Dhaka Diary

At the cost of education
I am proud to be a student of Dhaka College, or maybe I was at one time. Every other day, stories of our fellow students using politics as the wrong means to go about in society are spurring up, as a result affecting other students of the institution. For instance, the other day, the members of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), who also happen to be students of the college mugged about Tk 12 lakhs, right in front of the Baitul Mukhadam Mosque. They did get caught of course, in fact, being caught red-handed by the police. However, as is the case with the law and order system in the country, the young hooligans were released within a short while.
Due to these JCD members, Dhaka College has now gone down to the drains, having its name and prestige at stake. Politics is healthy, challenging and young students should be aware of it. However, if politics becomes the reason behind someone else's sufferings, then I would like to request the government to have politics banned from educational institutions.
SK Mahfuzur Rahman Dhaka College

Advertising
When it rains, rickshaw pullers give their passengers a plastic cover, to protect themselves from the rain. One early, rainy morning while waiting for a rickshaw, a woman, who was also waiting for a ride, suddenly screamed out, 'Hey Banglalink! Come here!' Several eyes peered with surprise, wondering as to who exactly the lady was beckoning to in this strange way. It seems she was actually calling out to a rickshaw, which had a plastic cover with the logo of Banglalink printed all over it! It was definitely worth a smile on that gloomy day to see advertising move to a different level all togther.
Md. Jabed Amin (Juwel) ICAB

The everyday war!
The other day I had gone to Mouchak with my mother to do some shopping. We went through a few stores when we came across one with a shalwar kameez that I liked. "Tk 1000," replied the salesman, when my mother asked the price. Oops! Here begins the war, I said to myself. My mother looked indifferent, while the salesman was bracing himself for her retort. "I bought it for a mere Tk 950, aapa. At least, let me make some profit." I looked at my mother, wondering what she had to say now. Lots of things were going on in her mind; one could say that by just looking at her eyes. 'Tk 300!' finally my mother spoke up. I gasped! How could someone take it down to a mere 350 from a 1000?
The salesman didn't bat his eyes and seemed to be used to these kinds of absurd suggestions. He took it as a challenge. "Ok aapa, let's get it fixed. Tk 350 and not a paisa less." I gasped again! The salesman actually agreed to sell it off!
Shopping is definitely much more than just entertainment and getting new things for oneself and others. It's an art that not everyone can handle. Some are just gifted, I believe!
Jafrin Jahed Jiti VNC

Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2005