BTV and JS proceedings

Sir. The AL government deserves credit for introducing JS proceedings live on the BTV. It was a new attempt in Bangladesh that the people really accepted, although the role of BTV may be in question in showing the scenes neutrally.

BNP claimed it is not telecasting the proceedings in the manner it should. However, it was a very pragmatic step on the part of the government as well as the BTV to show the proceedings to the public. People are really knowing what the country's law makers are doing there. But people all on a sudden became disappointed when they found nothing in the 3rd session of this Parliament. It was really frustrating to deprive them from a good TV programme.

" Did the AL make any secret deal with BNP for the sake of taking back the latter in the Parliament? Whatever is the case, people want to see it back on the BTV as usual. I hope other readers will support my view and will make comment on it .

A Citizen

Chandgaon R/A. Chittagong

USA and subregional grouping Sir, Ms Robin Rahel. US Assistant Secretary for South

Asia is not a stranger in Bangladesh. She visited our country several times and won the heart of many people because of her amiable manners and friendly qualities.

Very recently she has successfully held a meeting in Dhaka with US ambassadors in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tashkent. Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenia.

Addressing a press conference at the end of her six-day visit to Dhaka. Robin Raphel said Dhaka was chosen for holding the US regional meet because not only the timing suited but Dhaka was increasing its focus in the arena of international politics. She further said that South Asia was strategically important for the United States, as it borders China and South East Asia besides being the home of nearly one-fifth of the world population. Robin Raphel also told the reporters that she considered the idea of sub-regional grouping among Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and eastern states of India as a good concept.

Ever-since the emergence of Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent country, Dhaka and Washington have been maintaining a very close and friendly relation for the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two countries wnicn, we hope, would be further strengthened in the years to come.

In fact. Bangladesh is a bridge between South Asia and South East Asia and Dhaka is also the gateway to China. Europe and America. The geo-political importance of Bangladesh cannot be overempathised.

While we appreciate some of the views of Robin Raphel on Dhaka, South Asia and South East Asia, we wonder what made her commit a diplomatic mistake by defending the formation of a sub-regional group-. ing interfering in the internal affairs of our country knowing fully-well that there are differences of opinion among our national leaders as well as among the members of SAARC countries on this issue. It appears that Robin Raphel lacks indepth knowledge and information about Indian hegemony.

We strongly feel that peace, progress and political stability in South Asia and South East Asia would ever remain incomplete and half-done without active participation of China. It is. therefore, imperative that side by side with India we should welcome and include China in the sub-regional grouping for the sake of check and balance of power, political and military accountability and transparency and welfare of peoples of all countries.

Oli Kabir

6. Hare Street. Wari. Dhaka 1203.

Bureaucracy

Sir. Our former Finance Minister Mr Saifur Rahman was an outspoken person. As a new minister in early 1991. he gave a very nice interview with The Daily Star. He said: "The less government is the best government and wherever there are control of bureaucracy, there are corruption. It is interesting that we are afraid of telling about corruption of our bureaucrats. We prefer to joke with shortcomings of them, although this is a life and death question of our nation."

The World Bank. IMF and the developed countries now very critical about this situation. They said very clearly to reduce the size and power of the bureaucracy. Please remember our ex-Finance Minister's opinion. But unfortunately, we do not understand the real problem. Our media is always in favour of bureaucracy. The press is always friendly to them. We know from our experience that due to easy access to the bureaucracy, the mediamen are their agents to locate mokkel from common people for clearing the files from bureaucrats

Let us tell loudly and very clearly that less government Is the best government.

M S Siddiqui

15, New Baily Road Dhaka 1000