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TO THE EDITOR
Global changes
Basic generation changes are taking place globally, not only in Bangladesh, S Asia (Pakistan), but also in America (US), and central Europe (Kosovo). The central theme is change in the philosophy of political governance.
Modem politics has a soft or rotten heart inside? Political philosophy is man-made; while human nature is older and programmed by divine DNA roadmap, Bad. corrupt, immoral politics is responsible for today's turn to religion, to see the light at the end ofthe tunnel.
In Dhaka, it is for the burial of dynasty rules (living in the past and fantasizing about a bright future) and corruption In Pakistan the domination of the army and well-watered Punjab (the rest of Pakistan are desert or non-arable). In the US, for the first time, a
woman is trying to be president, and another candidate for the presidential election is from the US minority/ethnic group (father a foreigner Muslim, and wife a white American). In central Europe, the suppressed minority group has regained independence after a horrible campaign based on genocide (ref: the past Islamic history of the Balkans). India has to be prepared to review the futile shadow boxing on Kashmir for half a century; noting that the Mughal Muslims ruled Hindu India for several centuries, and all lived amicably.
This basic shift from political leadership to religious salvation is a turning point in this 21st century. Politics is failing due to moral corruption (Indonesia, S America, and Africa) and materialism.
The US has multi-programmes, being the lone superpower, it has global implications. One is the sole
dependence of the US Dollar as the sole global currency; the other is tlie commitment in Iraq, watching helplessly waist-deep in mud.
The relocation of factories and offices to Asia (Saarc and Asean) is another evidence of the shifting of the sine wave from the West to the East (civilization originated in Asia thousands of years ago). The rich monarchs in the Gulf keep their wealth in the US; and also dominate the oil/energy global market. What is the secret strategy in the rise of oil prices from USD 22 to over USD 100 per barrel? The Americans can't live without oil imports (Iraq a victim?). The economic plight of EU and Japan is not so heartening. China and India (pop, 2.5 billion) are in the playing field.
Hence economic pressures and stances rule the world today, Solutions are not easy, as the UN philosophy is still still-born.
Quick-fix? Ask the next President of the United States of America!
A Mawaz
Dhaka
Islamic tourism
Islamic tourism is a pretty talked about topic. Islamic countries from the Asia Pacific region have agreed to form an Asia Pacific Islamic Travel and Tours Federation to "safeguard" the interests of Muslim tourists and travel agents. Representatives from the four founding member countries -Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei together with ASEAN neighbour Singapore - have agreed to its formation at the recent Bumitra Islamic Tourism Forum 2008 in Kuala Lumpur.
Islamic tourism has great potential. In addition to promoting Malaysia as a main tourist destination for Muslims, the Malaysian government aims to make Malaysia a tourism hub.
A tourism worker One-mail
Trial of war criminals
The whole nation is united on this point. Obviously, people hope that this government will take steps to start the long awaited trial. Everybody believes that the war criminals who committed crimes against humanity during 1971 liberation war will finally face trial.
The trial was a long awaited pending matter which was not addressed by any of our past governments, since the country’s birth 37 years back. In the meantime, some more problems were created by our politicians. These newly created problems are not less serious than the trial of war criminals. Some of these issues can be mentioned here: (a) Murder of the Father ofthe Nation in 1975. (b) Jail Killing in 1975 (c) Killings of important political leaders by militants.(d) Distortion of the history of our liberation war.
The above problems were created by some politicians either to climb on to the dais of power or to stay in power. These groups polluted our sacred constitution. They amended the constitution to protect killers of the Father of the Nation constitutionally,, they, rehabilitated the war criminals and protected the killers of their political rivals. They deliberately distorted the history of our liberation war using some of our so-called intellectuals. In the eyes of law, all who committed and those who helped the perpetrators to commit the above crimes, are equally guilty.
All pending trials should be completed to unite the nation. Our future generations should know what really happened in 1971, and afterwards.
