***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.

Respect for democracy

Sir. I voted for BNP during the last election because I thought this party had great respect for democracy — certainly more than Awami League whose records on this score have been very poor during their rule between 1972 and 1975. The other reason for my support for BNP was that I believed that this party was more nationalistic than any other al present tn the country. On both counts however 1, and like myself many others, are now having serious misgivings about BNP's intentions and ac tions. While we see BNP leaders including their ministers behaving Just as irresponsibly as their AL counterparts, the utterings of some of the ministers are astonishingly contradictory to their declared policies.

Before the election Begum Zia was widely known and acclaimed as a leader with firm principles and rigidly "uncompromising” on issues that she considered beneficial for the country. In practice, however, we find that she has been also compromising with unproductive elements of our society, even on very many unimportant issues, seemingly forgetting that she and her party had a clear mandate to rule this country for five years without submission to any threats, particularly the illogical ones. We also see the same ridiculous practices that we had been witnessing during the Ershad regime, such as the whole lot of ministers, apparently leaving all their ministerial work behind, travelling all the way to the airport using government transport and lining up these Just to say goodbye' to the Prime Minister when she goes pbroad. Such scenes are witnessed only in countries with autocratic governments.

Just two days after the recent Eld holidays when hundreds and thousands of people were returning to Dhaka from their country homes, the ferries on the Dhaka-Mawa road were withheld for three long hours Just because Prof. Badruddoza Chowdhuty was going to use them before anyone else. The ferries were stopped at 7 am and he did not turn up to use them until well after 10 am, causing enormous public inconvenience and hardship in this hot climate. What kind of democracy Is this where for a Deputy Leader of the House a whole mass of people — men, women and children — have to undergo such sufferings? We see that General Ershad and the erstwhile first lady have been sentenced to seven years imprisonment for "abuse of power". It is precisely due to this kind of things that people like-me switched support from AL lo BNP. If the government In power expects people to show respect for democracy. It should set an example first.

Coming now lo the other aspect of the BNP performance

‘ i.c. its nationalistic stance, the recent visit of the Communication Minister, Col Oli Ahmed. Bit Bikram, to our neighbouring country and the descriptions of his deliberations In India (including his astonishing disclosure about Narashima Rao's "surprise" at non-solutlon of the Farakka problem) are creating a strong Impression in the public mind that vis-a-vis India BNP Government's policy is failing the public expectation of this country. The comments about Ihe Jamaat MP's and Jamaat are also anything but complimentary or respectful to democratic practices.

Ehsanur Rahman. Mohammadpur, Dhaka

Sewerage charge of WASA

Sir, Dhaka WASA has laid sewerage line in New DOI IS Mohakhall. But this line has not been connected lo the main sewerage line and. as a result, the new Une has not been commissioned Inspite of this WASA has started billing the owners of the houses. This to simply unreasonable and unlawful. While WASA is not in a position to collect its lawful dues like waterbill due to alleged crockety and corruption of its staff, officers and management and its system loss is as high as 50%, its attempt to charge unlawful sewerage tax from new DOHS area is clearly an act of atrocity and abuse of monopoly.

1 therefore urge the relevant ministry to kindly inquire into the matter and restrain WASA from submitting unlawful sewerage bill to the property owners of new DOHS area.

Zaidi Ahmed JafrL Dhaka Cantonment

Save our environment

Sir, It appears fhat there Is lack of understanding and coordination of work among our Ministry of Commerce. Minist ry of Industries, Ministry of Information and Ministry of Forest and Environment.

BCIC under Ministry of Industries has proudly announced that it has exported 1339 MT newsprint and 2048 MT paper during eleven months of 1992 93 and during the corresponding period of 1991 92 It exported 1000 MT

newsprint and 3039 MT paper. Well done? Are we not striking axe on our own legs?

On the one hand we are propagating and spending crores of Taka on afforestation and on the other hand we are engaged In deforestation. We would be grateful if our Ministry of Industries and Ministry of Forest and Environment kindly let us know as to how many trees are required to be cut down or how many tons of wood are needed to produce a ton of newsprint or paper.

Why and what for are we exporting newsprint and paper?

We may produce newsprint and paper to meet our domestic requirement only. If necessary, we may Import these two Items but should not export newsprint and paper at the cost of our environment.

Would our Ministry of Industries. Ministry of

Commerce. Ministry of

Information and Ministry of Forest and Environment kindly come out with a Joint declare tion lo save our green trees and environment? Better late than never.

O I! Kabir. Dhaka1203