***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.

Thank you, The Daily Star

Sir, Perhaps there could not be a greater gift to your esteemed readers than the Round Table’ discourses on the occasion of The Daily Star's second anniversary (DS 28.2.93). I share your optimism about the future of our country as well as The Daily Star, for that matter non-partisan journalism, despite painful lack of 'consensus' and unfortunate polarisation on narrow, political and personal considerations.

The admirers of your esteemed dally who can read between lines’ will certainly agree that The Dally Star has been playing the role of a true Fourth Estate’ It Is, however, misunderstood by certain quarters for obvious reasons.

For instance, when S M AU gave sincere advice to the leader of the Opposition to show more political wisdom, the General Secretary of her party rushed with a 'rejoinder' which was tactfully punished by publishing an unedited' version of it. Likewise, the pa per is also perhaps disliked by the ruling party for the daily's

occasional bitter doses.

By now It is amply clear that 'The Daily Star" is a newspaper with a difference and the persons who manned it are not to be daunted by official red-eyes.

The 'Round Table' discourses spotlighted on some burning Issues faced by the print media. The points raised by some of the top professionals may help the concerned quarters lo sort out some of the vexing problems. One thing has been clear from Ihc discourses that despite machinations of the "vested quarters', who are always ready to wedge a nail into the coflin of consensus’, a bold journalist can always find ways and means to ventilate the feelings of the people. Mahfuz Anant has pointed to "the new and rising public mood" which should apply not only to the professionals but also lo the concerned official quarters.

Incidentally, the presence of Kuldip Nayar, whom 1 am inclined lo describe as one of the boldest patriarch' of the Fourth Estate in the sub-conti-nenl, has enormously augmented the prestige of the Round Table . Il would be sheer bad luck, if, like the past, this time also the concerned quarters rhlss the true

spirit of the Round Table’s feed back, and, in their usual official rashness, ignore the remedial measures suggested, no doubt at greater future cost!

Abdul Kader

Purana Pallan. Dhaka

Card telephone

Sir, The Education Board office is one of the most im portant offices located in Dhaka. Many people use lo come here for their own purposes. But it is very shocking that till now the office docs not have any coin box or card telephone. Besides, many people live near the Board Office. If the Telephone Department fixed a card lelc-phone at the Board Office premises, then many would be benefited.

Board Office, Dhaka

Radio, TV

Sir, Radio and television are the two important media for the nation. But are they performing the 'job' or providing us with what they arc supposed lo? ,

Ershad occupied fifteen minutes for himself and ten minutes for his ministers in the news. And now, when the country Is enjoying a full democracy, the BTV still seems the same to us.

It was one of a demand of BNP to the Ershad government

to make Television and Radio autonomous. Now the BNP is In power and they arc using the BTV as it was used before except providing two or three minutes for the opposition. Il is not necessary for the ministers lo make the nation aware of what they arc doing. If they arc really doing something good, people will praise them and they can win their hearts. A Z Saiga!

Lalbagh, Dhaka

Lest we forget

Sir, It is a bounden duty of al! conscious citizens to honour Ihcir important leaders and make their activities known to the new generation. Very often we leave this thing al the hands of historians who ultimately put it up In their writings. But there are persons who did many good things but are not well remembered by the general public, Here in Bangladesh, some organisations and relatives of some of the Important personalities observe their birth and death anniversaries.

But some Important persons who also had contribution In the country's politics are not rememocred at all either at family or organisational level. I like to quote the names of some of them Mr Abdul Wahab Khan was Speaker of the then Pakistan Consttluenl Assembly; Mr Tamizuddin Khan was Speaker of former Pakistan. He filed case against the then Governor-General Mr Ghoiam Mohammad on constitutional point. Mr Mohammad Alt of

Bogra was Prime Minister of former Pakistan. His address at the United Nations was highly applauded. Mr Abu Hossain Sarker of Gatbandha was Chief Minister of former East Pakistan. His contributions towards the farmers were highly appreciated. Mr KhairaJ Hossain of Ntlphamari who was Agriculture Minister of former East Pakistan was very much dearer to the farmers. 3hah Abdul Hamid of Gaibandha was the first Speaker of Bangladesh parliament. There were many other personalities who contributed a lot tn the field of politics. But unfortunately these people arc not remembered by anybody.

Wc should discuss the life and activities of these people at least once a year so, that our next generation get acquainted with the same. There should be an organisation which will arrange discussion meeting on the unsung heroes.

Mahbubul I laque Chowdhury Sonali Bank. Head Office. Dhaka

Test scores

Sir. As a cricket lover I would congratulate Alan Border on his glorious attain ment. Total runwise he is certainly on top now. Sunil Gavaskar trails behind. That is what we see But. I for one, cannot ignore the mathematical Jugglery that strips the little master of hla position. Let us look at the picture this way :

Alan Border has crossed

Sunil Gavaskar's record of 10122 runs which he built over the years playing 125 tests. Border's 10161 runs come of 139 Tests which means Sunil played 14 tests less. Now. if we intend to make a comparison between the two, the number of Tests should be brought at par, even though hypothetically. Here the number of Tests should be at 125.

Taking his total runs of 10161 in 139 Tests Border averaged 73.10 runs which, if multiplied with 125 Tests his total runs would have been 9137.58. In that event he would have been at least 984.42 runs behind Gavaskar.

Likewise, if Gavaskar could play 139 Tests like Alan Border and taking the average runs of Ms 125 Tests, l.e. 80.97 runs, he would have scored 11255.66 runs when too, he would have led Alan Border by 1004.66 runs. And in fact a batsman of Gavaskar's excellence would have needed an Innings only to beat Border's figure of 10161. A Cry 30 runs would not have n a very big stake for the little master

Instead of comparing the two with so many variables it would be better to keep one's glory and achievements tied to his own time. Alan Border has perhaps something like this tn bls' mind. That's how he is not at all jubilant over his achievement. Both are Indeed great but not at all comparable

Kart Alauddin Ahmed Shuntinagar Dhaka