Asian Standard Bradford Issue 22 - 28 Mar 2021

Inside

50 YEARSof BANGLADESH

INDEPENDENCE

THE IMPACT OF BANGLADESHI CINEMA AFTER THE LIBERATION WAR

This week, Afelia’s Kitchen shows us how to cook a traditional Bangladeshi meal, Pabda Fish Curry CHECK RECIPE ON PAGE 21

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BY THE PUBLISHERS OF ASIAN SUNDAY

BRADFORD / 20- 28 MARCH 2021 / FREE

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COVID-19: A LIFE

CHANGING

YEAR

The BIGGEST challenge of our lifetime Read inside from page 6

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NEWS IN BRIEF Meet the new Vantage F1 Edition ®: Race-track performance on the road

The new Vantage F1® Edition is a new breed of Aston Martin. One that celebrates the marques return to Formula 1® for the first time in over 60 years and establishes the Vantage as a true sports car.

Motivated by an exciting return to Formula 1® and as a direct result of the engineering that went into the development of the Vantage as an Official Safety Car of Formula 1®, which makes its debut at the Formula 1® Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021, the Vantage F1® Edition is the ultimate expression of performance and dynamism; it is the fastest and most focused of the already sporting Vantage Not only is it the most powerful, but the Vantage F1® Edition benefits from unique and significant chassis and aerodynamic improvements developed

by Aston Martin’s hugely experienced engineering team. While the luxury brand’s Aston Martin Cognizant Formula OneTM team was busy preparing a return to the grid, the engineering team behind the infamous road cars were too, creating the ultimate Aston Martin Vantage which could take on the role of an Official Safety Car of Formula 1®.

The Vantage F1® Edition - available as Coupe and Roadster - is further distinguished by its vaned grille as standard, 2x2 Twill Carbon Fibre exterior detailing, unique graphics, quad exhausts and a new design of Satin Black Diamond Turned 21” alloy wheel.

The new Vantage F1® Edition is on sale now with a recommended retail price from £142,000 in the UK. For the full specification visit www. astonmartin.com

Contractor appointed for Bradford Live

The Bradford Live project is one step closer to transforming the city centre’s former Odeon building into a multipurpose live events venue, following the appointment of local contractor RN Wooler & Co Ltd. After an extensive procurement process the Keighley based contractor was selected not only for its illustrious client portfolio but also its commitment to social responsibility and the training of local youngsters.

With Bradford Live’s ambition to create circa 50 full time equivalent positions at the venue upon completion of the redevelopment, this appointment will add a further 60 temporary construction jobs to the roster.

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PAVEMENTS EXTENDED FOR SAFE REOPENING

Bradford Council is installing more temporary pavement extensions to give businesses and pedestrians extra space so they can maintain good distance and remain safe when Covid restrictions relax in April.

Wooden decking is being built on parking bays in tight areas around Ilkley, Shipley, Saltaire, Keighley, Bingley, and Bradford city centre to allow open air trading and provide pedestrians with more room so everyone can meet the current Covid-19 rules.

Similar extensions which included planting beds installed on North Parade in Bradford city centre last autumn were well received and the authority is now rolling out the approach across the Bradford district in advance of Covid restrictions lifting in April.

Officers from the council's Landscape Design and Conservation and Highways teams are focusing on supporting groups of businesses that have little

or no scope to adapt their sites and who rely on customers being able to use pavement space safely.

The work is to be funded by the European Regional Development Fund's Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, the government's Towns Fund Accelerated Funding, Bradford Business Improvement District (North Parade only) and Bradford Council.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: "We know some areas of the district make it difficult for people to maintain good social distance so this project will give people the extra space they need to stay safe.

"By providing these pavement extensions it will also give businesses more space to safely operate from when they're allowed to reopen."

"It's part of a broad range of measures the council has put in place to support and protect local

people and businesses through the Covid-19 pandemic."

Jonny Noble, Bradford BID Manager, said: "Once we see things begin to reopen from April 12 , we really need everyone to get out and safely support their local high streets. This initiative will help people to do this safely."

Bradford Council Townscape Heritage Project Officer, Richard Middleton, said: "Everything that helps the top of town's businesses cope with lockdown is welcome. We hope that it can help customers to feel safe when returning to all the bars, cafes and shops on North Parade".

Businesses in Ilkley, Bingley town centre, Bradford City Centre or Keighley or Shipley Towns Fund areas are encouraged to contact Saira Ali (saira. ali@bradford.gov.uk) to discuss how the council can provide pavement extensions in their area.

QUEEN TO APPOINT DIVERSITY TSAR The Queen is reportedly set to appoint a diversity tsar to modernise the monarchy. It comes after bombshell allegations from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle about racism in the Royal Family.

Sources suggest the possible move is an acceptance that ‘more needs to be done to champion minorities’ rights’ The Mail on Sunday reported. The drive across Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Clarence House will see officials speak to various individuals and organisations about how to improve representation. It will also see a new drive to improve its approach to the disabled, gay, trans and ethnic minority communities.

In a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex suggested the Firm had not protected Meghan from racist coverage in the press and one unnamed member of the Royal Family had asked about their then unborn son Archie’s likely

skin colour. In a response to the interview, Buckingham Palace said in a statement that the racial issues raised were ‘concerning’. It added that some ‘recollections may vary’.

Prince William later commented: ‘We are very much not a racist family.’

The Mail on Sunday reported that race issues have continued to divide Harry from his brother William and father Prince Charles. A Royal source told the paper: ‘This is an issue which has been taken very seriously across the Households. ‘We have the policies, procedures and programmes in place, but we haven’t seen the progress we would like and accept more needs to be done. We can always improve. ‘We are not afraid to look at new ways of approaching it. The work to do this has been under way for some time now and comes with the full support of the family.’

Pakistan Motorway Rape: Two men sentenced to death, for rape of mother in front of her children Two men have been sentenced to death for raping a woman in front of her children in Pakistan. Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali found the woman waiting for help beside a motorway in the eastern city of Lahore after her car ran out of fuel.

She had locked the car doors, but the attackers broke a window and dragged her outside where they raped her at gunpoint in front of her terrified children. The men also stole money, jewellery and bank cards before fleeing.

They were tracked down using mobile phone data and arrested days after the attack, with DNA samples taken from the crime scene matching the two men.

The survivor identified the attackers during the hearing and Ali confessed to the crime before a magistrate. Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta also sentenced the men to 14 years imprisonment, which must be served before any executions can take place. The crime drew widespread condemnation in Pakistan as some activists demanded they be hanged in public.

Protesters took to the streets saying the Government needed to bring in legal reforms and do more to protect women and children after a series of high-profile cases. Fewer than 3% of sexual assault or rape cases result in a conviction in

Pakistan, according to the Karachibased group War Against Rape. In December, Pakistan introduced a new rape law and special courts in a bid to speed up prosecutions and setting up a national sex offender registry.

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FRENCH MUSLIMS SLAM DECISION TO BAN HALAL CHICKEN SLAUGHTER AHEAD OF RAMADAN The France government’s decision to ban the slaughter of poultry animals in line with Islamic principles is being widely criticised by Muslim leaders ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

Paris Mosque director Chemseddine Hafez, Lyon Mosque director Kamel Kaptane and Evry Mosque director Khalil Maroun have issued a joint statement, in which they said that the French Agriculture and Food Ministry’s circular sends a negative message to the Muslim community in the country ahead of the holy month, reported TRT World.

“These precautions are a serious obstacle preventing people from freely practising their religion,” said the report citing the statement. The Muslim leaders further said that they are planning to take necessary legal action to restore the “fundamental right,” it read.

According to the report, the new rule says the Islamic slaughter of poultry animals will be banned in France as of

UBER SAYS WILL TREAT DRIVERS AS WORKERS NOT SELFEMPLOYED Ride-hailing platform Uber will treat British drivers as workers like its global workforce, that will give them benefits like minimum guaranteed pay, holiday pay, pension plans and others.

The move came after The UK Supreme Court ruled last month that Uber drivers should be treated as workers and not self-employed. The company said that all drivers in the UK will be paid holiday time based on 12.07 per cent of their earnings, which will be paid out every two weeks.

"Drivers will also be paid at least the minimum wage (called the National Living Wage) after accepting a trip request and after expenses," Uber said in a statement.

Eligible drivers in the UK will automatically be enrolled into a pension plan with contributions from Uber. These contributions will represent approximately 3 per cent of a driver's earnings.

"While we welcome Uber's decision to finally commit to paying minimum wage, holiday pay and pensions we observe that they have arrived to the

table with this offer a day late and a dollar short, literally," said a statement from the App Drivers and Couriers Union.

The Supreme Court ruled that drivers are to be recognized as workers with entitlements to the minimum wage and holiday pay to accrue on working time from log on to log off trip time.

