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To the Editor

Letters will only be considered If they carry the writer's full name, address and telephone number (If any). The Identity of the writers will be protected. Letters must be limited to 300 words. All letters will be subject to editing.
Manpower export
Due to the rapid development of technology & communication, the world market has become very competitive, especially in manpower export. We know that it is really tough to send our workers to a foreign job market. Unfortunately, we are getting back thousands of workers from the Middle East. It’s not clear to us what our embassy officials are doing. It was expected that a high-powered delegation would visit Kuwait and discuss the matter with the Kuwaiti government
We claim that the expatriate wage earners are our assets. But pow. they are- passing through a ' crisis. The role of the gdvernmeni has frustrated us. Please take immediate actions to save them.
Md. Abdul Hamid
Assistant professor
Dept, of Business Administration Shah Jalal University, Sylhet
Too many cars, beggars
Since the time of our liberation, till now, the distance between the poor and rich has grown bigger. The economic discrimination among the subcontinent's peoples % is a common phenomenon. In case of our country, this discrimination is more visible.
We have multi-storeyed shopping malls, world-class five star hotels, BMWs etc. On the other hand, we have a number of people who cannot afford to purchase a loaf in order to survive.
We have a government which does not give any subsidy to control the prices of necessary commodities. We have a number of "human rights workers” and educated people who torture their housemaids, though they give philanthropic speeches in front of
So, I would like to ask them who are responsible for the poor people's misery?
Aiman Bin Shaofiqul Hamid (Jasim)
Dept, of English
International Islamic University Chitagong (IIUC)
Erratic power supply We are witnessing a dramatic show of power supply.
Everything is changing in the country as well as in the world but the power-supply sector does not care about anything. We, the general people, are frustrated.
Md. Kamrul Islam Mishu Kutubi Dept, of English
International Islamic University Chittagong
Income tax anomalies
According to an earlier government order a sanchaypatra holder who had submitted statement of sanchaypatras purchased by him, had to pay income tax for income above Tk 25,000/-. Subsequentiy, income up to Tk 1,50,000/- was precluded from taxation, and this order was given retrospective effect to from 1-7-2007 vide Income Tax (Modified) Ordinance, 2007 (Ordinance No 32, 2007) as passed on 29-10-2007. It further enjoined that the excess payment of I/T so made during this period would be paid back to the taxpayer or adjusted against his tax liability. The Income Tax Fixation Ordinance, 2008 and the Income Tax Fixation Supplementary Ordinance, 2008 (Finance Ordinance, 2008), have raised the ceiling of tax from Tk 1,50,000/- to Tk 1,65,000/- for general public and toTk 1,80,000/-forwomenand people above 70. But despite the said statutory limits of tax from income, the agencies obtain the statement of sanchaypatras from an individual and realise income tax for income below Tk 1,80,000/* from a woman or a person above 70. Nor do they adjust the refundable excess amount earlier realised while deducting tax.
We would like to draw the attention of the Finance Adviser to this anomaly.
Md Abdur Rahman Rahmannagar Bogra town
Creative education
■There is no alternative to creative education. For effective teaching and learning of English, teachers should use the following ways so that the students can practice the language more and get the opportunity to do better.
1. The English teachers need to give instructions in English with simple sentences.
2. They need to provide group work or pair work. So that the students can interact using simple English.
3. They may ask the students to read the text and teaching materials which are written in English.
4. They can provide tasks like writing activities to develop the students’ ability to express their ideas.
5. Before dividing the students into groups, the teachers may show them various examples and ask them to guess the meanings and think for themselves.
Mohammad Alamgir Hossain Director
Progressive Coaching Home Sonargaon, Narayanganj
Anti-corruption drive Our attention is drawn to your news report dated 07/8/08" Lobbying may let 2 rental companies off the hook".
After reading the report one can only say" God save the country ".
I saw a television interview (Probably Channel-i) after "SIDR" where a peasant's wife was asked what she had on Eid Day. Did she get a piece of meat that was supplied to the SIDR hit people? Her reply was "We do not know of any meat to be provided to us but we had our 3 meals with red chilli paste."
The ACC's relentless effort to bring an end to corruption will only be a tale to the posterity who will come to know that once an anti-corruption drive was launched!
Tayab-ul-Huq Abdullahpur Uttara, Dhaka
NRBs
Finance Adviser Mirza Aziz has urged NRBs to remit more foreign currency to Bangladesh. Good piece of advice. But it's also his responsibility to give an idea how the money received so far has been spent.
NRB representatives should be incorporated in Bangladesh govt and embassies. They should also be included in the policy making process.
Dr Azizul Karim
GPAustralia
Save Uttara Lake
It is really sad that we have not learned to take care for our natural resources. Our country has got rivers and lakes but we do not know how to protect them. Rather, we know very well, how to destroy these water bodies. Uttara Lake is one such lakes in Dhaka that has become the victim of human intrusion. The water of the lake has become smelly and it is highly regrettable that human wastes and other waste materials are the cause behind such pollution.
