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The whole nation was dumbfounded with shock and shame when on November 30 it found some of our very senior and learned lawyers conducting themselves in a way most unbecoming of a lawyer. Their acts of orgiastic violence will definitely put the street goons to shame. It is beyond one’s imagination that the lawyers, that too of the highest court of the country, can take law into their own hands inside the courtroom of the Chief Justice (CJ) of the country.
   If the order of the CJ, against which they protested, was illegal, I am sure there were provisions in law to file an appeal against that. If it was a lawful order, they only spat on their own face by behaving like that.
   By the by, are these lawyers above the law? If not, then why are they not being charged with contempt of court? Is that charge applicable to non-lawyers only?
   Ashraf
   Dhaka

While monitoring the state of political affairs since November 2006, once again, it becomes obvious to what extent the politicians and the so-called intellectuals can go for self and party interest. The hypocrisy becomes more obvious when they carry out anti-people activities in the name of people and democracy. With a few exceptions, the so-called politicians, intellectuals, university teachers and lawyers of the highest court are either pro-white or pro-black etc. but never pro-people.
   The politicians do whatever they want to for self-interest and don’t hesitate a bit to hold the life and property of common people hostage.
   While going against the government they, in fact, go against the state and the common people. Is it not that they are without a sense of proportion or do not understand the difference between the government and the state? Is it not a crime to go against the country while protesting against the government?
   M Salimullah
   Chittagong

Pope Benedict XVI who was recently on a friendship mission in Turkey said the Christians and the Muslims should reject violence and expressed ‘total and profound respect’ for Muslims, as he attempted to defuse a row between Islam and the Catholic Church.
   The Pope drew condemnation from across the Muslim world in September when he quoted the words of a Byzantine emperor who fought the Ottoman Turks and linked Islam to violence. He is also seen by some as anti-Turkish for comments he made as a cardinal in which he appeared to oppose Turkey’s EU membership bid.
   The Vatican now says it is not opposed to such a move. The pontiff reiterated that and gave Turkey support for its bid to enter the European Union. That is indeed the best way to bridge the civilisations earnestly.
   In today’s multi-religious and multi-ethnic societies only mutual trust through constructive approaches alone can bring peace to the world.
   Any mischief played, deliberately or otherwise, by the top-most leaders including the religious personalities being held in high esteem would provoke criticism and incite violence leading to terrorism.
   The Pope would do a great service to mankind if he keeps in mind that each word he utters has significance and, therefore, persons of his stature should tread very cautiously in making statements concerning other religions and cultures in public.
   There is extreme sensitivity about the attitude of the Christian West towards Turkey - and the Pope’s visit may be a focus for those concerns.
   Dr Abdul Ruff Colachal
   Jawaharlal Nehru University, India

Mobile phone is one of the most exciting inventions of modern time. It has turned into an important mode of communication and correspondence and gained popularity in the shortest possible time.
   Mobile phones are extremely popular with the young generation. However, a number of youngsters use it as a fashion. Often they carry out long conversation which even continues for three four hours.
   Sometimes they use mobile sets to take illegal and vulgar clips, pictures and texts and distribute it via SMS. It is tantamount to blackmailing someone. Criminals also use mobile phone to contact with their partners, aides and patrons. Therefore, the government should do whatever possible to contain these illegal activities carried out through mobile phones.
   Mobile phones also create health hazards. The radioactive rays of mobile phones can cause brain tumour, genetic disorder and is also responsible for many other incurable diseases.
   Therefore even though mobile phone has gained popularity as easy and cheap mode of communication, it should be used carefully and cautiously.
   Tahaseen Ahmed
   On e-mail