The week in re(ar)view

Biman mismanagement to become privately executed
The Council of Advisers on 19 May approved some steps to turn Biman Bangladesh Airlines into a Public Limited Company (PLC) by June. What this means is that when engines falls off you can actually sue the airlines and even hope to get some money. Maybe the engines will not fall off in the first place. Maybe they will use better quality glue to keep the machines stuck in place.

The national flag carrier now has a 4,800-strong manpower. Let's hope when it becomes privatized it will have as many passengers. Expect a lot of jobs to be chopped.

According to the government plan, Biman will have shares offloaded to the private sector once the company becomes profitable.

A load of bull
Bulls run into china shops to wreak havoc. They also run into airports wanting to do the same. They figure they can smash the fragile planes just as well. It's not farfetched when you consider the bull in question entered Zia International Airport runway on 19 May. It provided much needed exercise for some 22 security personnel as they ran after it for around two hours.

That is an entire year's worth of workout. The airport authorities have been asked to look into the matter. Everyone is wondering how a bull could get in without a security pass.

Some more animal news
Too many animals crammed at Dulahajra sanctuary in Cox's Bazar has led to severe food crisis. Around 250 more animals were added to the park since January this year but they are all going hungry. Our solution: turn the safari park to a restaurant. Feed the h8ingry people instead. After all, we are on the top of the food chain.

Dulahazra Park was already home to 4,000 animals of 165 species. That should make for a varied menu.

The park authorities claimed that around Tk 2 lakh out of the monthly allocation of Tk 3.3 lakh is being spent on the 13 elephants. Heck, they eat a lot. No wonder when they let it out, that's is a big lump too. Wonder where that goes.

Money down the electric line
The country's costliest power project - $120 million 70 megawatt third phase Mymensingh power plant of Rural Power Company Ltd (RPCL) -- has finally started test operation two years behind schedule. We wait to see what really happens.

A top official believes that the project could have been implemented with $90 to 95 million at the maximum. We figure it could have be reduced to less than a million. Simply provide pedal power to the citizens.

No more trading of residential areas
Government will not issue any new trade licences against addresses in Dhaka's residential areas. No more shops, boutiques, hospitals, schools, universities, malls and small countries can spring up. Of course, they could always change the residential status to that of commercial.

The meeting also decided to remove all billboards that are hazardous to Dhaka city dwellers. People are having neck problems from looking up so much. Sadly, in this city without trees, billboards offer the only shade.

Headline of the week
Interesting headline on May 16, “Held robber killed in Rab 'crossfire'”. If they are held and shot, usually, it's a process called 'execution'. Others might call it killing, slaughtering or murdering. The suspected robber was arrested after he allegedly shot a top Rab official.

By Gokhra and Mood Dude

Hey, we are not saying girls like this don't exist (the aforementioned article proved they do). We are just trying to remind you of a much larger portion of our female race, those of us who are intelligent, independent, and self respecting.

And here is what we intelligent, independent, and self respecting women think about all the stuff in that article, things that we definitely CAN do without:-

5. Make-up and Accessories: How many of us actually go to class looking like painted dolls with a “hot” pink Moto-razor and a rat (while trying to pass it off as a carbon copy of Paris Hilton's dog)? Far fewer than those who actually go to the class with the intention of learning something, we assure you.

4. Gossip: FYI, most of us actually have lives of our own and don't need to discuss those of others. Those clueless, zero intelligence life forms who do indulge in that dumb activity, probably have too much time on their hands.

3. Beauty Salons: Oh sure. We just CANNOT live without spending bucketfuls of cash on having everything from the fridge mashed and slopped onto our faces. Excuse us while we laugh.

2. Showing off: Armani bangles? That's just sad and not believable at all. Not even a zero intelligence life form would try to show off about that! Besides, showing off is a completely unisex trait, that's why we have so many Bollywood actors and actresses.

1. Boys: As mentioned before, a certain category of mentally challenged individuals assume that they survive in purpose to “attract the wondering eye of the significant other”, which means guys who will hit on anything female that moves. In Our case, we have better things to do, and we don't think all guys are really that shallow.

We would have been seriously insulted by the write up “5 Things Girls Can't Do Without”. Luckily for the writer, we have a sense of humor and can generously appreciate the works of others. In fact, we think the writer should definitely get an award; it's not everyday you come up with an article that has more contradictory, self-humiliating fumbles than George Bush's speeches!

