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TO THE EDITOR
Women's fair
Women are going ahead with the advance of civilization and the old notion about womenfolk is now fizzling out. In the bygone days, women were considered to do the household works and men used to do all the work outside their homes. But now things are changing, and with the blessing of education people come to realize that a nation cannot go forward keeping half the population backward. Now womenfolk are doing all types of works along with men.
Some women leaders have organised the trade fair in Chittagong which is really a tremendous milestone for them.
They should be encouraged and supported so that we can do away with the gender disparity’.
Bipra Kan ungo
Mo min Road, Chittagong
Ranking of universities
I am wiiting about the grading system of universities. The real point is that the students of the universities (public and private) are always enthusiastic to know about the present grade of the institutions in which they are studying. Others also want to confirm the institutions in which they seek to get admitted. The UGC published a ranking of the private varsities in 2005. But now 2009 is going to end. There are some organisations which are publishing their rankings. But the credibility of these organisations is questionable.
Actually we want the ranking of varsities mentioning the grade given by the UGC.
Md. Raihanul Azim Dept, of English International Islamic University Chittagong
Facts and propaganda!
While the Hon. Shipping Minister, recognising forest plundering as a fact, warns against this criminal activity through harsh punishment, in stark contrast the local MP calls it a "figment of the imagination"! Who is right and who is wrong, given your correspondent’s news report of 20 December and the vivid photograph published alongside, is anybody’s guess!
What about the MP’s son mentioned by name who is one among others accused of plundering the forest by the Forest Department? Is that, too, all just propaganda?
A confused citizen
Dhaka
Stop child marriage The practice of girls marrying at a young age is very common in Bangladesh. Child marriage can have serious harmful consequences for children. Parents choose to marry off their daughters early for a number of reasons. Poor families may regard a young girl as an economic burden and her marriage as a necessary survival strategy for her family. In addition. Child marriages must be viewed within the context of force and coercion, involving pressure and emotional blackmail, and children that lack the choice or capacity to give their full consent.
Our country has a law that a girl could be married off when she is 18 but this law is very often violated.
Mohammed Jamal Uddin Department of English International Islamic University Chittagong
Internet
Internet is the means of communication through computers. It is the largest system of many connected computers around the world. People use Internet to communicate with each other. Besides, modern business and commerce etc are done though it.
Students should have access to it so that they can keep pace with the modern world.
Abdul Azim
Department of English International Islamic Un i versi ty Ch i t tagong
Name game
There are some unhealthy competitions practiced among our political parties. The shameless name game is one of those. We saw this culture during the regime of different political parties. This government came to power with the ’slogan’ of change. But we do not get any indication of change of their narrow mind. The AL-led grand alliance is also not an exception in case of coming out from this ’Name Game Culture’. Most probably, this culture is in ourblood.
However, we all know Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a wise politician, popular leader, spokesman for the people & a true patriot in the history of Bangladesh. He made an outstanding contribution to pave the way of our independence. But in my point of view Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will remain alive through his deeds, not naming of organisations after him. Actually, we need to change our narrow mind. Will everyone forget Mujib if his name is not used? No, never, it is not possible.
Therefore, I would like to urge our leaders to be broadminded and to work hard for the betterment of the country avoiding, such controversies. Mohammad Zia-ul-Haque English department International Islamic University Ctg. ' ’
Sri Lankan women
Recent news regarding exploitation of women in Sri Lankan camps is worrisome. It is regrettably the fallout of the war and the creation of a stream of refugees. The refugees, who are helpless due to lack of basic amenities and support become easy prey to such kinds of exploitation. In such a situation it is the responsibility of the world bodies involved in safeguarding the conditions of the refugees to address the issue.
A proper mechanism should be developed to protect those women.
Mohammed Sadullah Khan Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Teachers
More than 50 private universities have been established in our country and some universities have area branches in Rajshahi. Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna and all over the country. It is regrettable that most of the private universities appoint their teachers from public universities. I’m a student of a public university. Most of the teachers, not only of our department but also other departments, are working with private universities. Some teachers do not take classes regularly.
We are deprived because of the teachers’ negligence. Who will look into the matter?
A student
Department of Accounting and Information Systems University of Rajshahi
Comments
On 14.12.09, 1 read in your daily a column on Open and Distance Learning written by Dr Manzurul Islam. That was good writing. 1 also think that this method of learning should be accepted by the govt and people. 1 have visited several websites of universities teaching with this method. I think this service responsibility should be distributed to the private organisations. One more public Open University and at least one private Open University should be allowed to introduce this system as early as possible.
The author is justified in his opinion that opening a public Open University will be time consuming. So one or more private Open Universities can be encouraged to start, first by the professionals and; academics, experienced in the ODL method. Distance education can spread the renowned teachers' lectures to the remote corners by video conferencing, audio conferencing. Classes are more interactive and interesting in this way. So, proper technology based distance education is ver)' much necessary in Bangladesh at present.
Let the present people's government take it up seriously and see that actual implementation takes place before long.
Md. Mizanur Rahman
Shahin
Mirpur-I2, Dhaka
Killers of Bangabandhu
1 don't support only five killers of Bangabandhu to be executed. Recently the jury gave a verdict in favour of the execu-tion of 12 killers of Bangabandhu but only five out of twelve are in custody now.
