A JOURNEY THAT I HAVE RECENTLY MADE Journey is always fascinating. It charms our mind and makes us happy. Journey is a break in our monotonous everyday life. After a journey, we feel relaxed and fresh. Peace fills our heart after we have made a really wonderful journey. I made a journey by train with my friends last year. I received a letter from my uncle at Chittagong to attend the marriage ceremony of his daughter. I took some of my friends with me. Early in the morning I reached Kamlapur Railway station where I found my other friends. The train came. We got into the train and found our seats beside the window. The guard blew his whistle and waved his green flag, the engine slowly began to move and we glided out of the station. Everything that we were passing was pretty and so we amused ourselves by looking through the windows. As the train winded away eastwards, we could see a number of hills and mountains. We passed by the green fields beautiful watery areas and wonderful hillocks. Everything seemed very bright and pleasant to us. From the train, we could see the clear, green waters and women and small boys and girls swimming happily and taking bath in the ponds and rivers. At last at 4 p.m. we reached Chittagong. The journey seemed to me like a dream. However, when we reached Chittagong, we found my uncle waiting for us. He welcomed us and took us to his residence. Thus our wonderful journey ended very beautifully. A MEMORABLE DAY IN MY LIFE A man has many memorable days in his life. When he thinks of them they crowd in his memory. I have also many memorable days in my life. Most of them are still fresh and vivid in my mind. But not I am to choose one and only one. However, a day of the prize distribution is the most memorable day in my life. On that day I received prizes for excellent recitation. When I think of this day, my mind becomes full of pride and joy. That was a happy day for all the students. The school premises were decorated with flags and festoons. A nice gate was built to welcome the Deputy Commission who presided over the function. I also came to the function in fine dress. As I stood first in the Annual Examination, I was one of the prize-winners. I also stood first in the recitation of poems. So I was the winner of another prize. So our Assistant Headmaster told me to sit on the bench for the prize -winners. At the time of prize distribution, the Assistant Headmaster shouted my name and told me to receive the prize for recitation. I walked to the platform, shook the president by the hand, received the prize and came back to my seat. I also received the second prize in the same way when I was called for to receive it. All looked at me with a feeling of appreciation. It was the most glorious day in my life. My parents waited impatiently on that day and they showed the prizes to many people in the neighbourhood. So it is the most memorable day of my life. The day was extremely pleasant to me. I shall never forget the charms of the day. A Memorable Day in My Life Life is indeed a drudgery of routine. Normally we are unable to distinguish one day from the other. There are however some days that have a special significance for us, for example our birthdays or that of our near and dear ones. We do not easily forget them but look forward to them. Besides this, there is day, which is the happiest day of our life. It marks a turning point in our life, which we can never forget. It was just last year when I had appeared for my JSC examination. I had tried my best to write down on the answer scripts. As the day for the announcement of results drew nearer my nervousness increased giving me sleepless nights. At time I had terrible nightmares that made my hairs stand on end. I knew my parents had great expectations from me and the thought of letting them down made me paranoid. It was the May 27 at about 10 a.m. my friend Rana, rang up to inform that I had topped in the school. He had just seen the results from the internet site and had rung up to congratulate me. I was speechless, for so numb was I with apprehension, that his words did not immediately register. I was barely able to say ‘Thank you’ and gentle put the phone down. By this time my parents and sister were crowding round me to know what the matter was. I jubilantly told them about my result. I informed them that I have got A+. What followed was just indescribable. While my parents kissed and hugged me my friend came around to congratulate me. Within no time the news spread throughout the neighborhood. I had indeed become a star overnight. This was something I had just not anticipated, but it meant to me more than anything else. It was indeed a milestone towards my ambition to become a scientist. Looking back I feel elated for what happened that fateful day which was the happiest day of my life. This day, which shall always be fresh in my memory for it was the turning point in my life. A PICNIC I HAVE ENJOYED We were listening to our Bengali teacher with undivided attention. A bearer got into the class room with a piece of paper in his hand. It was a notice from the Headmaster. The teacher read it out and we learned that we would not have any class the next day. When the class broke up, we -- Arif, Alam, Azim, and myself sat together in one corner of the common room. We decided that we should go for a picnic the next day. In an hour we became twelve in number for the picnic. We went to see our favourite teacher, Mr. Rahman, our English teacher. He agreed to accompany us. We went to market and bought rice, butter-oil, spices and a few chickens. We contacted a micro-driver who would carry us to Patenga sea beach in the morning and bring us back in the afternoon. Next morning we went to the place we had chosen. We chose a sheltered nook and settled down to cook our breakfast and make tea. The braekfast was a simple one: two poached eggs, three slices of buttered toast and a cup of tea for each of us. After we had our breakfast we started getting things ready to cook a good midday meal. We took a cook with us. He cooked the ‘rejala’ and ‘polao’. He also cooked a course of sweets as well. While he cooked the meal, some of us mad the ‘salad’. We ran errands for them. Meanwhile, we had a dip in the sea. We, however, did not go far in it. We were afraid of doing so. Keeping close to the beach, we had a good bath. Changing clothes, we fell to eating. Everyhting was toothsome and we ate everything with great relish. We ate as much as we could and found it uncomfortable to move about. It was already afternoon and the winter sun had become weak. We lay down on the ground covered with short grass, a bit far from the main beach. We talked and laughed. Some children came to us. We offered them a few coins and asked them to wash our pots, places and other things. They were given the leavings too. They were very glad and did the job very well. The day wore on. We gathered our things and put them in the bags. Then we enjoyed the charming sight of sunset. We spent one more hour even after the sunset. Then after we started back for home. When we reached our starting point, it was 7 o’clock in the evening. The picnic left a lasting impression on my mind. It reminds me that a plan in a short time can get a success if it is properly done. A PICNIC Last week we took part in a picnic in a forest-hill within the Chittagong University campus. Firstly, we made up a plan to go to a picnic. We approached the principal of the college and submitted the plan in details. He agreed and encouraged us. We selected a forest-hill of the Chittagong University campus as the venue of the picnic. Accordingly, all preparation was made on the previous day. We, twenty students of the college and our Vice-Principal, started from Noapara College in a bus at sunrise. We hired the bus and decorated it with coloured flowers and a loudspeaker. The loudspeaker was blarring our recorded music. We were enjoying the day. We talked and laughed. Our Vice- Principal seemed to be much more glad and happy. We enjoyed ourselves as best as we could. In the mean time, we reached Fateyabad. We stopped there to get our breakfast. After a while the breakfast