The above dialogue is very common and familiar, especially on local or special buses in cities. Bargains between students and bus helpers are also regular sights. Students commuting from Savar to Dhaka or Mirpur to Nilkhet are experts at getting “special” considerations for bus fares.
Such requests and considerations are understandable as students have limited or no earning, and have little money for expenditure. However, their behavior and apparel suggest otherwise. Most of the time, we notice them wearing the costliest dress, shoes and watches. Many spend money on their habit of smoking. Often, they are unwilling to have any food but fast food. Such attitudes and expenditure behavours confuse us when they request for lower fares on buses. If they are short of money, how do they manage to spend so much on their clothes, smoking and fast food? Observing such conflicts in their nature, I feel concerned about the future of Bangladesh, since they are supposed to be the future leaders.
Another important issue to be addressed is that only students of Dhaka College, Bangla College and Dhaka University get the consideration for bus fares; otherwise they frequently beat the bus helper or vandalize the buses. So, what can we expect from them in future? Sometimes we see twenty year old boys introducing himself as the son of a Shahid Muktijuddha. What a deception! In order to save the nation, the government must pay heed to such hypocrisy and generate awareness among the people to be considerate of the past generations and our history.
Mohammad Jashim Uddin
Mirpur, Dhaka