Dhaka, Sept. 25 -- It's a small incident but indicative of the Sin City mood. I hand over Tk 10,000 in Tk 500 bills to the Bkash shop. My regular man is missing so he is a default guy. The man starts counting and then tells me that I am 500 short. I see him take a note and drop it on his drawer. I ask, "What about that note?" He says, "That's my money."

He speaks confidently like a man used to it. I have counted the notes many times so i know I am right but I can do or say nothing. I give him an extra 500 note. I wanted a receipt of sorts but he refuses. I ask for an sms and he says," I can't do it." He is not grumpy but plainly brushes me off. He knows i can do nothing.

In Sin City life is not easy if one is 68 years old, has no connec...