MAILBOX

Cyber safety for children

This is in reference to a write-up titled "How safe is your child online?" on February 16 in the Star Weekend. I think the write-up touched upon all the hazards growing children are exposed to when they venture into the internet. However, the point I would like to re-emphasise, as was stated in the write-up, is the massive role that parents and teachers play in this regard. The internet is a powerful tool that can be immensely dangerous in the wrong hands. Therefore, curriculum in schools must educate the youth about safe internet browsing habits. Teachers and parents need to have open conversations with children about the internet. Moreover, our government needs to establish policies that create a culture of safe cyber browsing. Lastly, those who do not abide by these laws must be dealt with harshly. Negligence begets negligence, and we cannot overlook this issue any longer.

Rahat Arnab

Jessore

(L-R) Dr Shamima K Choudhury, Dr Rubhana Raqib, Dr Zeba Islam Seraj, Dr Haseena Khan and Dr Firdausi Qadri

Women scientists

I was glad to read the spotlight of Star Weekend's issue which was published on February 16. There are so many brilliant women in our country and yet they don't often get the recognition that they deserve. In that regard, I personally thought that the story entitled 'Against the Odds' was much-needed. The one aspect regarding the story that deeply touched me was the amount of sacrifice that the women had to make in order to reach their respective goals. Balancing both a career and work at home is difficult for any woman. But to constantly stay at labs for testing and missing out on crucial family moments is something else on the whole. When I talk to most of my friends, a majority of them—including me—think about different ways of how we can reach the ultimate 'comfort zone' in life. Not many of us want to step out of the box and take that difficult route which is bound to give us success. However, reading the story last week made me realise that if someone actually wants something and is desperate, nothing can stop that person. The lives of the women scientists featured in the last issue encouraged me, and I am sure many others, to step out of the box and do something worthwhile instead of letting the traditional norms of life dictate us.

Nafiza Hossain

Baridhara, Dhaka