MAILBOX

S M Sultan, Farmers in Confrontation, oil on canvas.

To the Tune of  Sultan
Excellent was the word that came to my mind after reading the cover story on SM Sultan [April18, 2014] who I believe is one of the greatest artists of all time.  In my opinion, it is one of the best articles written in English on Sultan and his works.  I have seen few writers/art critics capture the true essence of Sultan's work and life the way this writer has.  This article reminds me of Lal Mia as I saw him many years ago as a child. It also reminds me of Ahmed Sofa's paragraph written in Bangla, considered by many a masterpiece on Sultan's paintings. I want to thank the Star from the bottom of my heart for such a wonderful article.
Uzma Usmani
Dhanmondi, Dhaka

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The article gives a new meaning to the word eccentric: Sultan was eccentric but he was also a great believer in loving his fellow humans irrespective of religions and castes. I think we still have not understood the true genius of Sultan's works. Articles like this can go a long way to helping us understand Sultan, the man and Sultan, the artist.
Md Asafuddoula
Motijheel, Dhaka

A Fearless Voice
ABM Musa was the rare journalist who always stood up to injustice and prejudice in our society. He was a conscientious and a brilliant writer. Thanks to the Star for a well composed tribute to a great journalist.
Laila Zaman
Dhanmondi, Dhaka

Saving a Buddhist Temple
I want to thank the German ambassador and the Government of Germany for helping to save a temple which is a sign of religious harmony in Bangladesh. There are some people in this country who think all foreigners are  here to rob us. There may be some truth to this suspicion, but the fact is foreigners also do a great amount of good to this country. And saving the Rakhaine temple is a shining example of that.
Mohammad Ziauddin
Barisal

Useful Tips!
As a regular reader of the Star, I find the various articles very useful for expanding my knowledge. I want to particularly appreciate the tips on resume writing published on April 11.  As I have just completed my graduation it has helped me a lot to make my resume better.  It would be really nice if every week the Star had something related to education   for students like us.
Talukdar Zahid
Surjo Sen Hall
University of Dhaka

Photo: Naymuzzaman Prince

Rwandan Nightmare
The writer should be thanked for reminding us of one of the most horrific genocides the world ever experienced [Ref: Rwandan Nightmare, April 11]. We Bangladeshis went through a similar situation in 1971, so we know the pain that could never be eradicated completely. However, it is possible to make the perpetrators face justice, and ensure this kind of unwanted incident never takes place again. By doing so the victims and their family members would at least know that justice has been served and that would partially heal their wounds.
Isthiak Ahsan
Freelance writer, via email

Save the Environment
I recently visited Sylhet for the first time for my vacation. We were happy to see how developed it is. It is perhaps one of the best towns in Bangladesh! On a drive to the hilly areas and tea garden I was overwhelmed with its breathtaking beauty but suddenly I grew sad to see that the hilly areas looked empty as more trees are being cut than planted. Don't you think we have to save these places for the future generation? They will not get a chance to see this amazing view if we do not preserve it. Bangladesh has a great future but we must protect our environment.
Zabir Islam
Via Email

A Humble Request
I am an Indian expat, based in Dubai—living in Dhaka for the last three weeks and reading your magazine from the 1st of this month.  I am highly impressed with your magazine for its content and the quality of the language. I just want to share an idea: if the Star has a section about attractive places such as tourist spots, restaurants, cultural heritage sites, tourists visiting Bangladesh can hugely benefit from it.
Tushar Bhoumick
Via Email

My Phone, My Laptop- My Life
Last week my laptop crashed and for the first time I realized that this lifeless object had become my life!  A couple of months back   I lost my Blackberry and I almost cried when I found out. It is okay to grow a little attachment to things we use on a daily basis. But the way we are becoming dependent on technology e.g. cell phones, laptops etc defies any logic. We spend more time connecting with those online than people who are around us physically. This defeats the very purpose of technology: bringing people closer. Now, when I say this, it sounds so boring. But when the writer says essentially the same thing, it is funny and thought provoking.
Sabih Akhter
Aligarh Muslim University, India

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Instead of having a conversation with our family members we like to be on Face book. We like to play Candy Crash or Angry Birds instead of playing outdoors. I cannot deny the advantages technology has brought us but that does not mean we will prefer talking on cell phones or chatting online to human interactions.
Kazi Zahanara Helen
Viqarunnisa Noon School & College
Dhaka