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The AL and BNP have agreed to say goodbye to hartal? Aiya-yai-yo! I am shocked; I am thrilled; I am seriously aroused; I am frozen; I am breathless; I am....erm, alright I’ll leave it at that. This really is a tremendous agreement. In fact, this agreement is so special to us that, I think we should do something big to remember this agreement. And in Bangladesh, there is nothing more appropriate to mark a special occasion than our humble ‘hartal’!
   So, to mark the end of hartal, let us all come together and observe a full-day hartal next week. Hasta la vista, hartal (after just one more, that is)!
   Azad Miah
   Oldham, UK

During the late 1960s, I used to write a regular column in the then Pakistan Observer on Sundays. Once I wrote about rossogolla, a traditional Bengali sweet made of milk, which loves to float in the sugary syrup. My article got instant attention from many readers and it was a juicy subject of discussion for many weeks. One reader was so enthusiastic that he declined to accept anyone as a true Bengali if s/he does not like rossogolla and Rabindra Sangeet.
   Time has changed and now we only discuss serious matters, which create tension, anxiety and frustration. There is no doubt that we have become more enlightened, more knowledgeable but only to bring more unhappiness to ourselves. We find politics disgusting, we have discovered that religion creates division and promotes hatred and we have seen that culture has become highly contaminated. I wonder what has contributed for us to come to this state of mind. We are now surrounded by luxuries and our economic situation has dramatically improved. These material improvement has expanded our vision but where is our wisdom, generosity and understanding?
   I understand very well that there are many topics of frustrations in Bangladesh but should people be overwhelmed by these or do they need to find some place to relax and brood? Many people forget to see some eternal features of our lives which do not change by the wrong human actions. I believe that happiness is not a matter of things alone. It is a state of our mind totally based on our perceptions of life. I can’t show right path to Khaleda Zia because she has fixed her modus operandi. It’s impossible to make Sheikh Hasina to behave responsibly. These two factors are out of control of any Bangladeshi living in or outside the country. So should we lose our attainable search for happiness due to these two politicians? Of course not!
   However, we must acknowledge that our life does circle around these two ladies. But life is much more precious and larger than petty politics. And we should also rise above and break the spell of those who are viciously trying to control our thoughts in the name of religion and other nefarious actions. We should declare our freedom and work for our wellbeing only.
   Akbar Hussain
   Canada

Dhaka is a big city. About twelve million people live here. Day by day the number is increasing and Old Dhaka is badly affected by the population growth. Once upon a time Dhaka was regarded as a city of mosques but it has long lost its glory. Today Dhaka is a filthy place.
   A few days ago a daily newspaper published a picture of the first day of SSC examinations. A girl with her guardian were late to arrive at the exam hall due to traffic jam. Both of them were very anxious because the girl might have missed the exam.
   About seven lakh rickshaws ply the city roads, but only 75 thousand have legal numbers. This gigantic number of rickshaws is creating traffic jam. From time to time attempts are made to reduce the number, but the initiative usually produces no results. The number of rickshaw pullers is huge. So they have to be rehabilitated in the agriculture sector once rickshaws are pulled out of city roads. Traffic jam and Old Dhaka are almost synonymous. There is no road or street or lane free from traffic jam. Nayabazar, Nazimuddin Road, Chawkbazar, Imamganj, Moulvibazar, Bangshal, Najirabazar, Nawabpur, North-South Road, English Road, French Road, Kaji Alauddin Road, Allubazar are places where traffic jams are a common sight.
   Traffic jam is obstructing trade and commerce. Illegal parking is another reason for traffic jam. Cars, trucks and other vehicles are parked almost everywhere.
   Drivers do not go by traffic rules. And there are bus terminals not authorised by the traffic department. The traffic managers have failed to do anything about this problem and the situation is going from bad to worse day by day.
   It is expected that the authorities concerned will look into the matter in right earnest and ease the traffic situation in Old Dhaka.
   Mohammad Sultan
   On e-mail