No one is there to take care of the lake. We must step forward and do the needful to protect this lake. Minhaj Ahmed
Uttara, Dhaka
Changing familyscape I was travelling from Calcutta to New Delhi on a train when 1 came across an Irishman travelling on the same train. We struck a lively conversation and at one stage he asked me," Why is it that people (in India) ask me if I am married?" I could not at first reckon what was wrong with the question. I. however, explained that it was customary in the East to ask about marriage, family, etc. The Irishman replied that in his society one wants to know if a person is married only when he or she wishes to marry the latter. The incident was amusing but it made me conscious of the different values that exist in the East and the West. While In the East, especially in the developing countries, the society and culture are mainly family based, In the developed countries of the West the concept of family is literally in bits and pieces.
2.Thc family marks essentially a social aspect and also the progress of civilization. In the urge of free life-style the developed countries of the world arc losing family structures and values, yet though belated they have begun to assess the importance of families and are now campaigning so that young people enter wedlock and maintain the family culture. In the East, in developing countries the family is vital and they thrive as familybased societies.
3. It leads us to ponder what we will miss if we let the family diminish. Most young people have a feeling that family is a bondage and wish to be free from it. As we grow into adults we like to have independence. It is important to remember that the family we are born into plays a great role in moulding our values and life-style. It is very natural that when we take major decisions like buying a car or a house, we seek our parents' advice and counsel. This is more common when we are about to choose our life partner. Their advice and choice are very valuable in this respect. Although social values change with generation, the influences of parents on us work like miracles.
4.The family situation is a significant aspect of a family. It actually means how the members of a family are placed socially, economically and ethically. It also determines the life-style of the family its needs, affordability, education and moral values. The family situation is, however, dynamic. That is, the members of the family grow older, ] get jobs and get married. Very often the situation gives rise to major changes and some members may leave or disassociate from the nucleus family. This is known in sociological term as the 'changing familyscape.
5.Families break down into units according to needs and facilities. This again reflects a global aspect. Societies have begun to change and transform due to globalisation. It may seem unlikely but it is happening. Slowly but certainly the societies in which we live undergo transformations and established institutions become out of place. The family is one of them. Even 30 to 50 years ago one would not think of leaving their parents and live separately. Now, it has become very natural to form a separate unit of family. Families nowadays form multiple units due to rise of individualistic ideas, values and life-style.
6.'The family is collapsing'. This is a cry ringing in the modern Western world. The West is at present giving thought and more attention to recovering family ties and values. We in the East should be more careful about maintaining and upholding family culture and prevent the world from changing the traditional familyscape.
Prof. Mustafa Kamaluddin Professor & Head Department of English Bangladesh University Foreign investment in housing sector
Khan's report (Aug; 10) on the Rakeen Development Co. from the Middle East getting permission to participate in the house building sector in Bangladesh is a mixed blessing for us. The positive aspect is that it will bring scarce foreign currency into Bangladesh. The important negative aspect is that the investor will naturally repatriate its incomes from Bangladesh from sale of land, buildings and flats. Assuming even a modest return on investment, of say twelve percent, the company will remit back I U5$-kh2* miihrnr -for every -US$1 million broxight into Bangladesh, if 1 am not mistaken! Will it not result in more outflow of foreign currency from Bangladesh?
The statement from Rakeen " that he flats will be of world class and affordable" is more in the line of sales advertisement than anything else! Does it mean that the overseas developer will import tiles, windowpanes, and other residential fittings and fixtures from abroad? If they pay on these imported items the normal import tariff, then how can their flats be affordable in price? If, on the other hand, they are allowed preferential tariff, on the excuse of foreign investment, then it will be unfair to REHAB who enjoy no such concessions!
It will be a damper to our growingceramic, sanitary, electrical and "household fittings" industries developing rapidly.
If foreign investment is desired, it should be in other service sectors like urban mass transport system or inland water transport infrastructure facilities like improved inland water terminals etc. Even here we must be strict in regulating the quality of facilities and services.
FD1 should go directly or in joint venture format for industries. For the housing sector it will be better to provide support to REHAB; basically in terms of easier financial facilities for housing and property development wherever possible. Bringing in foreign investment in this sector will discourage an already established growth sector under private ownership now progressing steadily.
SA. Mansoor Dhaka
Khaleda's stand
On 12 August, most of the newspapers carried the report, as if it were the most important news, "Khaleda is unmoved" to enlist her name as a voter. We know Begum Khaleda Zia is an important person and anything she says or does is news. That is acceptable and people are eager to listen to what she says as she is a former prime minister and chief of a major political party.
To be a voter or not to be a voter is a personal matter of an individ-
But as a citizen of this country she has a responsibility to the state and she must enlist her name as a voter because she is an adult and she was the prime minister of the country.
However, it is not understood why she doesn't want to be a voter. Is it because she is not happy with her present position or she wants to make an issue out of nothing, or does she want to create pressure on the present government?
