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TO THE EDITOR
Tagore's pride
I reluctantly agree with some points that Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman has put forward about Tagore and his grandfather. Prince Dwarakanath Tagore. He was welcomed by Queen Victoria and King Louis because they had to keep the interest of the empire in mind. Indeed, he met many writers too including Charles Dickens in parties organised and paid for by Dwarakanath Tagore. But what Dickens thought of him Justice Rahman did not fully elaborate. Dickens called him the “Oriental Croesus” (who was king of Lydia until he was defeated by the Persians about 547 BC). I do not know’ if Dickens honoured Dwarakanath calling him “Oriental Croesus”.
So far Rabindranath is concerned my short comment is that, in Tagore we find a poet, a novelist, a dramatist, an essayist, a composer, a painter and even a singer. He was a versatile genius who dealt with so many sides of art and culture. But he was a cruel zamindartoo!
Tayeb Husain Lund, Sweden
The flip side
As a Bangladeshi, I wonder why some of us feel shy to call ourselves Bengalees; even on informal occasions. Bangladeshi is a new political label which had to be introduced (for formality) some three decades ago. We have the largest Bengali population in the world, and we are proud that the land of the Bengalees is called
Bangladesh.
The old Bengal of British India was divided in 1947, and the Indian part is called West Bengal. I was born in British India (Calcutta); and our family migrated to Dhaka after 1947 (father was in the Civil Service). Bengal was divided once during the British period, but it did not last long. The term Bangle is in common use. The former East Pakistanis fought for Bangla language, and created Bangladesh, through the language movement. Now the Mother Language Day has been introdticbd by the UN, in recognition.
The Bengalee nature had been dissected for centuries, when traditional old Bengal exported culture and art to different parts of Asia, Today, politically, we show certain traits, which are supposed to be a part of our nature. We have the gift of the gab; and treat debating as a pastime. It has a strong effect on the proceedings of our parliament--the opposition boycotted the sessions most of the time (regardless of the names of the parties).
We have good head, but are we ruled by the heart? Blinded by too much passion, most of the time. Our hartals are world famous. We seem to flourish in an environment of negative attributes. We take things to heart, too easily, and too quickly. Are we prisoners of our emotions and passions?
Today, what has happened to our display of patriotism, and other qualities of a new nation in the making? What matribhumi means to us- -dictated politically?
How to account for instituti-
onalisation of corrupt practices in almost all the sectors of society? It is an anti-climax from the spirit of '71. What happened to our hopes and aspirations? Why our dreams turned sour? We seem to have gone off the rails. Are we reluctant to ditch our undesirable top leaders, when required? Not to be confused with nepotism--it is something different. We are moral wrecks today. How to find the tunnel with light peeping from the otherend?
It is the leadership, not the masses, Hitler led Germany to nowhere; while Churchill's role was different. Saddam was not a foreigner in Iraq; but foreign judgment brought him the death sentence. There are other examples in history on man's inhumanity to man.
History has a vibration effect--we can feel it in Bangladesh today. The Pakistanis are also realising new passions and perspectives today. The Kashmir and the Palestine issues are half a century old. Human civilization has no solution? Many new states in S America and Africa cannot get out of the vicious circles of immoral governance. Now the Tibetans are at the receiving end.
I have strayed from the topic in the opening paragraphs; for a global perspective of human and political global partners.
Andaz, Dhaka
Top priority
I agree with Mr. Huda. Let the newly reorganised EC, ACC, PSC & independent Judiciary work for a
while to take deep roots - which are preconditions for the success of democracy. Let the rule of law continue for a while. Let the political criminals rot in jail for plundering nation's wealth & faith. We have to be ready to make whatever sacrifice is needed.
Otherwise, 1/11 will only be repeated and physically & mentally unfit politicians will come again & again.
Asadullah
WestHaven, Connecticut, USA
No zebra crossing!
Dhaka is perhaps the most ill planned, mismanaged, problematic, crowded, congested and dirtiest capital city in the world.
There is no approved Master Plan for Dhaka city. Residential buildings, government offices, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, clinics, parks, medical stores, judges' courts, police stations, post offices, banks, wholesale and retail markets and shops, cinema halls, stadiums, mills, factories, mosques, temples and churches, railway and river stations, bus terminals and bus stops newspaper offices, hotels and restaurants and so and so forth have been built and set up whimsically all over old and new Dhaka on both sides of innumerable narrow roads, lanes andby-lanes.
