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The Ministry of Power’s decision to ban power to shopping malls during peak hours i.e. 6pm to 10pm does not seem to be a very wise and realistic approach to the problem of power shortage in Dhaka.
   However, if power supply to shopping malls needs to be reduced then public power supply (DESCO) should ensure power for lift and or escalator and central air conditioning to the malls. Power to lifts and escalators is needed for safety and power to air conditioning plant is necessary in view of the hot weather and lack of natural ventilation in shopping malls. This is usually beyond the capacity of captive generation. For this the electricity authority (DESCO) should provide the switchgear, timer, wiring and install it in the malls so that based on timer set up it will cutt-off lighting power which will be taken up by captive power on site.
   A sensible solution could be shutting of all shopping malls by 7 or 7.30 PM. It will save power and also reduce the risk of robbery after dark. To encourage shopping on weekends, the shopping centres could remain open on Fridays from say 9AM to 6PM with a two hour namaz break.
   However, solution of the root cause of the problem lies with the government. Power and energy ministry should on top priority increase the gas and power generation capacity to reduce and ultimately eliminate power shortage. This should also be taken along with upgrading and extension of transmission and distribution system which also is a part of power shortage problem. Based on media reports, gas shortage is the prime culprit!
   What about alternative power sources? The government seems to be oblivious about this issue. Cannot the government nudge the City Corporation whose head is totally unaware of bottlenecks in setting up a refuse based power plant in Dhaka?
   The possibilities of putting diesel based stand by units to ease the city power shortage, particularly during peak demand period from 7 PM to 10 PM, should be rapidly installed, if the government is really serious about solving the power crisis.
   The cost effective option of fuel free power from gas transmission line pressure reducing station is in fact energy going to waste. This could provide us fuel free low cost power wherever there is a gas pressure reducing station. The power and energy ministry should go for this easy option pots-haste to augment power shortfall in the country. Also based on coal in North Bangladesh a large coal fired power plant and associated transmission and distribution network brooks no further delay. Are we doing anything about these options?
   With so many realistic and viable options available it is indeed short-sighted policy of the power ministry to go for the ‘ban power supply’ as a solution for chronic power shortage.
   Engr. S A Mansoor
   Gulshan, Dhaka

It is indeed heartening to see a substantial improvement in export level. This definitely helps to increase further the already soaring foreign currency reserve. However, another worrying fact is that import levels are escalating by some greater percentage to that of export. This reiterates our country’s continuous dependence on other countries for many of our needs.
   Special attention may be given to the setting up of import substitution industries in order to save our hard earned foreign currencies. Range of export products is also limited. So rise and fall of international demand for these exportable products may have a profound influence on yearly export earning. Corruption levels must be stemmed and if possible should be uprooted, or else we will fail miserably to keep our international market share, and our GDP growth rate.
   Zahed
   Malibagh, Dhaka

A picture is worth a thousand words! That was the first impression I had about the image flashed around the world of policemen vandalising Ahmadiya Muslim property by forcibly attaching the signboards of the miscreants. This is a new low even for our police. They were never good at protecting the weak and the innocent; usually they limited themselves to being idle spectators. Now they are active participants in a campaign of hatred designed to persecute a small, peaceful, and innocent community of God-fearing citizens. So much for the state protecting the rights of all and sundry. So much for the shrill shrieks of ‘moderate Muslim democracy’.
   ES
   USA