Star Diary

Wasted Talent

The other day while I was going to work by bus, every thing was going as it usually goes in Dhaka city; the bus got stuck in a jam. After a few seconds mobile hawkers started getting onto the bus to sell their products. But hardly anyone could make a sell, as it was in the early hours of the day. As the bus started to move, a young hawker, who was probably not more then thirteen got onto the bus and started taking deep breaths. I was shocked once the boy began to speak at the speed of an express train! He was advertising the product that he was assigned to sell and he sounded just like a professional. He not only drew my attention but the other passengers took notice of him as well and were listening to him. The boy also managed to sell some of his products! After he left I realised that if he had been educated, he would have had the opportunity to nurture his talent much more. Surely, he was a marketing whiz, the kind of people that are always looked out for by the multinationals in Bangladesh today. This also makes me think that there are so many talented teenagers out there who are very gifted but roaming the streets aimlessly, since there is no one who can help them express themselves and provide them with opportunity.

Laila Abuali
Shantinagar
Dhaka

The other day while walking on the streets, I saw an old man selling birds to people who had stopped their cars as the lights went red. As I went nearer, I saw some beautiful birds all caged up together. Amongst them, two doves caught my eye. They were desperately trying to escape from the cage. After a month, my sick grandmother was asked by the doctor to stay at home for at least two months, as a part of her treatment. While she was at home, I would watch her, literally getting restless to get out of home. Suddenly one day, she announced that she wouldn't be able to live this way, all cooped up inside. That was when I remembered the doves trying hard to get out of the cage. Freedom is something, which is priceless and precious to any living being. We have no right to take it away for our own comfort and entertainment.

Mohammed Kamrul Islam Mishu Kutubi
International Islamic University
Chittagong

CNG Hazard

During my Higher Secondary Exams, I had to take a CNG-run auto rickshaw to my exam centre, since there was no bus route to take me there. Every morning, it would become a very difficult process to get an auto rickshaw. And finally after getting hold of one, the driver would waste another 10 minutes or so arguing with the payment. They do not follow the metre at all. Why then, was the metre system installed in the first place? To make matters worse, sometimes empty CNG-run auto rickshaws simply loitering around do not want to take you to the desired destination. Finally if you do get a driver to agree, he will charge 10 or 20 takas more than the metre rate. This is not possible for students like us. I know that the drivers are poor but rules and regulations cannot be played with because of this. This matter should be taken care of before regular commuters lose their patience.

Tahmidul Islam
BAF Shaheen College
Dhaka

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