was over and we again started to proceed towards the Chittagong Universty campus. We sang many songs till we reached the venue. When we reached a forest-hill in the campus, we got down from the bus. We moved round the hill and we selected a spot for cooking. Then we relaxed for sometime. After a few minutes, we started our cooking. We formed five groups among us and made a division of labour. As a result, cooking was completed within a short time. Mr. Nazrul a fellow -student, cooked the meal an some of the girl students helped him. We are to our heart’s content. The dishes were delicious, no doubt. After taking meal we took slight rest for sometime. In the evening we went round the campus to see the buildings and other remarkable things. We eagerly observed everything. Some of the things filled us with wonder. Before sunset, we got into the bus and we started for our goal. We reached our college with a happy mood within a short time and thus the programme came to an end. A RAINY DAY The month of July in our country is a month of rain, raincoats and umbrellas. When the night is hot and sultry and there is no breath of air, one can guess that the next day is going to be a rainy day. At first there are some patches of cloud in the sky. Gradually, the sky becomes heavily overcast. Early in the morning, the wind begins to blow, first slowly and then with greater intensity. Soon afterwards, it begins to drip-drop. Within a few minutes, this develops into a downpour. There are flashes of lighting and peals of thunder. It seems that the whole sky is going to melt into water. As the rain continues, the streets turn into streams of water. Some roads under repair become muddy and slippery. Most of the vehicles go off the roads. Only a few buses, cars and rickshaws run slowly, splashing water on both sides. Men and women wade through water with their clothes tucked up. Most of the shops cannot open and people have to be satisfied with what they have in their houses. Day labourers pass the day idly. Hawkers and peddlers also can do no business on such a day. Some boys and girls find the day highly enjoyable. They take the day off and do not go to school. Some of them play in the pools of water and float paper boats on the water in the streets. Among the elders, there is a feeling of lethargy. They read the same newspaper over and over again or play cards or watch TV. Although a rainy day is troublesome for many people, there are yet many others who accept it as a grace of the Almighty. A RAINY DAY Introduction: A day is called a rainy day when it rains almost all day long. A rainy day is a common phenomenon in the rainy season in Bangladesh. It is the most expected day in summer in our country when people have a thirst for water. Fortunately, cool rainy season follows the hot summer to cool down the dry life of summer. Thus a rainy day has a special significance in the life in our country. Description of a rainy day: A rainy day presents dull and gloomy atmosphere. The sky remains cloudy all over all day long. The sun almost goes out of view. The dark gloomy atmosphere becomes frightening when flashes of lightning accompanied with peals of thunder pierce through the feeling of people. Gusty wind blows. Raining is apprehended any moment. Once it begins, it rains and rains. Sometimes there is a dust-storm just before it begins raining. But a heavy downpour following the dust-storm removes the dust. And soon, fields, roads, canals, ponds, etc fill up with water. The thirsty frogs get a chance to come out of their holes and begin to enjoy life in water. People in villages remain indoors. Some peasants or day-labourers have to work in fields in rain. But in towns and cities people manage to attend offices and places of work by personal or public transports. But in most cases, people are compelled to enjoy a forced holiday. Students cannot reach their institutions and hence a holiday is officially allowed. Its effects on life: A rainy day has an all-pervading effect on life. People have to change their courses of activities for obvious reasons. Children tend to change habit of going out. They play indoor games like carom, or gossip or, sing or, listen to music or, sleep. Housewives also tend to cook differently in a rainy day. They tend to cut-short their cooking and as a by- product of their arrangement, delicious dish like ‘Khichuri’ becomes a food of enjoyment for everybody. People with poetic flare become more emotional to compose songs and poems. Almost all Bengali poets, so, have written at least a few lines on a rainy day. In the animal world, one would find opposing situations. Fish, frogs, snakes etc find life easy and enjoyable. But birds, domestic animals and wild animals suffer from want of adequate food and suitable weather. The scene of a crow sitting single on a branch of a tree must draw the sympathetic attention of anybody who happens to notice it. Despite its bad effect on the life of the poor and that of animals, a rainy day facilitates cultivation in different ways. A particular rainy day: I also enjoy a rainy day since it creates situation to be away from work. But I will never forget one particular rainy day. It had been drizzling since morning that day. I hastily finished my meal and made ready to go to school. Mother asked me to wait but that was not possible, for my First Terminal Examination began two days ago and the subject to be examined that day was English Paper 1. I took my umbrella and set off. I had gone only a few steps when it began to pour. Soon it began to rain in torrents. So, I took shelter in a wayside house. I was wet through and through. But the rains showed no signs of that if I were late I should not be allowed to sit for the examination. I went on quickly. As I got near the school, I met some of my class fellows who, like me, were walking their way through the rains. They were all thoroughly drenched just as I was when at school, we pulled off our shirts and shoes and made a great noise. A bit later, the Headmaster and two other teachers came out of his room and found most of the examinees absent and saw our bad condition. We were wet from head to foot and were shivering with cold. So he bade us go home saying that there would be no examination that day. We again took the way in rains and came home back thanking our teachers and the rains. Conclusion: Any day full of rains and allied things may be called a rainy day. But different rainy days have different effects on different people. A rainy day which can be appreciated by the rich and poor alike may be appreciated by all. A RANY DAY MY EXPERIENCE OF A RAINY DAY A rainy day occurs in the rainy season. On such a day it rains and rains without any break. No one can go out without an umbrella. The roads become muddy and slippery. Water stands on it here and there. Passers-by walk along with shoes in hand and clothes folded up. Poor people suffer, as they cannot go out to earn their daily bread. Students fail to go to schools and colleges and if any of them go at all. They get wet on the way. So classes in schools and colleges do not sit. I give below the description of such a day in June last. It had been drizzling since morning that day. I was having my meal when the sky became dark with dense clouds. I hastily finished my meal and made ready to go to school. Big drops of rain began to fall by then. Mother asked me to wait but that was not possible, for my First Term Examination began two days ago and the subject to be examined that day was English Paper 1. I took my umbrella and set off. I had gone only a few steps when it began to pour. Soon it began to rain in torrents .So I took shelter in a wayside house. I was wet through and through. I pulled off my shoes and shirt and waited in the hope that the rains would soon cease. But the rain showed on signs of abating. So I put on my wet shirt and shoes again and started off. I feared that if I were late I should not be allowed to sit for the examination. I went on quickly. As I got near the school I met some of my class fellows who like me, were walking their way through the rains. They were all thoroughly drenched just as I was. When