Short story from Rafiul Islam

South Asian teen boy with short brown hair and a white collared school uniform shirt.
Rafiul Islam

An Unbelievable Cave

There were three friends. Their names are Fahim, Rahim and Jasim. They were very good friends among them. They love floating in different places. They have gone to many beautiful places together. So this time they plan to go to Mahasthanagarh.

So they packed their clothes. Then, Fahim said, I will pack the clothes but how many days we will stay there? Jasim said, it is better if we go for three days. We can look the whole place carefully. Then Fahim said, then we will go for three days. But where will we stay there? Rahim said, we will rent a hotel for three days. Then they rented a hotel. The next day they started to go to Mahasthangarh. After reaching Mahasthangarh, they rested. And started wandering around Mahasthangarh. They have some foods. They thought that they would eat the food after walking around. And there was a big carpet with them.

After walking some time they saw a strange cave. But in front of the cave there were a lot of small stones. So they could not enter inside the cave. Fahim said, we should not enter inside the cave. There can be some danger. Then Jasim and Rahim said we really want to go inside the cave. But Fahim did not say anything else. Then they moved the stones together. But it took a long time. It was almost evening, then Rahim said, it would not be right to go inside the cave. So they went to their rented hotel. They spent the night at the hotel.

The next day morning, they decided to go inside the cave. They also bought more foods for their safety. Then they started their walking inside the cave. The another point came out of the cave after walking a long time. They go outside and find that they have come to a jungle. They started exploring the jungle. But the problem is that they came to the jungle through that cave they forgot the way to go back to the cave. It was afternoon, they thought they have to make a camp to spend the night. But how to build a camp is not known to them.

Then Fahim said, I saw my uncle’s making a camp. So I can try. After that, Fahim made a camp that is not so good but useful to them. They spent their night at the useful camp. The next day, there was shortage of their foods. Then they were thinking how to find out the way of the cave. Rahim said, when I was walking through the cave I saw a sharp stone and I marked the way to the trees. But I didn’t give  the sign for a long time. So we have to find that marked trees. And we have to collect some foods. And Jasim knows about jungle very well. So Jasim started to collect some foods from the jungle. On the other side, Fahim and Rahim started to find the signed trees. They said that they must have to return before the evening. 

Jasim collected some fruits and got a fish. But Fahim and Rahim have not yet found the signed trees. But they found another cave. They thought they should check the another cave because that can be the another way to go out from the jungle. So, they entered the cave. They were surprised when they entered the another cave. They saw the cave was fulfilled by gold and diamonds. But it was almost evening, so they returned from the cave faster. And they said to Jasim everything that happened. Jasim was also surprised. They haven’t got a lot of foods. But they ate some foods and spent the night. And they kept some fruits and canned water for the next day.

The next day, they all went out towards the marked tree. And brought them each one flutes for entertainment. The three flutes had different sounds. They are three. Goes three sides towards and says that if one played flutes twice then he can see the marked tree. After a long time Rahim found the trees that he marked and he played his flute twice. Then Fahim and Jasim heard the sound of the flute and they came fast to Rahim. And they came out of that beautiful forest.

But they thought what will they do with the gold and diamonds. Rahim said, we should inform the government gold collectors. So they did that. And the three friends came back to their home happily. Those three friends are rewarded for their informing to the government gold collectors. And the wealth of the cave will be used for the honor of our country.

Md. Rafiul Islam is a student of grade 7 in Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh.

Essay from Tasirul Islam

South Asian older teen boy with short brown hair, brown eyes, and a white collared shirt with a school emblem on the right breast. He's standing next to a calendar.
Tasirul Islam
My Motherland

Motherland is our born land. It give us love . A mother takes care of her children like that, similarly motherland places us in her bosom . Motherland is a place where we took breath and learn to speak and walk. My mother land name is Bangladesh. It is a south Asia country. It has become independent in 1971by the supreme sacrifice of our freedom fighters. It's population is about 180 million the Muslims, the Hindus, the Buddhists, the Christians live here in peace. Most of the people are Muslims here. It has many rivers. There are Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Karnafuli, Brumbhaoputra etc . It has many model mosques. 

