Culinary habit

Sir, It is high time we changed our food habit. But more Important. We feel, is the matter how we should preserve and obtain maximum utility from the available food items. Much of the food value of ouf items of food wears away when they are processed. This Is a dismal picture and an appalling loss. We cannot afford such a waste. As such, it is Imperative for us to evolve specific recipes so that we can get nutrients from our food Items. Loss of chlorophyll and other nutriments is colossal.

Besides, our palate is inured to savoury and flavoured food which Is often overfrizzled over spiced and over cooked. Though relishing, tn most cases, they do not possess enough nutrients for us. By the time these foods are served, much of their nutritive value becomes diminished. A little savvy can prevent such an enormous loss. We have a surfeit of value diminished food and, sadly enough. Our palate is loth to taste food other than the tasty and dainty ones. Despite being a pleasure for the palate of the gourmet, ft is often found that such items of food are not wholesome and nutritive.

In fact, food ingredients with necessary nutrients are galore around us, and they are within the means of common people. Knowledge of nutrition can only change our attitude to food. But then we have instances of other people. For example, the Japanese, instead of concentrating on a few staples, are eating wide variety of nutritive things with remarkable improvement of their health index. These are not often or necessarily savoury foods. They are taken for health rather than for pleasing the palate. Change In their food habit is worth emulating. Of course, we should also develop our own cuisine keeping in view the regimen of health. Above all, at the present moment, a new recipe for cooking has be come necessary in view of our deplorable health condition.

Golam Nabi, Nasirabad. Chittagong

GDP

Sir, From time to time we hear conflicting reports from different sources about the economic growth, GDP and per capita Income of Bangladesh.

Through the column of your esteemed dally we would re-

quest the concerned officials In the Ministry of Finance and the Bureau of Statistic in particular and the economists of our country in general to kindly enlighten us on the subject matter and also let us know as to how they work out the economic growth, GDP, per capita Income and the rate of rural and urban Inflation In our country.

O H Kabir Dhaka-1203

Labour front and political parties

Sir, I refer to your editorial of 18th April, "Go Public on SKOP Demands". While fully agreeing with the main theme 1 wish to say a few words regarding the position of the political parties In this matter. It is expedient that political parties appease power bases like organized labour fronts. When the mute majority look on with dismay the parties continue to Ignore the welfare and long term prospects of the country. It seems they do not believe in the future, neither theirs nor the country's.

AL like BNP has the support of say, about 42% of the voting public. During the earlier programme of the SKOP, AL took into consideration the

feelings of the popular support base rather than the political muscle-power. AL should be more careful about its future steps because of recent government measures in connection with the 26th March and the Pahela Balshakh functions.

MA Haq

Green Road, Dhaka

Black smokes

Sir, The Bangladesh Society for Conservation of Environment (BSCE) has yet to set-up its own office and necessary facilities for conducting various scientific examinations for detecting environmental pollutants. In the mean time, the BSCE requested those institutions which have facilities to conduct a chemical examination of air of Dhaka city. Due to irrational release of smokes from the vehicles and factories, it seems that the percentage of certain harmful gases In air of Dhaka has increased or crossed the acceptable level. The BSCE appealed to the relevant departments to adopt drastic measures for controlling release of black smokes from the vehicles and factories.

M Zahidul Haque

Press and Publicity Secretary. BSCE Dhaka