There have been some unjustified claims in public domain these days to disband National University (NU) and bring both the government and private colleges, which offer bachelor’s degree courses, under the jurisdiction of six public universities.
   The move, in fact, is tantamount to going back to the system that was abolished in 1992 when the colleges were brought under one affiliating university, named National University, in place of public universities located in different geographical locations in the country.
   There were two objectives behind the establishment of National University: reducing session jam and enhancing the quality of education. The university has been able to achieve the first goal, although it is yet to hit the second goal.
   National University in some cases has been successful to come out of the vicious circle of session jam. Examples are there that departments in various public universities took nearly about nine years to complete the honours’ and master’s degree, which were supposed to be complete within five years.
   Moreover, the most positive thing about the NU is that the university is financially self-sufficient. It has more earnings than any other public sector educational institutions in Bangladesh.
   Some critics say the NU has totally failed to enhance the quality of education, failing to prepare students for job market. But what are the reasons behind this so-called failure? We have to judge the reasons before making any public comments. The first reason behind the failure of NU is the poor quality of students NU gets each year. The most meritorious students of the country definitely try for medical colleges, engineering universities and general universities as their first choice. The students only opt for the NU after they fail to get admitted into their preferred institutions.
   The next problem is the lack of infrastructure facilities. There is a gulf of differences between public universities and colleges affiliated with the NU when it comes to infrastructure facilities needed for imparting quality education.
   The most ‘prominent’ argument in favour of abolishing the NU and sending the affiliated colleges and institutions back to the surveillance of the local public universities is that it is a good model followed in developed countries. The critics opine that bringing the colleges back under the control of the public universities may usher in new opportunities to address these problems.
   But it is not an easy process to place the colleges under the public universities once again sine the universities are now burdened with their own jobs. Moreover, going back to old system does not ensure the improvement in education system. Rather, there are severe drawbacks in the old system. Any untoward incident such as strike and suspension of classes for an indefinite period in a public university will affect the affiliated colleges as well.
   In fact, if the infrastructure facilities such as reading materials, practical amenities for technical education and teaching staff are not increased and improved there is no magic lamp to bring about revolution. We need an effective administrative policy, not necessarily a radically different or a new administration. Should we cut our head to get rid of headache? Or should we take measures to cure the headache?
   Shamim Ahsan, Md Jahurul Islam
   Associate Professor, Dhaka Commerce College, and, Lecturer, University of Comilla

Though I had driving experience in several countries, but it took five times to get my driving license in New York City.
   Second time in my five-time attempts, I was about to pass, but failed due to a pedestrian. He was attempting to cross the road having red signal ahead of him. Whether I was allowed to go seeing green light in front of me and moved my vehicle slightly, the examiner, sitting other side, pressed the safety break right way and returned my learner permit card along with the result slip and remarks: ‘Always life first, always pedestrian first’.
   Yes, it is always life first and that means every life. We can’t accept any death in road mishaps at least caused by a reckless driving of a learner as he was not allowed to drive and even learn in public places until he gets a proper driving license.
   The victim Anima Saha, wife of a Dhaka University professor of IER department Parimal Kumar Saha, lost her life hit by a speeding private car early morning at Dhaka University campus on June 22, 2009.
   Report verified that the killer
   car was in a very high speed of 80km/hr at the time of accident and was driven by a learner, Fahim Haider Khan, a third year MBBS student of the Dhaka Medical College.
   Besides Anima’s family members and other closed ones, it is not a distinct case of accident compared to the other accidents in Bangladesh. Almost every day in every news media, it wouldn’t be very hard to find any news related to road accidents both in Bangladesh and outside of Bangladesh. Road crashes, causing deaths, injuries, and damages are always happening
   and seem usual. Deaths in road mishaps are at epidemic levels in many countries and there seems to be a widespread acceptance that they are an inevitable consequence of ever-increasing mobility.
   Like many other times and for many subjects, this time also we have statistics, not precautions. The WHO predicted that between 2000 and 2015 road accidents would cause 20 million deaths, 200 million serious injuries, and would leave more than one billion people killed, injured, bereaved, or left to care for a victim. It also predicted that by 2020 road deaths would become the number three killer, behind heart disease and suicide. Failure to act could not only double the number by 2020, but would see injuries from road traffic placed as the third highest contributor to the global burden of disease and injuries.
   Road accidents in Bangladesh today have gotten to the stage where it would be treated as an outbreak of epidemic. With official death toll of nearly 10,000 a year, road accidents cause the largest casualties in Bangladesh as neither existing laws nor law enforcement agencies are stringent enough to punish culprit drivers or transport owners. The number of people seriously injured in road crashes is estimated at more than 100,000 each year. Bangladesh has one of the highest fatality rates in road accidents, over 100 deaths per 10,000 registered motor vehicles.
   As the value of human life is supreme and takes precedence over essentially all other considerations, we are profoundly shocked at Anima’s death and subsequently can’t accept this premature death as accidents do not happen accidentally. They are most of the time invited either by our carelessness or by the carelessness of someone else.
   Ripan Kumar Biswas
   New York, USA

