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Toll collection
An English daily has reporter! that toll taking still continues openly at the city bus terminals. This is a criminal practice. What is the CTG doing to stop this illegal activity’? Are they not interested in rounding up such gangs, usually associated with politicians and musclemen? It they mean to clean up this illegal source of political financing, they have to act
The ’toll" is usually passed on as ’costs' to the poor passengers, who are the ultimate victims of this illegal activity!
Is the adviser concerned aware of the presence of these criminals? A reader
On e-mail
Abul Kal am Azad
There have been very few leaders as great as Maulana Abul Kalani Azad He was a great religious leader, educationalist, writer and a great politician.
He was born in Mecca in 1888. He was the youngest son of his parents. He published two weekly journals in Urdu named the Al Hilal and the Al-Balagh which he himself edited between 1912 and 1930.
Azad was against the two-nation theory introduced by MA Jinnah. He looked at all Indians as one people, one community, and one nation.
Md.Rajja
Birgunj- Nepal
Biman’s new aircraft
I was reading a piece "Boeing! Boeing" in The Daily Star on 16 Mar 08 which was written by Mr M. Firoze- -a steel industry consultant. I was surprised. Who told him that the Bangladesh government is spending $1,265 billion of taxpayers' money on buying eight luxury aircraft? This is not true. Biman itself will bear the costs taking loan from international financing organisations like EXIM Bank --a US banking institution. And a small portion of the total amount will be paid from Biman's own funds. 1 his was in reports published in various newspapers. Even Mr Mahbub Jamil, the chairman of Biman's board of directors, said in a news
conference after signing the agreement with Boeing in Dhaka that Biman would not take anything from the government to buy the aircraft.
Another point he men-tioned/suggested is closing down the losing airlines. But I want to ask him WHY? I think he suffers from deficiency of information in this regard. Cutting down the head if there is a headache is not the solution. First, we should look into why Biman was not able to make profit.
Now everybody knows that it was the past governments and the ministers who were solely liable for the corruption in Biman, not Biman itself.
This clearly indicates that every past government was responsible for tarnishing the image of the National Carrier.
So it will be a gross injustice to punish someone for a crime which he did not commit!
Another important thing is that in the aviation business Asia is the most potential market now. Bangladesh has a great potential for aviation business. Almost every year a good number of new airlines are coming to start (heir operations in Bangladesh. And day by day every airline is increasing their flight frequency.
If the foreign airlines can do business here and make profit, why can't vve?
We should think positively and be optimistic.
Md Farid Ali
Uttara, Dhaka
Defaulters still unpunished Though most tycoons, particularly the so-called industrialists, must be termed as defaulters, there is no denying the fact that no ruling power can punish them, no legislation can put them into prison. Paradoxically, Manaranjan, an octogenarian of Rangpur district who could not pay his tiny amount of loan, was mercilessly dragged by the police not long ago and this became lead news at home and abroad. Interestingly enough, such elderly persons are, indeed, an easy prey to any ruling class. The persistent problem of loan default got its inception in the 1980s, during the regime of president HM Ershad.
Indiscriminate loans were given by different banks. Its sole aim was not to produce any entrepreneurs But to create a political seedbed for
certain vested quarters. Although misjudgement in loan disbursement by this decade has passed a long path, recovery of loan is a major area of failure.
Manaranjan's release was no doubt commended by all classes of society, while the same generosity is never believed to be apt for the dishonest businessmen The present caretaker government has taken many steps but no stern action has yet been taken against the loan defaulters.
Md. Rezaul Karim
Senior Lecturer
English Department
Leading University, Sylhet
Amemorableday
March 15 was the day on which 'The Daily Star' organised its 9th award presentation ceremony for the students of "O” and "A" levels, who had achieved excellent and extraordinary results in their respective examinations. The ceremony was held at the Indoor Stadium in Mirpur. It started with the national anthem and continued through recitations from the holy religious books and speeches from the distinguished chief guest, organisers and sponsors of the event. They gave valuable speeches.
You urged the awardees to make significant contributions towards the development of Bangladesh. While concluding the ceremony you wished us happiness and success in our lives. We also wish the same for you andThe Daily Star Adity Das Gupta
Mapleleaf International School
Research and education
To attain our development goals, education is a must. But it can be said that it is lacking in quality here. So we have to come forward to solve this problem. We need to undertake research projects in this area.
Here are some suggestions:
1. Enough facilities should be provided by the educational institutes.
2. Research should be patronized and appreciated by the government.
3. Research centres should be established.
4. The media should play a proactive role.
Montasir Mamun
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