Ixiokingback in anger
Sir. The new Saturday Literature section in The Daily Star is a good and badly needed diversion, and outlet, for our thinkers and intelligentsia, so long walloping for decades in the varieties of political experience la different field) — an over-spill from over-political, thanks to the masterly inactivity of our wise political leaders, who failed in their profession (statecraft) to keep themselves in power (or in the opposition) for the major period since the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
An empty brain is the devil s workshop: and many are past masters on how to keep it busy This shikwa (philosophical complaint) Is an attempt (futile?) to escape from the tyranny of political activism — a vicious circle of the face trying to catch the pigtail (remember Emerson?).
It Is time the top leaders of the society curtail the license (not freedom) bestowed benignly upon the political leaders to do what they like — and do not like. The general image about the state of politics, and about the state of political leadership, is not a secret, it is negative; and first-class- first.
These masters of the masses have not been able to help either others or themselves (In that order). The country is in a mess: and how far the cult of bipolarity is going to bring about a magical solution is anybody's guess: regardless of the virtual reality endlessly being liberated through the loudspeakers. There Is no life In black and white. Let there be a sign of life in the Literature page. Literature is the lesser evil — a book cannot talk back; so let the stargazers welcome it in the Star pages.
As for the composition of the Literature page, there are Great Expectations. Will the page be dominated by Sense and Sensibilities, or Pride and Prejudice? Will Desht English literature and Bengali literature be treated on 50:50 basis? or 30:70? The former is the window to the world Some good space has to be allotted to English translations from the best In our Bengali literature for the global village. Also some space to the non-English Nobel laureates, so that we can keep up with the times.
It Is hoped there will be sponsors tor talent-hunting.
and for spotlighting the landmarks in our literary land scape The writers will always be there, but where is the Critic culture? The politicians are keeping the nation so busy that there is hardly any time to stand and stare — meaning, the cultivation of creativeness is a spare-time activity.
Where Is the spare time, or the time to spare (from poli-ticsj?
A Stranger Dhaka
Golden streets of Dhaka
Sir. Are not the streets of Dhaka littered with gold? Round -the-year road construe tion and repair works, construction of bridges underground passes, demolition and rebuilding of Islands, road dig ging. carpeting and recarpeting are going on In full-swing without any break or halt.
What amount of public money have we spent on repair, maintenance and cleanliness of public thoroughfares, roads, streets and foot paths of Dhaka since 1947? Not less than Taka twenty-five thousand crore approximately Where has all the money gone? It is alleged that sub-standard of work and inferior quality of materials used in development works have helped the road contractors mint gold from the weak, dirty and damaged roads filled with hundreds of pot-holes.
Is it not true that many contractors. engineers, law enforcing personnel, hawkers, vendors and mas tans are earning crores from the streets of Dhaka?
Though we are a very poor country our small capital city roads are perhaps the costliest in the world.
OH Kabir
6. Hare Street
Wart Dhaka-1203
Animals? Fine; but what about humans?
Sir. From observing various incidents happening. I have got the feeling that we are indeed living in a very strange country where lives of the animals are more valuable than human beings
In the recent past, a number of tigers mysteriously died at Mirpur Zoo in Dhaka Prompt
action was taken to unravel ihe mystery, viscera report was prepared within a few days and it was confirmed that the animals died of poisoning The order was issued to take stern action against persons responsible for this crime.
On the other hand, almost everyday we hear news about human murders and other crimes. In most of the cases, investigation is very slow, and sometimes after a short 'time, investigation totally stopes. In some' other cases, where there is no doubt about who are the murderers or who are beh Ind it. no action is taken and they roam freely.
When there is doubt about an unnatural death, that It might be suicide or murder, utmost effort should be applied t o bring the truth to light. But we see the opposite — valuable time is wasted which may destroy important clues and even the viscera report could not be obtained after a very long period of time, and this could even happen in cases of very popular persons.
This Is disheartening and frightening. How can people expect justice if It goeti on like this?
Nur Jahan
East Nastrabad. Chittagong.
State of affaii in public offices
Sir. Thanks are due to Mr. Ahmed for his timely letter on the affairs In public offices as he wrote In The Dally Star on 2 December 1996. Here we would like to point out some more facte:
a) The office time Is from 8 am to 2:30 pm In Dhaka But if you visit offices, yo .i will find none of the officers < loing office in time. This Is our national loss In terms of "time economy.'
b) The other day. one minister returned to his residence from the airport due to delay of Blman fl ight
c) The personti who are known and reputed ;i* corrupted are Mill In public office*.
d) The last but i lot the feast point Is that we do not know the name of the minister who controls the administration
So. we urge the higher authorities to control the snake before It bites
M Alt
Rryshahl