There is a big question in my mind-- what would happen to the rest of the killers who have not been arrested yet? By joining the same killing
operation of Bangubandhu and his family members some people would get punishment and some others would escape, that Is injustice I would say,
Md. Abdul Wahab
Student (UBA Internship) Independent University, Bangladesh (IUH)
Christmas
Christmas is celebrated on December 25 with full enthusiasm by the people around the whole world. Basically, Christmas or Christmas Day is a yearly Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. On top of that, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is a sixteenth-century English carol from the West Country of England. The derivation of this Christmas carol lies in the English ritual where well-to-do people of the society provided Christmas treats to the carol-Icrs on Christmas eve for instance figgy puddings' that were incredibly like current day Christmas puddings. It is one of the few conventional holiday carols. The song is frequently parodied.
Though traditionally a Christian holiday, Christmas is also broadly celebrated by many non-Christians, and a few of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular themes as well as origins. Trendy modern customs of the holiday take in gift-giving, music, a swap of greeting cards, church celebrations, a unique feast, and the exhibit of a variety of decorations; including Christmas trees, mistletoe, nativity scenes, lights, garlands, and holly. Additionally, Father Christmas (recognized as Santa Claus in several areas, including Australia, North America and Ireland) is an admired mythological figure in numerous countries, allied with the bringing of gifts for kids. Since gift-giving plus various other aspects of the Christmas party involve heightened economic movement among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a major event and a key sales phase for retailers and businesses.
Likewise,' in Bangladesh Christmas is observed in a befitting manner.
Shohag Mostafij MBA - Stream: Strategic & International Management (SIM)
University of Dhaka
How is that?
Two news items published in the daily Prothom Alo dated 14-12-09 have drawn my attention. One news item is that the shipping minister, one MP of Chittagong and chairman of Chittagong port authority have gone to India for a visit in connection with discussion/ negotiation with a private agency of India for establishment of specialized hospital in joint venture with Chittagong port authority in Chittagong port area. The expenditure of the visit will be met from training budget of the port authority for which an amount of taka nine lakh has been withdrawn. For litis expenditure the shipping ministry has given approval . In this connection, earlier an eleven- member team of the shipping ministry visited India and discussed the matter with Mr. Devi Sheti, a renowned cardiologist and in exchange only a two-member team from India made a visit to Bangladesh.
The other news report is that an eleven-member high powered team of the ministry of power and energy has gone to London to stage Road Shows to attract the investors to invest in the coming power generation projects, including construction of one LNG terminal in Chittagong. Two more similar Road Shows will be held, one in Singapore and the bther in New York'in JanuaryTO .The expenditure for these Road Shows has been estimated to be taka one crore. The expenditure will be met from the fund developed from the grant given by the foreign gas/ oil companies working in Bangladesh and maintained with Petro-Bangla for the development of local human resource/ manpower. It is further learnt from the news that there is no expenditure from this head of account for development of local manpower and as such a huge amount is lying idle in this head of account for a long time.
It is very much natural that expenditure is necessary' for such visits from the govt, exchequer. But the question is why this expenditure is to be met from the training head of account. Surprisingly, it happened in both the cases. We all know that without training proper manpower cannot be developed. It is also known to
everybody that there is a dearth of proper manpower in every field and as a result we are dependent on foreign assistance. With this view in mind, such a fund has been developed for imparting training to the local manpower for efficient running of the enterprises. But unfortunately this fund has been kept unutilised for a long time. How is that?
Md. Delwar Hossain East Rampura, Dhaka
One-child family
To reduce the rapid growth of the population, the media reports indicate that officially one-child family would be encouraged.
This would be disastrous for the future development of the one lonely child-the child's adjustment and social behaviour pattern would be abnormal (as seen in many families with one child).
Hence, minimum two-child family should be the base for family planning.
Alfa Ahmad, Dhaka
English grammar
There are five vowels a. e, i, o, u in English language. It is said that no word is complete and meaningful without affixing any one of the five vowels such as cat, met, inn, run, black, elder, injure, open, urge etc., etc.
But what about words without any one of the five vowels like sky, dry, slyly, try, why, fry etc?
So, for cogent reasons, why should not English language have six vowels a. e, i, o, u and y instead of five?
May I humbly request our
learned English language experts to enlighten us on the matter?
O.H. Kabir Dhaka
Capital market and small investors
The size of capital market is growing big. The investors are reposing trust in investing in the capital market. More enlistment of public limited companies will help expand the size. But the small investors are still feeling uneasy to invest in the market. Hundreds of broker houses are coming forward. Many of the broker houses do not offer all the services. The small buyers of shares feel insecure to keep their shares in BO account. Because some of the new broker houses have already closed their business without settling everything.
Mahbubul Haque Chowdhury
Former General Manager Agrani Bank, Dhaka
Fake freedom fighter?
Freedom fighters are the noble sons of the soil. They are ever remembered with dignity and honour. But the fake freedom fighters are always looked upon with great hatred and anguish. Loathes are spitted on them. Many fake freedom fighters are moving freely in society enjoying all the facilities from the govt
The issue needs to be addressed.
Shariful Huq Milon Kadirganj, Rajshahi City Rajshahi