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TO THE EDITOR
» Fast moving vehicles & rickshaws
Knowing that this subject was much too important to be kept under the rug, I am glad to see letters and articles on the subject reappear in the DS after a gap of nearly two months-- MZ Haider's article on 20 Aug, Sohel Ahmed's on 27 Aug. and Asadullah Khan's article on 30 Aug. We are pleased to read that the DMP has an action plan to streamline traffic, but filled with consternation at the concessions given by the NBR to car importers and lo and behold, a : tin/ sum of S 5.52 billion (Taka 40,000 crores) to be spent on STP over 20 years to make traffic congestion history’.!!
Having exhaustively written on the subject in 21 previous letters over the last one year, I will confine myself to just a few remarks. Mr. Haider rightly noted that scuttling rickshaws from VIP roads was of no avail. Also that private cars occupy 80% of the roads but transpon 10% people (actually it is nearer 2% if the number of empty/half-empty cars on the road is monitored). Mr. Sohel has * got a valid point Dhaka has only 7% road area, instead of the standard 25-30%. Mr Asadullah's article did not offer solutions, but he did rickshaws a disservice by decrying their influx in huge numbers and covering 21.9 sq. ft space per person as against a third by bus passengers.
He could have been more circumspect by comparing Dhaka's 2.5-3 lakh rickshaws (each occupying 30 sq. ft) and carrying 40-50 lakh passengers every day to 7.5 -10 lakh motor vehicles (half of them private cars ) carrying less than 2 lakh people. Rickshaw earnings add approx Tk.10 crore every day to the GDP and provide livelihood to another 20-25 lakh people. How much fuel, spares and accessories the private cars burn, and their cost in foreign exchange, pollution and time loss, I leave to your imagination.
The DMP's ambitious action plans are praiseworthy but no details are given. Will the rod further descend heavily on the heads of the poor rickshawalas, buses, tempos etc and those who use them? If this force supposedly fighting for the public weal cannot even convince the arrogant CNGs to freely take passengers on meter, what can we expect from them when they are tasked to take action on the illegally parked cars on roads?
For some short-term revenue, the NBR has reduced duties, relaxed restrictions on car enginesizes and depreciation. Result thousands of gas guzzling monsters (GGMs) and overpriced junked cars will further clog the roads soon.
We should now get ready for a new round of the 'Tragedy Circus’ (Tamasha) set to start soon. In the meantime, will someone tell me how this 75 year old can get home today and come to office tomorrow - rickshaw or do I have to walk while fasting?
Sikander .Ahmed
Niketon, Gulshan-1, Dhaka
Internet facility
The majority of Bangladeshis, especially in the rural areas, do not have access to the Internet. Nowadays the world is moving very fast and the number of Internet users is increasing rapidly, but in our country most of the people are still deprived of this opportunity. Internet service, a new horizon, has been opened in the field of education, research, business and entertainment. With the expansion of online Internet facilities, various institutions and organisations have started to release their self-introductory web pages. For scholarships, admission to foreign universities and also business, one can find all the necessary information through the Internet. So it’s necessary for all.
The decision makers should attach due importance to ensuring our students' access to the Internet. Time is running out!
Md. Farhan Tazim
Shaheed Abdus Salam Hall Noakhali Science and Technology University(FIMS) Permanent mission's job
The permanent mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York covers a wide range of the activities undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs peaceful settlement of disputes, promotion of human rights, protection of environment, sustainable development and so on. The permanent mission with support from other government ministries represents Bangladesh in every negotiation that takes place at the UN in New York, ensuring that Bangladesh's interests and views are taken into account by UN bodies and the other member states. Hours are long and negotiations can be tough and intricate. But playing a key part in achieving a successful outcome can be very rewarding. Bangladesh as a UN member state plays a key role in providing information from the Bangladesh's diplomatic network, negotiating, and lobbying for right actions and resolutions.
The ambassador and its team are involved in a constant round of meetings, promoting Bangladesh's interests and persuading others to accept the Bangladesh stance. At the same time, the mission is trying to develop the way the UN works, strengthen the UN's capacity to deal with economic and social issues, peacekeeping and conflict prevention. Bangladesh has been at the forefront of efforts to develop proposals for reform. The mission is working with the Secretary-General to promote these reforms and to ensure that the UN is a leaner and more effective organisation, to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
These are matters that should always receive due attention in the press.