"Uber is committing only to these entitlements to accrue from time of trip acceptance to drop off. This means that Uber drivers will be still shortchanged to the tune of 40-50 per cent," the union lamented.

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The joint statement noted that the three administrators conveyed their concerns to the relevant ministry but they did not receive any concrete results, said the report.

They have also discussed the matter with leaders of the Jewish community in France, the report said.

Besides France, other European countries, like Belgium, have taken similar steps against halal meat, as per the report.

Halal is the Islamic form of slaughtering animals, which involves killing through a cut to

the jugular vein, carotid artery, and windpipe.

Some animal rights activists in Europe argue that the Islamic halal and Jewish kosher rules for ritual slaughter are “less humane” than standard European practice because they ban the practice of stunning animals before they are killed, said the report.

However, there is also some disagreement over which form of slaughter causes the animal more pain, with some arguing that a stun gun can be more painful than an expertly applied cut to the animal’s neck, it said.

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APPEAL FOR WITNESSES - FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISION, MANNINGHAM Police are appealing for witnesses after a fatal road traffic collision in Manningham on Friday night.

The incident happened at 950pm on Parkfield Road at the junction with Sahara Court and involved a pedestrian and a black coloured Volkswagen Touran The Touran was being driven along Parkfield Road away from North Avenue and the pedestrian was crossing the

carriageway from the nearside to the offside when the two were in collision.

The pedestrian - a man - died as a result of his injuries.

Any witnesses to the collision / the movements of the vehicle prior to the collision and anyone with dashcam footage are asked to call police on 101 or contact the force via 101 Live Chat quoting log 1927 of Friday 19 March

SUCCESSFUL 12 MONTHS FOR OPERATION STEERSIDE

Successful 12 months of enforcement activity for Operation Steerside during the pandemic.

In 2016, Operation Steerside was launched, specifically to tackle dangerous and anti-social driving in Bradford and then evolved in 2018 into a multi-agency partnership and continue to work to proactively tackle illegal use of the roads.

Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, there has been a significant increase in reports of antisocial use of motor vehicles in the Bradford District.

In response to this, the Operation Steerside team has worked tirelessly through the pandemic, seven days a week, using innovative tactics to tackle anti-social and dangerous driving on the District’s road network.

Bradford District was the first to obtain a whole District PSPO against antisocial use of motor vehicles.

The initial enforcement has been tested by Steerside officers resulting in 40 PSPO reports. The Steerside Team currently training NPT officers in the enforcement of the PSPO. Since March 2020, the Operation Steerside Team has:

• Undertaken 60 pre-planned intelligence led operations • Issued 1,115 fixed penalty notices • 440 reports for summons for driving offences • 242 section 59 warnings to drivers • 327 vehicle seizures

• 76 arrests As well as enforcement activity in Bradford, the partnership work closely with schools and youth groups and deliver educational initiatives. This work was impacted by the

Coronavirus pandemic and the closure of schools, but we are currently working with schools to establish how this can be resumed utilizing technological solutions.

There are also plans being developed with course

provider TTC to deliver the Young Driver Programme in schools online.

Chief Superintendent Dan Greenwood, Bradford District Commander, said: “This year has been like no other in terms of policing due to the pandemic, but

I am extremely proud of the results the Operation Steerside team have achieved in difficult circumstances.

“We remain committed to proactively tackling antisocial use of the roads and work closely with our partner agencies to ensure that the roads in the Bradford District are safe to use for those living, working and visiting the city.”

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “At Bradford Council we remain committed to working with our partners in the fight against the antisocial and dangerous use of vehicles in the district.

“We are pleased with the results we have all achieved this year, despite the restrictions of the pandemic, and we look forward to carrying all the initiatives into the future to make the roads of our district safer for everyone.”

Anyone with any information about dangerous or antisocial driving is urged to contact the team via 101 or online. You can also submit dash cam footage here: https://www. westyorkshire.police.uk/ SaferRoadsSubmissions

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COVID -19: A LIFE CHANGING YEAR. The BIGGEST challenge of our lifetime.

This week marks one year since life as we knew it was put on hold, thanks to the global pandemic. The start of the first national lockdown began on 23 March 2020 and from that day on, all of our lives changed forever.

In that time, we’ve adapted our homes to classrooms and offices, been separated from loved ones and had to cancel holidays, weddings and our children’s birthday parties, while hundreds of thousands of families have mourned a loved one who has died from Covid.

We’ve witnessed our streets being

We had plans to get different jobs last year which has been a struggle in lockdown.

The lockdown has brought us closer to our family as we have spent a lot more time together. When lockdown is Aneek said she wants to be able to get a job and Samra said she can’t wait to see her friends.

Sisters Aneek and Samra

silent, with the hustle and bustle and business activity on a standstill. We’ve panic bought from the supermarkets, we’ve clapped for the NHS and other key workers and got our children to put up drawings of rainbows in our windows.

We’ve been the most charitable and donated millions financially and in resources, whether that’s in food deliveries or offering free services for those in need. We’ve come together as a community and offered strength and hope to our neighbours, our loved ones and to anyone impacted by Covid.

We now live in hope to come out of the lockdown and dream of a normal life once again.

It truly has been a life changing year.

My dad should have got married a year ago (21st March). His wife-to-be was at the hotel when the news came through everything had to shut at midnight on the 20th.we are now on the fourth date.

But he did get to move to Scarborough, so he is loving being there in lockdown.

Teaching Assistant Beckie Kent What was life like before Covid and what lessons have we learned from this pandemic? Where were you when lock down first happened?

Has the lockdown changed your plans for the future?

When lockdown is over and there are no more restrictions, what are the first things that you are going to do?

These are just some of the questions we put to you, our readers and here’s what

you had to say.

Whatever, your experiences, be proud that you have weathered the storm of the past year. There is further light at the end of the tunnel, with the UK’s highly successful vaccine programme hopefully bringing an end to lockdown over the coming months.

A special thanks from Asian Standard

Has lockdown taught you anything?

Where do I even start?

Beginning phase people were scared and their inner selves started to show, some people I have seen all my life and thought one way about them, but the pandemic brought out a completely different and nasty side out of humans which was very hard to comprehend. Being in the pharmacy was not easy the Dr’s had closed their doors and we had no way of stopping people coming in. We were there to help but they shouted, screamed, demanded, absolutely surreal. I think for me the way people’s mindset had changed in a split second threw me off and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the first lockdown. People were scared but so were we and we still tried. Most staff caught coronavirus including my 72-year-old dad but they all came out of it alive except a staff members father. We lost a lot of our customers to the virus. We had customers tell us we are wrong and it’s not real.

People are now travelling on apparent fake certificates and I just want to say what will you answer to God going to countries that are not as developed and spreading your germs because it’s starting to show especially in Pakistan.

I guess one thing I can be proud of although at time I may have felt broken and completely depressed I’m grateful to God that it didn’t change me. In fact, made me more willing to help.

Pharmacist Zuleikha Mariam Saeed Khan

Obviously with isolating I haven’t been able to do much at all. Lockdown has taught me to look at alternative ways of doing things. I’ve been baking bread instead of going to the shops and buying it. I am looking forward to the gyms reopening for now I’ve been going for walks instead.

Medhat, 45

Lockdown has been a struggle as I wanted to start playing more football but is has changed my plans. It has taught me to connect more with my family as they have spent so much time together. When lockdown is over, I want to get back into playing football again.

James Lockwood, 25

It’s made me think about making more money, my sister has started a baking business in lockdown and does it through Instagram. I help with the online work. Lockdown has taught me a lot about my family, we’ve spent way too much time together over the past year and there have been two new additions to the family, so it has been busy. I planned on going to Turkey last year for my birthday at the end of March, which I had rescheduled for my birthday this year. Unfortunately, I am having another lockdown birthday and have had to move my holiday for the second time. I am hoping to finally get to Turkey at the end of the summer.

Zakiya, 22

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It’s not changed my plans for the future, but it has made them harder to achieve. It has been difficult to get placement work for my sports therapy degree that I am supposed to finish this year. It has taught me how much my friends mean to me and when lockdown is over meeting my friends will be one of the first things I do.

Chloe, student, 23

to the entire NHS staff across the country, to keyworkers, to our communities, to all the volunteers helping with Covid testing and working at the vaccination centres, to all of you who donate and do charitable deeds who help those struggling or in need and to all our media colleagues who have been constantly keeping the nation informed about the pandemic.

A special thought and prayer for all those keyworkers who lost their lives to Covid and to all who have lost loved ones to the deadly virus.

Stay strong, keep the hope, keep united and we will come out of this together.

Covid has changed my plans because now I want to leave England. It has taught me that I don’t want to be in this country anymore, I don’t like the way that the government have handled it. The first thing that I am going to do is get a flight out of here, I want to leave this country and start off by going to the Ise Of Man as I have always wanted to go there.

