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In recent days city bus services have improved significantly. People are now habituated to get in queues even for a long time. In fact, bus services for different destinations are available at almost all corners of the city. It is especially on the Uttara-Motijheel route that there are lots of buses running now. The introduction of Volvo buses and some air-conditioned buses on this route has facilitated convenient travelling to a great extent. It has reduced the use of private cars and cabs as well. Except for the existing traffic jam, it is a success of the present government in this sector. Besides, as part of preparations for the SAARC summit, Dhaka city roads have been getting newer shape and beauty than in previous years.
   At present, private companies are managing most of the bus services in a more effective way and they are making profits, definitely. They have deployed a lot of people in this service for ticket selling, checking and monitoring. But nobody has been building any passenger-shed at the stoppages. Initially, the government built some sheds on some specific roads but those are currently not in use due to a relocation of stoppages. In summer and rainy seasons, the aged peoples and women have to stand in queues for a long time to get into the buses. It becomes difficult for them in such an environment. The rain and storms are also unpredictable in this season.
   So, it is essential to build some sheds at the stoppages. We hope the city corporation will look into the matter sympathetically.
   Zahir U Hyder
   Dhaka

It is unfortunate that before making any enquiry into the incident and taking rapid action in recovering the injured and the dead from the collapsed 9-storied Spectrum Garments building at Savar, one of the Hon’ble Ministers has indicated the cause of this tragedy as a result of ‘boiler explosion’.  I do not know whether the statement is deliberate or not.  Is it to protect the culprit who happens to have built this structure unauthorized and without adequate safety features?  Does it not seem only obvious that the collapse of the building has led to the boiler explosion due to snapped pipe lines and electrical damage? It seems from past experience that such statements have either influenced the findings of a number of enquiries or the outcome of enquiries reached nowhere.
   On the other hand, it is about four days that the trapped injured persons and dead bodies are yet to be salvaged.  The slow rescue operation is inadequate with the instrument used at the moment.  It needs heavy cranes and bulldozers to clear the debris quickly, and at the same time the soft and waterlogged site of the devastation needs to be approachable by constructing a temporary road on at least two sides.  This should be done by a quick army operation on war footing. This can be done by using the materials from the collapsed building.  If this is not done immediately, there will be a serious health risk when the trapped dead bodies start decomposing.  Signs are there that this has already started.  This will create a bigger health hazard for the people living nearby.  I would urge the government and non-government bodies oncerned to look into these aspects.
   Dr K Maudood Elahi
   Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka

While watching people’s grief at the death of Pope John Paul II, a few things came to my mind regarding death and our perception of death. Although death is a very normal natural phenomenon, human beings never come to terms with death. It is a destiny very reluctantly accepted and viewed with fear and distrust. When we look to our everyday life we always look forward to further life, very rarely remembering that life is most unpredictable. It is important that we remain always positive. Otherwise this civilisation will be a mound of pain and regrets. On the other hand, I see this attitude towards death as a sign of vibrant life not deterred by the shadow of death. The philosophical vision of death is very interesting. It is deep in understanding and realisation. It has been very wisely recognised that death is essential for the continuation of life. Indian philosophy says that death is nothing but a transformation. It says that  atman, the soul, leaves the old body and takes a new attire in the form of a new body and this continues till salvation, nirvana, is attained. A few years ago, while visiting a celebrity graveyard in Hollywood, I was walking past some very old graves. I saw a gravestone that read, ‘That’s all folks’. On another very tiny grave of a five year old girl, the heart broken father had written, ‘God gave me an angel and He wanted her back”.
   Akbar Hussain
   Toronto, Canada

The hooliganism and vandalism indulged in by a section of the ruling party student front on Sunday is not unprecedented in the history of RU campus conflict. The same occurrence has happened on many occasions. The saddest thing is that none have been tried in connection with those misdeeds. The perpetrators escape justice with the blessings of their political godfathers. A section of teachers very often provoke students to realise their demands. Their main goal is to capture key posts like that of VC or Pro-VC. Of course, this has been the case at all public universities in Bangladesh. I apprehend that we have to see more and more hooliganism and vandalism and even killings in the universities unless teachers’ and students’ politics is controlled. It is also high time for us to mull over a change in the act of the universities to pave the way for elections for VC, Pro-VC and other key posts. The prevailing system to elect individuals to all those key posts involves teachers too much in politics.
   Mallik Akram Hossain
   The University of Hong Kong

After the war in Iraq, the law and order situation has worsened. Car bombs. suicide attacks and guerrilla attacks are quite common there. Children go to school with their bags along with the fear of getting hurt or even killed.
   The US army has taken measures to prevent insurgents from attacking people but has had to struggle to make itself secure. Since March 19, 2003, when the Iraq invasion occurred, more than 1500 American servicemen have died. It just shows how bad the law and order situation is.
   I hope the new president and the new prime minister of Iraq will be successful in improving the current situation and making Iraq a peaceful place.
   Tahsin Hyder
   Maple Leaf International School, Dhaka