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To the Editor
Hartal call and govt's response Continuous threat of pursuance of court cases and new prosecutions against her two sons and their friends are really disturbing. How can a national leader live peacefully with all these threats and persuasions by her rivals? There is no convincing reason behind her hartal call, but she is undone. She is desperate, because the situation compelled her to resort to such actions.
It was reported in the media that most of her senior leaders were astonished to hear the declaration. This means, she did not discuss the issue with her senior leaders before. Now no one, including her own men, accepted the hartal.
The government has declared that it will face the challenge politically. What will the government gain facing the hartal politically? I believe nothing. The people will not venture to the streets on the hartal day and the city will remain paralysed from sunrise
to sunset. The government will have nothing to cheer about. At the end of the day, Begum Zia will heave a sigh of relief and declare a grand success. In this case, the government will be the ultimate loser.
I suggest the government negotiate with the leader of the opposition to withdraw the hartal call. I believe this will be a face saving exercise for both.
Shafiqul Islam, NY
Unsafe concrete jungle!
It is true that the real estate sector is contributing a lot to our economy. At the same time it is true that they are violating the BNBC code. The incident takes place a few months ago at Japan Garden City. Rajuk is the authority to investigate this core issue for ensuring better management. To speak the truth, the whole city has now turned into a concrete jungle where people are living in extremely unsafe conditions. Reports published in the
newspapers say this city is going to be unsuitable for living in the days ahead. Because the city has not been expanded according to a proper plan in the past few years. The past governments have not addressed the issue. There are many buildings in the city which were built without any plan.
The authorities concerned should look into the matter to prevent any humanitarian disaster in the near future.
Eng. Md. Mehebub Haque BUET
Who will bring change?
The catch-word "BODLEY JAO, BODL1A DAO' of the most circulated daily 'Prothom Alo' knocked upon the conscious part of my mind as my eyes took a flash on its billboard. I started thinking over this issue again and again but to no conclusion. Some questions crowded my brain: how much change the slogan has brought, can mere slogan
bring the desired change until the determinant factors associated with the changes are changed?
The slogan is nothing but a provocation. Where will the change start from? It should be started from the top. For example: if the practice of yellow journalism is to come to an end, it should be initiated by the leading newspapers. Enam
Azimpur
Smoking, everywhere!
Laws are enacted but not implemented in our country. We all know smoking is forbidden in public places. But what do we see? Smoking takes place in all public places, even in front of the police. Are our law enforcement agencies too weak to take action against the smokers? Our neighbouring country Bhutan is free from smoking. But we can't stop smoking in public places. Sabbir Hossain
Tangail
Donors' interference
The govt, of Bangladesh has its own 'vision' & 'mission'.These visions are to be implemented by the govt, servants of various cadres. These cadres include civil servants from police, finance, administration, engineering, medical services, agricultural services etc. including those servants who work in the AntiCorruption Commission (ACC). In achieving the mission & vision, there are lots of hindrances which are overcome by the civil servants. The character & nature of the servants is always transparent to the ministry of the govt. The good or bad of an employee is definitely known to his boss. So, any action against the civil servants must be under the control of the government. The ACC is not an institution located outside Bangladesh. So, any action required by them need to be approved by the government . It is not an illogical proposal. Otherwise, there remains the scope of exploitation of civil servants by the ACC people.
I believe the government decision as regards the empowerment of ACC is all right. Interference by the donors in this matter is of course not fair.
Engr.Abdul Jalil Paribag, Dhaka
Terrorism
The cinema Avatar didn’t get the Oscar just because it showed what terrible destruction the marines do to innocent people.
It is a good movie. You can't help but give credit to the director, producer and writer, James Cameron for showing the world the true picture of the devastation not only to people but also to the environment, they cause, in the name of peace!
Dr. Sabrina
Dhaka Cantt.
Dhaka
AIE crash
Failing to have an online ticket in Bangladesh Biman that does not care about our government's dream of digital Bangladesh, I have been flying the small aircraft of Air India Express (AIE) for about two years, flying from Singapore to Dhaka and the return journey. The first advantage AIE provides me is the fact that I can book reservation and on confirmation I can print the ticket sitting on my study table and thus can avert the time consuming running after travel agents.
