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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.
Drug addiction
The guardians are seriously worried about the future of their children. Today the nation's prospect seems dark because of the drug menace.
The authorities concerned have to take tough and effective measures to deal with drug abuse and addiction. Nasir Uddin Shahin Dept, of English
University of Dhaka
Environmental disaster in Iraq The situation of Marsh Arabs could only be described as an environmental disaster. It is also suddenly a hot story because the US personnel, now in the marshes, are trying to save the land. While the key media have waken up, the ecological society continues to keep its stunning silence. That silence became glaring during former US President Bush's, campaign -against Saddam. The ’’unnoticed'' story is not so much the dilemma of the Marsh Arabs due to a strange duplicity of the ecological movement. Over time, accessible settlement photos show the previously green marshes have turned dry brown. Thousands of marsh dwellers have also apparently been killed since 1991, and hundreds of thousands had to take shelter on the streets. The United Nations reports that the Madans are now a refugee population. As a direct consequence of the Third River Scheme that the UN completed, the 5.000-year-old culture of the Madan is in grave danger.
The ecological damage done in Iraq is serious. It can be compared with the damage done to the Amazon rainforests. Only an extremely small part of the previous heaven survives close to the meeting point of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. Mohammad Rajja Gono Bisivabidyalay Savar, Dhaka
The key alphabet!
As a development professional working in the broad and key fields of Poverty Reduction and Rural/Agricultural Development for the last three decades, it has been a great pleasure for me to learn, share and work in association with major stakeholders including at least 25 overseas Professionals, Consultants and Expatriates in these lines. Undoubtedly, my learning has been immense and propitious and I was able to enrich my knowledge, expertise and professionalism significantly. Professionally I still have contact and communication with most of them electronically for obvious reason and quite often 1 read and review those professional exercises for both updating me and adapting to the current features of Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) aiming the set Millennium Development Goal (MDG) -an externally imposed Economic Strategy Plan for our agrarian economy devoicing peoples' participation.
However, during Eid
holidays in order to recapitulate self professionalism, I have been reviewing my own reports and documents and found an interesting analysis on English alphabet 'P' illustrated by Ms Els Boerma, a Financial Analyst from The Netherlands with whom I worked for a month as Economist in the Bogra Metal Enterprise Development Project for Review, Evaluation and Impact Assessment to provide future directions of the financial support extended by the Royal Netherlands Government. This professional assignment was commissioned and fielded by the Royal Dutch Embassy in Dhaka in year 2000 and we were in Bogra for 11 days and stayed in Safe Way Motel. One evening during dinner the expatriate suddenly told me about the impetus of English alphabet P’ in Bangladesh a? follpwsap^I was amazed to listen to her thematic connotations as she said in order of sequence ofsix'P'.
P = You have a very big Population most of whom are:
P = Poor for both classified and unclassified reasons and for which you have—
P = Poverty as the national and priority problem and to redress it you have-
P = Policy/ Plan / Programmes/ Projects aiming always-
P = Progress/ Prosperity for—
P = Posterity implying the future.
Appreciating her professional views and analysis of ’P', I asked her then why you and the donors support us in all aspects of our economic and social pursuits - is it because we are Poor only and don't you have any interest at all? She remained mum for some minutes and later said it was a diplomatic question.
M Shafayet Hossain Dhaka
South African team
The South African team has never won a World Cup although it has arguably been the world's best team. People say they cannot hold the pressure in a critical situation and this may be right and this story continues for many decades as they lost all big games event when the opponents were not as good as them. Luck is also a big factor but still ill luck does not continue lifelong.
Another reason may come closer when we turn back to the history of the South Africans. The real Africans are all black and the south part of Africa was enriched with resources like gold, silver, diamond etc. The English people came to Africa and occupied their land for hundreds of years. The Africans were deprived of their resource and even their land. The Black Africans were taken to England as servants. Still we find black Africans in England. The English people even killed many black people for grabbing Africa's gold and silver. So, it may be the curse of the oppressed which stands in their way!
Md Mahbubur Rahman Dhaka
Daylight saving time
Daylight Saving Time (DST) was introduced in Bangladesh a few months back. Accordingly, the clock was advanced by one hour. But it is now widely accepted that whatever benefits, if at all, that might have been derived out of this experiment, could also be obtained by advancing the working hours by an hour without disturbing the clock!
In fact, if working hours in government and semigovernment organisations are advanced by an hour without disturbing the clock, there may be some additional benefits in terms of easing of traffic congestion in Dhaka city. This is likely to happen because of difference in commence-work and pack-up times of various private and non-government organisations.
