Letters
Photo: Prabir Das
Where Enlightened Souls Congregate
I would like to thank the writer and the Star for such a well researched and well composed piece. People go to bookstores not necessarily to buy books all the time; they hang out, have a cup of coffee and browse through magazines, or attend a poetry recital or a creative writing seminar. I am proud that our country finally has a book shop of the international standard in the same league as Barnes and Nobles of the US and Foyles of London. The success of Baatighar proves that the reading culture is still very much alive and there is a great demand for book shops like Baatighar.
Sirajul Islam
Bashabo, Dhaka
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I loved reading this well written piece. I wish there were book shops like Baatighar in Dhaka. Most of the bookshops in Dhaka are not customer friendly and if you are just browsing, someone is watching you as a potential thief. It shows that the management of these stores does not have any idea about how a book store should be. I was inspired to learn that Baatighar takes orders from customers and import books from abroad on demand. I was looking for a book titled Tuesdays with Morrie and went to several shops in Dhaka for three months. None of them had it. Worse, none of them showed any interest in bringing it to me from abroad even after I offered to pay the courier fee. Finally, a bookshop at Shahbagh came to my rescue.
I hope that Baatighar will expand and open a branch in Dhaka and cater to readers of the city.
Shehnaz Zerina Shamim
Gulshan, Dhaka
***
Waging War is No Art
I completely agree with the writer that “there is no art in war, or about it. There is always heartbreak”. However, the Obama administration has shown restraint that is unmatched by any US president in recent history in avoiding war. His argument is that the United States cannot sit back and watch thousands of people including children being killed by chemical weapons by the Bashar Regime. His administration has halted the 'surgical attack' as previously planned and given diplomacy one more chance while it is trying to negotiate with the Bashar regime though the Russian channel. I do not support any war. The way George Bush lied to the world and invaded Iraq will remain a black chapter in history. But I find it funny that newspapers and magazines are flooded with articles and opinion pieces condemning any move to attack Syria, but not a single one of them offers any practical suggestion as to how to deal with a tyrant and insane bigot like Bashar who does not take part in any civilised discourse, continuing to slaughter his own people while the world watches helplessly.
Khaled Shams
Banani, Dhaka
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Photo: Prabir Das
The Legacy of Madhu's Canteen
Last week's feature on Madhu's Canteen caught my attention. It was a nice attempt from the Star to pay homage to Madhu da who is an iconic figure in our history of liberation. Madhu da's affection for students was legendary. He would feed many students on credit, saying, “Eat. Someday you will become a secretary or a minister, and then pay me back.” There are a lot of VIPs in the country who still owe him money.
Farook Chowdhury
Mogbazar
Dhaka
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The Bliss and Madness of Being Human
I want to thank the star for publishing such an entertaining and resourceful issue this week. I enjoyed reading each and every piece. Particularly among them, the book review of Ankur Betageri's Sea of Silence caught my attention. I have read some of Ankur's work and loved them. Ankur's strengths include an agile deftness with words, alongside hard hitting poetical prose, with arresting, interesting sparks. I would like to share with the readers a few lines from his poem If Love Is the Most Natural Thing: “If love is the most natural thing /why is everyone hiding it? /...... Why is kissing in public awkward /when a stare of hatred is not? / Why don't we talk/ to those we love /while we keep on talking to those /for whom we feel nothing”?
Anan Chowdhury
Via Email
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No, India, no!
The article 'NO, INDIA, NO!' by CHINTITO appears to be Chintito at his best. I cannot recollect having read such a powerful article in the past by any other writer. Only concern is that our 'friend' across the border may not pay any heed to it given the history of the last 42 years in its dealings with Bangladesh! Our political leaders are equally responsible for being too weak in dealing with the giant neighbor. I would like to request the editor of The Daily Star to kindly reprint this article as an editorial in The Daily Star so that it reaches a wider audience.
Nahid Momen
Banani, Dhaka
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I want to thank the writer for this articulate and coherent piece. India, despite having massive poverty and corruption, is the largest functioning democracy and a secular state. But the way is behaves with its smaller neighbours can be described as bullying, at best. India does not give us our due share of water; its border forces kill poor Bangladeshis on a regular basis without showing any care for human rights. It is a shame that the BSF guard accused of killing Felani was acquitted by an Indian court. India must know that a great power is not only measured by the size of the military or the number of guns it possesses, but by the way it treats smaller and weaker nations. With great power come great responsibilities. Respect is a two way street.
Amit Roychowdhury
Baridhara, Dhaka
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