I am too small to make any comment on the list, but as an average commonly informed person, I think the list could have been enlarged to accommodate a few more Bangalees who have sufficiently contributed towards common good and have made name and fame locally, regionally and internationally. And their contributions have been duly recognised. If it was not possible to enlarge the list, the sponsors could perhaps have dropped a couple of names from the list whose contributions relatively were less significant and perhaps considered more for political or emotional reasons. I may be excused to observe like this, but it is my personal view and made in the greater interest of Bangalees in the international context.

The two names I have in my mind that could have been included are: (1) Joyoti Basu, the former West Bengal Chief Minister with former East Bengal linkage. He ruled West Bengal for several decades, brought in meaningful changes in the lives of millions of poor Bangalees, and ensured communal harmony (Hindu-Muslim amity etc). And last but not the least turned Calcutta (now Kolkata), once called garbage city, into a cleaner and greener city. His contributions for common good therefore are too great to be considered.

The other name in my humble opinion is that of Dr FH Abed, Chairman, BRAC. His NGO is engaged in health, education, social welfare and economic development programmes. It is now considered to be the largest in the world. It started from Sulla in Sylhet and expanded its activities to around 62,000 villages. Its beneficiaries number around 6 million people, mostly women and children. Mr Abed, through BRAC has brought meaningful changes in the lives of the poor in Bangladesh within the meaning of greater good to the greater number. And his NGO has even expanded its wings outside Bangladesh -- to Afghanistan and Africa.

As said, Muktadhara has done a good job in listing out the 10 Bangalee living legends. I would request them to go ahead with the practice, review, expand the list and cover more such persons in future. This will be encouraging and inspiring for the people particularly the young generation who may like to tread the path of the living legends and contribute towards greater good for the greater number locally and internationally -- towards making the world a place worth living.

Abu Imran is a retd govt. official.