at school, we pulled off our shoes and made a great noise. A little apart in the school quarters, the Head of the Department of English heard the uproarious noise made by us. He and two other teachers of his Department were to take our examination that day. He came out of his quarters in a raincoat and with an umbrella unfurled over his head. He found most of the examinees absent and saw our sorry plight. We were wet form head to foot and were shivering with cold. So he bade us go home saying that there would be no examination that day. So we again took the way in rains and came home back thanking our teachers and the rains. A REAL DREAMER (PROFESSOR YUNUS) Professor Yunus proved that man’s potential power is quite terrific. One cannot go back to the age of Neolithic. There is cream in the butter and we must have to skim it. Actually, a man having strong-will and perseverance can do a tremendous work which is praiseworthy. Though Professor Yunus is an inhabitant of the third world he always dreamt to eliminate the poverty of the world. He is not a billionaire, but his strong-will was unparallel. At last he became successful to establish the Grameen bank and set an example to eliminate poverty from the root level by using planned micro-credit. Mohammad Yunus was born in 1940 in Chittagong, the business centre of Eastern Bangladesh. He was the third of 14 children. Educated in Chittagong, he was awarded a Fullbright Scholarship and he received his Ph. D. from Vanderbit University in U.S.A. In 1972 he became the head of the Economics department at Chittagong University. He is the founder and Managing Director of the Grameen Bank. In 1997, Professor Yunus organised the world’s first Micro-credit system. Professor Mohammad Yunus, who is the Chairman of Grameen Bank, established the same in 1983. While he was working as a professor of Economics at Chittagong University, it occurred to him that poor people could be brought out of poverty, if they were given a small loan to a few poor women from his own pocket. He also set a date for the return of the loan with interest. Surprisingly enough, all those who accepted his loans were able to pay him back the money which they invested in making cane and wicker chairs, and made profit by selling them. Thus Dr. Yunus became convinced that small loan or micro-credit system could be started. This philosophy of Dr. Yunus has brought about a real change in women’s attitude towards life. With their financial independence, their self-confidence has increased and they now want to live according to their own plans. The project of Grameen Bank introduced by Dr. Yunus has started a silent revolution among the women, and the impact is far reaching. Now Professor Yunus is the pride of whole world for his great achievements. A RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL / THE DURGA PUJA Of all the religious festivals of the Hindu community, the Durga Puja is the greatest one. It is observed with much fervour and enthusiasm. The Durga Puja is held twice a year. Once in Autumn and again in Spring. The former is called the ‘Sharadya Puja’ and the latter is called the ‘Basanti Puja’ Both are observed in grandeur. The ‘Basanti Puja’ is older than the ‘Sharadiya Puja.’ It was first held by the King Suratha. The ‘Sharadiya Puja’ was first held by Ramchandra, the great king of Oudh. Since then Durga is worshipped every year. Durga is regarded as the goddess of power. She has ten arms. Each arm contains different things and weapons. Her two daughters Lakshmi and Saraswati and her two sons Kartik and Ganesh stand beside her. Lakshmi and Kartik stand on her right and Saraswati and Ganesh stand on her left. Durga, standing on the back of a lion, fights with a demon called Mohishasur. Her husband ‘Shiva’ is seated above her head. From Hindu mythology, we come to know that the goddess Durga was begotten from the combined glow scattered from the bodies of Brahma, Vishnu, Siva and many other Gods of heaven. Durga is also called by the name of Chandi, Kali, Parbati, Mahamaya etc. The activities of the Durga Puja start on the evening of the sixth day of the Moon. The Puja continues for three days. On the fourth day, the Hindus observe the Vijoya. The image of the goddess is then taken out in a procession for dedication. Finally the image of Durga along with other images is immersed into the water of a river or a canal. The Puja brings great joy for the Hindus. Boys and girls, old and young, male and female all wear new clothes. They become happy. The joy of children knows no bounds. They play all day long. Educational institutions and offices remain closed for the Puja. People of all ages visit different ‘Puja Mandaps’. They pay visits to the houses of there relatives and neighbours. ‘Melas’ are often seen to be held beside the ‘Puja Mandaps’. Dolls, toys, bangles and ribbons, pots, pans, sweets and many other things are available here. People buy them with great joy. The Durga Puja has a great social importance. Those who live abroad come home at this time and meet their friends and relatives. Nay, men forget their past quarrels and embrace one another on this occasion. It arouses a sense of fellow feeling in them. It unites the Hindus. According to Hindu mythology, the goddess Durga appeared in this universe to subdue the evil powers and at the same time to establish peace everywhere. So this Puja bears a greater significance for the Hindu community. A RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL The Christmas has a profound significance for the Christians. About two thousand years ago the child Jesus was born in a humble stable in Bethelhem. The Magi were three wise men of the East. They brought gifts to the Infant Savior. They were led by a star to the stable at Bethelhem where Jesus was born in a manger a trough in which food is laid for horses and cattle. Tradition calls them Melchior, Gasper and Balthazar three kings of the East. The first man offered gold, the emblem of royalty; the second man, frankincense, in token of divinity and the third, myrrh, as a symbol of death. They introduced the art of giving presents on the eve of the annual celebration of the birth of Christ. And the custom has taken root in the Christian world. In Bangladesh the Christians constitute a small but an important segment of the overall population, and they celebrate their greatest festival with due solemnity and religious fervour. The programmes of the day are highlighted by holding the Christmas Carols and services in Churches and illumination of private houses. The day is declared as a closed holiday by the government, and Radio and T.V. put up special programmes on the day. Members of the Christian families decorate Christmas trees. In the city of Dhaka particularly, Christmas services and carols are held in different churches including Mary's Cathedral at Kakrail, Holy Cross Church at Laxmi Bazar, and Holy Rosary Church at Tejgaon. The ideals for which Christ lived and died should be reawakened in all. Like other great men, Jesus Christ came to this world with a message of peace and preached for good fellow-feeling. With a view to reaching that goal, he made supreme sacrifice. In this strife-torn world, the teaching of Jesus Christ brings new hopes and new aspirations. A RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL Eid-ul-Fitr is the greatest religious festival of the Muslims all over the world. It is celebrated with great joy throughout the Muslim world. All Muslims, especially the young ones, remain eager for Eid as it draws near. The very thought of it fills a Muslim’s heart with exceeding joy. The word ‘Eid’ means coming back. The Muslims believe that on the occasion of Eid, the blessings of Allah come back to mankind. They fast, pray and make sacrifice. So Allah is pleased with them and sends His blessing on them. The month of Ramadan is the month of fasting and prayer. It is a month of self-analysis and self-restraint. A Muslim passes through all the trials and rigours of the month. He is thus purified in heart and disciplined in character. When this month is over and the month of Shawal begins, his joy knows no bounds. Eid-ul-Fitr