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<%-- Page Title--%> Dhaka Diary <%-- End Page Title--%>

<%-- Volume Number --%> Vol 1 Num 136 <%-- End Volume Number --%>

January 2, 2004

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The shameless policeman

I had just come back from abroad and was getting out of Zia International Airport in a yellow cab. As soon as the cab started, a traffic policeman suddenly came up to us and asked the driver to stop the cab. My driver did accordingly and the policeman asked him to roll down the window. The driver did so and said, "Sir, my meter is on and I have all my papers." The policeman laughed and said, "Did I ask you anything? I think you know what to do. Money is not an issue, what matters is prestige, understand?" Then he looked at me and asked, "Isn't it?" I said yes and asked the driver how much the policeman wanted. The driver said Tk. 30 would be enough and gave it to the policeman. The policeman was laughing while taking the money. There was no trace of shame or embarrassment on his face. After taking it he advised the driver, "remember, money will come, money will go, it doesn't matter. What matters is keeping your prestige." I was surprised and shocked at the policeman was doing for Tk. 30 and how helpful our police department is.

R. Ahmed, Comilla Cadet College


Unsophisticated behaviour

A few days ago, I was going to New Market from my university hall. I was stuck in a traffic jam on my way there with everyone wanting to get ahead of one another. A rickshaw was also trying to get ahead of a private car. All of a sudden, a handsome man got out of the car and started beating the rickshaw-puller. He beat him even more when the rickshaw-puller tried to protest. I couldn't stand such cruel and inhuman behaviour and, along with some other students angered by the man's behaviour, went up to the man. We asked him why he was beating the poor rickshaw-puller and tried to defend him. Then I told him to leave or else he would have problems. The man said sorry and left immediately. There were police standing there but seeing that the man was rich and the victim poor, didn't do anything to stop him. This kind of behaviour is really unexpected from the privileged.

Ersadul Azam, Sir A. F. Rahman Hall, Dhaka University


A commuter's lesson

A few days ago I was coming home from work by bus. I heard the conductor asking a passenger to step down from the running bus with his left foot first. I wondered why he said this and whether it was just a superstition. When I reached my destination, I stepped out of the bus right foot first and stumbled. I learnt my lesson and advise my fellow readers to take conductor's advice!

Farhan Hara, Sports Time, Gulshan 2


Poorer than the beggar

A few days ago, I was sitting with some of my friends inside the Institute of Modern Languages of Dhaka University. A disabled beggar came up to me and asked me to give him one taka -- "Ekta taka den na, Bhai."
I had only a one hundred taka note on me so I told the beggar I had no change. I was quite astonished by hearing his reply. He told me that he would give me change for my one hundred taka note! At that moment I felt poorer than the beggar and realised that many beggars in Dhaka weren't really all that poor.

Kushal, Dhaka


Chaos on a serious day

With a grave heart and a reverent mind, I went to visit the Buddhijibi Smriti Shoudho at Mirpur early morning of Martyred Intellectuals Day. Some time later, the leader of one of our political parties appeared on the scene amidst much unnecessary loudness and yells of joy. I was shocked to hear them call the leader and members of her family intellectuals which she was really enjoying. The situation was of utter chaos with camera lights flooding the scene and terrible noise marring seriousness of the day. What a way to observe such a day. Talk about cultural progress!

Md. Firoj Mahmud,Surya Sen Hall, Dhaka University


How to spot a swindler!

A couple of days ago, a sort of elderly man came to our class and said he was a freedom fighter. He narrated his painful story and told us about the miserable condition of his family now and their days of hardship. He asked for some financial help. Because he was a freedom fighter, I got together with some of my friends and collected a handsome sum of money for the man to help him and his family. Some days later, I was returning home from university by local bus. I saw a man board the bus and ask for help claiming he was seriously ill and undergoing treatment at DMCH. I looked at him carefully and saw that he was the same man who had come to our class claiming to be a freedom fighter. Was he really a freedom fighter or has this too become a business to swindle people out of money?

Md. Aktaruzzaman Dipu Dhaka University

 
         

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