MAILBOX

Let's Not Forget Her Cry
How long do we have to wait for justice for Tonu?  Tonu is our sister, we are Tonu's brothers. We have been demanding justice for Tonu for a long time, but we have gotten nothing. Autopsy after autopsy has been performed, but the result was zero. Even Tonu's body was exhumed to perform another autopsy due to doctor's negligence in the first one. For a deceased person and the person's loved ones, such kind of act is painful. Despite that, we could at least get some consolation through justice. As there is no progress in the investigation, it seems that we, Bangladeshis, are going to forget Tonu and her helpless family's heart wrenching cry. I totally agree with the writer that if we cannot ensure justice for Tonu, it would be a historic shame for our entire nation.
Enam Hasan
Madaninagar, Narayanganj

Withdraw Tax on Meditation
In the newly placed budget in the parliament for the Fiscal year 2016-17, the government has proposed tax on meditation courses which is not only illogical but also an immoral decision.  meditation is a form of self development, and it is treated as an alternative treatment technique in the western world. By learning meditation techniques, people can get rid of 70 percent psychosomatic diseases. The Government's guidelines for hypertension titled "National guidelines for management of hypertension in Bangladesh" page 18 encourages people to do meditation to curb hypertension. Moreover, the government has to spend less on healthcare facilities if people are encouraged to learn meditation techniques. In the western world people who do practice meditation, yoga and relaxation techniques enjoy special concessions in many areas, whereas, in our country, the government intends to impose tax on meditation! We hope that the government will realise the importance of meditation and withdraw imposition of tax on meditation so that people get peace physically, mentally and spiritually with affordable costs.
Mohammad Zonaed Emran
Banasree, Rampura, Dhaka

Photo: Prabir Das

The Good Old Days of Printing

Reading the article titled "The Good Old Days of Printing" published in the Star Weekend on July 1, 2016, I came to know of the process of printing in the old days. Simultaneously, I was astonished to think about how Nurjahan Begum, being a woman, managed to publish the Begum Magazine at that time. How difficult a task it must have been! I salute her for her courage, tolerance and patience. I would like to thank Nilima Jahan for writing about the topic which gave us a chance to look back at the past and recall the efforts of our predecessors in the field of printing.
Fareed Uddeen
Keraniganj, Dhaka