Bangladesh is located , roughly, betyveen 21.$N and 26.5N degrees latitude. Countries located at these lower latitudes usually cannot take the benefit of DST. At these latitudes there is not much difference between length of winter and summer daylight hours. For instance, length of summer daylight hour in Bangladesh would be about 14 hours. Whereas the countries located in higher latitudes have much longer summer daylight hours. Summer daylight hours increase with increase of latitude until it becomes 24 hour daylight (midnight sun). Therefore, use of DST is only justified in countries located in higher latitudes, usually above 30N degree latitude.
Our village people mostly
keep track of time by looking at the sun position. So, DST has not affected them much. But it has definitely affected Others. Their biological clock is going haywire. At 12:00 noon one would like to see the sun at the zenith i.e. overhead. But in reality, at 12 DST the sun is overhead at Kunming, China! And when the sun is overhead at Dhaka it is l:00pin DST!
Introduction of DST has been an interesting experiment. But perhaps it is high time that we should revert back to Bangladesh Standard Time i.e. GMT+6 hours.
Syed Farhat Ahmad Roomy New DOUS, Dhaka
Human instincts
To protect himself front the attacks by the ferocious animals man had to invent and use some weapons at the primitive stage. They then began using such weapons to kill those animals for the purpose of using them as food. But at the same time man started using weapons and arms upon one another as enemy for various reasons.
Men were divided into different tribes, religions, nations etc and the use of arms has been increased gradually to a great extent. At present almost all countries are competing for gathering huge sophisticated arms to remain above others. In the Second World War America dropped two A-bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and reduced the two cities to rubbles. Now man can destroy this earth many times using their bombs and arms. In this planet there are many “Saddams" and “Bushs” and thus this planet can be annihilated at any time. We know that America, Russia, England, France, China, India, and Pakistan boast of their nuke arms. But it is also a matter of concern that many other countries like Israel, North Korea etc have already made such bombs and many others are trying to make it secretly. We also have reasons to apprehend that mafias, fanatics, and other rebel groups may get these weapons. Albert Einstein said, "I do not know what arms will be used in the third world war but man will use sticks as weapon in the fourth world war.”
Fearing the future danger to mankind Bertrand Russell, the greatest thinker, felt the need for establishing a “world government”.
'Does man want to survive or is he more anxious to kill his enemies?' Russell questioned and then he replied, 'Mankind cannot have it both ways. To survive, we must have peace'. Harun-or-Rashid
Sobhanbag. Dhaka
Neglected areas
It is known that Lalrnonirhat, Nilpharmari and Kurigram districts are the poorest districts in Bangladesh and every year people of these three districts are affected by various natural disasters like flood, drought, cold weather, river erosion etc. Since a large number of people of these areas fully depend on cultivation, the natural disasters harm them a lot and unemployment & poverty plague them continuously. For the well being of these ill-fated people, it is necessary to create alternative opportunities for employment by providing electricity to all for irrigation, bank loan, small & medium size agro based industries, manpower export after imparting proper training, allocation of high quality & productive seeds and fertilizers in time etc.
It is mentionable that inhabitants of Hatibandha and Patgram Upazila under Lalrnonirhat district are getting the facility of electricity from 33 Kilo Volt (KV) single source line from the switching station located at Lalrnonirhat town and this line is about 140Km long, extending up to Burimari land port. Due to power shortage and various technical & non technical reasons the inhabitants of these areas are always suffering from maximum power outage. Due to the acute power crisis no private entrepreneur feels secure to invest in agro-based and other industries in these areas.
Hence, for the well being of the inhabitants of Lalrnonirhat and Nilphamari districts I am soliciting the kind attention of the government and requesting it to adopt the necessary steps in this respect.
Md. Raihanul Islam RamniganfBarakhata Hatibandha, Lalrnonirhat
Dependable power, delighted customersf
The other day I went to a bank booth of Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd to pay my electricity bill. I saw the above words on the top of the main gate of the DPDC Ltd office. It made me curious and I tried to read it again, but could not do it because of a sudden loadshedding at that moment. I was really delighted with the joke! The same thing happened in our village home a few months ago. When we started our dinner, the light went off. We had to use candles. The very interesting thing is that light came in only after we finished our meal. We all including our foreign sister-in-law were
delighted! Load-shedding brought both cities and villages together to share its burnt. I believe because of many odds the authorities cannot keep the power supply at the desired level. The people are not happy with the words only, they want action. So without any delay, the government should put all its efforts in this sector with which entire economic activities, industrial and agricultural, are directly linked.
I put another story here. When I was in college I saw news- about- establishing a nuclear power project at Ruppur. There after I joined a service, then retired and that also about ten years ago. But Ruppur nuclear project remains far back as it was then, though the matter was too important to be put off for tomorrow. Now I come to what I am thinking about the matter. The government should immediately revive the nuclear power plant again and go for its early establishment with the help of a technologically developed country. Meanwhile, we should also go for coal-fired power projects. Solar power should be made available in villages. I believe and hope the government will do everything to mitigate the sufferings of the people and thus fulfil one of their election pledges.
