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To the Editor...
Death penalty proposed for rail-road barricade?
Sir, The report under the heading Death penalty proposed for rail, road barricade,' published In The Daily Star on December 6. 1997, made me to stop and read it over and over again, because it was so unbelievable. It is learnt that the bill prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs will be placed in the JS in its next session as obstructing rail, road and waterway communications is a criminal offense under a proposed bill, seeking a maximum punishment of death sentence for this.
It is incomprehensible, how could offence of this sort merit death sentence? All over the country at hundreds of places barricades are erected in which a great number of people are involved. Does the government intend to give death penalty to all those people? How the charge will be trained, who will give evidence against them? It will open up the door to take revenge out of personal enmity, one will only have to report, T saw so and so erecting rail or road blocks." And presto, the person will live no more.
In the regime of the past government rail-road blockades occurred many times and government and private property were destroyed mercilessly. During Ashahajog Andolon, the newly-built Biman office in Chittagong was set on fire and damage done to the Chittagong railway station was considerable. What about those persons who wrought a havoc at that time — should not they be brought to justice?
The idea of such a bill surprises me immensely. On what basis the AL government is thinking of placing a bill of this sort in the JS to be passed?
Nur Jahan
East Nasirabad, Chittagong.
Bold journalism
Sir, The Daily Star is considered to be The Statesman of Bangladesh. I wonder if It is a compliment or an understatement in such comparison, but I
know for sure that the DS is committed to bold journalism in impeccable English and patronises the language and literature of English.
In my boyhood, elders used to advise me to read The Statesman of the then British India to improve upon my English. I advise the children in the family to read DS for the same reason.
But I was taken aback when S grand-daughter brought the
of November 29th morning and asked if "Surged Passed" is correct or it should be "Surged Past" in the news item printed about Pakistani crowd in the Supreme Court premises there.
Md Babul Mia
House 26 Block 'E Road No. 11. Banani. Dhaka-1213.
"A Question of Dependency"
Sir, I fully endorse the views expressed by Dr F H Chowdhury in his opinion titled as above that was published In your esteemed daily on 30-11-97.
Dr Chowdhury opposed the government move of letting foreign companies to establish private EPZs in Bangladesh. He rightly opined that such establishments are prima facte infringement of the sovereign status of a nation-state. He pro-Ksed establishing more EPZs the government itself and to ask the foreign companies to set up Industries in those EPZs. Dr Chowdhury also pointed out that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman held every inch of this country as a sacred trust and also that the country expects nothing short of it from his worthy daughter.
Supporting Dr Chowdhury. I would like to add a point more. We know, a substantial portion of the then East Pakistan was under the Christian missionary and the government of Pakistan could not have these lands even by persuing the court. But Prime Minister Sheikh Muilb succeeded in acquiring the Missionary (Padri) Jaygirs by a simple order. Should bis daughter as PM do the opposite?
I suggest that If any agreement has been signed with the Korean company(ies) that
should be transformed into a lease agreement for a stipulated period and no land of Bangladesh should be sold to any foreign companies.
MAS Molla Member, BAAS Dhaka
Under the spotlight
Sir, It is not only disheartening but detasteful as well to watch some of our leading personalities appearing on TV screen on special occasions. Did you watch them laying floral wreath or offering prayers at the grave of prominent personalities?
There Is a madrace to come under the spotlight themselves rather than paying respect for which they have been pictured. Is it the reflection of our present day attitude or the mood of the entire society? We need to be civilised.
Ashfaq A Chowdhury Khagrachhari, Chittagong Hill Tracts
A bank in Singapore
Sir, 1 would like appreciate of your effort for The Daily Star Internet edition. It is very much helpful for those people who are staying abroad and keen to learn home news. I would like to introduce myself as daily reader of your Internet edition from Singapore. Therefore, I would like to state as follows. In Singapore about 100,000 Bangladeshi people are working. These people send money to their families in Bangladesh through some money exchanger In Singapore who have agent in Bangladesh. So Bangladesh is loosing lot of foreign currencies. I feelthat if any Bangladeshi Govt Bank could set up their branch in Singapore and offering the same advantages like other Money Exchanger many people will send money through the bank to Bangladesh. And Bangladesh will earn a lot of foreign currencies.
Asaad Mamun (By e-mail) Singapore