Deaths on roads and highways

      It is clear that most of the road traffic accidents take place because of bad roads, unfit vehicles and untrained drivers. The government has an important role to play to address all three. It needs to work out a long-term plan  to build a smooth and wide road nerwork. At the same time, the railways and airways need to be developed, to ease the pressure on the road network. Funding does not seem to be a problem; what is needed is visionary leadership. The government needs to decide whether to squander national wealth in unproductive and reactive pursuit or utilise it for the welfare of the people at large. Time is of essence here. People may be at the end of their tether; they may already be angry enough to break the wall of fear and stream on to the streets, to claim what they rightfully deserve.

Tele Talk should reduce call charge

    I am a subscriber of state -owned mobile operator, Tele Talk. I thought that it would be cheaper and the service would be much better than other operators, forgetting that for state-owned institutions nothing runs as it should. I bought the SIM with a high price. The call charge of TeleTalk is 1.33 per minute, which is much higher than other operators. It is very disappointing and objectionable. According to a report Published in The Daily Star, leading telecom operator GrameenPhone is still ahead with 3.61 crore users whereas Teletalk has only 11.98 lakh subscribers. Teletalk also lost 9,000 connections.
   Adopt Clean Car Standards
The timely and bold initiative taken by the US President Barack Obama to finalise Clean Car Standards, that will nearly double fuel efficiency and cut global warming emissions in half for new cars and trucks by 2025 saving consumers' billions at the gas pump, deserves appreciation and support from all the quarters. Authomakers, labour leaders, security experts, and consumer groups all support the proposed standards but it's not clear why Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) is on the attack against those working toward a clean car future?

Khaleda Zia's self -contradictory comments

     In Chittagong Polo Ground Begum Zia announced that Moinuddin-Fakhruddin caretaker government was unconstitutional. In the past she said several times that the said government was illegal and that she woukd try the advisers if she comes to power .But at the same time, she has been continuously demanding reinstatement of the caretaker government system for the upcoming national election, though she holds the view that CG was unconstitutional as well as illegal.
    "Marching towards abyss'
    Fidel Castro's well presented full page article, titled as above, published in the editorial page of a local English daily on 11 th January, is a sound scientific analysis of what is happening and the dangerous possinle aftermath of the methodology for exploration of methane from underground geological shale structures by the USA . Releasing the trapped methane gas from shale by forced hydraulic fracturing of the underground shale structure is a procedure involving various risks, as described in Castro's article. This procedure used 'benzene' and 'toluene' to be injected mixed with water for the hydraulic fracture of the shale structure and releases water contaminated with carcinogenic benzene and toluene in the water bodies.

Tamim's temper tantrums

      Quality cricket and temper tantrums do not go together. Tamim Iqbal has to discard one or the other-once for all . In the greater overall interest, and to set an example, Tamim's official cricket needs to be terminated . Such behaviour cannot be tolerated . Forget being the best batsman, his behaviour needs to have him banned from all form of cricket under the Bangladesh Cricket Board. He should leave cricket, temper and all, if he cannot mend his behaviour.
      He is a shame and a slander to the good name of cricket in Bangladesh. He should be told, in writing by the cricket board, and in no uncertain manner , that this is the final time he will get away with such a mild dose of discrpline, which I am sure he just ignores.

Tackling corruption

      Every day without fail, on opening any daily newspaper, one comes across news about corruption, in various forms and of varying amounts and types, happening all over the country. We are prone to corruption at all levels. It has become an epidemic, infecting the character of a large number of our people, in various strata of service. It is present wherever there is the potential to get any benefit or permission , which should normally be given routinely, or may need some official's permission or approval.
     Unfortunately , we seem to be trying to tackle the problem in a wrong manner, going from bottom up, rather than from top down, to be really effective . But who will bell the 'top cats'? They are the high-profile wheelers and dealers, the 'Demoncratic (not Democratic) Bangladesh Tiger', who are usually sitting in their proverbial ivory towers. They are cleverer than any four-legged variety of cats and are real cunning.
      We are feebly trying to shake this firm and well-rooted mature 'tree of corruption' at ground level. Hence only dried and dead leaves sometimes fall. The big juicy fruits are all there on top,ripening and getting tastier, piling on the goodies. Palm greasing , influence peddling or just expediting routine  matters are the delayed, wherever there is a small of potential possibility for 'goodies'. Things are then done when lubricated; otherwise, it is left to idle and gather dust in the vast labyrinth of layered bureaucracy. Here occurs many a slip between the proverbial cup and the lips. These slips are the potential sources of 'goodies' for the opportunistic 'tip takers.' Small wonder then, that there is no end to corruption since while we make much publicised hue and cry about 'small fries' getting nabbed the 'whales of tip takers' carry on ruling the waves in the large' sea of corruption' that surrounds Bangladesh.
    

Multivitamin not needed

      An important medical report form London was published on the back page of a local English-language daily on December 28. It quoted the finding of a detailed French study, spread over some years, on the benefit or otherwise of daily intake of multivitamins, practised by many in Bangladesh. The study has found that, for healthy adults, popping multivitamins daily may actually increase the risk of getting melanoma, a dangerous type of skin cancer. Can anvone then take multivitamins , once aware of the potential risk? It is in our interest that the matter is widely published in our print and audio-visual media, to create widespread awareness.
    Logically, it is, therefore, far safer to regularly eat fresh fruits and vegetables, rather than multivitamins. However, even this option too is now unsafe in Bangladesh, given the widespread practice of ripening and increasing shelf-life of raw fruits and vegetables by using dangerous drugs, during cultivation or prior to bulk sale. It is a classical case of opting for the lesser of the two evils, forced to choose between 'the devil and the deep sea.' Possibly the best option will be to plant your own fruit tree and have a place for vegetable garden, wherever it is possible. Otherwise the choice is for you to make between multivitamins or fresh fruits and vegetables.

Domestic violence and law

  In the absence of serious and sincere steps to implement the provisions effectively, the Protection of Women form Domestic Violence Act seems to be falling short of expectations. The law was introduced to protect women and children form the violence they are subjected to . But it has remained a non -starter for various reasons. It is time the government reviewed the effectiveness of the act.
   When it came into force, the act was hailed as an extraordinary piece of legislation to protect women form domestic violence. But like all other laws aimed at protecting and empowering women, it too suffers form poor implementation, reflecting the societal bias against women. Despite making fabulous achievements in every sphere of human activity, women in Bangladesh have continued to suffer violence of different hues in silence. Fear of reprisal and ostracism deters many women from filing a complaint against their husbands. Unless women free themselves from their submissive attitude, no legislation meant for their welfare will have the desired impact. Domestic violence seems to have been accepted as one of the hazards of life by Bangladeshi women in general and illiterate women in particular . I am sure hundreds pf cases go unreported as women fear being thrown out of their homes and exposed to the vagaries of life. The state should provide protection, rehabilitation and training to victims to make them self-reliant . We can follow the British or the Canadian model and train personnel for implementing the act and also have fast-track courts for speedy justice.
     Domestic violence is indeed one of the most atrocious and pervasive human right violations. It destroys the victims' sense of self -worth .But it is not enough to make laws with noble intentions. The real key to justice lies in their effective implementation . While it is important to educate women on the provisions of the law , there is an urgent need to make it gender neutral . There are instances of women misusing the law.