It seems that some honourable ministers of the present government are becoming critical about those who are opposing the construction of Tipaimukh dam by India on the river Barak. Recently, the IWTA minister showed his annoyance when reminded about the adverse affects of the dam. The commerce minister even expressed his willingness to find the good sides of the dam and reprimanded the critics of it.
   Concerned citizens from all walks of life are ventilating their resentments on this issue on a daily basis. One would hardly find a single newspaper report or a publication where the viability of this controversial structure has not been put to severe scrutiny.
   It has now become a hard learnt fact that: most large dams are creating more problems than they solve. Booker Prize winning Indian writer and political activist Arundhati Roy while addressing a gathering of journalists at Karachi Press Club in Pakistan recently spoke the following about dams, (the excerpts from Dawn 08 May,09 issue).
   ‘In my view, the problem of water in the world will become the most important problem. I think big dams are economically unviable, environmentally unsustainable and politically undemocratic. They are a way of taking away a river from the poor and giving it to the rich. But the bigger problem is that there are making dams and giving water to the industries. This way the people who live in villages by the streams and rivers have no water for themselves. So building dams is one of the most ecologically destructive things that you can do’.
   The Indian High commissioner to Bangladesh has accused those against the dam for politicising the issue. For the people of Bangladesh it is not about politics, it is about their livelihood and very existence. In the South West people are suffering the severe consequences of Farakka, the farmers of Teesta Barrage area are not getting minimum water for their crops due to upstream water diversion. Now, the inhabitants of the Meghna Basin Area are naturally becoming apprehensive about the consequences of the Tipaimukh dam.
   Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed her willingness to send an all party parliamentary team to the dam site. The country is eagerly waiting for the forthcoming official stand of the government on this important issue.
   AK Shamsuddin
   Mississauga, On, Canada

It is natural that the ruling Awami League government will go for revising the textbooks which is also kind of distortion of history. However, no matter how much the government tries to distort history, they are unlikely to succeed in obliterating public perception about the two major political parties — AL and BNP.
   It is not wise to play with people’s intelligence and memory. Rather the government should try to improve the image of the national leaders by clearing the negative perception in public mind.
   Tinku
   Lalpur, Natore

