MAILBOX
Repression of Rohingyas
It is with great pain that the whole world is watching the Arakan version of the Rwanda and Srebrenica massacres. Leading commentators, campaigners, politicians, Nobel Laureates and people of the world have been flabbergasted by the stance of the unofficial head of the Burmese government, de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, known worldwide as an icon of liberty and freedom.
Some view her inability to stop the genocide as actions crafted and executed by the Burmese military against her wishes. It is even more painful and upsetting that three major world powers–namely China, Russia and India–have been silent observers of the plight of Rohingyas and are not taking steps to resolve the on-going crisis. Hats off to Bangladesh for playing a crucial role in giving shelter, food and water to the desperate Rohingyas who have fled their homes and have nowhere else to go.
We urge world leaders and renowned international organisations such as the United Nations to make an effort stop this repression of Rohingyas immediately. Let humanity prevail above all.
Nuzhat Rifa Ehsan
Baridhara, Dhaka
An urge from a teacher
Our lifestyle changes with the demands of time but what about the values and principles that determine one's personality? Do they belong to any particular era? Are they also changeable? Always speak the truth, respect your elders, do not quarrel with anyone and be kind in your life–are these pieces of advice no longer applicable in this competitive world?
As a teacher, I strongly feel that children are victims of the rapid changes around us. Modern lifestyle has left them with no other option but to construct their own world with lifeless gadgets. This creates a huge obstacle in their emotional development. Children nowadays remain glued to their gadgets most of the time. Visiting relatives with their parents seems boring to them. Traditional parent-child interaction–listening to stories by their parents, answering their many questions–is also declining and may possibly be weakening these bonds.
As adults, we should be teaching values through our actions such as being kind to those in hardship such as the beggars you see on the street or the rickshaw puller taking you from one place to another. We need to point out the wrong in being dismissive or rude to these people and emphasize the difficulties of hard labour and living without a roof over your head. Gadgets cannot help our children identify right and wrong. It is our guidance from which they will learn.
Rukhsana Ahmed
Shyamoli, Dhaka
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