Right to cross

Sir. Recently. I have come across a number of articles and ediloriais in The Dally Star regarding the traffic problems on Dhaka roads, ana ways and means lor its improvement. There has been many suggestions viz., construction of underpass. overpass, flyovers and road grills. But no one seem to have mentioned anything about surface pedestrian crossings, which are cheaper, practical and easier for the pedestrians. In advanced countries pedestrian crossing, or zebra crossings. as they are called, are available at regular intervals, tn many countries of the world pedestrians must cross the roads on the zebra crossings only. Those who are found crossing the roads anywhere else are fined. Pedestrians enjoy priority of crossing over the zebra crossings and as such the pedestrian crossings must remain free from any impediment. It is a serious offence if a car gets involved in an accident over a pedestrian crossing.

Divider grills may make it easier for a driver of an automobile to drive without crushing any pedestrian. It makes difficult for pedestrians (poor or rich alike) to cross a road. Imagine you are visiting any establishment on the eastern side

of the VIP Road (alias Kazi Nazrul Islam Road alias Mymeiisingh. Road) lor some matter anti then you have a small matter to attend to on the opposite (west) side and there is the road divider grill. Now your alternatives are: 1) you may walk, jump and leap all the way through whatever space is available on the footpath (or shall I say community urinal) up to the newly-constructed overbridge before the Farmgate crossover and in the same manner walk to your destination just opposite to the place ♦ from where you started; 2) take a baby-taxi and go to the Sonargaon Hotel circle and to your destination opposite to the place from where he started; and 3) if you are the one blessed with a private car do the same exercise.

What a difficult situation! Now visualise you are in London. Singapore or any other city of an advanced country, you merrily walk down the pavement to the nearest crossing and wait for the green signal for crossing if one is there, or else, look to your left and right, put your foot on the Z. and without any fear you cross the road. As long as you are on the Z. all cars must let you cross first.

The cheapest and easiest answer Is pedestrian zebra cross-

ings with or without signal lights and educating and motivating the drivers, their sahibs and tne rickshaw-pullers and all other drivers to let the pedestrians use their rights to cross first.

The Daily Star has started a new trend in journalism in this country by projecting so many Ills of the society and of our problematic city. It may as well Induce the authorities to introduce a number of zebra crossings with proper signal lights or yellow blinker lights and to motivate the motorists to honour the right of the pedestrians.

P G Muhammad

20 New Eskaton Road Dhaka

Nation needs good teachers

Sir. Recently HSC exam results were published and we were Introduced to some talented students, through the media, who have done very good In their exams.

But unfortunately. In their interviews none of them told that they aspired to be a peat teacher. Our country suffers from the lack of good teachers. They all preferred either to be a great engineer, doctor, arehi-tecl. lawyer, scientist and the like.

Nation needs good teachers

badlv. But Ilie number of good teachers are limited due lo lack of proper care. So. I think, talented students of today's general ion should lx- encouraged to IxTonte good teachers.

Mostafa Sahel Banani. Dhaka

Photograph in the background

Sir. Whenever the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issues a message on any occasion her pliotograph Is printed along with the photograph of the fa-ihw of the nation in the background. Maybe it is her own desire as she is the daughter of the father of the nation and now the Prime Minister of the coun-try. or it may be an act of sycophancy as it is overwhelmingly being done nowadays.

However, given the authority by herself to point out anyiliing absurd. I feel encouraged and not anyway audacious to mention that viewed by the eyes of a staunch follower of the father of the nation. I do not find It that good as it has lieen desired to be.

The photograph of Bansa-bandhu is well adjusted in the offices and venues relevant enough to fit the status of the treat leader lor placing him to the highest honour of the coun

try. It* doe* luM Mill Ils

dignity in ilir background of the photograph of the PM of the country or at a place where It should not be displayed.

The Bangabandhu Sheikh Miijibur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina are separate entities. The prime minister is very much temporary on the musical chair of the state power but the father of the nation is a permanent entity for ever. There Is no scope for anyone to put him below that status even if she is his daughter.

So. I feel it right to suggest that the PM may pose as the PM of the country and not as the daughter of the father of the nation officially The father of the nation should be kept above all controversy.

Abdul Latif Dhaka

Remembering 12 November

Sir. Long years have passed since the unforgettable tidal bore that devastated the coastal belt of the southern part of the country on November the 12 th 1 led a small team of medical personnel to the affected area soon after the catamMy What I uw is still vivid in my aas ary The land af the goMam peo-

ple where file was once tuil --1 pronu*e and beauty Inui a I.iikI ol devastation. Il had rendered a fertile and alluvial portion of Bangladesh cotn-plelelv Isirren. The magnitude of t ix disaster was unbearable to see People clustered around us with painful memory of the* ii rejiarable loas. unbearable separation, fathomless grief. We met few lucky grown-ups who survived after a total loss of the child population. The whole area had become the mass graveyard of countless brave sons who were born to fight against all odds and calamities.

The few who were spared to tell the tale were speechless, stunned with vacant expressions. What could they tell when life was without paaoton? The waves of the sea with whom they are associated so much, had not only swept away theft-near and dear ones but also has taken away their sense of feelings. On every 12th November since then 1 pray ailenUy to Allah the Almighty never to bestow mankind w«h any such calamity of unbearable magnitude. anywhere In future AnWi.

MRftbuf Hague

Head of the Defortreard of Sk*« AVD

Dhaka Medtraf CaMepe A Hospital