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

<%-- Volume Number --%> Vol 1 Num 128 <%-- End Volume Number --%>

October 31, 2003

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Singled Out

My brother and I were going to New Market at about 7.30 p.m. When we were passing the Science Laboratory, we saw a hijacker doing his work on a gentleman. The hijacker was armed and was talking to the man in a pretty loud voice. “Dekhtasento hate ki ase, na chilla chille kore ja ase dea den!” (You can see what I have in my hand, give me what you have without screaming.) There were many people in the location where the incident was taking place but nobody came forward to help. Everyone pretended that nothing was happening. I wanted to go forward to help the poor man but my brother stopped me. He said that the person may have accomplices around and I could do little single-handedly. Now my question is if we are not there to help our fellow countrymen in their time of need, what sort of a society are we living in? If we have unity, we can break any block in our path. Until we have unity and stand up for each other, we will all be alone and will always be victimised.

Zillu Rahman, Dhaka


The Graveyard of Salman Shah

On my first visit to Sylhet I went to Darga for my jumma prayers. I was quite astonished to see the Big Darga Sharif. It was spectacular. I later came to know that there was also the mazar of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) there along with a graveyard. So after saying my namaz I went to graveyard to offer prayer from my brother in law's relative. After the munajat we were returning from the graveyard when my brother-in-law pointed out the graveyard of our great actor Salman Shah. I was quite astonished to see that there were many people standing there but no one was offering any munajat. The people were probably thinking what it would be like if he had been alive today. Whatever they were doing, they were not paying any respect for such a popular celebrity of our country. I guess people are loosing their touch when it comes to offering blessings.

Hifzur Rahman, Dhaka


Public meeting and traffic jam

One great thing done during the last regime was to ban holding public meeting on the streets. I have always felt that this great achievement has never really got its due recognition, but those, who have to spend a good portion of time daily on Dhaka streets, know that this was as monumental an achievement as that of climbing Mount Everest. Now that meetings are held in the Paltan Maidan, our streets have been exonerated to a great extent, but not absolutely. A public meting, particularly when called by BNP or AL, draws thousands. If a meeting starts at 3 pm, people start gathering in the meeting place from as early as 12 pm or 1 pm and if the meeting ends at 6pm it takes another 3 hours for that rush to be cleared up. So, for the six hours, thousands of meeting-comers on hundreds of trucks and buses turn Dhaka streets impossible to commute. You know how it feels to be on the streets when a meeting is on. But this problem can be eased out sill if the political parties reach a consensus to hold meetings on Fridays or on holidays.

Ripon, Gopibagh

 
         

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