We are going to discuss the questions about Mr. Sharifuzzaman Sohel's letter: (a) What is freedom? and (b) Prostitution and Pornography are not freedom; polygamy and promiscuity are two sides of the same coin. Friendship, freedom, and love are important for positive communication. Audrey Hepburn was divorced twice, and in the end she developed a friendship for many years. Marriage is a controversial and confusing concept! Studies and statistics have shown that there are thousands of children both in Bangladesh, as well as in other countries, who suffer because of unhealthy and toxic relationship between parents. A few months ago, Prof. Rabbani wrote that he thinks that marriage and the family is still an existing institution, however, if we look at the high rate of dysfunctional families and the sufferings of children that we have studied, we can agree that marriage is a dead institution. Marriage is a confusing institution (The Death of Marriage, Single Women and Children in Europe, January 20, 1997, Newsweek). Extravagance of marriage ceremonies, divorce, stress, harassment by in-laws, cheating, the woman becomes a housewife, and she also has a building named after her. Division of labour (divided spheres, and woman's place in the home) does not allow a woman to seek proper education and to develop a balanced personality. A woman is not "Oshohai Obola Nari" (Damsel in distress). Mr. Sharifuzzaman Sohel (letter, Oct. 20, 2004) should join discussions about freedom, and try to understand what the word freedom means.Money can't buy freedom. "Freedom is that what you've got, when you've got nothing more to lose." This means that we have to overcome greed and search for the important qualities of life. A saint, a Sufi, or a Buddhist monk is not in search of a BMW, lots of money, and a housewife as a slave. In today's world, there are some people who study BBA or MBA and their aim in life is to buy, to sell, and to hoard money and to conduct "business", even if he or she has to sell the soul to the devil in order to make money. We would also like to ask, what is prostitution and pornography? Mr. Sohel mentions that it happens in Bangladesh, and it happens more in the west. We just want to say that prostitution and pornography happens everywhere in the world. In front of GQ Magazine, for men, it says "A Magazine with Sports, Sex, and Booze". Firstly, these magazines and prostitute institutes are funded by pimps and the customers are male. These industries are inhuman and unhealthy.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.