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To the Editor
Jaily ar
August 21 grenade attack
In the latest development, the CID has submitted report to Dhaka Metropolitan Court implicating 22 persons in the gruesome attack. We have known through different media about how fake stories were made public regarding the nefarious attack under the previous .political government.
At that time politicians of the party' in power also made open comments that it was a sabotage conducted by the AL. Do they think that people in general are nothing but fools? Now the latest report has identified the organisation and individuals responsible for the attack, one MP of the then ruling party is allegedly involved with the gruesome attack ( ProthomAlo, 12 th June, 2008).
People want justice to be meted out to all.
Md. Faruk Hossain
Cox's Bazar
Transport issue
Mahbubim Nabi’s article on the subject published in your pages on 14 June is an interesting and pragmatic way to solve Dhaka's transport gridlock. More so it is not so capital intensive, can be done phase wise spread over a few years, without a large one time solution. It
Small wonder then, that the idea never took off. I firmly believe that we must decentralise our government, and spread out the ministries away from Dhaka to the existing divisional cities (later provincial capitals) as suggested in the article. We have to make decentralisation a reality; and steps should start from mow! Can't the CTG set the ball rolling? If they can modify the constitution, why cannot they alter and improve the administration set up through decentralisation of administrative power and authority? Or do they, like the infamous politicos, also prefer to have all the power concentrated with them sitting and ruling from Dhaka? Do they fill helpless outside Dhaka, despite all the advances in instant communication?
SA. Mansoor Dhaka
US presidential election
The people of the United States should elect a man as their presi-denfwho will have th'eenergy and sagacity to deal with the challenges of our times.
That's a very important job on their hands!
Saikat Datta
Farmgate, Tejgaon
Dhaka
is indeed a very reasonable approach, which should be a lesson for our city planners and the people at the top. They should read, understand and implement the ideas put forward in the article.
For Dhaka, the solution need not be MRTs, elevated highways or flyovers.
The approach has little to do with communication, or road building and such high value infrastructure investment. The gamut of the solution lies in political and administrative decisions and its implications, without the usual endless debates which is our normal standard practice; resulting in nothing else but waste of time! We must seriously consider and adopt the proposed solution, and work at it with determination and commitment. It will I believe change the face of Dhaka forever, and make it a nicer place to live in!
If I rightly remember, Ershad had some ideas in these lines, of administrative decentralisation through the upazila concept. Sadly, our politicos who rule, or usually misrule the country to the best of their ability, could never accept the idea of decentralisation of power and authority! For them, all along, the more the power and authority they can grab, the more the possibility for under-the-table, tax free income! Can they ever give this up?The simple answer is NO!
Future of democracy
I am writing this letter in response to what eminent jurist Dr. Kamal Hossain and convener of the newly formed Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Quershi had to say regarding the temporary release of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Although I have tremendous level of respect for both of these house-hold names in Bangladeshi politics, but it disheartens me to see that none of these leaders see the reality of the situation. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in his book quite rightly put it, when he said that it is very difficult to integrate idealism with realism. It seems to me that his saying can hold true for the statements and comments made by these two eminent politicians. It is sad to see that they have not been able to see the reality of the situation and rather has stuck by their idealistic nature. Now let us face the reality, the release of Sheikh Hasina and also that of Begum Khaleda Zia is needed to ensure that their respective political parties take part in the upcoming elections and also to lend credibility to the election process. Simultaneously, we would also like to see the return to democracy in Bangladesh. Keeping that in mind, I therefore urge our politicians to consider the reality of the situation. The people of this country want a return to democracy which is only possible through a credible, free and fair election.
Elections will only be credible with the participation of the major stakeholders such as the Awami League and the BNP. It is truly sad and unfortunate that we are being held hostage to the demand of the two political parties which even today enjoy tremendous popular support and can have a strong claim to representing the majority of the population. Is that not what democracy is all about?
Sheikh Tan jeb Islam Monash University
"Ray of hope”
To pave the way for smooth imple-mentation of the election roadmap, the govt is opening up all roads for politicians to participate in the election.
To ensure a credible election, the govt is trying to bring everyone, especially the big political parties in the dialogue table which is the foremost task of the CTG. We welcome the govt's efforts for restoring people's confidence, especially the politicians' for holdingelection.
