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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.
AIDS and some thoughts
The biggest challenge, the world has ever faced is AIDS. This killer disease is spreading at an alarming rate. The world leaders have met many times to take some measures regarding AIDS. Though the summits have succeeded in giving an outline of the action plan, but they have failed to contribute to lessening the rate of its spread. Many countries have started thinking about taking other measures. As people are ignorant and not aware of its hazards, we cannot expect much from them.
This is the right time to make some drastic moves to save the world , as the hope of any medicinal cure being found is not very bright yet.
Unity is power. We should work together in this regard. But along with the collective initiatives every country should take some other initiatives also.
In every country there should be an institution like National AIDS Protection Council (NAPC). This will run a huge hospital-cum-home like a Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre where the people affected with the virus will be transferred. It will be better if the hospital is located in any place outside the congested residential areas. Obviously, this hospital will have to be well equipped. NAPC will diagnose the vulnerable community and the people of the suspected area and transfer the infected people to the hospital. In the homes the patients will be given suitable work. The hospital-cum-home will have different sections for children, male and female.
The government is advertising on the consequences of AIDS and the preventive measures both on TV and radio. The government has to chalk out an action plan. It has to provide jobs to the sex workers and give them residential facilities before banning the business effectively. Mass awareness should be created in every level of the society. Cultural functions highlighting the disease should be held regularly There should be a volunteer society which will go to every rural house to make the people, specially the women, conscious about the matter. The government will train the workers of the whole system.
Obviously, a huge amount of money will be needed to make this project a success. But as we are heading towards a disaster, we have to undertake such projects for our own survival. We still have time to think about this matter before becoming an African country, when no measure can save us from ruination .
Mithun
North Kamalapur, Dhaka
Old men and women
Most men and women over 60 years of age who are suffering from diabetes, heart ailment, cancer, blood pressure, kidney trouble or any other incurable disease are not waiting and counting their days for getting admitted into hospital or clinic or going to a foreign
country for medical check up and treatment. But they are worried about the last journey to the grave leaving behind their near and dear ones, relatives and friends, wealth or poverty.
They are sitting idle on chairs or lying on beds restlessly moving through the memory lanes. They are heaving sighs and repenting their past mistakes, failures and wrong doings. They pray to the Almighty for forgiveness and seek His mercy. A lot of them wish that if they could get another chance, they could rectify themselves and start life afresh. But it is too late now. Time and tide wait for none.
Undoubtedly, all men and women are mortal. Even a baby born today may die tomorrow. The bottom line is that one has to leave this world today or tomorrow for good. This is the order of Allah the Almighty, the Most Merciful, the All Powerful, the Lord of the Universe.
The younger generation has many things to learn from the colossal stockpiles of knowledge and experience, practical know-how, failures and successes, problems, difficulties, hardships and joys and sorrows of men and women of over 60 years of age.
Let us not disdain or discard, hurt or insult any old man or woman. Let us take care of them, be kind to them, and seek their blessings to lead a better, happy, prosperous and peaceful life in future. Let us not indulge in pomp and show, corruption, avarice and hatred. Let us all be amiable and honest men and women of good character, manners and etiquette to save our country from chaos, corruption and violence. OH Kabir
Dhaka
An unusual movie
Bachelor is undoubtedly an extraordinary creation. Otherwise, people would not have thought so much
about this movie. Mr. Istiaque Uddin Rifat, February 16, Asif Ahmed, February 20, Rifat Mahbub, February 23 and last, but not the least, Minuara Begum Binu, February 25, 2004 made good criticism about its positive and negative sides in the letters page of The Daily Star. It's obviously a positive thing that people have found a topic (Bangla Cinema! In recent times they used to laugh at it ) to debate on.
I live in Dhanmondi and when I enjoyed the movie with my friends, we became puzzled because we felt that someone was telling the story of our lives . Though sometimes I felt bored observing some silly mistakes while watching the movie, I want to thank the writer and director of this cinema. We are enthusiastically waiting for their next and better production.
Md. Razibul Islam
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Lawyer's comments
This refers to a comment allegedly passed by Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud in a press conference organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association. According to some newspapers, Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud has asked the government to dissolve parliament as he thinks parliament has nothing to do in the absence of opposition lawmakers. Perhaps the lawyer has overreacted out of sheer emotion. I have some observations which reflect the voices of the overwhelming majority. I believe Barrister Rokan has echoed the voice of the leader of the opposition .
Barrister Rokan did not pass the same comment when the present PM Begum Khaleda Zia, then leader of the opposition, was prevented from leading a Long March towards Rangamati against the peace deal signed by the then government.
Now the AL is absent with 60 of its MPs but at that time the BNP was absent with 114 of its MPs plus some others from smaller parties. Did AL dissolve parliament? During Congress and Muslim League days it was the honourable lawyers who played the pivotal role in the independence movement and in establishing democracy in this part of the world.
But unfortunately, as in other professions, law practitioners are now
divided on political lines which does not serve the cause of the people.
We hope to see our beloved motherland flourish in all its dimensions. Can we not surrender our ego to national interest? When we will be wiser enough to identify our priorities? Without working for the millions of
poor , we are fighting to get the better half of loaves.
Dewan G. Ahmed
Shamoly, Dhaka
Independence of Judiciary
Bangladesh is a third world country but specialists have opined that we have prospects to alleviate our stature if proper decisions are taken in the policy-making level and these decisions are properly implemented. To do so, the first step is to restore law and order and restoring law and order necessarily needs one thing, that is, "Independence of the Judiciary".
Before the 2001 polls, the BNP vowed to restore law and order. This was certainly a very commendable intention and it would have been twice laudable if they translated their words into acts. The BNP is now in a suitable position to ensure independence of the judiciary, and other political parties will also appreciate it as it will open their door to speak up in the courts and anticipate a fair judgement without any outside intervention.
I hope the government will take the necessary steps in this regard without wasting any more time.
Tawhid Shams Chowdhury
English Department, BRAC University
GrameenPhone
It has been almost a year that the callcharges for all other GP packages have been reduced to some extent but what happened to "Easy Pre-paid" subscribers who are still paying Tk.6.90 (including VAT) per minute?
Is GP trying to compel their "Easy Pre-paid" subscribers to migrate to GP's other packages in order to be able to sell more of new connections and thus increase their revenue manyfold?
CNR, Chittagong