weekend tribune vol 3 issue 8

4 The NaTioNal BudgeT 6 Travel

hawaii 20 Top 10 NosTalgia

vol 3 issue 8 | FridaY, JuNe 12, 2015 Dhaka Tribune

Dear Readers,With Ramadan around the corner and the mercury climbing steadily, there seems to be an atmosphere of frenzy beneath the calm of every day.

Just recently, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a historic first visit to Bangladesh, the results of which has the Internet bursting with speculation, hopes and fears. While it remains to be seen how the LBA pact pans out, we take a look back at the long conversation about our enclaves, and how the agreement could impact the people living there. While on the topic of neighbourly feelings, columnist Nirupama Subramanian comes out of her hiatus with a lovely piece on discovering the hidden beauty of life in Bangladesh.

Another bit of news on everyone’s mind has been the national budget. We discuss how the new figures may affect us in various aspects of our lives in the coming year.

We’ve got a mix of the old and the new. Today marks the World Day Against Child Labour, and so we take a moment to discuss the status of child labour issues in Bangladesh. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we take a moment to consider the lives of the elderly and their sentiments.

Take a look at our wonderfully green photo story for an eye refresher, and pack your bags as Team Onetimefashionista takes you to the exotic sands of Hawaii.

Here’s wishing you an entertaining week ahead.Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

Photo: Sabrina Munni

Stars on the green

Editor’s note

WEEKEN D TRI BU N E | FRI DAY, J U N E 12, 2015

1CONTENTS

Volume 3 | Issue 8 | June 12, 2015

EditorZafar Sobhan

Features EditorSabrina Fatma Ahmad

Asst Magazine EditorFarina Noireet

Weekend Tribune TeamFaisal MahmudSakib Mridha

Lameya Alma Amin

ContributorsJennifer Ashraf Kashmi

Prakash BhandariTanusree GhoshSabrina MunniSakib Sarker

Shehzaad ShamsAmeer SobhanDina Sobhan

Nirupama Subramanian

CartoonistSyed Rashad Imam Tanmoy

Priyo

GraphicsMd Mahbub AlamAlamgir Hossain

Colour SpecialistShekhar Mondal

AdvertisementZia Ur Rahman

ProductionMasum Billah

CirculationMasud Kabir Pavel

Websitedhakatribune.com/weekendfacebook.com/WeekendTrib

Email your letters to:[email protected]

ISSuEChild labour

12

News 2 News

3 Meanwhile

FeatuRes 5 Focus

indo-bangla ties

8 Slice of Life old age

16 Inside Out Reflections

20 Top 10

Nostalgia

RegulaRs14 Legalese

15 Tough Love

18 Stay In

19 Go Out

TravELhawaii

PhOTO STOryiNdoor plaNtS

4

6

9

FOCuSthe NatioNal budget


2 NEwS | This week

15 dead as Boko Haram attacks village in NE Nigeria

Alaska’s wolves face catastropheSoutheast Alaska’s isolated wolf population has declined by 60% in just one year, dropping from an estimated 221 individuals in 2013 to 89 wolves in 2014, according to the US Forest Service.

Those numbers are already outdated. Another 29 wolves were reportedly killed in the 2014–2015 hunting and trapping season.

The figures were reported in a brief written by US Forest Service officials who worked with Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game to update the region’s wolf population estimates.

The final report is expected to be released by the end of the week, but the early summary has prompted conservationists to call for an expedited endangered species listing for the reclusive subspecies.

“You’re talking about an animal that is so hard for researchers to find that they’ve only radio collared two in the past two years to study,” said Larry Edwards, forest campaigner with Greenpeace in Sitka, Alaska.

“They need protection now, before it’s too late.”

The Alexander Archipelago wolf range includes the entire 500-mile-long, 120-mile-wide Alaskan panhandle, and the animals mostly stay in the dense tree cover provided by the 17-million-acre Tongass National Forest. A majority of the wolves live on Prince of Wales Island. Some scientists believe they could be their own genetically distinct wolf subset.

Instead of trapping and counting the wolves, researchers placed hair trap snags—wood boards with barbed wire attached—in a section of the Tongass to determine the population. The scented boards attract the wolves, which rub against them and leave hair follicles behind. Scientists retrieve the hair and extrapolate how many wolves are in the area based on how many different hair samples are left behind and how frequently the wolves return.Photo: Reuters

Fifteen people were killed when Boko Haram attacked a remote village in northeast Nigeria, opening fire and burning homes to the ground, three residents told AFP on Tuesday.

The attack happened at about 2:00 pm (1300 GMT) on Monday in Huyum, in the Askira-Uba district of Borno state which locals say has been hit repeatedly in recent weeks by the Islamist militants.

“The whole village was burnt by Boko Haram gunmen. We lost around 500 homes,” said Bukar Zira, who fled to the commercial hub of Mubi in neighbouring Adamawa state as the rebels moved in.

Zira said the insurgents surrounded the village and opened fire before moving in, sprinkling petrol on homes, many of which are mud-brick with straw roofs, then setting them alight.

“We have so far lost 15 people

and one was injured. People in the whole village moved out to different parts of Borno and Adamawa,” he added

Another resident, Peter Malgwui, said Boko Haram had mounted several raids against neighbouring villages in recent weeks, looting food supplies and homes.

“They completely burnt the whole village. Not a single home has been spared,” he added, giving the same death toll as Zira.

The attack is the 12th since Muhammadu Buhari became Nigeria’s new president on May 29. A total of 109 people have been killed, according to AFP reporting.

Buhari, a former military ruler and retired army general, has made crushing Boko Haram a priority for his administration after six years of violence and at least 15,000 deaths.Photo: AFP

The world at a glance

Members of Bangladesh Jihadi Group, a platform of local militant groups who follow the strategies of international terrorist organisation Islamic State, were planning to kill noted persons of the country, after collecting money by robbing two banks, detectives say.

The platform was launched last year with members of banned groups – Harkat-ul Jihad Al Islami Bangladesh (HujiB), Ansarullah Bangla Team and Jama’atul Mujahideen

Bangladesh (JMB) – only to dodge the eye of the law enforcers and escape from the punishment under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The militant groups earlier used to get financial support from different foreign NGOs, locally influential businessmen and well-wishers. Due to strict vigilance and the arrest of some financiers, funding has became hard for them, Sanowar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of the Detective Branch of police, told the

Dhaka Tribune.“So, in the face of fund crunch,

the militant groups have started committing crimes like bank robbery to run their operations,” he added.

According to the detectives, supporters of the platform were all set to conduct robbery at the branch of a private bank in Saidpur.

Later they were set to kill noted writer Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, also a teacher of the Shahjalal University, and Gonojagoron Moncho

Spokesperson Imran H Sarker, who spearheaded an unprecedented movement demanding death penalty for all war criminals.

The same group earlier targeted secular writer Avijit Roy but another group carried out the murder on February 26. Recently Ansarullah members are suspected for the attack on Avijit and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya.News: Dhaka Tribune

Jihadists planned to kill Zafar Iqbal, Imran Local

Weekend Tribune Desk


MEaNwhILE 3

Photo of the week Say what?

