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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. ***
ECNEC and government publicity
Sir, The ECNEC meet perl odlcally and sanction a number of development projects. The press release which follows contains a few lines of the names of the projects only, and a longer list of those who attended. It Is like offering half a glass of water to a thirsty person who needs two full glasses
This news Is not followed up during the following weeks with. more pertinent details of each project, for the Informa tion of the public. Some projects are on-going, but some are new. Follow-up background Information on projects may be released by the Planning Commission or the Ministries concerned, written 1n simple language, and Illustrated. If possible
These project write-ups have to be In Journalistic style to sustain the Interest of the readers, who are mostly lay men. A rehash of the project document or academic papers are not required, as these make dry reading. Data may be obtained from the Internal progress and monitoring reports.
The problem Is that the government publicity machine is engaged In day-to-day catering of VIP activities. Still, there la enough time left for short term and long-term routine releases In specific fields, presenting an over-all picture of the development activities.
The output of govt PR appears to be low, and largely Ir relevant. In spite of the fact that there are publicity officials attached to each Mlnis-try/DIvIs1on. The press has to be fed constantly and regularly
to build up a reader-friendly image of the popular government.
Photographs and charts and graphs are not enough. There are no "illustrators" in the service for free hand drawings and sketches of men or ma chlnery, and graphical representation of systems (as we see In NASA reports, although many of these are computer simulations — not an Impossibility in Bangladesh).
There are several vertical levels of mass media targets, which need different fare prepared by specialists in PID. The government PR has to be updated and modernised, and Its output greatly increased to feed the 40 million active adults in the country (inclu ding the Illiterates).
A Mawaz
Dhaka
Pray, Don't Build Villages'
Sir, I am sorry, that 1 beg to differ with the views ex pressed In your editorial "Pray, Don't Build Villages" of 18th August. You concluded by suggesting that measures be taken first to see that no one any-
more becomes homeless and then to help the homeless to go back to their own non-mode! habitat and begin life anew under a roof. This 1s a good suggestion for those who become homeless due to flood or cyclone. But is it possible for those who become homeless due to river erosion? Wc arc living in a countiy where several hundred dwelling houses, nay. villages get washed away rendering several thousands of families homeless each year. They cannot be managed to go back to their non-model habitat. River erosion has been Increasing float Ing population in the towns and cities every year. This also has been increasing beggars problem In the country.
Should not these people be rehabilitated In new locations? Let us not call these new foca tlons model villages' or cluster villages' but let there be new villages where Khash lands are available Since we have not much Khash land in Bangladesh the Govt should be well advised to reserve what ever khashland is available for leasing to the people uprooted due to river erosion. Even this may not be sufficient Govt may acquire land for settling these
uprooted people. There is no harm if a good thing done by the Ershadian autocracy is copied. The cluster villages may not be el-doradocs but they should be helped to exist. Gulam Kabir
Juarshara. Dhaka
Public servants
Sir, It is really shocking to note that recently a camera crew of BTV while on duty was attacked by some angry political activists which caused Injury to some crew members and damage to a costly TV camera.
Such attack Is a con demnable act and is not ex pected to be done by people who believe in democratic values and process. It Is to be kept tn mind that all the govt employees are the servants of the republic and while on duty they serve the country's interest Now a BNP govt ts manag Ing the state affairs When Its tenure will be over, they will be re placed or re-appointed through election. But majority of the govt employees will re main the same and the new govt will have to work with them Hence, no political party
should brand the govt staff by any party seal or cause any harm to their smooth discharging of duties. They are the neutral public servant, controlled by the Republic's Constitution and general rules and regulation?.
M Zahtdul Haque Assistant Professor. Bangladesh Agricultural College, Dhaka
Coincidence!
Sir, September 5. 1992. I opened my Daily Star, and after the main story (Two more DU boys fall") the caption that caught my attention by Its hallucinogenic quality was "BNP has rehabilitated AL into politics: Hpda". With faint but mounting nausea 1 read the beginning of thia latest salvo, the Information Minister's disinformation campaign. I then turned over the paper for the conclusion (don't ask me why — I suppose to see what limits absurdity cam reach), and in trying to locate the continuation. found. In bold letters, the caption "Gas project".
How appropriate. I thought Abed Dahl
Dhakn