06-08-2021

FridAy, AUgUsT 6, 2021
4
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Friday, August 6, 2021
Remembering Hiroshima
nuclear bombing
By July 1945, Germany had surrendered, and the
war in Europe was over. Japan, however, refused
to submit to the terms outlined in the Allies'
Potsdam Declaration. It appeared to American leaders
that the only way to compel Japan's unconditional
surrender was to invade and conquer the Japanese
home islands. Although an estimated 300,000
Japanese civilians had already died from starvation and
bombing raids, Japan's government showed no sign of
capitulation.
Previous American casualties on Okinawa weighed
heavily on the minds of American planners who looked
ahead to the invasion of Japan. Japan's leaders hoped
to prevail, not by defeating American forces, but by
inflicting massive casualties and thereby breaking the
resolve of the American public.
This was the situation that confronted American
President Harry S. Truman in the summer of 1945
when he authorized the use of the world's first atomic
bomb. In light of intelligence reports about Japan's
commitment to continue fighting, Truman and his
military advisors were determined to use every weapon
at their disposal in order to bring the war to an
immediate end. Consequently, neither Truman nor any
of his advisors ever debated if the atomic bombs should
be used, only how and where they should be used.
Consequently, Truman approved the long-standing
plans for the US Army Air Force to drop atomic bombs
on a list of preselected Japanese cities. The list of targets
excluded Tokyo and Kyoto because of their political and
historic importance.
Instead, the intended target of the first bomb was
Hiroshima, a fan-shaped city of approximately
550,000 people that occupied the estuary of the Ota
River. The city was also home to the headquarters of the
Japanese army that defended the island of Kyushu as
well as a number of war industries.
At 2:45 a.m. on Monday August 6, 1945, three
American B-29 bombers of the 509th Composite
Group took off from an airfield on the Pacific island of
Tinian, 1,500 miles south of Japan. Colonel Paul
Tibbets piloted the lead bomber, "Enola Gay," which
carried a nuclear bomb nicknamed "Little Boy.
" Despite the bomb's moniker, it weighed nearly
10,000 pounds. As a result, the overloaded Enola Gay
used more than two miles of runway to get aloft. At 7:15
a.m., the bomber crew armed the bomb, and the plane
began its ascent to the bombing altitude of 31,000 feet.
At 9:14 a.m. Hiroshima time, the Enola Gay arrived
over the city. The bomb, Little Boy, fell almost six miles
in 43 seconds before detonating at an altitude of 2,000
feet. The bomb exploded with the force of more than
15,000 tons of TNT.
directly over a surgical clinic, 500 feet from the Aioi
Bridge. Less than two percent of the bomb's uranium
achieved fission, but the resulting reaction engulfed the
city in a blinding flash of heat and light. The
temperature at ground level reached 7,000 degrees
Fahrenheit in less than a second.
The bomb vaporized people half a mile away from
ground zero. Bronze statues melted, roof tiles fused
together, and the exposed skin of people miles away
burned from the intense infrared energy unleashed. At
least 80,000 people died instantly.
Never before in human history a single weapon had
achieved so much destruction and loss of human life
within a twinkling of an eye. Therefore, without further
going into the military logic of the Hiroshima bombing,
it is universally felt today that another Hiroshima like
man-made death and devastation must never happen
again.
This universal abhorrence for nuclear weapon is also
the best assurance that Hiroshima indeed will never be
repeated. We, everywhere, have a duty to add to this
resolve wherever we may be at this moment as we
observe the epic tragedy of Hiroshima 76 years later.
The heartfelt appeals made by the Pontiffs in recent
decades - words and prayers that point to a single,
desired objective: nuclear disarmament. Pope Francis
has renewed this exhortation, adding his own voice to
that of his predecessors. After his apostolic trip to
Japan in November 2019, the Pope repeated that "the
use of nuclear weapons is immoral." For this reason, he
added, "this must also be included in the Catechism of
the Catholic Church." Not only the use, but the
possession of nuclear weapons is immoral, he said,
"because an accident [due to] possession [of nuclear
weapons], or the madness of some government leader,
the madness of an individual, could destroy humanity."
Pope Francis repeated his call for global
disarmament at his General Audience on 20 January
2021. Referring to the Treaty on the Prohibition of
Nuclear Weapons, he explained that it is the "first
legally binding international instrument explicitly
prohibiting these weapons" that must absolutely be
adhered to at all times, by all.
Management of public universities ought
to be changed with the time
In the book 'The Universities', author
V.H.H Green praised the universities as
one of the most significant creations of
medieval world that helped laying the
foundation for a scientific culture, to interpret
laws and customs and facilitate public
administration.
Many aims and objectives have been added
with medieval era to cope with the present era.
