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Dhaka Day by Day

Changing Attitudes To Occupations

by A S M Nurunnabi
With the passage of time, changes take place in our attitude and mentality towards many things. In general, the pact of such changes is influenced by factors of diverse character including social, economic and political ones. In this light, a significant change seems to have taken place in respect of our attitude towards many occupations.
The problem of unemployment affecting our educated youths is very acute. Opportunities for employment for such unemployed young people in the traditional fields have shrunk. On the other hand, hundreds of educated youths are passing out of their educational institutions. swelling the ranks of. the unemployed.
In this context, some noteworthy changes in our outlook towards certain occupations in tl^ city are In evidence, testifying to a new direction in our concept of the dignity of labour. Some educated unemployed youths are heard to complain that no suitable occupation is open for them. In their cases, some social superstitions and conventional prejudices stand in the way of their choice.
However, we are increasingly finding an other side to the picture. Nowadays many educated youths, overcoming age-old superstitions and prejudices, are found to venture into new pastures under the pressure of the need for earning a livelihood
Take for instance, the employment situation in the city's Chinese restaurants. In the roughly estimated fifty Chinese restaurants spread all over the city, there are about 500 employees. Most of these employees who serve food at these restaurants are found to be edu cated youths nowadays Some of them are graduates and even post-graduates. They are reportedly leading an interesting life with a fairly reasonable pay supplemented by tips.
Mazhar All la pseudonym) working in a well-known Chinese restaurant, is a student of History at the Dhaka University Asked whether he feels any Inferiority complex or frustration in respect of his job he strongly gave his reply in the negative, adding that there should be no feeling of shame in earning one's living In an honest way He feels strongly
that the social prejudice in treating such jobs lowly will gradually disappear under pressure of economic necessity. While our youngmen staying abroad do not hesitate to do such Jobs, he finds no reason why only social prejudice should stand in the way of our educated young men accepting such jobs within the country. He feels that a progressive outlook on earning an honest living without being dependent on others and a greater awareness of the dignity of labour under changed socio-economic conditions, will gradually help in opening up similar opportunities for employment In other fields for our educated unemployed youths.
Such opportunities already exist in the long route coach service linking the capital with some of our Important cities. Some enterprising and hardworking young men have given a modern touch to such service by working as guides. These guides can be seen on any of the modern air-conditioned coaches operating between Dhaka and Chittagong. They are a modern version of coach supervisors of earlier times. They are seen to take keen interest in making the long Journey comfortable and entertaining. There are about 250 young educated guides working on the long range coach services operated by Dolphin. Sohag. Challenger. Green Line etc Most of them are said to be graduates, some of them are even pursuing further studies at the university. The role that these guides play in the air-conditioned coach-services is like that of stewards on passenger planes. Their duties mainly con sist in supplying snacks and cold drinks to the passengers, fixing their headphones to enable them to enjoy taped music and attending to their inconvenience or complaints.
In this capita) city, there are many unemployed young men. some of whom lead a life of frustration on various excuses. Yet there are some others who banking on a spirit of enter prise and. challenge, are taking up occupations such as these. They are not deterred by sneers of some sections of society who regard such occupations as lowly Ignoring such social prej udices. they stride with determination in to a career of honest earning.