Your’e welcome

911

A little boy trying to sell roses near Dhanmondi Lake, under the scorching sun

Photo: Martin Hannan

Having big muscles might be something to brag about, but not to a 911 operator.

Edward Garcia, 44, was arrested Wednesday evening after making what police said were several 911 calls in which he bragged about his “big muscles” while hitting on the dispatcher, according to Florida Today.

Fruitland Park police said the dispatcher disconnected Garcia’s first call when he asked if she was single.

Garcia reportedly called back two more times to ask the dispatcher’s current relationship status. He was disconnected both times, according to officials.

Police tracked the calls to a campsite at Lake Griffin State Park, but no one was there, according to ClickOrlando.com.

When the responding officer discovered the phone belonged to Edward Garcia, he returned to the campsite which was registered to an “Eduardo Garcia.”

The officer called the number connected to the 911 calls and it rang inside the suspect’s tent.

Garcia was found lying in his tent with an open beer can surrounded by several other cold beers, WESH.com reports.

Police then took Garcia into custody. While he was being taken to the patrol car, he allegedly told the arresting officer he wanted to head butt him and kill him.

Garcia is also accused of spitting on an officer while being taken to the Lake County Jail.

Garcia was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and misuse of the 911 system. He remains behind bars in lieu of $2,500.

Jail records show Garcia was also arrested in January for assaulting a police officer.News and photo: Huffington post

There are far too few resources directly addressing the nonacademic trials and tribulations young entrepreneurs face along their journey. Here are five tips given by entrepreneurship guru Scot Gerber.

1. Focus. Focus. Focus. Many first-time entrepreneurs feel the need to jump at every “opportunity” they come across. Opportunities are often wolves in sheep’s clothing. Avoid getting side-tracked. Juggling multiple ventures will spread you thin and limit both your effectiveness and productivity. Do one thing perfectly, not 10 things poorly. If you feel the need to jump onto another project, that might mean something about your original concept.

2. Know what you do. Do what you know. Don’t start a business simply

because it seems sexy or boasts large hypothetical profit margins and returns. Do what you love. Businesses built around your strengths and talents will have a greater chance of success. It’s not only important to create a profitable business, it’s also important that you’re happy managing and growing it, day in and day out. If your heart isn’t in it, you will not be successful.

3. Say it in 30 seconds or don’t say it at all. From a chance encounter with an investor to a curious customer, always be ready to pitch your business. State your mission, service and goals in a clear and concise manner. Fit the pitch to the person. Less is always more.

4. Know what you know, what you don’t know and who knows what you don’t.

No one knows everything, so don’t come off as a know-it-all. Surround yourself with advisers and mentors who will nurture you to become a better leader and businessman. Find successful, knowledgeable individuals with whom you share common interests and mutual business goals that see value in working with you for the long-term.

5. Act like a start-up. Forget about fancy offices, fast cars and fat expense accounts. Your wallet is your company’s life-blood. Practice and perfect the art of being frugal. Watch every dollar and triple-check every expense. Maintain a low overhead and manage your cash flow effectively. n

Source: Entrepreneur.com

Five tips for first time business owner


The recently unveiled budget for the upcoming fiscal year has been met with a mixture of reactions

much like in past years. The budget had some positive components, such as increased spending in certain development sectors that are crucial to sustaining economic growth. On the other hand, there were also justifiably negative reactions to ideas such as the proposal of imposing VAT on private education institutions.

“Let there be light”Of the many areas in which the government will increase spending, two sectors that stand out are energy and transport. This is in line with the Awami League government’s unwavering commitment to investing in the energy sector so that the ever-growing demand for energy in the country can be met. Additionally, it is also imperative for the growth of the Bangladeshi economy to ensure that the energy sector is consistently focused on in the years to come. While the load shedding situation in Dhaka has improved enormously in the last decade, the problem still remains a fixture in other major cities such as Chittagong. Therefore, increased investments in the energy sector are welcome.

“On the road”Similarly, increasing the level of investment in the transport sector is yet another positive development.

The state of traffic and public transport in Dhaka has been deplorable for much longer than should be reasonably expected of a burgeoning city like Dhaka that, in addition to being the nation’s capital, is also the

financial centre of the country. The transport situation has undoubtedly contributed towards the city’s branding as one of the worst cities in the world to live in. Even – and perhaps especially – outside Dhaka, there should be greater focus on building new roads and highways so that a lack of infrastructure cannot be cited as the reason for decreased economic growth. Interconnectivity between different districts is crucial to spread out the locus of economic activity in Bangladesh and reduce the burden that centralised industries within the city have placed on Dhaka’s shoulders. Thus, increased investments in this sector should continue (and is expected) to be a priority in the years ahead.

“We don’t need no education?”On the other hand, the government’s proposal to impose a 10% VAT on private universities has been chastised. This proposal is somewhat unexpected given the administration’s previous initiatives in the education sector. A significant portion of the Bangladeshi population is still uneducated despite greater access to schools in many pockets of the country through both public and private initiatives. The issue of illiteracy is one that the country has contended with since its inception and although prominent strides have been made in tackling it, the truth remains that a number of students (particularly females) only study till a certain grade after

which they stop going to school. Additionally, when students do study all the way through secondary school and want to enrol in universities, the number of qualified students is generally seen to be greater than the quantity of seats available in public universities. Once these students find themselves unable to enrol in public universities, they usually turn to private universities. By imposing a 10 percent tax on private universities, the government has increased the burden on the students of such universities who are already having a tough time paying the enormous rates of tuition and other related costs.

A cursory look at the demographics of students enrolled in some of the leading private universities in Dhaka will show that a prominent section of the student population is from districts outside Dhaka. Students coming from outside Dhaka who have family members in the city are, in most cases, able to escape the cost of rent and food in what is an extremely expensive city to live in for those on a limited income. For those

not so lucky, this tax will result in massive expenses because the cost of living in Dhaka - mainly due to the extravagant levels of rent and the rising cost of food - can often be precipitously close to equalling more than half the cost of tuition itself. Many of these private universities are already doling out degrees whose standards are not commensurate with the levels expected of them, let alone international markers. Whether many of the students matriculating from these universities have been given the necessary skills development training and academic preparation required to enter the job market is another issue altogether, but the government’s proposal to impose taxes in this sector is inexplicably unfair.

Although the current administration’s focus on development initiatives is commendable, it would be adopting a self-defeating approach to nation-building if, in the process of expanding its revenue-generating base, it puts pressure on key areas such as the education sector to reach its goals. n

4 FOCuS | The NaTioNal BudgeT

Show me the moneypitfalls and silver linings in the National budgetAmeer Sobhan

Photos: Bigstock


a new beginning for India-Bangladesh?iNdo-BaNgla Ties | FOCuS 5

The ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement between Bangladesh and India by Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina’s cabinet would ensure that the Bangladesh parliament would also green-light the proposal’s implementation.