Mick Smith

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I was still working but found with my husband who was on furlough took over home schooling our boys. His done a great job and the biggest achievement I feel for them was they all grew even closer. Also seen a big change in my husband as prior to lockdown he was constantly working and not really had any family time, but this time has really changed him.

This is from a wife’s view he might think differently but I’m really proud of my hubby and boys. They even went running in the morning before starting their school-work.

Retail Assistant Sara Khan

I was ill from around December 2019 but thought it was a common cold that I couldn’t get rid of. Cough etc but in March a close relative passed away so after attending the funeral that was at, got bad to worse and I ended up in hospital with the covid virus. I was told I am one of the lucky ones, I had diabetes, arthritis etc. Bit lucky because the tablets I had been taking for a few years for pain could have saved my life ... After 3 weeks on antibiotics the virus did start getting better, but the after affects are still ongoing. I’m not the same person by far. I’m always tired, pain all over my body. My head feels foggy, my mood swings, want to be alone most of the time, my legs are in so much pain I can’t even get around the house without help.

I wish and pray all the time for anyone suffering.

Resident, Yasmin Kauser

Lockdown hasn’t really changed my plans at all, I am a tutor and have been working throughout lockdown, but I had no major plans. I enjoy my own company very much, but you can have too much of a good thing sometimes. The first thing that I am going to do is go and play snooker with my youngest when I can, it’s something we would normally do every week and I want to get back into that.

John, Tutor, 47

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50 YEARSof BANGLADESH

INDEPENDENCE

“I WISH I EMBRACED MORE OF MY BANGLADESHI CULTURE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.”

BY FATIMA PATEL Humayun Islam is perhaps one of the most influential members of the British Bangladeshi community in Bradford. As the Chief Executive of charity BEAP Community Partnership, based in the heart of Manningham, close to Bradford City Football Club, Humayun plays a key role in offering support, advice and guidance to the city’s growing Bangladeshi community.

He is also one of the main instigators of the world famous, Bangla Bantams (a football fan group set up to bring "inclusivity and diversity" to the game).

Today, thanks to the work of Humayun and his team, South Asian families, particularly from the Bangladeshi community find it safe and enjoyable to go and watch Bradford City FC play, whereas in the past families didn’t go, as they were too concerned about being racially abused. Now even mum’s and daughters enjoy going to watch a match.

It’s with this insight, deep understanding and supporting

of four siblings and has visited Bangladesh several times since 1986. He loves getting to know more about his roots, culture, heritage, but above all enjoying the simple life.

Humayun Islam

the needs of the local community that we thought who better than Humayun to celebrate 50 years of his father’s birth country – Bangladesh.

“My first visit to Bangladesh was in 1986. I was only ten years old.

The travel was more of a chore than a holiday, but once we reached our village, I really began enjoying the simple life, of no TV, fresh food and lots of banter with relatives in my mother tongue” recalled Humayun.

The community leader is one

“I enjoyed going, because firstly, my father used to be really relaxed in Bangladesh. Here in the UK he was always stressed, because he was working all the time, providing for us, but also for our extended family in Bangladesh.”

Humayun’s father like many South Asian migrants, arrived in the UK in the 1960’s. He was one of the first Bangladeshi’s to come here, and was also the first and only one of his siblings and extended family to arrive. So the pressure was on him to provide for the family back home.

“Dad worked hard shifts and a lot of the money went back to Bangladesh and I think that’s why dad took us there, so we could see the life he left, but why he is still connected and provides for

the family there” Said Humayun.

Humayun confesses that going to Bangladesh taught him many life lessons, particularly of gratitude.

“I was really grateful for what we had and to have the opportunity to be living in the UK. It made me realise that I needed to study, be educated, work hard and always give back.”

When he was younger, Humayun found it difficult to accept his heritage. He said he was embarrassed to tell people he ate fish and rice and wore a lunghi at home. However, today he shares his heritage and traditions with pride.

Humayun during a work visit in Bangladesh

“I wish I was more proud of my heritage when I was younger. I was always embarrassed of my culture and heritage because I wanted to fit in and be part of the wider British society, but actually I was losing my identity. I wish I had embraced more of the

Humayun doing charity work in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi culture when I was younger.” said Humayun Identity was always an issue for Humayun and perhaps many other British Bangladeshi’s, who feel that they are never truly accepted as fully British, but are not seen as Bangladeshi’s in Bangladesh either, but as ‘Londoni’s’.

“So, identity matters and that’s why the celebration of 50 years of Bangladesh Independence matters to British Bangladeshi’s like me.” Humayun said.

“Bangladesh is 50 years old, and

I see in this 50 years Bangladesh has become a thriving country.

Today I feel proud to call myself a British Bangladeshi. I see 50 years of development, and 50 years of success. However, I also see 50 years is about educating British Bangladeshi’s especially the third and fourth generations, where they need to understand what being Bangladeshi is. Such as the language, the food, the culture and heritage. So, we need to embrace Bangladesh in a positive light and that’s what 50 years of Bangladesh means to me.”

Wishing all of the Bangladeshi community a very happy 50 years of Bangladesh Independence.

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50 YEARSof BANGLADESH

INDEPENDENCE

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A NATION CREATED IN VIOLENCE AND STILL BEARING SCARS OF A TROUBLED BIRTH

TAZREENA SAJJAD | Senior Professorial Lecturer, American University School of International Service

Tazreena Sajjad is a senior Professorial Lecturer at the American University School of International Service. In this week’s celebratory issue of 50 years of Bangladesh Independence in an article for The Conversation, she helps examine the journey of dissolved East Pakistan to the birth of Bangladesh and the jubilee celebrations of present day.

Read on.

March 26 marks 50 years since the start of Bangladesh’s liberation war, a bloody nine-month campaign that culminated in the nation’s independence on Dec. 16, 1971.

Deepening fault lines From early on, the issue of language was a difficult one. In 1948, the founding leader of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, emphasized that only Urdu, spoken by Muslims in the north and northwest in British India, should be the state language of the country. Bangla, spoken overwhelmingly by East Pakistanis, was considered by West Pakistani leadership as a “non-Muslim” language.

The Urdu-only policy aimed to create a single identity out of two culturally distinct regions united by a common religion – Islam. More broadly, it aimed to consolidate the national identity of the recently independent Pakistan.

In East Pakistan, the declaration was followed by the banning of Bengali books, songs and poetry by Bengali Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Bangla language as the medium of education and primary mode of instruction was also banned.

All currency and official documents, including postal stamps and railway tickets, were printed in Urdu.

The language ban deepened tensions that had already emerged between West and East Pakistan. A major reason for this was significant economic disparities between the two regions. West Pakistan controlled the country’s industry and commerce while East Pakistan was predominantly the supplier for raw materials, setting up a situation of unequal exchange.

It was a violent birth, with some of its roots in the 1947 partition of India – when Pakistan was created as a separate nation.

As the British Empire left the subcontinent, an estimated 200,000 to 1.5 million people were killed in sectarian violence associated with the partition and 10 million to 15 million were forcibly displaced.

Newly independent Pakistan comprised two separate geographical areas separated by over a thousand miles of Indian terrain. While both regions included significant Muslim populations, West Pakistan was made up largely of Punjabi, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Baloch and other smaller ethnic groups.

In contrast, the population of East Pakistan, which became modernday Bangladesh, was predominantly ethnically Bengali, as the territory was formerly part of the Indian region of Bengal.

As a scholar of conflict, I argue that each of these factors – particularly the differences in language and political and economic inequities – laid the groundwork for Bangladesh’s independence struggle. This history continues to have an impact today.

Bangladesh Jubilee Independence celebrations in full swing with Sri Lankan PM

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11 protect its geostrategic interests visa-vis Afghanistan and China.

When the Pakistani military intensified its campaign to quell the independence movement, it did so with the knowledge and support of the Nixon administration.

The Pakistani military and its local collaborators specifically targeted Hindus, who in the 1961 census represented 18% of East Pakistan’s population of 50 million.

An estimated 10 million Bengalis became refugees in India. A further 20 million were internally displaced.

An estimated 200,000 to 400,000 Bengali women were systematically raped.

Independent research estimates 500,000 to 1 million people were killed in the genocidal campaign. The Bangladesh government maintains that 3 million Bengalis were killed in the war.

On Dec. 3, India officially entered the war on the side of Bangladesh.

Ten days later, in one of the last military operations, over 300 Bengali academics, doctors, engineers, journalists, artists and teachers – Hindus and Muslims alike – were massacred by Pakistani soldiers and their local collaborators.

On Dec. 16, 1971, the Pakistani military surrendered to the Indian Army, marking it as Bangladesh’s Victory Day.

Challenges today

In 1959-60 the per capita income in West Pakistan was 32% higher than in East Pakistan. By 1969-70, it was 81% higher in West Pakistan.

