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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.
Patronise, whom?
The time has come for the people to decide whether to continue to patronize bad politics. There are no regulation and control as the parliament has been maimed by the two major political parties, who cannot get out of the historical time-wrap, and look at the changing situation objectively.
Several factors have imprisoned the style of politics practised in Dhaka for 130m people. Vested groups have created vested circles, all of which are rotating in vicious circles. Internal forces cannot liberate these prisoners, who are happy, as it serves their own interests.
The very future of politics is at stake, It is nothing new: the pattern is familiar in the emerging nations. We have previous experience of nine plus seven years of autocracy,
suitably softened with cosmetic overtures. One conclusion is clear enough: we get the government we deserve! Second: the touted Western democracy does not work at the level of marginal living, with the majority illiterate.
There is no point in saying we have no options to replace politics. The two major parties are alternating in the gaddi, with the investment return going to a restricted coterie. In short: the people are being exploited right and left, and in the centre. Third groups are trying to find a third solution, but it looks like old water in new bottles. About 14 years have been lost, so there is no point in waiting longer. It is time to try a new chef, outside the polluted environment.
The solution is not simple, as the society is one, and screening and choosing are likely to be noisy, to
say the least. Let us hear others.
AZ
Dhaka
Global politics and farmers
What an irony of life: big powerful global politics is deeply related to our chasi-bhais (farmers)! For our politicians, Dhaka metro (pop 10m) is the end of the pilgrimage. Ultimately, it is the feeders of the dal-bhat, regardless of the antiarmament sanctions being hotly debated in the UN lobbies, and outside.
In the third world, the farmers constitute the highest percentage of voters, while their numbers in the industrialised countries are lower, but the per capita production output is much higher due to scientific inputs and infrastructure. The big question is the subsidies provided to the farmers
in the developed countries, against which the LDC's cannot compete. Question: Protect the strong point of science and technology, which is the weak point in international political debates? Similar is the equation with the energy resources of the world, grab it by hook or by crook, and damn the Untied Nations! Outcome; terrorism against the uniformed demons.
These artificial pressure tactics won't last, regardless of the weapons displayed. Bangladesh is in the forefront of this fight; human resources vs scientific and technological resources. We have the highest density of population in the world, for nations with population above the 100m mark; hence this basic situation has to be considered at international forums for mere survival!
A Husnain
Dhaka
Mismanagement in flood relief
More than 45 districts have been inundated by this year's floods. The upsurge from India along with the torrential rain have brought the country under this deluge. When the whole country is affected, some self seekers are busy profit making, even they have shown the audacity to cut an embankment submerging a vast area in Bogra and Sirajganj.
The relief providers should ensure that relief goods are distributed evenhandedly and efficiently.
ABM Shafiqul Islam
Dept ofEnglish
Jahangirnagar University
Self-assessment scheme
By now, all the city dwellers might
have received Dhaka City Corporation's notice enclosing therewith Form 'A' and Form 'B' for selfassessment of holding tax. Form'A' stipulates obligatory provision for payment of a fine up to an amount of Tk 2,000, and in the event of failure to submit form 'B' within 15 days of receipt of the notice, an additional fine of Tk. 100.00 for each day of delay over 15 days. What an arbitrary decision for imposition of fines ! Do you think imposition of such a fine is lawful?
As for subsequent developments, the less said, the better.
In a complicated form like this one, it is most likely that some incorrect information may creep in inadvertently .
May I invite comments from your readers, particularly the houseowners of the city, on this issue.
MA Azim
Uttara Model Town, Dhaka.
Political aphorisms
Our problems are multifaceted; therefore our politicians are also multifaceted. Sometimes a thorn is used to remove a thorn.
The politicians are omnipresent. Hence our problems are also omnipresent. We have no place to stand (or bury the dead in flooded Bangladesh). We can only stare at the grim realities, not unleashed by Nature. Who are more omnivorous?
Floods come and go, but our politicians are permanent fixtures. The sun never rises, but it is always setting. We are familiar with political moonshine, and political kalbaishakis. Our politics is as dry as the Sahara desert.
Grey politics is the mother of all local inventions and interventions. Politics in the LDCs do not
come in Technicolorit is always black and grey; plus white lies.
The politicians believe in ghapla or snafu-situation normal all fumbled up. Necessity is the mother of dubious inventions.
Vicious cycles? Yes, we have more than that; vicious cycles of vicious circles. The effect is cyclonic, year after year.
Mystery, thy name is not woman, but politics.
An ounce of prevention is better then cure. In politics, an ounce of intervention brings in tons of money.
Money is flat and made to pile up, says the miser. No, money is round and made to roll. What the politicians say? Money is and made to, (fill in the blanks).
Alif Zabar
Dhaka