The LBA, also referred to as the Indira-Mujib agreement, was signed in May 1974 for exchanging enclaves between the two countries.

The Bangladesh parliament had ratified the agreement, but it was not done by India. But now, since both houses of Parliament have passed the bill, it would go to the state assemblies – Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and West Bengal – for formal approvals.

The agreement was delayed by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s assassination that took place in August 1975. By that time India had already been brought under ‘emergency’ by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and had other priorities to handle.

There was another reason for shelving the LBA agreement – the Indian government was also watching the political changes in Bangladesh in the post-Mujib era.

In the present scheme, the Bangladesh cabinet secretary M Musharraf Bhuiyan said, Dhaka would gain 10,041.63 acres from India – Bangladesh would get a total of 111 enclaves covering 17,160.63 acres, while India would get 51 enclaves covering 7,119 acres.

Currently, the number of people in the Bangladeshi enclaves is 37,386, while the number in the 51 Indian enclaves is 14,090.

“It would serve as a catalyst for improving trust, connectivity, secure borders, and systematic and sustainable development,” says Farzan Rahman, an IT professional from Dhaka.

The LBA’s complexities and follies

were the result of the indiscriminate division of villages before Partition in 1947.

Muhammed Zamir, a former career diplomat who served in the Pakistan foreign service, says the Radcliffe Boundary Commission, which was set up by the British government prior to the division of India, should be blamed for all the mistakes made during Partition.

“Radcliffe was superficial in his approach to task given to him. He was not sensitive to prevailing issues and his haste in submitting the commissions’ report left a number of omissions that resulted in suffering for a large number of people,” says Zamir.

“It was because of lack of clarity that for more than 67 years, a large number of people were denied social justice. The day after Independence was granted to the two countries, Indian and Pakistani representatives associated with the commission were given two hours to study the award which was written in a hurry,” he adds. “And it was to be notified the next day. Such was the haste under which the award was drafted.”

The Radcliffe award created enclaves in India and in erstwhile East Pakistan.

The blunders caused because of this award also resulted in confusion over territories. There

was no suitable mechanism whereby control could be exercised by the two countries in the other’s enclaves. Lack of clarity and the definition of possession of land in certain border areas also created a messy situation which persists till this day in localities in West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam.

The total area involved was about 982.40 acres, of which Assam’s claim was 714 acres. In West Bengal, the disputed land was 4,355 acres, of which India’s claim was 2,398 acres. For Meghalaya, the area was small and was 256 acres out of 291 acres.

While detractors of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru blame him for not solving the issues

relating to enclaves after the creation of East and West Pakistan, Nehru did make earnest attempts in 1958 through the Nehru-Noon Agreement. This agreement was questioned by the Supreme Court in India, which ruled that any transfer of land could be affected only by amending the Constitution.

The Nehru government duly introduced an amendment in Parliament; however, it could not be passed because of the issues related to the transfer of Berubari enclave on the West Bengal–Bangladesh border.

After Nehru’s death, the bilateral relations between the two countries soured and the subsequent India-

Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971 left no room for any peaceful settlement.

However, after the formation of Bangladesh in 1971, the Indira Gandhi- Mujibur Rahman agreement was signed but India failed to live up to Dhaka’s expectations in ratifying the agreement.

India and Bangladesh share a 4,095km border which is the fifth-longest in the world, but the tension between the two countries also encouraged a lot of illegal immigration. Politicians of both the countries used the situation to their advantage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘neighbourhood first’ policy has given a new dimension and hope to

India-Bangladesh relations.“Modi, though

belonging to a pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party government, has shown great political will and maturity by solving the border dispute for good. Both Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would be remembered in history for the LBA, but one should not forget the earnest efforts of Indira and Mujib – the two assassinated leaders,” said Mehfuz Massud, a Dhaka University student.

Now the residents of the enclaves in India and

Bangladesh will have to choose their preferred homeland. However, in either case, they will have an identity which has eluded them for 67 since years since Partition.

Zamir says both the countries should facilitate the process of implementing the LBA and set up a joint committee with adequate representatives after framing the rules. n

Locals using the Tin Bigha Corridor to get to Dahagram, Angorpota Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done the seemingly impossible by finalising the long-pending land boundary agreement ahead of his bangladesh visitPrakash Bhandari

Prakash Bhandari is a senior Indian journalist, whose work is regularly published in Indian media


6 TravEL | hawaii

Black or white or green: choose the beach sand colour to see in HawaiiTanusree Ghosh and Shehzaad Shams

There may be two recurring themes in our Voyage stories. First is the point that, there is

a wonderful transformation of self-esteem waiting for you if you want to upgrade yourself from the an ordinary tourist to becoming a voyager. The difference is analogous to the difference between ‘child’ and ‘adult.’ Secondly, we always believed that the farther you travel from home, the more rewarding the experience may become. Life holds out interesting turns for you and the excitement is inversely proportional to the distance travelled from your home. This year in March, we made the longest air travel till now to reach the little pieces of heaven in the Hawaii islands, gorgeously and exclusively reigning as the Queen of the Pacific all by herself. Our voyage was about the touch and feel of not one, but three coloured sands of three beaches – black, green and white! This is exactly where ‘tourists’ distinguish themselves from ‘voyagers’ that they push themselves

to limit the experience of the shades of natural wonders.

Practical tips:• Both the black sand beach and the

green sand beaches are located on the southern tip of the Big Island Hawaii. So if driving from Kohala Coast, you will have to drive down south for around two hours.

• It is impossible to visit both the beaches on the same day. For sanity’s sake, we recommend that you visit Black sand beach early in the morning, then head to the Volcanoes National Park on the same day. Visit the Green Sand beach on another day.

• Do not try to smuggle the exotic black sand in your plastic bags. The lifeguards have the eyes of a hawk and will scream out through loudspeakers to warn you. In fact, it is illegal actually to take anything from the Black sand beach ie, rocks, sands, turtles.

• Take your own beach chairs, umbrella and sand mats, water bottles, food. The beaches we

saw in Big Island don’t have the variety of basic facilities as we would have expected (as found in other beaches elsewhere we have visited)

• Take the shuttle service from the parking lot of Green Sand beach. It will save time and sanity.

The white sand beaches abound aplenty around the Big Island. The one that stands out for its serenity and natural landscape is the Hapuna beach on the west coast. A complete contrast to the hustle and bustle of the beaches found in Oahu, Hapuna offered a tranquil and unspoilt setting for those who had been seeking the true pacific calm in the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Ideal for long walks along the shiny white sand, while the foamy waves kiss and erase the trail of your footsteps left behind. The beach has rental facilities and a small café unlike many other beaches in the Hawaiian Islands where basic facilities were hard to find. The beach is also ideal for surf-boarding for its high and

Stepping on rainbows


7

strong waves. Some daredevils are also seen jumping from the cliffs on the edges. You can either arrive at Hapuna beach early in the morning and stay until lunch or show up in the afternoon a couple of hours before sunset. The view of the sun taking the final dip in the western sky in the pacific arms of the ocean is a sight worth watching from the Hapuna beach. The splash of orange in the sky and white sands all around you will hum out the perfect antidote to the pangs of your soul.

