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To the Editor

Letters will only be considered if they carry the writer's full name, address and telephone number (if any). The identity of the writers will be protected. Letters must be limited to 300 words. All letters will be subject to editing.
Sonali Bank group insurance
The family members of the deceased employees of the Sonali Bank are not getting the group insurance benefit for the last nine months. As per the bank rules, the family members of the employees and officers are supposed to get group insurance benefits if any employee dies while being in service. The other NCBs like the Janata, Agrani and Rupali Bank are following the rule. But the Sonali Bank is still making correspondence with the ministry of finance to get the approval. The NCBs usually keep a separate fund for the members of the deceased employees/officers. The ministry never gives any allocation of fund for such payments.
I would like to appeal to the minister of finance as well as the secretary of the ministry of finance to look into the matter.
Mahbubul Haque Chowdhury Lake Circus, Kalabaghan
Ahmadiyya issue
It is with great regret that I came to read about religious extremists in Bangladesh putting pressure on the government to declare the Ahmadiyyas as non-Muslims. As an individual, who has studied Islam, and who has many Ahmadiyya friends, I have great respect for the teachings of Islam and for Prophet Muhammed (SM). I have learned that he never sought to declare anyone a non-Muslim unless that person openly professed the Almighty and his Prophet to be
false. I have many Ahmadiyya friends and I know that they certainly believe in one Allah and have the highest respect for the Prophet.
So, how can these religious extremists in Bangladesh pressurise the government to declare Ahmadiyyas as non-Muslims? The Holy Prophet taught us that it is only the Almighty who can see into someone's heart and thus decide whether they are Muslims or not.
I hope that the leadership in Bangladesh will not bow down to the pressure of the religious extremists.
Simeon Walker
Addingham, West Yorks, United Kingdom
Ershad barred at Zia
My attention is drawn to a news item published yesterday in the DS under the above caption.
To say the least, the government's action once again bespeaks of the retaliatory nature of its political management against anyone holding a view or an agenda away from its own. I have a feeling that in this particular instance the action has merely enhanced the image of Mr. Ershad rather than damaging it. Until the other day most people used to talk about Ershad as a spent force in the present day political arena of Bangladesh. Actions like these are only helping people to negate that image and think about him in a more positive way.
In all honesty when compared to the present day political leadership,
both within the government and the opposition, the image of the retired General does not look that bad. He continues to make political statements, which are far more decent containing lesser invectives compared to those of our venerable Leader of the Opposition.
Shamsher Choudhury
Dhaka
Deaths in river
It is really unfortunate that the safety of launch passengers is still neglected in every possible way in the country. Hundreds of people have died in launch disasters in the last one year, but the operators are still as indifferent to the safety needs of the passengers as they always have been.
The launch collision in the river
Meghna was a rude shock to all of us. What was particularly tragic about it is that it was the result of gross violation of navigational rules. The launches did not have searchlights! Who would believe this story of pushing people to death?
A citizen
Dhaka
Fanatics in politics
Bangladesh has been praised for her non-communal approach so far all over the world. Although the term "secularism" is not mentioned in our constitution, it guarantees that every citizen of any religious faith has equality before the law and enjoys the freedom to profess his or her religious belief. And for a long time different communities have been co-existing in
this country and following their religions without any inhibition.
But with the religious fanatics finding a place in the coalition government,secular people( not anti-religion) along with minor communities are gripped by a sense of insecurity as the fanatics are trying to dominate the political scene. Since Muslims are a large majority in Bangladesh, more or less every major political party has used 'Islam' in order to consolidate its position in the political arena. And there are quite a few religion-based political parties in the country which have their own agenda.
People in general do not believe in religion being used as a political weapon. Now the question is how the Jamaat-e-Islami
could reach the position that it enjoys now. It is because of constant failures of the major liberal political parties like the Awami league and the BNP.
Despite having a neutral outlook, the parties could not serve the interests of masses. They have created the opportunity for the religious extremists to have a position in politics which they do not deserve and which can only invite trouble for the nation as a whole.
So we must remain alert and should not allow the fanatics to have any further leeway in politics.
Rubab Abdullah
Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka