Letters
The Hard Working Migrants
I have deep respect for the many Bangladeshis who are working abroad and sending money back to Bangladesh. They deserve our adulation and encouragement. It is not easy to live in a foreign country and support a family back home. This money is the only source of income for many families in Bangladesh, and without it, the Bangladesh economy would not thrive. It is a great stimulant for economic activity, especially in rural areas.
As a Bangladeshi who has lived abroad for the last nine years, I feel very proud of our expatriate community and their ability to keep Bangladesh afloat with sheer determination. Eight billion US dollars is no small sum, Bangladesh should do more to show their gratitude to these hard working people overseas representing the country and taking care of their families back home. I met a gentleman who was a convenience store manager in Manhattan. I was very touched when he said that even if he is going through a good time he has to see whether everyone else back home is getting enough to eat. He told me that when he speaks to his mother back home, he asks about relatives who are not immediate family members and tells her to send some money to them. There have been many recent news stories about mistreatment of Bangladeshi workers abroad. It is also important to see how we treat our expatriate workers when they visit home or travel in general. Nothing is more offensive when travelling than to see airline staff or airport staff misbehaving with them. Let us not bite the hand that feeds us.
Mustafa A K Khan
New York City, USA
A Daughter's Plea
It's surely in an awkward way that our legal proceedings and police prosecutions take place. From the article 'A Daughter's Plea' (July 11, 2008) the author will only succeed in accumulating more of the 'unwanted sympathies' that she talks about. I would suggest that the author talks more about the facts upon which her accusations against the system are based. This can include the details of the cases she/ her family have filed in reference to her fathers' disappearance. I guess then she would be able to catch the attention of the concerned and succeed in avoiding mere sympathy.
Zulfiker Hyder
BBA Student (Institute of Business Administration)
Difficult Language
I am very impressed with the articles written by Chintito. It always gives us something to think about. But sometimes we find it very difficult to understand what message you are exactly trying to put across from the difficult language you write in. English is not our mother language and till now did not get the honour of the second language. So it will be very good for us if you write your articles in a more understandable language.
Wahid,
Dept. of Applied Physics, Electronics & Communication
Engineering, University of Dhaka.
Appreciating 'The Roman Column'
This is to show my appreciation to the author of A Roman Column. Writing, itself, is not very tough task. But how much of the published written work can be considered 'literature'? Looking for the old-age collection of books and letters in the dusty shelves or visiting a friend on the hospital is quite common to many of us, and to me, by no means, those could be something to turn out to be a content of writing. But the author of 'A Roman Column' does it very simply in her writing and makes it a feast for the readers to munch on! Is this what we call 'Art that changes the language of expression'? Certain association and re-association of words make her writing so readable that it gives a new perspective of our surroundings. It is like looking through a window that we never new existed before.
Omar Nasif Abdullah
By email
A Wake-up Call
After reading about Ratna's story 'A Scalding Wake-up Call' (27th June 2008)
of getting tortured by a woman who is also a mother of a small child I feel speechless. I would like to give special thanks to The Daily Star and the author and urge her to follow up this story of unimaginable persecution, which has made a deep scar in my mind. I can't even begin to imagine what could possibly spur a person to behave in such a wild manner. But what is Ratna getting after 10 months of torture? This is the real picture of our poor people. The laws are all there but one class of people never get to see the implementation of these laws. Because our magistrates are also spineless people like Rafiqul Alam. Otherwise innocent victims like Ratna would get justice.
Nipun
Student of BIFT
Uttara, Dhaka
Price of Rice: Still a Challenge
We are very happy to know that there has been a bumper crop of the Boro rice all over the country this season. We also like to believe that everything will be operated suitably and the price of rice will come down very soon. But we are anxious in this regard. Because the price has been increasing everyday in last few months although there has been no shortage of rice in the warehouses of the rice-traders. What does it mean? It's clear to all that it was a planned sabotage of a group of crooked businesspeople. Unfortunately our powerful government has been helpless at their hands! They have totally failed to penalise the genuine culprits behind the scenes. The traders, in turn, have become greedier and have not let go of any opportunity to make a quick buck.
At this stage, the government should become more careful about the collection, storage and distribution of paddy/rice all through the year and all over the country. Otherwise, by creating a fake crisis, they will earn millions of taka at the expense of the struggling masses. If possible, the government can order to maintain 'input-stock-output list' (inventory management) strictly so that the joint forces can verify at any moment they think there is foul play.
Md. Abdul Hamid
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Business Administration
SUST, Sylhet
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