Letters
The Truth about GMG
This is regarding the article 'Style over Substance' (April 4, 2008) and the response by GMG Airlines in their 'Rejoinder' (April 18, 2008).
Having lived in India, I am accustomed to the shunning of accountability and inability to accept fault that is prevalent in this culture. GMG has committed the most shameful act of this yet, by spewing lies during the incident, and concealing their retreat with more lies to protect their stated claims of being “responsible”.
I had 20 students on that flight and what GMG is saying is completely false. We were caught in the air for 40 minutes with people throwing up and nearly passing out, because it felt like we were on a runaway rollercoaster. We watched lightning out the window, held hands and prayed. The cabin and flight crew were not seen or heard during any of this. Back in Kolkata, the manager was nowhere to be found and we had to demand to approach him. He ran and hid after holding form by not apologising, accepting any blame, or solving the problem before him. He never showed any concern about the passengers, many of whom were very young, away from their parents, in a foreign country -- and crying.
GMG may continue flying, but they should stop lying.
Keri McLeod
Teacher at American International School of Chennai
Chennai, India
It's Time for Twenty20!
Twenty20, the latest version of cricket was innovated a few years ago when cricket was deeply troubled by accusations of match fixing and also criticised as a game for idle men. But I think nowadays cricket has got its dignity back and could be considered as the most popular game in the world only by the blessing of its Twenty20 version.
Some veteran cricketers like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Ranatunga have spoken out against Twenty20.They say that this reform may destroy the purity of traditional cricket. But I don't know which type of cricket they claim to be pure since it has been undergoing many reforms over the passage of time.
From unlimited days test cricket to 5-day test cricket, innovation of limited over cricket, colour uniforms, the white ball, day-night match -- all of them are reforms and Twenty20 is the latest edition. So if they had no objections about the previous reforms why this form?
Twenty20 world cup and recently inaugurated IPL have proved that it is more popular to the cricket fans all over the world. I think it is a good thing for cricket. Moreover in this form of cricket the players are getting a chance to earn more money.
So good luck Twenty20 -- the game for the new generation!
Md Jubaer Ibna Taher
Dept. of Public Administration
University of Chittagong
Feeding the Bigots
Triumph of the communal forces in Bangladesh is not a new thing. Because of the support it receives from the public administration and for the political manipulation it has flourished. For this reason when the government is on the way to pass a law to empower women, these extremists are raising hue and cry claiming that it is an anti-Quran law. Watching the events unfolding on TV news reports was quite disturbing. For the first time the protestors overpowered the law-enforcers. It is very unusual behaviour by the police because they failed to show any respect to opposition political leaders, mercilessly attacked DU students, killed people in kansat, then how come they were so helpless against the bigots? No news of the incident was telecast on BTV. No one from the government spoke out. When the government did not hesitate to put behind the bars, the honourable teachers, not a single step has been taking against such communal forces. It is very frustrating indeed.
Shakawat Hossain
B.com (Hons), Final year
Department of Accounting
Govt City College, Chittagong
Government Needs to Help
Bangladesh is an agriculture-dependent country. About 80 percent people live in the villages and are more or less involved with rearing livestock. Our economy also largely depends on it. About 22 percent of our total GDP is coming from the agriculture sector and about 20 percent of our GDP is coming from the livestock and poultry sectors. So the importance of this sector is quite apparent. But it is a matter of regret that no noticeable emphasis has been given on this sector by the government. Poor implementation and dissemination of modern technology and poor veterinary services due to lack of adequate manpower. Very little extension work has been seen in this sector.
This leads the country to a gloomy prospect. The price of meat, eggs, milk and other meat products have reached beyond anyone's expectations. Without improvement of this sector, we can't meet demand. So we hope our government will take immediate initiatives to improve this sector and facilitate the livestock farmers to improve their farming condition with good prospect.
Dr Md Shamim Ahasan
Faculty of Veterinary Science
Bangladesh agricultural University
Load Shedding
Incessant load shedding all across the country is causing much suffering to people all across the country, especially in this terrible heat. The HSC candidates are extremely hard hit. Their examination is nearing very quickly and it will affect their study patterns. The past governments misappropriated a lot of funds in this sector. Constant vigilance is needed all the time to ensure accountability and transparency.
The government should take immediate measures to increase power to mitigate people's sufferings.
Nur Nobe
North Campus Residential Area
Chittagong
Good Article
The article on breast cancer was a very informative one. Women's health takes a back seat in our society. Many silently suffer without receiving proper treatment. This article will give an opportunity for everybody out there to be properly informed and educated. SWM should develop a regular health section where such significant health issues would be talked about.
Mahtabi Zaman
Ex Student of English Dept, DU
Where Life Matters
Undoubtedly, the glittering private hospital concept is a symbol of development of the country's health care sector. It's keeping a large amount of money in the country that was being drained abroad for something as basic as health care. But the class-consciousness at these hospitals are so blatant and costs so high that it is difficult for the general people to get any of their health care needs fulfilled there. In practice it usually turns out that a family's assets have to be sold in order to raise funds for a single person to get treatment at one of these hospitals which puts the whole family is financial ruin. Private hospitals should take a more altruistic approach towards poorer people. They can offer special packages to for poor people just like the Jibon Kheya project of JBFH (Japan-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital).
On the other hand, the government is coming and going but the public health sector remains in the same disastrous condition. The government should take immediate steps to increase the standard of country's health care system for the sake of a healthier generation of tomorrow.
Md. Nasir Uddin Laskar
Amar Ekushey Hall, DU
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