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To the Editor
Handloom industry Handloom industry at Ishwardi in Pabna is on the verge of extinction due to handloom owners' economic crisis, shortage of capital and , above all, price hike of raw materials etc.
Three years ago. about 750 people were involved in this business and about 350 sets of handloom were running but now about 200 people are in this business with onlv 100 sets of handloom. Then a piece of sari was -sold at Tk 1700-1800,How the same sari is sold at Tk 700-800, said Nazrul Islam, secretary to the Ishwardi Benarashi Cooperative. Sonu, a handloom owner, who had shut down his two sets of handloom, said. 1 bought thread for Tk. 110 a pound three years ago. now a pound of thread is sold at Tk 155.
They said if the government gives them financial assistance namely, interest-free loan, they can try to reorganise the business.
Ariful Islam Mithu Ishwardi, Pabna
Statues and humans!
When the statues of our National
Museum were being sent to France for exhibition, there were strong protests by some cultural activists and newsmen which impressed many My point is that how they were sure that those materials would not be returned? What pains us is that when thousands of innocent children and women were smuggled out (possibly still being smuggled) like commodities, there was no significant protest (at least not noticeable).
I do not want to be with the people who are more worried about statues than humans!
Dr. Mahboob Hossain
Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacy The University of Asia Pacific Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Cyclone Sidr
I was very glad to read a letter on the above subject in The Daily Star issue of the 7th instant which was written by one of my revered teachers, Prof. Abul Khairat Majumdar (former Professor of Soil Science of Bangladesh Agricultural Institute, now Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University).
How true it is, as revealed by
Prof. Majumdar, that the recent disaster and destructions caused by the Cyclone Sidr in the southwest region of our country was actually the outcome of the unscrupulous activities of people, particularly those of the so called highly industrialised nations. In fact, the advanced countries of the world have been tremendously contributing in the production and emission of greenhouse gasses responsible for global warming and climatic changes.
Hence, the industrialised countries should take it as their moral responsibility to control their activities that are causing environmental pollution and contributing to climatic changes and help the developing countries build capacities to face the havoc!
Professor M Zahidul Haque Chairman
Department of Agricultural Extension & Information System Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka
HR situation
The number of deaths of people is not, in my experience, a good
indicator of HR situation in a country like Bangladesh. For example, just a few weeks back there was a mega cyclone. Nature has taken thousands of lives. I refer to the compensating effect that a famous economist once mentioned in his theory of economics. Those who have studied economics know it
With reference to the number of deaths, it is important to count who have died. Many murderers (locally known as mastans) have been lounging around with bold face since long time back. These murderers who destabilize a community, bring in man-made disasters to many families, have lost their legitimate right to live. If they were properly nabbed, delivered to an honest justice system, they would get capital punishment, anyway!
While I mention these examples, at the same time I express sorrow for any person who has unjustifiably fallen victim to abuse of law by anybody who was supposed to mete out justice.
Mahmud, HK
Release of university teachers
For the last few days, Dhaka University teachers and students are staging silent processions, manab-bandhan (human chain), abstention from classes etc. in protest of trial of teachers and students who reportedly incited countrywide violence. They are also demanding unconditional release of teachers & students who were reportedly involved in the incitement.
Teachers have lost their glory of the past. Now there are "white" and "red” that are involved in party politics. /Ml our political parties have their supporter groups. Many students do work as cadres of political parties.
We the common people have the right to know what had actually happened, who were involved in this dirty game and tried to throw us into the black hole and for what purpose.
