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To the editor
Shame indeed
Mr. W*ijahat Anwar with the Department of English at Dhaka College feels that it was a shame that Rituparno Ghosh's film ChokherBali could not be screened because of the lack of proper projectors in Bangladesh.
But Bangladesh does have proper projectors to screen international quality dolby DTS films at Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City. Star Cineplex uses 35 mm xenon Christie projectors with xenon lamps and cinemascope lenses and Dolby DTS surround sound.
Star Cineplex was scheduled to screen ChokherBalion Friday, December 3, until it was pulled out from the 2nd International Film Festival. Many keenly waiting viewers were left disappointed which was ashame indeed. Mirka Kristiina Rahman, MD, ShowMotion Limited Bashundhara City, Panthopath, Dhaka
Polythene
Polythene is coming back to some
5
particular areas at an alarming rate, butThe Daily Star has not published any report on it in recent times.
Please address the issue.
Reaz Uddin On e-mail
Fairlie House: Good site for a park
There are far too few parks in Dhaka and, thanks to unplanned growth over the years, the city has literally turned into a concrete jungle. In my opinion, the Fairlie House, located between Bangla Motors and Paribag, can be converted into a park without any problem. The house, owned by BIWTC, is unoccupied, has a large area in front with lots of trees. By replacing the front wall with a nice iron grille and constructing proper high boundary fence on the north, west, and south side, this place can be given a beautiful face lift. The bungalow type house which is in a dilapidated condition should be demolished. Conversion of this place is not irre-
versible and can be used for any other purpose the government might have planned. I draw the attention of the PMO and the Dhaka city Mayor to consider this proposal seriously.
Major Q S Ahmed, psc, te (retd) On e-mail
A harmful ally
For the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the victory of President George Bush may not be good for his political career. Because Mr Bush is very much unpopular in United Kingdom. If he had been replaced by John Kerry, Mr Blair would have found it easier to move out from the Iraq issue, which may effect the forthcoming British election. Some British politicians also think that George Bush will not pay as much as Tony Blair must pay for the Iraq war. He is also a type of man who can turn a bad situation into an opportunity. His job must be to safeguard British national interest and his nation's reoutation. and also keen his coun-
try safe from any harm. But supporting George Bush in Iraq may be the reason for his downfall in 2005 British election.
Tohsin Hyder
Maple Leaf International School, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
The dominant role of outsourcing
Recently India, China, Taiwan, even Sri Lanka have become big clients for large firms of US and UK in offshore outsourcing. This sort of a business is booming among our neighbours who are earning more foreign currency, providing service to the developed world. At the Gartner Inc. Outsourcing Summit 2003, Indian outsourcers dominated by showing videos and presenting their vast capabilities to the multinational companies who are potential offshore outsourcers. The main offshore outsource items are basically, service centres and application development. The four top firms of
India earn about $3 billion a year and employ about 70, 000 people with two-thirds to three-quarters of their business with North American companies, with 80 per cent of that work in application development and maintenance. The Indian government is also helping this sector to develop by mounting a major campaign to coax North American outsourcers to India. India has become the second largest market for offshore outsourcing for the developed world.
This is really distressing, because our neighbouring countries are getting more influx of foreign currency while we are still laid back and being the typical Bangladeshis. I am sure that making a call centre or getting together some IT professionals to work on application development is not that hard. Last summer I was in Dhaka after a year abroad and was amazed to see the development in the IT sector. But this development is not enough. One of the main
reasons for our slow progress, even after all the efforts is slow internet connection. We are not linked with the backbone optical connection, which has linked most of our neighbours. But, this is a problem for the application development, what about the call centres? Telecommunication in Bangladesh is not as bad as it used to be about 3 years back, but still entrepreneurs are overlooking the prospects of offshore outsourcing which US has started extensively. Dell, one of Americas largest computer manufacturers, has call centres located in Bangalore, and also other places in India. Why can't we do something like this? Manpower is definitely not the problem; the government should do something to attract more people to invest in this sector.
Outsourcing can actually save us from the bad trade deficit and improve our balance of payments. I urge all entrepreneurs to explore this sector of development that was being overlooked all this time.
it's never too late. Bangladesh can also portray itself as an outsourcing service provider; all we have to do now is open our eyes.
Samir Ahmed
Purdue University, USA
RAB
Much has been said and debated about RAB. The readers have expressed their opinions freely about its actions, supporting and discouraging. But I see most of the citizens support RAB's actions. For the time being, it may seem to us that RAB is doing good for the society and the country. But is it really so?
Crossfire is the term being used right from the beginning RAB began its operation? RAB says, and we all know, that in a crossfire both sides exchange firing. Or else, it won't be called crossfire, but would be called an "encounter."
Now, I have a question. If it was not an encounter, then how come
none of the RAB personnel got killed or even hurt in so many crossfire incidents. It indicates that the criminals did not open fire on them. Specially when those criminals are said to be notorious criminals, who have killed a lot of people, how on earth does RAB escape their bullets?
In a democratic country under the rule of law, could anyone or any institution or organisation be ever licensed to kill? If so, then there is no meaning to the existence of courts of law. And now, people will start killing each other if they have any allegations towards someone. If RAB's actions be supported like this, then no one will ever go to the court to seek justice ever again. Are we heading towards such a future in this country? If anyone is guilty of any crime, let the court decide. Why kill? And that too in encounters disguised as crossfire? It’s high time for us to think about what the future holds for us.
Kaushik Biswas
Banani, Dhaka