Investment policies including in educational infrastructure consistently favored West Pakistan.

for East Pakistan. Thousands of school and college students protested, defying Section 144 of the Criminal Procedural Code, which prohibited assembly of five or more people and holding of public meetings.

East Pakistanis had little access to the central government, which was located in the West Pakistani city of Islamabad. They were severely underrepresented in politics. West Pakistani political leadership did not see Bengalis as “real” Muslims.

Both in political circles and socially, Bengali cultural practices were considered of a lower social status.

The crackdown that followed claimed several lives. From 1950 to 1969 it also galvanized a growing movement for autonomy across East Pakistan.

Mass uprising The efforts to “Islamize” East Pakistanis through Urdu and “purify” Bengali culture from “Hindu influences” resulted in massive nonviolent demonstrations and strikes.

On Feb. 21, 1952, students and other activists launched a language movement called the “Bhasha Andolon,” which demanded Bangla be recognized as the state language

A mass uprising in 1969 was brutally put down by police and led to the imposition of martial law.

In 1970, a devastating cyclone called “Bhola” in East Pakistan claimed 300,000 to 500,000 lives.

The indifferent response of the West Pakistan government further inflamed tensions.

A big turning point came the same year when the sole majority political party in East Pakistan, led by Bengali politician Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide victory in national elections. The Pakistani leadership was reluctant to accept the results because it did not want an East Pakistani political party heading the federal government.

This resulted in the start of a civil disobedience movement in East Pakistan.

As the demand for Bengali autonomy grew, the Pakistani government launched Operation Searchlight,“ a military operation to crush the emerging movement. According to journalist Robert Payne, it killed at least 7,000 Bengali civilians – both Hindus and Muslims – in a single night.

On March 26, Bangladesh was declared independent and the liberation war began.

The violent birth of Bangladesh The liberation war was fought mostly by civilians – men and women, Muslims, Hindus and non-Bengali Indigenous people.

Bangladesh’s independence struggle took place in the broader context of the Cold War, which meant external actors were involved in the conflict.

During the Cold War, India allied with the Soviet Union, while the U.S. allied with Pakistan to counter Soviet influence in South Asia and to

Soon after its independence, in a meeting between officials of the United States Agency for International Development and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Bangladesh was labeled a "basket case.” Years of economic inequities, the 1970 cyclone and the war had left over 70% of its population living below the poverty line.

However, in the 50 years since its independence, Bangladesh has made some significant strides. It has aggressively tackled infant mortality, gender inequity and economic development. Today, with a booming economy, it is on track to graduate from the United Nation’s least developed country category.

Nevertheless, Bangladesh still faces enormous challenges. Violence against women and girls, corruption and lack of press freedoms remain serious concerns.

Founded on the principles of secularism, the country today faces a rise of Islamists.

The divide between those who participated in the independence struggle and those who collaborated with the Pakistani military continues to shape Bangladesh’s political landscape today.

This article originally appeared in The Conversation.

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@ASIANSTANDARD

COVID ROADMAP. THE JOURNEY SO FAR.

Boris Johnson has set out a timetable for legal restrictions to be lifted entirely in England by 21 June.

- No requirement for a substantial meal to purchase alcohol and no curfews on opening times

The plans are an attempt to kick-start the British economy and ease the societal pressures of lockdown without triggering a dangerous resurgence of the virus.

- Self-contained holidays within the UK to be allowed

Lockdown measures started to be lifted from 8 March, with the return of students to school classrooms.

There were also changes in care home rules on Mar 8.

Residents are now allowed to have a single visitor. That individual can visit repeated times rather than the trip being a one-off.

The visitor and care home resident will be allowed to hold hands, but other close contact is not allowed. The visitor must get a Covid-19 test beforehand and wear protective equipment.

Also, since 8 March people can meet one-on-one outside in public spaces.

Previously, people could only meet for exercise. However, socialising with one other person can take place, so a coffee on a park bench or oneon-one picnic will be allowed.

The next of the Prime Minister’s road map starts from 29 March. Here the rule change will mean six people from six different households are allowed to meet outside, in effect the so-called ‘rule of six’ returns. Alternatively, two households can meet outside.

This means two families, who potentially together total more than six people, will be allowed to meet. This can happen in both outdoor public spaces and in back gardens.

There will also be a significant loosening in how far people can travel to see someone outside.

While people will still be encouraged to minimise travel, there will not be punishments for someone who drives a few hours for a meet-up outside, then returns that day.

Outdoor organised sports for both adults and children will also return. This is for both socially distanced sports like golf and tennis and team sports like football, so Sunday league and five-a-side will return.

Indoor sports will still be off limits. Additionally, though the sports must be organised, so a large group of people cannot gather to kick around a football if it breaks the number limits explained above.

That’s step 1. Here’s a look the remaining steps for the coming months, which could see us getting close to normality, if the data allows.

• STEP 2 - APRIL 12 - Non-essential retail and personal care such as hairdressers to reopen.

However, people may be urged to only go in alone rather than as an entire household.

- Public buildings such as museums and libraries will return - Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will reopen - Outdoor hospitality, such as pubs and restaurants will reopen but customers must be seated

- Funerals allowed up to 30 guests, while wakes, weddings and receptions will be allowed 15 - Outdoor attractions such as zoos, theme parks and drive in cinemas

• STEP 3 - MAY 17 - Groups of up to six people and two households will be allowed to meet indoors, so people can enter each other's homes from now.

- Gatherings of more than 30 will still be illegal - Indoor hospitality can reopen with same restrictions - Weddings will be allowed with up to 30 people - Large events can resume with spectators, though there will be restrictions; - Indoor events will be allowed up to 1,000 spectators or 50 percent of capacity, whichever is lowest - Outdoor events will be

allowed up to 4,000 or 50 percent of capacity, whichever is lowest - Outdoor seated events, such as football matches, will be allowed 10,000 fans or 25 percent of capacity, whichever is lowest

• STEP 4 - JUNE 21 - This is expected to be as close to normal as possible.

All limits on social contact, such as rule of six, to be removed for both indoor and outdoor settings - Rest of society to reopen, such as nightclubs and other businesses which did not reopen following first lockdown - Social distancing will remain in place until Step 4, with a review taking place ahead of that date looking at how the advice can be removed The roadmap however, will be underpinned by four key “tests” that are linked to data, which will act like a checklist that must be met before moving onto the next step of reopening.

The four tests are: the vaccine

roll-out is going as planned; vaccines are effective in bringing down deaths and hospitalisations; case numbers are not rising so fast that the NHS risks being overwhelmed; new variants do not create unforeseen risks.

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said on Mar 18 that vaccine supply issues will have "no impact on the road map" out of lockdown.

"We are on track for the dates in the road map and there is no impact on the road map from the changes to vaccine supply that we've been detailing in the last 24 hours," the Health Secretary said.

It comes as the Government's plans to extend the Coronavirus Act for another six months have been condemned

by Conservative MPs. Boris Johnson is expected on Mar 25 to push through extensions to coronavirus legislation that give farreaching lockdown powers to close ports, ban protests and detain citizens to late September, despite being "hopeful" there will be a lifting coronavirus restrictions on Jun 21.

22 - 28 mARCH 2021 WWW.ASIANSTYLEMAGAZINE.COM

THE IMPACT OF BANGLADESHI CINEMA AFTER THE LIBERATION WAR ANGELINA JOLIE FILES DOCUMENTS CLAIMING SHE HAS EVIDENCE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AGAINST BRAD PITT

KATRINA KAIF BEGINS SHOOTING ON A NEW MYSTERY PROJECT

MICHELLE OBAMA GIVES VIOLA DAVIS HER STAMP OF APPROVAL TO PLAY HER

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FILM FASHION BEAUTY

KATRINA KAIF BEGINS SHOOTING ON A NEW MYSTERY PROJECT

ANGELINA JOLIE FILES DOCUMENTS CLAIMING SHE HAS EVIDENCE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AGAINST BRAD PITT Actress-filmmaker Angelina Jolie has filed papers as evidence in court in support of domestic abuse allegations against her former husband, actor Brad Pitt.

shared in an Instagram post with Katrina Kaif has a new film to focus on, she fans. ned the picture.

"New day New haircut New film," She she captio the project she had begun. Kaif However, the actress did not give details of Salman Khan which led fans to was spotted a few days back with superstar ing for 'Tiger 3'. shoot d speculate whether the two had starte avanshi' with Akshay Kumar lined The Bollywood star has Rohit Shett y's 'Soory to hit screens on April 30. up for release. The cop action drama is slated dy 'Phone Bhoot '. This film She has also been shooting for the horror come Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant is directed by Gurmmeet Singh and co-stars Chaturvedi.

SHOOTING COMMENCES ON AKSHAY KUMAR'S 'RAM SETU' Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has commenced shooting for his upcoming film ‘Ram Setu’. Kumar shared the news with fans on Instagram.

begins. Need special wishes from all you guys," Akshay wrote alongside the Instagram photo.

Kumar posted a photo where he can be seen seated on the stairs of an aircraft along with actresses Jacqueline Fernandez and Nushrratt Bharuccha, his co-stars in the film.

Kumar plays an archaeologist in the film, which is directed by Abhishek Sharma, produced by Vikram Malhotra and creatively produced Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi. ‘Ram Setu’ is the first Bollywood film coproduced by Amazon Prime.

"A special film, a special start...Team #RamSetu off to Ayodhya for the mahurat shot. And so the journey

The film will be shot at multiple locations with a major part in Mumbai.

The 45-year-old actress has filed documents in court that indicate she and her children are willing to offer "proof and authority in support" of their claims against Pitt. Jolie has agreed to provide testimony, along with the "testimony of minor children", a report in US Weekly said.

"If Angelina has more documentation to prove domestic violence towards her or the children, she can submit it as a supplemental offer to prove in trial," an American family law expert stated.

"She can say these are the documentation in addition to what she already presented. This could mean it's a more recent instance (of domestic violence), or

further documentation related to what was presented before," the expert added.

The report further stated that all six of the former couple's kids -- Maddox, 19, Pax, 17, and Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12 -- could freely speak in court in their divorce hearings.

Meanwhile, a source close to Pitt told US Weekly that the filing is nothing but an attempt to merely "hurt" the 57-year-old actor.

"Over the past four and a half years there have been a number of claims made by Angelina that have been reviewed and not substantiated. The children have been used by Angelina to hurt Brad before and this is more of that behaviour. This leaking of documents by her fourth or fifth set of lawyers has been done to hurt Brad," the source said.

FILM FASHION BEAUTY

ZAKIR KHAN'S 'CHACHA VIDHAYAK HAIN HUMARE' WILL RETURN FOR SECOND SERIES

Comedian Zakir Khan's popular series "Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare" is set to return with a second season.

The series casts Khan as Ronny Pathak, who tries leading a double life, and the outcome is hilarious.

Khan, who is also the creator of the series, stated, "Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare is a story that is close to my heart. We received an

overwhelming response to the first season followed by thousands of requests from fans to bring Ronny Bhaiya back to the screens. We have worked really hard to create the second season and are back with more of Ronny's adventures, and a lot more fun and laughter."

The series, directed by Shashant Shah, also stars Sunny Hinduja, Kumar Varun, Vyom Sharma, Abhimanyu

"I feel that I'm not worthy. I wish I could be better to live up to the character that Viola has to play, but it's exciting," said Obama, 57, during an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

"Anything Viola does, she does it with passion and vigour, and I know she will do no less for this role," she added.

The show will see the Oscar-winning actress opposite actor O-T Fagbenle, who will be playing former President

KANGANA RANAUT HEADS TO RAJASTHAN TO SHOOT FOR 'TEJAS'

Singh, Alka Amin, Venus Singh and Onima Kashyap in pivotal roles. It will stream on Amazon Prime.

"I have enjoyed collaborating with Amazon Prime Video on titles like Haq Se Single, Comicstaan and especially on Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare, and I am thankful to them for believing in my ideas and for giving me the platform to showcase my content," said Khan.

MICHELLE OBAMA GIVES VIOLA DAVIS HER STAMP OF APPROVAL TO PLAY HER Michelle Obama has given actress Viola Davis her stamp of approval, after it was reported that the latter will portray the ex-First Lady of America in a limited series titled "The First Lady".

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Barack Obama in the series. According to a release by the makers, the show will provide "a revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House".

"In the East Wing of the White House, many of history's most impactful and world-changing decisions have been hidden from view, made by America's charismatic, complex and dynamic First Ladies. This series will peel back the curtain on the personal and political lives of three unique, enigmatic women, tracing their journeys to Washington through an enlightening intimacy," the release said.

Actress Kangana Ranaut has started shooting for her upcoming film "Tejas" in Rajasthan. Ranaut tweeted on-location photographs on Thursday where she is riding a helicopter.

Rajasthan got a raw deal in terms of nature and it's resources yet they emerged as the strongest, culturally n aesthetically richest and evolved people," the actress wrote.

"This morning off to work, thank you team #Tejas for saving the hassle of long drives, while I look at this terrain, I wonder

The Delhi schedule of "Tejas" was wrapped up before the unit moved to Rajasthan. The film is directed by Sarvesh Mewara.

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FILM FASHION BEAUTY

‘THERE CAN BE MULTIPLE TALES ON THE SAME STORY’: HANSAL MEHTA REACTS TO COMPARISONS BETWEEN ‘THE BIG BULL’ AND ‘SCAM 1992’.

the upcoming Filmmaker Hansal Mehta on Friday reacted to a comparison between 1992’. The film ‘Scam series web Abhishek Bachchan film ‘The Big Bull’ and his popular ker Harshad stockbro and 1992 of scam s securitie the on based broadly and the series are Mehta's life.

‘The Big Bull’ was Hansal Mehta's assertion comes on the same day that the trailer of Twitter. on launched by producer Ajay Devgn on the same story.

"Please don't make unfair comparisons. There can be multiple tales ent of the other. independ seen be should and way own his have will ler Every story-tel their best and they done They've show. my like This film has so many talents involved just tweeted.

Mehta Hansal love," deserve your great form @ "And very intriguing trailer with such phenomenal actors. You are in @DisneyPlusHS," he juniorbachchan. More power to the entire team of #TheBigBull on added.

Devgn's tweet saying: Mehta's tweet came in response to a user who commented on Ajay 80 's #Scam1992 .... @pratikg and hansal @mehta of standard the not bt efforts ate "Appreci Baap of all web series." digitally on April 8.

‘The Big Bull’ is directed by Kookie Gulati, and is expected to drop

AYUSHMANN KHURRANA ANNOUNCES WRAP-UP FOR 'ANEK' Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana has announced the wrap-up for his upcoming spythriller film 'Anek', for which he had been shooting in Delhi and North-East India.

Ayushmann, who headed to Delhi for the shooting of the last schedule of the flick on Tuesday 16 March, took to his Instagram and posted pictures reviving his special moments from the film. Taking to the captions, the 'Andhadhun' actor wrote, "It's a wrap! #Anek is very very special. It's full of surprises. An untouched subject. A very important new age cinema."

The actor further explained why he became emotional on the last day of shoot by noting, "Coz I will never get to play that character again.

I will miss playing Joshua. I will miss North East."

Concluding the caption, Ayushmann penned

'I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE VITRIOL DIRECTED AT HER': RALPH FIENNES DEFENDS J.K. ROWLING IN LIGHT OF HER COMMENTS ON THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY British actor Ralph Fiennes, who played the role of Lord Voldemort in the "Harry Potter" film franchise, has defended the author of the books, J.K.. Rowling, who was slammed for comments she made about the transgender community.

However, the 58-year-old Fiennes agreed that Rowling's criticism has gone a bit too far.

"I can't understand the vitriol directed at her," he said in an interview with The Telegraph.

"I can understand the heat of an argument, but I find this age of accusation and the need to condemn irrational. I find the level of hatred that people express about views that differ from theirs, and the violence of language towards others, disturbing," added

Fiennes.

Talking about the controversy surrounding Rowling after she repeatedly offended members of the transgender community last summer,

Fiennes said that he would "hate a world where the freedom of that kind of voice is stifled".

"We need to have those voices that risk being offensive," Fiennes continued, explaining that the world needs art that "could shake the scenery, that could get inside us and make us angry and turn us on".

Rowling has previously come under attack for comments she made about the transgender community.

Sharing an article to her Twitter about 'people who menstruate', Rowling posted, "‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people.

Someone help me out. Wumben?

Wimpund? Woomud?"

Many found her comments to be ignorant of the trans community, but Rowling has defended her statements, saying that she does not want to undermine the experience of being a woman.

down the description of his series of pictures that he shared on Instagram. For the first picture, he described that the snap is "his last shot in the film", the second picture is with his director Anubhav Sinha, third is with his team and the fourth is the last time when he "used his stationary in the film".

Anubhav Sinha's next directorial starring Ayushmann Khurrana will release on September 17, 2021. 'Anek' marks Anubhav's second collaboration with Ayushmann after the critically-acclaimed 2019 film 'Article 15'. Helmed by the 'Mulk' filmmaker, 'Anek' is being bankrolled by Anubhav and Bhushan Kumar under Benaras Media Works and TSeries.

Apart from 'Anek', Ayushmann will also be seen in Abhishek Kapoor's 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' and Anubhuti Kashyap's 'Doctor G'.

FILM FASHION BEAUTY

MOVIE REVIEW

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‘THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER’ REVIEW: WILL MARVEL’S NEW SERIES FLY HIGH?

BY REBECCA TODD It’s been two years now since ‘Avengers: Endgame’ appeared on our screens and Marvel kickstarted their next generation of superheroes.