Sydur Rahman Khan
BBA Student, Dhaka
Ramadan and power rationing In a shocking statement, the government has announced that shops and markets can remain open till 09:00pm in the first week of Ramadan and the government will review the power situation after a week of observation.
I don't understand why they need a week to assess the situation. If they know how much power is generated and how much the consumption is, it is a simple arithmetic and no one needs to see it practically for a week. According to the government, we all know that the country is unable to produce the required power for daily consumption and on top of that if the government says that they will observe a week and then decide on whether they will let the shop owners keep the shops open till 09:00pm, it means the power department has no clue about how much power they generate and how much the demand is. Ramadan is a holy month as per the Islamic calendar, there is no confusion about that and it should be observed with due respect & Islamic rituals.
However, I do not see any reason for keeping the shops open till 09:00pm. Those who will be out for shopping can do it during the daytime and it is not necessary to shop in the evening.
We all know that a group of people is more important than an individual and similarly a country is more important than a group of people.
So giving the country due priority, I think the government should immediately cancel the timing for shop owners for the month of Ramadan, unless a miracle happens in power generation.
Sohcl Ahmed Dhanmondi Dhaka
Dictator vs “democratic” dictator The split between Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif will not surprise anyone Both of them are corrupt beyond comprehension. They are so greedy that they don't even want to share the "rewards” with their coalition partner they both want to have everything alone! Naturally, there is a split. (Readers arc recommended to watch the classic, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly")
Nawaz Sharif was never interested in doing anything for Pakistan. He had his chance a few years ago and he used it to amass as much wealth as he could. But some people, for some reason, thought he would do tilings differently this time and so they voted for him. But right from the beginning his intentions were very clear. He was only interested in settling old scores with Musharraf a disease from which both Bangladesh and Pakistan have been suffering for decades and so far have not found any remedy. As for Mr. Zardari, well, who is he? He is nobody except that he is the widower of Benazir Bhutto. And there is the problem. Dynastic nonsense, yet again! Instead of addressing issues like unemployment, price hike, power shortage and Pakistan's dead economy, both Zardari and Sharif are busy trying to undermine each other. So much for Pakistan's "democratic” selection of two superb leaders!
The PPP and the PML-N kept playing the democracy card and the people fell for it, yet again. Sadly, for Pakistan things will get a lot worse before they get better. For counties like Pakistan and Bangladesh, democracy is something you only write about on paper. It has no other use except fooling the masses into thinking that they can "choose", and it is very useful forbegging for aid from the rich countries.
AzadMiah
Oldham
UK
Mugging
It is really very alarming that after sunset mugging in passport office to Shisu Mela road area is taking place on a regular basis.
The muggers come in taxicabs and snatch away whatever they get from rickshaw riders. Rickshaw passengers are their main target.
Will the law enforcers respond?
Taherul Islam Limon
On e-mail Truth Commission and law
Now that a case has been brought to the HC by an interested party, the legality of the Commission is for the court to decide. I would only draw attention to the fact that unless such an interested party raised the issue in court, the court was powerless to decide anything in respect of it. Similarly all criminal cases are brought before the courts for judgement and sentencing in the interest of the nation by the government prosecutors throughout the civilised world, and the government has an inherent right to 'plea bargain' with the 'accused' to get voluntary disclosures and admission to reduce the work load of the police and courts. And the timing and modus operandi of such 'plea bargaining' or any formal charges are entirely up to the government prosecutors ( i.e. the Ministry of Law).
So it is neither true, nor a constitutional obligation that all the criminals and their whole gamut of criminal activities must be dealt with by the courts. However, once the court is involved it has the supreme power to decide an issue ( subject to appeals in higher courts).
If the Truth Commission set up by the government is a bona fide institution having the mechanism (however temporary or rough and ready) to reduce the workload of police investigation and court time, it should be accepted as such without objection, unless someone can litigate to prove to a court an ulterior intention. Mere innuendos or expressions of dissatisfaction in this respect are irrelevant.
Many disputes can be settled outside the courts quite quickly and effectively and every such opportunity must be exploited. Shariah laws also allow such settlement between the aggrieved parties.
