Star Diary

Photo: Prabir Das

Living in the Concrete Jungle

The world is constantly on the move. A moment of peace is always appreciated in these busy times. I find my peace when I take a look at the sky from my window. However, last Friday when I looked out the window, I could not see the sky. Instead, I found myself staring at a multistoried building under construction. My grandfather once told me about the playing field where he would play football with his friends. Today our apartment complex stands on that very field. My mother tells me stories of how she would count frogs in the pond behind her house when it rained. The pond is gone today; a fifteen-storied multinational bank has taken its place. Everywhere you look, you’ll see modern high-rises and buildings taking over open fields. Today I’ll be able to go to another room to peek through the window and look at my sky. But will I be able to do it tomorrow?
Fabiha Tanzeem
Bangladesh Medical College, Dhaka

A POSITIVE CHANGE

On my way home in a public bus, I noticed the bus attendant behaving really badly with a woman. He was demanding more than the actual fare, probably taking advantage of the fact that he could get away acting in this manner with a woman. But the woman stood her ground, stating that she knew the fare and would not pay a cent more. The attendant continued to behave rudely, hurling insults at her. When she was about to get down at her stop, the attendant even tried to stop her by touching her. This is where all the passengers jumped in, rebuking him for his behaviour. I even told him that he had a mother and probably a sister and should know better than to behave in this manner with a woman. It is quite a common scene seeing a random man behaving badly with a woman because he thinks he can get away with it. The age-old patriarchal mentality is yet to change. However, I am happy to see that the new generation is sensitive and aware about women rights issues and even men are not afraid to raise their voice when they see a women being victimised.
Md Zonaed Emran
Executive officer
Janata Bank Ltd

EASY
A

People are pretty heated up over the recent scandal of the HSC question paper leaks. Students, teachers and guardians are all blaming government bodies for their inability to catch those behind this. But to my complete surprise, I have realised that some of my classmates, who are candidates for the HSC exams to be held next year, are in favour of this immoral act of leaking questions and have practically given up preparing for tests. When asked why, their answer was simple, “Why bother? We will get the questions on Facebook and get A+ anyway!” It is really shocking that students have forgotten the true meaning of education because of the negligence of the authorities concerned. Achieving success through hard work does not seem to motivate them, as they know that they can pass an exam by taking the help of these leaked papers. Our government should take steps to punish the culprits as soon as possible and help some derailed youngsters to regain the belief that cheating on exams may give them good grades but they will only suffer in the long run.  
Shatadru Soomit Rohinee
Shiddheswari Girls College
Dhaka

Photo: Rashed Sumon

Brutes and Monsters

After our Fajr prayers, my friend and I went on our regular morning walk when we came upon a group of men crowding a small boy. They were brutally hitting and kicking the boy. When asked for a reason, they answered that the boy had stolen shoes a nearby mosque and was trying to flee the scene but one of the “devout” men caught him red handed. I wasn’t too astonished to hear the story, as this is a common scene in our poverty-stricken country but shocked me was the behaviour of these well-dressed men of the society. One of them kept kicking and slapping him repeatedly while another hurled crude abuses at him. Someone even threatened to chop his hands and send them back to his mother! If all of that wasn’t enough, the “decent” men searched him, and snatched everything belonging to him, even a twenty taka note from his pocket. He kept trying to convince them that this money was his but who would pay heed to him. The boy had undoubtedly committed a crime by trying to steal those shoes but how will such ruthless punishment help? If anything, it can only make matters worse. And to be honest, aren’t these so-called gentlemen criminals themselves for beating up a small child in such a cruel manner?
Md Mazharul Islam
Noorul Islam English Institute
Thana Para, Tangail