Letters

The Garments of Recession
The worldwide financial crisis has greatly affected the economic, financial, social and even cultural sectors of the world and Bangladesh is going to fall victim to this global financial distress being largely dependent on its revenue from the garments' industry. Though the economy of Bangladesh is not closely integrated with the global economy, necessary steps should be taken immediately to combat the upcoming financial turmoil.
Ironically, the global financial crisis created by the endless greed of capitalists has tremendously affected the developing and poorer nations and Bangladesh as a leading member of the least developed countries (LDCs) has a huge responsibility to act as a guide by controlling the deteriorating situation in the most productive of our industries, readymade garments.
Sheikh Abdullah
Department of finance, University of Dhaka
Dhaka

Politics of Discord
At present, campus violence in public universities has become a widely discussed issue in the political arena. Lately a new problem has been created. This is the newly created issue regarding the leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia's Cantonment house. There are plenty of tasks before the government, which it is struggling to deal with why was it necessary to create a new controversy at this time?
Actually, the point is how capable is our government of handing multiple challenges simultaneously? On the one hand, it has to make the provisions for the trial of war criminals and on the other hand it must carry out a proper investigation of the BDR mutiny. The seemingly endless struggle against the JMB, and the rising violence on our campuses place the onus on the government to act quickly and decisively. For this, the cooperation of all quarters is needed. Our democracy is limping, and I would say it is high time for both the opposition and the government to work together to bring back a congenial ambience in the country.
Hasnat, AIUB
Dhaka.

Motherly Rage?
Last week, our prime minister resigned with grief and sorrow from the organisational leadership of Bangladesh Chatra League. The prime minister's wrath against the BCL seems like the rebuke of an angry mother. But it is alarming that the PM has at last spoken out at a time when the nation has already lost a brilliant student of Dhaka Medical College plus a number of other young lives. Many colleges have already been closed sine die including DMC and RU. Thousands of students are suffering for this. However, when the entire nation demands exemplary punishment for these culprits, the PM's gentle rebukes seem inadequate. If it works then it is fine. But if culprits continue to unleash terror on the campuses, will Shaikh Hasina be able to punish her children that is the common people's question. We are waiting for that moment when the government will turn a blind eye to the political identity of criminals and punish them appropriately.
Ahmed Musa
Department of English
University of Chittagong
Chittagong

On Birongonas
The film review on 'Monpura' made me want to to see the full-length movie. The interview 'The Girl with a Gun' was also well done, particularly the section on victimised women. I think the whole idea of segregating the women as 'Birangona' is to deny the honour that they deserve as Muktijoddas. By overplaying this collective identity, the gender crime committed is camouflaged, the suffering of the women is buried and lost. The March 26 supplement of The Daily Star quote 200,000 'Birangonas", quite an astronomical figure! However, let us not challenge the figure, for to commit the crime there must have been at least double the number of men, a combination of men who were enemies and men who assisted the enemies with the whereabouts and as providers of prey for their heinous offences.
As a woman when I think that physically assaulted men are adorned with the title of Mukthijoddha, while women who were sexually assaulted are deprived of such honour I wonder why. What kind of injustice is this? Let us make a vow to bestow the same title to all, irrespective of gender, anyone who fought or made sacrifices in the War of Liberation.
Farida Shaikh
A regular reader of Star Magazine
On e-mail

Independent Anti-corruption Commission
Bangladesh has some major problems, which are responsible for our LDC (least developed country) status. Corruption is one of the main barriers to our development. During the rule of the caretaker government, the anti-corruption commission played a gallant role in curbing the almost uncontrollable corruption in every sphere in Bangladesh. It's an irony that the drive of this bold anti-corruption force has been greatly hindered by political interference and the hope of achieving a corruption-free, poverty-free enlightened Bangladesh has dimmed especially after the resignation of the chief of the ACC.
Bangladesh remains one of the most corrupt countries, and therefore it is imperative for the elected government to help continue the anti-corruption drive. Please do not let this become politicised. The dreams, aspirations, and hopes of the entire nation depend on this.
Mohammad Khademul Islam
Dept. of International Relations
University of Chittagong, Chittagong

The Old Blame Game!
The blame game has become a part and parcel of our political culture. Our MPs play this game shamelessly in parliament. It is probably the easiest game to play because it is not so difficult to criticise others .We are habituated with this and now it is so common that it seems that parliament would not be lively without this kind of shameless mud-slinging. Whenever our politicians get the chance to blame each other they make the best use of the opportunity, very conveniently forgetting that they are the spokes persons of the people. The people elected them spontaneously as their representatives for raising and solving different problems of the country in parliament. Stop the blame game, and focus on the country's real problems.
Mohammad Zia-ul-haque
International Islamic University Ctg

Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2009