Correction

Sir, Ain-o-Salish Kendra (ASK) would like to clarify the following information in your editorial entitled "Workers in Malaysia" published on 25 December. No member of Ain-o-Salish Kendra had gone to Malaysia under the leadership of any other organisation. We were present at the press conference held on 23 December because ASK. as a human rights organisation, has worked for the last nine years to project the problems of migrant workers and for the last two years has provided legal support to migrant workers in Malaysia and advocated for more protective policies.

Dr Hameeda Hossain Ain-o-Sallsh Kendra. Dhaka.

II

Sir. 1 greatly appreciate the editorial on December 25 on our High Commission in Malaysia. I would like to make a correction. Naripokkho and Ain-o-Salish Kendra did not send a monitoring team to Malaysia as was mentioned in your editorial.

Nasreen Huq

Member. Naripokkho. Dhaka

Cost of traffic jam in Dhaka

Sir. Traffic jam in Dhaka city costs Tk 1600 million every year. Astonished? Well yes. it is true. Dhaka Integrated Transportation Survey report published by the UNDP says, the working hours lost during the time of traffic Jam is equivalent to 1600 million taka each year.

We are throwing away Tk 16 billion every ten years! Isn't it a great loss? Can we let this continue?

Nadim Ahmed

Pallobi. Mirpur, Dhaka

Guest birds

Sir. There are a few sanctuaries left in our country for those birds who by nature fly hundreds of thousands of miles away from their own land to

keep themselves alive. Usually by crossing long distances they use up their fats and become slim.

To protect them from hunters, mankind has made law: and to protect their sanctuaries for ecological reason, campaigns are being launched every year.

Centring Feni Regulator and Closure in Muhuri Irrigation Project, there is a big reservoir fit for birds. Every winter since building of the reservoir, birds from different countries take refuge. A lot of people from many regions are honest spectators of different kind of birds.

This year the picture is different since a hunter and his buddies stationing at the rest house are very often killing this innocent guests. As a result, scared by his gun shots birds have deserted this place. This hunter works with a donor agency which should be a supporter of ecological con-

We really, feel concerned at this behaviour.

Bose Asoke Kumar

House #413. Road # 10 Block -B. Chandgaon R/A Chittagong

Private sector insurance companies

Sir. It is reported that general insurance companies in the private sector are doing good business. The policy buyers are paying a high rate of premium for covering the risk of their goods and establishments. But very often they are complaining that they are not getting the actual compensation money in case of accidents and damages.

While assessing the damage, the surveyors allegedly always try to lower the compensation money on the plea of non-compliance of the required conditionalities. One of the owners of a cold storage told me that insulation is a part of the machinery In the cold storage. In case of any crack down or collapse in the wall of cold storage, the insulation will automatically be damaged. But the surveyor of the company is not treating the

same as machinery break down' and the owner Is helplessly trying to make the surveyor understand it.

The buyers of the policies complained that company representatives never tell them about warranties. They buy the policies hoping that the . compensation money will be paid In time of need. Not only that, it takes a lot of time to complete a case. As a result the businessmen and industrialists who claim for compensation money remain waiting for decision for months. The Controller of Insurance simply writes to dispose of the case, as and when the office receive any complain of delay. The Controller should fix a timeframe for payment in case of any accident. This should be done for the greater interest of industrialisation.

Mahbubul Haque Chowdhury 153. Lake Circus

Kalabagan. Dhaka

Observance of heroic days

Sir, The Silver Jubilee of the independence was observed throughout the country with great pomp, enthusiasm and spirit. On this occasion, various political, cultural, social organisations — Including Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar — arranged discussion meetings, cultural functions and other programmes highlighting the theme and facts of our Liberation War.

By attending and paying attention to some of them we. the new generation, not only got pleasure but could also know the real history of our freedom struggle which had been either hidden or presented before us with distortions.

We feel proud that we are the progeny of a heroic people. We nope that every year our national days of heroic importance would be observed in the same befitting manner so that we can learn the real aspects of our nation and the Liberation War.

Afsana Chowdhury Emy S S Road. StraJganJ