Later again in the Big Island, the most unique experience of the colourful sand exploration was the sight of the black sand beach. Called the Punaluu Beach, it is located between Pāhala and Nāālehu on the Big Island of Hawaii. The beach has black sand made of basalt, created by lava flowing into the ocean which exploded as it reached the ocean and cooled. This beach is also popular for sighting massive Hawksbill or Green sea turtles who swim up to the shore sometimes to seek some undivided sun tan in front of bemused visitors. The very sight of the black sand was so different that you will be awed. Obviously it was impossible to walk barefoot, so we recommend sandals. We installed our own umbrellas and armchairs and decided to absorb this strange experience for a while to be chilling out on black sand! While we were watching the foamy waves announcing their might with every

second splash, we saw a sudden flurry of visitors around a lazy turtle which just made its way to the shore for some repose. The giant sea turtle was naturally very slow, gentle and in a mood not to be disturbed. We realised that two more of its underwater compatriots had made their respective appearances on the other end of the beach. We checked them out too while they kept resting, as unmoved as granite occasionally being washed by the splashing waves.

The journey to set foot on the Green Beach was the most laborious and epic of all. We had to drive all the way to the southernmost point of the United States to be there. Raise an eyebrow, but it is true that the southernmost point of the USA is not in the mainland but in the Big Island of Hawaii. Also called the Papakolea beach or the Green Sand beach, it is situated so far away and the access is so remote that it bemuses us that we managed it. There is a point where you have to park your rental car and either take the heavy-duty land rovers that are offered by the locals for a $30 return trip, or you have the option to hike some 6km of uneven terrain all by yourself. You could also drive yourself provided you hired a land rover or a vehicle sufficiently higher than the ground. In any case, remember that you will not be covered by your car insurance company since you are

technically off road. We parked our car at the entrance and started hiking, soon realising that things were looking a bit pear shaped. Not only were we not ready for the hike, we were wearing sandals and were unprotected from the blazing sun. Moreover, we had no clue how long or how far the beach actually was from where we parked our SUV. With the furious waves lashing the rocks on one side, we kept on walking with a furious sun on top of our heads. Suddenly, we saw a four wheeler appearing on the horizon. Like desperate Bedouins lost in the midst of dunes, we waved for a lift and the travellers obliged. We kept standing on the back of the pick up, and what ensued later for the 10 minutes of the journey will give the roller-coasters in theme parks a run for their money. It is recommended that you make this trip on an empty stomach as the violent and frequent turbulence of the bumpy route will dissolve any elements inside your stomach. We reached finally the much anticipated Green Beach and discovered from above that while it is beautiful, it was rather small. We descended to the sands negotiating on the rocks the body’s balance with

that of the pricey DSLR camera. We found that the sand of the beach was more olive and than ‘green’ as we had earlier thought. The sand got its colour from olivine crystals created from eruptions to a dormant volcano years ago. Keeping in mind that this was one of only four green sand beaches in the world, the others being Talofofo Beach, Guam, Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island in the Galapagos Islands, and Hornindalsvatnet, Norway – we thought it was still worth the epic journey we had to endure to reach to this place.

When the volcanoes erupted thousands of years ago forming the current Hawaiian islands, the mysteries and beauties of the seas and skies got strewn here and there all around. For those with a flare for colours in life – make sure you see for yourself that beaches exist with bright colourful sands – all for your amusement in the pristine islands of Hawaii. n

Read more about their adventures at ontimefashjionista.com

Photos: Courtesy


8 SLICE OF LIFE | old age

Photo: Bigstock

“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old; you grow old because

you stop laughing.” As the saying goes, age is just a number. It’s the take on life that keeps a person going, positively or negatively.

Old age is a gift; it’s a blessing in disguise for the people around the ageing person. One might find them annoying; some might have relatives or family members, who are really hyper, and yet we all have that one amazing grandmother/grandfather who would secretly give us the cookie that our mothers had warned us not to touch.

As life goes on, we transform into busy people, making the lives of our older members lonely. But life doesn’t stop, it continues and so do older people.

With growing age, most elder people seem to acquire a common habit – chatting. Older people love to talk, they live for it. Maybe it’s the loneliness that drives them to start up a conversation every time they meet someone, maybe it’s just mere curiosity.

It is not a bizarre scenario if you ever bump into an elderly person talking to a salesman in a departmental store about the village they hail from, or the current state of the country's affairs, or why his granddaughter is so upset about this guy called Zayn Malik leaving something called One Direction.

Patience is one great trait that ageing people possess. They have the ability to spend hours talking to someone, listening to others whine, all that time trying to keep the conversation flowing. Because they are surrounded by family members who are always unavailable or working, they take keen interest in talking to everyday working people, like the waiter, or the driver, the caretaker of the building, or even the postman.

In this era of Whatsapp and

Snapchat, letters still do exist and so does the postman.

“My grandfather was a really picky person. He would always write letters, would never allow us to just write that same thing via email to the relatives living abroad. So, he once went to the post office to drop the letter, I accompanied him, and there, he started up a conversation with the postman present as to why he doesn’t do his job properly, like dropping the letter off to our house, and why people no longer apply for the job of postman anymore and why our society wasn’t going through any change for development,” said Mahi Nur Saif.

Waiters in a restaurant are great for gossip, especially for people from the black and white era. Often in restaurants, aged customers are spotted firing up a conversation with the attendant, talking about all sorts of stuff – from one’s family lineage to their village origin.

“Whenever we go out to eat, my grandmother makes it a mandatory habit to ask the waiter where his hometown is, whether he is married, is his salary sufficient to run his family and what he thinks of the current political situation of Bangladesh,” said an eighth grader.

Politics seem to be a hot topic for Bangladeshi people, more so for elder people. When travelling, most older people stir up a conversation with the driver about the pathetic state of Dhaka's roads and its traffic jams, and subsequently, the inevitable topic of Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.

Older people are a blessing. With all their great experiences and vast knowledge, it is super fun to watch all their conversation with all those hard-working people out there. Their chats are impeccable, sharp-witted, their eyes sparkling, full of life and attitude, shows the great personalities we miss out on while keeping ourselves so busy. n

Eighty or Eighty-Three? Oh, that’s just a numberWhile in pursuit of success, we often miss out on the invaluable opportunities of spending time with that special, wisdom-laden member of the familyLameya Alma Amin


iNdoor plaNTs | PhOTO STOry 9

Most of our beloved capital, as much as we would like to claim and believe otherwise, is nothing short of a concrete jungle. It is therefore small wonder that many private homes, apartment and office buildings are now reclining towards ‘makeshift greenery’ with the introduction of patches and corners of

foliage, not in whatever space is available around and on rooftops, but indoors as well.

This week’s photo story features the world of indoor plants – whether its cactus, orchids, delicate ferns and shrubbery – in all its green glory.

GREEN SCENESPhotos: Sabrina Munni


10 PhOTO STOry | iNdoor plaNTs


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12 FOCuS | Child laBour

For children like Arafat, the issue of ‘child labour’ is not up for debate.

