Indifferent DCC and RAJUK

Sir. The old part of Dhaka city is very congested. Sutrapur area is the best example having narrow lanes and by-lanes.

When there is very little possibility of broadening the existing lanes and by-lanes. many unscrupulous owners of houses are raising their buildings encroaching upon the lanes and by-lanes. The balconies of such buildings hang directly over the passers-by. The pipes from the roof-tops jut out over the lanes, passages, by-lanes etc.-sprinkling dirty water on those pass by.

In this respect, among others, the Nabadwip Basak Lane. Shyamaprasad Lane. Nanda Lal Dutta Lane. Moligolll, Patla Khan Lane and the adjacent inter-connecting lanes centring Luxmibazar. covering the whole Sutrapur are such sites.

On the Luxmibazar main road, opposite DIT Building, there were two open spaces. In the past, some truck owners used to park trucks there. Recently. some Iron cages are erected and the spaces are being rented out to some Influential people for keeping their private cars. Some are using the spaces as vehicles-repairing workshops. The whole place is in a mess. The spaces could be used for some worthy purposes.

The DCC and the RAJUK are giving blind eyes to such encroachment.

May we request the Ministry (probably LGRD) concerned to look into the matter and take measures.

A Concerned Citizen Dhaka-1100

Developing images

Sir. The present regime has developed its own unique style of state working — fast and confidential (shrouded in secrecy, consensus not sought. JS bypassed. and subsequently blaming absence of the spirit of consensus in the opposition). Farakka. CHT, recent trip to New Delhi, all have a common denominator, India. The relation with Myanmar is not improving. The trip to Islamabad followed. Sudden, and no proper support campaign at home.

A couple of hours of parleys enriched with half a hundred VIP entourage. Five crore spent on the national opening a bridge, and that too party-oriented. and without acknowledging the contribution of others. The credibility is slipping, as the same is questionable.

The zamindari virus still tickling? The opposition calls it fascist attitude. The neutral thinkers are perturbed (one Star editorial lashed the immature propaganda stand). What's the difference with an autocratic presidential form of government we have seen earlier? The confrontation with the opposition is getting suffer day by

day (both parties are stubborn).

Then there is the pernicious habit of passing on the buck. No dice! Some comments in the press quesUoned the quality of advice the PM gets and accepts. If it is her own Judgment, all the more depressing.

How about a change?

An Observer Dhaka

Women need to be more active

Sir. Increased participaUon of women in the political arena is the answer to the problem of empowerment of women in the country. Actually very small number of women apply their voting rights and most of the decisions are made under the influence of the male members of their families. It has been found that women have less confidence in the election process than men. Even they don't find any interest in it.

So they need to be more active. Government and NGOs should take effective step. Some NGOs are. no doubt, working on it. But they have to be more systematic to raise the awareness among the women. Recently, several women's organisations organised seminar on women's Issues.

But 1 am sure there will be no impact of it at the grassroots.

Mostafa Sohel

Dhaka