Nobody was doing it. Yesterday it rained heavily. The rainwater entered a kitchen room. The kitchen room is adjacent to the room I was living. Here are more than thirty undergraduate and graduate students living. None of them came to cleanse the rainwater in the kitchen. I saw a woman cooking there. Pretty soon, I was looking for something to absorb the water. I found a sponge (a water absorber) nearby and began working until it had been finished. Honestly, I did it without deserving any appreciation from anybody.

Recommendation: Do come ahead if you have time, energy and solution to a problem. But keep in mind that the problem you are going to solve doesn’t create another problem or trouble others. 

A day was in my varsity, the University of Chittagong. I was heading toward the university’s administrative building. I stopped on my way. I saw a man cutting trees. His age was perhaps fifty-plus. I told him to get down, and asked him, “Chacha (uncle), have any permission for what you’re doing, or who has permitted you to fell off trees?”. His face turned red. He reacted to me, “Kisher onumati. Cholen, kothai jaben cholen…it means no permission I need or I don’t care the authority for my action, and let’s go where you want me to take”. Now his words made me angry a bit. Despite his mind-agitating words, I didn’t speak a bad word.

There was an office of the forest security force. Let’s go there. I set for the security office. I followed him. Then, he stopped at the office. I climbed up the second stair. I asked two security officials questioning, “Who has given the person to cut off trees?”. They climbed down following me. I pointed them to that man. Then, they began to question him, “Are these your trees, or you planted these? If not so why are you doing it but permission?” The person felt guilty and left the place silently.

The University of Chittagong (CU). I reached the CU Bank and noticed a long tail of students to submit their academic fees. I followed them. After standing for 10-15 minutes in the student tail, I saw fewer paying their fees in an alternative way which is totally unfair. I couldn’t tolerate it. So soon, I reached to the cash receiver, and warned him not take the payments of those who were paying their fees by dint of power. Then, the cash receiver told me to prevent them. Without delay, I asked all either to leave or stand on the tail. After that, I came out and began to watch those who were handing their payments to the cash officer. At once, the cash officer asked me to submit mine one but I strongly rejected it, and said to him, “I will hand you my pay orders only when it comes orderly.” Surprisingly, no violation or unfairness took place as long as I was on my self-responsibility. Of course, there was a little bit hot verbal exchange between me and a power-corrupted man. No prob, I carried on my duty. And finally, I submitted my bank pay orders when my serial just came up.

Satisfaction: 

• I am pleased. First, my action inspired the remaining students to up their voices. Second, no unfair way anyone could adopt as long as I was present there. Third, I tried not to follow those who wanted to take advantage by illegal means.

Comment: 

• Raise your voice when you're in my shoes. Being silence means you're letting an injustice legitimate. Don't do let it happen, please!!  

My recommendations: 

• If you see something bad occurring before you, you should go ahead but think of your (1) time and (2) capacity to handle the situation.

H. Deb Nath

Oct. 8, 2023

by Hori

Jul 17, 2023

"A place at a 15-kilometer distance. I board a local bus. Many students and locals, like me, also get on the mini-bus. Our destination is the campus of the University of Chittagong. The bus assistant asks for Tk. 25 as fare. I am completely astonished because the usual transportation fare is Tk. 15. This means he is demanding an extra Tk. 10. I decide that I will not pay him more than Tk. 20. At the same time, a girl tries to pay him Tk. 15, but he rejects it, insisting on an extra Tk. 10. She intends to pay him Tk. 20, but the assistant continues to bargain the extra money. Witnessing this injustice, I can no longer stay silent. I raise my voice, expressing my anger, and request the girl not to give him even a coin. Another student beside me is also furious over the man. Finally, the bus reaches its destination. And finally, we all get down. The transport assistant at last showed no pride for his unexpected demand. So, we didn't engage in any quarrelsome physically. The issue gets buried over there.