***Letters for publication in these columns should be addressed to the Editor and legibly written or typed ivith 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.r•. • ■ • ~***

UN Security Council

Sir, The First World War produced the League of Nations which .embodied -the then American President Wilson's efforts to bring idealism to bear upon practical politics. But the idealism vanished into thin air before the selfish considerations of individualistic diplomacy.

During World War II. a vast majority of countries realised the necessity to live as one family, in a single "world state", where all nations may dwell together in peace and amity. It is this ideal which gave birth to the United Nations Organisation.

The UN has six main organs, of which the Security Council Is the most vital having to deal with the’ primary responsibility for the maintenance of International peace and security. The Security Council then consisted of five permanent members and six non-permanent members.

But. after the passage of about half a century, and with the occurrence of an entire global convulsion in ideals and ideology, in political scenario, economic muscle, social order, a move by majority of states is under way for expansion of the out-dated and worn-opt composition of the Security Council. Instead of 15-member Security Council, a vast section of the member states has emphasised that the number of members may be raised up to 25. Some have proposed that In place of 5-permanent members. the number be raised to 7 and that one permanent seat each be allotted to- a certain geographical region. Several factors have to be taken Into consideration for the inclusion as permanent members. The vital criteria for the Council membership are. major contributions to the peace-keeping muscle, financial contributions. population and terrlto-

rial size, economic potential, regional Importance, efficient internal organisation, geopolitical situation, military capability and cultural contribution etc.

' In our view, apart from increasing the size of the Security Council, the system of permanent members be done away with and they should be treated on equal footing: The veto system should be dispensed with and instead, the members should cast & vote each for or against an SC Resolution and proposal over critical issue, posing a threat to intemational/regional/geopo-litical peace and such tangle as cannot be solved by bilat-eral/trilateral dialogue. The United Nations Resolutions shall prevail and supersede any bilateral pact/agreement in case of Its failure to reach a solution. The Security Council ' should also set in motion for solution of any Irritant between . two/three counties. The number of non-permanent members should also be-Increased to double the present size.

NH Sufi Dhaka

'Baridhara J Block'

Sir. The letter of Mr Moinuddin Choudhury (The Dally Star. 22nd Jan) speaks the mind of all allottees and raises question about our system. The hon'ble minister had earlier made similar commitment in the parliament. We learned from press reports that there is a parliamentary sub-committee to deal ivith this problem'. Some reports also hinted that the personal Interest of a VIP was creating obstruction in the path of the Parliament, the minister, the Rajuk and others to find a solu tiorr. These are all surmises, from tld-blts appearing here and there, and we are at a loss to understand the correct sit-

uation. The system provides no one to account for the agony of the frustrated allottees. As it seems, it is so easy to get away with any misdeed or whim!

An allottee Dhaka

Eligibility for CMH

Sir. Combined Military Hospitals in different cantonments. are. reasonably, good hospitals. Apart from members of. the armed forces, officers and staff of the Ministry of Defence. , Military Engineering Services who are civilians and all Secretaries to the government are also entitled to treatment in CMH. But it is an irony of fate that people who are working inside the cantonment area directly with the mem-, bers of the armed forces such as officers and staff of Military Estate Office. Directorate of Military Lands and Cantts and Cantt Boards are not entitled to treatment in CMH. Number of this category of people is very limited but they have to go outside for treatment.

May I. therefore, request the Chief of Army Staff and Honourable Defence Minister to look- into, the matter and kindly entitle these people to CMH treatment.

Tanveer Hussain Dhaka Cantt. Dhaka

UN agencies' summit in Dhaka

. Sir, it is heartening to learn that the heads of UNDP. UNICEF, UNFA., WFP and IFAD are going to meet in Dhaka. February 6-8. to exchange views and to review their ongoing programmes and future policies and matters relating to human resources development, poverty alleviation, health and family planning and women In development etc.

This is the first summit of the UN Joint Consultative Group on Policy (JCGP) comprised of heads of UN agencies which Is going to be held out side New York or Rome where they meet annually.

The selection of a new venue by the UN agencies for holding their summit in Dhaka for examination. collaboration and coordination of their worldwide activities is a tribute to the political stability and establishment of democratic government in the country as well as Bangladesh's growing importance both in regional and international affairs.

We wish the UN agencies' summit in histpric Dhaka city all success.

OH Kabir Dhaka-1203

Important projects

Sir, I would like to suggest a very viable and nationally important project. We earn a very substantial amount of foreign exchange from the .export of garments. Unfortunately, much of the foreign currency earned by this industry goes out of the country for the purchase of yarn, textiles and accessories. We must plan to produce these materials within the country to stop the exodus of hard earned foreign currency.

A broad-based plan must be drawn up to keep our earnings within the country. I am sure. Bangladeshi entrepreneurs will easily see the prospects and come forward to take part in these nationally viable and Important projects, such as textile mills, yarn, spinning and weaving mills, dye and chemical plants as well as accessory manufacturing. These plants should ideally be dispersed all over the country In-order'that the entire country benefits from the development. Small spinning and weaving factories may be planned as cottage industries. Foreign Investment together with knowhow can participate in these ventures for mutual gain Undoubtedly, for all the above projects the involved personnel would have to be trained. Each project should therefore Integrate a training aspect so that' local personnel would be ready to take over when the project Is ready to take off

Zahur Hossein

Dhaka