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To the Editor
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Letters for publication in these columns should be addressed to the Editor and legibly written or typed with double space. For reasons of space, short letters are preferred, and all are subject to editing and cuts. Pseudonyms are accepted. However, all communications must bear the writers real name, signature and address.
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“Criminals in Prime Minister’s
Backyard”
Sir. This has reference to The Dally Star editorial "Criminals in Prime Minister’s Backyard" (29-6-2000). What is Prime Minister’s backyard? If it means the relations of Prime Minister swarming in her backyard, in the literary sense, then it is only a travesty of truth. The whole nation knows that the Prime Minister’s immediate relations were entirely wiped out on the tragic night of 15 August. 1975. She and her only sister along with her husband could escape the massacre as they were out of the country at that time. Her sister Sheikh Rehana is now living in London with her one son and two daughters far away from power lobby and so-called Prime Minister’s backyard. Prime Minister's own son and daughter are also living abroad on their own, out of the scene of the Prime Minister's Office. And everybody would definitely agree, neither the name of any one of the brothers nor that of their respected father has ever been heard in the corridors of power.
If it means to say that the present Prime Minister's second line of relations are Involved in misusing and abusing power and are indulging In corruption. that is not true either. One incidence of staying in a house with delayed payment of
rents by a cousin's son. of course, is no way appreciated by anybody but that is not to taint the Prime Minister s image. We all came to know’ about the aberrant behaviour of the boy. The Prime Minister was strong enough to order his eviction from the house. She had categorically said that criminals even if they belonged to her party or happened Io be her relation perchance would not be spared and she proved It by arresting his party MP and in another case brought his party MP to DB office for interrogation. In her address to her party parliamentarians she had warned that if any MPs or ministers or their kith and kins are found involved in any corruption, terrorism and misuse of power, they would be brought to book without any discrimination and she had already proved her seriousness of purpose by taking action against leaders of her own party, student and youth fronts In very many cases where they were alleged to be found Involved in wrongdoing. Such examples are few and far between In our country and many other countries In the developing world.
Often the problem with our Intellectuals is that they raise expectation of the people too high without comprehending the prevailing conditions in the country and society. Often we also forget that one's performance should not be judged from a fixed point but against a
time series and against prevailing condition. True, vices of terrorism and corruption are very much there in the society. Involvement of activists of student or youth front of the Prime Minister s party in incidents of violence is not very rare either. But that does not mean that the wrong-doers belong to Prime Minister's backyard which has its own Jurisdiction and by that count it appears clean. However. the Prime Minister of course should be vigilant that no such element which might tarnish her Image finds a way into.
Anisur Rahman Joint Secretary Bangladesh Students' League
The way we look at it
Sir, Our PM has time and again claimed that her is the first government to Instruct the law enforcers to nab the culprits even if they belonged to her own party or happened to be her relation. But. from the deteriorating law and order situation and the Al leaders' and workers' Involvement in various criminal activities, it seems that she had no other way but to make such comment In order to safeguard AL's past glory. We would not say that Al is protecting the terrorists but the government is not being successful In curbing terrorism either.
A Distressed Observer Chittagong
“Army chief says-”
Sir. I was amused to read the statement of our Chief of Army Stall regarding the shifting of the capital outside Dhaka (DS. July 10). The Chief of Army Staff has stated that the capital could be shifted to a place like
Joydevpur and be named Bangabandhu Nagar or Mujib Nagar.
With due respect I would like to suggest something more unique. Why not rename Cantonment as Bangabandhu Nagar and our army as Mujib Bahini! That would be more patriotic. wouldn’t it?
Iskander Meah
Gulshan North. Dhaka
We cannot afford restricted areas
Sir, Dhaka is considered a metropolitan citv consisting of more than nine million inhabitants. Vehicles’ of different size and speed contribute to the infamous traffic jam of Dhaka, which is slowly paralysing the city's free movement.
Our traffic system has failed miserably tn maintaining a tidy traffic. And from the unrestrained situation it seems that laws and penalties would always remain incarcerated in the books and would never be implemented. Unless the citizens and the authority concerned are on their toe to improve the situation, new and expensive projects like flyovers will be nothing but a mockery to overcome tills on growing traffic problem.
Adding to the misery, we have two restricted areas-- BDR Head Office at Pilkhana and Dhaka Cantonment which very much enhance the traffic Jam In the city by restricting free traffic movement. Where as by opening these areas to general people, the traffic constraint can be relieved to a large extent
1 would therefore, request the concerned authority to take this into consideration and turn Plikhnna, Dhanmondi. Science Laboratory. New Mar-
ket, Hazaribagh. Mohakhali. Gulshan. Banani, Mirpur. Kafrul, Airport Road jam free by withdrawing restriction from BDR Head Office and the Cantonment. It is indeed a good idea to shift these two establishments outside the city which would create smoother traffic and make the city life easier.
S Rubayat
Dhanmondi. Dhaka
CIA’s suspicious role
Sir, Fakhruddin Ahmed's latest "Letter From America" ("The Intriguing CIA-inspired 1953 Coup that Made Iran and America Enemies") published on July 10 Is quite revealing and interesting. It is true that the CIA is often blamed for military coups that had overthrown legitimate elected governments in many countries around the world. It is also believed by many that the CIA might have been Involved in the 1975 military’ putsch that killed Sheikh MuJibur Rahman and ousted his entire government. A thorough investigation may shed light on the backstage happenings leading to this gruesome killing.
Thanks to Mr Ahmed for letting us have an insight Into the 1953 CIA-orchestrated coup in Iran.
Hasan Mahmud Lalmatia. Dhaka
Credibility crisis
Str. Bangladesh Is passing through a credibility crisis. The local medical doctors are not trusted due to loss of confidence (DS July 9); thereby Bangladesh is losing 1000 crore Taka annually (how this estimate was cal-
culated?). The police are not trusted; and so Is the bureaucracy. The JS is also not trusted by the opposition (since the early 1990s).
What about the politicians? Perhaps the inner trust is not there; but the political leaders are still the idols of the public, with hardly anything in it for the hapless people of this country. Hero-worshipping has become a cult-- how do we get future heroes, if all become followers? Are we developing leadership in the proper manner?
Black holes in the vast space around us eat up matter and even light; here In Dhaka, lakhs in GC notes are modestly accepted, as fees for sendees rendered. The muzzle of the unlicensed guns also look black, backed by black deeds. How to plug these social holes?
A Citizen Dhaka
From a distressed person
Sir. The whole country is besieged with every’ sort of crimes. Every’ time we open the newspapers. words like—slaughtered, shot dead, raped, murdered, acid thrown etc haunt and plague us.
News of people falling sick from air pollution, contaminated water, unhealthy environment. adulterated food, spurious drugs reach us and we feel outraged by the government's nonchalance about all these life threatening issues.
This is the picture of our country, our Sonar Bangla. where our children will have to grow up in the midst of constant fear, uncertainty and despair.
Nur Jahan Chittagong.