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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. ***
No waiting room!
Sir, Every morning as 1 go to work I see about 25 young women sitting tn groups on the roadside of a small back alley in the Kakrall area. On rainy days these women take shelter in nearby residences like the Circuit House. They are mothers whose children go to Will s Little Flower Schoo) on Kakrall Road. They live too far away to make it economical both timewise and moneywise to return to their homes and again come back to pick up their children. Their appeal for a watting room to the school authority has gone un heard
It is a crying shame that a well-established and prcstl gious school like Will's.Little Flower is unable to provide any space in their impressive school compund for the handful of mothers who are temporarily reduced to a "homeless' status while their children are in school.
Would the situation have been different if fathers had to
do I he walling? Or vyould not fathers do any walling bdcause their time Is too valuable?
Shamim Hamid
Convenor, BIDS Forum for Gender Studies
Father Timm
Sir, A few people have compared Father Timm to Mr Oolam Azam and have demanded hts expulsion from Bangladesh. They probably do not realise that Mr Golam is a political personality who had worked against the creation of Bangladesh but Father Timm is a non-politieal person who has lived in Bangladesh for the last 40 years has always served the cause of humanity in Bang ladcsh. Whenever he heard of any distress or during any natural calamity he had rushed to the people's side irres peettve of cast, creed, religion to share their sorrow and help mitigate their sufferings. Father Timm has always tried to help Ihe oppressed and de prived, by reporting mis deeds
with a view lo attracting I he attention of the authorities so that help and Justice can reach those who require IL He had risked his life many a time ■during the Liberation War. He has tost two of his colleagues Fr Richard Novak and Fr Evans who were both well known for their service to the poor and oppressed and were therefore perhaps killed by the Pakistani forces. But the death of two of hfs colleagues could not stop Fr Timm from upholding the Just cause.
Father Timm's contribution towards our country's education and sports Is also very significant. I Just hope thal the innocent people of our country will not be misled by the vested quarters. May the Almighty forgive those who tried to stain the portrait of a man who has forsaken the earthly pleasures and has devoted h1s life for the people of Bangladesh.
A Bangladeshi
Their excellencies?
Sir, They came, they played conquered the hearts of Bangladeshis Regardless of their domain of representation, Ambassadors In Sports (AIS) — a London-based mul linattonal football team — Impressed local sports maniacs In Dhaka recently.
Their manoeuvres on and off field have certainly worked wonders to those who confronted or cooperated with them, as they play their ambassadorial game right.
Mottowisc, it Is not merely football they are out lo promote, It is a message they arc trying lo get across — a universal message about sports and beyond.
Never mind the odds, their interactions In specially brightened dark did tighten the knots of multinational ties. Sporting diplomacy, of course; Ambassadors Extraordinary!
M Rahman
Ztla School Road. Mymen slngh
Upgrading the BRRI
Sir, The Bangladesh River Research Institute appears lo be doing a fine job. according to recent press reports. It Is undertaking research assign ments for clients abroad, and thereby earning foreign exchange.
There arc very few organ! sations of this type in this part of the world. BRRI could possibly undertake research work for or In other developing countries in Asia, if 1t be upgraded to the status of a regional agency, duly supported by UN nnd other International bodies.
Rightly, this Institution is
located la one of llw largest deltaic regions of the world. Therefore the scope and activities of BRRI should match the huge dimensions of the topography of the area (for example, two billion tons of silt carried annually); not to speak of the devastating cyclones and tidal surges, on which more data are needed. The association /collaboration of similar agencies in the Amazon and Nile deltas might minimise duplicate R&D activities.
A Mawaz Dhaka
Rashdi comes home!
Sir, A pleasant surprise Indeed to find a profile of Mumtaz Rashdl In your boxed column Dhaka Day by Day. Rabat Fahmlda'B frief Interview with the visiting lady has the focus on the latter's preoccupation with social work in Sind, the homestead of her husband. late Peer AH Rashdl the write-up also touches at her Interest in archaeology, her association with newspai pers, her fondness for her grand children and her relationship with our great Shcr-e Bangla
But what Rabat Fahmtda has missed to mention Is Mumtaz Rashdl s contribution to the cultural activities In Dhaka. In the early 50 s Mumtaz Rashdl was a student of the
Department of English at Dhaka University and was popularly known as Lily Khan. In those days when the fervour for the new (angled Islamic state of Pakistan «ai quite fresh and strong Mumtaz Uly Khan was one of the three girls who broke the traditional taboo for co-acting on a public stage. I do remember having witnessed one such play— Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," which was staged at the Mahbub Alt Institute In the railway yard.
Mumtaz Uly Khan played the role of Nerlssa while Munimunnessa and Nadera Chowdhury portrayed the characters of Portia' and Jessica respectively
In the male characters Abdul Matin and Sayeed Ahmed were among others
Shaheed Munier Chowdhury was also associated with the production of the play Though an English play, the staging of it was a break-through in the history of our dramatic performance for many reaaons
A reference to Mumtaz Uly Khan s cultural activities as a student could make your Item more interesting. If asked. Mumtaz Uly Khan. I believe could tell a fol about it.
N.M
Rqjshahi University