DST scheme
In his article “Manipulating Time” in The Daily Star of 29 May 2009, Mr. MAS Molla proved comprehensively that there is no need or justification for us to adopt DST. There may, however, be other obligations, unbeknown to the hoi polloi.
Forgive me for refusing to go technical, but our small country extends only some 4.5 degrees in longitude and six degrees in latitude. The east-west central line straddles the tropic of cancer, northernmost limit of the sun's travel. We are, whether we like it or not, in the tropics, and not in the temperate regions like New Zealand or the UK. DST may have some significance for them but absolutely none for us.
“To keep up with the Joneses” (read Americans, the unipolar superpower), however, could be a compulsion or incentive. Brigadiers are referred to as Generals by the Yankees; so we also adopted that. The DST may be the next adoption. In time to come we may even have diverse time zones one for Dinajpur, the other for Chittagong. Why? If they have one for New York and another for California and two more in between, shouldn't we have at least two?
“Change” was the clarion call on the AL election manifesto. That obligation must be fulfilled. Even the poet has urged us, ”Ekta kichhu koro, notun kichhu koro; Aar kichhu na paro to bouke dhore maro.: Tobu notun kichhu koro.”, or words to that effect.
And now that the Honourable Minister has spoken, DST is a fait accompli a glaring example of copycat mentality, if only a senseless exercise in futility. Ask not how it shall benefit the country; only appreciate what he has accomplished!
Will it improve our work ethics, habits, efficiency or punctuality? Well, at least it will give us an extra excuse and justification for tardiness. The fault can easily be levelled at the confusion created by DST. The national pastime of blame game and shifting of responsibility can thus be enhanced!
Could the desired effect ( if at all there were any) of saving electricity be better served just by shifting the office time to earlier hours of the day, when the sun is low and not so hot? Once upon a time there was a dictator who tried to make us go to work at seven in the morning. Perdition has taken him for that sin of disturbing our morning slouch. Should we stoop to such practices ever again?
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