Weekly holiday

Sir, It Is very much obligatory for Muslims to follow Allah's Commandment as revealed in the Quran. The orders are very clear and with the Hadis which explains it there is " no room for any doubt or misgivings. Allah has, nowhere in Quran said that one should close on Fridays his activities In search of bread. Neither there is any order for Muslims to close his office on Fridays. On the . contrary in Surah Jumma there is positive order to suspend ■transactlons/actlvttied as soon as we hear, the call of Muazzln for Jumma prayer. In 9 and 10 Ayats of Surah Jumma Allah has categorically said (according to translation given by Allama Yusuf Alt) that "oh ye who believe I when the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the day of assembly) has-ten/rush earnestly to the remembrance of Allah and leave off/suspcnd business. That is best for you if ye but knew. And when the prayer is finished then may ye disperse through the land and seek bounty of Allah and celebrate the praise of Allah often (and without stint) that ye may prosper." ,What could be more clear than this? Then why do we clamour?

Why do we then make an issue of Friday as a weekly holiday to be Islamic? Are we not

flouting the instructions of Allah by declaring total holiday on Fridays and forgetting that In following Allah's Command there is good for us* had we known.

Sabbath Is a Jewish and Christian concept. According to Islam we do not believe In Sabbath. We in the third world cannot afford to make three days holiday in the field of tran-sctlon with outside world i.e. Friday. Saturday and Sunday or Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

I am sure all those who have read late S. M, All's views about the Weekly holiday in 'My World' and have followed letters on the same issue in these columns are convinced about the strong arguments in favour of Sunday as 'a weekly holiday. To my view,- anything which contradicts Allah's Command |s highly unlslamic. Let us like good Muslima suspend our activities from 12.30 to 2.30 pm for Jumma prayers and resume after prayers so that "we may prosper."

AMFQuadlr Dhaka-1207

Dhaka-W ashington ties

Sir, Eversince the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state the relations between Dhaka and Washington have been steadily

growing stronger. During the last 23 years the USA has always stood by the side of Bangladesh at times of crisis, natural calamities and need. She also provided us adequate aid and assistance for our economic development. We have also reciprocated the US goodwill and friendship tn one form or another the latest being when we rushed humanitarian aid to the flood affected people of the USA this year in whatever humble way we could within our limited resources.

Man is a social being, he can not live alone. So Is the case with the state. A state may turn Into a skeleton or get ruined If it is ostracised, boycotted or made secluded by other states. The development and prosperity of a modern state whether big or small, rich or poor depends on' Its contact, cooperation and friendship with other states. We need the friendship and cooperation of the USA as much equally as the USA needs our's for the mutual benefit of the peoples of our two countries on the basis of sovereign equality, indeed the Dhaka-Washington ties demonstrate the benefits of a strong partnership between our two countries. •

In a new world order, we feel that the US President Bill Clinton rightly realises the strategic importance of Bangladesh in South Asia. After

the establishment of denlocraUc government In our country, and in the midst of tug of war between India and Pakistan. Is it not true that Bangladesh has not only emerged as a balance of power of SAARC but also a bridge of friendship between South Asia and South East Asia? The geo-political Importance of Bangladesh today can neither be overemphasised nor overlooked.

We attach great importance to the recent visit of US Assistant Secretary of State Robin Lynn Raphe! to Dhaka. We hope she is now well aware of the sufferings of 40 million people of Bangladesh on account of unilateral withdrawal of water of the international river the Ganges by India. We are confident that as a super power the USA would use her good offices for the solution of the Ganges water sharing problem which Is a matter of life and death for Bangladesh, in the greater interest of peace, security and prosperity in Asia.

OHKabir Dhaka-1203

Operation clean-up

Sir. Why the operation cleanup of the government and semi-government agencies is being delayed; and topmost priority Is not being accorded? Only re-

cently the probing of PWD and Telecom have been taken up. with other utility services In the waiting list.

The people-backed BNP government is all the time boasting at public meetings that it was pledge-bound to clean up the administration and introduce good governance, and root out malpractices. But the action is snail-paced and cannot keep pace with the pious wishes. The public la getting frustrated at the unabated pace of corruption. nepotism. Indiscipline, malpractices and ^specially violence at all levels.

What specific programmes have been drawn up to clean up the administration? The master plan and the line of action should be explained to the public, to create confidence. Slow action saps credibility. Many no-action policies are not explained. creating misunderstanding and inviting adverse criticisms even from the well wishers of BNP. Simply talking does not change a chaotic situation. The proof of the pudding lies in the eating. Where Is the pudding of deterrence?

BNP has to explain very clearly the rote of student poll tics, specially in regard to the campus violence If the student front of the BNP is going to be

maintained and strengthened, then other political parties would follofe suit. Then it would make no sense to criticise the other parties, however indirectly or vaguely. It needs to be explained how and why the role of the BNP student politics is positive and not negative: BNP never talks critically about JCD and its rote partywise and at a. national level. Other parties can apply the same objectives. Vague accusations by any side do not cut any ice. Politics is the game of concealing the hidden objectives. The elephant's tusks are only shown. Nobody la footed.

Why the human system loss is not coming down, rapidly? 1t does not necessarily mean wholesale sacking. The rules and regulations are adequate for detection and punishment. Then why the go-slow policy? Unpleasant dedstons have to be faced and Implemented. There should be no compromise on possible foes of popularity. How does BNP propose to face this administrative challenge? Strictness to a virtue, not a vice when applied judfctoualy. and to not misused.

Let us see some fast aetton. and periodical reporting to the suffering eftisena, to whom the government is answerable

Alt/Zabr

Dhaka