At present, universities are the changing
media of social, economical, and cultural
scenario. Main task of the 'Modern
Universities' is to cultivate and generate
knowledge with its dissemination aiming for
welfare and development of human beings
and the living creatures. A university is a place
pursuing academic excellence. It is a place that
is supposed to create new knowledge, store
that knowledge and disseminate it to the field
level. Among others, it ensures that it reflects
and responds to the people living around it.
Based on causal curiosity, a university rectifies
the society to which it belongs to and to what
direction it should move as it happens to be
the primary producer of innovative
knowledge. It is mainly through intellectual
and moral leadership of the institutions of
higher education that a tradition-bound and
stagnant society is transformed into a modern
and progressive community.
As we all know, the father of the nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
recognized the importance of quality higher
education towards building knowledge-based
economy. Accordingly, the University Grants
Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, as an apex
and statutory body in the field of higher
education and research was established by the
President's Order (P.O.) No. 10 of 15 February
1973. With time the higher education sector in
Bangladesh has expanded significantly. The
multiplicative functions of UGC include but
not limited to allocation of funds to
universities, facilitate the development of
higher educational system with main purpose
of upgrading the qualities of teaching-learning
at the tertiary level, encourage cutting-edge
innovative research and development and
improve governance issues at the universities.
Also, UGC is responsible for formulating
higher education policy and quality assurance
to meet the international standards and advise
the government accordingly.
The major responsibilities entrusted with
the UGC are to receive funds from the
government and allocate and disburse out of
such funds and grants to the universities for
their maintenance and development and to
determine the financial needs of the
universities. The UGC of Bangladesh, in
principle, is modeled after the higher
education management authority in the
United Kingdom. The underlying fact of this
model dictates the government to deal with
the UGC for the management of the
universities.
The Bangladesh Gazette Extra (1998) made
FAkhrUl islAM And dr. Md. AbU TAher
the UGC accountable for the utilization of
funds by the government to the universities.
The same Gazette also empowered UGC to
oversee the recruitment of new faculty and
teaching positions in the universities.
As per the above Gazette, during the period
of budget allocation, UGC usually send a set of
guidelines to all public universities. On behalf
of the government, universities are also highly
requested to follow and maintain mandatory
obligations. But it is observed that a good
number of universities violate financial rules
and regulations. It is also a matter of great
regret that universities are reluctant not to
implement UGC's guidelines. In this
connection, few examples are mentioned
here:The Annual Report (2019) of the
University Grants Commission depicts that a
whopping 72% of the budget money spent for
salary and allowances. The rest 16% has been
expended in emergency and maintenance cost
and only 12% has been expended in education
related programs. For research work, in the
financial year (FY) 2020-21, as an individual
head only BDT 64.58 crore is allocated for 46
public universities. But in the financial year
2021-2022, BDT 118.50 lac has been allocated
for fundamental, applied and need based
research which will eventually accelerate to
materialize the vision of the Father of the
nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman. It is estimated that in the fiscal year
2020-2021, teachers' salary, allowance,
electricity, gas, water transport expenses may
increase. Although government has allocated
BDT 4290 crore, nevertheless this allocated
money is inadequate because higher
education is now more expensive. Over and
above that university authority is disinterested
in the state of economical expenses.
Universities have been transformed as an
"Exchange" agent. Terms and conditions of
appointment, promotion or upgradation as
per the guideline has not been followed by the
university authorities. Even the university
authorities are creating new posts violating the
guidelines of UGC. Consequently, huge budget
deficiency and disruption of finance is seen.
The liberal pension scheme has put
enormous stress on the allocated budget. A
significant portion of the budget is spent to
provide allowances, encashment of earned
leave and unforeseen expenditure.
Furthermore, the six oldest universities of the
country are making demands more budget
allocation to provide pension money among
the teachers, officers and staff.
The consumption of electricity is increasing
continuously in the universities. From BDT
58.82 crore in FY 2019-21 the cost jumped to
BDT 86.50 crore in FY 2020-21. Still this trend
is upward moving. The primary causes are
that per unit electricity cost rate is high, misuse
of electricity in the residential halls and due
outstanding payment of electric bills are still
rampant. Consequently, an abnormal
pressure is created on budget due to this
subsidy of electricity and other utilities in the
public universities. Water and gas expenditure
have been increased. Invaluable natural gas is
burning unnecessarily in the university
kitchens day and night long. University
authorities need to pay proper attention in
these things.
Every university has a transport facility to
carry teachers, officers and staff for
commuting to the university. Transport
expenditure is on the rise year on year basis. If
there is no equilibrium between income and
expenditure, then a huge deficiency that
requires filing of more budget in this sector.