Millions of pedestrians of all ages, men, women and children, cross the roads at almost any point, facing the running vehicles, as there is no zebra crossing in most places.
It unbelievable that there are only 4-5 zebra crossings all over Dhaka city.
Would the authorities concerned kindly look into the matter OH Kabir
Wari, Dhaka
Fleecing people
I got the shock of my life at Zia International Airport the other day when I was told to pay Tk 200/ - as entry fee just to get inside the visitors concourse area in the arrival hall of the terminal building. I also came to know that the fee had been doubled with effect from 1st April, 2008. Is this justified? Passengers' relatives / friends reach airport after a great deal of hassle and then if they are made to pay so much just to receive their near and dear ones, how do they feel about it? Has the CAAB ever thought of their feelings? Is this the way the CAAB should earn money from the general public, when they are earning millions by renting premises, charging landing fees e tc and imposing many other taxes under so many headings, paid by the airlines, passengers and various other agencies? After all, the airport belongs to tire people of a free democratic country. Why should the people be fleeced ? Doesn't it require an approval of the ministry?
Ours is a country ridden with right and left corruption and then the holders of authority create new ways and means of breeding it. How unfortunate we are! At most
other airports, no fee is charged for receiving the passengers.
This reminds me of an incident at Karachi Airport when Air Marshall (retired ) Asghar Khan visited the airport and found 2 rupees being charged from the public as entry fee to enter into the visitors gallery on the roof top of the old terminal building to watch aircraft movements. He advised the authorities to make it free for the visitors.
So the CAAB either makes it free or charge a very nominal fee or ban ille entry altogether, but must not con the general people to boost up their funds. Please allow the people to feel free and safe!
Abul B.M. Zakaria
EastShewrapara Mirpur, Dhaka
Good articles
As a regular reader of your daily, I have gone through the articles of Mr. Dhiraj Kumar Nath, former adviser of the caretaker government under the caption "Upazila Parishad, way to go out" and "Gram Sarkar and Local Government Election" published in your daily a few days ago with substantial information projected by Mr. Nath on the problems.
The caretaker government deserves congratulations for repealing the Gram Sarkar Act 2003 and re-establishing Union Parishad as the basic tier of the Local Government consistent with tlie expectation of people at large. I am sure majority of the people of Bangladesh would like to see the Upazila Parishad as a focal point of development and to act as the main catalyst of increased food production and poverty alleviation.
We shall be happy to see more articles from Mr. Nath as a regular columnist of your daily.
Dr. Md. Aminul Islam
New LynnAucland
New Zealand
Medical ethics
In a decent society, physicians do not advertise in the mass media showing their names, professional degrees and subject of specialities. Not only is it an indecent act, but it is also considered a violation of universal medical ethics. In a recent issue of DS, there was an advertisement of a hospital with photographs, all the degrees and respective specialities of four physicians.
In other countries, the medical profession itself regulates its own behaviour with the clients and ethics. Unfortunately, the BMDC (Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council) which is the custodian of our medical ethics is so weak and ineffective in this respect, that it can easily be called a silent partner of various unethical activities of our medical profession.
An appeal to the BMDC would be useless. I would appeal to the press not to publish such unethical medical advertisements in newspapers for the sake of those physicians who arc still keen to follow medical ethics.
Humayun Hye
Baridhara, Dhaka Waste of time
The education authorities do not want the students to complete their studies in time After passing the SSC exams, one needs at least two years' time for appearing in the I ISC exams as a regular student but if one wishes to appear as a private student, s/he needs minimum three years' time after the SSC. Thus a private student loses more time though s/he can complete his/her syllabus quite early.
In tills regard, I would like to mention that my son completed his O-levcl in June-07. He appeared at AS level in January-08 as a regular student and secured the highest marks in Accounting (300 marks out of 300) from Edexcel and is going to sit for A2 level in June-08. Thus he will be able to complete his A level in a year. I do not say that every student will appear in his exams like my son. But if anyone has the courage and sufficient preparation, why should he wait for a longer period? If a private student can complete his lessons in a shorter period, why should he be forced to waste lime?
