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To the editor
Land subsidence
Sir. The news entitled "Land in many city areas about to cave In" published in the front page of DS on June 26. 2000, has drawn my attention. I am surprised at the news because It is contradictory to the finding of an on-going study "Updating of the existing groundwater and land subsidence models", conducted by BUET and sponsored by WASA. The BUET experts disclosed at a seminar held In Dhaka WASA auditorium on April 29 2000, during the presentation of the Interim report that land subsidence is not a major problem towards groundwater abstraction in Dhaka city. Some minor and Insignificant settlements may occur on the western side of the Balu river and at Tejgaon area as were also evident from the DS of June 28. The results of the recent topographic (bench mark) survey conducted under the same study was also presented in the seminar, which showed no evidence of land subsidence tn Dhaka city. Moreover, it was concluded in the Dhaka Region Groundwatei and Subsidence Study, con ducted by EPC and M. Macdon aid & Partners Limited (19911 that "the risk of land subsi dence should not be conskk n d as an impediment to the pro posed groundwater development In Dhaka city". In view of
the low risk of the land subsidence, it was also recommended in the study' not to install subsidence recorders. The 20m thick soft deposit of ma-rihe/estuarine clay which plays a major role in the regional subsidence of the Bangkok city was not Identified anywhere in Dhaka city. The mathematical model study to be completed by this month by the BUET experts may provide a clear indication in this aspect. Therefore, before dissemination of such study results and without proper investigation or having much evidences in hand, how could it be stated that land subsidence will occur due to further groundwater abstraction?
M. Shahjahan Mondal Lecturer. IFCDR. HURT
History repeats itself
Sir, The other day. I was watching our Prime Minister's address to the nation on BTV on (he occasion of her completion of four years in the office. The address was repeated (he following day l.e. 24 th June. 2000.
WIillc listening to the speech. 1 was Intrigued by Its striking similarity with the spect lies that were made by our former PM about live years ago. The (hen PM stated (he very many good things that her gov-
ernment had done and how inconsiderate and irresponsible, the opposition party's a< u\in< -were at that Dine — in dial not only the latter offered total non-cooperation but also were taking recourse to disruptive manoeuvres. Looking solemn and sombre. Sheikh Hasina carried on exactly in the same way as did Khaleda Zia five years ago.
Every' time different parties in the power game happen to swap their place, they seem Io say and do the same things as their predecessors. Arc we going to see another PM delivering the same old speech five years from now? Is anything ever going to change In our country'? Or perhaps things are changing to some extent and every time for the worse than the previous regime!
M Mahmood
Gulshan. Dhaka
The cost of votes
Sir, Extortion, toll collection and terrorism are now working in such a systematic way, in depth and breadth, throughout the country, that the business community including the traders, wholesalers. shopkeepers are gening fed up of (he Inefficiency anti apathy of the government to
stem the tide (DS June 26. julum in old Dhaka trading centres"). The combined effect will be that the ruling regime might lose a large number of votes during future elections; if other types of misdemeanors and corrupt and illegal practices are added to the list.
Good governance is like breathing, quiet in the background. if the noise level goes up. it means that something is wrong somewhere Blaming others will not solve the problems or bring in more votes — the proof of the pudding lies in the eating.
A Voter Dhaka
Watch out for those ear-cleaners
Sir. On the city roads, one may come across a certain group of individuals with a bag filled with an assortment of bottles, cotton swabs, forceps etc., hanging from the shoulder. These people have taken up cleaning other people's ears as their profession Many people belonging to the lower and lower middle class groups, get their ears cleaned by these "professionals". Admittedly, the main attraction that draws the clientele to these ear clean-
ers is the sense of comfort they get while getting their ears cleaned, much the same way when you get your head, neck and shoulders massaged. But most of them are not aware of the serious consequences these short bouts of comfort may entail. And I'm saying that from a very bad personal experience.
About a month ago. 1 somehow convinced myself to get my ears cleaned. Frankly speaking. 1 did get a great feeling of comfort during the process and 1 even thought about coming back later some time. But at night, on the same day that I got my ears cleaned, my ears started to ache. As the night progressed, the pain increased, eventually reaching a point where it became completely intolerable. Pain killers saw me through the night and in the morning. 1 rushed to the Is-lamla Hospital As ENT specialists were available only in the evening, a general practitioner did the check-up. Anyway, with his care and the medicines he gave me. 1 recovered But alas, my recovery didn't last long!
This time around the pam started one evening about two weeks alter the first incident. The ordeal this time was excru-tiatmgly painful, so much so that I was trying in pain Anyway. since I was on duty at that
time 1 rushed to the emergency ward of Women's Medical College which is close to niy workplace. After waiting For about half an hour, I finally got my treatment and was relieved of the pain. But my misfortune was not over yet. There was more pain on the way.
Two weeks later, the pain came back in hill force at night. High doses of pain killers even injections failed this time. In the morning. I was rushed to the Bangabandhu Medical University where the ENT specialist prescribed the same medicines as did the previous other doctors. despite the fact that I had told him how the pain kept coming back and all medications tailed With the pain still persisting. I finally went back to the Islands Hospital.and finally got the inside of my ears washed Although 1 was relieved. my ears have suffered damage, probably penuanent.
I wouldn't want m\ fellow a''. ‘^^^^ ‘h’* sane
Kind of painful orde.iK that i have suffered, thanks to the so-’ ailed ear-cleaners. So, please be careful and watch out.
Chow M Yakub
188 Fakirapoll. Molljheel.
Dhaka