Star Diary

Beaten Up!

The other day my friends and I were doing some window shopping at Bongo Bazaar which is said to be one of the busiest markets of Dhaka city. Although it was a weekday there were more people on the road rather than inside the market. Everything was going on as usual; shoppers were coming from both sides pushing against each other, when suddenly a young boy who overtook us by mistake and stepped on the foot of an overweight man. Before the boy could react or ask for an apology, the man started beating the lad so harshly as if the boy had committed a serious crime. For a moment we were surprised and shocked, and then we, along with some other people managed to stop the man. When we asked the reason for his behaviour, the reply was that he just wanted to teach young boys like us a lesson for disrespecting their elders and to teach us manners and discipline. Hearing this we could not believe our ears for lessons can be taught in a more polite and civilized manner. Beating, shouting and punishing is not the right way to go about it.

Rahim Abu Ali Sajwani
North South University
Dhaka

SWINDLERS!

Last week I went to the market to shop. I found some bags of new designs & styles. I wanted to buy some, but I had no idea what the prices were. The salesmen asked for Tk 1,000 for each. After bargaining for a minute or so, the price was fixed at Tk 600 and I bought it. Later, I came to know that the original price was about Tk 500. What a vast difference from the price he asked for! This upset me greatly because it made me realise how we customers are being swindled. Now that Eid is approaching, the salesmen are doing this even more. In my opinion, a reasonable price should be fixed for products at this time. This way valuable time wasted behind bargaining can be saved and swindling can be reduced.

Sarmin
EEE,RUET
Rajshahi

Women's Rights

A couple of days back, I was waiting at Manik Mia Avenue for a bus to take me to Uttara, when it started raining heavily. Fortunately, a Suchona bus soon arrived but almost full with passengers. Still it boarded more and everyone tried to get in to avoid the rain. I also got on the bus and found that all the seats were occupied. However, some of the reserved seats for women at the front were taken my some elderly men. Seeing me standing, first a young women reminded me of my right. Soon many other women and also young men who were standing joined in urging me to ask the elderly persons to get up and leave the seats. One man, trying to avoid further trouble got up and left his seat. I selfishly took up his place, and having established my right the people in the bus went quiet. Just then I noticed a woman in a shabby saree, probably belonging to the underprivileged class, sitting silently on the floor of the bus. Nobody bothered about getting her a seat, not even I. Perhaps for women's right you need the proper attire.

Sonia
Dhanmondi
Dhaka

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