takes place on the first day of Shawal. On this day the Muslims make charity and give a fixed amount of money to the poor. This is called Fitr. So the name of this festival is Eid-ul-Fitr. On this day all rise very early. Children pass the night in excitement, and make various preparations. Some of them use fireworks and decorate and illuminate their houses. As soon as the day dawns all rise from their beds. They go to the pond and have their bath. Then they dress themselves in their best clothes. Meanwhile the womenfolk prepare ‘shemai’ and other kinds of sweets. Then all of them take sweets with great joy and merriment. Sweets are also distributed among the poor, friends and relatives. Poor people gather at the houses of the rich and the rich give them money and clothes. This being over, all proceed towards the ‘maidan’ to offer prayers in congregation. Children also flock there in large number to see the assembly of the people. It is really an imposing sight when thousands of devout heads bow down to the Almighty and rise again in unison. When the prayer is over the ‘khutba’ or sermon is delivered by the leader of the congregation. In the course of the sermon, he speaks about the merit of Ramadan and Fitr. He also exhorts people to be virtuous. In the end, people embrace one another forgetting all enmity and rivalry among them. Then they come back to their respective houses where they are greeted by their mothers, wives and sisters. Children touch the feet of their superiors to get their blessings. In the evening people visit the houses of their relatives and friends and pass their time in merry-making. Everywhere they are received with utmost cordiality and hospitality. Feasts and dinners and held in various places. At night many attend cinema shows or variety performances. Some join Eid re-union parties in clubs and hotels. Thus the day passes through great excitement and bustle. People go to bed late at night. Eid-ul-Fitr has a great lesson for the Muslims. It teaches them to love all men and makes them feel a great bond of union among the Muslims. Conclusion : I’d-ul-Fitr has a great lesson for the Muslims. It teaches them love for all men and makes them feel a great bond of union among the Muslims. A RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL Introductions : Eid-ul-Fitr is the greatest religious festival of the Muslims all over the world. It is celebrated with great joy throughout the Muslim world. All Muslims, especially the young ones, remain eager for I’d as it draws near. The very thought of it fills a Muslims heart with exceeding joy. Its meaning : The word Eid means coming back. The Muslims believe that on the occasion of I’d the blessings of Allah come back to mankind. They fast, pray and make sacrifice. So Allah is pleased with them and sends His blessing on them. The month of Ramadhan is the month of fasting and prayer. It is a month of self-denial and devotion. A Muslim passes through all the trials and rigours of the month. He is thus purified in heart and disciplined in character. When this month is over and the month of Shawwal begins, his joy knows no bounds. The occasion of the festival : Eid -ul-Fitr takes place on the first day of Shawwal. On this day the Muslims make charity and give a fixed amount of money to the poor. This is called Fitr. So the name of this festival is Eid -ul-Fitr. How the day begins : on this day all rise very early. Children pass the night in excitement and make various preparations. Some of them use fireworks and decorate and illuminate their houses. As soon as the day dawns all rise from their beds. They go to the pond and have their bath. Then they dress themselves in the best and the finest clothes. Meanwhile the womenfolk prepare shemai and other kinds of sweets. Then all of them take sweets with great joy and merriment. Sweets are also distributed among the poor, friends and relatives. Poor people gather at the houses of the rich and the rich give them money and clothes. Charity, prayer, embracing : This being over, all proceed towards the maidan to offer prayers in congregation. Children also flock there in large number to see the assembly of the people. It is really an imposing sight when thousands of devout heads bow down to the Almighty and rise again in unison. When the prayer is over the khutba or sermon is delivered by the leader of the congregation. In the course of the sermon, he speaks about the merit of Ramadhan and Fitr. He also exhorts people to be virtuous. At the end, people embrace one another forgetting all enmity and rivalry among them. Then they came back to their respective houses where they are greeted by their mothers, wives and sisters. Children touch the feet of their superiors to get their blessings. What happens in the evening : In the evening people visit the houses of their relatives and friends and pass their time in merry-making. Everywhere they are received with utmost cordiality and hospitality. Feasts and dinners are held in various places. At night many attend cinema shows or variety performances. Some join I’d reÂunion parties in clubs and hotels. Thus the day passes through great excitement and bustle. People go to bed late at night. A RICKSHAW PULLER Introduction: A rickshaw- puller is a man who earns his livelihood by driving a rickshaw. He is a poor but hard-working man. What a cow to the farmer is what a rickshaw to the rickshaw- puller, that is the only source of livelihood. The life of a rickshaw- puller is hard and miserable. He leads a hard life with a small income. How one becomes a rickshaw- puller: Rickshaw-pulling is not a hereditary profession. One is forced into picking a rickshaw because of hard economic conditions. When a man becomes jobless in the village, he travels to one of the big cities in the hope of finding work. He meets somebody who might introduce him to a garage owner, and if he is lucky, he might be given a rickshaw to pull on rent. He chooses it because it will at least prevent him from committing unsocial acts for money. His profession: A rickshaw- puller first takes a short training for driving. Then he begins to drive a rickshaw. He does not have own carriage. He hires it on rent from the owner. He has to work in shifts. Sometimes he works at night and sometimes at noon. He has no holidays. His daily labour: A rickshaw- puller works in all seasons. The sun and the rain test their strength on him. The rickshaw is a versatile carriage. It does not only carry passengers, but also goods of all sorts, even furniture, and even meat and fish. So, the rickshaw- puller has a vital link between several professions. Sometimes he is beaten by the traffic - police for violation of traffic law. His manners: The rickshaw puller is considered as a pest by traffic police. He and the rickshaw puller are even at the opposite ends of an issue. And, in fact, much of the traffic jam is caused by the rickshaw- puller, because he somehow obstructs the passage of other faster vehicles. He does not do this intentionally, but because he does not have much road sense. And, as he is a destitute, and has nothing to lose, he keeps to his ground most arrogantly when there is an argument either with the police or with the passengers. Exploitation: The attitude of the passengers to the rickshaw- puller is not above criticism either. Passengers when he carries on his vehicle, think that they are being cheated by the rickshaw- puller. They higgle with him about the fare in the most unreasonable way. The passengers often take advantage of the competition among the pullers to get passengers. Thus the passengers exploit the rickshaw- puller in an inhuman way. But the real exploiter is the owner of the rickshaw who earns much without any manual labour. Conclusion: In a way, rickshaw pulling is an inhuman profession because it is completely opposite to the idea of motor age that all vehicles should be engine driven. But, in our country, the work of the rickshaw- puller seems to be a viable profession because thousands of poor men just thrive on it along with their families. So, we should be sympathetic and kind to a rickshaw- puller for his valuable service.
