MAILBOX

A visual (Af)fair
The cover story about Chobimela was very encouraging for an aspiring photographer like me. Now in its eighth year, Chobimela has become a platform for talented photographers of the world to showcase their works. It is a great achievement for our country. I hope Chobimela will grow into an even bigger international event and draw the attention from more photographers from around the globe. I want to thank the writer for such a visually-rich feature.
Jesmine Akter
Baridhara, Dhaka

Democracy Vs Political Parties
According to the constitution, Bangladesh is a democratic country. But no political party exercises democracy within their parties. Politics seem to be determined by a handful of leaders who are corrupt and incompetent. There is no reflection of the sentiment of the common people in these parties. Democracy is not about holding an election every five years. It is about establishing the rule of law and creating equal opportunities for all. We hope that the leaders of the main political parties will keep that in mind and start a dialogue immediately. The country is burning. It is our country. Let us not destroy it. Let us build it together.  
Rahim Uddin
Uttra, Dhaka

Be respectful
In 2011 the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo defamed Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). I do not understand why they should insult someone's faith in the name of freedom of expression. The extremists took revenge by killing them. Islam does not support extremism.  The Quran tells us to "Be tolerant, command
what's right, and pay no attention to foolish people". But we hope the west will no more allow disrespecting religion in the name of freedom of expression. No magazine should agree to reprint the defamatory images of our beloved Prophet (PBUH).  
Md Israfil Hossen
Bijoy Ekattor Hall
University of Dhaka

Punish Them
I don't know who we should plead to.  Every day miscreants are burning people by throwing petrol bombs or Molotov cocktails in the name of expressing their democratic demands. Who has given them the licence to kill innocent people? Ordinary people do not care about politics. They want peace. We urge the law enforcing agencies to capture these criminals. We also beseech the learned judiciary to hand the highest punishment to these miscreants.
Shazzad Khan
Gulshan, Dhaka

The Quarter-life Crisis
I want to thank to the Star Magazine and the writer of the article entitled The Quarter-life Crisis [published on January 16, 2015] for addressing such an important and sensitive issue. Thousands of students graduate from universities ever year with high hopes about their future. But soon they find out that without powerful relatives or family money it is really difficult to make it in our country. Good academic results are not enough. I recently graduated from a university and I feel like a fish out of water. I don't have relatives who are rich and powerful. Sometimes I think about starting my own business. But I am worried about where I will get the money. There are many young people like me who are confused about how to get to the next level in their lives. I hope the job market will be more fair and transparent.
Shah Alam Rajin
Madhabdi, Narsingdi

Justice for All

Girls face discrimination and inequality worldwide in areas such as right to education/access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women and child marriage. There are many people in the society who treat their sons and daughters differently. They do not understand that girls are equally capable. When a girl does something wrong, parents say, 'You are a disgrace to our society.' However, if the same mistake is done by a boy, he is forgiven. Many families in our country consider girls to be a burden.  When a baby boy is born everyone celebrates the event. When a girl is born, the reaction is quite different. Some families consider it useless to invest in higher studies of women. Statistics show that the neglect continues as girls grow up. Young girls receive less food, healthcare and fewer vaccinations than boys. Their status does not improve much when they become women. Tradition calls for women to eat last, often reduced to picking over the leftovers from the men and boys of the family. Nine million more girls than boys miss out on school every year, according to UNICEF. While their brothers continue to go to classes or pursue their hobbies and play, the girls do the bulk of the housework. Education is the tool that can help break this pattern of gender discrimination and bring lasting change in developing countries. When we educate a boy, we educate a person. When we educate a woman, we educate a family. Countries and societies that have created equal opportunities for women are more developed economically than those that haven't.
Tasfia Afroz Muntaha
Mastermind School