Pot festival?
M. Mahbubul Alam, Baridhara DOHS, Dhaka
The Daily Star is an impartial newspaper. I always appreciate this fact. This newspaper is basically committed to people's right to know and I also believe in that principle . Besides, 'Journalism without fear or favour' is another trait of DS journalism. However, the article written by Mr. Hasibur Rahman Bilu on 13th May called "Pot extravaganza" caught my attention. I was surprised considering the contradictory presentation of this daily. This is the daily which speaks bravely against terrorism, misuse of democracy, violence, drug trafficking and so on. Nevertheless, it was the same daily in which I myself found out a 'positive statement' on marijuana addiction. Isn't it contradictory? The words like the following draw a clear picture of the 'drug festival' and give a positive impression on drugs. 1) "The annual extravaganza, a crowd-puller". 2) "Not all the visitors smoke ganja at the festival, though, locals say", 3) "Religious or racial differences hold no bar for these ganja-lovers who will dance holding each other's hands after stuffing their lungs with marijuana smoke" Thousands of marijuana or ganja lovers seeking spiritual ecstasy from across the country as well as from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Pakistan have started pouring in the 2,375 year-old Mahastangarh to celebrate a three-day 'ganja festival'. I cannot accept "ganja' being given such a publicity.
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