On the Eve of Pahela Baishakh

On the Eve of Pahela Baishakh

Ashim Kumar Paul

THE culture and heritage of Bangladesh have a long tradition in the social, economic and above all national context. They represent the bond that touches every heart of its people. Among the local and national festivities, Pahela Baishakh curves out its idiosyncratic sketch in the lives of the people of the country. In other words, Pahela Baishakh every year adds new colour, taste, fervour and inspiration to lead our life with renewed spirit.

However, it is noticeable that Pahela Baishakh is observed in Bangladesh with much more enthusiasm than any other national festival. Truly, it is a festival of the people from all walks of life. People of different religions, caste, culture, age, and political belief welcome the new day of the first month of Bangla year. Wearing new dresses and having Panta-Ilish, a traditional food of the country, are the age-old traditions of the day.

To make the day memorable as well as delightful, different social and cultural organisations feature various colourful events like Baishakhi Mela, cultural sessions and morning rallies. Of them, Baishakhi Mela is the embodiment of a social as well as cultural throng where different types of local and national traditional programmes like puppet show, nagordola etc are displayed.

Besides, Pahela Baishakh to the common people comes with a different kind of significance. The day epitomises the strong unity, warm brotherhood and above all a patriotic sense of love for their own culture and heritage. It is often argued that the young minds are now more inclined towards the western culture through the aggression of satellite culture, virtual web etc., and that they are showing a lack of interest in their own culture, tradition and heritage. But such notions do not often tell the whole truth. Those who raise these objections are perhaps not familiar with the festive mood of the national festivals, celebrated earnestly by the young generation.

Pahela Baishakh comes back to remove the debris of the past year, and to welcome all that is pure. As the day is a symbol of our national unity, amalgamation of our young minds and a display of our cultural heritage, the progress of our country cannot be far away from the desired goal. In fact, the appeal of Pahela Baishakh goes across the country with the renewed pledge to say goodbye to poverty, corruption and fundamentalism.

Please click the following link to view its internet edition: http://thedailystar.net/campus/2010/04/03/feature_baishakh.htm

Fake Cellular Phones

Fake Cellular Phones

In Bangladesh, the mobile phone operators with their ceaseless efforts are toiling to bring the people under the umbrella of advanced communication technology. Along with the mobile phone operators, the world's top class cellular phone manufacturers, providing latest features through their products have successfully been able to create a niche market in Bangladesh.

But according to the news, the markets have outrageously been overstocked with fake cellular phones! A group of importers are involved in bringing fake phones to Bangladesh from China and other countries where the products of some leading mobile phone companies are manufactured. Since these devices are packed with many lucrative features and come in cheap prices and have fake warranty cards, many people are willing to purchase them. However, within a few months, these counterfeit phones begin to come apart. What is more upsetting is that not only are people being duped, but the government is also losing huge revenue and taxes on these items.

The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers glued to these cellular phones, which are used to prevent from the theft and mugging, are also fake. As a result, the consumers are also deprived of hi-tech security. It is, thus, well expected from the BTRC to keep a lookout for these corrupt importers to secure the rights of consumers and the revenue of the government.

Ashim Kumar Paul
Government Edward College
Pabna

Click the following link to view the original look: http://thedailystar.net/magazine/2011/04/05/letters.htm

In need is Indeed

In need is Indeed

With the advent, development and implementation of information technology in the banking system, it is now a matter of few seconds to withdraw money if a person has an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) card. Along with the success of the ATM card, many, like me, undergo some undesirable troubles in extracting money from the booth in some bleak moments that eclipse the growing status of this crucial facility.

It was mid-December when my friends invited me to join a recreational excursion in Bandarban, St. Martin and Cox's Bazar. As an ATM card holder of a reputed private bank, I decided to load the expenditures on my ATM card for safe transfer.

Following a dreary journey, I arrived at my friend's dormitory in Dhaka University where the rest of my friends gathered to set off. Since there was no ATM cash point in the hill tract district Bandarban and the coral island St. Martin, I decided to withdraw cash from my ATM card. Before the beginning of our journey to Bandarban via road transport, one of my friends and I watched out for an ATM booth. Within walking distance from the bus station, we found our looked-for cash booth. But we were unfortunate, as we were unable to withdraw our cash due to network-jam. Since there was no cash point nearby, we were, tragically, in a real quandary over the difficulty. Fortunately, other friends retained their money with them and we could ward off some probable hurdles during our tour. If money cannot be withdrawn in needed time, why do the authorities of the banks pledge their support for withdrawing money any time around 24 hours?

Ashim Kumar Paul
Government Edward College, Pabna

Click the given link to view its internet edition: http://thedailystar.net/magazine/2011/05/01/diary.htm

 

Unfair Fare

Unfair Fare

Photo: Zahedul I Khan

Riding vehicles often creates some bitter or repellent experiences especially if you are on the move via public transport. I too had to confront such a repulsive experience a few months ago. My masi (aunty) and I went to Dhaka via rail-transport with a view to visit her son who is a residential college student in Dhaka.

