Dhaka Diary

Flicker of hope
ON August 21, 2005, my aunt was making her way towards home by the Awami League public meeting. All of a sudden, a bomb went off. My aunt was so shocked that she could hardly move. There was chaos everywhere and she didn't know what to do. Suddenly, a group of university students came towards her and immediately shielded her from the stampede and the chaos. They asked her where she wanted to go and arranged for a rickshaw for her. The rickshaw-walla would not go anywhere, but then agreed when the students became agitated. It seems that there were many such students and young people who helped a lot of people especially women who had lost their sense of direction during the bomb blast. It's very encouraging to learn that there is still a flicker of decency amongst the younger generation in our country.

Jafrin Jahed Jiti
VNC

An Umbrella as a parachute
RECENTLY, a TV commercial promoting a milk powder caught my attention day. It shows a boy and a girl becoming exceptionally strong after drinking the milk. They become so energetic that the little boy gets hold of an umbrella, stuck high on a tree branch. He gets hold of the umbrella and uses it as a parachute to float down from that height. I found it to be extremely funny. But what if this commercial makes 6 and 7 year olds pick up umbrella and float down from the roof top of their houses?
Sk. Imran Aziz
Maghbazar

A weird encounter
RETURNING home to Baily Road from class in Dhanmandi, I was in a CNG reading a book and thinking about the uncertainties of life when suddenly a middle-aged fellow came up to me as the CNG slowed down in traffic. "Brother", he said. "Can you give me a lift? I am in need of help and lost my way after coming from Brahmanbaria." I ignored the fellow, concentrating on my book not looking at the man. I kept wondering, at the fellow's unique style in trying to get on the CNG. It was weird. He kept waving his small plastic bag that he had with him, pleading to me to keep it in return for taking him along! I wanted to say, "Get lost bozo", as I was getting a little nervous, but kept mum. I was really amazed at the man's guts, pleading like that, thinking me to be anybody and expecting him to tag along with me. Well, I couldn't let him do it just because he happened to come from the village and needed help. I breathed a sigh of relief, when finally the man moved on, probably in search of some other CNG.
Mushfek
New Baily Road

Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2005