Every year the expenditure of University
School and Colleges is increasing which are
situated within the university campus. Positive
initiatives should be taken up to find out
resources to generate their own income. With
this end in view, the UGC has prepared few
documents in the recent days, such as: the
uniform accounts manual and financial
guidelines, bringing uniformity in the
recruitment, and the launching of automated
software to ensure transparency and
accountability in financial management of the
public universities.
In Bangladesh, public universities are run by
the state. That is why these universities are
reluctant to generate revenue from own
resources. In Bangladesh only BDT 20 is
charged as monthly tuition fee from each
student. To collect this fee additional BDT 40
need to be invested to some extent. Nowhere
in the world education is so cheap than in
Bangladesh. In many countries of the world,
universities collect money from different
sources by their own endeavors. They are less
dependent on government allocation. For
example, University of Warwick, University of
Keel, England and Macquarie University,
Queensland University, Australia where
university authority earns 80% above revenue
from their own resources by adopting various
endeavors. Renowned universities of the
MUhAMMAd MUnirUl hAsAn
world generate revenue by establishing hotel,
hospital, restaurant, IT and Innovation hub,
auditorium, fishery project, agricultural
project in the campus area. Besides this, they
deposit a portion of earned money by doing
research and consultancy. Alumni association
plays a vital and progressive role in this regard.
In SAARC countries, even Pakistani
universities also earns about 50% their
revenue from own resources. There are many
glaring evidence in today's world.
In Bangladesh, internal resources should be
mobilized so that public universities can retain
autonomy in truest sense. Students' tuition fee
should be increased but it should be ensured
that poor and meritorious student can acquire
knowledge through poor fund. But
universities should be frugal on the point of
expenses. A culture of fairness and
accountability should be established in the
public universities. Simultaneously, there is a
need to create a congenial environment for
good governance, higher education and
research.
The University Ordinance of 1973 has given
enormous academic autonomy to the
universities. It does not allow financial
autonomy of the universities. On the whole,
universities are run by the 100% government
donation and grants. In the present era, the
autonomy of university is a great question
mark. The University Ordinance of 1973 was
promulgated to control financial
misappropriation, low standard of education,
political interference, lack of teachers'
accountability, terrorism, session jam, delay to
publish the result of examination etc. This was
manifested to attain academic freedom and
democratic management of the university
affairs. Enormous power is entrusted to the
university syndicate. The university authority
sometime misuses this power. As a result,
financial management and educational
activities are disrupted.In conclusion, it is
evident that the system, mission, and the goal
of higher education have changed all over the
world. In order to keep pace with the changing
world, the country also need to reshape and
reorganize its entire gamut of administration
and management system of higher education.
The need of hour is quantitative expansion
without undermining quality of higher
education, maximum utilization of existing
resources and directional change. Like other
institutions in a democratic society,
universities should take all necessary
measures for changing mobilization of their
own resources towards the achievement of the
goals for which universities are established.
Fakhrul Islam, PhD and Professor
Dr. Md. Abu Taher, PhD are the
contributing writer of this article.
The writers are researchers and now
work as Director and Member
respectively at the University Grants
Commission of Bangladesh.
The significance of the Hiroshima day
6th August, 1945, the world
witnessed the horror of first atomic
bomb attack to Japan by USA.
Decades after the incident, the world still
remembers the brutality and mourn for
the innocent people who lost their lives
due to the atomic bomb blast in
Hiroshima. Before discussing the
significance and learning of the
Hiroshima day, let us discuss briefly about
the history of Hiroshima.
This city founded in 1598 besides the
Ota river, in Hiroshima Prefecture. The
civilization and social system of the then
Hiroshima was very serene and modern
than that of other regions/prefectures of
Japan, only second to Tokyo.
Then, in 1868, through the impact of the
Meiji Restoration, Hiroshima gradually
turned into a vital urban and commercial
center. Japanese government officially
declared Hiroshima as a city in 1889.
From the imperial era, this city was well
known as a center of armed forces
activities. This city also played very
effective roles in the First Sino-Japan war,
the Russo-Japan war, and the subsequent
world wars.
The Hiroshima was the first victim of
the nuclear arsenal of the United States
Army Air Forces (USAAF). They dropped
and detonated the first atomic bomb in
the history named "Little Boy" at the early
hours on August 6, 1945, on Hiroshima.
Very instantaneously, maximum city
buildings and dwelling houses was
destroyed, and from 90,000 to almost
166,000 people died by the end of the year
as an impact of the blast and its
consequences.
And those, who survived fortunately
from atomic bombs blast instantly (they
are called "Hibakusha" in Japanese), they
experienced many physical and mental
difficulties for the rest of their life.
