At the mercy of landlords
This is regarding an article published in the Star Weekend titled “Tenants: At the mercy of landlords” on January 26, 2018. Every year, more and more people from the countryside come to the cities in search of higher incomes and a better life. They seek homes near their workplace for convenience. But, not only is house rent increasing but certain people are denied places to live because they don't fit criteria set by homeowners. Rent increases also means, as is mentioned in the article, that tenants have to compromise on other necessities such as food and education. The law is not being implemented in this regard. I would like to request the government, through The Daily Star, to enforce the house rent act.
Mohib Billah
Islamic University
Kushtia
Nuclear power: Surviving on secrecy and misinformation
Regarding nuclear power in Bangladesh, both hype and opposition have been stirred up. On a positive note, it could potentially be beneficial for our country. But as we have seen in the past, developed countries such as Japan and the Soviet Union have experienced a debacle with nuclear power. In Chernobyl, for instance, radiation is still active almost 32 years after the incident. Countries such as Germany, which have previously adopted nuclear power, are trying to switch to renewable energy sources.
Worryingly, we the public are yet to officially learn of many disclosures regarding the nuclear power plants. Our country is densely populated and the people who are living adjacent to the site are yet to know of any emergency evacuation procedures. If something goes wrong, is our state ready to be able to evacuate millions of people and compensate their losses? Whether these projects turn out to be a milestone or a fiasco for our country, we are yet to know.
Rafid Alam
Mohammadpur, Dhaka
