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A Precarious Balance
The Sundarbans, a vast mangrove forest, are home to many endangered and extinct species including Javan rhinoceros and   single horned rhinoceros.  Despite a total ban on the killing or capture of wildlife other than fish and some invertebrates such as clams and snails, it appears that there is a consistent pattern of depleted biodiversity or loss of species living in the Sundarbans.  The cover story makes the important point that the ecological quality of the original mangrove forest is declining rapidly and needs immediate intervention by the government for its conservation. As human development thrives, and global temperature continues to rise, natural protection from tidal waves and cyclones is being degraded at alarming rates. This will inevitably lead to species loss in this forest with rich biodiversity, if nothing is done to stop it.
Mirza Ghalib Hasan
Kushtia, Bangladesh

You Are Supporting Gaza, Right?!
You don't support Gaza. You don't really care about the people of Gaza. You have joined the bandwagon updating your Facebook status and tweets about Gaza. You don't really care about the inhuman conditions the Palestinians are going through. What you care about is if your Facebook status or tweet gets noticed by others. As soon as you log out, you will forget about the entire issue and go about your regular life.  Or you will join a group of angry people and say you're thinking of Gaza because you think it will get you into heaven. If you really cared about the issue of Palestine, you could do a thousand things like raising funds for the victims, sending them basic medicine, or volunteering to nurse the wounded. You have done none of those. In a few months you won't even remember it either.
Ahnaf Saif Choudhury
Sylhet

Photo: Enamul Mazid Khan Siddique

Silence is Not Golden  
As I have been helplessly watching hundreds of Palestinian children being killed by the Israeli war machine, I wondered what the Arab world and we are doing to help the cause of Palestine. I found my answer in the concluding paragraph of this week's Chintito: “In mid-July, The Arab League documents said that the Israeli attacks 'have become a matter that cannot be met with silence any more'. Orey Baaps! That is hard talk indeed. Clap clap! So, the Arab neighbours have been meeting the attacks with 'more' silence. Shhh! Do not disturb! The only sound outside of Gaza should be that of the hookka pulling the burning shisha.” Nothing more needs to be said.
Mohammad Andalib Chowdhury
Chittagong

Crumbling History
Someone understood the importance of diversity in a society and came up with the idea of establishing the Ethnological Museum in Agrabad, Chittagong which is in bad shape now. Due to lack of adequate resources and apathy, it is losing its appeal. But the problem is deeper.  Ethnic diversity cannot be “preserved” in museums only. When the state policy is to torture, kill, oppress and eliminate indigenous communities and ethnic minorities on a regular basis, what can we expect? I hope the authorities will realize that the strength of a country lies in its diversity.
For example, look at the US, Canada, the UK and Australia—some of the most developed nations in the world.  They are nations of immigrants where people from all over the world settled, worked hard, made a life for themselves and contributed to the development of their adopted countries. Moreover, they have also been able to help countries of their origin by sending back foreign remittances. In contrast, look at countries where differences of opinions are not tolerated. It is a well written feature and I thank the Star for it.
Anonymous
On Email

Champion in Corruption
More than once, Bangladesh has become the world champion in corruption. No matter which party comes to power in alternate turns, the corruption continues unabated. Why should we expect a change with the change of hands of power? We are mistaken; after all, we are all birds of the same feather but live in different nests, differently made by politically divided groups. We join the groups of our own choice where we find opportunities. We do not have any ideology or philosophy and we do not love our country.  Corruption is a man-made calamity which eats up the backbone of the country. Several studies show that Bangladesh's GDP growth could reach the double digit had the corruption been not so rampant in all sectors of our society and economy. Corruption is in our blood. Only Allah the Merciful can bring us out of this black hole.
Shafiqul Islam
Sirajganj

Folk Music
The media would do well to give coverage to people like Dr Mahbub Pial who works tirelessly to pick new tunes and styles of folk songs from all over the country. He does not stop at collecting; he sings them as well. I have noticed a sad trend in our country—mediocrity instead of excellence is always more appreciated and promoted by the media.  Just look at our TV programmes featuring many artists who seem untrained and lacking of talent. The BTV has become a magnet for attracting such artists. We urge the media and the government to acknowledge real talents who go unnoticed in many corners of the country.
Shaibal Nur Ahmad
Dhanmondi, Dhaka

Photo: Prabir Das