In the process, the govt is also releasing top leaders of big parties which was the number one demand of the political parties.
We are not concerned about the release of leaders like Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia . The ray of hope is not meant for these big politicians. The ray of hope is tire ray of light being seen by those who committed all sorts of economic crimes, and those who were making money holding official positions meaning bureaucrats, lower grade politicians and many more who were beneficiaries of the last 4-party alliance government.
It has transpired that some relatives of these top leaders are being released for treatment abroad. Their misdeeds were known-- they were involved in killings, extortion and many other heinous crimes. If they are released without trial, what about the oilier criminals who committed similar crimes?
The question is why should they be sent abroad for treatment? The government cannot afford to do anything that will tarnish its image! Shafiqul Islam On e-mail
Why not free all criminals?
The caretaker government has freed Sheikh Hasina, seemingly for better treatment abroad. It's fine with us. Most likely, it will also let go Khaleda Zia in the coming days on a similar pretext. That would be fine, too. What is baffling, and perhaps not right, is that our envoys greeted her in London and Boston. It sends a wrong signal. Here is a nation that accuses its leaders of serious wrongdoings and the next day treats them as WIPs! We understand that there may be reasons to make deals with the two ex-prime ministers to secure a safe exit, but this is not the way to go about. We also hear about other measures on the card, such as releasing confiscated properties of politicians serving jail terms, and letting them participate in elections.
What a disgraceful about-turn! Why not exonerate all criminals and set them free too? After all, they are our cousins, brothers-in law, and benefactors. Just complete the cycle. As for the country- - Lopg liye Bangladesh!
Nayeem Jafar
New Jersey, USA
Bangladesh-Myanmar road
It is heartening news that the much-talked about construction of the direct link road from Bangladesh up to the national road of Myanmar is going to start next year.
As Myanmar is our neighbour, we should develop friendly relations with it. By the proposed link road we will be able to go to China and Thailand via Myanmar, so the prospect of expanding our business relations with these countries is very bright.
We will be eagerly waiting for the happy inauguration of the road. Harun-or-Rashid Sobhanbag, Dhaka
Construction of road
Reference to the report published in The Daily Star on 25 May 2008.
I am surprised to know that a new road will be constructed under the supervision of the LGRD and some other organisations at a cost of around Tk 25 crore near the old airport area. The road, the authorities believe, will enable the traffic to pass by easily from Mirpurand Mohammadpur areas to Gulshan and Banani. But how is it possible? In my opinion the proposed intersection at the end of the old and new roads will create the same traffic jam. On the other hand, if the existing road named Bijoy Sharani is widened and the fountain on the road island is removed, we can hope that the movement of traffic will be eased.
Finally, I believe the authorities will reconsider their plan in light of the problems that might arise.
Hamid M
Gandaria, Dhaka
Crusade against corruption
Corruption had been a buzzword. It is now widely believed that due to the anti- corruption drive led by the interim govt, corruption has decreased. The government's crusade against corniption has succeeded to a great extent as they nabbed notorious criminals. Among the corrupt, many politicians are now languishing in jail.
The government has stated that the crusade against corruption and holding a free, fair and credible election are its main objectives.
Our expectation is that the government would continue its anti-corruption drive and show zero tolerance to all corrupt practices.
Md Zonaed Emran
Dept, of Political Science Un iversity ofDhaka
Child labour
An estimated 158 million children aged 5-14 are engaged in child labour-one in every six children in the world. Millions of children are engaged in hazardous jobs or conditions, such as working in mines, working with chemicals and pesticides or working with dangerous machinery. They are everywhere but invisible, toiling as domestic servants in homes, labouring behind the walls of workshops, hidden from view in plantations. Children living in the poorest households in rural areas are most likely to be engaged in child labour.
Those burdened with household chores are mostly girls. Millions of girls who work as domestic servants are especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Labour often interferes with children's education. Ensuring that all children go to school and that their education is of good quality are the key to preventing child labour. Aditi
Student
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensigh
Food robbery by a govt! It has been made public by a recent USAID press release that a group of Zimbabwe military officers and police under the direction of Governor of Manic lands hijacked a truck contracted by a USAID partner carrying 20 metric tons of humanitarian food from the American people destined for hungry schoolchildren. Later the hijacked food was reportedly distributed among the supporters of ZANU-PF in Mutare district In her immediate reaction, USAID Administrator Hanrietta H. Fore said- “This unconscionable behaviour must stop. It is unacceptable for the government of Zimbabwe to steal food from hungry children”.
