The New Nation - Internet Edition

18 months ago I became the first person to cross the new trans-national Asian Highway when we drove an Aston Martin from Tokyo to Istanbul (and then on to London) with the support of the United Nations commission in Bangkok (UNESCAP). It is quite right for the Chamber's report to say it is critical that this new road network integrates Bangladesh with India and China because it has the potential to bring a huge increase in the amount of trade between them and the other countries of South-east Asia.

That is precisely its purpose. It has taken the Asian nations 50 years to pull an inter-governmental agreement together, but the reality is that many modern-day hazards lie ahead.

Will the Highway also bring about 'unintended consequences' like an increase in the drugs trade of the so-called Golden Triangle, a rise in sex trafficking and the rapid spread of disease? The danger is that improving this new Route to Market is just as likely to benefit the supply chain for these illicit trades as it is for legitimate goods and services.

Richard Meredith, Author

Newport Pagnell, UK

SPEAKERS at a view exchange meeting in the city the other day demanded of the government to establish at least one primary school in each village across the country. They called for recruitment of more primary teachers to narrow the present teacher-student gap.

I also agree with the proposal in general but regarding quality education I disagree. You can ask me why? If you have a child, are you ready giving him/her in a government primary school? Obviously, not? Everybody knows the reasons. Earlier we did not use BRTC bus to travel one place to another. We know the reasons. But I have seen people waiting for a long time to travel by BRTC bus now-a-days and even rescheduled their journey according to BRTC schedule. Earlier BRTC incurred a huge loss, but it gained much profit last few years due to practice of some good strategy. It can also be done in this case

Md Tofazzel Hossain

Kushtia