Voicebox

"This cleaning drive is a total waste because every day we are dumping similar amount of rubbish into the river. We have no other alternatives."
BABUL SHEIKH
a businessman in Kamrangir Char's Umbrella Masjid.

"With a smart card a migrant will not have to fill up embarkation form at the airport. The form will be automatically furnished when the smart card is inserted in a card reader."
KHURSHED ALAM CHOWDHURY
director general of Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training.

"We'll soon hold a meeting with all concerned to discuss ways to protect those who would inform police that they are trying to quit JMB, but [they] fear reprisals."
ABDUS SOBHAN SIKDER
home secretary.
JMB stands for Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh. The group has carried out the country's first suicide bombing.

"Only 40 percent capacity of Chittagong port and 10 percent of Mongla port is being currently used. Revenue earning will be more than double when the usage is increased."
SHEIKH HASINA
prime minister.

"I want nothing in this world except safe return of my son."
RABIYA BEGUM
mother of Abubakar
who was killed in a gunfight at Dhaka University.

Cartoon by Tanmoy

Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2010