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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 150 words. All letters will be subject to editing.
It's better late than never
A news item published in a national daily of June 8 that the Shoura Council of Saudi Arabia recommended to government to take necessary measures to allow Saudi women to vote in municipal elections. Of course it is encouraging news for the Saudi women as well as the women who are deprived of their voting rights in many societies of the world in the name of Islam. It may be noted that if the Islamic codes are interpreted partially, it may create misconceptions among people about Islam.
We know that Islam is a complete code of life. We hope Saudi government never amalgamates between the pre-Islamic customs at variance Islamic philosophy and great teachings of Islam. However, Saudi government is going to do the right thing now and we just say that it's better late than never.
MobarakAli
RK Mission Road Gopibagh Dhaka
Investment of undisclosed income in shares
We thank the government for taking the decision of not increasing or imposing new taxes and not making TIN mandatory for the BO Account holders. This will have positive impact on the capital market. The capital market needs more investment, mainly from the financial institutions and business communities. We should encourage them to invest in shares. The government can play a leading role in this area. This will definitely improve the status of the capital market. We strongly urge the Ministry of Finance to allow investment of undisclosed income in purchase of shares of listed companies by adding section 19D of Income Ordinance 1984 in budget FY 2011-12.
M Jalal Hussain
Nakhalpara, Dhaka
Fake doctors!
A few days ago, a fake doctor named A. Wahab Khan has been caught red handed without having any professional medical certificate! It is not an isolated occurrence. There are still many “doctors” across our country "serving” the nation not actually being a doctor!
Using the innocence and helplessness of the rural as well as the urban people, some unscrupulous persons are cheating with the people in life-related matters. These persons sometimes use unauthorized degree and fellowship besides their names for deceiving the general people. The govt, as well as BMDC must prevent this dishonest practice.
Khondoker Rezwan Tanvir
Department of Business Administration Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
Sylhet
Multipolar world and Bangladesh
The multipolar world has become a global reality. Nearly twenty years have passed since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of US-USSR bipolar world order. The leaders of the four fast growing economies grouped under BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) want their own respective roles in the world economy. Brazil and India also want their economic presence reflected in permanent membership of the UN where China and Russia already have permanent seats. Other major emerging economies, such as South Korea and South Africa also want to play a role in global politics. The global economy is going through a rapid change and the centre of the world both economically and strategically is shifting to the East, mainly Asia.
Marginal developing countries like Bangladesh must take a proactive strategy to fit itself and exploit the opportunities in the changing global scenario with the rise of new power centric states. The foreign policy of Bangladesh should not be influenced by superpower like US or India. Dhaka must try to improve relations with Russia, Brazil, China and other strategically important countries. We have to do this as fast as we can; otherwise we will have to pay a high price.
Zubair Barkat
Department of International Relations
University of Dhaka
BNP should act wisely
We have become very frustrated by the attitude of our politicians. It is surprising that what common people can easily predict, they fail to see. We all know that BNP's demand for a mid term election will never be realized. Awami League-led government will not step down, the sun may rise in the west but stepping down by the present government will never happen. So, our question to the BNP is why they are wasting breath on an issue that is futile. BNP should concentrate on other issues which are making life difficult for the people and compel the government to solve the problems.
Nur Jahan
Chittagong.
Stock and share
In the present day culture we become used to Share Market intelligence. Almost regularly we find news in both print and electronic media regarding fall or even crash in Stock prices. Recently one young reader of my articles in the newspaper requested me to write something drawing the distinctions between 'Stock' and 'Share'.
Well, both Stock and Share are financial instruments and are used interchangeably to refer to the prices of paper that certifies ownership in a company; the paper being called 'Stock Certificate' or 'Share Certificate'. The distinction between these two terms appears with the context of their application. Stock is rather a general term to indicate the ownership certificates of any company while Shares of a particular company.
Interestingly in American English the term 'Stock' is used to refer to the ownership of a portion of the company while in British English 'Share' carries the same meaning. For example, “Share prices on Dhaka Stock Exchange have fallen, so it's not a favorable time to sell my Shares". Professor M Zahidul Haque Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka
I am better...