Growing up in the unforgiving ambience of Kamrangir Char, labour is something that he was born and brought up with. “From my early age, I had learned that I have to work, otherwise there will be no food,” said Arafat, 12,

now working at a tannery in the Hazaribagh area of the capital.

Arafat is not alone. At an age where he was supposed to be at school, Arafat and many like him are bestowed with the cruellest duty of being the breadwinner of the family. This has not only deprived him of the innocent pleasure of childhood but also destroyed the potential

career which a child could have attained if provided with proper education and care.

A long occurring phenomenonThe incidence of child labour is not new in Bangladesh. It was prevalent mostly in the rural setting of Bangladesh as a normal socialisation process. In the agrarian

society, children have worked and still work alongside their parents in the field or in the home as a process of household production under parental protection, and for the survival of the family.

According to a study of ministry of social welfare, it is found that children in rural Bangladesh contribute to their family’s income

Let them playLooking into the plight of our working children, in light of World Day Against Child Labour, on June 12Faisal Mahmud

Photos: Mahmud Hossain Opu


13

from as early as five years of age. Child labour has been attached so deeply to rural life, year after year, that it is often regarded as something very natural and a legitimate practice. Nobody thinks that it may have any adverse effect on a child’s schooling and development; rather it is considered to some extent as a part of their education and socialisation.

Male children become the net producers of the family at quite an early age (by the age of 12 years), and after the age of 15 years, their cumulative production exceeds their cumulative consumption, the study the ministry said. The participation rate of boys was relatively higher than female children but the advent of the garment industry and rapid urbanisation during the late 80’s has changed the whole child labour scenario.

The garment industry started to engage a huge amount of female child labour. Besides, due to rapid urbanisation, the engagement of household labour for domestic chores has become a common phenomenon. This has increased the number of female child workers immensely.

The devil named ‘domestic child labour’According to the National Child Labour Survey, there are 1,25,000 children engaged in domestic work. And the number is increasing day by day. Abdul Mannan, Programme Unit Manager of Plan International, Bangladesh, said that bringing children out from domestic work and reintegrating them into society is really difficult.

“There are many other reasons than poverty that leads children to domestic work. We have to address those issues also,” Mannan opined adding that addressing those have to be started from root level.

“In our project, we have found 185 out of 400 child domestic workers are below 12 years which is pathetic,” he said.

Mannan said, according to our national standard, up to age 18, a person is considered a child. “At the same time we are saying that children aged 14 years and above can be employed in domestic work. I think this is contradictory. Only in special cases the age limit can be considered where the child will get proper facilities of mental and

physical development.”The development worker believed

an important integration step can be in providing skill training to child domestic workers. “In our project we have tried to provide some vocational training to them. Most of them do it as a part time work. They get three to six months training. They are doing really well.”

He however said it is difficult to bring the large number of child domestic workers into this type of reintegration programmes. “That’s why we need government support.”

The government plans to tackle child labourBangladesh is one of the 22 countries which were the first signatories of the UN CRC (Child Right Convention). Besides, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the Ministry of Labour and Employment and ILO in 1994 to implement IPEC (International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour) activities. Bangladesh has implemented 91 action programs. Under IPEC, Bangladesh has removed child labour from garment

factories. The Bangladesh government is

implementing many plans to remove child labour under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Social Welfare Ministry, Education Ministry, and primary and mass education. Besides, the government has undertaken the task of formulating a child labour policy for removing some anomalies in the legislation and fixing a uniform minimum age for admission to work.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has been implementing a project named Eradication of Hazardous Child Labour (2nd phase) Project in Bangladesh, which aims at removing 30,000 children from hazardous child labour, and making them skilled ones.

“Elimination of hazardous child labour is a difficult but not insoluble problem. Political commitment, legal protection, social mobilization, and the combined efforts of GOs-NGOs can remove child labour”, said Advocate Sultana Kamal. “We hope that in the near future we will see our work places free from child labour,” she added. n

Rays of hope:The number of child labourers in Bangladesh has dropped to 2.48 million from 4.91 million in the last 10 years, according to recent studies of the Centre for Services and Information on Disability (CSID), a research-based organisation working to eliminate child labour.

In percentage, it was 5.73 in 2014 while in 2005 it was 12.23.

A two-member team, led by Mohammed Abu Eusuf, professor of Dhaka University’s development studies department and director of its Centre on Budget and Policy, conducted the studies for CSID, calculating the data on Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) of different years.

The recent figures of male and female child labourers are respectively 2 million and 0.44 million smaller than the 2005 figures of 4.18 million and 0.74 million.

According to the studies, the incidence of child labour is still high in Bangladesh, and 42.9 percent of the total child labourers are engaged in hazardous activities.

Five percent of the child labourers are involved in selling flowers, newspaper and food items, 10% in transportation business, 20 % in industries or shops, nine percent in workshops, 20% in tailor shops or boutique houses, while 14.7% work as domestic help and 21.3% work in unspecific sectors.


14 LEGaLESE | JeNNifer ashraf kashmi

I DID IT MY WAYI am interested in starting a business of my own in Bangladesh and was sharing my thoughts with my relatives. One of my

uncles cautioned me to not proceed unless I had all the legal formalities in place. I reassured him at that point but, afterwards, this thought has plagued me. I’m not sure about what he meant. Did he mean I should start a company? Should it be a public company or a private company? What will I have to do? However, will it mean I need to have shareholders? What if I want to have my own business, without the involvement of any others? Can this be done? Do I need a trade licence? Please advise.

Dear ReaderThank you for writing in to me. It takes a lot of courage to go ahead and start your own business and I applaud

you for the initiative. Your uncle is quite correct. It is always advisable to ensure that all the legal formalities have been completed before starting a new venture, otherwise the consequences may be quite messy. Let us have a look at the options available to you in this instance.

Starting a public company is not as easy as it may sound. It would take you a longer period of time and the requirements are quite onerous. For you I would recommend starting up a private limited company initially and then, if business goes well, you can look into the possibility of expanding it further. I am briefly outlining the method of establishing a new company below.• Name clearance: To start-up

a company in Bangladesh, promoters first need to choose a name for their company and apply to the office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms

(RJSC). If the name is found to be unique at the RJSC search, an application can be made, applying for name clearance with that particular name.

• Information/documents and papers required: In order to register with RJSC, information of the shareholders will have to be provided (in case of corporate shareholder ie a company, information as applicable will need to be provided), such as Registered office address, List of proposed directors, List of shareholders containing necessary details, etc.

• Documents to be executedFor registering the limited liability company with RJSC, the following particular forms will have to be obtained and executed from the RJSC:

Filled in Form I: Declaration on Registration of Company;Filled in Form VI: Notice of Situation of Registered Office;Filled in Form IX: Consent of Director to act;Filled in Form X: List of Persons Consenting to be Directors;Filled in Form XII: Particulars of the Directors, Manager and Managing Agents. • Company registration at RJSC:

The promoters of a new entity apply for registration with aforementioned prescribed forms and schedules and fees, as appropriate to the entity type. For that promoters prepare Memorandum/Articles of association of the company. Fees concerning the registration have to be submitted at the designated bank.

