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To the editor
We should set our priorities right
That a former diplomat is capable of parading few facts and yet defying the truths should come as no surprise. But, that a son of the soil provided with extraordinary opportunities to rise to the office of ambassador can bit the hand that feeds him is appalling.
The facts are there: thousands schooling in Islamic theology; pockets of political cadres training in weaponry and political pariahs repressing minorities; hundreds of religious zealots shouting slogans 'Bangladesh will be Afghanistan'; and President Clinton cancelling scheduled trip to the national monument outside Dhaka for security reasons.
The truths are there too: tens of thousands more schooling in mainstream arts, commerce and science; population at large condemning fanaticism and terrorism be that political or religious, ideological or communal; tens of thousands rising up in arms - in war, in peace, in debate, and in discourse - to keep Bangladesh Bangladesh; and President Bush Jr. congratulating the Prime Minister for Bangladesh's cooperation in the war against terrorism.
The truths behind the facts paraded by Mr. Mostafa Faruque Mohammed are also common knowledge. Lest national security be jeopardised, one ought not let callous, at times biased - even malicious and often misinformed insinuations such that by Messrs Mostafa Faruque and Bertil Lintner of Far Easter Economic Review slip off in disguise of intellectual discourse and free speech. Take leaf from how the United
States blasted off Afghanistan and inflicted enormous civilian casualties as 'collateral damage' primarily based on hearsay and suspicion without much intellectual discourse a-la Mr. Mostafa Faruque's or investigative journalism a-la Mr. Lintner's. Take leaf also from Thailand that recently dealt firmly without fear or favour against two FEER correspondents who the government accused of jeopardising national security and sovereignty by playing up the much revered constitutional monarchy against the popular prime minister.
Syed Nazmul Ahsan
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The image of
Bangladesh
A patriotic person can never support any type of derogatory report about his country. Though some incidents took place after the October 1 election, Bangladesh still holds the reputation of a moderately secular country. I would like to request Mr Mostafa Faruque Mohammed to compare the situation that is prevailing in Bangladesh with India. Would he still stick to his argument and consider Bangladesh as a breeding ground of terrorism?
The Daily Star Editor was on the right track, keeping Bangladesh's image as a moderate country intact. Sabbir Ahmed Chowdhury
Dhaka City College
Is it a counter commentary or sycophancy?
What is the value of judgement of your counter commentary Mr. Mostafa Faruque? Your write up was not about Mr. Mahfuz Anam's commentary rather it was about the Awami League.
After America's war against terrorism in Afghanistan, in Bangkok and in Singapore people are naming the new borns after 'Laden'. How do you judge this? Do you think these countries have turned into Taliban countries? Apparently every clash of civilisation has turned out as clashes of religion so far. How do you judge the 'crusade' against Talibans, Israel's fanaticism and the Gujarat riot?
You depicted 'the post-election attacks on minorities' and pierce Mr. Editor by saying 'Friendly attacks'. Your conception is shadowy. Bangladesh government took initiatives to stop this kind of fanaticism. But what about Gujarat? Your statement on the post-election atrocities against the minorities proves that you are an Awami League supporter. Your focus is not on humanity, but on Awami League.
Mahfuz Masum
Dhaka University
Urging AL to join parliament
The news of leaders from the minority community urging AL to join parliament seems encouraging. It would indeed be a step in the right direction if Awami League agrees to their request.
Would Bangladesh be able to improve its record and establish good governance? Will it be able to attract investment and skills and turn Bangladesh into a happy,
prosperous and successful country?
Bangladesh is a beautiful land that benefits from enormous natural assets and a resourceful and
united people. It can, and should, be a magnet for investment, a beacon for visitors, a great place to live and to do business.
However, the sad fact is true democracy does not exist in Bangladesh. As a consequence, the country's economy and its very future are in peril.
Our joint effort could give the people of Bangladesh a better future by backing initiatives to encourage the opposition to join parliament as was done by the minority community leaders. This is a simple and straightforward objective. The Daily Star could take an initiative to start a petition to urge AL to join the parliament!
Azad Sarwar
NY USA
Home Minister
The Home Minister has done it again. He has managed to make a fool of himself by openly cavorting with criminals while he's assuring a minority community that he'll protect them!
Our Home Minister so respects us that he will remain silent about his frolics with killers and probably be flying about in his borrowed helicopter soon.