MA Alim
Ex. Banker Indira Road Dhaka
Report on fruits
I thank you for belatedly printing my letter. I am writing this letter as your reporting of 14 July 2009 has had a very serious effect on my food habits and has led to deprivation of essentials to my body. I am also requesting all the readers of this letter to please go through your coverage of 14 July 2009 and be judges of the matter themselves. Who, after reading this, would dare to consume these fruits, etc? I did the same and have not been since taking at all the fruits abundantly available and displayed prominently in our markets all over.
I have not seen any action since from any organ of our government, save one or two visits of a minister to some fish vendors to see if the fishes that they display were Formalin-free, as fishes are the main food item with us, as the ministers are all assured of providing them with Formalin-free fruits, etc.
If you want, I can provide you a very long list of diseases, some of them quite in the serious range, that can be cured by the use of different types of fruits. You have now put an embargo on our use of fruits by your reporting — at least it has so happened in my case. How many people of our country can afford to
go out of our country to consume fruits there, temporarily, to meet their physical needs?
Another thing: such kind of serious reporting does not surprisingly seem to have any follow-ups from you.
MM Rahman
Eskaton Gardens Dhaka
Magnetic levitation The idea of magnetic levitation trains, mentioned in a letter published by you on 27th September, is very misleading. The statement, and I quote: "Magnet Trains run on power of magnetic fields created by electricity through wire, rather than electricity itself" is basically incorrect. The magnetic repulsion between the rails and the train eliminates friction, whereas motion is generated by friction between the wheel and rails in conventional electric trains.
Also large amounts of electric power are a must for both traction motor driven or electro-magnet levitation driven trains! Depending on the number of trains on the system and its frequency, anything between 1,000 to 1,500 MW of uninterrupted power supply is a must for either form of urban mass transport system! Unfortunately, this is only a dream for Dhaka, given our miserable quality and quantity of power supply! One pragmatic solution could be an overhead diesel engine driven, rail car transport system.
Engr. S.A. Mansoor Dhaka
Rich and poor countries
The R&D in the rich western countries for cheaper applications of products used in the third world countries is not the current culture.
According to a news item, two big international medicine manufacturing companies have now jointly announced to step up plans for marketing cheaper medicines for the DCs and LDCs through joint R&D on nonprofit basis.
In the other sectors, such a renewable energy, the retail prices are too high for the rural users; but the market is vast. Initially, the international and the donor agencies could help in setting up the users and marketing bases, but the recurring costs have to be considered; including regular maintenance schedules. For cheaper assembly and manufacture, the EPZs in the developing countries could be used for outsourcing.
Bangladesh has one the highest densities of population in the world (nearing 1,000 persons per sq km); with cheap labour and well-
developed EPZs. There are huge markets in Asia, Africa, and South American regions. The global warming warnings are becoming more and more menacing; hence renewable energy sources have a vital contribution in raising the purchasing power of the middle class and the general masses. Large volume of sales and quick profits brought out the downfall of the USS (coupled with credit transactions). Capitalism and Materialism look alluring in the short run; but the economy of life practised by four billion peoplp weak in economic base is a burden on the rich countries and on the international organisations (although the NGOs are doing Some good work in helping improved the local infrastructures).
AHusnain Dhaka
Tax on vehicles
A notice has been published by the NBR in The Daily Star dated Aug 13, 2009 on the procedure to be followed by taxpayers in paying vehicle tax. Instead of making the entire cumbersome system of paying tax easier and trouble-free, they have added additional complications in the name of vehicle tax. Some such irritating features are shown here, (a) A separate pay order is necessary for paying vehicle tax. It means additional payment of bank charges plus transport hassle, (b) A photocopy of the pay order has to be submitted to the IT official stationed at the BRTA whenever the client needs to visit that office, (c) A 10-serial form has to be filled by the vehicle owners photocopy of which has to be submitted to the IT official at BRTA. (d) All these are to be authenticated by the IT return receiving office.
The procedure is not only time-consuming but very complicated. Why not a simple procedure should do? Add the vehicle tax to the due regular tax in a single chai an or pay order and let the IT return receiving office note the details in short in the IT acknowledgement slip that is signed and stamped by the IT officer.
Photocopy of this slip will be presented to the IT official at BRTA who must accept it. It has to be noted that details of the vehicle are noted by the tax payers in the IT form (assets and liabilities section). We find no valid reason for harassing people in the name of vehicle tax. I draw the kind attention of the Finance Minister who has an earnest desire to introduce a totally hassle-free environment for the taxpayers.
Abdur Rashid Chowdhury New Eskaton
Dhaka