MAILBOX
The Lost Art
Why the government has imposed a 27 percent tax on importing the main ingredient of Shankha from Sri Lanka is beyond me. Why would they want to hurt a dying industry instead of trying to revive it? With the right policy support, the traditional arts and crafts mentioned in the cover story have immense potential to earn foreign currency. Some of them are also more environment- friendly. Earthen pots, for example, are bio-degradable. They are also cheaper. Once upon a time, tea stalls used to serve tea in one-time use clay cups. Take the rattan furniture, for example. They are light, durable and artistic. There should be a nationwide campaign encouraging people to use traditional items like these. I enjoyed the cover story and the photos very much.
Shamsunnahar Khan
Baridhara, Dhaka
The Library Revolution
Tertiary level education requires reading international books and papers in addition to text books. However, most universities of Bangladesh do not have good libraries. I am grateful to the British Council Bangladesh for launching the online library. Now learners can get access to resource books at a reasonable charge and at any time. I hope that such an initiative taken by the British Council will increase the number of readers and scholars in Bangladesh.
Raki Khan
University of Dhaka
Bribing them to be honest
Through this letter of mine I would like to share an experience I had recently. When the water meter in our building went out of order, we notified the concerned officials. But when my uncle received the bill he found that the bill was about four times the usual one. My uncle then realised that the man from WASA wanted some money as bribe. So let me see if I have got this right: this man was asking for bribe to give us the right bill. In other words, he was asking for bribe to be honest. But my uncle didn't give him the money. Corruption is what is ruining everything in our country. I wish people made laws in light of Islam in our country. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "The curse of Allah is upon the one who offers a bribe and the one who takes it." (Ahamd, Ibn Majah). May Allah guide us all to the straight path, Ameen.
Anika Nawal Ahmed
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Not Just a Quitter
The article makes the point that depression is a disease just like diabetes or a cardiovascular condition and it must be treated. Depression is a serious illness but it is often misunderstood in our society. People think that we can will ourselves out of it. A lot of patients do not seek treatment because of the stigma attached to consulting with a psychiatrist. For women, it's even harder. No one cares about what a woman feels inside, what is going on in her head. We always expect her to be a good sister, a good mother, a good wife and a good friend. Do we ever take the time and care to find out her troubles and struggles? We don't. Nayar Amin was not a quitter. Her friends and family members failed to see the warning signs and thus enabled her suicide. The media should cover the topic of depression more aggressively so that people become aware of its signs and remedy.
Laila Zaman
Bailey Road, Dhaka
A Humanitarian
A few months ago, I came to learn about a doctor named Andric Baker from the Netherlands as I was watching the popular TV magazine Ittyadi. Dr Baker came to Bangladesh in 1971 to offer his service to patients in the war-torn country. Contrast that with the doctors of our country whose main interest seems to be making money, not curing patients. Newspapers are full of reports about the doctors' lack of responsibilities to their jobs. Absenteeism has become a big problem in many hospitals. Dr Baker could be an example to all of us. He proves that a doctor is for the entire humankind, not for the people of a particular region. Monetary gain should be secondary to him or her. I would like to request doctors to be more sincere and generous while treating patients.
Md Zahidul Islam Zibon
Chittagong Model School and College
A Simple Solution
Road accidents continue to take lives as government initiatives to improve traffic management end in failures due to half hearted or uncoordinated actions. There are many reasons behind road accidents—unlicensed drivers are one of them. To solve the problem, the government can set up driving schools at the district level.
Such schools can produce a few thousand trained drivers from different regions of the country every year. Properly trained, skilled drivers will ensure safer transport movement and help reduce the number of fatal accidents now taking place on the country's roads and highways every day. A large number of them will also get the opportunity to go abroad with jobs and earn valuable foreign exchange for the economy.
Md Ashraf Hossain
Ranma, Dhaka
Who's in There?
This has reference to the cover story “I WHO” published on August 29, 2014. In my opinion it is one of the most important articles that I read in the Star. Philosophy = self-knowledge. If I cannot know myself, I cannot know anything. I am glad that I learned English so that I could read articles like this.
Shahadat
Ansar VDP, Gazipur
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