A SCHOOL LIBRARY Carlyle, an English philosopher, said that a library is like a university because it helps to spread the knowledge and culture among the people. It is an indispensable feature of a civilized nation. From the Latin word ‘libre’ which means a book, the word ‘library’ is derived. Basically, it is a room or building containing a collection of books for reading. It really helps people to form the habit of reading and inspires their thirst. Generally there are three kinds of libraries personal, public and institutional. A school library is an institutional library. In our school we have a big library. The situation of it is on the upstair of the school building. It is a spacious room. There are a number of Almirahs containing books on literature, history, geography, science, religion etc. Right this moment it has as many as eight thousand books on various subjects. A well-decorated reading room is also attached to it. Every student comes here to pass their leisure hours by reading books, magazines etc. according to their choice. A librarian and an assistant are appointed to help the teachers and the students. The librarian is trained and efficient and at the same time a very good man. He always encourages us to read books and acquire knowledge. Some take books from the library for use at home. By the librarian the books on different subjects that the teachers and the students need are kept and arranged systematically. For the acquisition of knowledge the necessity of a school library is indispensable. It is not possible for many students to buy books which they need. So they go to the library and read necessary books. Any kind of research work will not be possible without a well-equipped library containing books, rare manuscripts and old records. Actually, great minds speak to us through books. It gives us an easy and open access to the wisdom of ages. A school library can make us intimate with the culture of all ages and all climes. The books of the library are records, of the past. We know about the human society in the past and its evolution from the books. It also helps new inventions. It is
the very life-centre of a nation. A lot of students come to these temples of learning and gather wisdom because the serious kind of books satisfies the hunger for knowledge and help scholarship and research. So, only a school library can expand the knowledge of students. A library is very important for all people who boast of some culture. It is a collection of books on various subjects. It is an indispensable feature of a civilized nation. So, the progress of a country can be judged by the number of libraries it maintains. THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE A school magazine is an annual affair of the students. It is the mirror of the school which reflects the idea and progress of the school. So, it is a milestone of annual progress of the school. Every well reputed school has a magazine of its own. The school magazine is different from other journals. Its circulation is confined to the students. It mainly deals with the school affairs and publishes such things as are helpful to the students. They may not be of much interest to the general public, but they do a lot of good to the students. It publishes articles written by students, news of achievements of the school in sports and games, results of the examination and other phases of the schools. In short, it gives a vivid picture of a year of the school. A magazine committee is formed every year to conduct the work. Generally the Headmaster is the Chief Patron of the committee. He selects an Advisor and a Proof-reader from the teachers. For other positions like Editors, Assistant-Editors, Business-Editors, Assistant Proof-readers, some students are elected. The editors are mainly responsible for the magazine. The other members assist them in all respects.
The team work begins. The Advisor prepares a budget with the help of the Business editors. The magazine fund is collected partly from the school fund and partly from selling the space for advertisements in the magazine. The Editor and the Assistant editors have to collect articles from their fellow students. They then check and get the scripts corrected and selected by the teachers. Then the articles are ready to be published. After bringing out the proof-copy of the magazine, the proof-readers scrutinise and make the copy correct. Finally within a month the magazine come into being. Articles are of many kinds. Poems, short stories, essays, jokes, accounts of travels, quizzes etc find place in the school magazine. Articles are collected both from the students and the teachers. Some photographs of important events and the message of the Headmaster are added too. Editorials are also there. The school magazine serves useful purposes. The bringing out of the school magazine is a joint venture. In doing so, the students are directly engaged and they can know how to shoulder a joint responsibility of a public character. Besides, the magazine has its special usefulness in the finding of new talents. It provides the budding writers with opportunities to improve their creativity and grow awareness in others. The magazine increases the knowledge of the students and sharpens the power of thinking and reasoning. A regular contribution to the school magazine improves one’s style of writing and the command over the language. In a word, the school magazine is a training ground for the young students in the case of co-operation and literary activities. The school magazine is very essential. It teaches the students many new things. It helps the students work hand in hand. A magazine gives them practical training to be a great writer in future. Moreover, it is the pride of the school. So, all students should try their best for the improvement of their school magazine.
A TRADE FAIR A trade fair is a fair for the display of industrial goods to the foreign buyers to get them acquainted with the exportable items of the country. It helps to earn foreign exchange. It is a gigantic affair. So it cannot be organised by an individual. It is normally held once a year. A great publicity is done for this purpose. And this publicity is made through advertisement in the national and international dailies to draw the attention of the industrialists and producers, national and international. The host country also advises friendly countries to install stalls in trade fair to display their exportable goods to the importers of the host country. As a trade fair gives scope to a country to display her products, friendly countries gladly respond to the call of the host countries. Works of arts, crafts, handicrafts, agriculture and industry are placed at different corners of a trade fair. There are also arrangements for recreation, food etc for the visitors. Thus a trade fair is very much useful. A host country can know the other parts of the globe through a trade fair. In our country every year an International Trade Fair is held in Dhaka. It continues for a month. It draws a lot of crowd. The local people get the chance of buying exported goods. A trade fair also attracts a lot of exporters and importers. In fact, a trade fair helps a lot to promote business and trade. A trade fair should be held every year to encourage importers of foreign countries to import goods from our country. The day is not far when we shall be able to import necessary goods keeping the balance of trade in our favour.
