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               Volume 10 |Issue 35 | September 16, 2011 |


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Letters

The Missing Glory of Fridays

The article on 26 August, 2011 titled “Television Now and Then” made me nostalgic. It reminds me of those passed days which I can not get back again. In the mid 90's the working days used to be the longest, boring days for everyone, especially for the school going children– except Friday. From my memories I recollect those Fridays when we loved to complete our scheduled morning study before 9 am and become glued to the TV. The hour long dramas, concerts, dance shows etc in the evening were a hit with the audiences (like us who wanted to forget the upcoming busy schedules regarding books and study). In those days weekends were something to really look forward to, to get together with friends and relatives and watch TV. But it's not the same anymore although I am a jobholder and remain busy during weekdays. Everything faded away – those mornings, the charm of late noon and the most spell binding two hours (8:30 – 10:30) in the evenings. However, in the world of changes, we need to change too and I guess that's what we are doing.

Jhuma Khan
Narayanganj



Photo: Star File

On Eid Accidents

Eid is an auspicious time for Muslims, when all people want to do is stay at home and enjoy this time with their loved ones. People who go outside Dhaka to celebrate Eid undergo a lot of suffering every year during their journey. This year their sufferings increased due to dilapidated conditions of the roads, high transport fares, lack of sufficient vehicles and these happen because of the negligence of the authorities concerned and lead to many lethal accidents in different parts of the country How long do we have to put up with this? When will they be able to give us safe roads and highways? I would like to request the communication minister to put this sector on the top of his priority list in order to save lives and make the people's lives easier. Either that, or just resign and let someone who is competent take over. Please.

Md Musfikur Rahman Jony
Field Research Officer
ICDDRB, Dhaka



Photo: Star File

After 1971, India Appears Unfriendly

We, the citizens of Bangladesh have not forgotten the help India extended to us during the 1971 war. If India had not helped us at the time perhaps we would have never achieved independence. Needless to mention, India had made enormous contributions to our nation in the nick of time, but recently, they seem to have withdrawn that friendship. India is our neighbour and its people know of our woes. In the last couple of years, Bangladesh faced a scarcity of rice, and was about to import rice from India to mitigate the shortage. Unfortunately, despite knowing the facts, India had put an embargo on rice export to Bangladesh and they had increased the price by $100 per ton. We know the proverb-“A friend in need is friend in deed”. India it seems is no longer a friend to us. As the opportunity knocks at the door, India always reaps the unfair and undue benefits out of our crises.

The recent visit of the Indian Premier to Bangladesh was expected to be fruitful in respect to developing more intimacy between these nations, creating more balanced export and import facilities, river water sharing and much more. But most hopes got shattered as India has been less than liberal and generous in case of dealing anything with Bangladesh of late. According to experts in Bangladesh, it's reported that as per WTO trade rules and regulations between nations, India is compelled to render many more trade facilities to Bangladesh, but unfortunately this is not happening. However, Paschimbanga's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's 11th hour refusal to visit us has undoubtedly made us feel dejected, whilst Dr. Manmohan Singh's visit has rather thrust the prior rapport between these nations one step back into darkness. Dr Singh's statement—“Our destinies are closely interlinked”—is now quite meaningless! I would request India to develop empathy towards its neighbouring nations, if it wants to be known as a decent generous nation. India needs to prove itself to be a real friend through extending its helping hand, not through just lip service and sweet words to its neighbouring nations, but by actually doing something.

Hasnat
American International University
Banani, Dhaka


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