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To the Editor
Ring road around the border
Sir. Thanks to the BDR chief for his timely suggestion to build ring roads along the border and to make the BDR more effective through some changes in it (DS. 16 July). The suggestion to build ring roads around the Bangladesh border seems to be quite timely. The recent attacks and hooliganism by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Is Indeed a threat to the security of Bangladesh as an Independent country. So the suggestion of the BDR chief should be considered seriously.
BDR with Its insufficient forces, are combating an unequal battle to curb Intruders and smugglers through the border. Theyhave long been a force with not much power. Due to lack of BDR's logistics and power . the smugglers carry out their business almost interrupted. In the recent time, the Intrusion by the BSF men makes the border issue all the more vulnerable. We hope, the authority concerned will take tills matter seriously and act accordingly.
ER
Dhaka
Scourge of AIDS
Sir. HIV/AIDS is an Issue that cannot be further ignored. While the Durban AIDS Conference Is sending a grim reminder of the devastating global impact of the disease (both socially and economically), hope in form of a potential vaccine exists, aided by the efforts of organisations like the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).
World-wide HIV/AIDS is slowing the grow-th of national economies by reducing the size and productivity of the labour force, diverting savings to medical and funeral expenses and decreasing public spending on health and welfare services for those affected by the epidemic. The effects of infection are already having an Impact on national production and Income In some countries In terms of absenteeism, decline In skilled workforce, and higher payments for sickness and death benefits. For example. It is estimated that by 2005 Kenya s gross domestic product (GDP) will be 14 percent smaller than It would have been without AIDS.
Hardest hit by HIV/AIDS are the countries ol southern Africa, which harbour 24.5 mil-liou of the 34.3 million persons
affected by the disease globally. Of (he 14 million people world-whlr who have died of AIDS, more than 1 1 million have been Africans. The African epidemic has spiralled out of control over the past two decades, exacerbated by persisting colonial traditions perpetuating grinding poverty, changing notions of family versus individual responsibility, lack of access to proper education and health services, and overwhelming public denial of the disease. According to a report filed this week by a leading South African newspaper, the human carnage is such that the blacks In South Africa may one day be In the minority.
Bangladesh is fortunate in th.it the affects of the epidemic have not been widely felt; Indeed in terms percentage of population infected and total number of persons infected in Bangladesh remains on the low-end woild-w’lde. However, the neighbouring country India, now- has the second highest number of HIV Infected people In the world behind South All tea an estimated 3 7 million according to a June 2000 report by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV AIDS (UNAIDS) If lelt unchecked by extensive preventive efforts, the
Indian epidemic could in a lew-years parallel that of South Africa.
While traditional prevention measures can play a role in slowing the epidemic to a certain extent, it is.clear that the best hope for ending the epi-demir and the global develop-menl catastrophe it is spawn-ing-is ,i universally accessible preventive vaccine.
Imran G. Chou dhury International AIDS \ accine Initiative HAVH New York. NY USA
The drama unfolds
Sir, Nature (the law of Compensation) has now started taking its rightful toll—the terrorists are now killing the opposing terrorists. This horizontal vengeance will change direction and creep upwards and alm at the evil godfathers, dredging away the pollution in the society. Then will come the time for the abettors at the apex to pay the heavy price for the misdeeds.
The time is coming soon for the signs to appear.
Let the drama unfold.
AZ
Dhaka