In1955,the Japanese government founded
"The Hiroshima Peace Memorial" as a
memorial of the victims of nuclear
The University Ordinance of 1973 was promulgated to control
financial misappropriation, low standard of education,
political interference, lack of teachers' accountability, terrorism,
session jam, delay to publish the result of examination
etc. This was manifested to attain academic freedom
and democratic management of the university affairs.
bombing. It is also known as Genbaku
Dome. The UNESCO declared this as a
World Heritage site in 1996.
This incident created a huge impact to
the mindset of the world leaders and
people. A very strong message clearly
transmitted to every corner of the world,
that is, not only the nuclear weapon but
also all sorts of war is destructive for the
peace and humanity. The nuclear attack
clearly demonstrated that, any war or
battle creates nothing but a destroyer of
the beautiful world. After observing the
consequences of the nuclear bombs, the
rest of the world gradually raised their
voices for banning all sorts of nuclear
weapons and its use.
As a result, the NPT, later on CTBT and
other consensus emerged against nuclear
weapons production and practice.
Nowadays, the world leaders and the
super power countries trying to reduce
nuclear weapons gradually. The nuclear
attack significantly proved the importance
of peace to sustain the world's future.
Even the USA also realized and
recognized the sacrifice of the Victims of
Hiroshima. As, the professor of Japanese
history and director of the Center for East
Asian Studies, Frederick Dickinson said
"Hats off to President Obama for not just
visiting but acknowledging the 'brutal end'
of the Pacific War and acting on a key
lesson of Hiroshima. The U.S., Obama
declared in 2016, 'must have the courage
to escape the logic of fear and pursue a
world without' nuclear weapons. He cut
American nuclear stockpiles by 553
warheads."
Though some US historian and analyst
claim that, this nuclear invasion was a
consequence of the Pearl Harbor attack by
the Imperial Japanese Navy and Air
Forces on the US naval base at Pearl
Harbor in Honolulu of Hawaii in
December 7, 1941. But later, most of the
historians, the political scientists and
combat analysts claimed that, USA could
avoid the nuclear attack by taking
alternative measures. So, what should we
do? Or what we have learnt from this
barbaric incident of the world history?
Isn't there any effective activity to
establish world peace for our future
generation?
As the associate professor of Japanese
After that, they reinstall power supply, electricity, communication
and transportation. And other means of destruction
restored gradually. The dwellers collected unburned
hard materials they could find and started rebuilding their
homes, lives and their hopes. There was rumor that, nothing
would grow in atomic bombing are for at least 75 years,
language and literature in the Department
of East Asian Languages and Civilizations-
Linda Chance said: "Is there hope? Weeds
once returned in no time, barely covering
the pain and peril of the city. Words
bloomed from eyewitnesses like Tamiki
Hara, Y?ko?ta, Sadako Kurihara, and
Ky?ko Hayashi. These voices speak the
unspeakable, yet 75 years after the United
States government dropped the only
atomic bomb on a civilian populationtwice-how
many Americans heed them?
Young readers may know the antiwar
manga series 'Barefoot Gen,' but have we
seen the Maruki murals, savored
Kenzabur??e's essays or watched the film
version of MasujiIbuse's 'Black Rain?'
Now is the time. Now, as we rewrite our
national story, the fables of the pastnuclear
deterrence, racism, inequality,
climate exploitation-must all be untold.
Seventy-five years from today people
must say, 'Once upon a time, nothing grew
but lies and misery;' children must shout
'No way!' when they hear that generations
had harbored these delusions. This is my
view from Japanese literature" .
After that, they reinstall power supply,
electricity, communication and
transportation. And other means of
destruction restored gradually. The
dwellers collected unburned hard
materials they could find and started
rebuilding their homes, lives and their
hopes. There was rumor that, nothing
would grow in atomic bombing are for at
least 75 years, but, when they saw that, red
canna flowers started blooming in the
burnet rubble, they felt exotic source of
hope and mental strength. Then
gradually, residents who left and
evacuated to the far away, other
prefecture or countryside and warriors
started to came back, then they started
their long journey to rebuild not only
Hiroshima but also to reestablish
Japanese position to the world once again.
I have got chance to visit the Hiroshima
Dome and Hiroshima peace memorial
site physically as a full bright fellow of
Japanese government, and I have talked
with Japanese students and citizens.
They told me that-"After the Hiroshima
attack and serious destruction, the
Japanese people were instantly
traumatized physically and mentally.
Then, after keeping aside the initial shock,
theyoath themselves not to be
psychologically destroyed. They started
again. Now the modern Japan building a
new hope for the people of the world. As
famous theologian, Desmond Tutu said-
"Hope is being able to see that there is
light despite all of the darkness".
The writer is a deputy director at
Bangladesh's government radio services