A TRIP TO DHAKA Dhaka is an old city. I had always dreamt of going to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Many things I learnt from books and from the talks of my parents and teachers. I felt a strong attraction for Dhaka and I had strange fancies about the name of Dhaka. But Dhaka remained an imaginary place to me so long because I could not see it with my own eyes. I had an opportunity, however, to see the capital of my dream when my uncle invited me to pay a visit to Dhaka and to be his guest. I availed myself of the opportunity and paid a visit to Dhaka during the last summer. During my short stay at Dhaka, I moved from place to place by bus, rickshaw and baby taxi. When I passed through Nawabpur Road, I was struck was the dazzling sight of the big shops. I went to Gulistan, the D. I. T. Avenue, and Motijheel Commercial Area. The wide and spacious National Stadium, the Baitul Mokerram Mosque, the tall and big buildings of Motijheel Commercial Area, the G.P.O and the Bangladesh all impressed me very much. Next morning I visited the Lalbag Killa, Bara Katara and Chhota Katara. These are the remnants of the Mughal rule. Here old touches and memories hover all around. At Lalbag we also saw the Tomb of Pari Bibi, the daughter of Shaistha Khan. On the way we saw the Dhakeswari Temple built by Ballal Sen. But the New Town, the Sher-e-Banglanagar, the latest extension of Dhaka and Tejgaon Industrial Area presented a different sight altogether. Everything about them is new and modern. The Medical College, the University, Salimullah Muslim Hall, the High Court, the Engineer’s Institute, the Secretariat, the Assembly House, Hotel Sheraton and Sonargaon are all designed according to modern taste. The Ramna Green, the Suhrawardy Udyan and the beautiful lawns attracted me much. I also visited the New Market, Azimpur Colony, the Gulshan Model town and derived much pleasure from their charming sights. I also went to Zia International Airport and saw planes taking off and coming down. My first visit to Dhaka was of great interest. It has widened my knowledge and experience. It has given me practical knowledge which books can never give and has brought past history in vivid form before my mind’s eyes. A VILLAGE DOCTOR A village doctor is a very important and familiar in the village. Though there are a few qualified doctors in our villages now, a village doctor generally means a quack. He gives medical aid to the villages. He is loved and respected by all in the village. It is not that a village doctor is highly qualified one. He is, a half-educated man with a little knowledge of medicine and sometimes of surgery. Perhaps he picks up that knowledge when he works in a pharmacy or as a helper of a qualified doctor. He may also have learned everything he knows by reading some handbooks, practitioner’s guides or something like that. His knowledge is, therefore, very much inadequate. A village doctor sets up his dispensary either in his home or at some village market. His dispensary is an ordinary one. It is a small establishment with probably a worn-out chair and table and a few almirahs stocked with cheap medicines of everyday use. His stock of medicine is not sufficient. A village doctor leads a very busy life. He rises early and prepares for the day’s work. Early in the morning, he attends to patients in his dispensary. He prescribes them and supplies them with medicine. Then he goes out on a visit on private calls to attend patients who cannot come to him. It is past midday when he returns. He then takes his meal and rest. He gets really again and attends to patients and goes about visiting them. He is sometimes called at night. A village doctor renders good services to the villagers. He looks after the health to his villages and neighbouring village. He sits by his patient and advises him as an intimate friend. He does not hesitate to go to the houses of a patient at midnight, if necessary. In some special cases, he helps the poor patients with free medical service as well as free medicine. During the time of the epidemic, his service in the village is very great. His knowledge may be poor but he has a high sense of responsibility. He exercises a great influence over the villages. They have great trust in him. They seek his advice in all matters, private or public. They often elect him to the Union Council or to the Managing Committee of the local school. They refer matters of dispute to him and go by his decision. This is how he is as important a person in the village as anyone. A village doctor is indispensable. Bangladesh is a poor –developing country. Even now there are thousands of villages where there is not a single qualified doctor, and many of them have not such a doctor within easy reach; so millions of people have to depend on the village doctor. Moreover, he is a very useful member of the village society. In case of serious accidents he is of great help of the villagers. He saves the lives of many victims of drowning. He bandages fractures, administers disinfectants to serious cuts and wounds. By the timely administration of medicines, he often prevents death from epidemics. Even in serious cases being immediately available, he checks the course of the diseases. So, with all his defective knowledge, he is a necessity. A village doctor renders a unique service to the society. Therefore, his position in the village is very remarkable. He is not, however, a rich man. He leads a modest life. Any sort of conveyance is enough for him. He earns just enough of himself and his family. That is all. This does not make him rich. Even then he is popular among the villagers for his generosity. A village doctor is not only a physician but also a leader, a friend and an advisor to the village people. He saves the poor and helpless patient from sure death. He is, so to say, a pillar of the village. So he is held in high esteem by the villagers.
A Village Doctor Introduction : Every society has the people of various important professions. in our society there are also various professional people. A village doctor is a very useful and important person of them. A village doctor is a person who treats the villagers. He lives in a village. He is a very well-known person to every man and every woman in' the village. He is quite familiar to the villagers. He has a great demand in a village because there is no qualified doctor except him. His qualifications : A village doctor is usually a quack. Generally he is not well qualified. Most village doctors don’t have proper education in any school or college. He usually works with a qualified doctor for a few years and gains some knowledge and experience about the treatment of patients. Then he comes back his native village and sets up a dispensary. His dispensary : He opens his dispensary either in His house or in a village market. His dispensary generally is very poor. It has a table and a chair for himself and one or two benches for the patients. There are one or two almirahs with a few phials of medicines in his dispensary. But it is a very important place to the villagers. His works/Duty A village doctor leads busy life. He gets up at dawn, takes his breakfast and gets ready for his daily works. He is .honest and dutiful. He deals with his patients well. He sometimes takes only the cos, of medicines. He demands no fees to the patients. Sometimes he attends patient al. dead of night to a distant place. He has to walk mules to miles a day. So he is-very popular to the villagers. His position in the society : A village doctor is a very useful arid important man in a village. The villagers love and respect him very dearly for his kind dealings. They always seek his advice. Thus, he holds high position in the Village. Conclusion : A village doctor may be poor in knowledge but his sense of duties towards a, patient-is very strong. He is a good friend to the poor villagers. He never renders a good service to the villagers. But he leads a poor life indeed.
A Village Doctor
A village doctor is a very familiar person in the rural areas in Bangladesh. He is usually known as a quack. He earns much popularity by dint of his friendly behavior and benevolent services to the suffering village people at the time of their dire need. Rendering service to them is a noble mission of is life.
A village doctor is not a qualified doctor. He treats patients with his long experience gathered by working as a compounder of a qualified doctor. He generally sits in a small dispensary attached to his house in the morning and evening. He treats the patients taking small fees. He often does not take fees from the very poor patients. He attends the call outside with great interest without considering his own inconveniences. He does not have any compounder. He himself gives medicines to the patients. He takes great care of his patients. If necessary, he spends even a whole night by the bedside of a patient.
A village doctor is usually not a rich man. So he cannot equip his chamber with requisite furniture and cannot keep costly medicines in his pharmacy. As such he cannot supply costly and important medicines to the serious patients. As a result, many patients die. Sometimes he prescribes wrong medicines that may often cause to the patients.
Ours is a land of a vast population. In comparison to our population, the number of qualified doctors is very small, specially, in the rural areas. Moreover, most of our rural people are ill-fed and ill –clad. They can’t afford to pay fees to the qualified doctor. In such a case, a village doctor is highly helpful and essential to the poor and helpless villagers. So a village doctor is a great friend to the village people.
A VILLAGE FAIR
A village fair is an annual affair in rural Bangladesh. It is a great periodical gathering held in some open place. Here goods of various kinds are brought for show and sale. Many forms of amusements are held for the villagers. It is the chief attraction for the children and even the grown-up people. Men, women and children eagerly wait for the day. It is held once or twice a year in a particular locality on special occasions. These occasions may be religious ones or the birth anniversary of a holy person of the locality. In our country, fairs are generally held on the Bengali New Year’s Day and in Muharram. Some fairs sit for a day or two, while there are big fairs continue for days together. It generally sits in the heart of the village covering a large area.
A village fair is a kind of exhibition in miniature of cottage industries. The rural artisans and craftsmen make various useful articles which are brought to the fair by people. It thus acts like a market for cottage industries. Some sell fancy goods; some sweetmeat; some fish; some grocery goods; some spices; some metal utensils, some stationery articles. Not only these; there are earthen wares, jackets, cloths of common wear and many other things. The fancy goods have the greatest demand. The other sellers also do good business.
