Stranger still was the statement of the group of Islamic thinkers that appeared in the press. (The Daily Star, February 24, 2005.) It denounced terrorism, including killings and bombings. This by itself is certainly laudable. A number of major questions nevertheless arise.

First, there have been many bombings and grenade attacks in recent times. It is unnecessary to list them all. But these included bombings of traditional cultural functions, such as the jatra. Many cinema houses have been bombed. So have been dargahs of revered saints. And, least we forget, a number of Ahmadiyya, or Quadiani, mosques have been bombed. These terrorist attacks have killed and maimed many. The Quadianis have been subjected to other forms of oppression, and their fundamental rights trodden. How is it that no Islamic thinker from among the signatories of the present statement spoke out against any of these acts of terror?

Second, some of the signatories of the statement have publicly declared that they aim at establishing a Taliban type of Islamic government in the country. One would like to know how could such a regime be brought about without violence. This actually takes us back to history and deep questions of the ideology that lay behind the creation of Bangladesh, and the role of violent opposition that many an 'Islamic thinker' played during the liberation war.

Finally, the statement calls for punishment of the bombers and killers according to 'Islamic law'. I should have thought the culprits would be tried under the law of the land. How does any Islamic thinker propose to have them tried under Islamic law when it is secular law that is on the books?

I fully endorse Air Commodore Choudhury's views appearing in your "Opinion" column of 7 February, 2005 and feel the professor from Princeton is far removed from reality. I drove down Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive (under construction) for 15kilometers and did not find a single primary or secondary school. Instead every few kilometres stood a new shiny madrassah. I stopped, whenever possible, to chat with the children who attended the madrassash to learn arithmetic and Arabic free of cost.

I am not against madrassah education. They are at least providing reading, writing and arithmetic to countless children who would otherwise be deprived of any education. However, in the absence of an approved curriculum fit for the current age, these madrassahs could be the breeding grounds for 'revolution'. Remember the "Liberation Theology" of Latin American Church? And the recent church funded "Polish Revolution"?

To Dr. Ahmed, blaming western press and racial discrimination etc will not solve our problems. We, the so called enlightened class, should accept reality and set our house in order as the good Commodore suggested.

By the way, I agree with Dr. Ahmed that Ambassador Merry Ann was great, so is Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. He is one of the few who are at ease with the people of Bangladesh at any level. He speaks the language too. His concern about domestic violence and cruelty on women is praiseworthy.

Samiha Zaman Banani, Dhaka