Another monumental

handshake

Sir,'King Hussain of Jordan and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin shook hands with each other in Washington, in presence of the US President Bill Clinton, on 26th July 1994 after signing a declaration ending the 46-year state of war between the two countries.

Earlier, on 13th September 1993, the PLO Chairman Yasslr Arafat and the Israeli Premier, the two long-time enemies, shook hands with each other after signing the PLO-Israel peace accord in presence of US President Bill Clinton.

Hats off to the US President for the role he is playing in arbitrating various international problems peacefully. We wish him more such successes in future.

We believe that the success story of the US President Bill

Clinton would be completed and written in letters of gold when he proves that charity begins at home' and shakes hands with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

O H Kabir

Dhaka

Save Kahn — save architecture

Sir. The parliament building is the pinnacle of a nation's aspiration, achievement and dignity. Bangladesh has been blessed with a building, to hold this function, which truly portrays these attributes.

Bangladesh's National Assembly building by the famous architect Louis Isidore Kahn is considered a wonder in the field of modern architecture. All over the world, in architectural textbooks and journals, the name of Bangladesh appears whenever reference Is made to Kahn and his building. The building sym-

bolises our national pride and achievement. Tourists from all over the world come to see it. not to mention scores of people related to the field of architecture.

It is of utmost importance to uphold the general theme of this much talked about architecture. In the past years a number of buildings have been constructed, around the Assembly complex, which are not only conflicting with the scale of the project but also have rendered an extent of damage to the overall visual impact of this building. One such structure is the Shech Bhaban (irrigation building). Immediately opposite Manik Mia Avenue. The view of this building from the Parliament building plaza is not only disturbing but iy also gives an unwanted look amidst the sober and dignified atmosphere.

There are constructions going on all around the area — most of which do not conform

to the general tone of the precedent set by Louis Kahn. Now there is yet another structure to be built near the Manik Mia Avenue — the Jute geo-textile projects building. I wondef whether the plans for this building has ever been evaluated properly to see whether the architecture blends with the theme of the Assembly complex.

In order to preserve the visual and physical sanctity of any great work of architecture, the least we can do is to show some respect to its style and language (of architecture). Haphazard and unchecked de velopment. which do not blend with or complement the gen eral theme of the architecture, can only Increase chaos.

It is painful Indeed to see a masterpiece being degraded by our inconsideration and callousness. Louis Kahn s master plan for the Assembly complex also included the secretariat

buildings in the vacant land adjacent to the present Zia Udyan.

During the Ershad regime a scheme was taken up following the 'Guccha Gram' (cluster village) concept (!) to build the secretariat complex here, totally disregarding the famous architect's drawings.

If anything at all is to be built here it should conform with the original drawings of Louis Kahn

It is so very painstaking to build an architectural master piece such as our Parliament building It doesn t need complements from anybody. Just look at the building — and it II speak out for Itself. Yet the most remarkable and beautiful things are not very hard to de stroy —just be a bit ignorant or a bit inconsiderate and some one will do the job for you. — as they are doing right now on the Sangsad Bhaban complex!

We have to save our pride

We have to stand tall to save this architecture

Abu Sayeed Saleh

Deptt of Architecture

'Taslima Nasrecn Affair..."

Sir. I write to congratulate Ms Yasmeen Murshed. on her excellent piece of writing on Taslima Nasreen (Star 26 July) She may forgive me as at first I had the suspicion that, the writers name might be a । pseudonym — maybe a male in the garb of a female I The piece was Indeed so wellwrlt ten Please do not think this Is male chauvinism!

We entirely show what she says in the article. What we cannot do Is to write with such elegance, wit and accuracy of understanding

Our sincere appreciation once again

Abdul Haq Choudhury Jahangimnffar University Sauat Dhaka