For the record

My attention was drawn to an article called "AL in opposition, AL in government" in the Special

Supplement of The Daily Star of January 30, 2001, by Staff Reporter Reaz Ahmed. The pictures of my husband K M Obaidur Rahman MP, Nurul Islam Manjur and Shah Moazzem, who are accused in the jail killing case of November 3, 1975, has been published in the same line with three other gentlemen who have been tried and convicted in the Bangabandhu Murder Case, with the caption 'Righting wrongs of the past'. The article just below the pictures reads, "AL started the process of trial of the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1996. Trial court gave verdict awarding capital punishment to 15 ex-army personnel in 1998. Subsequently the Appellate Court gave a split judgement confirming death sentence against 10 while differing on the other five. The matter is currently under judicial review."

The intention behind publishing the pictures of K M Obaidur Rahman MP, Nurul Islam Manjur and Shah Moazzem Hossain is not understood since there is no mention of them or the jail killing case in the article. I wish to remind the readers that Obaidur Rahman MP, Nurul Islam Manjur and Shah Moazzem Hossain were not accused in the Bangabandhu case. They had been arrested in connection with the jail killing case, and have been in jail for the last 25 months but not a single proof of their involvement could yet be produced by the authorities. The trial is at the preliminary stage and I am positive that my husband's innocence will certainly be proved. We all know "an accused is innocent

until his guilt has been proved beyond all doubts." So pictures of three innocent citizens published in such a manner may lead to misleading influence on the trial and the minds of the readers. Please publish my letter in your esteemed daily to set the records straight and clarify matters.

shaheda Obaed, wife of K M Obaidur Rahman

Dhaka

There was no such intention as imputed by the writer . --Editor

Earthquake could strike Bangladesh

We are deeply shocked at the loss of lives in the severe earthquake which hit India and Pakistan on January 26. It is a calamity and our heartfelt sympathy goes to the sufferers.

Tremors were also felt in Bangladesh and Nepal on the same day. An earthquake is a terrible natural disaster. No device has been invented to alert people beforehand so when it strikes, it takes a huge toll. According to geologists, Bangladesh also faces the risk of being struck by a major earthquake at any time, as it is situated on the tectonic plates. In the last few years, tremors have been felt in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar a number of times, and the earthquake of 1997 in Chittagong was strong enough to kill a few people. One is apprehensive of what might happen if a strong earthquake hits Bangladesh as all the major cities are congested, with unplanned, multistoried buildings. The lone seismograph, located in Chittagong is not in working order so the duration, strength and distance of an earthquake remains unknown.

Nur Jahan Chittagong

"Facts, Not Fiction"

As a senior citizen who witnessed the "Quit India" movement in Calcutta, and the emergence of Bangladesh, I find much substance in Kuldip Nayyar's commentary (The Daily Star, January 24). The diabolical role of ZA Bhutto was not well brought out in the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report. Bhutto's argument that Pakistan could not have two Prime Ministers broke up Pakistan, although the military leaders were used as a face-saving device.

There were two facts whose implications did not dawn on West Pakistani negotiators: (a) the communication, cultural, and language gap between the two wings of Pakistan (the majority of the population were Bengalees); and, (b) the geographical distance separating the two wings, which increased the communication and transportation gaps, leading to much misunderstanding at different levels of the two societies. It is not enough to be Muslims to hold two societies or nations together, as we see in the Middle East and Central Asia.

The concept of Pakistan was based on an external cause, namely, Hindu domination in British India, which lasted till 1947. The East Pakistani Bengalees were treated as second class citizens by the dominating West Pakistanis. Pakistan is now in political and economic shambles, confirming the wrong stand by the then West Pakistani leadership. India took advantage of the situation in 1971, and easily broke up Pakistan.

Elder Citizen

Dhaka

Violence against women

There is a misconception that violence against women takes place only in the public domain. This wrong picture is due to our social structure which keeps women from speaking out, even when they are suffering hideous torture. Incest and inappropriate touching are common in many households but young girls, threatened with dire consequences by male relatives, dare not speak out. Sometimes uncles molest their nieces and brothers-in-law take advantage of their young sisters-in-law. Social condemnation falls usually on the girl or women, because it is commonly believed that the female had encouraged the male.

To change this we must encourage women to speak out and protect them from the social trauma that will occur. Men must come forward to expose other men, because only then would the stigma be removed from the woman to the man. Our religious leaders are of no use to us because they always take the side of the males. Don't they have daughters and sisters?

A concerned citizen

Dhaka

Noise pollution

Coming home from the USA, it has struck me that our country is polluted by noise. We do not have to be so noisy, especially on the roads. But horns are honked indiscriminately, by all and sundry. The bigger the vehicle, the louder the horn. Students trying to study have to close all windows and sweat because opening anything would mean that one would get a headache from the noise.

I call upon the concerned authorities to make an effort and save citizens from this menace to health and peace of mind!

shama Husain

Dhaka