MAILBOX

Diving for Pearls
Over the past several years the shipbuilding industry in Bangladesh has achieved substantial growth despite the downturn in the global economy. The industry has even better potential. With the good performance of the industry, the government should play a more vital role in helping the industry to develop further. The government should formulate and implement policies and programmes and offer incentives and support to the local shipbuilders.
Mahmudur Rahman
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
***

To what extent our country will be  able to utilise the opportunity of shipbuilding as a foreign exchange earning source depends on our  ability to locally manufacture the machineries and other accessories used on a ship. Although it is not possible to set up heavy industries overnight to make marine diesel engines, pumps, compressors, etc., items like steel plates, pipes, valves, electrical cables, switchboards, transformers and motors can be made right now in the country. Shipbuilding is predominantly a technology-driven sector where constant improvement of engineering skills keeps one ahead of the others in the global competition. The shipping industry should establish links with departments of mechanical engineering at local universities and colleges to identify and develop talents who can contribute to the further development of this sector.

Humayun Khan
Uttara, Dhaka

Photo: Prabir Das

Irrelevant Journalism
The interviews of Nancy following her suicide attempts clearly prove that some journalists have crossed the limit. They must follow some ethical standards while covering news. It is often said that the media presents this kind of news only because there is demand for it. It is a lame excuse. The media has a responsibility to create the demand, to shape public opinion. It's not the other way around. Instead of fanning our darkest impulses, the media should act with more responsibility and commitment. The current policies allow anyone or everyone to become a journalist. That needs to change. Journalists must receive training in ethics and morality, privacy issues and so on. Besides, they must have a basic understanding of history, economics, sociology, religion, art and science. Some of the journalists do not know what they do not know. For them, ignorance is bliss!
Kohinoor Begum
Wari, Dhaka

The Trailblazer's Life
The write-up under the aforementioned title (published on October 10, 2014) was quite informative and it helped me understand the life and activities of Abdul Matin. Courageous people like Abdul Matin make the students of University of Dhaka proud. His passing away is a deep loss. I must thank the writer of this specific feature and the Star for paying tribute to the memory of Abdul Matin.
Mohammad Ali Nafi
University of Dhaka
***
On March 24, 1948 after Mohammad Ali Jinnah made his speech at the Race Course Maidan (currently Suhrawardy Udyan), language martyr Abdul Matin came to Dhaka University for convocation. Matin was also present at the ceremony to receive his degree. When Jinnah said, “Urdu shall be the state language of Pakistan”, Matin stood up on the chair and shouted, 'No. It cannot be.' Soon other students supported him. He has authored several books on the Language Movement. Of them, 'Bangali Jatir Utsya Sandhan and Bhasha Andolan' (in search of the Bengali's root and the Language Movement), 'Bhasha Andolan Ki Ebong Keno' (What is Language Movement and why it took place), and 'Bhasha Andolaner Itihash' (the history of Language Movement) are well known. The Star has done well by paying respect to this great man who sacrificed his entire life for this nation.
Absus Sobhan
Azimpur, Dhaka

Meeting the Khasis
I would like to thank Andrew Eagle on his cover story “Meeting Moulvibazar's Khasis” published on September 26, 2014. Such stories would raise public awareness about the needless sufferings the Khasis are going through.
Joyanto Lawrence Raksham
Kulaura, Moulvibazar

Dotty Youth

Being smart has become synonymous with being bold, eccentric and crazy. There was a time when young men were the pioneers of good endeavour. They were the mentors of good deeds. They always took the lead whenever the nation was in crisis. But today's young men seem to be aimless and lacking any drive to do anything in life. They claim smartness only by outward appearance. It seems that without their cell phones and other electronic gadgets they are nothing. We have to really think: Is this really smartness? In my humble opinion, smartness is being intelligent, compassionate  and socially responsible.

Md Zahidul Islam Zibon
Lecturer in English
Chittagong Model School & College

The Angels of Peace
This year the prestigious Nobel Prize for peace has been awarded jointly to Kailas Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai who is the youngest Nobel Prize winner in history. She was awarded the prize for her role in promoting education for women in Pakistan even after being shot by the Taliban.  Satyarthi is a children's right activist who has been fighting for children's rights and against children's exploitation in India. Congratulations to both for their humanitarian work.
Md Zonaed Emran
On Email