MAILBOX

Film Archiving
I found both the cover stories very informative and entertaining. I did not know that the Bangladesh Film Archive has some of the rarest films of the world. It seems that although struggling, the BFA is under good leadership who understands the importance of preserving our past in films. The Bangladesh film industry may not have produced a 'Ben-Hur' or a 'Mughal-e-Azam' but it did produce films better than what it is producing nowadays. We hope that BFA will soon be able to digitalize the old films and open them for public view. There must also be facilities for researchers to conduct research there.
Shahidul Alam
Dhanmondi, Dhaka

Convocation of National University
Being the biggest university of Bangladesh, National University (NU) is responsible for 2154 government and non-government colleges. Within the list, 557 colleges offer Honours courses. According to a survey, 21 lakh students are studying here at the Degree, Honours and Masters labels. Recently, Cambridge UK recognised NU as the best local university of the world. But unfortunately, NU does not organise any convocation programme for graduating students although we have been demanding it for a long time. Thus we the students of NU are deprived of one of the most valuable experiences of the university life.  We earnestly request the government and our honourable Vice-chancellor to arrange convocation from this academic session.
Bipul K Debnath
Department of English
Dhaka College, Dhaka

Stop burning the Innocent
I just can't understand how one can burn another human. Whenever I switch on the TV to watch the news, I hear the screaming of burnt people in the burn-unit of Dhaka Medical College. What have they done? Why are they suffering in the burn- unit? The entire nation is suffering with them. Brutality, atrocity, and inhumane activities are going on in the name of democracy. The ordinary people are the scapegoats of the egocentric and self-centered politicians. The affected people are innocent. Who is going to provide for the familes of the victims who are often the sole bread earners of the family? There has to be a more sane way to demand democracy. We appeal to the politicians to be conscientious, patient, ethical, moral and above all, human.
Shah Alam Rajin
Madhabdi, Narsingdi

The Bengal Tigress
In every sector of the society, we try to undermine the achievements of women. Time and our women have proved that they are equally capable. Bangladeshi women are contributing to the development of the country in every sector of the society and economy. I thank the Star magazine for highlighting the extraordinary success of a Bangladeshi sportswoman [published on January 30, 2015] in the international stage.
Naima Ali, Dhanmondi, Dhaka

We expect better
In 1990 the people of Bangladesh brought about democracy ousting the autocratic regime of Ershad, ushering in new hopes for a better Bangladesh. When I see what is happing today in the name of politics, my heart sinks. The politicians promised that they would work for the people. They have broken that promise. We urge them to come to their senses and for once do what they are supposed to do: serve the people.
Md Israfil Hossen
Bijoy Ekattor Hall
University of Dhaka

Taking responsibility for what?
I respectfully disagree with the PM's direction to the police to 'do whatever' is needed to stop the ongoing violence. The honourable PM also said that she would take responsibility for their action. Why would the head of the executive branch take responsibility for what the police is required to do by law? Is it not the job of the police to protect the citizen? So, what is the underlying message here?
Masudur Rahman
Dept. of law
Rajshahi University

Simply idiotic
Bangladeshis have seldom passed days full of such anxiety and tension. We do not see any light at the end of the tunnel. On the one hand we have leaders whose idea of putting pressure to the opponent is to cut off electricity from someone's house (which is a violation of all rights) and turn the entire country into a police state. On the other hand, we have leaders who have publicly taken a stand against the very principles Bangladesh was founded on.  Between the rock and a hard place, we are desperately hoping for a change of the status quo.
Anonymous
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A senior minister recently said that food supply to the top BNP leader would be cut off. This came after power supply was disconnected from her house for 19 hours. The question is under what provision of the law is the minister going to stop food supply to a citizen let alone a former two-time PM of Bangladesh? Is that their best strategy—try to make someone starve to death? Instead of making such stupid remarks, the minister should take a basic course in law to understand how law functions. If he thinks that someone is guilty of any wrongdoing, he must hire an attorney who can file a case against the accused based on enough evidence. Then they should let law take its own course.
Raheel Khan
Wari, Dhaka