Letters

Assault on journalists
Journalists are regarded as the third pillar of society all over the world and the position they hold is nothing less important than that of the police. But it is unfortunate indeed that in our country over and over again they are being attacked by our leaders and terrorists.
But last Sunday it was the police who attacked and injured around 20 journalists of print and electronic media in front of the international media like ESPN and Star Sports. So far our country has received praise from the international community for our wonderful hospitality and warm behaviour. But this incident has definitely tarnished our previous reputation. After the ugly incident, police issued a press note which was an aberration of truth. We have seen on private TV channels what they did with the journalists and in no way can the police deny their misdeeds. What is required now is unconditional apology from the police to the journalists and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators. If the government fails to ensure these, then these sorts of incidents will happen again. It will be very embarrassing for our country and might even bring about the downfall of this government!
Nazmus Saquib
Notre Dame College Dhaka

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Policemen and other law enforcers assaulting 65 year old reporter Alhaz Zahirul Haq, Samsul Haq and countless other reporters at the start of the 2nd test match between Australia and Pakistan was unthinkable. Even the Australian captain Ricky Ponting and other Australian reporters expressed their disapproval and stated it as a 'barbaric and inhuman' act. The police put us in an embarrassing situation not only in front of foreign reporters but also in front of the whole world. Channels such as Fox Sports broadcasted special bulletins on this incident. Can we call ourselves the citizens of a civilised country? Our ancestors did not sacrifice their lives for the liberation of a country in which policemen are the real criminals.
Redwan Islam
Maple Leaf Int. School

Information on drug addiction
The magazine has some influence on teenagers so I would be very glad if you could publish articles on drug addiction and how children become addicted and how to give up addiction in your magazine. This will help teenagers learn about the evils of drugs, etc.
Avra Barua

Food adulteration
Food adulteration had reached such a stage in Bangladesh that we did not have a single restaurant that could claim to be hygienic. Recently at the request of my colleagues, I went to eat at a restaurant in Motijheel and found that the situation has improved but it is still not up to mark. I also visited some small restaurants and found the environment much better than earlier. I want to thank the mobile court for bringing about this change and request that they keep up the good work.
Khabiruzzaman
NCC Bank Ltd
Motijheel, Dhaka

BAFA the sweet memories
Thanks a lot to Mustafa Zaman for his excellent cover story 'Dancing to the future' on BAFA which epitomises our cultural aspirations. I think BAFA has become a reliable institution for students with the aspiration to nurture their talent.
Almost 15 years ago I was a music student at BAFA. Going through the cover story was a bit nostalgic for me. Thanks to SWM for the sweet remembrance.
Shirin Sharmin Bubly
Dept. of Civil Engineering
BUET

Umpiring at the direction of a player!
We observed a ridiculous and unacceptable occurrence on the first day of the 2nd test series between Bangladesh and Australia. I am talking about the dismissal of Aftab Ahmed. The drama started when the umpire on the field adjudged him 'not out'. The Australian captain expressed his dissatisfaction at the decision and coerced the umpire to re-judge his decision! Doesn't this incident fall in the category of breaking the code of conduct? No one is allowed to raise questions on the judgment of the umpire, let alone changing the decision otherwise! Isn't the decision of the umpire on the field the final verdict? So how is anyone going to justify this favouritism? Was what the player and the umpire did legitimate according to cricketing regulations?
S. Reza Shosme
Dhaka University

The state we are in
Zeeshan Rahman Khan builds his theory of a moral state on incorrect facts and erroneous beliefs. The Muslims of East Bengal did not opt for separation from West Bengal in 1947 because they felt they were different. Firstly, there was no such thing as a separate East Bengali Muslim mind directing the destiny of Bengal in 1947. Khan, like most of the post 1971 Bangladeshi generation thinks that East and West Bengal are two separate territories inhabited exclusively by Muslims and Hindus respectively for thousands of years and they constitute two separate nations. Bangladesh is a new state but Bengal is an old country comprising the territories of East and West Bengal and Bengalis are an old nationality too who have their own distinct ethnic identity. It includes all Bangla speaking people irrespective of religious beliefs living in the two regions of Bengal.
Secondly, the partition of Bengal was imposed on us by the British as a solution of the inter-religious fights between Hindus and Muslims which was caused by the politics of All India Congress and Muslim League High Command. Actually, it was the policies of the Congress High Command which precipitated the division. Had the Congress High Command allowed the Bengal Provincial Congress to join Huq's KPP and formed coalition government in 1937 then perhaps the Hindus and Muslims of Bengal would have remained united.
Thirdly, neither the Bengal Provincial Muslim League nor the Muslims of Bengal wanted partition of Bengal in 1946. Bangladesh is not a state whose foundation is religion. Bangladesh's origin lies in fighting for the ideals of universal humanism ensconced in the Bangali culture and not in any particular religious dogma or creed which is the dominant propaganda we hear today. Bangladesh will do very good if its leaders succeed in establishing good governance, inequality reduction, corruption and accountability to people. Only in such a situation is the moral state achievable.
Ibne Azad
Mirpur, Dhaka

GP and business ethics!
I had been a loyal subscriber of Grameen Phone. Recently I sent some messages to some of my friends living in the US from my GP. For every message I was charged at the usual rate of taka 2.30. But although none of the messages were delivered I was still charged. I contacted GP but they did not refund my money. What's more disturbing was that though I dropped in at one of the so-called customer care centres they failed to give me a reasonable answerer. When I called their help line at 121 I was kept on the line and for every minute I was charged Tk 4.
I want to ask GP why one has to pay for a service that he/she hasn't received from GP? I think it's time that GP starts thinking about 'ethics' before 'profit'.
Rumana Rahman
IUB.Chittagong

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