My mother land is a small country and beautiful country. There are attractive places of our country such as the Sundarbans Rangamati, Cox's Bazar, Kuakata etc. There are some historical places in my mother land: Paharpur, Buddha Bihar and Shat Gombuj Mosque at Bagerhat, Mohasthangar etc. The soil of our country is very fertile. The name of some main fruits are mango, banana, jackfruit, guava, pineapple, watermelon, etc. My mother land has 64 districts and 8th divisions. Bangladesh is peaceful because  Militancy is very rare in my mother land. Good law is established in my mother land. I love my mother land. I AM very proud of my mother land.      
                                                         
Md. Tasirul Islam is a student of grade 9 in Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh.

Poetry from Muntasir Mamun Kiron

South Asian teen boy with a white collared school uniform shirt and short brown hair standing in front of an open window on a sunny day.

Eternal Dance of Creation

Beneath the sky so vast and blue,

Nature weaves its wondrous hue.

Mountains rise and rivers flow,

In every corner, life’s aglow.

Whispering leaves and songs of birds,

The gentle buzz, nature’s words.

Sunsets paint with fiery grace,

Nature’s beauty, a sacred space.

Open fields and forests deep,

Secrets in their shadows are kept.

Oh, nature’s touch, so pure, so free,

A symphony of life’s decree.

Muntasir Mamun Kiron is a student of grade 9 in Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh.

Short story from Nurujjaman

Young South Asian preteen boy with short brown hair and a collared white shirt with a school emblem
Nurujjaman
Love Marriage


Jisan now studies in the step of B.A. That was 4 years ago. He was studying in class of eleven, then. At that time in class 9 in his school, there were 40 students. They lived in harmony with each other. At that time, Jisan disliked one of his girlfriends very much. His girlfriend's name was Asha. Jisan could not bear the hope with his two eyes. He treated Asha very badly. He did not like her. Asha also did not like Jisan at that time. They both did not like each other. Asha's house and Jisan's house were in the same village. Asha was always annoyed by Jisan. Jisan was very mischievous at that time. Then, when they passed SSC exam and entered class eleven, they still get admission in the same school. A boy named Sijan liked Asha then.  He was talking to Asha on mobile. Sijan and Jisan's house was a little apart. Jisan learnt about the incident since Sijan started liking Asha. When Sijan talked to Asha, Jisan listened all the conversations. Jisan and Sijan were good friends. Sijan slowly related to Asha. Jisan taked Asha's mobile number in secret from Sijan one day and Jisan started annoyance to Asha. Slowly, Asha stopped talking to Sijan. Jisan was the one, she talked to most of the times. Suddenly, one day Asha's father came to know that his daughter talked to Jisan.  He called Jisan and said "Don't talk to my daughter after today!" Then love started between Jisan and Asha. 

Jisan didn't talk on the phone but he still talked outside or at school. A few days passed like this. Asha's father again found out that Jisan was talking to Asha. Asha's father told Jisan again that, Jisan should not talked to his daughter. A few days later, Jisan started talking to Asha again. Jisan was a non-stop slave. He thought that he would leave Asha after getting married. Though Jisan could not tolerate Asha, now Jisan is madly in love with her. Asha also began to love him. Both started loving each other. When Asha's family pressed on Jisan, Jisan did not back down.

All his friends also slowly came to know that, the two of them were in love. Everyone started talking about them. Jisan's family did not say anything about it, but Asha's family could not accept it. Asha's father decided to send her away so that Jisan could forget her. But Jisan would never forget hope. Indeed, Asha was admitted by her family to a residential college far away. Jisan did not know where Asha was admitted at first.  Later, Asha called Jisan on his mobile and said, "I am in Asian College. Dad left me in this college." Jisan went there the next day and took Asha with him and went for a walk. The college teacher noticed that. He told Asha's father about that. Asha's father then took the marriage proposal to Jisan's house and said, "My daughter must marry your son. He has been dating my daughter for a long time. He is not leaving my daughter’s behind." He also said, "If your son marry Asha and you are willing to give, my family will hopefully accept Jisan immediately." 

Because, Asha's family was furious. But, Jisan's father did not agree with this comment. He did not want to marry off his son at such a young age. Moreover, Jisan did not do any work. So, he was not happy with that comment. Jisan's father said to Jisan, "Dad! Don't follow Asha anymore. You will marry her when you grow up." But, Jisan said, "No, Dad. I will marry with Asha now. But her father did not marry him at such a young age. Jisan told his father the next day, "Dad! I will kill myself if you don't manage Asha soon." Then Jisan's father said, "You don't have to do this. You are not of marriageable age now. Besides, you are not a working man. I either accept Asha. But what will you feed Asha after marriage? So, if you establish yourself I confirm you the marriage.

