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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

letters@thedailystar.net
PM's dream vs. people's desire
I We all know the glorious political history of AL. But it appears AL itself has forgotten the basic principles of I its foundation. When the country is screaming for a democratic poll where every party can participate, AL is all prepared to hold a one-sided poll. For the past few months, the prime minister has been shouting at the top of her lungs that she dreams of a Bangladesh where everyone will have a happy life, where there
I will be no poverty and no murder, etc. There is nothing wrong in dreaming. But what is wrong is acting totally in opposition to fulfillment of such dreams. We hope the PM is wise enough to choose between sixteen crore people and a single throne. We also hope that she will find her way again.
Nusrat Jahan
I ELT
I University of Dhaka
Secularism precondition for democracy
Many thanks to The Daily Star for printing recently the preamble of the Bangladesh constitution and I I noticed its cornerstone pillars of nationalism, socialism, secularism, and democracy. This raises the question of whether any of these four can exist at the expense of the others. Where secularism is not firm, can there be lasting true democracy? It seems naive to think that democracy can somehow tame extremism, because extremism is not satisfied until its world view I becomes the law of the land. Enduring democracy requires enduring secularism and enduring secularism requires shunning extremism. Democracy does not mean mindless inclusion of all groups regardless of what they believe and do simply to be perceived as "free, fair, and credible". To be qualified for democracy, groups must shun extremism which begets violence. Democracy requires secularism, and secularism is one of the four pillars of the Bangladesh
I constitution.
Scott Elliott
I Living and working in Dhaka
Let people decide
I The activities of the so-called election time government and the election commission (EC) are justifying the claim by BNP and its alliance that a free and fair election is not possible under them. Especially the current EC is proving that they have taken a side. The foul game they are playing with JP is a clear testament to that end. The weekly Economist recently said: “AL to win the poll, but Bangladesh to lose." The I sooner AL realises it, the better it is for our democracy.
AL should also remember that it is not the job of AL alone to keep Bangladesh safe from fundamentalism, instead they should let people decide.
Dr. Kamrul Hassan
I Professor
I Department of Physics
I Dhaka University
Depositing licensed gun before polls
The government recently asked all the licensed gun owners to deposit their guns before the election. The question is why? The licensed gun owners were issued licenses on specific reasons. Their work and disposition remain unchanged and their exposure to danger is now manifold! Now the licensed gun owners are unarmed and the terrorists and dacoits are at large with their unlicensed weapons, bombs and cocktails. Gun control laws are so archaic / colonial that a common man has no way of defending himself.
Asfarul Islam
I On e-mail
Comments on news analysis, "Are we a democracy?" published on December 31, 2013
Shahjahan
Kick out of the country all the power hungry politicians. This is the best solution for our country.
Abul Kashem
Readers made many comments during this period, but the unruly AL leaders did not pay heed. Therefore, it has become unnecessary for us to continue to make comments.
Molla A. Latif
Does anyone know who is to answer the questions of the author or does the author know whom did he ask the questions? If anyone says all these savage actions are being pursued to either continue democracy or restore it, then of course the author is very right to ask, "Are we a democracy?" We wonder what democracy is after all!
Jafar Iqbal
All the media know who ordered Abul Hossain to take bribe from Padma bridge project. But the media did not have the courage to publish the truth and 'this' is the reason why democracy couldn't be established in Bangladesh.
A sufferer
Thanks Mr. S B Ahsan for writing this piece of unbiased analysis.