After stepping out of the railway station, I was looking for a CNG-run autorickshaw at its premises. I congratulated myself on being fortunate enough to catch one within a short moment. But the triumphant feeling did not take much time to be evaporated when we reached our destination. When I paid off the fare that appeared on the metre, the driver insisted on receiving an extra twenty taka from me. The more I reminded him of the rules and regulations ordained by the government lately, the more he became adamant in demanding additional pence and also began to jeer at and curse upon the decision of the government! He even threatened about getting no single CNG-run auto-rickshaw on the street in the coming days if we do not swallow up their deserving exigency. Compelled and embarrassed, I had to pay him what he demanded.

While our legislators are trying to abate the sufferings and harassment of the city-dwellers on streets, this type of mischievous CNG-run cab and auto-rickshaw drivers are, on the other side, found busy inventing new ways of bullying, compelling the passengers to meet their unlawful demand and blocking the transportation privileges as well!

Ashim Kumar Paul
Government Edward College
Pabna

Please click the given link to see its first appearance: http://thedailystar.net/magazine/2011/04/04/dhaka.htm

No More Tears!

No More Tears!

Photo: star File

With high expectation and great optimism, Bangladeshi cricket fans dreamt of the success of the Bangladeshi cricket team in the grand ICC Cricket World Cup tournament. But their exit from the group stage shattered the dreams, broke the hearts, and caused the stream of tears. Like all the fans, my heart was also cracked with sting and despair. But a flow of deliberation geared me up for being hopeful and proud as well!

Along with two other Asian cricket giants: India and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh boasted of hosting eight matches with organising the magnificent opening ceremony of the Cricket World Cup on its home-ground. It was a great opportunity for Bangladesh to uphold its culture and tradition before the world and we did it. Thus, displaying the picturesque illustration of our culture, heritage and traditional values arrested the appreciation of the viewers around the globe. Similarly, the beefed up security measures also made the event comfortable and secured.

Despite the disgraceful defeats, Tigers won against England, one of the trophy winning expectant teams, and other two teams. Two hosting cities were embellished with festive look and full of sporting fragrance. The grand festive buzz celebrated with ardent enthusiasm brought about the name and fame to our nation. In fact, it would not be exaggerated to say that we have earned much more for ourselves and for our loving country than what we have lost. So, it is time to embrace the achievements and let go of the failures and sorrow!

Ashim Kumar Paul
Government Edward College, Pabna

Please click the following link to view its internet edition:  http://thedailystar.net/magazine/2011/04/03/diary.htm

Berserk Boys

Berserk Boys

A few weeks ago, an older brother of mine was going to attend a job interview at Banani. He recently completed his MBA from a private university and was incessantly looking for a job. As the job vacancies are not sufficient compared to the growing number of jobseekers, he, like others, became much tensed about his career.

Finally, he was called by a corporate house for a job interview. The day he was going for the interview via a bus, a set of students of a renowned college waved their hands to halt the bus to get in, when the bus was crossing the Mohakhali flyover. But since the bus was a 'gate lock' service, the driver overlooked their call.

Being infuriated, those students began to stone the bus. My brother was sitting beside the window of the bus and suddenly felt a piece of stone hit his forehead. Within few moments, a flow of blood was rolling down on his cheek. With the help of other passengers, he was rushed to an nearby hospital. He was lucky that his eyes dodged the stones. But unfortunately, he had missed the opportunity to meet the long cherished job-interview he had managed. It was the futile, despicable agitation and rampant attitude of those perverse students that not only left him physically injured but blighted the image of their own institution.

Ashim Kumar Paul
Government Edward College
Pabna

Click the link to see its internet version: http://thedailystar.net/magazine/2011/04/01/diary.htm

No Respect for Rules

No Respect for Rules

A few days ago, I had gone to Dhaka just to attend the grand celebration of “Celebrating life-2010” with the theme 'Indomitable Bangladesh'. Notwithstanding some probable difficulties caused by political programmes, I had undertaken the journey. However, while enjoying the lively evening with a bouncy mood, I felt happy to see the patriotic sense of our people, especially that of our youth.

Following the jubilant evening, I headed out for my home by bus. Due to acute drowsiness, I soon fell asleep in the bus. Around two hours later when I woke up, I found the bus had stopped at a filling station. To wake up from my drowsiness, I got down and started walking around the station.

Meanwhile, I went to the fuel bank and began to talk to a staff member of the station. I came to know that the bus was being fuelled by CNG. I was staggered to a great extent since it was about 7 pm but the government has imposed constraint on selling CNG from 3 pm to 9 pm. I asked the vendor how they were doing such a deed that violated the government rules and regulations. He simply replied churi kore dicchi (that he was stealing)! Though his confession was candid and therefore commendable, it is really a matter of shame that all we do is think of ourselves disregarding the interest of our country itself.

Ashim Kumar Paul
Government Edward College, Pabna.

Click the following link to view its first appearance: http://thedailystar.net/magazine/2010/12/03/diary.htm