But all is not well with AIE. World people know AIE's last episode that is an unfortunate air crash in Mangalore, killing most people (numbering about 160) on board. The aircraft, a Boeing 737, came from Dubai and crashed while landing at the airport in Mangalore on Saturday, May 22. The aircraft is said to have skidded off the runway that was 'smaller' than standard. The cause shown as 'smaller runway' is not tenable because this is an international airport and even the same aircraft might have landed here many times before! I guess another cause and think AIE authorities can consider that.
I was flying from Singapore on May 15 by an AIE aircraft. While landing in Kolkata Netaji Subhash Bose international airport, it landed so hard that every passenger understood the pilot did not do a good job. My point is: every passenger deserves a smooth and safe landing. I think one of the causes of air crash on May 22 was such a hard landing.
Abdus Sattar Molla, PhD Researcher at NIE, Singapore
Political legitimacy
The BNP is now going to set up a national commission of enquiry (Gono Commission) to determine the political and financial damage caused by their caretaker government during2007-8.
Interestingly, there would be a branch unit of the same commission in every district. The plan has just been unveiled by the former law minister of the BNP
Few very relevant and related issues shall be asked : Why this Gono Commission ?
The purpose is only to salvage the BNP and help them to regain unquestionable political legitimacy.
Is it not an established fact the people of Bangladesh welcomed the 1/11 caretaker government? Are the people happy now with the declining political image and will they extend their unqualified support to the activities of the Gono Commission ?
Will it be unfair to guess that the commission is purely a fresh political move to achieve success in a few distinct areas.
- To challenge the trial of war criminals.
- To enlist more public support to destabilize the government leading to civil disorder.
- The proposed Gono Commission will just be the shadow of the defamed Jamaat and assume their political role in disguise.
Any way, we will have to wait and see who become the judges and whether they conform to any legal standard. Hopefully, Mr Fakhruddin Ahmed and General Moyeen U Ahmed will get the floor to tell the people what are all these about.
Finally, why Mr lajuddin Ahmed who was the head of caretaker government is not mentioned by the BNP? Is he going to support the plaintiff and help salvage the political legitimacy of the BNP to take part in the national politics ?
Before I finish, I would like to thank Mr Mizanur Rahman Khan of the Prothom Alo for his very good analysis of political double standard in facing any corruption notice.
They want complete and full independence of the ACC, but they refuge to reply to a simple letter of the ACC and are now challenging its authority by a writ in the HC. What a paradoxical picture in politics!
Quadir
California, USA Second stimulus package
The first press release issued by the Ministry of Finance on November 25, 2009 contained some points which required further clarifications for implementation. Small & medium garment factories have been included in this package for receipt of benefits.
The package, definitely has been declared after assessing the eligibility of those who have suffered during the period of worldwide economic recession. In spite of that, the package still remains unpaid. Six months have gone already since the press release was issued.
However, after meeting the BGMEA & the BKMEA representatives on April 07, 2010, the government formed a committee under the leadership of the Director General, Monitoring Cell, Finance Division for formulating policies for implementation of the decisions of the meeting.
The recommendations forwarded by this committee were very specific. The following are the recommendations which are about the same as the first press release issued by government but properly clarified:
Renewal Fees for captive generators for the period from November 01,2009 to June 30, 2010 will be paid from stimuluspackage.
Garment factories exporting up to 3.50 million US Dollars will be entitled to receive 5% on the export made by them in the year 2008 -2009.
Over and above that, any garment factory which has exported any amount to coun-tries other then U.S.A., Canada & European Union will be entitled to receive 5% on the export made by them in the 2008-2009 & 4% & 2% in the year 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 respectively.
Similar facilities will be available to BTMA members directly exporting yarns to any country.
Factories which do not use captive generators will be given subsidy of 10% of their electricity bills for the period from July 01, 2009 to June 30, 2010.
Bangladesh Bank may consider reducing the rate of interest to 10% on the loan rescheduled by factories in the textile sector.
