MAILBOX

Adapting to the Future…
It is sad that powerful locals regularly try to encroach on land and natural resources enjoyed by the Khasis. The reason, as the writer points out, is that there is no clarity of land tenure. Even officials of different departments are not sure about who has jurisdiction. The government should immediately take care of this problem.
Kohinoor Begum
Baridhara, Dhaka
***
It is clear that the writer poured his heart into this wonderful article. However, I would prefer it a bit shorter.
Shaheen Dewan
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
 
Thanks, Chintito!
Last week's "Chintito" brought tears to my eyes. As a student, I face the "Why aren't you no 1?" problem regularly. And of course there's the constant asking– "She's so good at Math. What's wrong with you?" Honestly, when this nagging comes from parents, it's tolerable. But when I see a teacher "idolising" a student who excels in studies, and then be indifferent to the questions of a curious but average student, I feel frustrated. Curiosity is the mother of all invention, we were taught. But it is discouraged in every classroom of our country.
Kazi Tasnim Jannat                                                                                              
Viqarunnisa Noon College, Dhaka                    

A Living Machine
I would like to congratulate Dr M Taher Saif for inventing something that may forever change the future of medical science. According to him, such research is inexpensive and can be carried out in Bangladesh.  I hope Bangladeshi engineering universities will come forward.
Rahela Banu
Uttara, Dhaka

Ayub's Diaries
The last two sentences sums up the well written article on the delusional Pakistani ruling clique and generals like Ayub Khan: “As amply demonstrated by the ignorant remarks of the Sandhurst trained Ayub, there was something fundamentally wrong in West Pakistani assessment of the Bengali faith and cultural tradition. They just did not get it and that was one of the reasons, along with economic disparity that led to the dissolution of Pakistan.” That was more than 40 years ago. Unfortunately, things have not changed much.  Sinking deeper into the quagmire of shortsightedness and a false sense of military superiority over its neighbours, the Pakistani establishment has successfully made it a failed state in less than 50 years of its creation. The recent political turmoil in Pakistan proves that the military has not learned any lesson from the past.
Lalarukh Asif
Dubai, UAE

Man and Superman
Our society is still functioning because of men like Abdul Gafur. Having such an opportunity, most people would have taken the bundle of Tk 500 bills from his drunken passenger. However, Abdul Gafur thought about the Day of Judgment. A man like Abdul Gafur is truly an inspiration.
Raki Khan
University of Dhaka

Photo: Prabir Das

Wearing the Dunce's Cup
The article reminds me of the racism I have had to experience at school, college and social gatherings here in my home country. I belong to the Chakma community. My classmates often asked me questions like “Do you people eat insects and worms?” I am 30 years old now and work at a prestigious organisation. My colleagues verbally abuse me on a regular basis by saying things like, “How can we tell the difference between two people of your community? You all look the same to us.” I hope they will understand that we had no control over how our physical features evolved over time. No one chooses their colour or features.
Anonymous

Ensure Safe Journey During Eid
Every year during Eid, people are forced to pay extra for going home, be it by a bus, train or launch. This needs to change. The government must take measures to make sure that no bus, train or launch takes more passengers on board than it is allowed to.
Md Yeasir Arafat Nadim
Dept of Economics
University of Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket
In response to S. Amir Haque's letter "Bangladesh Cricket" published on September 26, 2014 I recommend taking a long leave from playing International Test cricket. We have had enough. During the recent series against the West Indies, we heard our captain say that he would be happy if Bangladesh could manage a draw. But, why aim for a draw when the entire nation is desperately hoping for a win? Why don't they have the drive to go on the attack from the beginning? For a poor nation like ours, the cricket players are really well paid and well taken care of. It's time they gave something back to the nation instead of just showing their faces in TV commercials. Let us build a strong Test cricket team free from politics and corruption.  Long live Bangladesh. Long live Bangladesh Cricket.
Jamshaid Taher
Banani, Dhaka

Apathy on Track
I regularly commute through the Airport Railway Station. And every time I look at the name plate of the station, I feel angry.  The sign screams Dhaka Binan Bandar, instead of Dhaka Biman Bandar, as it should read. How this spelling mistake continues to be an eye sore for thousands of commuters even after all these years is a mystery to me. This is a classic example of how lazy and apathetic government officials have become in this country. That being said, we, the people have a responsibility as well. I bet none of the commuters has had the time or the energy to go and file a complaint at the concerned authority.
Rajowl Karim
On email