Ilarun-or-Rashid
Sob han bag, Dhaka
A mayor's dream
Dhaka city has become pollution free! The city is hosting Summer Olympics and the entire world is watching with great enthusiasm There is no traffic jam because underground subway stations have been built and all the roads are inter-connected with 3—4 storied flyovers. Rickshaws only roam around the small streets and as far as power failure is concerned, well what is power failure? The city, once overwhelmed with numerous problems, has suddenly become an ideal model city in the world. The rivers surrounding Dhaka are clean. And guess what? Just recently, Dhaka city has been termed as the safest capital on Earth because there is no robbery or killing.
Alas! It was only a mayor’s dream.
Minhaj Ahmed On e-mail
Search for gas
One wonders which makes the louder noise? The exploratory purvey explosions; or the explosion of words from our armchair environmentalists!
These were my thoughts after going through your report on Lawachhara forest seismic survey onMay4.
Quoting the last line from the report, it says, "Lawachhara is today only a shade of what it was, and is vanishing fast". Why did it happen? It is the result of die activities of the forest department officials who are filling their bellies with ill-gotten wealth from ruthless cutting and selling of the forest trees. Why? Because the chain of plunder is well established and all palms are well greased!
They "see no fallen trees' hear of no felling of trees illegally and never speak of illegally felled trees". For them, it all happens due to storms, winds and other concocted natural causes! Who are we to challenge their audacity and authority, or go against their stacks of wealth, far beyond imagination! Like an iceberg, once in a while a tenth of it becomes visible! They happily protect the vanishing forests by protecting themselves, from all outsiders who dare go there!
Small wonder, they and their unexpected sycophants (the environmentalists), want no exploratory survey to tap any potential source of energy that the country desperately needs. Maybe, they are encouraged by another group of objectors, who do not want the mining of coal-- for one reason or the other, while we stoop to beg, to import expensive fuels for power and energy! One wonders why the CTG appears so helpless against these self-seekers who want us to remain energy poor! Is it not a form of unpatriotic move that needs to be nipped in the bud?
SA. Mansoor Dhaka
Sanglap with civil society!
My comp 1 iments - -1he spokesperson of the government, Dr. Hussain Zillur Rahman, said that the SHUSHIL SHOMAJ would be involved in the upcoming SANGLAP with the CTG. This appears to be thejokeoftheyear!
These people and their partners are now well known to the nation. People are starving, crores of unemployed young men and women are roaming around the country, hungry and frustrated. Because of these evil people, we are now humiliated in every nook and cranny of the world, in North America, in the Middle East, in South-east Asia wherever you go, we are considered similar to the citizens of the Sub-Saharan Africa, Myanmar--hungry, silent famine stricken. That's where these evil people have brought us to by
advising the CTG.
These evil people tried to create an impression that all our politicians of the last 36 years were " t h e i v c s, plunderers and swindlers that our leaders achieved 'nothing for our nation", that our parliamentarians and other elected representatives "cannot be trusted”.
But their conspiracy did not work, 2.5 million signatures only In Dhaka clty(70% of the votersjin 2 weeks for the release of Sheikh Hasina is enough proof that these evil people will not prevail. Already, the people concerned have got the message, the Advisers of the CTG are speaking about release of Hasina and Khaleda!
These people took an anti-people and anti-democratic stand, that is a clear Violation of Article 7 of the constitution and have caused immense harm to all Bangladeshis at home and abroad. A freedom fighter of 1971 On e-mail
Police research unit
In the present context, the term police connotes a body of civil servants whose primary duties are preservation of order, detection of crime and enforcement of law. On the other hand security is a concept devoid of operational meaning in the absence of some identification of threat "Public Security" is being considered as one among several important core functions of the government, like public health, public education. Now this "Public Security" is the main question. The relevant department of crime control in our country is the police department. The public expectations from the police department are very high. But this department is restricted from many sides and it is corrupt from the view of public opinion. But today, public confidence on police is an issue and various criminologists, psychologists, scholars, researchers, policy makers, development agencies and so on have discussed it. So, it is clear that the image of the police and public confidence on police are crucially important What do people want from the police? What do the police want from public and the government?
I believe a police research unit should be set up to get the right answers to all these questions. Muhammad Kamruzzaman Research Coordinator, CRIB Department of Criminology and Police Science
Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University