MAILBOX

Communal Terror continues
The continuous attacks on the Hindu and other religious communities in Bangladesh since 1971 are an attempt by the attackers to prove the two-nation theory right. Now the attackers are oftentimes described as activists of BNP and Jamat.  In reality, oppression of the Hindu community is done by criminals who do not really have any political affiliation. When it comes to treating the minority community, the AL, the so-called flag bearer of secularism is not an angel. The fact that there have been hundreds of attacks on Hindu and Buddhist communities all over Bangladesh while AL has been in power is evidence that AL is not sincere in stopping these inhuman crimes. The writer is right in observing that if the government is sincere about its promise to stop these communal attacks and punish the perpetrators, it should start with the recommendations given in the Judicial Commissions report submitted three years ago.
Moinul Islam
Lalmatia, Dhaka
 
 

Photo: Star File

Humanity at Stake
The continuous migration of the Hindu population to India due to religious oppression, as pointed out by the writer, proves the fact that ever since winning independence in 1971, Bangladesh never really became the tolerant country which it envisioned to be. It is sad that successive governments have made only half-hearted attempts to stop communal repression. In my opinion, communalism is an evil that must be tackled at the family level. We must teach our children that we should respect all religions. Those who think that Bangladesh would be better off if it became a mono religious country  need to take a hard look at Pakistan that has become one of the most violent countries of the world despite having a 97 percent Muslim majority among its population. A country only prospers when people with diverse ethnic and religious background can realize their potential as citizens.
Masud Helal
Baridhara, Dhaka

Ugly Hometruths
This is by far the strongest piece condemning the recent communal violence I have read. The writer, in a few well composed sentences, managed to capture the insecurities of the minority communities and what kind of long-term effects such violence has on the country. Articles like these and the cover stories [January 17, 2013] show why the Star is the number one English magazine of the country.
Kona Reza
Uttara, Dhaka

A Mango Bar Made of Jackfruit
The ruling party has set a very dark example by holding the farcical January 5 election and then inviting the opposition, the Jatiya Party, to join  the government. The situation could not be better described than what the writer has termed as “A Mango Bar Made of Jackfruit.” The loser in all this is of course the people of Bangladesh. Our constitutional right to choose a government was denied here. I am seriously disturbed by the way the media is covering the appointment of ministers in the new government. What is the big deal here? Am I missing something? These smiling ministers do not have the people's mandate. Why should we care about who got what portfolio?
 Abrar Ahmed
Lalbag, Dhaka

Fixing Unruly Politics and Policies
In his article, the writer has recommended some thoughtful ways to curb corruption in Bangladesh such as giving the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) autonomy and a more responsible role by the media. I would like to mention what the Malaysian government did to tackle corrupt practices by government officials and employees. The anti-corruption authority sent agents to the residences of officials and investigated their wealth and lifestyle. For example, if an official has a three  million dollar house, he or she was asked to prove the source of his/her wealth-because it surely did not come from his/her government paycheck. After many such initiatives, the government of Malaysia has been successful in keeping corruption in check.
Mamun Rashid
Azimpur, Dhaka

The stuntmen in politics
On reading about Boris Yeltsin's rude behavior with Mikhail Gorbachev while the latter was the president of the Soviet Union, I remembered a similar incident that took place in Pakistan not too long ago. When Nawaz Sharif, after winning an unprecedented third term as prime minister of Pakistan,  was on his way to take oath as prime minister, his convoy was stopped by military commandos to let General Kayani, then army chief, pass. The prime minister was kept waiting for two to three minutes until the general's convoy drove away. Now, theoretically, the army chief is answerable to the defence secretary let alone the prime minister of the country. It was arrogance at its worst. History will prove that it was merely a power stunt that did not command respect from anyone.
Lalarukh Asif
New Jersey, via email

Made in Bangladesh
This is indeed a commendable effort by the Ministry of Women and Children affairs to empower women. Now products made by these rural women need aggressive marketing. And for that they need the help of the government, NGOs and volunteers. I am sure with the right marketing strategy, Joyita has the potential to become another Aarong or similar brands.
Naznin Mary
Banani, Dhaka

Photo: Prabir Das