PM's live question and answer

Sir, Thanks to the Prime Minister for her excellent and unique appearance before people after her 100 days with the state power. Enthusiasms and expectations were high regarding this programme, but 1 am sorry to say that it was in most part unrealised. Despite all its deficiencies, we should try to find out some positive things from this session.

There were a lot of questions from both outside over telephone and inside by the selected Soests, present at the venue. A uestlon that found up to the mark was from Mr. Atiar Rahman. economist. While questioning to the Prime Minister he reminded her election pledge to get rid of country from terrorism. In a similar question answer session arranged by BTV before 12 June election she pronounced her pledge. He cited activity of caretaker government on close monitoring, on the actions that were being taken against the terrorists by the advisers to Mr. Habibur Rahman. He emphasised by asking the Prime Minister

whether her government has any semblance activity by ministers other than home minister in a coordinated way to monitor actions against terrorists. We think this should be followed as a regular practice by the cabinet.

Bose Asoke Kumar Howie # 413. Road It 10 Block-B, Chandgaon R/A Chittagong 4212

Water-logging in the city

Sir, Water-logging in Shan-tinagar. Kakrail. Bijoynagar and other parts of the city is causing Immense suffering for the people of those areas. The main cause of this water-logging is 'not to clear' the drains in these areas and removed the garbage by the conservancy department of the City Corporation for more than last 18 months. Previously the drains used to be cleaned and the garbage used to be remove regularly. Before the onset of the monsoon all garbage accumulated in the drains were cleaned and the accumulated garbage in

the drains were taken out and removed by the City Corporation trucks. Officers of the conservancy department of the corporation used to supervise the drain cleaning works. The fornfer Mayor also used to visit different areas of the city to see the work done by the conser-vancy department of the City Corporation. But with the present Mayor of the City Coipora-tion the position is very different.

The Mayor of the City Corporation has failed to make the Chief Conservancy Officer of the City Corporation and other staff of the City Conservancy Department, particularly those who are responsible for cleaning the drains and removing garbage from Zone-4 of the City Corporation, to do their job.

Unfortunately, the Mayor is now trying to evade his responsibility and his failure to keep the city in a habitable condition by taking the plea that, as the WASA has not been able to complete construction of the "Box Culvert", due to a mosque in Faklrerpool road, the drainage of storm water has been blocked. This plea Is totally wrong and untenable.

I think it would be a step forward in the right direction if the Mayor does place the conservancy department of the City Coiporation under the control and management of a "dynamic" person who would be hard-working and capable of making all other officers and staff to discharge their duties and responsibilities efficiently and honestly and to clean the drains by removing the accumulated garbage and sludge which were created due to nedl-gency for a long time after the present Mayor took charge.

I think the Mayor should occasionally come out of his air-conditioned office In the Nagar Bhaban and visit the city as his predecessors used to do. I would request the Mayor to see the condition of the drains to the south and west of the Pioneer Credit Society office in Bijoynagar and take action against the staff whose negligence of duty has created this condition. The sludge accumulated on the roads should also be removed without delay.

Abul Kasem

Kakrail. Dhaka