STAR DIARY

Empathy

Last week, when my car was stuck in traffic on the Kakrail road, I noticed two elderly men and a middle-aged man standing over the crossing in-between the two roads. I assumed that they were trying to cross over to the other side. As usual, none of the drivers of those vehicles being driven on that road were slowing down or paying attention to the fact that there were people trying to cross. I saw the middle-aged man manoeuvre himself very cautiously amongst passing cars and reach to the other side of the road. However, the two elderly were unable to follow the younger man as their health did not permit them to walk fast enough. As I was observing all this, the signal changed from red to green, and my car started moving away. Suddenly, I realised that the drivers of our country should be taught to practice empathy more often. Most of us lack this quality, i.e., we do not tend to put ourselves in other people's shoes and try to understand their point of view. These drivers should have asked themselves, "What if I were trying to cross the road? Would I have wished for the cars to slow down? When I grow old, would I have felt scared in such situations?" Once we start considering different perspectives and put ourselves in other people's shoes, I am sure that its benefit would not only reflect on our overall road-system but also throughout our country.

Rasmia Rahman Amreen

Gulshan, Dhaka

Friendship Never Dies

After graduating from Dhaka University (DU), one of my close friends Masud had joined a private bank for sometime and was posted in Dhaka. For sometime, we had lost contact and were not in touch. About a year back, another classmate and friend from DU informed me that both of Masud's kidneys were diagnosed to be damaged. The news came as a shock for his family and friends. Masud was brought up in a middle class family who hardly had the means for providing for his expensive treatment. Within a few days, his health detoriated and was put under dialysis, twice every week. It was a horrible experience for Masud. We, the Dhaka University friends, really wanted to do something for Masud and ensure his recovery. So, we decided to inform all of our friends about Masud's condition and appealed for financial help through facebook and over the phone. Friends from DU Political Science department wholeheartedly offered their generosity and helping hands. I, along with some other friends took the initiative and knocked all of our other friends to help save Masud. All of us were determined in our cause to support Masud financially. We approached our relatives and acquaintances too and collected a sum of money. We had overwhelming responses from our ex-classmates as well. Due to the non-stop efforts from our friends, we managed to collect a hefty sum of Tk. 4 lac 30 thousand. We handed over the money to Masud. He was elated, but not just for the money, also for the love we hold for him. We were pleased and thankful to the Almighty thinking that we had indeed stood by our friend in his troubled time. 

Masud is now a teacher of the MM College in Jessore. We hope and pray that after getting well, Masud will enlighten his students and the society again. 

Md Zonaed Emran

A Banker