The present crisis in Pakistan and Afghanistan is the offshoot of the US-led resistance against Soviet forces in Afghanistan. The Soviet Union had made a stupid mistake by invading Afghanistan to prop up a pro-Moscow regime in Kabul, when the country had little strategic importance to the USSR vis-à-vis its rivalry with the US. The Americans had already been kicked out of Iran after the Islamic revolution, and the Soviets had no reason to fear any American threat in the region. By invading Afghanistan, they provided the Americans an excuse to get involved in a proxy war against the Soviet Union.
   The Pakistani regime at that time, led by General Zia-ul Haq, also foolishly joined the American-sponsored war in Afghanistan by providing safe havens and staging posts for attacks on Soviet forces by the Mujahideen. Now both the United States and Pakistan are paying the price.
   As both Pakistan and the United States were instrumental in the rise of extremism in the region, they have a responsibility to defeat this monster. Pakistan has paid a heavy price for allowing the Taliban to impose their version of Islam in Swat. After a spate of bombings and beheadings, it is now trying to dislodge the Taliban from the Swat valley. It must do the same in the tribal areas. The Taliban cannot be defeated in Afghanistan if they enjoy sanctuary in a neighbouring country. Fixing the Taliban problem is tied to Pakistan. With the Taliban deeply entrenched in tribal areas, this is going to be a long war. But for its own survival and stability, Pakistan must defeat the Taliban.
   Mahmood Elahi
   Ottawa, Canada

Pakistan’s impressive victory over Sri Lanka in the ICC Twenty20 final match would have some temporary ‘feel-good’ effect in that civil war-ravaged country. However, Pakistani sports and sportsmen are notoriously infamous for their ‘non-sports’ culture like match fixing, doping (drug taking to enhance performance), ball tampering (cricket), betting, corruption, smuggling, religious propaganda during games etc. It was also reported that to escape current dope tests, some players use new substances or other ‘methods’. Just after the Twenty20 final match, the ICC called Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi, a Pashtun refugee, for a ‘surprised’ dope test. Result of the test is not yet announced. ICC should introduce routine dope test in order to ensure drug-free cricket.
   M Emad
   Oxford, UK

On June 6 I took my daughter to the ICDDR,B with the hope of enjoying the privilege of Vitamin-A capsules and de-worming initiative by the government. The government stated that the Vitamin-A campaign has been going on successfully in the country for the last three decades. I was happy to see the initiative but to my utter surprise it ended with an unprecedented chapter where I had to take my daughter for immediate care to Apollo hospital. Thanks to the doctor in Apollo who treated my baby in time and properly.
   The Almighty has His prerogative to decide our fate but no one wants to accept a death which is caused as a result of our reactive malfunctioning system that only starts functioning temporarily after any adverse incident/event takes place. I feel for those poor parents who look for such opportunities but end up with sufferings. I cannot help but blame the government for this sad episode. As a citizen of Bangladesh, I would like to suggest the government especially the health ministry to be proactive rather than being reactive in such sensitive initiative. Who would want their child to die when they are dependent on government initiative? Had this been a responsibility of a private organisation, many would have protested and legal actions could be initiated by the parents.
   I have no reason to be convinced when the minister publicly makes statement that the medicines were safe. How do we believe it when we have already seen our children suffered after taking those capsules and supplements? Where is the quality check? Who is responsible for this? We want to know who exactly is responsible for whom thousands of innocent children have suffered or fallen sick in several areas in different districts after taking Vitamin-A capsules and de-worming tablets.
   The ministry concern must answer and also take steps from now on to make it very transparent to the parents about the quality of medicines after it arrives in our country. Only mere statement that the medicines are from abroad does not satisfy us at all. These are all money making initiatives not the true service oriented ones. I am sure there are pharmaceutical industries in Bangladesh who could supply all quality medicines for such initiative and the government seriously consider this proposition.
   These kinds of initiatives depend on quality management and we seriously lack in that sector. It is the parents who suffer and swallow the wrong initiatives as they are powerless and helpless.
   I am happy that a probe body of five members has been formed to find out the reasons of such incident. Let the truth come out.
   Moin Chowdhury
   Via e-mail

