Umar Gul's bad manners

From the photo published on TDS, March 31 by Firoz Ahmed, I was appalled to see Umar Gul, Pakistan's pace bowler, flexing his muscles purposefully at Bangladeshi opener Tamim Iqbal after dismissing him at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium during the IGG World T20 Super 10 match on March 30. While Tamim was leaving the crease with his head down for being clean bowled, Umar Gul tried to humiliate him by his unmannerly gestures. He was directly looking at Tamim while flexing his muscle.

A bowler has every right to rejoice when he bowls out a batsman but there are standard norms to do so. He can be ecstatic, he can jump to sky and he can share his joy with his colleagues or the spectators if he wants, but he cannot make any gesture to humiliate his opponents. This is not cricket.

Abdul Matin

Dhaka

An achievement for Bangladesh

Recently World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Bangladesh as polio-free. Polio or infantile paralysis is a damaging disease. Sources said that BD has been polio-free over the past few years but it is now formally accepted by WHO. It has been made possible due to media coverage, Immunisation campaigns, popularising oral polio vaccines etc. I believe it is a great achievement for the entire nation.

Neehal Hasnain

Dept, of Business Administration

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

Outsmarting whom?

Many ruling party leaders and some observers are constantly saying that the opposition political party did not match up to the smartness of the ruling party. Mohammad Badrul Ahsan in his article published on March 21, 2014 wrote, "The ruling party leaders are exuding the vitality of the Florlicks babies. They are looking sharper, taller and stronger. They've been outsmarting BNP blow by blow, often by guile and often by gumption." I think these words are not well said. It is not the opposition, but the people who have been duped. They have been deceived, tricked, and looked upon as if they do not exist. Their basic rights have been snatched. To remain in power, Awami League has chalked out a blueprint which is very loathsome. We remember Sajeeb Wazed Joy saying many months before the election that he had information that Awami League would come to power again.

People do not care which party comes to power under a free, fair and credible election, but this election was far from being fair. So, giving credit to Awami League and calling them smart for grabbing power in this heinous way is deplorable.

I am curious to know the mental state of those who took charge of the country without people's mandate. Are they feeling at ease?

Nur Jahan

Chittagong