When we last laid eyes on Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), the pair were gathered by an aged Steve Rodgers who was ready to pass his Captain America mantle on to the next hero. This is almost precisely where we find ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ at the start of the series.

The show begins with an immediate reminder that Sam is currently faced with the big decision of whether to become the new Captain America.

He repeats the words that we heard him say in the finale of Endgame: “it feels like it’s somebody else’s”.

The series makes it clear from the get go that we will watch Wilson wrestle with the decision of whether to maintain his individuality or to take the leap and become America’s ultimate hero.

From the outset, the series does its utmost to establish its characters and remind us of what we already know.

The jump into an action sequence within the first five minutes of the show gives us that much needed bombastic Marvel magic that has been sorely missed from our screens for a while now. The show’s $150 million budget does not go amiss in this sequence, and it juxtaposes itself so distinctly from the rather sedate beginnings of Marvel’s last

control of others, the series fronts Bucky’s mental struggles and the use of flashbacks to his time as an assassin vividly portrays his psyche.

The series’ downfall lies mainly with its dialogue, however. The ham-fisted nature in which Sam consistently recalls his conversation about becoming Captain America becomes repetitive pretty quickly, and the show could do with having more faith in both its audience’s understanding and in Mackie’s ability to portray Sam’s struggles. The typical Marvel bravado and patriotism is perhaps stronger here than in anything the studio has ever produced before and, at certain points, the show borders on ‘Team America’ levels of nationalism and flag-waving.

series, ‘WandaVision’. The start of ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ establishes itself as an indication of what’s to come: this is the big budget, action-packed fun-filled fest that we have been waiting for.

Thankfully, however, Marvel strikes that perfect balance between action and character development.

Alongside these action sequences, we see Sam interacting with his family for the first time. We get an introduction to his sister and nephews and, alongside the

grandiose decision to become Captain America, we see Sam simply trying to keep his family legacy afloat. Adepero Oduye as Sarah Wilson does a lot to ground the show in reality as Sam’s sister. Her genuine and earthy personality softens the contrast between the action and the family drama and we immediately develop

an understanding for who she is as a single mother, a sister left behind by her brother and a struggling business owner.

On the other hand, Sebastian Stan’s storyline as Bucky Barnes ventures deeper into the character’s backstory than ever before. Whilst we have seen how The Winter Soldier struggles with the war crimes he committed when he was under the

There is no denying the sheer enjoyment of being back in the presence of these characters, however. After nearly two years without any Marvel films on the big screen, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s action sequences provide some much needed fun and the entertainment value cannot be denied. Following in the footsteps of WandaVision, the series falters a little in its lack of narrative care. We certainly will not be getting any mind-bending storytelling with this one, but, quite frankly, I do not think that that was ever the show’s intention.

‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ is available to stream on Disney+ now.

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50 YEARSof BANGLADESH

INDEPENDENCE

The impact of Bangladeshi cinema after the Liberation War

BY REBECCA TODD March 26 2021 marks the 50 year anniversary of Bangladesh independence.We have tracked the most seminal pieces of Bangladeshi cinema from the past five decades to see how film has evolved alongside the country. Film has been used throughout Bangladeshi history as a representation of the events of the war and of the country itself. From footage taken during the war up until the more recent retellings of the subject, Bangladeshi film is a reflection of the country’s history. Follow the chronology of the Bangladeshi film industry after the Liberation War...

TITASH EKTI NADIR NAAM (1973) ‘Titash Ekti Nadir Naam’ was one of the first Bangladeshi films to be produced following the war.

Based on the novel by Advaita Mallaburman, the film followed the story of a fishing community before the war. The film is considered to be director Ritwik Ghatak’s most important work and was made by the director whilst he was suffering from tuberculosis. The film topped the list of the BFI’s top ten Bangladeshi films and can see the way that Bangladesh was beginning to slowly recover after the Liberation War.

SURJA DIGHAL BARI (1979) JIBON THEKE NEYA (1970) ‘Jibon Theke Neya’ is one of the cornerstones of political cinema. The film functions as a political satire of the status of Bangladesh in 1970, just before the country declared independence from Pakistan. ‘Jibon Theke Neya’ follows the story of a maniacal matriarch, whose possessive control of her family eventually results in her downfall. The narrative runs parallel to the political protests against the dictatorship of Ayub Khan and the film has frequently been described as a piece of ‘national cinema’, a visual zeitgeist of pre-war Bangladesh. The Liberation War took place only a matter of months after the film’s release.

STOP GENOCIDE (1971) Unlike the other films on this list, ‘Stop Genocide’ was a short documentary film made to highlight the brutal acts being committed against the people of, what was then, East Pakistan. The short film was director Zahir Raihan’s first project, and the filmmaker utilised pieces of footage from newsreels and photographs to piece together the film. The result was a twenty-minute documentary that demonstrated to the world what was occurring in Bangladesh. At the time, Raihan was a refugee in Kolkata and he used his work to try and bring more recognition to the conflict.

‘Surja Dighal Bari’ was the first and only films to be produced entirely thanks to government grants. The story follows a widow and her children who have to fight against their village in order to keep their house. The film marked a shift in Bangladesh, as the government began to prioritise the arts following the aftermath of the war. The 1980s saw a prominent rise of cinema in the Bangladeshi industry, and ‘Surja Dighal Bari’ marked a shift in the importance of Bangladeshi film.

BEDER MAYA JOSNA (1989) ‘Beder Maya Josna’ took an old Bengali folk tale and transformed it into one of the biggest Bangladesh box-office hits of all time. Whilst ‘Beder Maya Josna’ is certainly not a film about the insightful look into the political landscape of Bangladesh, the film does represent the apex of Bangladesh’s golden era of film. Its use of the traditional tale about a snake charmer’s daughter infuses the film with traditional Bengali culture and brought Bangladesh cinema into the forefront of South Asian culture. The film even went on to receive an Indian remake of the same name in 1991.

FILM FASHION BEAUTY

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AGUNER POROSHMONI (1994) ‘Aguner Poroshmoni’ was the first film produced by director Humayun Ahmed. The piece followed the story of a freedom fighter who took refuge in a Bengali middle-class home during the war. In terms of critical response, ‘Aguner Poroshmoni’ was one of the most successful Bangladeshi films of the 90s, receiving National Film Awards in eight categories. The film was believed to be produced mainly for the masses, after the middle class had begun to disregard cinema in Bangladesh.

JAAGO (2010) ‘Jaago’ represents the full revitalisation of Bangladeshi cinema. Following the lull of the industry in the early 2000s, the government wanted to ensure that Bangladeshi film came back into the mainstream. Based on the Swadhin Bangla Football Dol, who encouraged the morale of the freedom fighters in the War by organising charity matches, the film is the first football drama to be produced in Bangladesh. It went on to receive many awards and was part of a group of highquality films that were put together to bring back the box-office successes that Bangladesh saw in the 80s and 90s.

NODIR NAAM MODHUMOTI (1996) The 90s saw the rise of director Tanvir Mokammel, who is arguably the most influential Bangladeshi filmmaker of all time. Mokammel’s first feature film, ‘Nodir Naam Modhumoti’, reflects upon the war from the perspective of a young child. The film’s brutal depiction of how the war traumatised those who experienced it was at first banned by the Bangladesh Censor Board, but after an appeal process, Mokammel’s film went on to earn several Bangladesh National Film Awards. It is generally considered to be one of the most influential pieces of Bangladeshi cinema.

AYNABAJI (2016)

MATIR MOINA (2002) ‘Matir Moina’ is perhaps the film that has been most notably recognised on an international scale. The film is an autobiographical retelling of director Tareque Masud’s life and childhood. The director was a teenager when the Liberation War took place and ‘Matir Moina’ focuses mainly upon the religious tensions of the war. The film was the first Bangladeshi project to debut at Cannes International Film Festival and went on to be a prominent fixture on the international film circuit, appearing at Edinburgh, Toronto and Palm Springs. Ironically, ‘Matir Moina’ enjoyed better commercial and critical reception internationally than at home in Bangladesh, thanks to the Censor Board banning it for several years.

Now, in the modern era, Bangladesh cinema is booming and bigger than ever. ‘Aynabaji’ is currently the highest-grossing Bangladeshi film ever, and represents the ever-growing potential of the Bangladesh film industry. ‘Aynabaji’ is considered to be a milestone of modern Bangaldeshi cinema, and can be viewed as an indication of how the film market is likely to continue to grow. The success of films like ‘Aynabaji’ have put the industry on the map, and with ‘MR-9’ currently set to be the biggest budget Bangladeshi film in the making, we can be certain to expect Bangladeshi cinema to be an international phenomenon very soon.

Give your family the gift of certainty about organ donation The choice about whether to become an organ donor will always be a personal decision. It’s important that as a family you talk about organ donation and whether you’d want to be a donor. That way, if your family are ever involved in discussions about organ donation, they will have the certainty they need to support your decision at a difficult time.