Engineer Shafi Ahmed
London, UK
Our future leaders
It is a sad truth that our meritorious students are not eager to become political leaders. If we go back to our history, we will see that we had a glorious tradition of student politics. It was because of the youth that they were full of spirit and courage to protest against all social injustice. The leadership during the Language Movement in 1952, the mass upsurge in 1969 and the War of Liberation in 1971 was supported by students.
But student politics is a different proposition today. And few people support it. But the question is, how can we produce brilliant political leaders if the meritorious students keep themselves away from politics?
Md.Nazmul Huda Robin
Dept of BBA
International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC)
Politics and violence
This refers to Sumon's letter from the UK on September 1 in your daily. We have seen democracy in our beloved Bangladesh. Misguided politics, bombing, killing and looting of national resources are part of life in Bangladesh. We don't want to see those things any more. During the last 18 months, many good things happened.
We want this govt to continue for at least a decade.
Shafiq Rahman
On e-mail
Disturbing calls
The prevalence of disturbing calls is a disgrace which demands immediate remedial action. The aim of phone stalkers, 'to make friendship' or even to find a spouse, is an indictment on the institution of arranged marriage and threatens to unravel the moral fibre of our nation.
1 have been a victim of numerous phone stalkers, including one who threatened my personal safety at all hours of the night.
Phone stalkers must not be celebrated through films like "Wrong Number". Such depictions endorse this disturbing and disruptive behaviour. We must acknowledge that advancement in communications comes at a high social cost and implement measures to eradicate phone stalkers from the landscape, once and for ^ bns ^M^liJ-hoQ I Charlie Shee-ham
Chittagong
Report on Chittagong port
NBR chairman's observations about container loads of rubbish imported at Chittagong port deserve continuous press followup. The reasons behind this could be far more than what meets the eye. However, I do not go along with the suspicion about sabotage! Was it the sabotage of the country's image, where even rubbish can be imported?
I believe a quick, detailed and thorough investigation is a matter of topmost priority. The print and the electronic media may please follow every step of the investigation, and report on the steps taken on a regular basis. It should not be kept within the files of the departments concerned. Only then the statement of the NBR chairman that, "We will go to the end of this’ may become a visible and transparentreality.
SA. Mansoor Dhaka
SUSTstudents’ predicament
I am a student of Shahjalal University of Science & rechnology. I live in a rented house at Madina Market under SUST. The majority of the university students live in Madina Market area. But it is a matter of great regret that there is not a single university bus for Madina Market area.
We need at least three buses for tie students residing in the area. Moor Jahan Shimu
Department of Business \dministration
Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet
Uphold sanctity af Ramadan
rhe Holy Ramadan is one of the Ive pillars of Islam. It is a blessing rom the Almighty to mankind evealed through Prophet Muhammad (SM).
Fasting enables us to feel the )angs of hunger and encourages is to lend a helping hand to the >oor. But I was shocked when I ound a special offer from a famous ood shop during this month-the iffer is valid from 5:30pm to ':30pm, the time when most of the icoplc will be busy arranging iftar terns and having iftar.
dasudur Rahman Manna hudentofMBA
New school timings Recently, the government directed all the schools to start at 07:30am just to avoid traffic jam. Well, the attempt to solve the traffic jam problem is appreciable. But have the authorities thought about the consequences of such order about school timings? A kid of KG or class I to Class V will have to get up at 6:00am in the morning to reach the school by 7:30am! Is it possible and if possible how much pain they will have to bear?
We have seen the stalled roads of Dhaka city with hundreds of buses, cars and so on. Has anyone carried out any study as to how many vehicles were there from and for schools? Are there any statistics? The schools begin at 8:00am or around that time. The traffic jam starts after that time, as I have seen. The authorities could not stop the hydraulic horn (air horn), could not stop the plying of 20/25 years old buses till now which are causing great trouble to citizens.
What they have done will only mean physical and mental agony for the little innocent children. There are kids coming from distant places to attend school. It may be very difficult for them to attend the school at 7:30am.
The authorities concerned should reconsider the matter.
.Md. Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan Mirpur, Dhaka
Hurricane Gustav
Hurricane Gustav is the seventh tropical cyclone, third hurricane and the second biggest major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. The US government should learn from the mistakes committed after Hurricane Katrina struck three years ago . It was surely a good decision as Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency in the state. Evacuation planning was-done earlier to prevent casualties.
Minhaj Ahmed
Uttara, Dhaka