• Obtaining certificate of incorporation: Once the required documents are submitted to RJSC, the company will be provided with a certificate of incorporation if RJSC finds all the documents and compliance requirements are in order.I need to advise you that this

process would take a while ie roughly two to four months, if all the documents are in order. Comparatively, if you are looking to avoid this route and simply own your business yourself, you could always do so by means of a sole proprietorship. The usual documents required for this is easy and simple – just obtain your Trade Licence, TIN and VAT registration and you will be good to go! I hope I have been able to answer your queries. Best of luck with your new venture! n

Q

A

got a

problem?

Write to Jennifer at weekend@

dhakatribune.com

Jennifer ashraf Kashmi is a barrister and solicitor of England and Wales. She is currently Senior Partner at Legacy Legal Corporate.

Cartoon: Priyo/Dhaka Tribune


diNa soBhaN | TOuGh LOvE 15

Dear Dina, I’m in my 30’s and have finally landed a job I actually really enjoy. Although the pay isn’t great, I’m content because I really enjoy

what I do and the work environment is refreshing, which I count as a blessing. Unfortunately, my mother, who’s judgement and happiness I also value greatly, is quite disappointed “settled” for this job, especially when I used to work for the UN, and she doesn’t miss an opportunity to point this out, whether its alone or in front of others. Her passive-aggressive comments are really beginning to get to me, but I can’t seem to reason with her. How do I get her to lay-off without getting into a huge argument?

Dear Mama’s Girl,Sometimes it’s necessary to forego the passive and just be aggressive to get your point across. I’m

not suggesting that you mount a full-on offensive of obscenity and malice, but firmly and boldly tell her to back the hell off. Explain to her, with a maximum of eye contact and hand waving, that while she may be disappointed that you’ve chosen to take on a ‘lesser’ position in her eyes, ultimately you are more fulfilled at your present job, which is more rewarding than a high salary could ever be. Articulate your feelings clearly and concisely and throw in a little bit of the guilt factor by mentioning that if she truly cared for your happiness, as you

Dear Dina,I have known X since my childhood, as his family was friendly with ours. I fell in love with him in my early teens. It was

untold and somewhat unrequited. Later on, I did date a couple of guys, but I couldn’t’ stop thinking of X. I just returned from abroad for semester break to find out that my parents have arranged to have X married to my older sister. They are to be engaged within a month! My sister, who had a very bad break-up a year ago, finally looks happy. But I feel like I’ll die if this goes on. I love him too much and don’t think I could bear to see him with my own sister. What should I do?

Dear Twister Sister,While I sympathise with your achy, breaky heart, I have to tell you to suck

it up. It sounds like what you’re suffering from is not love in any true sense of the word, but an extended adolescent crush that never met with fruition. You are clinging to some rarified idea of him simply because you never got a taste of that forbidden kathal. For all you know your delectable jackfruit could be a jackass. However, let’s hope that’s not the case, since he will be marrying your sister. I repeat, he will be marrying your sister. You need to take this month to process this information and come to terms with it, because it would be highly uncool and selfish of you to rob your sister of this chance at happiness, and for what? Some unfulfilled fantasy? Uh-uh, sister. It ain’t happening. Step up, grow up, woman up – do whatever is necessary to swallow your own desires and take one for the team.

Dina sobhan is a freelance writer, and cautions readers not to take her ‘advice’ here too seriously!

great expectations

Q

QA

A

got a problem?

Write to Dina at weekend@dhakatribune.

com

Cartoon: Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

do hers, she would support you in your decision and be proud of your accomplishments. Point out that money does not buy happiness, and status means nothing if you are miserable in the process. For good measure, throw in a few example of people who work at the UN and/or earn high salaries, but are complete losers in every other sense of the word. I’m a strong believer in employing Machiavellian tactics to achieve your ends. n


16 INSIDE OuT | refleCTioNs

It has been almost a year since I first arrived in Dhaka. I came here, a little apprehensive, unsure as to whether I would

make it my home here for the next few years. New India is unabashedly pursuing wealth and prosperity. I was leaving behind the steel and

glass structures of Gurgaon, a bristling suburb replete with malls and condominiums, the temples of a modern nation. A new government had come to power with the prospect of “acche din” ahead. We heard noises about progress, growth, about our country taking her rightful place

on the world stage. When we said that we were

moving to Bangladesh, people were sympathetic, as though we had admitted to an unfortunate disease or a demotion. If Pakistan carried the image of being a frightening, dangerous place, Bangladesh had

associations of poverty and sorrow. Many people had been to Nepal and Bhutan as tourists but most were quite ignorant about Dhaka. Our friends and neighbours could tell us how to live and settle down in Singapore, London and USA but no one I knew had even visited Dhaka.

New hope for the neighbourhoodDhaka through fresh eyesNirupama Subramanian


17

The few pictures I had seen on the internet were not promising. An acquaintance who knew the place warned me not to have any expectations. During my first visit, I looked at the city as an outsider, my eyes noticing only what I saw on the surface- battered buses, scarred and wounded like old warriors, the weary clatter of rickshaws, the black wires that festooned the buildings like strange necklaces and

the overwhelming crush of people everywhere. Dhaka seemed like an old city, dragging itself into a new century, unable to unshackle itself from the past.

Recently I heard Prime Minister Modi’s speech during his visit to Bangladesh. It was surprising to see every other remark of his being greeted with claps by the crowd which had more Bangladeshis than the Indian diaspora. The mood seemed upbeat. Strategically, India and Bangladesh are important for each other. Politically and commercially, our ties should grow stronger. If we are to be more than just neighbours who can share the same boundary wall without coming to blows, we need to forge a connection from the heart. A true partnership comes from a deeper understanding and respect for each other.

Over the past year, I have realised that the treasures of Bangladesh reveal itself only if you have the patience to dig deeper. You need to slow down so that you can see clearly. My experience is limited to certain parts of Dhaka and a trip to the Sundarbans, but I do have some sense of the nation. It is in the cultural and social arena that we can connect better with each other.

There have always been historic connections, a shared past, similarities in culture, especially with the Indian Bengali. Today, Indian popular culture has also found its way into the Bangladeshi consciousness. Most of the Bangladeshis I have met are well informed about India, many have visited an Indian city and can speak with some knowledge about Calcutta or Mumbai. Bollywood songs play at the department stores and our Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone appear on the billboards promoting soaps and shampoos. A Bangladeshi lady spoke to me about her addiction to Indian television soaps. Hindi films are shown at the club down our road. I saw the women swaying happily to the tunes of Sunidhi Chauhan at a concert here, mouthing the lyrics and singing along. A few months ago, I attended the Bengal Music festival, where thousands of people sat through the night listening to leading exponents

of classical music from India. While most Bangladeshis will not cheer for the Indian cricket team, they have an opinion on each of the players. They are aware of the Indian political scenario. Many of them would like to travel to India more often.