By Shuprova & Tusha

RS Mailbx

I was shocked and dismayed to find an article like "5 Things Girls Can't Do Without" in a magazine like RS. If a girl herself portrays females as shallow, malicious and attention-seeking desperate individuals then what hope is there of women/girls ever being seen as equals in society. We all need to stop stereotyping. Not all girls who wear make-up are pretty and there are plenty of girls who don't wear make-up but are very pretty. Also every girl has the right to look good without people assuming she is doing it to attract male attention. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would appreciate it if RS didn't print articles that belittle women.
Fatima

Although I desperately wanted to disagree and lash back at last weeks article "5 Things Girls Can't Do Without", I also can't help but agree. The article generalized but generally many girls do spend a large portion of their time engrossed in the topics mentioned.
Samreen

Is it fair on clinically dead patients to be kept alive using life support?

Nafisa (16, Scholastica): It might sound really insensitive but practically speaking, clinically dead people should be allowed to pass on because the amount of money and resources spent on life support can be utilized in better ways.

Samarah (15, Scholastica): I never appreciated life support. Mostly because trying to keep dead people alive simply hurts them more. Not only is it too expensive but I am sure most people would not want to be 'artificially alive'.

Ahmed (16, Scholastica): No, being kept alive using life support is worse than being dead. If a person requests to be kept alive beforehand or in some sort of document, there is nothing to be done. I, for one, do not want to be kept alive by a machine when I am already 'technically' dead.

Arka (15, Scholastica): Yes, but for a short time. Sometimes, if given time, clinically dead people DO come back to the world of the living, and they should be given a chance at life.

M. Dayan: I do not support it because I consider this a torture for the patient.

Ruha (15, Scholastica): I don't think it's fair. It's like keeping them artificially alive for someone else's satisfaction. They are almost dead so what's the difference in keeping them in a hospital room or a grave?

Huma (16, Scholastica): It's not fair. What's the point of prolonging their death and increasing their pain?

Rubayet (16, Scholastica): NO, if you're clinically dead it means you're brain dead. Even if they can cure your sickness you will still have no sense of anything happening around you.

Safwan (16, Scholastica): Nothing is worse than the pain when you know that your loved one is artificially alive and in pain. I believe a person should die once and be allowed to die in peace.

Compiled by Shehtaz Huq

The chart topping hits this week

Ungerground
1. Boka Manushta- Sumon & Aurthohin-2
2. Shopnochura-3- Mixed album by Tony
3. Live Now- Mixed album by Ershad
4. Shorjo Dibosh- Striking
5. Adhare Apshori

Overall
1. Shurje Badhi Basha- Krishno Koly
2. Notun kore pabo bole - Shahana
3. Din Bari Jae- Bappa Mojubdar
4. Ichchhe- Tahsan
5. Hok Kolorob- Arnob
6. Shono- Habib
7. Bujhchho?!!- Prayer Hall
8. Boka Manushta- Sumon & Aurthohin-2
9. Faissa Gechhi- Hyder Husyn
10. Adhare Apshori

Source: Piano, Sings, Ghuri.
By Sami, Shovon.
Courtesy: www.tunesbd.com

Standing still as time crawls by
Hands pass over, guided by a weary eye.
A flaming red insignia on a silk black cloak;
Shown as he prays solemnly for some poor old bloke.

Clutching the brown rosary close to his chest,
A hundred beads passed signifies a wish at it's best.
Words of faith are imparted with;
In the hope that sorrow and scarcity,
will transcend to myth.

Through selfless interest Nirvana may be reached;
Only then will all sins of Pandora's box be retrieved.
By Mahera Inaya Kamal

Death of a Willow

Etched against a blue willow a lone willow stands;
Disfigured branches reaching out like an old man's hands.
Her death is approaching, inevitably near,
Her leaves had left her in fear.
She had observed the cruel world for years,
She had seen men shed blood and tears.
But now her time was coming to an end,
She could see them now, and she knew, it was her soul they wanted to rend.
With a twist and groan to the earth she falls,
Far away a crow calls.
Her corpse lay motionless on the ground,
Just one last creak of the branches, after that not another sound.
By Fariha Rashna Hoque