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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.
Modern approach
The ancient saying "a flexible person is he/she who is like water, without shape or size taking the shape of anything that finds him/her."That negative judgement no longer applies in today's business world. In fact, a flexible person is the most valuable asset, one who can change, adapt or modify him/herself or their plans based on the ever changing world and its needs.
It is easy to criticise North America or European Union but let's face the fact; they are not only controlling the world economy but also leading the socio-cultural arena. Be a player of that winning team. China is playing it.
People are usually proud of their culture and religion. Often they love to talk about it to people of other culture or religion. Caution
and technical skills are very much needed before starting this kind of conversation. It is better to leave religion and politics out of the corporate world.
Westerners are very good at appreciating and praising, although how much of that is genuine is unknown. Often high officials of developing countries are encouraged by the promises and praising remarks made by officials from western countries. This is a part of the political and often business culture of many western countries to talk very positively to the visiting delegates about their country. Some of it is genuine, but over 50% of it Is out of courtesy. Please note that China has adopted the western style. Please appreciate and praise others at every opportunityyouget.
Ehsan Imdad
Banani, Dhaka 1212
Why this power shortfall?
Newspaper reports (April: 8) mentioned about the quandary of our parliamentarians on identifying the reason behind power shortage. They were not sure if it was gas shortage or power generation or transmission glitches that were the reason behind power shortfall. It seems the figures provided by the two authorities were confusing. Now an enquiry team will find out the real reason behind this confusion, which I hope will be shared with the power starved citizens.
However, the power failure followed by air conditioning failure as reported in the papers (April: 9) at the state function in the Bangladesh China Friendship Hall had perhaps nothing to do with gas supply. The
glitch could be mechanical or power distribution based. We await the enquiry report on this matter too.
In this connection it might be interesting to quote from "Energy & Power” issue ofApril 1.They wrote" there is no problem of gas supply to power plants in Sylhet, Shahjibazar, Ashuganj, Baghabari, Shambhugonj. Megnaghat, Haripur, Siddirganj and Chittagong areas". They further wrote “the gas supply to Ghorashal has to be restricted during peak hours, as the gas transmission pipelines have to feed gas demand of entire northern parts of Dhaka and also the Ghorashal fertiliser plants. The potver plants of Ghorashal are relatively inefficient and require more gas for generating electricity".
These may be indicators of deficiency in the operation and maintenance of power plants, rather
than gas supply. Ultimately the issue boils down to extra power capacity to enable generating sets to be taken out for routine maintenance and required repair and replacement of parts. More power plants are however conspicuous by their absence, and no solution may be available for some time to come!
-Maybe, representatives from "Energy & Power", the only technical magazine on the subject, should be part of these enquiry teams so that both the government and the public can know about the facts.
Engr.S. A. Mansoor
Gulshan, Dhaka
Good move, but...
It is appreciable that after a long time Grameen phone has responded by offering some sort of facilities to their customers that
include extending the validity period for Tk 300 scratch card to 6 months, offering30 seconds pulse in the 1st minute, reducing the access fee toTk 150 etc. But no reduction in call rate has been offered; what has been done is just splitting the costs into segments. At the end of the day we, the loyal customers, will be paying as high as before.
I hope the management will surely look after the customers' benefits and will take necessary steps to ensure that users are highly satisfied and feel free to use the mobile phone without any ceiling, likeourneighbouringcountries. Farhana Hossain DOHS,Batidhara
Torture!
This refers to a news item in The Daily Star dated 9th April 2005 (on page3) saying "Enact Laws to check
noise pollution" with a picture of a human chain "demanding effective measures to check noise pollution".
Noise pollution in the cities of Bangladesh has gone too far beyond the acceptable limits in decibel anywhere in the world. It seems no third world backward country is as uncivilised as we are in respect of making noise. I live in a residential area in Chittagong which, besides being a residential area, houses schools, colleges, university and hospitals. One of the busiest roads traverses the residential area allowing passage of all kinds of conceivable vehicles, including intercity buses and trucks with hydraulic horns continuously pressed from both directions of the road and loud speakers fitted on the roof of the buses with songs in full volume. And these happen during the day and during the night all days
of the week. To this is added frequent miking for political and religious meetings.
This is not just gross noise pollution and serious health hazard, which may lead to permanent deafness and heart attack. This Is TORTURE to the residents, patients and students of the area. Something must be done about it. I don't think use of hydraulic horns and loud speakers are allowed in city areas. Why can't these be stopped? I feel if the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and the City Mayor wish, they could stop these nuisances forthwith.
Anyway, if that needs enactment of law, please enact the relevant law and save the peace-loving people from being tortured.
Prof. A.S.M. Fazlul Karim One-mail