Green coconut-water!

The other day I went to visit one of my relatives admitted at DMCH. On my way back I felt thirsty and decided to take some green coconut profusely available at the hospital gate. One seller asked Tk.10 for a coconut while another fellow eagerly pressed me to buy one from him for just Tk. 8. Naturally I became happy to quench my thirst at a cheaper cost and did not even forget to thank him for the generosity. Finishing my drink, as I was walking past, that previous seller threw at me a slice of comment, “Hey babu, at last you took some contaminated water for Tk. 8!” 'What does he mean?' I thought to myself. Maybe it's a matter of professional rivalry. Yet I felt curious and urged him to explain the matter. He whispered that a few dishonest fruit vendors absorb water from inside the green coconuts with a big syringe and sell them to herbalists at a lower price. Then they refill the nuts with sugary or even contaminated water and earn extra money by selling them again. So beware of having luscious coconuts while thirsty. It may send you to hell instead of saving life.
Arun Kumar
Lecturer, Queens University
Banani

What Would Women Do?

The other day, in a desperate attempt to go to my workplace in time, I had to resort to riding the local buses. But to my astonishment I was told off by the busboy at the gate, he shouted, “mahila seat naai…” ( there is no seat for the women). It was in the morning, and after an hour or so desperately looking for a CNG scooter, I decided to opt for the bus. I am a makeup artist, and I need to go to different places every morning to serve my clients. But after the government enforced the regulation that put a stop to plying of rickshaws and two-stroke scooters in Mirpur road, everyday I go through an ordeal looking for transport. I live in Shaymoli, most of the buses that ply in the Mirpur road are private minibuses. And these buses refuse to take women passengers during rush hour. I have seen our male counterparts taking up the seats reserved for women. Often when there is no shortage of male passengers then the buswalahs simply avoid women. Only the government can change this scenario, as they are the one who decided to withdraw rickshaws and two-stroke scooters from the road. We must have a decent government owned transportation system.
Shahana Akhter
Shaymoli

When beggars have a choice

One of my relatives told me this amusing antedate which happened with him. A few days ago he went to a neighborhood's beggar and invited him to his place for a lunch followed by a Milad. He also requested him to bring few more fellows with him. At first the beggar looked at him tentatively and inquired about food menu. When he heard that Khichuri would be served he nodded his head negatively and replied that they wouldn't like to attend the lunch if the menu was Khichuri, rather they would prefer Biryani or something similar! My relative was stumped and when he later related me the story to me, I had a good laugh. I wonder if we should change the old adage 'beggar must not be chooser'!
Mohammed Sohel Hara
Topkhana Road