Star Diary

SYMBOL OF PATRIOTISM OR FASHION?

A few days ago, I was coming back home from a photo exhibition at Bengal Art Gallery (Dhanmondi) on the Liberation War of 1971 by Raghu Rai. On the way, I saw a car waving our national flag driving by at a high speed from the wrong side of the road. The road was more or less empty 'but it was a residential area and the road was quite narrow. Nowadays it has become a fashion to hang a flag on your car during the month of December to celebrate our victory. Ironically enough, these very people who wave our flag proudly have no qualms about breaking fundamental laws that can make us a better nation. Why do we think that only waving the national flag in car is the expression of patriotism?

Shams Sourav
Mohammadpur, Dhaka

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Ridiculous Inconvenience!

I was on my way to work last Saturday when I was stuck at the Farmgate signal for almost 45 minutes. Upon enquiry I found that our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was going somewhere which was why all roads were being cleared. It saddened me greatly to hear this because I truly believe it is wrong for politicians to act as though they own the country. They have bullet proof cars and are guarded by a hoard of policemen when they are on the roads; is it really necessary to bring our lives to a halt for indefinite periods of time simply because they are going somewhere? If the American President, the most powerful man in world does not block off traffic to get to places, what right do our politicians have to do this? I have also visited England and have seen Prince Charles's wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, leaving Buckingham Palace in a car quite inconspicuously, without inconveniencing anyone. Do our politicians think they're more important than royalty?

Kazi Shaker Mawla
Dhanmondi, Dhaka

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RUDE AND CLUELESS

I was flying to Cox's Bazaar with my husband last weekend when we noticed a man, possibly in his forties, and his wife staring at us and whispering to each other. After about ten minutes of this, the man came up to us and asked quite bluntly if we were married. Surprised at this personal question from a total stranger we both replied that we were, but he didn't seem to believe us. He went on to inquire about how long we were been married, when exactly we got married, where in Dhaka we were currently residing and a few other inappropriate questions which were shocking coming from a person who appeared to be from an educated background. By end of this interrogation we were quite annoyed and asked why he was asking us all this. To this he replied, “You two don't look old enough to be married and my wife was wondering if you actually are. Do your parents know you're going to Cox's Bazaar?" Appalled and disgusted we asked him to return to his seat. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time people questioned us about our relationship; we've been asked at airports, check posts, random weddings to name a few. What I don't understand is why people are so nosy and rude. My husband and I travel a lot and this is the only country where I've noticed a blatant disrespect for the younger generation and those who do it don't even realise how rude their behaviour is. It is truly shameful.

Kuhu Chowdhury
Gulshan, Dhaka

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