While India might loom larger in the Bangladeshi consciousness, I also find many areas where we can learn and be inspired by the culture here. If, we are to have a relationship with an equal footing, as Mr. Modi declared, we should tap into what Bangladesh can offer us as well.

There is a deep and abiding love for the Bengali language. While English is fast emerging as the lingua franca of the urban Indian, here Bengali continues to flourish. A Bengali book fair stays open for a whole month. I have started speaking more of Tamil and Hindi here with my family and Indian friends. I see how language connects to something primal, a deep need to feel connected to your roots. While I don’t see English as an alien language, being able to acknowledge your own linguistic identity gives you a stronger sense of self.

While many Pakistani actors and singers like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan to Veena Malik have been well received, I have not come across many Bangladeshi artists in India. There are some extremely talented musicians here who can sing both hard rock and Rabindra sangeet with equal aplomb. There is a rich tradition of folk songs- the Baul singers show with the same passion and intensity as the Sufi singers who have been quite popular in India. Art is flourishing, whether on the walls of the Charukala academy or through the lens of the talented photographers. We need more cultural exchanges from this side of the border.

I see a genuine desire to be secular and inclusive. Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Geeti are both sung with love and reverence. The sari and teep are worn by both Hindu and Muslim ladies. The lungi and the Panjabi coexist. Women seem comfortable both with and without the hijab. Buddha Purnima is a national holiday and people can take off on Saraswati Puja. Despite the attack on secular bloggers, despite the murmurs of

rising religious fundamentalism, there is still a sense of freedom and ease in the way the common people conduct their lives. The Bangladeshi has been able to separate the religion from extraneous aspects of culture and honour both. This is something worth emulating.

Too often, we hold a stereotypical image of the Muslim woman- shrouded in the burkha, oppressed by patriarchy and injunctions of her religion. Last month, during a radio interview, I was asked about the differences between Indian and Bangladeshi women. I had to struggle to spot any significant difference. You don’t see as many women in public spaces here. Most of the women do dress more modestly in deference to the religion. At a conference on Leadership for women, several prominent women spoke confidently and comfortably about their roles and challenges-no different from anywhere in the world. More women are entering public and professional spaces due to economic compulsions and individual ambitions. There are the similar issues of harassment and discrimination but I also see respect. I don’t feel uncomfortable while walking on the roads of my neighbourhood or speaking to guards, rickshaw pullers and shopkeepers. The issue of sexual harassment during the Pohela Baishakh celebrations was horrific, yet the protests against it by men and women were a sign of hope. There is so much energy and enthusiasm here to be nurtured and channelised towards the growth of the women and the nation.

Healthy relationships with neighbours are based on a spirit of give and take, of cooperation and collaboration. What helps both neighbours share the same space is an acknowledgement that our similarities are more than our differences, that we each bring valuable things to the table. What affects one, impacts the other as well. What remains to be seen is if we can move beyond just peaceful coexistence and truly enrich each other’s lives, not just as neighbours but as friends. n

Photo: Sabrina Munni


18 STay IN

S u d o k uUse the numbers 1-9 to complete each of the 3x3 square grids such that each horizontal and vertical line also contains all of the digits from 1-9

Last week’s sudoku solutions

aCROss5 Latino is ace in Brazilian city (7)6 More than enough maple about (5)9 Energy surrounds volcano in Asia (7)

DOwN1 Attempt to score in rugby (3)2 Run to Swedens first tent-dweller (7)3 Led Iran around European country (7)4 Linear argument (3)7 Plant of four years, initially (3)8 Bird eaten by lemur? (3)

Last

wee

k’s

solu

tion

s

aCROss1 What Spanish in a fight scent (7)4 Simple instrument keeps saint in time (7) 6 I retain strange ability to stay still (7)7 Place to view allergy composition (7)

DOwN1 Singer Crosby holds bird for sport (7)2 Get together and untie jumble (5)3 Those folk talk in psychoanalysis (7)5 Bird the French call Earl or Duke, say (5)

Clues

Solved it? Email answers to [email protected] and win one free month of the Dhaka Tribune.

Mini cryptics

Jasimuddin (1903 – 1976) is one of the most authentic voices in Bengali literature. Abul Fazal commented that Jasimuddin is completely genuine and that “is the most important thing in literature.”

Therefore, it is needless to state that an autobiography of Jasimuddin will not only be a great piece of literature in the Bengali language, but also it would be an amazing document of our history.

The book starts with the story of the poet’s father. And as you would expect, we get a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural history of the late 18th century and early 19th century Bengal.

Jasimuddin writes affectionately about his passionate father who gave everything in his life to build a school. There is a very interesting story about his father being prevented from getting an English education. Dudu Miah, who was the successor of Haji Shariatullah, the founder of the Farayezi Movement, disapproved of going to schools run by the “Nasara.” As a result, Ansaruddin Mollah (the poet’s father) had to move from an English curriculum school to a Bengali school.

Jasimuddin recounts how, before Islamic revivalist movements, his father used to wear ‘dhotis’ and ‘tupi.’ But he does not beat you over the head with Bengali nationalistic ideology. Like all great writers, he treads carefully and stays clear of ‘chest-thumping nationalism’.

Jasimuddin tells readers how the folk songs and epic tales sung in haunting melody first ignited the his imagination, that later gave birth to one of the most unique collection of literature in Bengali as well as the world. Jasimuddin’s writings have been translated in many international languages.

Chronicling the life of Jasimuddin is a daunting task, even for the man himself. It is quite amazing to think how enormously eventful a life this man lived. In addition to being a major writer of Bengali literature, Jasimuddin was also a very

devoted collector of our folklores. He collected and published, with scholarly commentary, a number of folklores. He was also a high ranked government official.

Only the most remarkable events of the poet’s life would be much too numerous to detail in one book, as Jasimuddin himself said in the preface of the book. This memoir only tells the stories of the poet’s early days.

As any reader of Jasimuddin knows, the writer writes with extraordinary love for the characters he painted with his pen. For this book, that is perhaps even more true because the characters in here are literally his friends and family. The book has chapters on the poet’s grandfather, on the poet’s mother and the heart wrenching story of how his mother dealt with abject poverty they live in.

There are other chapters on ‘Hitoishi School’ and a number of other characters. Readers with interest in Jasimuddin’s history of poetry writing will find a few chapters on when he started to write, his experience of witnessing theatre and other related stories.

The version of the book being reviewed was published Khurshid Anwar Jashimuddin, Palash Publications, 2011. The first version was published in 1964.

Jibon kotha by JasimuddinBook Review

Sakib Sarker


GO OuT 19

June 12-13music | Fête de la Musique 2015When 3-9pmWhere Alliance Française de Dhaka, 26 Mirpur RoadWhat Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is a music festival that began in France in 1982. The idea was conceived by French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang in 1981. Since then, it has been celebrated every year in more than a hundred countries across the world.

It takes place on the day of the summer solstice. This day of music restates allowing the expressions of all styles of music ie jazz, soul, funk, rock, electro, reggae, classical music and many other musical styles are celebrated with vigorous enthusiasm. It aims to give an

opportunity to communicate and share special moments through music.