An important and realistic front page report was published in a local English recently 11 on the subject. It deserves national attention and urgent action by the government if it is really serious in providing more power within the next two years (by December 2012).
   For this, the government should encourage solar power units in all homes in rural and urban areas by private individuals, private enterprises and NGOs. Solar Voltic Panels must be allowed to be imported without any duty, other taxes or VAT. The same liberal import policy should be adopted for importing photo-voltic laminated window glass panes for high rise buildings in urban areas. This is now available in USA.
   The same steps are needed to bring down the price of storage batteries (imported or locally made) by eliminating duty component for purchase of imported batteries, or the materials and components needed to be imported for manufacturing it locally. The storage battery is an integral part of the solar power units.
   Additionally, special easy term financing should be provided by public and private banks to anyone who imports the solar power units and its components in easy terms; both for rural and urban areas. By adopting these realistic proposals outlined above, household, commercial and small cottage industries’ power supply needs in both rural and urban areas can soon be easily met. This will be equivalent to providing say one 800 to 1000MW power plant in Bangladesh, within two years at most! Additionally, it will reduce foreign exchange needed for the import of kerosene, which is mostly used for household lighting in villages and many small towns in any case.
   SA Mansoor
   Dhaka

2009 is the 38th anniversary of our independence therefore, it is relevant to look at the state of our country now that the ‘honeymoon’ period (100 days) of the new Awami League-led grand alliance is about be over. Let’s see what is the position of their juicy pre-election promises?
   1. There is no water in the wires and no electricity in the pipes (or should it be the other way around?). The caretaker government had the same infrastructure but the electricity never went off at 1 o’clock at night and there were not many scenes of people protesting in the streets with kalsis.
   2. The universities are either closed or have become battle-grounds.
   3. The Election Commission is gradually becoming disabled and the welcome privilege of ‘NO’ vote is gone.
   4. The separation of the judiciary is being curtailed and smothered.
   5. The ACC ‘customers’ are flaunting their freedom and their ill-gotten wealth with ‘health holidays’ all over the world (no party discrimination here).
   6. Traffic jams have congealed everyone to a full stop with the new MPs and ministers baying for their very own duty free gas guzzling monstrosities.
   7. Price of rice has gone down but rise in that of vegetables, fruits, fish, meat poultry, etc. have compensated for that. No one is better off today.
   8. No one can blame the government for the economic meltdown, but it is also true that the amateurs at the helm hardly have a clue regarding what to do about it.
   Sikander Ahmed
   Gulshan, Dhaka

Through media it is learnt that Bangladesh is finally going to have the much expected tourism policy and it is projected that the policy would succeed in providing a much-needed direction to the fledgling tourism industry.
   With the tourism law laying down the broad parameters, the specifics now need to be worked out on the basis of these guidelines. The stated objectives of the policy are to harness Bangladesh tourism potential in a manner that is environmentally sustainable, socio-culturally enriching and economically beneficial to the people.
   While Bangladesh has immense scope for tourism in the form of its scenic beauty, wildlife, culture and heritage, etc., little of the potential has so far been tapped. At the root of this mess has been the absence of a vision and long-term planning. Now, with a tourism policy in place, efforts should be directed towards ensuring a sustainable growth of the sector.
   Some of the obvious drawbacks such as infrastructure bottlenecks, accommodation constraints, etc., in and around places of tourist interest need to be removed at the earliest. The connectivity to many of our tourist spots invariably raises questions regarding the government’s oft-repeated commitment to tourism promotion. A World Heritage Site like Paharpur, Sunderbans and the world’s longest Cox’s Bazar sea beach, continue to languish for want of all-weather, road and railway connectivity for years. The government, if it is indeed sincere as it professes to be, ought to address such basic issues as a priority.
   Since Bangladesh abounds in diverse tourism interests, the thrust should be on identifying and developing each one of those. From wildlife and adventure to culture and heritage to rural tourism, Bangladesh offers a wide range of tourism products. As it is not possible for the government alone to tap this vast potential, private participation should be encouraged.
   Tourism promotion also calls for aggressive marketing and publicity, and it is time we built a brand image of Bangladesh showcasing it as a unique destination.
   Once we are able to achieve a sustained flow of tourists, it would open up new vistas of economic development for the communities. The role of tourism in employment generation and poverty alleviation is well known. In Bangladesh having a high rate of unemployment, tourism could well emerge as a potent tool for affecting an equitable socio-economic order. The government should prioritise tourism sector in the upcoming national budget.
   Mohammad Shahidul Islam
   Via e-mail