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Saturday, January 14, 2012

Game of Gambling?

Game or Gambling?
Ashim Kumar Paul


Modern city life is often deemed synonymous to an epicentre of stress, arising from work-place to family hub that often leaves its dwellers shattered, depressed, drab and sluggish. Boredom, frustration and lethargy, in the wake of extreme working pressure and stress, swallow their mettle and mental composure. Besides, the children hardly find any play ground to exercise their physical potentiality and to relieve themselves of the heavy study load and mental strains generated from their education institutions, private tuitions, their guardian’s close watch and unremitting expectations. In this regard, a park, specially
arranged so that people can walk there for pleasure or children can play, bags a lot of significance. However, most of the parks have unfortunately become a heaven for gamblers, dodging the eyes of law enforcement agencies even in broad daylight!

A few months ago, two of my friends and I had gone to the Suhrawardy Udyan in a declining afternoon to enjoy our spare time. While strolling in the park, we saw some people flocking around beside a narrow path in the park. Being curious, when we approached there, we found that a game was going on. Three cans of energy drinks had been arranged in a row and for TK 10 a person could take part in the round once. The person who could hit the cans from a fixed distance with a tennis ball would be given the cans. Being enticed, many people were found much enthusiastic to participate. However,
what struck me most was that some teenagers and children had been induced into the gamble. I wonder how our young people are enticed and led to the drain of such vile game but exasperatingly enough, no one cares about the despicable bustle.

A park is a public place, where safety must be ensured. The exquisiteness and charm of a park should not be polluted. Besides, such activity will encourage other illegal ventures and this type of immoral going-on in the name of game should be forbidden. Otherwise, our children might get caught in the web of gambling.
Internet Edition:Game or Gambling?

Friday, January 13, 2012

Costly Gifts

Costly Gifts

A couple of days ago, I received a message on my mobile phone from my telecom operator. I was informed that since I was an elite subscriber of that operator, some special gifts – MMS, SMS, talk time and free internet data – were being offered. To receive their gifts, I had to activate the offer by 31st of December and I would have to utilise all those items within seven days of the activation date.

I followed their instructions to activate and pick up their gifts before the 31st of December. Among the gifts, what I needed the most was internet data as I frequently use internet on my mobile phone. To my utter disappointment, I could not get access to the free internet data. I dialed their customer care hotline to get help. After a long conversation, the hotline administrator assured me that within 24 hours, I could browse the internet with the free offer. I got a text message saying I can now use the free amount of internet data, but I was let down again when I tried to use it.

Two days before the expiry of the offer, I again made a call to the helpline to submit my complaint. The internet expert team manager made me wait for a very long time to verify the information, and later, confirmed that the technical hitch had been fixed. However, I was disappointed again. Exasperated, I rang them up again. This time, another executive performed a time-consuming inspection and comforted me with empty promises. But my problem was yet to be resolved and finally, I gave up all hopes of using the free offers.

Even though I couldn't enjoy the free offers, I had to pay surplus money for calling their indelible customer service. Should mobile operators exploit their much valued customers in this way?

Ashim Kumar Paul
Government Edward College
Pabna

Internet Edition:Costly Gifts