I refer to Kapil Komireddi's opinion article ISIL's influence in Bangladesh has been greatly exaggerated (July 30). It may be right to point out that the massacre by extremists on July 1 at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's diplomatic zone does not necessarily indicate that Bangladesh is slipping into the grip of ISIL, but to call the influence of extremists in Bangladesh an "exaggeration" is to deny the reality. Today's Bangladesh, I think, is very different from what it was even a decade ago. Although Bangladesh often witnessed violence in the past, it seldom raised alarm bells as this incident and many smaller ones in the recent past have done. They indicate that Bangladesh is surely slipping into the grip of extremists.
The Dhaka massacre has also shattered a long-standing notion that terrorism thrives in countries such as Bangladesh because of poverty and a lack of opportunities for youth. The murderers at Holey Artisan Bakery were not just rich but they were well educated and belonged to the privileged section of society. This phenomenon is even more disturbing.
I think that rather than denying this ground reality, this matter needs to be discussed seriously. Whether ISIL or some other extremist groups are spreading their tentacles in the country is not the point. The issue is that Bangladesh is on a slippery slope.
Deep Saranya M, Abu Dhabi
Be alert when using an ATM
ATM skimming technology has improved over recent years, evolving into undetectable skimmers that fit inside the card slot (How to protect yourself from ATM scammers in the UAE, August 1).
For an investment of a few thousand dollars, a criminal can be in the card-skimming business in no time. The only way to avoid being a victim is to remain alert.
The new devices may be sophisticated, but it still takes time for crooks to install them. It is best to use ATMs that are in full public view as much as possible, preferably with nearby video monitoring to guard against skimming tactics.
Protection of the PIN is the key.
A skimmer can discreetly get your card number, but they cannot get your PIN without some recording or observation method as you type it in.
Finally, a simple online balance check at the end of the day can help limit the damage in case of fraud.
E Richardson, Dubai
Confusion over karate moves
Regarding the article Attempted rapist who was beaten up by karate expert is jailed (July 28), the woman who was attacked may be a brown belt in karate, but if one throws sand in an attacker's face or punches him repeatedly, does it mean she's got karate moves?
Christina Murphy, Dubai
Schoolteachers deserve credit
The story Emirati public-school teachers 'will quit over work appraisals' (July 31) is not surprising except that it has taken too long for teachers to finally act upon grievances that have been bubbling under the surface for decades.
Researchers at Al Qasimi Foundation looked into this issue in 2014 and came up with three policy recommendations: 1. Invest in more research to examine the impact of current employment policies on Arab expatriate teachers’ effectiveness in terms of student achievement; 2. Offer better working conditions for Arab expatriate teachers, including longer contracts and more opportunities for professional development; and 3. Improve the status of all teachers (both national and expatriate) within schools in the GCC to recognise their contributions to the national education systems, allowing them to feel invested both in the countries in which they work and in the well-being of their students. These steps can solve this issue once and for all.
Name withheld by request