In a village fair many forms of amusements are accommodated to provide for a happy diversion to the rural people. ‘Travelling jatra parties’, parties of gamblers, ‘NagarÂdolas’ which visit the fair are additional attractions for them. The circus party with its members including some gymnastics, trained animals is the most attractive and thrilling item in a fair. Cinema parties also exhibit pictures to the people on the occasion of a fair. A magician too is found in village fair under a small tent ready to show his tricks to the people against small sum. But the largest crowd gather around the place where jugglers exhibit their feats. There are the dancing of dolls and feats of skill performed on ropes and bamboos. Some of these are really wonderful.
A village fair has its drawbacks also. As it lacks in arrangements for proper sanitation, it sometimes leads to the outbreak of epidemics. There are gambling parties and the haunt of pickpockets. All these cause demoralisation of the simple villagers. Besides, undesirable people and criminals flock there and commit various kinds of mischief. So, the fair should be made free from all these evils.
A village fair inspires the skilled hands and cottage industries and helps the farmers by building up their economy. It is a means of recreation, change and social get-together of the village people. It breaks the monotony and boredom of their life. It is the mirror of the village which reflects the village life, culture, art and heritage, as many fair things are exhibited and sold in the air. It brings fun, variety and colour in the dull life of the village. It makes the villagers forget their worries for a day or two. It provides enjoyment to the village people. As it is a great recreation to the rural people, so let there be more fairs for our prosperity.
A Village Fair
Introduction: Fair is a kind of programme where people get together in an open
place and show sell and buy the handmade products. Fair is annual affair in rural Bangladesh, specially village fair. A village fair is held once a year in a village on the occasion of some festival. The villages eagerly wait for this occasion.
Description: Generally the village fair is held for a day or for some days. It is held
on the bank of a river or a big canal or tank. Some sits in an open field under a big ancient tree, or is the market place or in the yard of a temple or by the side of a big road. Village fair is arrange on special day such as -‘pous sakrantci’, ‘Chaitra Sankantri’ Phela Baisak and on some religious occasion. Many man, women and children come to the hair. They are very fond of village fair. Originally village fair arrange to show the exhibition of village product. Many kinds of things are brought here for show and sale. Patters, carpenters, blacksmiths and weavers sell their hand made goods.
Things bought and sold: A village fair serves as a sort of exhibition of village products. Things of many kinds and tastes are brought here for show and sell. Patters, carpenters, blacksmiths and weavers sell their hand made products. The villager make many nice things from clay, cane, wood, bamboo etc. The simple trademan and artisans of villages are proud to show their handmade goods. They make small shops where they arrange their goods in an attractive way. The sellers and buyers from the near and far off village gather here for trading and sightseeing. Children are always very fond of sweets and chocolate. So they gathered at time in the sweet stall. Women are attracted mainly by those stalls that sell artificial jewellary.
Special Attractions: A village fair is great joy and excitement among the villagers,
specially among the children. The village hair makes good arrangement for entertainment. Besides goods for sale; circus, operas, magic shows, merry-go round, mock fight, music etc are arranged for the people in hair. The people who arrange these entertain main make a good profit. However the largest crowd gathers in the Jatra pandal.
Popularity: The village fair generally lasts for a week. In Bangladesh the village fair are held in many villages. Once these fairs were very popular. But now-a-days the fairs are held in towns on a large scale.
Merits and demerits: Village fair is still of great value. It encourages the growth of cottage industries. Artisans are very happy to show their skills. The children are fond of sweets and toys and by various kinds of entertainment. It brings break into the monotony of the village life. Village fair has demerits, too. Gambling parties come here and entice. innocent people to take part in gambling. Pick-picketers It brings break into the monotony of the village life. Village fair has demerits, too. Gambling parties come here and entice. innocent people to take part in gambling. Pick-pocketers and criminals and criminals come to the fair and commit various kinds of evil deeds. Sometimes children are lost and this causes anxiety for the parents. A village fair also ereat in sanitary conditions.
Conclusions: As it serves such a good purpose, our government and the people at
large should actively help the villages to hold the fairs more effectively in all the village in Bangladesh. It’s very useful and important. It removes the monotony of life and brings joy to the villages. If helps a men to forget his mise with a variety of people. It enables the village people to show and sell their hand made things.
A Village Fair I Visited
A village fair is a gathering of village people. It is usually he annually or periodically at a certain place on the occasion of Bengali new year day or a religious festival. It lasts for a day of two. It is generally held in an open space or the bank of the river of the river or near a banyan tree.
I had the experience of visiting a village fair held in our neighbor’s village last month. It was the 30th Poush. The fair took place around a lard banyan tree. it was observed on the occasion of the harvest-home.
On the fixed day, I along with two of my cousins started for the fail 10.a.m. Entering into the fair, we found hundreds of booths, stalls and tents in the field around the big banyan tree. I came to know that the traders, craftsmen and other interred people came to the place the previous day. Various kinds of goods such as dolls, ear wares, toys, fluted, balloons, baskets, imitation ornaments etc. were dispel there in an attractive manner to draw the attention of the customers. Food of all kinds also available in the fair.
We began to walk along the lanes between rows of chores. We atched that men, women and children gathered in the fair in a large number. They were busy in buying for themselves and for their dear and near ones. We came to a place where there was merry-go-round and looked at it for sometimes. Then we enjoyed a circus now. Coming out of the circus, I drank the water of a green coconut. Next I proceeded to the front of a booth and bought some fancy things for my younger sister. For myself, I bought a mouth-organ and some sweetmeats.
I had been sweating profusely since I got into the crowd. To, we came out of the crowd and started for home in the afternoon. From my visit to the fair, I have learnt many things about rural life and culture. Really, the memory of this air will remain ever fresh in my mind.
A Village Fair
Introduction : Bangladesh is a land of villages. So a village fair is a very common sight here. It is a large gathering of the village people of all ages and of all sections for buying and selling fancy goods. It is a great attraction to the village life. It is a great source of amusement and recreation in village life. Location : Every year a village fair is held almost in every big village in our country. It sits on the river side or a canal side or in the yard of a temple or under a big banyan tree. It lasts for a day or a week. It is held on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh, or.Durgapuja or Chaitra Sankranti.
Description - A village- fair is a kind of exhibition of the village products. Temporary shops are set up in rows. Fancy goods like toys, dolls, combs, hair pins, bangles. ribbons, cheap ornaments, cosmetics etc are sold in a village fair. Fancy bamboo and wooden things, utensils sweet-meats and seasonal fruits are also sold here. Children buy dolls and other fancy goods. Women buy bangles, hair pins, cosmetics, ornaments etc. Old men buy caps and wooden sticks.
Attraction : A village fair is a nice place for the recreation to the villagers. The main attractions of a village fair are the magic show. The doll dance, the cock fight, the jatra, the circus etc. So a village fair gives a great joy to the village people.
