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The hartal ordeal

These past few weeks, we saw our country's economy get crippled by continuous strikes. A feeling of impending doom had set upon each citizen. The HSC examinees and other students suffered the most as the hartals affected their exam schedules and the classes that were missed. Such harmful political activities are reasons for which students do badly in their exams, which further complicates the unemployment condition of the country. Some students, however, have been optimistic during this ordeal by hoping for late night exams on hartal days, which was a brand new experience. In the wake of these unsettling events, one can only hope that the next generation of politicians are not driven by money, power or vengeance. Right now, hiring renowned politicians of other countries seems like a better option than letting our economy be played like a ping pong match by the major political groups of our country.

Ala-E-Rabbi
S F X Greenherald International School, Dhaka.

Unacceptable!

The violence that the students witnessed at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College is unbelievable. Are our campuses safe at all? As students, we spend so much money behind colleges and universities, and this is what we get in return? The fact that outsiders came and harassed students is reason enough for the authority to take some firm action. Instead, the principal chose not to provide protection to students. Properties were destroyed and education was halted. If this is the picture of our education system, then I shudder with fear and disgust. I also feel angry that there is so much inefficiency and injustice on our campuses. How can the country shine when the students are beaten up and basically deprived of basic respect and security?

Tanima Nasreen
North South University, Dhaka.

The brainwashing culture

It seems that the 'Hindi serial' culture has intruded our lives dangerously. Wherever I look, I see people being obsessed with the meaningless shows. It is more problematic since young people start watch the shows too. The shows are superficial and the characters are seen engrossed in family conflicts, manipulating and plotting against each other. Young students are getting addicted to these shows and the trashy “item” numbers of Bollywood movies. Can we pause for a while and question our sense of entertainment?

Nurul kabir
Department of Business Studies, University of Dhaka,
Dhaka.

Getting Inspired by Reading

	Photo: Kazi Tahsin Agaz Apurbo

In college, I took part in a story book reading competition, which was organised by Biswashahitto Kendro. Taking part in such an event eventually benefited me a lot in the long run. The competition took place every Friday for a period of time. I had to read and write something on assigned books.

More than two hundreds students from different colleges and disciplines came under one roof. Sadly, I could not take part in such activities when I was in university because of the study pressure. Our society discourages the habit of external readings, which bears no fruit. But reading literature inspired me to think beyond. Reading can never be unrewarding.

Niamot Ali Enayet
Department of Development Studies,
University of Dhaka, Dhaka.

Profile of an Underpriviledged Child

"Bhaiya, I have no father, and my mother is very sick. My father was a rickshaw puller, but he passed away in a road accident” said Sujan, a child beggar at Mymensingh Railway Station. Later however, I came to know that whatever he said was not true. He is a six-year-old boy. I enquired about his parents and he said that his father had left and married another woman. His mother stays sick most of the time and does not work. Sujan is second among his five siblings; he lives in a slum at Mymensingh Railway Station. Whatever insignificant earning he makes out of begging on streets, he gives it to his mother so that she can run the family. Although he had always wanted to go to school, he never had the chance to attend one. Sujan and children like him face a difficult life from the moment they are born. Most of the time, we are unable to help them, but we owe them a lot, and the least we can do is treat them with kindness and respect.

Bipul K Debnath
English Department, Dhaka College, Dhaka