Mail Call: Wreaking Havoc.(Letter to the editor)

Our Jan. 15 cover story on bioinvading species led readers to share their views. Wrote one, "Aliens invade habitats already destroyed by man." Another agreed: "The most successful bioinvader? Us humans!"

Emergency in Bangladesh

Your piece on Bangladesh titled "Rhymes With Afghanistan" (Feb. 5) conveys the impression that Islamic radicals could make Bangladesh resemble "prewar Afghanistan." Nothing could be farther from the truth. Yes, there was a descent into chaos in the months preceding the declaration of emergency on Jan. 11. It is that chaos which could have turned Bangladesh into the "ungovernable space" that potential extremists might hope for. But the declaration of emergency pulled the country away from that brink of disaster. The installation of Fakhruddin Ahmed, a renowned economist and former World Bank official, as the head of the caretaker government--a hugely popular development--also helped change that. Normalcy now prevails throughout the country. Vibrancy has returned to civic life. The supremacy of the rule of law is ensured. Every segment of society, including Bangladesh's remarkable civil society (Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank are recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize) and reputable armed forces (consistently one of the largest contributors to U.N. peacekeeping), fully supports the current government. Bangladeshis are a pluralist, freedom-loving, tolerant people of moderate persuasion. They are deeply committed to these values, which this government represents. The people fully endorse its goal, in consonance with the Constitution, within whose parameters the change of government occurred. Free, fair and credible elections will be held as soon as possible, after an appropriate atmosphere is restored.

Kazi Imtiaz Hossain

Consul General of Bangladesh

New York, New York

Invasive Species