A
dancer's fascinating rise to fame
This
week when I saw SWM's cover I was quite intrigued
by the unique and interesting composition of the picture.
Then I saw the title and was even more mystified.
The story itself was excellent and it was fascinating
to read about a British Bangladeshi dancer's remarkable
achievement. I am a big fan of dance and feel proud
to think that a Bangali has made the news for a talent
that is not so appreciated in this country. I will
certainly look forward to seeing Akram on stage when
he comes to Dhaka in January. Thanks SWM for this
nice surprise!
Shireen A. Khan
Old DOHS
Dhaka
Bravo
I
really enjoyed reading Aly Zaker's article “Ruminating
on Sermons. I have been following his writings for
the last few months in which he has been writing for
SWM. I am very happy that he is a regular contributor
for the magazine. I feel that we need more minds like
Zaker's in the public spectrum of Bangladesh. His
writings give a clear, succinct and down-to-earth
perspective on thought-provoking issues.
Tanveer Salauddin
Khulna
On
Eid Issue
I
read an article two weeks back on 'Eid at Home' by
Srabonti N. Ali. That article has really touched me
because I am studying in Chicago and I know too well
how the people there feel about other religions, especially
to “damn Moslems”. I spent my Eid holidays at home,
in Bangladesh, and had really enjoyed myself. It was
as Srabonti had so wonderfully put it “simply Eid,
back home in Dhaka.”
Mohshen Reza
Dhaka
Internet
Version of SWM
SWM
has come a long way since it began seven years ago.
Being abroad, I always make a point to read the internet
version on Fridays. I know that it is impossible to
expect a carbon copy of the magazine to be on the
web, but I sometimes feel that your stories are not
finished, or that there pieces of the articles missing.
I realise that this is due to a lack of space but
I feel like SWM should pay more attention to and cater
to its overseas readers as well as its readers in
Bangladesh. We don't ever get the full story, which
is sometimes frustrating for us. Is there anything
that can be done about that?
Sumaiya Rashid
Boston
A
Suggestion
The
graphics are really improving. Look-wise the SWM is
getting better. As a reader, what I miss in my favourite
magazine is the news clips both from national and
international fronts. I would love to see writers
reflecting on things of political importance, but
more importantly, it is the cultural milestones that
the magazine should give recognition to. The works
in the front of the writers, artists and especially
in the arena of the singers are often reported in
a manner where every artist is brought to the limelight.
But there are talents in this field who needs appreciation
and critical feedback. I would like SWM do this.
Safi Omar
Shahbagh
Dhaka
Islam's
Plight
Aliya
Khan Munir has written on issues that have been on
my mind for a long period of time. Like her, I always
question my vision on Islam and other religions. The
problem is that West perceives Islam as a religion
of terrorists and this is our fault. Islam is a complete
code of life that instructs us on everything i.e.
peace, justice, good manners and all others which
a man has to possess. Since we don't know enough about
our religion we cannot follow it and thereby the result
is us being labelled as terrorists and fanatics. My
ardent request to all Muslims to learn more about
Islam by studying the religion more instead of preaching.
Minhaz
Mohakhali
Transportation
I
live in Chittagong. The transportation system of Chittagong
is hazardous now. A large number of public buses and
so called human haulers are plying in the street.
The drivers compete with each other to go first and
they drive very roughly. The staff behave roughly
with the passengers. Sometimes there are quarrel between
the passengers and the staffs. The authority should
pay attention in this matter to ease people's life
slightly.
Serajuddin Haider
Chittagong
Traffic
Is
there no peace to be had in Dhaka at all? I can't
stand the horrible traffic. People are rude and drivers
seem to think they own the streets. Nobody will ever
let anyone else go ahead, car drivers insist on driving
in three different lanes because GOD FORBID someone
should get ahead of them, truck drivers and bus drivers
look like they are going to fall over from their sharp
turns and even rickshaw-wallahs and baby taxi drivers
have no fear and often drive ahead of a car causing
even more chaos than is already there. How can we
make traffic etiquette a must in Dhaka?
Shahana
Lalmatia
Arms
Haul and Our Indifference
About a year ago a huge cache of arms was recovered
in Bogra; bizarrely, in a pond. Funnily, after that
discovery both the ruling Four-party Alliance and
a hartal-savvy Bangladesh Awami League started blaming
each other. The ammunitions have been “accidentally”
discovered in Kuril in downtown Dhaka, in a place
alarmingly close to several foreign consulates. According
to newspaper reports, two Police officers on patrol
became suspicious and peeped through a window of that
house, and after the gunfight that followed, discovered
the ammo. The incident indicates how sloppy and lethargic
our intelligence agencies have become. If you keep
them busy on the opposition these sorts of lapses
are sure to happen.
Mahmudul Islam
On email
The
Boy Girl Syndrome
This is in reference to all the MITA letters which
say things like “I am a 25-year old-boy in love with
a 20-year-old girl.” First of all, when one reaches
25, which is seven years after reaching adulthood,
he r she is a man or woman, not a boy or girl. The
very fact that such terms are used indicate how immature
people are. They call themselves boy or girl and by
doing so they think they are teenagers. This is probably
why they “fall in love” at the drop of a hat or chase
after minors calling it “love.” Obviously men and
women in our society are not allowed to interact normally,
which give them distorted or exaggerated notions of
love and romance. I must say that MITA is a very sensible
and tolerant advisor for dealing with many of the
inane questions. As for the letter writers, one wishes
that these men and women would just “grow up!”
Roksana
Dhanmondi