There is a problem in our local politics, it's like a disease. No, I'm not talking abut 'blame game'. Obviously 'blame game' has always been there. I'm talking about the 'superiority complex'. Each one thinks he is better than the other. It's like claiming, "shob paji khali ami valo"; when in reality not one of the major two groups can prove itself better than the other. Both prefer 'hartal' as a way to voice their opinion against government's activities while going to the parliament is a way better option. None thinks constructively, both like destruction.
Wise wolf, On e-mail
No scope for dialogue!
BNP Chief Begum Khaleda Zia in a recent press conference said, "Caretaker government will stay; there is no need or scope for dialogue". She extended her order and asked the present government to resign, as if she is the supreme authority of Bangladesh and everything should move as she dictates and all others are to follow orders. But she did not specify to whom this government should submit the resignation and handover power.
Shafiqul Islam, NY
Replace the word 'shood'
The word 'shood' is grossly misunderstood, misinterpreted and is being used as a religio-political weapon by vested interested parties with ulterior motives. 'Shood' literally means profit or dividend. But an age-old stigma is attached to the word 'shood' because of money lending business. What has been prohibited in Islam is the practice of 'Usury' which is comparable with 'Dadon' or 'Mohajani' business in our country. In Dadon or Mohajani business, the borrower is forced to pay around ten percent interest per month which amounts to 120 percent per year. As an alternative, the borrower is forced to surrender a fixed part of his crop yield or fish yield to the Mahajan. Islam has categorically prohibited this practice. Nowadays, because of accounting, administrative complications, etc., banks and other financial institutions fix up a rate of return for a certain period, and that return is commonly called 'shood'. This practice and the very word 'shood' is misinterpreted by so-called Islamic banks and cunningly used as a tool. They also fan up religious sentiments among the Muslims on this issue. (I found the interest rates of Islamic banks are the highest. They only use catchy Arabic words to attract the depositors) In the above context, I call upon the government, banks, financial institutions etc. to discontinue using the word 'shood" and replace it by dividend or 'Labbhangsha'.
Dr. SN Mamoon, On e-mail
Fora peaceful Bangladesh
As a Bangladeshi I feel proud for my country and also for Awami League government. This party is known as a secular party. Often anti-liberation groups raise their angry voices against secularism. So, it is the duty of Awami League to make Bangladesh a better place for all castes and creeds.
Lutfar Rahman, Jahangirnagar University
It's better late than never
A news item published in a national daily of June 8 that the Shoura Council of Saudi Arabia recommended to government to take necessary measures to allow Saudi women to vote in municipal elections. Of course it is encouraging news for the Saudi women as well as the women who are deprived of their voting rights in many societies of the world in the name of Islam. It may be noted that if the Islamic codes are interpreted partially, it may create misconceptions among people about Islam.
We know that Islam is a complete code of life. We hope Saudi government never amalgamates between the pre-Islamic customs at variance Islamic philosophy and great teachings of Islam. However, Saudi government is going to do the right thing now and we just say that it's better late than never.
MobarakAli
RK Mission Road Gopibagh Dhaka
Wasting money on cell phones
In North America, getting a mobile phone number is as difficult as getting a Visa or Master card. Before allowing a mobile phone number, the serving company does a complete credit check of the applicant and after being fully satisfied, the applicant gets a connection, unlike Pakistan, where you just walk into an outlet, grocery store or a paan-cabin and buy a SIM.
Then you call the phone company and give your CNIC number. Within 24 hours your new mobile number is activated. It would be injustice if I would not recognise the advantages and benefits of a mobile phone in this fast-paced world. In fact, a mobile phone is crucial to save time. Unfortunately, like many other areas of our daily life, we also abuse the capacity of using the technology available to us.
For instance, a large number of Pakistanis have a separate mobile phone for each member of the family. Even a 12- year-old child possesses his own mobile phone! No mobile phone subscriber spends less than Rs500 each month, so if there are four or five mobile phones in a family, they are easily spending Rs2000 to Rs2500 per month which means Rs24000 to Rs30000 per year.
I have not yet counted the initial cost of buying five or six mobile phones which would not be less than Rs8000.00 to RslO, 000. We as a nation can solve our problems on individual and collective basis with a sense of responsibility and discipline.
Mahad Naveed
University of Karachi
Pakistan