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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 200 words. All letters will be subject to editing.
Of ACC, NHRC, and Padma Bridge
The World Bank's decision to withdraw funding for the Padma Bridge is not as much an indictment of the Awami League government as it is of a system of fool's gold. The same would have happened in a BNP administration. We may have fine sounding organisations like the ACC and the NHRC, but the fact remains that those are little more, in practice, than toothless advisory panels made of tired ex-bureaucrats too scared to say a peep about government ministers and ruling party functionaries of the day. Until the day that an ACC prosecutes a cabinet member of the incumbent political administration or the NHRC hauls into court human rights violators belonging to the affiliated bodies of a ruling party, the only people who will believe these to be credible organisations will be the professional attendees of the numerous seminars in the various posh hotels in Dhaka who have been talking for forty years and will do so for forty more.
Esam Sohail
Wichita, Kansas
USA
Poultry sector in crisis
Our poultry sector is now struggling hard for survival. There are various reasons behind this crisis. Lack of proper and effective management, inadequate knowledge, ineffective vaccinations, banning import from India, oil price hikes etc are some of the reasons. We should give attention to our poultry sector as it is directly related to the nation's nutrition. The government should introduce vaccines and other facilities such as poultry insurance, bank loans with lower interest rates, and tax exemption for poultry feed for ensuring smooth operation of the industry.
S.M. Shamim-Ur-Rashid Tushar
Department of Business Administration
Shahjalal University of Science & Technology
Communications minister admits mistake
With reference to the editorial entitled “No 'surprise' from Quadeer, please” published in The Daily Star on July 03,2012, the Honourable Communications Minister admits his mistake for using the word 'surprise.' His explanation goes as below.
Ever since I took the responsibility, I have been keeping consistency in my comments regarding the construction of Padma Bridge. I never volunteered to hold any formal press conference on the financing and construction of the Padma Bridge. After visiting the bridge site and rehabilitation areas, during discussions with representatives of different countries including that of Malaysia and on various occasions, I have been informing the journalists about the possible timeline of the bridge construction.
By coming February, the construction work for the basic infrastructure of the bridge could be undertaken -1 have said this to the media and I still believe it. While responding to the journalists regarding this matter, I never exaggerated; rather, I remained careful with my words. Through my statements on various occasions, I have tried to clarify the position of the government and the bridge division, for that matter, to the public.
Last Sunday, after the World Bank's cancellation of the Padma Bridge loan, journalists wanted to know my reaction. I said if we use alternative financing then it may lessen the financial liability on the common people while the economic pressure would remain under control.
Many said that it might increase the expenses. In reply, I said there is a surprise for them. I erroneously used the word 'surprise' which I could have avoided. Without any reservations, I am admitting my mistakes.
On behalf of the Honourable Communications Minister Md. Abu Naser
Senior Information Officer
Irreparable damage done to the country
On June 30,2012 the breaking news in the electronic media that "World Bank cancelling its loan for Padma bridge" came as a shock to us and we felt deeply ashamed. The government is fully responsible for losing the 1.2 billion credit for the Padma bridge project because it did not pay heed to the World Bank's repeated warning that they had proof about corruption in the bidding process, in which high level government officials were involved. The name of the former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain came to the forefront. The government then removed him from his post and gave him another portfolio. The government should have done a thorough investigation about Syed Abul Hossain and others who were involved in the scam and taken proper action against them. But it did not hesitate to degrade the country to save a few people.
Now, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Finance Minister AMA Muhit are saying many things about this but people will not accept those. Irreparable damage has been done to the country which will leave a permanent scar.
Nur Jahan
Chittagong
Within 48 hours
Presently some people in power and some service oriented organisations developed a norm of announcing (without appreciating the real situation) that they would accomplish some goal or fix certain disorder within 48 hours! But in almost all the cases no fruitful results could be seen even after passing of so many 48-hours.
At the moment I am talking about the dead telephones under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar BTCL exchange which went out of order due to a fire at the exchange. Unfortunately, both my office and residence phones fell prey to the cruel fire. On TV screen I read quite a number of times that all the dead phones will be put back into order within 48 hours. I am anxiously keeping my eyes on the clock to witness every 48-hours pass with no ring!
Professor M Zahidul Haque
Dean
Faculty of Agriculture
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
Dhaka
Power cuts make them loan defaulter
On 26th June 2012 most of the dailies carried two important news with big headlines. The headlines were: "More than 1.22 lac loan defaulters in the country" and "Government's proposal to hike electricity prices very soon." Let me give an example of one unintentional loan defaulter whose name might have already been included in the 1.22 lac list. A friend of mine, an experienced businessman, established a textile manufacturing unit about a year back with bank loan. He imported sophisticated textile machinery by opening L/C from abroad. The time between L/C opening date and trial production was more than one year because of delay in getting electricity connection, setting up of machinery etc. By the time he completed setting up the machines at the factory, he failed to pay more than six instalments and became a defaulter according to BB rules. His company became disqualified for getting any further support.
The only way that is open for him is to run his factory at any cost, using full production capacity. But alas, how will he use full capacity? Out of 24 hours a day, he hardly gets electricity supply for 10/12 hours, which means his production has reduced to 50 per cent. Instead of making profit he is losing his capital every month. I believe he has no escape. Hon'ble finance minister, do you have any suggestion for him? He has no other means or land to sell to pay the present dues.
Shafiqul Islam
On e-mail