Good Article on Bird Flu
I'm a regular reader of Daily Star as well as SWM. An article in the last issue of SWM titled "Flu Outbreak: An Approaching Nightmare" by Md. Sorowar Hossain drew my attention. The whole planet is now facing the threat of such emerging viral disease. My thanks to Mr. Sorowar and the Editor of the SWM for this article.
Dr. Chowdhury Jalal Uddin
Murshed Rumi

Shameful attack on writer Humayun Azad
My family and I were stunned when we saw the newspaper reports on the 28th of February regarding the attacks on prominent writer Humayun Azad. We are sorry to see such news. What a horrible incident! We live in a modern society and are running wild. I am ashamed that we cannot provide a writer a safe and sound environment in which he can express his views on society without any worry of danger. Certain professors claim that it could be a political attack. However I don't think these people know Professor Humayan Azad very well. He is a writer and professor and has not involved himself with petty politics. We must come together and stop such attacks on writers.
Sujit Basak
Nobabpur, Dhaka.

Aussie Traditions
Sydney-born and bred, I read Ahmed Imran's article on Aussie culture (SWM, 27 February) with a smile. Although it may be difficult to discern, some of the words Mr Imran referred to, they do in fact have links to English. For instance 'ute' has evolved from 'utility vehicle' and 'bewdy' comes from 'beautiful'. Both expressions are examples of the fine Aussie tradition of abbreviating. 'Skippy' or 'Skip' has its origins in a popular TV show from the 1960's -- Skippy 'the bush kangaroo'. 'Dunny' has its origins in old regional English and is linked to the word 'dung'. 'Shonky' has thankfully left behind its unfortunately anti-Semitic origins. However like Mr Imran, I too am puzzled by the origin of the expression 'dinki-di', which has come to mean 'genuinely Aussie'. 'Dinki di' is probably related to the expression 'fair dinkum', which is used more broadly to describe something as 'genuine'. Sometimes unselfconscious use of Aussie slang has unintended consequences. When I address my sister- in- law for example as 'darl' (as in 'darling', but pronounced with an Aussie accent as 'daal')- it reduces her to the status of lentil but thankfully she has a sense of humour and doesn’t mind.
Carly Jassy
Sydney

Giant Piracy
I would like to thank SWM for providing us with the opportunity to learn more about the bio piracy of big companies, in the article titled "Patenting Chapati," (February 27 issue). We should raise our voice with Greenpeace to protect the root level interest of Indian farmers and also to uphold domestic research. At the same time we have every right to be updated on the development of our own researchers and their results in different institutions like jute, rice, sugarcane, or even in the science laboratory.
Kh. Mujibur Rahman
Uttara, Dhaka

Thanks for the Heart Touching Photos
Being a Naogaon resident I was very pleased to see the photos published in SWM. The pictures were able to define our existence and our attachment to earth. They are as simple as the mind of Naogaon dwellers. I hope to see similar pictures in your magazine again.
S.M Hasanuzaman (Dulal)
Naogaon

Bangladesh Liberation War Museum
Bangladesh Liberation War Museum was established at Segunbagicha in Dhaka more than two decades after our independence -- when our war-ravaged country was born by a sea of the blood of our martyrs and the tears of millions of parents, wives, children, and relatives. It bears testimony to our heroes' struggles and sacrifices. I got the opportunity to visit this museum as a member of a martyr family for my brother, Shaheed Lieutenant Anwarul Azim, MA, LLB. The uniform and a photo of my brother is in the museum, as we could not find his body, was very touching for all my family members. However, I feel that the museum should be more developed and well preserved. Our government should arrange foreign State Guests, tourists, delegations of journalists, cultural troupes, and sports teams to pay visits to this museum and honour the martyrs of 1971. I urge the government, politicians, philanthropists and businessmen to pay more attention helping to preserve our history and roots. I heartily congratulate the authority of the museum for the heroic task of establishing it with their hearts.
Mohammad Anwarul Quadir
Naogaon

On Our Beleaguered Home Minister
Lately, the home minister's infantile remarks have been putting me off. It is not clear to me as to why this government is not getting rid of him. When it comes to maintenance of law and order, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and his cronies have miserably failed to improve it. The situation has turned grave; and, thanks to his indifference, it is tittering on the brink of total chaos. To rub salt on the wound of the general people, he has been muttering nonsense since BNP has come to power in 2001. The police have become one of the most corrupt intuitions in the country. Deterioration of law and order, coupled with this government's nepotism and indifference, have made the country a virtual hell for the general public. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has, in fact, created a monster, which will surely gobble its creator up one day.

Selim Reza,
On e-mail