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TO THE EDITOR
Poor umpiring
On viewing the two one-dayers played so far between Bangladesh and NZ in the current cricket series, we are very much shocked to see the unjust decisions of the umpires going against Bangladesh only. In the first match, Bangladesh failed to get a positive nod from the umpires against their appeals on a couple of occasions when NZ batsmen were out. Even in the first match the leg umpire stopped a full shot of one Bangladeshi player by his own hand which would have been a boundary. In the second match, Ashraful was given out when the cover fielder caught a bounced ball. This is a huge injustice in any count and unfortunate for Bangladesh! If all the decisions were correct by the umpires, then NZ had really tough days. Their defeat was no far.
By seeing all these, we cannot but think that discriminations in many forms still exist against developing countries like Bangladesh by the so-called developed countries.
Nasima Ahmed Chowdhury Ahmad Ahm ar Chowdhury &
Fasiha Zahra Chowdhury MAN Garden Officers'Quarters Mirpur, Dhaka
Wake-up call
I am shocked to learn the news of the death of Ms Bhutto. She was the best hope for Pakistan to get rid of the fascist elements. We should remember the attempt to kill Sheikh Hasina on 21st August 2004. While the extremists are killing their opponents, amassing money from mid-east and taking control of different powerful government and non-govt positions, our democratic and half democratic parties are busy to meet their own selfish interests.
In Bangladesh we have been seeing almost the same things as in Pakistan. If we don’t isolate the extremists, we will see the real monster in the near future.
Basically, they have the same root, money source, same ideology and same mindset. It's time to take tough measures, ifwe want to avoid anotherTaliban state.
Mortuza
On e-mail
Our own wonders!
I am a regular reader ofyour newspaper's Internet and printed editions. As a leading national daily of Bangladesh "The Daily Star" has been taking part in many social activities and I believe it would make more if its readers aware of different issues. Believing this today I would like to request you to publish some articles, features, and quotes on selection of the seven natural wonders of tlie world and the positions of Cox's Bazar and the Sundarbans in the rating list. I believe this simple initiative of yours would help these natural wonders to maintain their positions firmly in future. Please post a regular section on the position of these natural wonders of Bangladesh on the Internet edition as well as in your regular printed edition to encourage people. It should also be provided with the link to the site directly(http://wwwnew7wonders. com/nature) so that people can cast theirvotes.
Shakiv, One-mail
Sense of responsibility In consideration of the theft of valuable artefacts at Zia International Airport, the adviser concerned has resigned, taking full responsibility for the mismanagement. This is exactly what is expected of a person of his stature and position. But alas! Can we expect from anyone else the same degree of responsibility, courage and professionalism on the recent deaths of a dozen innocent work ers? Never!
Zahid Shafi Edison
New Jersey
The New Year's promise
We grew up hearing that Bangladesh was the country of gold, golden Bengal, and our future is golden too. During hard times, it was common to hear comments such as “yes, always the future, never the present". Well, things arc changing. Is the future here? Or maybe is it around the corner? What does tins present situation, the new situation really mean?
Where we are now, actually? The GDP in percentage has low cred in comparison to year ending 2006. The economy didn't grow throughout the year, low investments, low production with high family spending. Foreign investment is not coming as per expectations. The unstable economy is the main source of concern; as for choices, they are very limited.
But it is the end of the year. Time to rejoice and renew our hopes. Time to think positively and to look forward. Time to believe that if that promised future is not here, it could be closer, as a matter of fact, maybe even around the corner.
With eyes more focused on the quality of life of people and in the health of this earth that shelters and feeds us, we must keep on hoping, without losing sight of what has yet to come.
Sirajul Islam Pisciculture HS Shyamoli, Dhaka
Cyclone Sidr
The disaster and devastation caused by the cyclone "Sidr" in such a short span of time (in comparison to two preceding floods) show us how nature may take revenge on us when it is infuriated by the unscrupulous activities of people, particularly those of so called highly industrialised nations. But unfortunately the havoc that nature causes in repercussion is indiscriminate and may befall even those who are not responsible for the misdeeds, as we find in our case.
The intensity of miseries and misfortune of our brethren in the south-west part of the country is gradually unfolding with the dawn of each day. Many friendly countries have come forward to help us out. Now time has come for us to rise up to do our utmost in this regard.
Abul Khairat Majumdar Retd. Professor, BAI Monipur, Mirpur Dhaka
Yet to be done...
A great many felicitations, no doubt, should go to the caretaker government and its law enforcement agencies for the steps taken against the corrupt politicians and the vested interest groups of our country. Also worth praising is the recent drive against Yaba that arouses a new sense of direction about the ills of a drug. But two more things are yet to be done-giving a proper reply to the objectionable remarks about our freedom fighters and putting an end to the fussing over the price hike. We, the commoners, respect our freedom fighters for their supreme contributions to our struggle for freedom.
