It's a matter of great delight for us that Bangladesh has successfully played its part in hosting the Cricket World Cup 2011. We have once again proved that despite being an impoverished nation, we have the capability of producing world-class outputs if given an opportunity. This magnificent event has also given this tiny nation a great deal of international exposures that we truly deserved.

Although many people still have

regrets regarding Bangladesh's failure to make it to the quarterfinals. However, it's undeniable that there were some very apparent signs of improvements and the way we won against England clearly validates the fact that our team has become highly competitive over the last few years. All in all, I think we have done an awesome job, both on and off the field. Kh. Asef Safa Kabir Muhammadpur

Dhaka

Abolition of capital punishment

Amnesty International and other Human Rights organisations' observation that the country should move towards the abolition of capital punishment is a clear evidence of recognition in principle at the highest quarters that there can be no rational justification for that extreme penalty in a democratic state. Their views represent the current thinking across the world. Although Bangladesh's law prescribes death penalty for crimes such as murder, abetting mutiny by members of the armed forces, and waging war against the government, it is in cases perceived as particularly gruesome and politically sensitive that the extreme punishment is awarded. In our country, the justice system works in such a way that of the criminals caught, a very few get convicted. Though abolition of capital punishment is welcome, the government should not tie the hands of justice in dealing with heinous crimes.

Gopal Sengupta, Canada

Lack of professionalism

I was saddened to learn of the passing away of veteran politician and BNP secretary general, Khandker Delwar Hossain, in Singapore. I rushed to see more detailed news. However, I was confused by the conflicting information on two popular websites, the websites of The Daily Star and BDNews24.com.

In the profile of late Delwar Hossain, The Daily Star states that he passed his BA and MA in Economics in 1952 and 1253 respectively from Dhaka University while BDNews24.com states that he graduated in Economics from DU in 1955. The Daily Star also states that he left behind four daughters and two sons while the BDNews24.com states he left behind one daughter and three sons. I hope The Daily Star will check its figure to reconfirm. I hope the others too will do the same and where mistake is found, be duly rectified.

Talha Ahmad, UK

Whose fault is this?

We need to listen to the Bangladesh Bank governor. As it is Bangladesh Bank who removed Prof Yunus from Grameen Bank, they should defend it, not the Finance Minister and the Attorney General.

Is there any such instance that an MD of a Bank can run his office without Bangladesh Bank's approval? As Prof Yunus could run his office for ten long years without Bangladesh Bank's approval, then what prompted our Finance Minister to 'remove' him to 'establish rule of law' suddenly? Whose fault is this and who is liable to be punished for letting Prof Yunus hold the position 'illegally' for so long?

Kazi Ahmed

Toronto, Canada

Removal of Prof. Yunus

We understand from various reports that majority of the general mass desire that Professor Yunus will be treated honourably. I have a proposal on how to bid farewell to Dr. Yunus as the outing Managing Director of Grameen Bank.lt was published in the newspaper that the tenure of Chairmanship of the existing Chairman of Grameen Bank is going to expire in April 2011; (if I am not wrong) Dr. Yunus may be allowed to continue as the Managing Director of the Bank till expiry of the tenure of the Chairman of the Bank and after expiry of the service contact/appointment of the present chairman, he may be made the Chairman of the Grameen Bank if he accepts it at all.

Azizur Rahman, Ex: Sh. Bank Executive

Folly of decision makers

Sir Ian Kershaw, a military historian, wrote 'Fateful Choices' about the decisions taken in the Second World War, contrasting those made in the democracies compared to those made by Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin

He commented, 'A despot's entourage of nervous sycophants is clearly the worst environment for good decision-making. The leaders of democracies are in less danger, but unless they have good intelligence and unless their subordinates are prepared to present facts that contradict their chief's mindset, they too can make terrible blunders. The worst folly of decision-makers is to believe their own propaganda.' I shuddered when I read 58 people condemning Blake's remarks on Professor Yunus as 'disgraceful' and illustrating 'a submissive relation with a foreign force'. If I listen to the opinion of someone who disagrees with me, am I 'being submissive'? If I don't, I am the one in danger!

Name and address withheld on request

Road grabbers!

In most of the residential areas of Dhaka, a portion of the road is grabbed by the unscrupulous house owners. And perhaps Mohammadpur is the worst affected. The house owners while building their houses grab a couple of feet from the government road. Unfortunately, none is there to see it and this unlawful activity hugely contributes to the traffic jam. But if government wants, they can bulldoze these illegal structures just by one week and get the roads back to the original size. This has been possible in Mirpur recently prior to the world cup and the scenario is totally different now. Let's free all illegally grabbed areas for a better Dhaka!

Khandaker Zia Hasan

Teacher and Journalist

On e-mail

Vandalism and our sufferings

The rickshaw-pullers' revolt against the traffic policy of the government by vandalising hundreds of vehicles, causing sufferings to commuters, school children, sick and old has left the nation stunned. The general public of this country have had enough. The insufferable traffic jams cannot be addressed because the rickshaw-pullers don't want it. If governments, be it the AL, BNP, JP or Jamaat, are incapable of protecting the life and property of its citizens, then democracy has failed in this country and we should look for other alternatives.

Mahmoodul Haque

Gulshan, Dhaka