DISCRIMINATION FOR HELP

A couple of days ago a few of my girlfriends and I went to Gulshan for sehri. We had no car with us so we were planning on taking a CNG run auto rickshaw back home. A couple of minutes passed while we were trying to find a one but there was none at sight. At last a CNG stopped in front of us. When my friends and I went to fix the fare, the driver gave a good look at us and said that he won't take us because we are all girls and girls shouldn't be out in the streets without male supervision at this time of the night. Then, in front of our shocked faces he left. We, as women, face discrimination every day, in many ways throughout our lives, but never have we faced something like this. We had to wait another hour to find another CNG!

Nazifa Amin
North South University, Dhaka

STREET BRUTALITY!

The other day, I was waiting for the bus near Malibag intersection. The place was too crowded and everyone had to wait their turn to board the bus. Meanwhile a police car came with some family members of high officials, which got stuck in traffic because of a rickshaw. At once a policeman came out of the car and started beating the aged rickshaw puller. We, the pedestrians, requested him not to do so but he did not heed upon our request.

Policemen behaving brutally in the streets of Dhaka are a very common scene nowadays. Of course, the duties of the police are more challenging than others. But why is this kind of brutality from policemen on the rise? 

Bipul K Debnath
English Literature, Dhaka College
Dhaka