All sound and fury

A detailed and interesting write-up was published in a local English daily on December 26, that presented the cause for the need for combined cycle gas-fired power plant vis-a-vis the oil-fuelled mostly old engine-based rental power plants now in operation. True, the delay of fifteen months as reported was inexcusable considering the visibly precarious power situation faced by the AL government immediately on assuming office of the government after BNP's poor performance in the power sector. Ideally, fifteen weeks time lag would have been best. But at the end, it is a relief to the consumers. While AL was in opposition, this important sector should have had a shadow AL-nominated energy group, drawing out plans for effectively rectifying the terrible power shortage being faced in the country. Unfortunately, the concept of shadow ministry, popular in many democratic countries is not our political cup of tea. Our political opposition usually goes for provocative meetings, hartals, gheraos and such programmes, more physical in nature and usually full of 'if' promises of what they will give to the people, when they come to power. Mostly it is all 'sound and fury signifying nothing' in terms of any realistic plans and programmes to overcome the obviously known problems that are being faced by the people. However, natural gas has a 'dicey' future, as no regular exploration programme was ever undertaken. We relaxed on our gas finds, and expected it to continue till eternity. Reality is for us to go for underground coal-gasification based power plants. This would be the most logical and rational approach to utilise our proven and also some deep coal resources at the earliest and most effectively - cost-wise. Also, by underground gasification, we can do away with the operating costs and the infrastructure investment needed for handling, transportation and storage of coal that is mined. Unfortunately, this vital issue was not referred to by either in the original write-up or by the critic. It is rather unfortunate, that nothing is seriously and expeditiously being done about it, while we consume expensive liquid fuel for running old and inefficient power plants that were readily available off the shelf. Engr S A Mansoor Dhaka E-mail: sam@dhakacom.com Health sector: Much needs to be improved A World Bank (WB) report says that 60 per cent of the Bangladeshis are deprived of basic healthcare. It also says malnutrition and death rates are very high among Bangladeshi women during childbirth. Two thirds of new-born babies weigh less than what they should be at their birth time. After forty years of independence, the health sector of our country has improved much less than it should have been. Whenever the common people go to see any doctor for treatment, the first things they get a list of tests which are to be carried out at the doctor's designated diagnostic centres. It is a business from which doctor receive a hefty commission. Well-known doctors are too busy to devote adequate time to examine, or attend upon, a patient. Now we are hearing the news of fake doctors being found in the country. A few days back, it was found that a renowned hospital appointed a doctor who had a fake degree! I must admire the man's intelligence and audacity, who have pretended to be a doctor for such a long time and have fooled so many! We also see in the name of treatment, imposters claim themselves to cure every incurable disease of the world and trick the common people in broad daylight. I think it is high time for the government to take strict actions to stop all such irregularities and bring some discipline in the health sector so that people of our country get some respite from such fraudulent practices. Mohammed Sohel Hara Shahajadpur, Dhaka E-mai: sohelhara@hotmail.com