& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

To the Editor...
"Clamping the joints"
Sir, In your above-captioned editorial (21 Jan. '97) praise has been unduly showered when the opposite would have been more appropriate.
For quite some time. RAJUK has been barking up the wrong tree. Practicing architects, engineers. and consulting firms are duly registered with their own professional bodies — In-stitute of Architects. Bangladesh (IAB). Institute of Engineers. Bangladesh (IEB), Bangladesh Association of Consulting Engineers (BACE). In addition, many are registered with other international organisations — ADB, WB. etc.
For long it had been required that registered archi-tects/engineers sign/seal and certify drawings for approval by RAJUK. For authentication. RAJUK could have a copy of all registered practicing profes-slonals/flrms. from their respective Institutes/Asso-ciations. and it would have been considered that RAJUK's actions are well intended. 1 am not sure if RAJUK has the authority or competence to make such enlistment for public/private buildings other than Its own. All professionals and firms/organisations should condemn such action by RAJUK.
Before pointing in the wrong direction. I wish RAJUK had taken up a drive against constructions that are not according to their approved plan — that is something that can be seen! Why grope with the unseen? Has any building designed by registered archi-tects/engineers and constructed accordingly, collapsed? If not. then RAJUK's move is nothing but a red herring.
It would perhaps be more fruitful if Instead of looking down the pointed finger we look closely at the three fingers pointing inwardly — and then also the thumb sticking up at our nose, meaning the owners of illegally-constructed structures.
Munir Dhaka
Asian Highway
Sir. About three to four decades ago we came to know about Asian Highway project linking Europe with Asia from Turkey to Singapore through Iran, Afghanistan. Pakistan, India. Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand and Malaysia. The implementation of the project, however, remained dead-locked as the Burmese government did not like it.
For the first time during the
last six months since partition of India in 1947 and independence of our country in 1971, we have continuously been hearing that New Delhi has been constantly seeking from Dhaka road transit and Chittagong sea port facilities for carrying goods and commodities to its seven north-eastern states.
We feel that Asian Highway and transit facilities to India are two different and separate issues. We cannot juxtapose Asian Highway with transit facilities. Moreover. Aslan Highway is not a bilateral issue only between India and Bangladesh. It Is a matter of great socio-economic and political importance and significance for the entire South and South-east Asia. Further, due to unwanted political situation and insurgent activities in north-eastern Indian states. It is not advisable for Bangladesh to poke its nose in the internal affairs of India.
To our surprise, all on a sudden some interested quarters have changed and revised the original part of Asian Highway route from Pakistan-Indla-Bangladesh-Burma to Pak-istan-lndla-Bangladesh-Indla-Burma with a view to facilitating India carrying goods and commodities to its north-eastern states of India through Bangladesh territory. They
have started camouflaging and making us believe that the revised and changed route of Pakistan-India-Bangladesh-India-Burma in place of original route of Pakistan-India-Bangladesh-Burma of Asian Highway is best-suited to the interest of the region.
We strongly believe that obtrusion on original route of the Asian Highway is very much against the objectives of the Highway. We also feel that revised route is detrimental to the economic Interest, national security and sovereignty of our country.
We vehemently oppose the revised route but strongly support the original one. and demand its early Implementation.
If the countries of the region have any second thought on the original Asian Highway we would request the leaders and experts of the region to kindly hoid a meeting and workshop In Dhaka and to find out a permanent and common route acceptable and suitable for all concerned without any discrimination and grievance
OH Kabir
6 Hare Street.
Wart. Dhaka 1203