove the obstacles that

commercial and industrial development in the less developed region, the feasibility of having a separate Chamber of Commerce and Industries for the less developed region particularly for the northern region may be looked into.

Md Anwarul Afzal Raninagar, Naogaon.

Accountability

Sir, Several large prestigious enterprises undertaken after liberation, continue to be sick since start up. Even the sale volume of some enterprises cannot meet the wages, salaries and other benefits of the employees, it is said. Those responsible for wasting the nation's scarce resources, are no longer associated in managing those loosing concerns. However, under the above backdrop let the new government study again the viability of those enterprises by engaging loca] and if necessary, foreign consultants. If PDB can run with about 40%

or more system loss, not a single enterprise is loosing in this context I

Sadik Alee.

Maghbazar. Dhaka

Islamic research

Sir, Several letters have so far been published in the . columns of national dailies urging the government to introduce a national level award in i the discipline of Islamic research and publication. The past autocratic government did not pay much attention to the matter. Now we would request the new democratic government for the same.

In this field, we have already proposed the name of eminent Islamic scholar Syed Ashraf All for such a .national award tn recognition to his outstanding contribution in the field of Islamic research and publication.

M. Zahidul Haque Bangladesh Agricultural Institute. Dhaka 1207.