Dhaka Diary

To Stare or not to Stare
Farmgate is an extremely busy area. Some days back, I was passing in front of the Ananda Cinema Hall on top of which a large TV screen has been built. My favourite commercial was being shown and I could not help but stare at the screen without paying much attention to the road ahead. I was lost in my thoughts when suddenly, bus tires screeched to a halt right behind me. I noticed then that I had been absentmindedly standing in the middle of the road. I quickly moved aside, ashamed at myself for being so careless. Then I thought to myself, I am an adult and this television was quick to distract me so what about little children who go to schools around this area? What if they notice a cartoon or wrestling going on and stand for a minute to look? What will happen if one of these reckless buses hit them and drive off? The roads are not our drawing rooms. They are meant for travelling. Something should be done about this television screen as it's not only dangerous, but also an entertainment for loafers who have nothing better to do.

Delara Sayed Shikta, Gazipur

What Foreigners Think of Us
I was passing through Panthapath some time back when I noticed a mob gathered there and later found a foreigner to be the source of all the commotion. The foreigner happened to be a lady and she was the object of everyone's fascination. I came to know that she was a German tourist and a part of her visit to the sub-continent included Dhaka. I gradually became a guide for her and took her on a trek of some important historic places such as Curzon Hall, Kala Bhaban and Lalbag Fort. Later, we had a long talk on Dhaka University campus. She was an open person and I got to know a lot of things about her. Soon it was late and she had to go back to her hotel at Shiddeshori road. I was worried whether she would be able to return to her hotel safely as she only had the help of a city map and nothing else. I insisted that I take her back to her hotel and got on board our ride with her. As we came to her hotel and I was bidding farewell she took out her purse and offered me a Tk.100 note for my hospitality. I was amazed and bluntly refused. I returned to my hall thinking of what foreigners really think about us. Now, whenever I see a foreigner on the road, I look away.

Tawhidur Rahman, Nazrul Islam Hall, BUET

Honesty is the Best Policy
The other day, while my sister was returning from her private tutor's house, she had 500 taka with her, which she forgot to give to her teacher. Suddenly the money fell from her bag into the rickshaw and she was fully ignorant about it. She came home and then realised what she had lost but nothing could be done then. After half an hour, the rickshawpuller returned to our residence and gave her the Tk.500 note. She couldn't believe her eyes. The man also advised her to be more careful with her money as not many people would return things that they find. The rickshawpuller need not have returned the money as no one would ever have suspected him of finding it but he showed us that there is still honesty in our country, even if it is the most corrupt country in the world. He could have done a lot with this money but he refrained from such dishonesty even among the numerous dishonest people in our country. Such people still act as a ray of hope in our immoral and decaying society.

Farhana Tahsin, Dept of English, Dhaka University