And last, yours truly:

4) Elena Petrova – M-degree in Philosophy, married to a South African man for more than 5 years, currently living in Australia. We have two children, a boy and a girl.

Back in Russia, I used to be a regional manager of a large marketing agency, having 150 people working for me. My income would fit into top 10% of population. My website Russian Brides Cyber Guide (http://www.womenrussia.com) is one of most popular places for information about Russia and Russian women – even school kids writing essays about Russia use it.

So – what do you think about real-life Russian brides? Do they sound like low-class, desperate silly girls “selling themselves”?

No. Neither their husbands are unattractive old losers.

Take my husband for example: he used to be a top-manager of a corporate company, head of finance department, and a successful athlete as well - running marathons and ultra-marathons, and has got 3 medals for toughest Comrades Marathon, which is 90 km through hills (the ones who run marathons will know what it means!). 6’4” tall and trim, you think he could not find anyone at his home country?!

So WHY those men and women set up to look elsewhere for marriage partners?

The answer is simple: CHOICE!

They can find a better quality partner abroad that is available for them at their home countries.

That’s it.

No hidden agenda, “buying women” – “selling themselves”, just natural human desire.

Forget “mail order brides” nonsense – fact that people marry somebody from a different country than their own is a natural attribute of Internet age where national borders started to fade.

We live in interesting times, pals. Embrace opportunities!

What is more important is that leisure time activities of both student and non-student youth are so organised that they provide for healthy recreation and constructive work habits. As is evident, a youth feels more at home within his age-group. Therefore, to reach them, it is but natural to take help of more active groups among them.

In Bangladesh, a strong emphasis has been placed on awareness building against drug-abuse among youth as they are considered to be most precious asset for human resource development. Financial and technical assistance is provided by government and NGO's to help them undertake activities such as socio cultural programmes. Experience has shown such programmes have a salutary impact, if backed by a good follow-up programme.

It has also been realised that youth power can be harnessed not only from preventing youths from malady of addiction but also by improving environment they live in. One such example is "Rainy Day" concert organised by Prothom Alo to observe International Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking. Some 15000 youths saying 'No to drugs' vowed to launch a nationwide movement against drug.

I take my hats off to Anusheh who had gut to narrate her once drug addicted life. Anusheh, you can be a good ambassador to help drug addicts return to their original track. Such activities/programmes help to identify addicts in their own peer groups. Dare devils as youth are, they prove to be an asset in reaching rather inaccessible areas of community, such as, pockets of addiction.

Many a time, due to their connection with traffickers, pushers and pedlars, it becomes difficult to impress upon addicts to leave their habit. It is here that youths, voluntary organisations have not only been able to create awareness but also have been able to muster support for combating trafficking, pushing and peddling drug. ----------------------------------------