The other morning we watched a TV newscast where a secretary to the government was making critical remarks regarding his discomfort and difficulties to perform due to unwanted requests from the ministers and elected representatives. The minister of his ministry was present there. He passed his own observation about irregularities in the ministry as well.
   The issue raised by the secretary definitely deserve attention of the government; but I will differ with his strategy and selection of the forum which has been used to ventilate grievances. It would have been more appropriate to bring the issue in knowledge of the PM either through the minister or directly to the PM who is supposed to hear about such an important issue for good governance. This may not be an isolated incident but prevailing everywhere. Making ‘tadbir’ or asking for favour seems to be prime function of the elected people.
   A reader
   Via e-mail

In Bangladesh one would never get a satisfactory service even if one pays for it. The taxi service is a glaring example. When this service was introduced in our country, people especially the middle-class welcomed it with the hope that their transport problem would decrease if not solved. But that hasn’t been the case. Like other public transport, taxi service is also inundated with various problems.
   For example, if one wants/requires to travel a small distance, say from Uttara to Gulshan, no taxi driver will agree to take the trip. Even if someone agrees to go, he would charge double the meter rent. Then again if one travels a long distance say from Dhaka to Savar, most of the time the cab driver charges a lot more than the meter charge. But the most irritating thing occurs during public holidays. The taxis plying during holidays charge an exorbitant rate and the passengers have no choice but to comply with their demand as there are fewer transports available during holidays.
   Shouldn’t the authorities concerned establish a complaint cell which would record the various problems of the commuters and passengers? The authorities concerned would then have a clear picture of the situation and it would be easier for them to solve these problems.
   Galib
   Badda, Dhaka

The Doha press report, published in your pages on March 29, was be an empty talk show of Arab leaders without any substance.
   Most of these leaders are dynastic despots governing their subjects
   by might, rather than any rights;
   by and large autocratic, than democratic!
   Their main effort will be ‘one up-man-ship’ and to vie with each other as to who can say and boast the most. Like them, Fatah and Hammas are more after each other; than their common tormentor Israel; who possibly enjoys these passing shows that provide them pointers on how to effectively tackle them which they have been doing over the decades!
   Small wonder then that Israel can do what it likes and get away with it! These half a dozen or more Arab states are no match for Israel. They are weak morally, militarily, intellectually; more led by their own personal agenda than any leadership potential to look after their common interests. Possibly, they have nothing in common except for their language.
   SA Mansoor
   Dhaka

We are Bangladeshis, but are we proud to speak it up ubiquitously? No. It is most unfortunate for my country. I have been living in UK for a few years for my studies. We know that about 95 per cent of the ‘Indian restaurants’ are owned by Bangladeshis. But the locals simply know it as an Indian restaurant!!
   Even some of the owners claim to be Indians! I wonder if this shame of being a Bangladeshi is a collective phenomenon or individual cases for the persons concerned.
   Perhaps they want to impress their customers, or put them at ease, concealing their identity. All this is because of a lack of our patriotism and meagre nationalism. But why is that?
   Looking at Bangladesh one would see, everybody is trying to migrate to other developed countries. If I look towards my classmates, the doctors and engineers have already left Bangladesh for better life and
   security.
   It is a great shame for our nation that the state fails to provide its cream with a dignified life and a reasonable living standard in the country.
   MS Hussain
   Bucks UK