Was it all set up to help the corrupt leaders who are now languishing in jail? We want to know the fact Shafiqul Islam On e-mail
CI sheet price
Entrepreneurs take industrial ventures when on analysis it appears profitable. The same factors influenced a few industrialists in Bangladesh in the late 90s and early 2000s. They analysed the then fiscal policy of the government and found that it would be profitable to set up and operate Cold Rolling Mills (CRM) to produce Cold Rolled (CR) Coils. The galvanizing factories in Bangladesh then imported CR Coils from abroad to produce Corrugated Iron (CI) sheets and Galvanized Plain (GP) sheets. The duty structure on import of Hot Rolled (HR) Coils, basic raw material to produce CR Coils was low. Only 5% customs duty, 4% DSC, 3% AIT and 1% PSC were imposed on HR Coil import. Encouraged by these fiscal policy, a few reputed industrialists over here established some sophisticated large industrial
projects, viz. Cold Rolling Mills (CRM) from 1997 to 2003. Total achievable production of these CRMs stood at 7.5 hundred thousand metric tons. In 2003 the total demand of CR Coils was estimated at 6 hundred thousand metric tons. Before setting up of CRMs in Bangladesh, all the CR Coils were imported from abroad. When the country achieved self-sufficiency in producing CR Coils, the government started to increase customs duty from 5% to 7.5% then 10% there after 15% on import of HR Coils. In addition to that the government imposed 15% VAT on import of HR Coils. On the other hand, the basic prices of HR Coils have increased many folds in international market within a couple of years. All these factors increased the cost of production of CR Coils. As a result, the cost of production of end product, Corrugated Iron (CD sheets and Galvanized Plain (GP) sheets crossed the purchasing power of the most consumers. It is estimated that annual demand of CI sheets and GP sheets has gone down to 3 hundred thousand metric tons owing to abnormally high prices. To bring down the price to a significant level, the duty structure on import of HR Coils needs to be re-fixed at 5% and VAT needs to be withdrawn as those were before 5-6 years.
We do not have control over international price of HR Coils, but our government can review its fiscal policy to bring down the CI and GP sheets prices, so that consumers in Bangladesh can purchase CI sheets and construct low cost houses.
Md. Ashraf Hossain Central Bashabo Dhaka
Looking back and forth
On 11th January, our present government finished one year in office during which they have tried, and been trying, their level best to give us a corruption free country and true and fair election scheduled to be staged at the end of this year. Prior to Fakhruddin-Ied government's undertaking, our political situation was potentially turning towards a civil war. And the lajuddin-led first interim government was acting as a puppet of Khaleda Zia whose main intention was to ascend the throne by whatever means, and her subjects were working according to her plan.
On the other hand, Hasina's persistence with removing the politically biased interim government for bringing a neutral government was temporarily successful at least from her personal point of view and she was at first so happy that she proclaimed to legalise the present government's deeds, if she could ascend the throne in future.
There are other issues also. I am very religious, but I do hate to see our government delaying the trial of war criminals.
The political leaders should show their class in leading our country properly. Otherwise, the political stalemate will never be resolved.
Nasih UlWadud Alam (Paolo) Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Law enforcers and the law
I was walking today (10/1/08) close to Aarong and Manik Mia Avenue where I saw a shinny looking blue Nissan Patrol sta tioned next to the road where it read In bright colours no parking ' I was mildly amused and was thinking who is this rich guy having no civic sense.' To top it off, there was parking space available next to the car. I took interest and pecked in to see that it was none other than a Rub's car where a young adult and a little girl were seated. Without paying much attention, I moved to a close-by house and ran my errands and returned after around 25 minutes and saw that the Nissan Patrol was still resolutely standing in the same position, whereas there were three parkings open where the driver could have easily pulled into. The young adult and child were not there and I could easily put two and two together and realized that the 'official car' was being used for shopping at Aarong or a mall close it. This practice is common in Bangladesh and most people abuse the system and no pointing fingers at this wrong deed are ever labelled at anyone. This sorry state of affairs needs to change, however.
Coming back to the 'Nissan Patrol, 1 saw the driver standing approximately 15 yards away next to a cigarette stand' talking with a traffic policeman. I could see that traffic congestion was being created due to this car, which in the first place, had been parked in the no parking zone' (actually right under the sign of no parking) that can be spotted at least from fifty yards away. I very politely requested the traffic policeman that this car needs to be parked in
“Bottomless basket”
The infamous Mr. Henry Kissinger was the foreign secretary of another infamous and disgraced ex-President of the USA Mr. Nixon Mr. Kissinger was known for his notorious foreign policies and as the architect of heinous plots aiming to eliminate popular leaders of other countries in the world, albeit not compatible with so-called “American interest" and or to terminate popular struggles for independence by the nations who upheld socialist values. No wonder, he despised the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 that he considered as distraction to his top secret China venture and as a result not only under his advice America vetoed UNSC resolutions to stop the Pakistan army junta from continuing the genocide in Bangladesh but also Sheikh Mujib found his place in Kissinger s list of the top three most hated leaders in the then world.