More people from South Asian backgrounds are receiving transplants than ever before, but Asian patients will still wait up to six months longer than white patients for a transplant.

Although people can receive a transplant from someone of any ethnicity, the best match will often come from a donor of the same ethnicity.

Rohit Sagoo, is the founder of British Sikh Nurses, a volunteer run organisation which aims to help closer connections and understanding between the NHS and Sikh communities.

Rohit says:

Rohit

“The need for lifesaving organs is high within the Asian community due to underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, renal and kidney problems.

We need people from our community to consider the importance of organ donation if we are to address the disparity between need

for transplant and willingness to donate. As a health professional I have seen first-hand the excellent care that NHS medical teams give to organ donors, their families and transplant recipients. We aim to use our work to help educate and translate the importance of organ donation in the Sikh Community.

Thus, empowering families and loved ones to have important conversations about their personal and individual wishes at the end of life.”

Donating organs and tissue in line with personal faith and values is important to many people. To ensure your faith and beliefs are respected and discussed with your family, you have the opportunity to give details on them when registering a decision to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Shila and her family said yes to organ donation when her father, Naran, died following a stroke.

“How well do you know your family? To me, the answer comes from how many endless hours of conversation you have had about all aspects of life, big or small. Years ago, the renewal of my dad’s driving license lead to a serious discussion about organ donation with my parents. When our family were faced with the question,’ do you wish your dad to be an organ donor?’. We didn’t hesitate to say YES as we knew exactly what his wishes were. Please talk to your family about organ donation, I cannot express how important it is.”

Shila

Visit organdonation.nhs.uk

“ We knew everything about each other.

Apart from this.”

Let’s give the people we love, the certainty they need.

Talk to your loved ones about organ donation.

Visit organdonation.nhs.uk

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BRITS SAY TAKEAWAYS HAVE HELPED THEM SURVIVE LOCKDOWN With a year of lockdown under our belt the time has come to celebrate one of the unsung heroes of the pandemic: The Great British Takeaway. With voting underway for the British Takeaway Awards, Just Eat has launched new research to highlight the valuable role this

British staple has performed over the last year.

According to research, 70 per cent of people say takeaways have been crucial to lifting their spirits during this difficult time.

The report also finds that our

choice of takeaway depends on our mood and situation. 23 per cent rated burgers as the takeaway food of choice for alfresco dining, 34 per cent go for Chinese food to celebrate good news and 40% order a pizza when friends are coming over.

A quarter of people say sharing a takeaway with their friends and family as soon as lockdown restrictions are lifted.

This has been a year like no other and with pubs and restaurants closed, the takeaway has become even more important than usual.

Now in its sixth year, the Oscars of Takeaway assume

an added significance.

To celebrate, Just Eat have teamed up with model Ferne McCann to recreate some iconic scenes from the Oscar winning film Breakfast at Tiffany’s with a foodie Twist.

Speaking about the event, Ferne said:

“I’m a huge fan of taking a break from cooking and getting a takeaway and over the last year it’s become something that my family and I have looked forward to especially when celebrating birthdays. The British Takeaway awards are a great way to give something back to the hard-working takeaway owners who have given us all a little moment of joy throughout lockdown”.

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NUTRITIONIST TO KAPOOR SISTERS

KAREENA AND KARISMA SHARES

5 SIMPLE MOVES

TO TONE THE BODY WHILE YOU WORK FROM HOME

The kids are back at school, but it may be a few more weeks, perhaps even months before you go back to working in an office.

You may have aced actually working when Working From Home (WFH), but chances are, you’re still not working out like you should, according to celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar The wellness coach behind the likes of Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan (yes the same one who got Kareena her size zero figure) Rujuta has created a simple workout plan — 3 minutes every hour, on the hour — that even the most sloppiest of us will have a hard time making up excuses for. Rujuta took to her Instagram to drop some fitness tips that are sure to help you.

Her very first tip is to: “Let your desk setup stay as is and lay out a yoga mat so that it calls to you to come and exercise. Visual reminders to come work out are important.” Rujuta advises in her video.

Step 1: Start by naming the yoga mat — we’ll go with Yalla Yoga mat. (Yalla means hurry up or come on in Arabic). Start strong.

Step 2: For every 30 minutes of work, stand up for 3 minutes. Just stand up. Sit back down, and work for 30

and do the move, five times. This means you do five different exercises at the start of every hour.

And now for the golden tips - 5 workout moves to keep you in shape,

by Rujuta Diwekar

Hour 1: Start easy. Place a chair atop the mat, against a wall. Stand with your back to the chair and slowly lower yourself onto the seat, working those glutes, quadriceps and your core. Once your butt touches the chair, stand up quickly. Repeat five times.

Hour 2: This move is targeted at the inner thighs — which, according to Diwekar, could lead to a sagging belly if ignored — “Sitting too much means your inner thighs get weak, stomach starts sagging and you put pressure on your lower back and uterus.” Face the chair and squat gently, widening the gap between the knees until your butt hovers just a few inches above the ground, the same way you might over an Indian toilet. Use the chair for support if you’re struggling to keep your balance. Repeat five times.

Rujuta Diwekar

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ASIAN STANDARD / BRADFORD

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Repeat five times.

Hour 5: You’ve made it to the finish line, so your reward is a supported plank. With your body parallel to the floor, place the soles of your feet on the chair and palms on the floor. Straighten the

Hour 3: Diwekar explains that the head is the heaviest part

of your body, (and not just because it’s currently filled with garbage news), and this move helps you battle the

‘tech neck posture’, while opening up your chest and shoulders.

Open your palms wide (“As women we should take as much space as possible at least in our own homes, and hearts”, Diwekar reminds us).

Place your palms on either corner of the seat as though you’re going to push the chair towards the wall. Bend down from the pelvis, keeping your back and knees straight. Your palms should be spread wide and facing upwards. Focus on pushing your front thighs towards the hamstrings, and allowing your chest to move towards your thighs. Repeat five times.

Hour 4: Targeted at your back. Lie down on your stomach and hold the legs of the chair. Lift your hips up off the ground and bring your chest closer to the chair so your body takes on an L-shape. Slowly lower back down to the ground.

knees, squeeze your hips together and engage the core as you support your body weight using just your feet and palms. Your body should make a right angle from the chair to the floor. Hold for five counts, and relax. Repeat five times.

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SIBLING’S WINNERS OF GO-KART AFTER THEIR VIDEO IS FOUND TO BE MOST POSITIVE IN PROMOTING OUTDOOR PLAYING

Bradford community organisation JU:MP (Join Us: Move. Play) launched a winter campaign to promote positive experiences of playing outdoors whatever the weather,

Experiencing the benefits of outdoor play is important and knowing the children have something new to experience, enjoy and encourage them is fantastic".

The Sport England funded project, asked families to share their videos for a chance to win an amazing go-kart.

After the success of the winter campaign, JU:MP have decided to extend the fun with a Spring prize draw.

The campaign received many entries, but it was brother and sister, Ali aged 12 and Aleeza aged 9, who won the campaign with their fun experiencing of playing outdoors in the snow.

Organisers said it was a difficult decision, but the sibling’s video really captured the essence of bringing back outdoor play, as they highlighted some fun snow experiences alongside sharing the importance of playing outdoors in different weather and seasons.

Members of the community are once again invited to upload

Winners Aleeza and Ali show how you can have fun playing outdoors – even in winter.

Ali said: "I love the go-kart.

When I peddle it goes really fast and it's so fun!" and Aleeza agreed "I like it when Ali pushes me because it makes it go and I like taking it in turns".

Shamila and the children to Ladyhill Park, a popular community focussed park, which has been the chosen venue for regular community programmes including Dr Bike, Annual Play days and most recently the Active Creative Experience (ACE), which was a programme run by local stakeholders to involve Allergrange Primary schools in active literacy.

To celebrate their win, JU:MP invited dad Hassan, mum

Ladyhill park is a great outdoor space with a fun adventure

playground, skate-ark, outdoor gym equipment and freerunning (parkour) equipment. A Play Pod has also been funded by partners to hold resources for local community groups to encourage play.

Shamila said: "We are all so pleased to have won the competition and the children are over the moon to win such a great prize. They love playing outdoors and I know they are going to have so much fun playing on the go-kart.

their videos for a chance to win their next JU:MP Outdoors, fun and active prize giveaway.

Simply send your videos showing how much fun you’re having playing outdoors to info@joinusmoveplay.org or share it with JU:MP on Twitter @JoinUsMovePlay using #OutdoorPlayMatters.

The get active organisation wants to try and help bring back outdoor play, whatever the weather! So go on…join them.