So, we cannot allow the war criminals to undermine our Liberation War and its heroes. Parvejur Rahman Dept, of English
Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology
Sylhet
Neruda, Tagore and Iqbal
We can draw a parallel line between the three great national poets, most popular in their respective continents. Rabindranath Tagore can thus be regarded as having an effective visual perception regarding per ceptual realism. One can recognise the factor that the poet had his greatest association with Hindu theology. However, if we draw a similar association with the Chilean author and poet Pablo Neruda and of-course no-body can actually forget Iqbal, then one can thus obtain the idea that the functional prowess of their national poetry has not only continued to influence their respective religious ideologies, but their inclination towards their respective beliefs can also be seen.
But still Tagore, Neruda and Iqbal, all of them possessed a similar homogeneity in their styles and expressions.
Sarah Ahmed
One-mail
Cinema
Man seeks pleasure and recreation and cinema is a great source of fun. Il is also one of the wonders of modern science. Cinema refers to a stage in which pictures on motion are shown on a screen. Firstly, to produce a cinema, shooting is a must. A number of actors and actresses play in a studio. In most cases they go out for shooting to hills, deserts seas or to places of scenic beauty. Some photographs against some backgrounds are then snapped. These photographs arc shown on the screen with the help of cinematograph. When the show goes on, the ribbon of photo pictures is unrolled and thrown upon the while screen with necessary lights. This produces motion pictures on the screen. Formerly, pictures moved silently but nowadays pictures not only move but also talk and sing.
Cinema is the cheapest source of our recreation and enjoyment nowadays. It has been very popular in the whole world. Anybody getting tried or fatigued or depressed may enjoy cinema show and may be relieved of tension.
Past facts and episodes may be kept alive in film pictures. Great men and heroes of the past may be visible on the screen. They may be found moving talking and singing. Adventurous stories may be practically exposed on the screen-novels and fictions may be learnt through films. It is a fact that cinema is a great source of knowledge.
Cinema has a dark side too. Young people very often go astray due to watching vulgar movies. Obscene and bad films mislead general people and corrupt society very often. These affect the morality of the people to a great extent. Production of good or bad films is not the criterion to judge whether cinema itself is good or bad. We must not abuse it!
S M Najmul Haque Santahar (Chabagan) Bogra
Modern day barbarism
Who is the greatest killer of the world now? Undoubtedly the answer will be Mr. Bush. In the name 8D'war on terror’’ the Bush government is torturing and killing a lot of innocent people in Afghanistan and Iraq. From immediately after 9/11 of 2001 till now the US soldiers and coalition soldiers are arresting people as suspects. They made so called prisons for the suspects at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and so on to torture and kill people. There is no definite allegation or evidence against most of the detainees. As they are shouting for human rights and humanity, they are the first violators of all such things. They are continuously degrading humanity by their brutal inhumane behaviours. Most of the detainees are innocent and they have no connection with terrorism. But they are passing the worst months and years suffering the ruthless torture of the soldiers. When anyone dies due to their torture, they pass it off as a natural death. You will be surprised to know that the young energetic persons are always the victims of natural death in those torture cells.
Howlong will this go on?
Md. Faisal Bin Karim Jahangirnagar University Savar, Dhaka
Political drama!
A new political drama is unveiled. The health condition of two interned former prime ministers is in the limelight which has given rise to the question of going abroad for better treatment. Health and political approach to this issue is different in case of the two interned leaders. The BNP approach is more prudent, compared totheAL's.
In case of the BNR a vice president is saying that if their leader is released from the jail, she would get a natural atmosphere to meet his well wishers, relatives and recover from her illness which is said to be aggravating for isolation from the people, and that she is the one who should decide where she would undergo treatment, if needed. A sound political move to ask for her release.
But in case of the AL leader, her four personal physicians are taking the major role in sending her for better treatment in the USA because of the complications of her illness and previous treatment records. The AL working committee is also very concerned about her health condition and recommends her treatment abroad, provided she agrees to this move.
We do not know how bad is the health condition of the BNP leader, but we are hearing about the deteriorating health condition of the AL leader for some time from family sources and physicians as well. Now the question is, what would be tlie position of the government, and under what conditions they would be sent abroad for treatment, and who would bear the costs subject to the consent of the two leaders. These questions might be considered by the government if they agree to send them abroad for treatment on humanitarianground.
We think it would be the most
appropriate action on the part of the government to set them free on bail so that their mental agony is relieved and they can undergo treatment as free political leaders of Bangladesh. This will enhance their personal image including that of the country. We hope they would not be sent to a foreign country to receive treatment under police custody in a prison cell as we have in the PG Hospital.
However, these are all assumptions based on media reports from the party and the doctors. We would appreciate a dignified
decision from the government in this behalf.
A reader
On e-mail
Poor batting
The openers started so well, but then everything went awry. That's cricket, perhaps a bit too much of it! The New Zealanders showed their class in bowling!
We have to be more consistent to fight at that level of the game. Is anybody listening?
Mansur Raja
Dhaka