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TO THE EDITOR
Hopes and beliefs
A massive construction collapse is nothing new anywhere in the world but a lack of proper investigation is what is heartbreaking for the sufferers in Bangladesh... a beautiful green spot in this huge world.
A third-world country but with proven desires to get rid of that title, Bangladesh is constantly suffering from unbearable corruption. I have seen so many good changes in that country in the past 20 years: population control, continuous participation in world peace and security programmes, improvements in roads and highways, development in business sectors, effective innovation of micro-credit systems, massive education drives, tremendous improvement in customer service areas, and in so many more areas that I find it difficult to believe how only a small group of people are easily able to hold the country back from bursting into international fame and shrugging off
the 'third-world' title.
The recent collapse of the Spectrum Garments building in Savar reminded me of my first experience of a collapse of a similar garments building back in 1989 in Bangladesh. Similar scenario with fewer deaths (I think around 19 people during that time) was what was reported then.
Accidents will happen and ultimately it will be accepted by all but the sheer lack of accountability is what is unacceptable. The collapse of an overpass killing a businessman sitting in his car near Dhanmondi highlighted in most of the national dailies was heart breaking at one time but shocking was the fact that the same construction company, under a different name, got back into business and is working in other public areas. Earlier today I told my sobbing wife, "if not today, one of these days, you will get justice in your beloved country" and trust me
w en say a s ope an
believe in that. Do you?
John S Ahmed
On e-mail
Virtue of quietness!
Sound is a system of life. The existence of life is felt and perceived through the presence of sound. Yet enough, sound is no longer a symphony (like music etc). It is always felt in the form of noise, shrills and other cacophonies. The drivers of vehicles on the roads keep honking indiscriminately as if the traffic was going to settle down if they honked. Then even in the colleges, schools and hospitals sound is present. It is now considered dangerous. It seems like the pleasant quietness of our life has totally vanished. Even during religious festivals (like Shab-e-barat, Dewali) crackers are burst savagely, producing deafening noise.
I think the police should take up the matter and a public
opinion must be created through the newspapers.
Everyone must cultivate the virtue of quietness in domestic as well as public life.
Mohammed Fahim Hara
Eskaton Road, Dhaka
Be constructive
I have read the news on bribery in Bangladesh. Instead of covering bad news only, can't you educate people regarding the moral aspects of life?
My suggestion is: Be constructive , rather than being destructive. Monira Begum On e-mail
Holiday issue
Referring to the "Holiday issue" by MZ Islam, I and other forward thinking people totally disagree with you. If you and Mr. Azad Miah think that the world goes around the whims and wishes of Bangladesh's Friday holiday, you are sadly mistaken!
Bangladesh has Thursday half and Friday full weekend. Do that math and find out that we are cut off from the rest of the world for HALF
THE WEEK!!!
FAX, Internet, SMS, SATCOM and Video Conferencing, communication and connectivity can certainly make it easier but do not solve the big problem. One must also remember that the Middle East countries that we try to emulate so much have oil; so they can afford to keep their countries closed any day they wish to, we cannot.
Friday holiday does not make a person religious, Faith does!!
Adnan Siddiky
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
For better democracy…
We have crossed 34 years of our independence! Democracy is maturing and slowly gaining ground in our country. At present, people at large want peace, security and development. The human qualities like patience and tolerance must be cultivated and nurtured by our political, economic, social and religious lead-
ers for the overall progress and prosperity of our nation. No matter whether the JS remains in session or prorogued, in general the countrymen desire completion of the five-year term of the government.
We would see 'better democracy' in the days ahead when all the major political parties would field honest and qualified candidates in the general elections for the legislative branch of the government.
The responsible role of any qualified administration would call for independence of the judicial branch of the government and consequently the executive branch, comprising the civil and military officials (usually intelligence and law enforcement departments), could perform its duties as per the hopes and aspirations of the citizens.
Golam Ashraf
DOHS Baridhara, Dhaka 1206
Dr Samuel
Kobia's visit
My attention has been drawn to the
letter of John Peter Biswas under the title "Dr Kobia's message" published in this column on April 8, 2005. The letter of Mr. Biswas did not reflect the true picture of the visit of Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, Secretary General, World Council of Churches (WCC) and Dr Matthews George Chunakara, Asia Secretary, WCC.
Dr Kobia did not come to Bangladesh to hold any Sunrise Service. The purpose of his short visit was to inaugurate the newly built training centre of the Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) at Baroipara, near Savar. His visit simply coincided with the Easter Sunday.
This year interdenominational Sunrise Services were organised at five different places in view of the call of HARTAL on the Easter Sunday. There was no certainty that hartal would be shifted to another date in response to an appeal from the Christian community. The services were organised at five different places to allow various Church members to join the services according to their
convenience.
Dr Kobia chose the venue for the service at Mirpur because it is close to CCDB office. It would be unfortunate to view the matter negatively. The service at Mirpur was attended by more than a thousand devotees of Protestant (Anglican, Methodist, Salvation Army, Baptist, SDA) and Catholic Churches. The Easter message of Dr Kobia was: Do not be afraid of any evils.
During his visit he addressed a big ecumenical gathering at NCCB to share his opinion on "Ecumenism in 21st Century". He conveyed the message of peace, harmony and unity of the ecumenical family to face the challenges of the present turbulent world.
Thomas Bikash Baroi
88, Senpara Parbota
Mirpur, Dhaka