Shafiqul Islam
On e-mail
♦ ♦*
The demand to bring the 1971 war criminals to justice has received fresh momentum. A government worth the name has to act according to the wishes of the majority of the people. If they fail in this respect, the rulers will be taking an anti people stand. I do not think the present government would like to be branded that way. If they have any doubt, then let there be a quick country-wide or sample referendum. If the majority want a trial the rulers have to arrange this or quit.
Now, what about trial of those who through naked manipulations and total disregard for the people's sentiments rehabilitated the war criminals and allowed them to share state power? In my view, the BNP has committed crimes against the state which cannot go unpunished. They should also face trial for collaboration, betrayal and abuse of power and be punished simultaneously with the war criminals. Those who demand trial of the war criminals only are ignoring the sins of the BNP.
Flslam, Dhaka
Anti-corruption campaign
It is nice to see erudite people belonging to the civil society taking note on the on going anticorruption campaign and the processions etc. Theycan also take a stroll down the not so civil part of the city where children are burning under the scorching sun in the never ending line of BDR shops. If the mindless and overzealous jihad against corruption could be driven with some sanity and common sense, instead of making a media circus, these children could attend school, instead of saving some precious money for their poor parents. The advisers always preach transparency and accountability. Charity should begin at home!
Saif
Dhaka
Potato and rice
Rice is a staple that mainly supply carbohydrates in our diet Milled rice has a high glycemic index and a poor source of quality nutrients such as essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Potatoes on the other hand are nutritionally much superior to rice. It contains nutritionally important vitamins, minerals and some important essential amino acids making its protein higher in quality compared to rice. Usually a medium potato (150g/5.3 oz) with the skin provides 27 mg vitamin C (45% of the Daily Value (DV), 620 mg of potassium (18% of DV), 0.2 mg vitamin B6 (10% of DV) and trace amounts of riboflavin, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. The fibre contents of a potato is almost equal to many whole grain breads, pastas, and cereals. It is an important component for heart-wise diet. In addition to vitamins, min erals and fibre, potatoes also contain many phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols which were shown to have anti-
cancer properties. Since potatoes are a good source of potassium with low sodium content, it reduces die risk of high blood pressure and stroke.
The price of rice is skyrocketing in the market and it is very difficult for the average consumer to buy good quality rice. This year Bangladesh had a bumper potato crop. Rice being nutritionally poorer to potato, it is time for die nutritionist community of Bangladesh to popularise potato for better nutrition. Potato is used mainly in making curry, "bhorta" and lately for making fries. Nutritionists should come up with new ideas to include potato in popular local dishes. One way potato consumption could be increased is to reconstitute the popular Bengali dish “Khichuri" with 40% rice, 50% potato, 5% dal, some bits and pieces of fish or chicken with some flavouring veggies.
M Rafique Uddin, PhD
USA
Doctors’ obligations
Reading your reports about the difficulty of staffing and equipping rural hospitals reminded me of one of the better ideas to come out of Communist Russia - that every medical student whose training had been paid for by the state should spend the first two years of his or her professional life serving in the villages.
Oh, and the same applied to teachers!
Wouldn't that solve rather a lot of problems in Bangladesh - if rather a lot of officials had the courage to face the storm of protest that would doubtless arise? But do those who have benefited from the generosity of the state have NO obligations to serve their country rather than their own exclusive self-interest?
Think about it!
Angela Robinson
Gulshan, Dhaka
Expatriate students
Weare expatriate students or you might say the most hardworking class of Bangladeshis. I came to this 'land of opportunity' (Australia) about four years ago. 1 came alone.
Some of us have weak English and as we are really busy here we do not have the time to improve our language skills. Parents and relatives think we are in a heaven but they don't realise how much hardship and mental stress we have to go through. We come abroad with dreams and a lot of courage. But life is not that rosy here.
The reason I am writing today is I will get my citizenship soon and I still see people coming here with dreams. They expect something but never get it. We never get angry, we never leave the job. We look forward to better days!
