STAR DIARY

Living in a Hostel

I have started staying in a hostel and I feel homesick quite often. Hostel life can be a real challenge for someone who never had the experience before. Here, you have to act differently from what you do in your home. Sometimes, I embarrass myself, sometimes I feel triumphant. To be comfortable in a hostel, you have to be very open-minded and see every event as a learning opportunity and acquire the experience as much as possible. You have to expect the unexpected, even if they are beyond the realm of your imagination. One of my friends, whose family lives in close proximity, took me to her place the other day. I felt as if I was in my own home. We spoke about everything and they cared about my safety, health, and feelings. I felt as if they are a family to me, away from my own home. I was worried and sad in the beginning, but now, I have started taking this as a learning opportunity.

Tarannum Jannat

Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka

Animal Brutality

The other day I was going to pick some fruits from our village garden when I saw a few people beating a newt mercilessly. I requested them to stop beating it and to let it go. They did not pay heed to my request and scolded me instead. Finally, they struck a fatal blow which instantly killed it. Once there was a time when our village garden was home to different species of animals. Many species have become extinct due to our ignorance. Now, the rest of the species are in the threat of extinction. Animals are important for the balance of the ecological system. But, sadly, everyday, thousands of animals are being killed, strangled, injured and repressed by ignorant people. They are not aware of the environmental issues, the consequences of it's degradation and why we need bio-diversity. So, the government, NGOs and the civil society should make an effort to create awareness amongst ignorant people regarding these issues.

Nazimuddin Patwary

Ramgonj, Lakshmipur