my $sqlstmt = "select to_date('$tdate','mm/dd/yyyy') from dual";
my $sth = $dbh->prepare($sqlstmt);
$sth->execute() or die $dbh->errstr;
my $tmp;
$sth->bind_columns(undef, \$tmp);
while($sth->fetch()) {$tdate = $tmp;}

##</code><code>##

$sth->bind_col(1, \$tmp);