Importance : A village fair has a great value to the grillage people. It inspires craftsmen, weavers. porters, cottage industries acid handicrafts. It helps to develop the village economy. It removes the monotony of village life and develop the outlook of the rural people. It also greatly helps to establish a close ties and a good harmony and unity, a good co-operation and a mutual understanding among the villagers.
Demerits : It has some drawbacks. Gambling parties hamper the character of the simple and honest villagers. It creates too much noise which is very harmful to hearing and nerve. Cheats, pickpockets, criminals and village mastans come to the fair and commit various kinds of evil deeds. it also pollutes air and water seriously because of proper sanitation.
Conclusion : Though a village fair has some defects, it does a great good to the villagers in many ways. To the village children it is a great attraction. So, a village fair plays an important role in removing the monotony of hard work of the villagers. It is a great source of amusement and recreation to the rural life. So, a village fair helps the rural people to lead a cheerful, peaceful and chaos-free life.
A VILLAGE MARKET
A village market is a market where the village people buy and sell things of their day-to-day use. It is a place of great noise and bustle during market hours.
There are two kinds of village market – the daily market and the periodic market. The daily market is held in the forenoon and the periodic market is held once or twice a week in the afternoon. Crowds of people gather in the market for making sales and purchases.
A village market is generally held in an open place by the side of a river or a canal or a road. It is divided broadly into three parts – open space, temporary shades and permanent shades. In the open space, shops of the same kind sit together. Here milk, fruit, betels, vegetables, fish, etc. are sold.
In the temporary sheds there sit the grocers who deal in oil, salt, cloves, pepper, pen, ink, paper, copy books etc. These sheds are made in rows with sufficient space in between two rows for the buyers to move freely. The area where the fishermen sit for the sale of fish is the most crowded part in the market.
The remaining part of the market consists of permanent shops or stalls, also arranged in rows. Here the shopkeepers sell rice, wheat, pulse, flour, sugar, fried rice, gur, ghee, spices, cloth and other useful things. This part of the market is less crowded, because the things sold there are not usually of daily need. Fish, milk, vegetables, rice, pulse, eggs, poultry are generally cheaper in a village market because these are available in villages. Clothes, shoes, suitcases and other fancy goods are dearer, because they are here from towns paying charges of conveyance.
The village market is not free from its drawbacks. There is no fixed price of articles here. Another defect is its unclean condition. There are no public sweepers to sweep away rubbish and filth from the market.
In spite of all these, the village market does great service to the rural people. It saves them from the trouble and expenses of going to a distant place to buy things of daily use. It is the meeting place of the village people and they also get news and views from here.
A VILLAGE MARKET
A village market is a market where the village people buy and sell things of their day-to-day use. It is a place of great noise and bustle during market hours.
There are two kinds of village market – the daily market and the periodic market. The daily market is held in the forenoon and the periodic market is held once or twice a week in the afternoon. Crowds of people gather in the market for making sales and purchases.
A village market is generally held in an open place by the side of a river or a canal or a road. It is divided broadly into three parts – open space, temporary shades and permanent shades. In the open space, shops of the same kind sit together. Here milk, fruit, betels, vegetables, fish, etc. are sold.
In the temporary sheds there sit the grocers who deal in oil, salt, cloves, pepper, pen, ink, paper, copy books etc. These sheds are made in rows with sufficient space in between two rows for the buyers to move freely. The area where the fishermen sit for the sale of fish is the most crowded part in the market.
The remaining part of the market consists of permanent shops or stalls, also arranged in rows. Here the shopkeepers sell rice, wheat, pulse, flour, sugar, fried rice,gur, ghee, spices, cloth and other useful things. This part of the market is less crowded, because the things sold there are not usually of daily need. Fish, milk,
vegetables, rice, pulse, eggs, poultry are generally cheaper in a village market because these are available in villages. Clothes, shoes, suitcases and other fancy goods are dearer, because they are here from towns paying charges of conveyance.
The village market is not free from its drawbacks. There is no fixed price of articles here. Another defect is its unclean condition. There are no public sweepers to sweep away rubbish and filth from the market.
In spite of all these, the village market does great service to the rural people. It saves them from the trouble and expenses of going to a distant place to buy things of daily use. It is the meeting place of the village people and they also get news and views from here.
A VILLAGE MARKET
Bangladesh is a country of villages. A village market is the heart of the villages. It throbs with the activities of the village. Every village in Bangladesh has got a bazar or market where the village people meet to buy and sell their daily necessaries. It is a place of hustle and bustle during market hours.
A village market is generally held in an open place by the side of either a river or a canal. It is so situated for the convenience of transport and communication with other villages. A number of roads connect it with the neighbouring villages.
The village market is divided broadly into three parts ---- open space, temporary sheds and permanent sheds. In the open space, shops of the same kind cluster together. Here milk, fruit, betels, vegetables, fish etc are sold. The stalls for fish, betel and vegetables of various kinds are spread in order. In the temporary sheds, sit the grocers who deal in oil, salt, cloves, pepper, pen, ink, paper and copy-books etc. These sheds are erected in rows so that the buyers may move freely. The other part of the market consists of permanent shops or stalls, arranged in rows. Here the shop-keepers sell rice, wheat, pulse, flour, sugar, ghee, spices, cloth and other useful things.
With the permanent shopkeepers or stall-keepers, the price is more or less fixed. The crowd in the open space is the densest, for here our daily necessaries are sold. Therewhere the fishermen sit for the sale of fish is the most crowded part in the market. But the area of the permanent shops or stalls is comparatively less frequented. Fish, milk, vegetables and fruits are the articles of trade in the daily gathering.
The things come from the adjoining villages. Some of the villagers come here to buy, some come here to sell and some come here to do both. There are some people who come here neither to sell nor to buy. The children also take share of joy as holiday to buy something from the market. The fish market is the greatest attraction of the villages. Other things which attract them most are the canvassers who sell medicine etc by marking eloquent speeches or beating drums.
A village market is the ready market of the agricultural goods and village products and builds the economy of the village. It is very useful to the villagers. Thousands and thousands of men come from all the villages round the market and make it a scene of great activity and brisk business. Here they can buy things that are necessary in their day-today life. It provides them an opportunity to sell the things they produce. It fulfils the basic needs of the people including employment. It boosts up economic activities of the people and makes then financially viable. It also serves as a meeting place for friends and relatives.
The village market is not free from its drawbacks. There is no fixed price of articles here. Higgling is the most prominent here. Another disadvantage of a village market is its unclean condition. It is dusty in the dry season and muddy in the rainy season.
A village market is the integral part of the rural life. It renders a great service to the rural people. It is a very important part in the economic life of the villagers. The government or the local authorities plan to make a village market an ideal place for trade and commerce.
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