Mahbubur Rahman (Pavel)
Melbourne, Victoria
Australia
Shocking decision
We the people of Bangladesh depend on rice to feed ourselves. But the prices of rice along with other commodities are increasing rapidly. If this situation goes on one day the country will face a famine. A few days ago, a news report was published in various newspapers that the government was going to buy some new luxury cars for the advisers and the DCs. The decision came as a shock to us because the country is passing through a crisis. According to Dr Akbar Ali Khan(Chairtnan of RRC) the money which will be spent for buying the luxury vehicles could be used to decrease the prices of rice and other household commodities.
As a citizen of Bangladesh, it Is beyond my comprehension how the government could think in terms of buying such vehicles!
Abrar
Dept, of Economics
University of Rajshahi
Warcriminals
I believe the time has come to have a lively and frank discussion to understand the meaning of war criminal. I understand the feeling of fellow citizens clamouring for trial of war criminals, and I am all for it. But, what constitutes war criminality?
Who could be a war criminal? Today 1 sec a news item, which states a number on war criminals who could be tried (12,000).
This is a ridiculous number. There arc war criminals and there are War Criminals. You just cannot go and find out every Razakar, Al-Badr, members of the Peace Committee and brand them war criminals.
War criminals are those who hatched the plan of systematic killings, executed the planned killings of intellectuals, or planned to kill a certain section of people, whether on religious, political or nationality ground.
Those who planned and ordered the mass killings, those who ordered the intellectuals' killings, those who planned to uproot Hindus, and annihilate them, those who planned a shock-and-awc killing of Bengalis to suppress them for life, are the real War Criminals.
Yahya, Bhutto, Tikka Khan, Rao Forman Ali, and their Bengali cohorts, a few top Jamaat Leaders, and a few top Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders should be tried as War Criminals. Rest of them were doing a cameo part on the big schema. Even Bangabandhu pardoned those bit players for the sake of national unity. So, go for the big fish, and try and fry them. For the rest, please do not try to put another wedge between people.
We need to heal our wounds, we need to move forward, we need to make sure that our people prosper, and next generation has hopes, ways, means, and ambitions.
We're tired of being called Indian agents, we're tired of being called pro-Pakistani, we're tired of calling each other non-patriotic, non-religious and so on.
It is time to move on.
Shameem Rumee Hasan
Hockessin,'Delaware: ' ,;,,„,
Price hike
Poor and middle class people have become sick as they have to struggle hard to survive.
The government should address the issue immediately to save the people in distress.
Mehedi Hasan
One-mail
Bank branch needed
Godagari is an upazila of Rajshahi district. It is a place for trade and business.
I would request the Islami Bank authorities to set up a branch office at Godagari in the interest of local people.
Md Abdur Rahman
On behalfofthe people Godaga ri Mu n icipa I i ty Godagari, Rajshahi
Message for students
Most of the students do not understand what the real meaning of life is. I personally do not agree that it is ilery essential to study hard and get established—otherwise life will be doomed. In fact, these types of ideas compel a student to remain confined to one single world. In my opinion, man has several identities.
A student is also a son, a brother and a friend. Educational institutions can be a part of his life but cannot be regarded as his whole life. If so, it will not be wrong to call an educational institution a synonym of modern jail.
We the guardians are not playing any positive role. We are creating unnecessary pressure on them without thinking about the consequences. Education is for man but man has not been created for education alone. In this context, I would also like to mention that Tagore and Nazrul did not have any high academic degree.
Suicide is an act ofthe coward. In
the Holy Koran, it is written — “ The Almighty loves him who has patience.” In the Bible— “We have come to this world to save the world not to.curse.ir" la the.Gita “Do your work without expecting, any result”. If we can infuse these grand ideas into the minds of our students in place of several poems and scientific laws, I am sure they will be highly motivated.
Last but not the least, students nowadays often try to copy the characters of cinemas and literature. In many films, we find the heroes committing suicide. Even in the creative works of great writers like Shakespeare we find peoplecommitting suicides.
There is no doubt that they are great writers. But still. I would like to add that the world of literature and cinema does not always resemble the real world!
Pradip Das
Lecturer in English
Bangladesh Health Professions
Institute
CRRSavar