I read the article of Yusuf Rahman Babu (July 30) with undivided attention. Being a cricket player myself and a great follower of the game since 1968, my heart and brain go with Rahman’s writing. I have a big thank you for the writer. A few weeks ago, I expressed similar sentiments, ideas and views about the state of Bangladesh cricket which was published in the New Age. Many people, including me, were shocked after watching the very indecent, ugly and wild behaviour of the captain of the national cricket team a few months ago. It is a shame that a captain of the national team cannot communicate in English where many of Bangladesh’s common people can speak the language with ease and comfort. I only hope, the cricket authorities will implement Babu’s proposals immediately and effectively for the sake of cricket as a great game and for the sake of the country. Once again, thank you Babu for an insightful write-up.
   Nasir
   Canada

Seeing the recent developments in Belgium, I can only remember a story of a rich family whose eldest son was richer than the youngest, and the former didn’t want to live united fearing that his riches maybe drained.
   The father was alive but helpless only to see the family separated. I’m sorry to say that this is exactly what is happening now in Belgium. In terms of economics, Belgium is one of the most successful states in Europe.
   The governance structure in Belgium has confirmed that it can continue to do well without a national government for the simple reason that the cabinet doesn’t have to decide much anyway.
   Most authority has devolved to the regions, and Belgium’s two main regions, Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north, and French-speaking Wallonia in the south, have enjoyed increased regional autonomy since the 1970s. The central government is only left to deal with foreign policy, defence and finance, and all the issues that are increasingly taken care of at the EU level now.
   The Belgian government still controls spending on social welfare. And this is where the conflict has blown up between the two language groups, because rich Flanders wants to pay less for poorer Wallonia.
   The prosperous north now wants more autonomy. It has pushed for reforms that would shift responsibility for taxation and some social security down to the regional level. French-speaking parties accuse their Flemish counterparts of trying to separate the north from the poorer south where unemployment is three times as high.
   So, in Belgium separation is rearing its ugly head again. But things are still not quite that bad. Like poor Bangladeshis, Belgians too are masters of creating mess and reaching compromises at last. They also take pride on being a model for Europe, typifying, through the knack for making concession and the good quality of lenience, how nations and cultures can exist peacefully side by side.
   The recent development in Belgium however shows sign that the country can no longer assert this. The latest political crisis shows that the kingdom is moving towards the limits of being governable. As a Bangladeshi, however, it is not difficult for me to understand how a people can get so caught up in trifles that they allow the very existence of the country come under threat.
   Except the ‘B’ in both Bangladesh and Belgium, there is no similarity between the two countries, but there’s something, the culture of squabbling!
   Though on the surface the conflict seems to hinge on a small election, but in reality, however, the Belgians are arguing about much more and showing narrowness. The rich north no longer wants to help out the south. In the end it’s all about money like the story I told at the outset.
   Sirajul Islam
   Via e-mail