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The Unremembered

I was surprised after reading the article titled "Remembering World War One's Army of Bengali Workers" published in the Star Weekend two weeks ago. It is certainly a timely and praiseworthy article. History is the reflected image of a country, which evaluates what happened to our past. It was about some forgotten people and their contributions in the World Wars. I enjoyed reading the issue since it gave me information that had almost been lost. I didn't know that, along with the Indians, Bengali people also served tremendously in the wars. However, the fact is that very few people know about their contributions. There is also no sculpture or some sort of memorial to commemorate them or any particular day by which we can at least pay tribute to the Bengali workers of the first World War. If we cannot document our past properly, it will in some way or the other jeopardise our future.

Khayrul Alam

Chawkbazar, Dhaka

Waqf: A forgotten legacy

As one of the youngest sons of one of the heirs (called the nine sharers) of the Dhaka Nawab family, I thank your correspondent Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan for this story last week. Just recently, when family members on my mother's side went to visit the waqf state in Savar, they were severely abused and chased away by the people living there on disclosure of their family's identity. The Nawabs of Dhaka, even when in power, donated not only a huge amount of goods and money to Dhaka City including electricity and water supply but also donated to the holy city of Mecca during severe flooding there in the early years of the last century. We must remember heritage is not only our pride but good for tourism.

Syed Raiyan

IUB, Bashundhara

Dhaka