Shafiqul Islam
One-mail Set up a folklore museum
Each nation has a folklore tradition which has been inherited and developed through generations. Our nation is a cultured one with a long history and has inherited and developed its folklore traditions finer than those of other nations.
To know well and value the long tradition of national culture and the customs of life of the ancestors are conducive to the cultivation of national pride and love for one's native place and the country. For fulfilling the idea, a folklore museum can be established in the
So, I drge -dur cultural ministry to take necessary action in this regard.
BUkis Rahman
Govt. HSS College, Magura
Sending the wrong signal
In recent city corporation elections, some of our fellow citizens have voted and elected some of the (allegedly) corrupt elements. Consequently, we as citizens have sent the wrong signal to our leaders. The election results have indicated that leaders can get away with anything and everything. Our fellow citizens must understand that this signal is bad for our future. It is not die caretaker government's responsibility alone to fight corruption, we as citizens should also take some responsibility.
We still have time and must choose honest people in our general (parliament)- election.Otherwise, we will fail toshoulder our responsibility as citizens and the future of the country will be bleak.
Mohammed Chowdhury
On e-mail
Fight against heart diseases
Korean scientists used adult stem cells taken from human adipose or fat tissue and differentiated them into smooth muscle cells. They have transformed human stem cells into smooth muscle cells that control blood pressure and allow the normal functioning of organs.
The discovery could lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of arteriosclerosis, heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions. This is expected to help biotech-nologists who had been looking to mass produce smooth muscles found in the middle layers of arteries and veins, possibly resulting in new possibilities for the use of stem cells in tissue engineering and repairing. This could offer a great opportunity in bioengineering, as mass production of smooth muscle cells is crucial to the treatment of cardiovascular conditions which has not been possible so far.
"The cultivation of smooth muscle cells could also provide more clues as to the causes of heart-related diseases. And since the cells can be derived from the fat tissue of the patients themselves, we risk no ethical problems or problems related to the immune system."
Lutfor Rahman
Biotech nology departmen t Seoul National University Korea
Education for children
In our country most of the school going children have no command over English or computer based programmes which are needed to find a job in future. They can't do progressively well due to our poor educational system
So we should introduce computer-based education for our children. Wc can add various software, graphics, animations which attract children to study.
Sayek Shafat Islam Omi DeptofCSE
International Islamic University Chittagong
A pertinent legal point
We often read stories in our newspapers about murder of people by criminals who were arrested before, but were freed on bail. What is the bail given for? As a chance to purify themselves? Is killing supposed to be treated as a result of purification? is not our judiciary system capable enough to identify which criminals are dangerous enough not to be granted bail?
Who shall give back the lives of those people killed by criminals freed on bail?
SZTahmlna
On e-mail
Transportation system Every day if one just has a look at Farmgate bus stand during the peak hours, it will become clear how hard it is to get into a bus. The situation in other bus stands is more or less the same. People have to suffer a lot for the lack of transportation services in the city.
The commuters' sufferings must come to an end.
MushfiqueWadud Departmen t ofEnglish Stamford University Bangladesh
Rainwater harvesting system
WaterIribKmost virSf. 8(3^'for ' The survival of all living organisms 1 including human beings. Access to safe drinking-water is a human right. But, ensuring safe, sweet, potable and drinkable water to the people is a great challenge for Bangladesh.
One of the main causes behind this is that, the existing alternate water supply options such as groundwater & surface water are not feasible all over the country due to hydro-geological variations. Millions of people in our country still do not have access to safe water due to prevalence of many challenges in water supply sector like arsenic contamination in groundwater, saline intrusion in both surface and groundwater in coastal belt, gradual decline of groundwater table, improper waste management, waterlogging, flood, drought, surface water pollution and so on. Alongside these challenges, unavailability of feasible and affordable water supply technologies has been a barrier for improving safe water supply situation. Bangladesh receives more rainfall in monsoon period due to its geographical location.
Thus the Rainwater Harvesting System as an alternate water supply option has been found feasible in most parts of the country including these coastal and hilly areas. Therefore, emphasis is now being given nationally on the promotion of Rainwater Harvesting System as a safe water supply option. The system is getting social acceptability since water collected from the system is safe, pure, clean, clear and germ-free. Demand for the system is also raising among the community people as it is easy to operate and maintain.
The people of bur country are J being benefited significantly getting safe water supply having the Rainwater Harvesting System as a blessing for them. So, the system has created a new source of water supply and we must take effective steps for its best utilisation.
Manir Hossain A student
Dept, of Environmental Science and Resource Management MBSTU. Tangail
Neglected Munshiganj Munshiganj is the place where I have been living for many years. It is my birthplace and 1 love the place a lot. But this is to inform everybody that still now the people of Munshiganj are neglected and deprived of all kinds of facilities.
The policy makers should look into the matter.
MosaddekAli Munshiganj