Star Diary

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME 

I think I bought this poster of Muhammed Ali almost a year ago and had it hidden away forgotten in some corner of my room. Putting it up is the very least I can do for a man who has been my hero since the very first times my mom would regale me tales of his feats. Having met him is probably my closest claim to fame, and is one the most cherished memories I have. My mother and I ran into him in an elevator in Los Angeles. He picked me up, and due to his Parkinsons his arms were shaking. Four year old me was quite overwhelmed and I barely managed to stammer out to my mom "I'm too heavy." He laughed and told her that Bangladeshis are his biggest fans. Considering my mom's childhood stories of the whole neighbourhood gathering around the one and only television set praying for him before the match, cheering with every punch, and crying with the seldom hits he received, has me safely saying that Muhammed was right. He was an inspiration to me and millions of other people in life and in death he will continue inspire millions in the generations to come.
Adib Hasnat
West Covina, California 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RELIGIOUS?

I know this woman, who prays five times a day and gives people knowledge about religion all day. But she is also a very cheap minded woman, she talks nasty about others (in a very vulgar language, I might add), and has also attempted to destroy other peoples' lives by spreading rumours about them (mainly other women, which is a shock). Since Ramadan is approaching, I heard her talk about the many people who will start praying and reciting the Holy Quran now, and how she thinks it's 'fake'. I had no option but to say something at that point. So I looked dead straight in her eyes and I said, "Even if it's for a month, I can guarantee they can be better Muslims than you. You hurt people, which is not allowed in our religion, you talk behind peoples' backs, which is not allowed in our religion, you look down on others, which is not allowed in our religion. So before you go ahead and judge others, please try to fix yourself. You're not as self-righteous as you believe yourself to be." I then let out a long breath, got up and left. People like that don't deserve my respect or my time. 
Sanjida Hasnain
Dhanmondi, Dhaka