MAILBOX

The Spirit of Fearless Speaking
I really liked the article titled "The Spirit of Fearless Speaking" published in the Star Weekend on May 6, 2016. I felt very delighted to know that Podium will expand their activities to schools and colleges too. Really, Podium is a very necessary initiative not only for the university students but also for the school and college students. I really agreed with Md Raihan that one of the keys to success is to be a confident orator. I would like to thank him on behalf of all students in my institution for building such a platform, where students can hone their public speaking skills. I hope, if students grab this chance it will prove very helpful for their future career. 
Enam Hasan
Mdaninagar, Naryanganj

Photo: courtesy

Ladies-in-Reigning 
While I was reading the article by Naziba Basher, titled Ladies in Reigning (published on May 6, 2016) I felt a wave of envy in my mind towards those four girls as they got a great opportunity to be shadow ambassador for the embassies of four great countries. Immediately I felt happiness that in our country there are such girls who are able to be shadow ambassadors of such great countries. I think at present, in Bangladesh, women are achieving more and more in educational sectors. It's a noticeable change. I hope that day is not so far when there won't be any kind of discrepancy between men and women in the country. Women will be admirable in all aspects of life. They will get their rights at home and out. Thanks to Naziba Basher for writing about the four girls and their experiences in the Star Weekend. I also would like to thank those persons who designed The Shadow Ambassador initiative and expect that this kind of initiatives will be taken again and again.
Fareed Uddin
Keraniganj, Dhaka

Photo: AFP

Stop Genocide at Aleppo
Syrian city Aleppo came under heavy bombardment and missile attack by the government force to quash the opposition forces. Consequently, a weeklong new wave of conflict claimed 250 people lives most of whom are civilians, women and children. In the wake of recent incident, USA and Russia tried to enforce a truce but they failed to ensure it and peace never came in war torn Aleppo. Due to month long aggression, humanitarian crisis has become evident there. The Bashar Al Assad government's inconsiderate and destructive moves have been criticized severely. Since the Arab spring, hundred and thousand lives have been lost due to the subsequent conflict but peace still remains a far cry in Syria. Unbending attitudes from both government and opposition sites has made the situation volatile. In order to bring peaceful situation in Aleppo, the international community must reach a consensus to stop this genocide of our time.
Md Zonaed Emran
Rampura, Dhaka