MAILBOX

PHOTO: COURTESY PDF

Helping Others
This inspiring story has reaffirmed my faith in the younger generation of our country. The youth has always led the nation whenever the nation needed them. The language movement of 1952, our liberation war of 1971 and the mass movement of the '90s have one thing in common: they all had students as vanguards. The fact that these brave young students engage themselves in helping others while they could very well spend their spare time dating or playing on computers says a lot about their character.  The younger generation is often described by the elders of the society as suffering from 'moral degradation'. Many people also complain that the youths do not care about others. I hope this article will clear out some of the misconceptions about young people  in our country.
Anusha Haq
Gulshan, Dhaka
***
The article would inspire a lot of young people to help others in need. That the selfless youth organisations are trying to help the helpless and the underprivileged in multiple ways is a lesson for many self-centred people in our society.
Shamima Tasnim
Via Email.

Fight the Doze Devil
Whenever I had an exam, my mind split into two the night before. My lazy mind would tell me to lie on my bed and take a “short break”, while my hardworking mind would tell me to continue reading because I don't have much time left. So I developed some “weapons'' to battle this problem. First, I would drink a cup of coffee and I would drink it in small sips with intervals in between. Then I would wash my face with a blast of cold water. If I still felt dozy, I would do some push ups and the sit ups, which also helped me stay in shape. If none of the above worked, I would apply my ultimate weapon-the Chinese Wind Oil under my nose.  Its spicy minty aroma was   sure to keep me awake. But I will have to admit I was impressed by the innovative thinking of the Chinese student as described by the writer of this hilarious essay.
Mushtaq Ahmed
Dhanmondi, Dhaka

Communalism
The Origins of Communalism [Jan 24, 2013] sheds light on some important issues about communalism in this country. Bangladesh is constitutionally a secular state. It means that religion is a private matter and the state has nothing to do with it. So the job of the government and the citizens is to ensure that no one is discriminated against or tortured for his or her religious beliefs.
Nazma Sultana
MA (Final Year)
University of Dhaka

Photo: Prabir Das

Shedding the Cloak of Invisibility
The writer's lyrical account on the plight of Birangonas has deeply moved many readers including me. Our nation as a whole should feel ashamed for showing disregard to the freedom fighters for their sacrifice in the liberation war. Now, it is the responsibility of the government and the citizens to show them the proper respect. I believe that the High Court's order to acknowledge the sacrifice of the female fighters would help to place them in an honourable position in the society.
Sanjib
Banani,Dhaka  

Suchitra Sen in my boyhood        
I loved Chintito's article published on Jan 24, 2013 because it was about my most favourite actress of all time: Suchitra Sen. While growing up, one day I came across a book containing black and white pictures of the legendary actress. I did not know who she was. In my eyes she looked like my elder sister. Years leter in 1985, I watched 'Sagorika' and saw Suchitra Sen's acting for the first time. I have been a fan ever since. I was sad to see she passed her last days on earth in isolation-far from the glamorous world of cinema. Perhaps Chintito is right. “A person is in the end a lonely planet.”
Ratan Basak
Suruj, Tangail

FM culture
Although FM (frequency modulation) radio is getting wide popularity with the young generation in our country day by day, none of the stations offers  any programmes catering to the mass people. It seems that the target groups of all the seven FM radio stations currently operational in the country are the upper class urban population. Most of them play band music, Hindi and English songs. And the way the radio jockeys speak is also troubling: they pronounce Bangla words with a really bad English accent. The FM channels should play folk songs, Nazrul Geeti, Rabindra Sangeet and Lalon Geeti that have followers among both rural and urban population. Also, they have a responsibility to sensitise people on socio-economic and political issues.
Md Zonaed Emran
Treasury Dept
Janata Bank ltd

What kind of humanity?
Recently in Rajshahi, I witnessed an incident where school children were used to welcome a VIP. I was shocked to see little children standing in the sun for hours to greet a VIP even after the government has banned such practices.  Sometimes these children are hungry and tired and it breaks my heart to see that they have no one to complain to.    These young children go to school to learn, not to stand for hours with little flags and flowers in their hands to please some political leader or government official.  This is torture that children do not deserve. If the government is sincere about the ban, it should punish schools that do not comply with the government's order.  
Md Kaiyum Hasan
Goalundo, Rajbari