It is true that a national anthem of any country has its own incomparable dignity, so does ours too. Mobile phones of today bear ring-tone of the tune of our national anthem. Is it adding to the glory or degrading it?

We have to keep in mind that on whichever occasion the national anthem is played, not all the audience understands its highness. Unfortunate but true, many people of our country don't even know it's our national anthem. These people are either poor, belong to slums, or are so busy earning their livelihood that they know very little of what is a national anthem. But yet, they are also our fellow Bangladeshis, and we cannot ignore that.

But mobile phones are not used by such category of people. But, these ring-tones help us, to some extent, to spread the tune into the many ears in the crowd, thus reaching out to many people in society.

The time has come when our national safety, security and integrity are at stake. We should rise from the barriers of political separatism and unite to beautify our country, and bring back the glory which is much lost by now. Many would not even agree, but Bangladesh is being talked about as the "Problem Country" in many other nations. In a situation like this, the national spirit is to be held high in our hearts now, and I feel that the national anthem should not be confined to a handful of occasions only.

Any medium, that can contribute to the wake of patriotism in the need of the country, should not be stopped or forced to go under cover. However, in normal circumstances, the national anthem should be carefully handled, and it should be seen that no one can ever challenge its glory or honour. But are we running through normal circumstances? The country is rocking due to bomb attacks. The ordinary people are living in terror every day. All these cannot be the picture of a normal society. So its time we should save our country first, bring back the pride of being "Bangladeshi" as it should be. The constant ringing of the national anthem will certainly not do any harm, rather it will encourage our hearts, and maybe some of our fears may ease out.

With due respect to the teacher of Comilla Zilla school, Md. Abdur Rahim, I would like to say that respect is not a showy matter. It comes from heart. If anyone has respect for the national anthem I don't think he/she needs to stand when it is played.

Some people use its music in a mobile phone because they like it. Doesn't respect come from liking? I think so.

He also wrote that it (NA) is sung and played on particular occasions. But why on particular occasions? Can't we listen to it when we like to ?

I don't want to say that we need not stand while listening to the national anthem. What I want to say is that if we don't stand when it is played, it does not mean that we don't respect it.

Md Sazzad Hasan On e-mail