Dhaka Diary

Offensive gestures
A few weeks ago, police officials in Dhanmondi were looking for some wanted thugs who went about mugging and stealing cars in the area. As is the case with the rule of law here, a friend of mine was randomly picked up and sent to jail. When his father had gone to the local police station to pick him up and asked the officers the reason behind this sudden arrest, they said that they had asked my friend if he drove a car. In reply, he used his thumb to say no, shaking it the way some do here. Immediately he was taken in since this kind of a gesture is apparently offensive especially to the police officers. I wonder for how long we can let these egocentric law enforcers run about in the country harassing innocent people.
Raju
Dhaka

The tale of Power Failure
The examinees of SSC and HSC exams from Dhaka will never forget this year ever. They will never forget the experience of power failure during exams. However, the situation improved dramatically when the exams were just about to finish and the FIFA world cup began. Surprisingly, I didn't experience a single episode of power failure since the day of the 'kick-off'. I wonder where this ghostly massive supply of electricity is coming from now. Does it mean watching the world cup is much more important than the SSC and HSC exams in Dhaka?
Thanveer Hassan Jitu
Bokshibazar, Dhaka

Diary from Chittagong
A Teenage prisoner
The other day while I was checking a question paper in the office room of our coaching centre, a middle-aged gentleman came in. He wanted to admit his son, a ninth grader and was enquiring about the time schedule of the classes held and also about the teachers. The other teacher present there was answering his questions. At last he was satisfied about the teachers however, he could not find a suitable time as to when his son could come for extra coaching at the centre. It seems the child's daily routine was to go for private tuitions at 8 in the morning and then attend his school classes from 10 to 4, five days a week. He also went to another private tutor everyday from 7 to 9 pm. Even then his parents were thinking of using the time between school and the tutor to put him into a coaching centre! While leaving, the man was saying that young people nowadays are unwilling to study hard. “Parents need to create extra pressure on them to save their future from being doomed,” he said. I could not understand how the boy was alive under such type of torture and how bright his future would really be if instead of being a virtual prisoner he could enjoy his childhood as much as possible.
Tanin
CMC

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