Icons
of Inspiration
Last
Friday's cover story on monuments of our Liberation
War was indeed something quite refreshing. It is very
hard to find new subjects related to '71 as everything
has already been written about in the print media.
This story made me think otherwise. It was very interesting
to read about the thinking behind the building of
these great structures that remind us of the people
who sacrificed so much for freedom. Thanks to the
writer Mustafa Zaman for this inspiring story!
Tanvir Hossain
Jigatola
Cover
Story
I
am so thankful to Mustafa Zaman for his amazing piece
"War Memorials". As a person who grew up
post independence, it is hard for me to fully comprehend
how deep an impact our war had on its people. Also,
I never really understood the symbolisation behind
the many war memorials that I have seen countless
times. Today, after reading the cover story of SWM
(Dec 12 issue) I feel like I really am starting to
finally get a proper understanding of what it really
means to be Bangali. The struggles our people went
through, what made us go on, what our artists were
inspired by and what they, in turn, used to inspire
us. I look at these war memorials differently altogether
now. Thank you Mustafa Zaman for giving me this opportunity.
Saira Alam
Dhaka
Good
Laughs
I
just love your Jokes page. It has some of the funniest
jokes I have ever heard. Every week I wait for the
magazine and the first thing I read is this page as
it instantly lifts up my spirits. I do wish, however,
that sometimes you had local jokes though I understand
it would be difficult to translate them without spoiling
the punch line. Still, I do hope you get some local
material.
Saika
Old DOHS
Nothing is really Something
Shawkat
Hussain's column is really one of the most enjoyable
reads in SWM. He is witty without trying too hard
to be so and yet he always addresses an issue that
is relevant to our reality. I was particularly impressed
with his criticism of Dr. Badrudozza's unimpressive
comments regarding his 'vision' of a third force.
I think the doctor should stick to his suave eloquent
advice on health matters rather than give out stale
ideas about how to cure the society. At the same time
one cannot but help being curious about what he really
intends to do with his newfound fame. I also laud
Shawkat Hussain for asking that minister in Bangkok
why he hadn't done something about the health sector
of his own country. We really need to ask our ministers
straight up to their faces why they are doing such
a poor job of running the country. Many ministers
and high officials go off to Bangkok or some other
country for medical treatment but they are not at
all concerned about the sufferings of their own people
back home. Our hospitals are in a mess, our doctors
are becoming too commercial, the diagnostic centres
are not working properly and corruption pervades all
the general hospitals. Need I say more?
Mustafizur Rahman
Savar
Blurry
SWM
When
SWM started its full colour version no one was as
excited as I was. I liked reading the magazine but
I always found it a bit drab because most of the pages
were not in colour. Lately however, I find that your
printing is quite irregular. Some of the pages are
really beautiful and clear while others are just blurry
and give the magazine an amateurish look. Last week
for example, the Newsnotes page was so interesting
but the pictures in the magazine I got were quite
hazy and somehow spoilt the momentum of the pages.
Please be consistent about your printing.
M. Quddus
Moghbazar
Applauding
Newsnotes
I
am a regular reader of SWM and was thrilled to see
two new additions -- Newsnotes and Voicebox. The quotes
in Voicebox make an interesting read. The cartoon
accompanying Voicebox is very funny and goes perfectly
with the quotes. One criticism though the way the
quotes are displayed is quite boring. Can't you liven
it up a bit? Newsnotes is also quite interesting to
read. Plus it doesn't take a lot of time.
Babu
Surya Sen Hall
DU
Fuss
about Taslima
Again
Taslima Nasrin is in the news. Now it's because she's
written a book on her past loves who happen to be
eminent intellectuals. Honestly, doesn't she have
anything better to do? This is the cheapest gimmick
she has come up with. She is a good writer and I admire
her frankness but I think she is too caught up with
getting attention -- no matter how. She should stop
these cheap stunts and start writing good novels again.
Tahera K. Islam
Shatinagar
Health
Page
I
have noticed that SWM often uses the internet as a
source for the Health page. I wish the Editor would
inspire our doctors to write. They can write on many
aspects of their subject such as common medical problems
and preventive measures. Our doctors need motivation
to serve our citizens in every way they can. SWM should
get our doctors, perhaps retired physicians, to contribute
to the Health page rather than taking things from
the internet.
Dr. Lailun Nahar
Dhaka
Perceptions
Thank
you SWM for publishing the article titled “A War that
Cannot be Won,” by Jonathan Steele from the Guardian.
It is comforting to know that all the people of the
so-called Western media aren't complete duffers and
actually fault Bush and Blair. It is also important
to realise that they do not only put the blame on
Islam. I think it is especially important for the
media in the West to be extra careful about what they
say because people rely solely on the media for their
information and their opinion basing. Please publish
such articles in the future.
Tania Reza
Dhaka
Taslima
Nasrin
Please
refrain from giving Taslima Nasrin so much publicity.
Isn't it bad enough she is getting so much as it is?
It is not that I dislike her because I am a religious
person. In fact I am quite the opposite. My problem
with Taslima Nasrin is that she is an idiot of the
first order who uses sensationalism to gain fame.
Come on lets be serious, as Bangalis (who are known
to be intellectual snobs) would we let Taslima Nasrin
near our bookshelves if she wasn't such a controversial
writer? NO. She uses taboo subjects that are loaded
with political, religious and cultural connotations,
and tries to shock the public into reading her horribly
written books. She does not deserve the publicity
she has gotten, so please do not give her what she
wants.
Hassan Wahed
New York
