Editorial 7th of March

Have you ever got really angry about something? I am sure you have. For example, let's say that you walk in to a shop to buy beer. Ok.. Wait! Beer is not a good example, because in Bangladesh you cant walk in to a shop to buy beer. A big problem for us alcoholics. Then again, for a country with an Everest size of mountain of problems it is a very good thing, that drunk driving isnt even close to the peak. Bizarre, dangerous, mad, crazy and just f*ing insane driving on the other hand are, but let's leave it there.

Where was I? Oh yes! Let's say you walk into a shop to buy bee..er. No! Carrots! We all love carrots. Also here in Bangladesh people love carrots. Carrots are good. Very good. I admit that they are no saints amongst the vegetables and fruits, but certainly not like those evil apples or those slimy bananas.

So carrots. You go to buy some frigging carrots and you notice that those bastards have raised the damn price again! Carrots that you love so much are getting more and more expensive! You are stunned and you feel the rage inside of you growing. This is not right! Ngggghhhhaaarrragh! (I am trying to put this rage into a written format, but I think I am not succeeding)

What is there to do? How can you prevent this outragous violation of your and all the other carrot lovers rights to buy your favourite vegetables at reasonable price? Bangladesh shows the world the way.

In Bangladesh, which is a multiparty democrazy country, there are, of course, a lot of people with opinions. And no, opinions are not like assholes. I have met lots people who havent got any. Opinions, I mean. Anyway, In Bangladesh people form parties very eagerly. The problem occurs, when people who cant read or write go to vote for their favourite party. How can they pick the right party from the written list of over 2000 parties. To solve this problem, goverment issued a symbol for every party. A symbol like an umbrella, a TV, a car, a rickshaw, a bottle(!), a cricket bat, you name it!

Political posters, ads and events always include this symbol so that the people can vote for the right party in the voting booth.

So who do you vote for, if your beloved carrots have again become more expensive? The Carrot party, of course!

I know who I would vote for. The level of my favourite sport in my country is very bad and the national team coach should be sacked. My vote surely would go to the Football party. Mursu! Grr!

Interesting facts

Did you know that general strikes occur here on monthly basis? They are called Hartals. The opposition is trying to influence goverments policy of running things in this country. Hartals could be described as non-cooperation days. More than that, they are supposed to be also non-violent days of protesting against the goverment. Oddly enough, Hartals always end up with good amount of random beatings on the streets of Dhaka.

I heard a story about one Finnish guy who drove his car to the center of the city during Hartal. Unaware of the dangers he was enjoying the empty streets and pollution free air. He came upon a road block and few strike pickets (lakkovahti) approached him saying: "Excuse me Sir, could you step out of the car please? I am afraid we have to burn it." Luckily this Finnish guy realized that they were not joking and did a dramatic hand brake turn and speeded away from the scene. He saved his dear old four wheeler.

Hartals are very bad for the image of this country. Who would want to invest money to here, where people are on strike almost one month every year. One of the big ones in the Everest sized mountain of problems.

I took my first Hartal walk yesterday and I enjoyed the empty streets very much. Children seemed to enjoy Hartal too. Obviously no school!

Bangladesh News Flash (Week 2)

10 trucks full of arms discovered in Chittagong! Read all about!

http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/03/30/d4033001033.htm

A talented Finnish writer published in the web! Read all about it!

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