Traffic to and from Wari

Sir. The Berlin wall, constructed on the whims of a dictator now fallen from grace, on the west of Bangabhaban. was not torn down, as it should have been, after a new government came to power a year ago. Nevertheless. considering the pitiful condition of the residents of Wari. and of the hinterland of the old part of the city beyond it. authorities concerned are now constructing a road, parallel to the existing one on the eastern part of the children's park between Gulistan and Bangabhaban. for facile movement of traffic. But unless the buses are completely removed from Toyenbee Circular Road on the south of Bangabhaban stretching from the southernmost tip of RAJUK Avenue to the Ittefaq crossing and also from the small strip of Jaikali Mandir Road, the situation is unlikely to ease.

Day in and day out throughout the year, and even late into the night, buses, most of longdistance routes, are parked along that road — and occasionally on the centre of the road — in the presence of policemen on duty, causing enormous traffic congestion. Likewise, attention should also be given to the former Hardeo factory crossing where, unfortunately, a market far below the standard of the locality in which it is situated, is coming up. and is likely to convert the area Into one like the complex on the Fulbarla area known as Banga Bazar.

Unless the congestion at these points is nipped in the bud, life of the residents of Wari. once the cynosure of all eyes in the city of Dhaka, would become dreadful. As such, measures should be taken immediately before the new road, par-ailed to the existing one on the west of Bangabhaban. is opened as a public thoroughfare.

Quazt Arijfur Rahman 7/1 Hare Street Wari. Dhaka 1203

Bi-polarism

Sir, Due to strained relations with neighbour India since Partition, and again since 1975, the politicians have to carry out Initially a planned mass psychological campaign to orient the citizens to move towards empathy, before any regime in power can take the risk of signing any bilateral or regional development pact.

What is happening the public have noticed for the last one year after the new regime came into power; with the powerful opposition mounting a nonstop antl-lndlan propaganda. How are the citizens supposed to handle this bi-polarism in stand between the two major political parties? One must be transparent to the lay voter.

The question of putting the cart before the horse Is very much there, regardless of political one-sided assertions or denials. For establishing the rapport, the politicians have to play a pivotal role, based on consensus. What are they doing in this respect?

There is no other way Mudslinging is not a solution, only postponement of the issue. The way the present regime is acting (fast and non-transparent) on foreign affairs does not instill confidence in all shades of opinion. Bulldozing ahead may not pay dividend later.

The point of this letter is simple: tell us what is being done, and why; and how to implement it without consensus. There cannot be any division in foreign affairs.

A Husnain Dhaka.

Thanks for not "drinking"

Sir. Much has been written and is being written about the negative effects of smoking. However, the opinion written by "A Smoker" in the DS dated 14 th June made good reading.

Though 1 don't condone smoking. I agree completely with the writer that we do not hear much about the bad effects of drinking. Being a non-smoker and a teetotaller, I have felt the need for a non-alcoholic area in the departure lounge of our international airport. It seems some the departing passengers buy alcohol from the duty-free shop and immediately start consuming it much to chagrin of the other occupants of the lounge. Can't the authorities declare the non-smoking area non-alcoholic too?

Baseera AU Gulshan. Dhaka.

Friendship

Sir. From a book. 1 came to know the following things to be avoided to maintain friendship. These are very important for us. So I write them for all—

a) Avoid belittling or mocking someone, b) Refrain from taunting him and hurting his feelings, c) Refrain from using nicknames or titles that he/she hates, d) Avoid backbiting and spying on friends, e) Be humble and avoid snobbishness. f) Avoid attributing evil motives to the actions of friends, g) Avoid those acts that threaten the Islamic prohibitions or drinking, gambling, cheating etc, and n) If three or more people are together it is wrong for two of them to have private conversations together, particularly in a language that the other(s) do not know.

Shahera Hossain Ruba Tahera Hossain Many Dhaka-1214

Rotavirus diarrhoea

Sir, Rotavirus is the most important diarrhoeal pathogen in Infants and young children. Almost half of all rotavlral infections occur in Infants aged 7-12 months. All children are Infected in their first 3-4 years of life. Rotavirus is more frequently associated with severe diarrhoea than other enteric pathogens. A study in Matlab. Bangladesh conducted over a two-year period from 1987. found rotavirus in 15.5 per cerit of stool samples from patients

presented with diagrboea. In developing countries, .it is re-Sonsible for' an estimated 0.000 diarrhoeal deaths each year. Infection of adults is usually subclinical.

Rotavirus infection of infants and young children Is characterised by fever and vomiting. followed by a watery diarrhoea occasionally associated with severe dehydration. Incubation period is generally 24-72 hours. Symptoms last for an average of 4-6 days. Faecal-oral is the probable route of disease transmission. Rotavirus is identified in stool or rectal swab by electron microscopy (EM) and immunological techniques (ELISA, LA etc) for which commercial kits are available.

No specific treatment is available for rotaviral diarrhoea. Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) with oral glucose-electrolyte solution (ORS) is adequate tn most cases. Parenteral fluids are needed in cases with vascular collapse or uncontrolled vomitting.

Preventive measures are as follows: (1) prevent exposure of infants ana young children to individuals with acute gastroenteritis in family and institutional (day-care or hospital) settings. (2) passive immunisation by oral administration of immuno-globulin (1G) has been shown to protect low-birthweight neonates. (3) breast-feeding does not affect infection rates, but may reduce the severity of gastroenteritis, and (4) hygienic measures applicable to diseases transmitted via faecal-oral route may not be effective in preventing transmission.

Studies are under way on the efficacy of attenuated rotavirus as an orally administered vaccine.

M Jahangir Alam

M Phil research fellow. DU & Mrs Khurshlda Begum RAJUK UMS College.

Dhaka-1230

"Outrageous"

Sir, On June 17. 1997 a letter written by Mr Khawja Vlqar Moinuddln of Dhaka was published under the above caption in your esteemed newspaper. The Incident which was narrated In the letter is so base that one would recoil with revulsion.

A girl of four, a mere baby, becoming the victim of perverse act of four males. What a world we are living ini Even the Devil himself will bow down his head with shame knowing he has been defeated by human beings in vileness.

I feel deeply for the parents of the unfortunate girl; what an agonising experience it mast have been for them!

It Is noticeable that, these days tender age girls are subjected to violence, which was rare in the past and It is occurring more often What Is happening in our society? 1 think It should be analysed and proper steps must be taken to combat It.

Nur Jahan East Nastrabad. Chittagong