Still Jisan said, "No Dad, I will get married soon." So his father said, "Okay. you can do it after your HSC exam in next 2 years. Although Jisan was not very happy with his father's decision. There was nothing he could do about that, so he agreed to the decision. They completed their HSC exam and got married. Jisan's father died a few days after the marriage. The family was supported by the income earned by Jisan's father. How to proceed now? Now, all the responsibilities of the family are on Jisan.

By now, Jisan understood why his father did not want to give him the permision for marriage. But, Jisan realized it too lately. There was nothing to do, he had to run the family. So, he went looking for a job. He got a job as an actor, where he had to work for a a movie with a girl. Jisan had no other work at hand. Meanwhile, there was tension in the family. But, Asha said, she would not let Jisan doing that. Because Jisan had no choice, he was forced to do that. When Jisan went to shoot, Asha was crying that her husband would act with another girl! Asha told Jisan one day, "If you go shooting again, I won't have a relationship with you anymore." Hearing this, Jisan fell into a great danger. His wife on one side, half-completed film on the other. He could not decide which one he would choose. So, he got tensed. If the film was not completed, he would not get the full amount for his job! The next morning when the film director called Jisan, why was he late, Asha then picked up the phone and told that Jisan would not go there again.

Then Jisan had no other way. The money Jisan earned as an
actor, after a few days it ran out. Jisan on the other hand, couldn't find any work. Jisan and Asha starved for a day and Asha brings Jisan to her father's house. Then, Asha's father said to Jisan and Asha, "Your desire to get married is satisfied? You had grown big wings to get married, now where are they! I forbade you to get married, even if you disobeyed me. Any of you in my house, Don’t give up!"Theybecame destitute. There is a saying, "It hurts too much!", so too much work is not good, which Jisan and Asha feel in their bones.   Prince Jisan is now a farmer and runs the family as a day laborer. They have now, "After meat comes mustard!"

Nurujjaman is a student of grade 9 in Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh.

Poetry from Monira Mahbub

South Asian girl with a denim vest and blue baseball cap standing in front of a leafy tree
Monira Mahbub
Education

Education means light
Again asset
Education makes one great
Education is knowledge
A change of attitude
An art and enjoyment
A power to build oneself a human.

29 August, 2023.
Monira Mahbub is a student of grade 6 in Nawabganj Government Girls' High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh.

Poetry from Mahbub Alam

Poet Mahbub, a South Asian man with dark hair and glasses and a suit and tie
Poet Mahbub Alam
The suffocating dream

Nowadays I sleep in fear
The world is open but covered with darkness for some
The warning bell is ringing
Some dance on the stage
On the other some are firing
Through all you can see the light of the moon
The death-the dancing
The bodies quickly get mingled with soil under the ground
I suddenly shouted with the suffocating scene in my sleep.

 
Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh
11 October, 2023



War

This is cobweb in the corner of my room
In some places the strings break making the hole
The humanity rolls into the trap for survival
The war is like an enigma
 'Who will bell the cat?'
No one steps for negotiation 
The people are dying like the insects
In this dire situation of struggle
How to finish the tale?
War is like a cave
Where people plunge into the horror of darkness
War, why are you weaving the clothes for death
I cry for.


Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh
11 October, 2023

Poetry from Don Bormon

Young South Asian teen with short brown hair, brown eyes, and a white collared shirt with a school emblem on the breast.
Don Bormon
My Best Friend 

Oh, Wazed, my cherished dearest friend,
A bond that time cannot transcend.
Through laughter, tears, and all life's bends,
Our camaraderie shall never end.

In moments of darkness, you bring the light,
Guiding me through the darkest night.
With words of wisdom and calm insight,
You make every burden become light.

Your heart so pure, your spirit so kind,
A true companion, one of a kind.
In your presence, solace I find,
A treasure in this world, hard to find.

You fill my days with joy and cheer,
With your laughter, the skies appear clear.
Together we conquer, with no fear,
For our friendship's embrace is sincere.

In memories we create, forever we'll dwell,
The stories we share, our tales to tell.
Through thick and thin, forever compelled,
With you, Wazed, my dear friend, all is well.

So here's to you, Wazed, my closest confidant,
A friendship so precious, no words can supplant.
May the bond we share forever enchant,
My dear friend, in my heart, you'll always remain, nonchalant.

Don Bormon is a student of grade 8 in Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh.