Star Diary

Tale of a Rickshaw puller's son!

The other day I was going to my office in Motijheel by a rickshaw. As I was having a conversation with the elderly rickshaw puller I was told that one of his sons got chance in Notre Dame College this year. He was proud of his son's success. I congratulated him for his son's outstanding achievement.  He then kept on telling me that he was from remote village of Jamalpur District and led a very tough life with the little money that he earned from peddling rickshaw.  His son was a meritorious student and got A+ from the remote village school. The teachers of the school were proud of his achievement. He replied in a convincing voice that his son got scholarships from the school he went to and a number of banks.  He also added that as a father he would like to keep contributing from his daily income for his son's education and other expenses. Lastly he told me that he wished his son would get a chance to study in Dhaka University. I was really happy thinking that he did not compromise with his son's education. 
Md Zonaed Emran
The Farmers bank Limited

Photo: Star Archive

An exceptional case

Finding an apartment for young bachelors in Dhaka is as tough as getting a top-level job in any multinational company without experience. In most cases, these people are in the desperate need of finding a home as they live away from their families for study purposes or to earn their livelihoods. Few months ago, my relatives and I were looking for an apartment in Mirpur. While talking to the owner over the phone, I was asked a couple of times whether I live with my family (wife and children) or not. As the house owner was reluctant to rent his place to bachelors, we decided to move on and find some other place. 
Suddenly, we noticed a 'to-let' advertisement and thought of trying our luck one more time. We knocked on the door and an old man opened it. As we told him that we were looking for a home, like other house owners, he asked us whether we had family or not. Unlike other house owners, he totally understood our situation. Infact he told us that, his son, living in Japan, asked him to rent apartments to unmarried people. Otherwise, they would fall in trouble. What surprised us even more was when he said, "You people are students. So you don't need to pay anything in advance. Just confirm whether you will stay here or not." Without any hesitation, we confirmed and came back happily. I wish people changed their biased opinion towards bachelors and come out of the misconception about us.  
Ashim Kumar Paul
Sirajganj