District quota

Sir. I disagree with the views of 'Analyst' on doing away with quota system, published in your issue of 29tlijune. 1995.

Quota system was introduced to ensure equitable representation of different areas of the country in the services. The then East Pakistan was the main beneficiary of the system. Now a completely different argument is being advanced for the same area now constituting Bangladesh.

While the .Analyst' argues for abolition of district quota for the sake of merit, at the same time he advocates raising of women s quota from existing 15 per cent to JO per cent. That seems to be a paradox. It is only fair that all areas of the country sixMild have equitable representation in services for smooth national integration.

At the moment we find the domination of three/four districts in the services. And this tendency is perpet uating.

1 personally feel that quota system in Pakistan time was fair and just In that system merit quota was 20 per cent and the rest was regional quota. In the interest of justice and fairplay we sitould revert to that

If the .Analyst' pleads for raising of women's quota on the ground that deprivation of women is very severe

in Bangladesh, the same argument is applicable to many areas and districts of the country.

The Analyst' argues that district quota has lost its old meaning in view of the increase of the number of districts from 21 to (n. This problem can be solved by fixing quota for the ar eas comprising the old districts such as greater Dinajpur. greater Bogra or greater Faridpur.

However, 1 subscribe to tlx- views of the Analyst' that there should be no freedom fighters' quota since there are no more freedom fighters of eligible age after 25 years of independence.

1, therefore, urge our (abinet and the Parliament to fix the merit quota at no more than 20 per cent and the rest 80 per cent on regional basis for the old districts.

Saleh Ahmed Chowdhury Dhaka Cantt.. Dhaka

English medium students

Sir, 1 would like to draw your al tention tow ards some of the students from English medium schools who after passing O' and A levels see their future bleak.

After finishing the course the sm dents endeavour to get admission in focal educational institutions But

the authorities of the concerned institutions keep on importuning for high grades whereas countries like IS, UK etc are accepting students even with lower grades compared to ours. Therefore, most of the students are preferring foreign educational insti nitions. Huge amount of foreign currency is also going out of the country.

Some of our parents can't afford this. With no alternative some of the students are still keen to study here but they face obstructions as stated above. This must be removed to facilitate prosecution of their studies in the country.

Many of the students after taking degrees are going abroad and so a part of our talent is lost to the country. Does die government want all this talent to keep on leaving the country? Of course not And that's whv also the above obstacles must go.

FUboI

An Advanced level student Iftako

Self-billing system

Sir Years bac k self billing system was introduced in Dhaka region by the PDH to provide relief to the con sumersof electricity against constant harassment and often biai kmailing by corrupt meter readers/ inspectors some PDH meter readers used to give

spurious, infiak-d and irregular bills to die honest consumers who alkgedly did not satisfy' them.

In Uttara Model Town we have been paying electric bills under selfbilling system regularly . But a few days back the DESA officials have informed us dut the self billing system is being withdrawn and computerized system is being introduced for billing purpose.

The question is: the computer does not work by itself. It will be fed by the same category of officials of DESA. and again spurious and in dated hills may start coming

The electricity consumers of Uttara Model Town are, therefore, alarmed at the DESA's move to with draw seif billing system This move seems to be Ill-conceived and counter productive, if not ill inten Honed.

The proposed system may give nse to more < orruption and nsuk in a bigger system loss as the sow ailed corrupt meter readers/lnspectors mas again tamper with meters of the consumers in exc hangr of alleged gratifications

Wt urge upon the DESA and also others concerned tn retain the self billing vvstrm and spare the honr« < onsumets tn mi further harawsna is

A retired Joint Ser ret ary

inflow of graduate engineers from such countries as Bangladesh, India. Sri Lanka and Pakistan will add to the wealth of that country.

Although the possibility is quite remote, we can expect against all odds that this emigration syndrome might some day usher in an era of prosperity for our < ountry The initial positive effect w ill be thalthe remit tances of these emigres from abroad will help to support the people and the economy back home in the most turbulent period we are i K >w passing through. Most important with the re forms taking roots in the country , many of the emigrants will themselves came back home after a period of stay in the west, bringing back with them expertise, new skills, money and knowledge. This treasure of knowledge that they will carry may help enrich the faltering economy of the country.

Like Italians in the 60 s and Koreans in the 70's they will use < ape tai and experience gained abroad to re vitalise the economy, establish new business and trades at honw as well as help in re structuring tlx edu cational programmes of schools, colleges and universities within the country after the model of the standard colleges and universities abroad