The circular dated May 03, 2010 was forwarded to all relevant departments for implementation IMMEDIATELY. Still the banks and other relevant authorities are yet to get necessary instruction for disbursement of funds to RMG units whom the government thought should be given support as early as six months back I request the authorities concerned to save the small factories in the industry by arranging payment to them without any further delay. “A stitch in time saves nine.”
Karibul Mowla Chowdhury Managing Director
Niponika Garments Limited Badda, Dhaka
Foot bridge at Banani
I refer to the letter of Mr. Abu Imran on the subject published in your daily on 24.5.2010.1 fully agree with his views suggesting a foot bridge at Banani. It may be mentioned that in Banani there are two such bridges — one located at Mahakhali (around the flyover) and the other towards North at Kakuli. In between there is none, although the distance between the two bridges is nearly three to four kilometres. The mid-point is around Chairman Bari bus stop where there is also a zebra crossing. This is therefore a suitable place where a foot
bridge can be erected.
The other point worth mentioning is that though there is the bus stop with the added facility of zebra crossing , some buses do not stop there. This causes immense inconvenience to the passengers. It is therefore also requested that the authorities take necessary steps and force the drivers of the buses to stop there and help the passengers to disembark at that point. Abdullah
Banani, Dhaka
Eve teasing
Eve teasing is a euphemism used in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan for public sexual harassment, street harassment or molestation of women by men.
With this given definition, in this technology based era, one new thing should be added to the definition of eve teasing, that is teasing by mobile phone and mobile tracking. The government should pay attention to these types of teasing as well. Eve teasing is widespread in every form in our society. I guess every woman for sure in her lifetime has come across some form of eve teasing. No villages in Bangladesh are barred from this social evil, let alone capital city Dhaka. It would not be an exaggeration if I say each and every time when you step out of your home, you can see one or two such incidents around you, maybe on roads or buses.
The question is, will the girls ever be able to roam around alone without any fear at heart? I have two suggestions. One for the girls, PLEASE be brave and face the stalkers. And last one for Rab, beat the stalkers mercilessly in broad daylight so that the would-be stalkers don't even dare to think of doing it.
Khandaker Zia Hasan Communication Trainer Dhaka
Boosting energy resources!
The "Star Business Report" of May 23rd. on this important and very relevant matter, dealt only with solar energy; although for Bangladesh, we should exploit biomass, wind and other sources of energy and electricity!
Solar energy, and wind turbines need many imported components, like solar panels, inverters, batteries for solar energy and the whole wind turbines set-up for wind power; to make it compatible with domestic electrical distribution network The investment is also comparatively large. In fact, per MW cost of electricity generated, is highest for these two sources of power! In stark contrast, freely available biomass can provide methane gas— a highly valuable energy source with practically no imported components, except for gas storage tanks, that can be locally fabricated, and pumps or
compressors to put the gas into the distribution system! The investment for biomass digesters is comparatively very small, and only local materials are needed for it!
Biomass source of generating methane gas from 'animal and human solid waste' deserves topmost attention and priority in our national interest for all urban areas! High density housing areas, like apartment complexes, public or private residential projects, housing estates, school, college and university hostels, prisons, police and armed forces barracks and cantonments are potential sources from where we can get methane from solid waste.
Today we spend money to remove it by sewage lines, then treat it and
neutralise it in "sewage treatment plants" and then pump it out to the rivers! This human waste can provide us much needed methane gas, and the solid residue, left behind after gas extraction,
which has no smell, can be compressed and sold as agricultural fertilizer and recycled back to the soil for farming.
It is therefore essential that we are fully aware of this rich potential source of fuel gas, from the 'un-mentionable' human waste not discussed in polite society! We should go all out to develop this simple source of fuel gas, for which very little investment is needed. All these are local materials— cement, sand and bricks to build the digesters. The per unit cost of energy, for methane is far cheaper than the foreign exchange cost of exploring and developing gas wells! We cannot afford to ignore this readily available free raw material for producing much needed methane; geological sources for which are finite and rapidly drying up! In contrast, methane from solid waste will be available so long as we exist!
Engr. S.A. Mansoor Dhaka