Cervantes
Dhaka
"MIGS and helicopters”
This refers to Biggles' (May 6) reply to my letter.
I must be deaf, dumb and blind to understand how a paramilitary force alone can defend a country! Anyway, that's beside the point.
There you go, wondering around in a tea estate, watch genuine BDR vs BSF quarrel, trespass into another country in broad daylight right in presence of the BDR and change over from tea drinking to liquid stuff and then loose recollection!
However, unless your 'friendly' big brother learns to treat its smaller and weaker neighbours with full respect and as equal partners, apprehension and suspicion of the big brother will not be and can not be erased.
Ashfaque Chowdhury
Banani, Dhaka
* * *
This refers to Mr Biggles' letter (April 27). I do not know how one can imagine a country without armed forces?
The duty of the BDR is to prevent smuggling on the border areas. They also have a duty to prevent entrances of foreign soldiers in the country.
The Coast Guards do the same in coastal areas-- prevent trespassing of foreign fishermen.
In a nutshell we can say that the BDR and the Coastal Guard are there to control smuggling. They do not need heavy fighting instruments. What they need is rapid and light modern firearms like AK-47 and such.
In this nuclear era the Army, Navy and Air force must be equipped with modern weapons to protect our motherland.
Sohel Bin Seraj
Mymensingh
"Special Fund for Army Officers"
I am so happy to read this report. Now I'd like to know what Mr Asfaque, Mr Sami and all the others who've been arguing against me have to say.
Their most likely reply would be that these officers were just the few rotten apples and that this does not reflect on the rest of the corps. Well I would beg to differ. Whenever you have an unaccountable parallel state as we do with the military, such abuses cannot be stopped. Similar reports of corruption have also surfaced with the MIG and the frigate purchase, so these officers were not the exception.
What is important to realise is that all these revelations of corruption have been exposed because of the interaction with the civil administration. Had it been an internal military issue, we would never have found out and rest assured there are many such examples hidden away.
MA
Dhaka
Safe transports!
Whose problem!
It is an old story to tell. All of us accustomed to news of road accidents and during this part of the year with more cases of launch accidents causing loss of human lives and resources. Can we hold anyone responsible? Possibly the answer is 'no'.
In this present context of privatisation and shrinking the role of the state, this is an area that the government should be able to
do something positive- that is making the roads safe.
How can we do this?
1. Monitor if the National Road Safety Council is holding its regular meeting and discussing, monitoring road accidents all over the country.
2. Investigate each of the cases of road accidents and identify the areas prone to road accidents and declare those as accident zone in distinct understandable signals.
3. Make the issue of road safety an agenda for political discourse- this is a recipe that cannot be imposed upon.
4. Strict enforcement of motor vehicle rules is a must. If needed make new rules-make people more accountable for their actions, reward for good efforts etc.
5. Contract out 'road safety compliance certification'-- a scheme that can be developed to be provided by private sector qualified agents all over the country.
6. Invest in road safety such as highway patrol.
7. Highway patrol, road-clearing etc can be contracted out, this would cater for both road safety as well as for ensuring safe passage of vehicles at night against road dacoity.
8. Automatic road camera and over speed control camera have to be set up in highways.
9. Road police should be dedicated for roads for a particular area and not covered by Thana police. They should not be given any other duty such as law and order duty. They should have specific targets and not be transferred or closed or suspended for bad performance or gross negligence of duty, rather they should be terminated if
such complaints are received.
10. 'Ensuring safe roads' should be a political agenda on which citizens should vote in future, through quantifiable figures people would see and vote for those who had done better in this area.
MM Haque, on e-mail
"Potka fish"
My thanks to Dr Rahaman for replying to my letter. I am only sorry he doesn't have any recipes but from what he's saying, it may be better to stay away from Potka fish. Although it just occurred to me that since this fish is thrown away as wastage, there might be a prospect for its export to Japan. Something to ponder.
Don Quixote
Dhaka
Fake Swimmers!
Bangladesh really is a joke isn't it? First the government got us suspended by FIFA for not reading the regulations properly. Then one of the heirs of BNP was hoisted as the head of Bangladeshi cricket although he had no prior experience with the sport. Recently a cricket match was cancelled so that there could be a reception for the winner of the Dhaka Mayoral election. And now fake swimmers are sent to Korea and the Minister feigns ignorance!
The State Minister should be made to resign for his incompetence and for embarrassing us.
Cervantes
Dhaka