Letters
The
Horror Continues
Even before the horror of the previous bomb blasts could
be wiped out from people's minds, another deadly attack
at a Awami League rally killed 20 people and left hundreds
injured. Ironically, the meeting was arranged to protest
against bomb blasts across the country and those protesting
against the blasts became victims themselves. Though what
happened on Bangabandhu Avenue was shocking, we were still
somewhat apprehensive of this sort of mayhem in the context
of the bomb threats at airports, the University of Dhaka,
etc. People in Bangladesh have no security. It's as if the
country has sunk into anarchy. The current situation will
help Bangladesh to be recognised even more as a "terrorist"
nation. Rather than making the traditional statements of
condemnation after each bomb blast, the political parties
should take a united approach in dealing with the situation.
Wajahat Anwar
Mirpur-10, Dhaka
Shameful
Attack on a Peaceful Gathering
August 21 was a shocking day for our nation. Our political
parties cannot protest peacefully against terrorism, whereas
freedom of expression is a right in any democracy. The authorities
make the usual statements, promising to find and punish
the criminals, but nothing ever happens. All they do is
make it all seem political and arrest opposition party members
and workers. This isn't the way to go about it. The government
should take proper steps to deal with the situation instead
of making it all seem like a conspiracy hatched by the opposition.
Sujit Basak
Nobabpur, Dhaka
Is
SWM getting too download-savvy?
I am a very avid reader of SWM. The quality and authenticity
of its articles have made it extremely popular. Unfortunately,
however, it seems that in its recent issues, the magazine
has had to resort to many articles downloaded off the internet
and borrowed from newspapers from other countries. I think
that it makes perfect sense if jokes and movie reviews are
downloaded off the net, but I am disappointed to see a profusion
of other articles such as "Can we still be friends?"
(August 13, 2004), "An at home workout that works!"
(August 20, 2004), etc that are also downloaded items. Although
they are interesting, I think these articles might tarnish
the originality that we associate with SWM. I think that,
with a little more effort, the magazine staff could produce
original articles on Health, Info-tech and Book Reviews.
Moreover, although occasional articles on international
news which were "first published" in <>The
Guardian or Observer can be enlightening, SWM should try
publishing them a little less often.
T.H. Firoz
Dhanmondi
CMH
after the Bombing
I was reading an article in the August 22 issue of <>The
Daily Star called "Horror Descends On Trauma Wards"
describing the situation in different hospitals after the
recent bombing at the AL rally on Bangabandhu Avenue. The
following paragraph on the situation at the Combined Military
Hospital (CMH) really struck me:
"BCL General Secretary Nazrul Islam Babu, fighting
for life with shrapnel wounds in the stomach and upper body,
was taken to the Combined Military Hospital for emergency
treatment. Hospital authorities at first refused to admit
him but later provided him with primary treatment. They
asked his family to take him to a private clinic."
I am only 21 years old and I don't understand politics.
But I do question how any hospital anywhere can refuse to
admit a patient in an emergency situation. Another thing
I noticed was that Dhaka Medical College Hospital and many
other hospitals were having problems coping with the bomb
injuries due to shortage of blood, staff and expertise.
In Bangladesh, CMH should be the most prepared, being a
military hospital for treating bomb injuries and casualties.
Why weren't their staff used by the government as a resource
during an emergency like this?
Mehzabin Ahmed.
Lafayette College, Pennsylvania, USA
Well
Done, SWM!
I am really impressed with SWM. I enjoy "Voicebox"
which is really funny and even informative.The titles of
the various articles are so appealing that I have to go
through all of them. The jokes are also really funny and
cheer me up even on a bad day. I think a section on thriller
stories would attract more young readers. I would be grateful
to the editor if such a section were started. I hope you
will continue your good work.
Nadim Chowdhury
Chittagong College
New
Sections in SWM
I am a regular reader of SWM, which I know has many avid
readers both at home and abroad. The cover stories, Dhaka
Diary and Write to Mita are my favourite sections. I would,
however, like to see some new sections in the magazine including
a section for learning languages -- especially English --
and perhaps a quiz page. I'm sure this will make the magazine
even more popular, especially to new readers.
Mamun
University of Dhaka
On
Bashundhara City
SWM has done a great job in covering the new and modern
Bashundhara City. But while people in this country are concerned
about their survival and security of life, is it fair to
build such a place for a negligible population of the country?
We are a poverty-stricken country, taking foreign aid for
poverty alleviation, and 450 crore Taka is spent on entertaining,
perhaps, one or two percent of the population. Why don't
the engineers and other specialists who were involved in
it focus on security strategies of the country instead?
While the majority of the population is suffering from hunger,
illiteracy, lack of health services, etc., how logical is
it to build this mega city? I just hope it will benefit
the country somehow, perhaps in raising money that will
be utilised in poverty alleviation.
Dr. Lailun Nahar
Dhaka
Caught
In The Middle
I am a regular citizen of this country but my worries aren't
of the usual kind, and I'm sure I share them with the rest
of my countrymen. We don't know how we will die, but many
people of this country can expect to die in the bombings
that have been occurring here on almost a regular basis.
We only know that they will keep happening over and over
again -- but why? How much blood do our politicians want?
We elect them for the betterment of our country and they
make one mistake after the other, blaming each other for
every one instead of finding the real culprits. Meanwhile,
terrorists take advantage of the chasm between the two parties
and the general public give their lives.
A Regular Citizen
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