MAILBOX
October: Breast cancer awareness month
October is known to us as 'Breast Cancer Awareness Month'. It is a matter of great regret that in our country still many women die from this disease every year without any diagnosis and treatment. A recent research on cancer prevalence in Bangladesh showed that at least 7,135 people died from breast cancer in 2016 in Bangladesh and almost all of these victims are women. Still cancer treatment is very expensive in our country. The majority of the breast cancer patients cannot get adequate treatment in the country due to expensive and hazardous medical services. Very few of Bangladesh's cancer patients can go abroad for diagnosis and better treatment. Due to resource constraints and unattainable expenses, a large number of breast cancer patients still remain undiagnosed and succumb to premature death. However, experts suggest that we can considerably improve this disappointing situation simply through raising awareness. Healthy eating habit and disciplined lifestyle can effectively prevent this fatal disease. Our government should take initiatives to fight cancer by popularising healthy diet comprised of vegetables and fish. However, nutrition of the female members of our family, who often have to do all the hard works at home, is largely overlooked. Experts think that it is one of the major reasons behind high prevalence rate of breast cancer in Bangladesh. We should ensure that female members of our family particularly expecting mothers get adequate nutrition all over the year.
Marshia Afrin
Mirpur, Dhaka
Letter to the Editor of Star Weekend
Dear Ms Editor,
Allow me to share with you my dismay when I read last Friday, October 20, the article "Catalunya, the first new independent country since the starving State of South Sudan?", written by Mr Bareesh Hassan Chowdhury, "a recent Political Science graduate", at Star Weekend.
The opinion article shows a great number of inaccurate data regarding Spain and also disdain regarding the people of a newly African independent country that struggles, with the support of the international community, to find peace and to move forward for its development and freedom. I felt ashamed for that.
The citizens of the Kingdom of Spain, including the majority of those who live in the Autonomous Region of Catalonia, want also peace, prosperity and freedom. After decades without those values that we consider essential to our lives, we all voted a democratic Constitution in 1978. This Constitution has been the main factor of our coexistence as a unified nation, with a big degree of powers transferred both to our 17 autonomous regions and two autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla and also, on another level, to the European Union. The rule of law is, therefore, the rule of the people and every level of government is obliged to it. All Spanish citizens vote every four years for local, regional, national and European elections.
The irresponsible attitude of some, trying to break both Spanish and Catalonian law (as the Bill that frames the self-government of Catalonia was voted by both Spanish and Catalonian parliaments), has forced the Spanish Government, under its powers conferred by the Constitution, to restore the rule of law and the peaceful coexistence of the citizens who live in Catalonia, according with provisions of article 155 of our Constitution and with the support of main political parties. This decision that has to be approved by the Spanish Senate wants to be a temporary one as elections will be called in the Autonomous Region of Catalonia within six months.
I am very much at your disposal to give you further information, as well as your colleagues of The Daily Star. Nevertheless, I ask you to publish this letter in your next weekly magazine as an answer to the article of Mr. Chowdhury. I thank you.
Kind regards,
Álvaro de Salas Giménez de Azcárate
Ambassador of Spain in Bangladesh
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