Childhood Overshadowed by Responsibilities

Photo: Zahedul I Khan

I used to regularly have tea and light snacks at a nearby restaurant near my office.  Recently, I noticed a small child serving the customers visiting the restaurant. He worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk with a solemn, lonely expression on his face. On one such visit to the restaurant, I struck a conversation with the boy, asking his name. His name was Rabbi and he came from Fatikchori in Chittagong in search for a living. I asked him to tell me more about himself. He is the eldest of three sibling and had to leave school after class three, as his father had left them and he was entrusted with the family's responsibilities. I asked him whether he wished to return to school. He nodded his head but added that it was more important for him to support his family instead of going to school at the moment. I asked whether he missed his mother. His eyes became watery at this query and I could see a sense of deep frustration in his eyes. I felt sorry for the poor mother, who had to send the boy far away from her so that the family could sustain itself. Poverty can spoil the innocent dreams of a young mind. There are a large number of boys like Rabbi who are deprived of love and affection, as they are forced to leave everything to help their family live through the days. These children are losing their childhood, they are being deprived of a proper education, their dreams are being wasted. I am sure the state and rich benefactors can do something for these young children, who have to live away from the love of their parents to earn a living.
Md Azam Khan
Uttara Bank Ltd
Birinchi Branch, Feni

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Proper Measurements Required at CNG Stations

I have been using a car for the last couple of years that is fuelled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The cost of refilling the gas cylinder in the car is around Tk 320 at Tk 30 per cubic meter. However, I recently noticed that it required Tk 364 to Tk 405 to fill the cylinder. My gas cylinder has not been changed; it capacity also remains the same.
I do not understand how it takes more money to fill the gas cylinder? I have every reason to believe that the measuring meters of the filling stations do not display the proper readings. The meters need to be verified by the BSTI. I would therefore like to request BSTI to verify all dispensers of the CNG re-filling stations and impose the highest financial fine as per law to those stations that are cheating consumers.
Md Ashraf Hossain
Central Bashabo, Dhaka