STAR DIARY

FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS

I had an interesting interaction with a teenager a couple of days ago. It hasn't been long since I was a teenager myself, but I didn't know how much times had changed. I was sitting in a café alone and reading a book, when a couple of teenagers struck up a conversation with me. They thought I was alone because none of my friends came, and I told them that I had chosen to come alone because I wanted some time to myself to read. They thought that was the most shocking thing ever! "You actually take extra time out to read a book? Why don't you just watch the movie?" said one girl. My initial reaction was anger, but then I sat and explained to them the necessity and wonder in reading books, and how I got to where I am because I read a lot. As surprising as it sounded to them, they were also quite inspired and decided to start reading. Since then, I've been going around preaching books to teenagers! 
Sumaiya Lisa
Banani, Dhaka

Photos: Kazi Tahsin Agaz Apurbo

A LIFE IS A LIFE 

3 or 4 days ago, I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed when I saw a post about an injured street dog. The photo grabbed my attention and from the caption I understood that the boy, who put up the post, found the dog near the Shiah Masjid in Mohammadpur, howling and screaming in pain. The boy took the dog to a vet and ran all around the city to make him survive. I was pleasantly surprised at how much the boy was dedicated to saving a life. He's been trying so hard to get proper treatment for the dog, whereas he doesn't even own a pet. On the other hand, I was very disturbed that hardly anyone genuinely came forward to help him because it was 'just a dog'. Most people forget that animals are lives too, they have feelings (physical and mental), they can get hurt, and they can feel joy too. And if someone can do everything to save a human life, they should also do everything to save an animal. A life is a life- whether it is man, animal, or even plants. 
Mohammad Rabbi Islam
Mohammadpur, Dhaka