Instead
of Dhaka Diary
Dhaka
diary is a very important section of SWM. The real
picture of life in Dhaka is shown in that particular
section. It is funny, interesting, educational and
sometimes sad and pathetic. But the writers and events
are only from Dhaka. We (who live outside of Dhaka)
also would like to contribute to this section but
cannot. Life in Bangladesh is not limited to Dhaka.
Can you please change it to Diary instead of Dhaka
Diary?
Mithun Kumar Das
Chittagong University
Importance
of
public reading rooms
A
few days ago, I read an essay about public reading
rooms (not to be confused with public libraries).
Perhaps the term “public reading room” is a foreign
concept in our country, but in many other countries
it is familiar. Reading the essay (written by a bank
officer) I came to know that there are many public
reading rooms in our neighbouring country, India.
Reading rooms are places where people can read and
study for a long time without disturbance. It is open
all day and all night. Many people (especially poor
students) in our country don't have the opportunity
to study in their houses. During examination time
it would be very helpful to have a place to study.
It may be important for all students. I hope our government
considers establishing a reading room.
Hadiul Islam Bhuiyan (Anwar)
University of Chittagong
Enlightenment
or Vulgarity (Part III)
It
is right that people of different ages and cultures
gain enlightenment from different things. Something
that may enlighten one person may not necessarily
do the same for someone else. Such is the case of
Mr. Delwar H. Khan. SWM printed a picture of a model
from the Spring Summer Collection shown in the Australian
Fashion Week in its May 17th 2003 issue, which in
my opinion, did not fit into our societal norms and
ideals. In our culture a woman dresses modestly. In
the case of the model, the dress she was wearing was
too transparent to cover anything properly. It was
altogether too revealing. It may enlighten certain
readers of SWM but I think it might have a bad impact
on our norms, ideals and culture. Khan mentioned that
the overall presentation of SWM cannot and should
not be questioned. Although I agree on most counts,
I also feel that criticism is the only way that SWM
will be a better magazine.
Md. Jassim Uddin
Moulvibazar
In
Defence of the Bangali Psyche
Your
cover story (June 20, 2003) heavily comes down on
the Bangali mind. The charges against hapless Bangalis
were: backbiting, gossiping, nosey poking, exaggerating,
hyphocondria, identity confusion, infatuation, and
obsession with Bollywood serials. Well my firsthand
experiences tell me that these are not problems of
Bangalis alone, but are more or less, problems with
all South Asian people. You do not necessarily have
to come in close contact with another South Asian
family to realise that fact. Just watch a few episodes
of popular Hindi or Urdu serials on cable television
channels and the truth will dawn on you. You could
have fitted into your story at least one paragraph
on the brighter sides of the Bangali soul. Very few
other people are so hospitable and as ready to listen
as Bangalis are. Only Bangalis will welcome you as
visitors without invitations. Only Bangalis will genuinely
be hurt if you leave their house without eating. These
are positive characteristics of Bangalis that you
might have mentioned in your article.
Mohammad Khaled
Mohhamadpur
