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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
letters@thedailystar.net
Use of firearms in financial institutions An issue that was raised in your paper on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 titled "Firearms law flouted at will" is a matter of grave concern.
Being a frequent visitor to banks, I have seen private security guards on duty with arms but never cared to know their credentials. I hope that the relevant authorities pay heed to the matter and take necessary rectifying steps and implement proper regulations as set by the central bank before an innocent life is lost or affected.
The government should simplify the procedure to allow banks to recruit professional security guards instead of complicating the issue by involving different departments. Even though Bangladesh Bank regulations instruct financial institutions to get their own gun licenses, the process is time consuming due to bureaucratic hassles and huge costs.
The fact that banks use security agencies to have gunmen is not ethical. True, the supply of gunman does not coincide with the growth of the banking network. Not all
gunmen are ex-servicemen and they are not bound to fire their arms except for selfdefense.
After reading the abovementioned article, I have also noticed that private security gunmen being used in carrying cash which is even more alarming. In many countries such as the HAE, Singapore, etc. it is essential for an individual to obtain a security guard license from the law enforcing authorities before he is cleared for a security job.
In this tech savvy and uncertain times, the world has progressed far ahead in terms
of security. Men do not require to stand guard; a well-placed functional CCTV can do his job at one third the price with 24/7 efficiency. 1 commend The Daily Star for bringing this issue to light and hope it does not fall on deaf ears.
Sami-Al-Islam, By e-mail
Drug addiction is a disease, not a crime The Daily Star published an opinion piece titled "Drug abuse must be treated as a
public health issue, not a war" on October 31. As a psychiatrist, my reaction is as follows.
There was a time when people used to explain drug addiction on the basis of moral theory which considers the habit as a crime rather than a health issue. With the advancement of brain research, it has been proven that addiction is related to a pathology of brain circuits. American Psychiatrist Association (APA) named it "Substance Use Disorder" in its diagnostic manual (DSM5), essentially defining drug addiction as a disease.
Yet, Bangladesh's Central De-addiction Centre is under the ministry of home affairs, not the health ministry, which in my view is the expression of insufficient knowledge on part of policymakers regarding the issue. Law enforcement agencies should deal with illegal drug traders instead of addicted users.
Mental health literacy reduces the vulnerability to develop drug dependence. Such education should be provided in schools.
The issue of drug addiction should be dealt with through the ministry of health. We should meticulously handle the situation in light of relevant scientific
evidence rather than replicating illogical, inhumane and counterproductive interventions to solve the crisis.
Md Saleh Uddin, Assistant Professor, BSMMU
We expected more
From what seems to be the outcome so far, it has to be said that the meeting between the Awami League and the Oikyafront was a big let-down for the people of this country.
Once it was announced that the two sides had agreed to meet, many people had their hopes up that it would produce some meaningful results. This is because meetings between our political parties is a rarity in and of themselves.
The fact that the two sides were willing to meet and not resort to derogatory statements prior to the meeting had raised a lot of hope.
However, it turned out to be an eyewash above anything else which simply goes to show that political parties in are country are more concerned about themselves, instead of democracy and the people.
Nasiruddin Ahmed, Dhaka