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*** Letters for publication in' these columns should be addressed to the Editor and legibly written or typed with double space. For reasons of space, short letters are preferred, and all are subject to editing and cuts. Pseudonyms are accepted. However, all communications must bear the writer's real name, signature and address. ***
Tobacco, or health?
Sir, There are about one billion smokers in the world today. How many are there in Bangladesh? I don't know. Tobacco smoking is now generally accepted as the most important cause of premature death, and of much chronic ill health. In recent years, the habit has been increasing in many developing countries, fostered by ruthless marketing by the national and multinational companies.
Sadly. In Bangladesh (and in other developing countries), this will add a further burden of smoking-related disease to their already heavy burdens of communicable diseases and malnutrition. Cancers of eight sites are recognized as being caused by smoking —- lung cancer almost entirely and the others (upper respiratory, bladder. Eincreas. oesophagus, stomach, dney. leukaemia) to a substantial extent.
Six other potentially fatal diseases are also Judged to be caused by smoking: respiratory heart disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, stroke, pneumonia. aortic aneurysm and ischaemic heart disease.
In pregnancy, smoking in-
creases the risk of limb reduction defects, spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy and low birth weight. Not only does it place smokers at increased risk of disease and premature death, but it also poses a direct threat to the health of non-smokers who must breathe air polluted with smoke.
The overall hazard is sufficient to justify measures to prohibit or restrict smoking in public places and work places, and health education campaigns to discourage people from smoking in their homes. Also, strict legislation is nettled in regulation of the supply side (tobacco production, manufacture. promotion and sale) and restrictions on the demand side (smoker's habits). Quit smoking.
M Jahangir Alam
M Phil research fellow. DU and Mrs Khurshida Begum Rajuk UMS College. Dhaka-
Union Parishad
Complex
Sir, This refers to the photograph of a model of the above mentioned prominently dis-
played in the front page of your daily on January 19. 1997. It is indeed quite laudable that the government has decided to set up Union Parishad Complex in each union. As an architect. I was disappointed to see the photograph for the model of the design of the complex.
The design seems to be lacking of any innovative approach towards thoughtful making of spaces that is responsive to the vernacular context of rural Bangladesh rather it seems like a mere assemblage of two pucca buildings with two pitched roofs on top probably to pay a lip-service to vernacular architecture. Conceptually, it Is an excellent idea to have such complexes in all the unions that will nurture the growth of local level planning and brings various agencies involved in administration and development in one location. It is very important that the structure which houses these functions and area where it will be built have an appropriate design that incorporate necessary qualities of such civic complexes and has a reflection of our architectural tradition.
It is indeed a very serious task and I am hopeful our architects will be able to respond to such a task with creative solutions. In order to see such solutions it is Important to ask the architects to present their design schemes for consideration. This can take place if an open architectural competition
for the project with a jury comprising of eminent architects and persons from relevant disciplines is organised.
I would like to request the Prime Minister s office and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives to take initiatives for organising such a competition.
Saif UI Haque
House 22/1, Road 4, Dhanmondi. Dhaka-1205
Dental ward in
BIRDEM
Sir. Dr Ibrahim Diabetic As-sociation(BIRDEM) has come to stay as the most prestigious organisation and a burgeoning institution not only in Bangladesh, rather in this subcontinent and in the whole of Asia, having the most proficient physicians/surgeons. On top of this, there happens to be a robust and vigorous management composed of Director, the dynamic DG and the ever obliging Joint Director.
while in the outdoor section treatment is quite on the house, in the Indoor section, as usual, a patient has to pay for his/her treatment and surgery. There are numerous wards for almost all the faculties of health, barring Dental and ENT wards. The outdoor dental department is being managed by the Chief Dental Consultant, who is reputed to he one of the best in
Asia, rather of an international fame. He is attending his patients with a crusader's zeal and handling his job quite efficiently.
In dental faculty, in a number of complicated cases, a patient has to go through different stages, but unfortunately there is no dental ward for acute cases which require constant attention and treatment. We would, therefore, urge the Management of BIRDEM to set up a dental ward, to start with a modest 10 beds, where denturing. route canal processing, etc. can be carried out quite smoothly. This will go a long way and in the process, will make up a leeway in the interest of dental patients. There is also a non-paying ward with 68 beds where a patient is treated quite free including medicines, free beds, surgery etc.
N H Sufi
17/6-C. Tq/mahal Road Mohammadpur. Dhaka
Friendship bridge
Sir. The friendship bridge, near the Jatiya Sangsad. has been dismantled. a)l>eit a bailey one. barely a week before the opening of the Parliament The PWD (Public Works Depart ment) suddenly developed an uncanny sense of efficiency and timing for urgent repairs (physical and mechanical, not political) Bridges fall must rally In London, as we learnt in the primary school, while in
this country the dismantling of a small bridge causes political upheaval. The Hardinge bridge over Padma has been rendered out of date and useless in Bangladesh, as road traffic is getting heavier over the dry river bed below the bridge. We are an imaginative people, getting ideas from nowhere.
In contradiction, the Speaker laid on an inviting dinner for some opposition leaders, in an attempt to bridge the communication gap in the Jatiya Sangsad. Hasty PR (public relations) is going haywire. sending contradictory signals to the voters, the politicians. and the press corps.
The first volley was fired by the PM hinting by elections alter 90 days' absence. The return volley raised the stake to face a full general elections in 1997. The constitution battle is on. but the spirit of the democratic Constitution appears to have evaporated in the volatile atmosphere. and that too in the holy month of fasting.
We love public meetings, but there are no official places In the metropolis to hold the same This absence or denial cannot bridge the violation of such fundamental right When there is no consensus on the right place to gather together there Is great consistency on the right to differ What makes us tick? Governance hv dissent
A Zab'
Dhaka