The incident is really unfortunate. How could people in the Zimbabwean government commit such a heinous act of stealing children's food?
Professor M Zahidul Haque Chairman
Department of Agricultural Extension & Information System Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
Dhaka
A good proposal
Recently, there was an article by a Professor of BUET (?) on the future of Dhaka city NOT being via any of the expensive but ineffective proposals to 'improve' its transport systems but via a government policy to empty the city of many of its inhabitants by moving many government offices to some major provincial centres around the country th at should be encouraged to develop a life of their own.
His argument missed one important point. We wait in fear for the expected major earthquake that, thanks to the persistent refusal to follow the building guidelines set out for earthquake areas, can destroy most of Dhaka. Unless the administration of the rest of the country is NOT moved out of Dhaka, it is not only Dhaka that would face complete chaos, but the whole of the country. A failed state indeed This ghastly prospect should surely give an incentive to the government to take action along the lines suggested and those who would weep and wail at the prospect of losing their status of being in the capital, should be helped to face an extremely uncomfortable reality. Angela Robinson Gulshan, Dhaka
Good move,but...
First of all, I would like to thank the higher authorities for taking a wonderful step, that is, the counter-service for all transports. Most probably, it has been introduced for the first time in Chittagong. It has been introduced for ensuring better passenger service. It was our expectation that we people would enjoy a more comfortable transport service. We want to reach our destinations in due time. At the same time, it will partially stop traffic blockage here & there. But it is an irony that in our country it is very tough to implement the rules & policies.
The reality is that the vehicles are demanding extra fare. They also take passengers from almost any place. That's why they stop here and there. So I would request the authorities to look into the matter. Md. Joynal Abedin
BBA in Marketing
Uni versityofChi ttagong
Obama: is he different?
In the primaries “Change" is. the. jingle that Obama has stamped in the American mind. His winning the Democratic presidential nomination against the impressive Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former first lady, confirms an aspiration to see life differently among manyofhis countrymen. When the Republicans are beset by countless messy affairsboth internal and international, of the Bush administration, what could be better for a Democratic presidential hopeful than gaining precious electoral currency by pressing for a change? Mr. Obama is wise enough not to miss it and so finds himself in the position to become the 44th American president.
Nevertheless, his projecting himself as a man of change has proved to be insincere too soonat least in one aspect now. Despite his previous records of being strongly sympathetic to the Palestinians, he has publicly revealed an unswerving commitment to Israel, which
has gainsaid his motto for change. One such deviation is too early, but it may not be too early to predict that he would inherit nothing but a set of Bush ideologies.
Please, don't misunderstand me. Unlike many Arab hardliners, especially in Hamas and Hezbollah, I never wish Israel to be obliterated. On the contrary, like Mr. Obama, I believe that "Israel's security is sacrosanct. It is non-negotiable.” But I also believe that this security should not be made to prevail by depriving the rights of another people and slaughtering the identity of another country. Yet, when Mr. Obama avows that "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided," he has rather endorsed the plea of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPACthe body he was talking to in Washington recently, that any idea to share Jerusalem is inadmissible.
And this is enough to make him seem poised to kowtow to the proIsrael lobby in a way that may rule out any lingering chance of^an-Israeli-Palestinian settlement. Jerusalem or a part of it is the right to the Palestinians, and this admission is the very premise to any sound resolution between these two countries in conflict Yet, by announcing otherwise, Barack Obama has done the best for the conflict to escalate, rather than resolve.
The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has immediately rebutted him, declaring that “This statement is totally rejected."
This is how Mr. Obama has opened his basket of foreign policies. Is it a change, then? By his marvellous oratories, he may convince even a wary audience in the affirmative. But if we compare his inexcusable compassion for Israel with how Mr. Bush has treated this country, certainly, the result will be no difference.
M Abdul Kabir DeptofCSC North South University