Therefore, it is an utter shame and disgrace for any Bangladeshi to quote, in support of his analogy of the state of the affairs of Bangladesh in any context, a
the right spot so as to avoid traffic jam. He mumbled something that I could not decipher. I then went to the driver and only suggested that perhaps slightly moving the car and parking it in the very next spot would be helpful for the traffic. To my utter surprise, the driver responded with harsh comments and wanted to prove to me that what J had said was not at all true and that I have used the wrong word blocking the road.' He acted like a sovereign king and spoke with venom; he proved to me that he believed in being the law and, therefore, he was above the law. After being jolted with verbal harassment, I stepped a few steps away from this driver and waited another two or three minutes to see if good senses prevailed on him or not. It was no surprise to me to see that he continued to portray the face of defiance as if he had achieved a miraculous success.
Indeed, he was successful for me to bring this out into the public. Some of you may think why I should be wasting my time in writing about such a petty matter. I would strongly ascribe to the matter not being petty but a matter of misuse of power that needs to stop point blank. He was a law enforcer and I was the small guy on the street and it seemed to me that during his barrage of words 'survival of the fittest' was being played again that I do not subscribe to. Should it not be more like survival of honest behaviour and law abiding actions? This small incident gives me the belief that Rab perhaps needs to re-train their drivers or hire polite individuals, otherwise random backlashes like my comments may be floated by others, thereby undermining the good deeds of Rab. It would be helpful for someone with connection to the right
crooked remark such as "bottomless basket" that came from a person of Mr. Kissinger s disrepute and appalling political track record!
In retrospection, in 1974 Sheikh Mujib inherited a war-torn country completely ravaged to the ground, millions of people displaced from home, businesses burnt down, empty banks, tens and thousands of Bangladeshis stranded in Pakistan threatened to be killed if PoWs were not released, anti-liberation forces still at large to complete their unfinished agenda and on top the world's most powerful country, the USA supported by oil reach Saudi Arabia were up against and actively engaged to teach Mujib a lesson of his life! In all fairness, when wc evaluate Sheikh Mujib's performance in the postliberation Bangladesh till the day of his tragic death, at least now we should look at it impartially and dispassionately to do the justice he deserves. Compare that with the situation Bangladesh is going through now. This CTG is enjoying full support and backing of the Army, media (no one is out there
sources to discuss these matters and take corrective action.
I am a law abiding citizen wanting timely efforts at building a positive social face* to our law enforcing authorities. Is it not high time?
Zlaur Rahman
Chief Executive Officer International Institute of Technology & Management West Panthopath, Dhaka
Why at taxpayers' cost?
I find it amazing that Sheikh Hasina and/or Khaleda Zia would consider going abroad for medical treatment and, worse still, there is an expectation that the hard working Bangladeshi tax payers should be bearing the cost of their treatment What should warrant such preferential treatment? Are they of a higher caste than other good hardworking Bangladeshis who are trying hard to live an honest life?
If Prime Minister Gordon Brown of UK decided to go for treatment to America he would have most surely been booted out by members of his own party, let alone the public. Gordon Brown will get the treatment from a medical service he has helped to create good or bad.
Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia should definitely receive medical treatment, but from the doctors and medical facilities they helped to create For them, not to trust the physicians of Bangladesh only undermines their love and sacrifice for the country.
They are already being treated well, given their 'Prison' being luxurious flats next to the prune location of J S Bhaban.
Fazle Karim Chowdhury Barrister at Law
Lincoln's Inn
with a camera to recreate a 'fishing-net-clad mentally ill Bashanti !) and civil bureaucracy at home and all the powerful govts e g. USA UK EU who came forward with all sorts of assistance and support, sometimes even before asked, and yet the CTG is struggling to deal with only one challenge, that is, the prices of essentials.
Ask them, it is way lot easier said than done! If we are to move forward we must uphold neutrality and fairness in all areas of national interest. Unfair evaluation is also a form of corruption!
Moinu) Chowdhury
Gulshan. Dhaka
The nation
Our motherland is the only country in the world, which fought to save its language, and the Language Movement in 1952 brought “Bangla Bhasha" for us, then the 1971 war gave us full freedom as a sowreign country.
But haw we really done enough to perpetuate the glory of 1971? Md. Shahriar Parvez (BBA, MBA) Banani. Dhaka