This year, as every year, many musicians, amateur artists and professional alike, will share with the public their passion for music, for free.

June 12Culture | SPEAK: A Contemporary Dance PerformanceWhen 7:30-9:30pmWhere American International School, Plot: 80, Block: E, STS Avenue, Gulshan-2What This event is a choreographic collaboration within a team of global dance artists from four different countries – Sweden, Norway, UK, and USA. Six artists will have the opportunity to make Bangladesh their home for a few months.

Their exploration in this country will lead to the sharing of their story with the Bangladeshi people, and the Expat community, through a visceral language. They aim to bring a project that honours aspirational art and engages with the locals, as well as to return back

to their home countries enriched by this cultural exchange, ready to bolster support and understanding towards economically challenged regions.

To purchase tickets online with free delivery, visit: http://www.imdhaka.com/?event=ty-alexander-cheng-project-speak

You can also purchase tickets at the AISD security gate for Tk500 only.

Weekly Planner Jun 12

Music | "RISE OF THE TITANS - VOLUME 2"

When 10am-7pmWhere National Library Auditorium, Besides National Radio Office, Sher E Bangla NagarWhat The Triad presents Rise of the Titans- Volume 2 with a huge line up for rising bands who deserve to be part a big event.

Aboho, Dinantor, Offensive, Lost Rhymes, 1952, Craftsmen, VitalForce, Rishov, Alcoholic, Implicit, Audybik, Amulet, Blood N Wine Dome, Gontobbohin, Psycho City, Inferno, The Triad, Mercenaries, C!RCLE, Self Portrait will be playing in this day-long gig. Tickets will be available at the venue at Tk50 only.For more information, please contact:01970 748 478,01923 060 372

Jun 13

Culture | ART.TALKWhen 6:45pmWhere Bengal Café, House 42, Road 27 (Old), Sheikh Kamal Sarani, DhanmondiWhat You are cordially invited to presentations and Q&A with the participating artists: Afsana Sharmin Zhuma, Farhana Preya, Jublee Dewan & Sanjid Mahmud.The event is open to all.

'Only Connect' is an ongoing series of biannual workshops, exhibitions and artist talks, launched by Bengal Foundation in September 2014. The goal of the series is to stimulate discourse about exhibition-making among newly-trained artists. Artists are selected through an 'open call' process and may present work in any medium. For further information about the series, email us at [email protected]

Jun 14

Education | Advising on U.S. University Admissions

When 3:30Where EMK Center, House 5, Road 16 (New) 27 (Old) , 9th Floor, Midas Center, DhanmondiWhat Those interested in pursuing higher education in the US are cordially invited to join sessions at the EMK Center. EducationUSA adviser will be discussing on US university admissions process and requirements. This programme is free and open for everyone interested in studying in the US. No prior registration is required to attend this program.

Jun 14

Culture | English Club: American Centre

When 2-3pmWhere American Centre, Plot No -1, Progati Sharani, J-Block, Baridhara(Opposite from the U.S.

Embassy Dhaka, next to Notun Bazar by the Maa O Shishu Clinic) What Join free the English Club, featuring interactive discussions led by native English speakers every week at the American Centre to learn English also American Culture. To attend, simply arrive to the American Centre as per the schedule of the sessions; no prior registration is required.

Jun 17

Education | Counselling and admission session for Northumbria University

When 3pm Where MIM Study Abroad, L 361, Pan Pacific Sonargaon HotelWhat Counselling and admission session for September intake in Northumbria University will be held in Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel. Interested students are invited to know pros and cons about their interested fields of study.


20 TOP 10 | NosTalgia

Talking about a few of the iconic items, people, food and shows, that made that classic decade truly unforgettableLameya Alma Amin

tbt: The 90’s

BTVLong before the “saas-bahu” serials took over television, there was only one saviour – BTV. Its almost tragic that we no longer see characters the likes of “Kaan-kata Romjan” from Sangshoptok and “Baker bhai” from Kothao Keu Nei, classic favourites

that will forever stay in the hearts of every Bangali who lived through the 90s. Other favourites included Bangla-dubbed MacGyver, Night Rider and The Adventures of Sinbad. Then there was Tipu Sultan and Alif Laila, guilty pleasures for people of all ages and walks of life.

Fashion everThe ‘Diana Cut’ became an instant hit, after the beautiful face of the British Royalty carried it off with such grace. Princess Diana’s haircut style was blindly followed by young women, taking it as a huge style statement. The ladies shoe industry also underwent a revolution following the introduction of platform heels by the Spice Girls.

Changing skylinesIt was the era which experienced the changing of the independent houses into apartment buildings, and the transformation of the joint family into the nuclear family.

Video ConnectionWith the lack of satellite channels and DVD stores, this store in Banani was every movie-lover’s special retreat, with its treasure trove of videos to rent out. n

Era of the funky toys

Gameboy, tamagotchi, yo-yo and slinkies were a kids best friend after school, and sometimes during. These toys were a hit with young students, and often, they sneaked them into school to share with friends, or sometimes, just to have fun competitions with their partner in crime. The Yo-yo especially received more momentum after they were used in commercial advertisements of Coca Cola.

The dawn of the Bangla ChineseBangla Chinese with its chicken corn soup, the classic ‘pink’ Thai soup, wonton, fried rice and “chicken fry” was every Bangali’s favourite cuisine, whether on a casual outing, or celebrating a special occasion, pleasing people of all ages, with George Michael’s Careless Whisper playing in the background.

Boy band crazeBack Street Boys, Boyzone were super-hits in the music scenario, sating every young boy’s and girl’s thirst for some quirky music. Teens would religiously follow the style of their favourites Justin Timberlake and Nick Carter and swear by their favourite Spice Girl.

Bonkers over Bollywood DDLJ and Kuch Kuch Hota Hoi were the iconic Shah Rukh Khan movies that touch the hearts of millions even today. Their songs played at almost all wedding events, with youngsters dancing religiously to the tunes. Salman Khan’s Saajan was also another fan favourite.

Rise of fast foodThe city first saw the rise of fast food with Candyfloss, Euro Hut, Golpea Burger, Helvetia and Wimpy’s taking the food culture by storm. Wimpy’s Burger was an instant family hit, with its huge playground for kids. Candyfloss had its amazing hot-dogs and sandwiches, And Euro Hut, its uniquely awesome fried chicken and Helvetia’s chicken broast, that catered to hungry students and corporate workers alike. The tasty fried chicken and the fries made for a fulfilling meal, making every customer happy.

Bangladeshi version of food cartsDhaka’s streets first witnessed the food cart/truck phenomenon with the introduction of Hot Hut and Sajna. The former was a cart offering hot-dogs, burgers and milkshakes, which became an instant hit with video lovers of the store, Video Connection, in Banani, outside which it was parked. And Sajna was a proper food truck, travelling back and forth between Banani and Dhanmondi, offering delicious Indian street foods like dosas.

111th

NILPHAMARI

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