Letters

Caring For the Old
International Day of the Elderly has passed a few days ago reminding us once again how much we neglect the older generation of our society. Our sense of respect and love for elderly persons has faded away in the attitude of the new generation. Unfortunately everyone fails to realise that we will all one day be like them. Young people of both genders are becoming increasingly self-centred these days. I have seen many insensitive teenagers making fun of elderly people by using slang words. It is high time that we cultivate values of deep respect for them. Parents can play a beneficial role in this regard. We should always care for those who are much older than us as they are also human beings with a heart inside them.
Shatabdi Biswas
Park Avenue
Rajshahi

Too Much Foorty on Radio Today
At the age of 58, a journey by road from Gulshan-2 to the Secretariat on Abdul Ghani Road takes an hour and a half in the peak hour. But now, I do not feel the distance because of the radio stations.
As 'Chintito' expressed his worries for the nation in the article 'Too Much Foorti on Radio Today' (October 26, 2007), I feel no less chintito. What actually made Chintito so worried? Does he want to make our journeys more interesting by listening to programmes like 'Future', 'Career', 'Social Behaviour', 'Energy Issues' or (as he has not mentioned) 'Family Planning', etc? Does Chintito want us to switch off the two Radio stations when it broadcasts some nice romantic songs like ' Ei Poth jodi na shesh hoy' or 'Tumi aaj koto doorey' or the current pop songs and switch it again to listen to more thought-provoking programmes?
I am not suggesting not broadcasting serious programmes. But will it be wise to broadcast these programmes at the wrong time, say in the midst of a traffic jam on Moghbazar Railway Crossing?
Chintito referred to the right use of our radios. What is the right use - entertainment, news, serious pursuits of life or all-in-one? I suggest he tries listening to Radio Bangladesh.
One good thing Chintito has suggested is that the radio stations should not be targeted at a particular group of people twenty-four hours a day, nor can it be 'wasted' on fun and frolic alone. He suggests spending lesser time on fun for that particular age group and giving more time to older people. Unfortunately, if you are not in a car you are probably sitting on a more comfortable couch in your living room with a cup of hot tea in your hand and watching Indian Idol.
May I therefore sir, being over 50, forward this message to all (whether I remember or not at this age) through your esteemed weekly with an advice to Chintito, 'Don't Worry, be Happy'.
Jamil Ibrahim
Gulshan, Dhaka

On 'Celebrating the Moon'
The perpetual phenomenon of happiness following sorrow is echoed on chaand raat after the long month of Ramadan as indicated by the marvellous cover story “Celebrating the Moon” (October 12, 2007).
Irrespective of their financial conditions and social status, people from all walks of life deserve the kind of fun and feasting that come along with this day.
Fasting and its subsequent pre-Eid and Eid celebrations remind us of the exemplary course of life by which the world will be a better place to live in with pleasure and jubilation when the people can become better citizens after fasting which is a crying need of our country.
We hope that our leaders and citizens will create an atmosphere of mutual understanding, brotherhood, trust, compromise, patience and co-operation trashing away the age-old dirty politics following the Eid festival which will help build national unity, solidarity and social security.
Amit Abdullah
Department Of Finance, DU

The 'Molom' and 'Aggyan' Parties
The rise of criminal activities by the so-called 'Molom' or 'Aggyan' gangs, I think, has become a top threat to the public safety in recent times. Earlier, their activities were somewhat limited to the running trains, buses or launches and within the terminals of such public transports. But now their vile reach has spread to all forms of transport throughout the city. The nature of their operations and injuries caused to the victims has also become more cruel.
In 'The Right to Being Safe' (October 5, 2007) we read a heart-wrenching story the pre-mature death of a bright young teacher of NSU in their hands. I think more stringent measures by the law-enforcers coupled with massive public awareness regarding their methods can effectively neutralise the activities of these criminals. Can we expect an investigative report regarding their modus-operandi by SWM to contribute to public awareness?
Meshkat Ahmed Chowdhury
Mirpur 13, Dhaka

The End of a Maverick's Life
Last week amidst the celebrations of Eid ul Fitr, this country lost one of the pioneers in medical education and development, Prof M A Hadi. Raised from a poor family Prof Hadi graduated from Dhaka Medical College and later on obtained a fellowship in surgery from the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons. He had been awarded Honorory fellowships from The Royal College of Glasgow in Edinburgh. Dr Hadi served as principal of Dhaka Medical College and in 2001 became Vice Chancellor of BSMMU. He had twice been elected as the president of BCPS and he was also serving as the President of Bangladesh Medical Association until his death.
Though there is a common belief that Prof Hadi was involved in corruption but these allegations cannot erase the legacy that he has left in the medical arena of Bangladesh.
Md Shahanur Rashid
Salimullah Road
Mohammadpur

Immigrant Workers
The ill-fated young men led very miserable lives in Malaysia, 'Nightmare on Foreign Soil' (October 12, 2007). They were forced to work as cleaners instead of computer operator which was mentioned in their contract form. They weren't even paid a single penny for what they had done. But these expatriates have been remitting millions of taka every year. So it is a real shame to see them kept in such appalling conditions. The government should take initiatives to resolve this problem.
Every recruiting agency should have accountability for any abuse and mismanagement of the workers after migration. The government needs to check that the recruiting agencies pay their full amount otherwise they will not be compensated for all the sufferings they had to go through.
Tauhid
CSE, CUET

Karachi Bloodbath
I am totally shocked and dismayed to see how Benazir Bhutto's homecoming was greeted with such a heinous bloodbath that smeared the streets of Karachi. It will be difficult to placate the tense situation in Pakistan following this especially for a military despot like Musharraf whose stranglehold on state power seems to be more fragile than ever before. A barrage of questions will be showered at him about the integrity with which he provided security measures. The most puzzling aspect of this incident is that one of the bombs was in fact a car bomb. How could the security men have missed a parked car in the road loaded with a bomb? Terrorists just cannot carry out such heinous attacks without help of the state or when there are loopholes in the security measures and we eagerly wait for the unmasking of the militant kingpins and their patrons in the corridors of power.
Nayeem Islam
A level student
The Aga Khan School

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