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ASIAN STANDARD / BRADFORD

FINANCE

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ENTREPRENEURIAL TAX ADVISOR WITH AN EXPERT KNOWLEDGE OF GROUND-BREAKING TAX SAVING TOOLS

Ilyas Patel is an breaking tax sa entrepreneurial tax advi dealing with ta ving tools. Being a busin sor with an expert knowle co.uk or call 01 x issues and with HMRC. essman himself, he has yedge of groundar For more info 772 788200 rmation visit ws of experience ww.taxexpert.

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&

PUZZLES Crosswords CROSSWORD Across 1 Greasy (4) 3 Meat joint (8) 9 Acrobat (7) 10 Search for information (5) 11 Follow as a result (5) 12 Vigour (6) 14 Rodent kept as a pet (6,7) 17 Stockinga (6) 19 Presents (5) 22 Nick, incision (5) 23 Eminent (7) 24 Cooked egg dish (8) 25 Minus (4)

LANDLORDS! NO MORE MORTGAGE INTEREST RELIEF Final changes to Mortgage Relief for landlords. Is it time to transfer to a limited company?

What is it?

Relief on mortgage interest for landlords is being scrapped.

The changes mean that all finance costs, not just mortgage costs, will no longer be an allowable expense.

Instead you will have to make a tax adjustment giving you a basic rate tax deduction of up to 20% of the finance costs.

How Does this work?

Previously, the mortgage interest was an allowable expense, and so it reduced your profits.

However, since 2017 there has been a phased changing of how much of the interest costs you could claim as an expense, and from the 2020/2021 year it is nil.

The Finance costs include mortgage interest, costs of obtaining the finance, fees, commissions, legal expenses for negotiating the terms, etc.

Instead, you must make a tax adjustment after the profits have been taxed, and for up to 20% of your finance costs. The adjustment is only available on profits which you have to pay tax on.

The 20% deduction is restricted when: l Property profits are less than finance costs, as the deduction doesn’t affect other sources of income. l There are property losses brought forward, as these must be set against profits first, reducing the taxable profit for the finance costs to be set against. l Your total income is low, and part or all of the personal allowance is set against the rental profits, reducing the tax payable.

Any unused finance costs can be carried forward one year to use against profits then.

This will only apply to individuals with property businesses, and not to limited companies, commercial lettings, or furnished holiday Lets.

Spot the

5

Down 1 Exceed in importance (8) 2 Young sheep (5) 4 Conker tree (5,8) 5 Excessive (5) 6 Delectation (7) 7 Scottish dance (4) 8 Sheep's coat of wool (6) 13 Belgian capital (8) 15 Baby's complete outfit (7) 16 Powerful (6) 18 Pale brownish-yellow colour (5) 20 Moral tale (5) 21 Unfasten (4)

differences

For example…

After these restrictions his tax would be worked out as follows: Rental income £20,000 Less other expenses £3,000 Rental profits for the year £17,000 Plus self-employed income £35,000 Total income = £52,000 Tax calculation £11,000 x 0% = £0 £32,000 x 20% = £6,400 £9,000 x 40% = £3,600 Total income tax = £10,000 Less 20% of finance costs: £1,800 Total Tax Payable: £8,200 Because of the changes, Mr Rigsby now has an extra £1,800 to pay and is a higher rate taxpayer meaning he may be subject to other charges.

What does this mean to you?

These changes could mean that somebody who would previously be a basic rate tax payer could be pushed into the higher tax rate.

If you do become a higher rate taxpayer after your rental profits, you will lose higher rate tax relief on your finance costs.

The potential increase in tax rate can affect people receiving tax credits, and if you or your partner claim child benefit and you enter the higher rate then the child benefit will be clawed back through the Higher Income Child Benefit Charge.

Paying tax at a higher rate may also mean paying 28% Capital Gains Tax instead of 18%.

There are ways in which you could reduce your tax liability, and it could pay to start planning now. To do this, start by checking out our End of year tax planning tips at the link above.

ANSWERS SPOT THE 5 DIFFERENCES 1. The color of the car's headlight.

2. The button on her skirt.

3. The pendant on her purse.

4. The button on her purse.

5. The hairpin of her hair.

Mr Rigsby owns several properties which he rents out. He is also a self-employed radio presenter. His taxable self-employed income was £33,000.

His income from his rental properties was £20,000 with finance costs of £9,000 and other costs of £3,000.

Before these restrictions his tax would be worked out as follows: Rental income £20,000 Less finance costs £9,000 Less other expenses £3,000 Rental profits for the year £8,000 Plus self-employed income £35,000 Total income = £43,000 Tax calculation £11,000 x 0% = £0 £32,000 x 20% = £6,400 Total income tax = £6,400

CROSSWORD ANSWER

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PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS

@ASIANSTANDARD

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ONS CENSUS

It’s about who we all are and it’s important you complete the form.

With March 21 just around the corner, Census 2021 is in full swing.

and getting the community working together. I am really happy to be doing this role.

Run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the census is the once-in-a-decade survey that gives the most accurate estimate of all people and households in England and Wales.

“Everyone benefits from the census. It informs decisions nationally and locally on vital services, like mental health care, school places, hospital beds, houses, emergency services and also issues like diversity.”

Letters, with unique access codes, have been sent out and responses are already coming in.

By taking part, you'll be helping inform decisions about services you use in your community.

Services such as transport, education and healthcare in our local areas are informed by census information. From councils planning school places, building doctors’ surgeries and transport routes, to charities seeking funding, census information is at the heart of the decisions made across England and Wales.

Without the census - and without providing information about ourselves, our households, and our homes - it’d be much more difficult to plan services across England and Wales.

That’s why it’s so important to take part.

It’s up to you how you would like to answer the questions on Census 2021. No one can tell you how to answer your census questionnaire. Everyone will have the opportunity to identify as they wish. The ONS encourages respondents to fill in the questionnaire however they feel best represents themselves.

The ONS will be offering you a search-as-you-type function online

or a write-in option on paper, to make sure you can identify as you wish. These options will let you fill in your census questionnaire in the way that most accurately represents you.

"It takes around 10 minutes per person and if you can't get online, there are paper forms available for those who need them. Now is the time to make your mark on history."

Census 2021 will be mainly online. However, if you need any help, the ONS are offering a wide range of support services to make sure the census is as accessible and inclusive as possible.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) are also offering extra support for Bradford, Kirklees and Leeds. They have appointed community advisers Arshad Hussain, (who will advises the Pakistani community), Kyra Rowe (who will be advising the Black Caribbean community), Salima Awad (advising the Arab community) and Harkishan Mistry (advising the Indian community), who will help organisations, charities, faith groups and community leaders within the region raise awareness of the census and the value to residents in taking part.

Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the ONS, told Asian Standard: "A successful census will help give the best picture of the needs of everyone living in England and Wales.

"It helps us understand what our society needs now and what it will likely need in the future.

We've already had a fantastic response to the census through our engagement work across the country. Now I'd encourage everyone who can, to complete their questionnaire, whether that be on your laptops, phones or computers.

Harkishan Mistry, community adviser for the Indian community said, “I have been an Indian community leader in Bradford since the early 80’s and I am passionate about charity work

Arshad Hussain, community advisor for the Pakistani community said: “My background is in public health, health promotion, community development and training. I am passionate about working in our community. It is important to take part in the Census 2021 as it will support the services in the future nationally and locally, services like schools, hospitals, and transport services.”

The Census is also helpful for charities as they use Census information to help plan the services they provide to those who need them most. For example, the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) uses it to find those more at risk of mental ill health and give them the support they need.

Sadly, the risk of developing mental ill health is higher in some parts of England and Wales than others. Factors such as age, gender, ethnicity and location can all have an impact.

MHF used information from the 2011 Census to produce a heat map of London’s most at-risk boroughs. This showed seven East London boroughs as “red”, with the highest risks.

MHF responded by setting

Whatever your needs, there are support services that can help you complete the census. Translations are available in 49 languages. Additional support is available online, on the phone and in person to ensure you can read, understand, and complete the Census. To find your nearest local Census support centre, call free on 0800 141 2021  guidance and support in many languages and formats  help in Census Support Centres (when safe to do so, subject to COVID guidance)  a contact centre to give help over the phone, in a web chat or on social media  field staff visiting households that have not yet filled in their form  accessible census guidance, for example, in different languages  the option to request paper questionnaires up a series of Community Conversations in those areas.

These events brought together people from the local community to talk about how to improve their mental health. Over 1,000 Londoners took part. Now their ideas are being taken forward.

In Hackney, for example, people said they wanted more free and safe community spaces where

they could meet friends and neighbours. As a result, an open community space was added to the council’s plans for a new leisure centre.

Thanks to the census, MHF identified an at-risk community, helped local people have their voice heard and improved their local environment.

CENSUS DAY IS 21 MARCH. COMPLETE YOURS AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR CODE To find out more go to www.census.gov.uk/about-the-census

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50 YEARSof BANGLADESH

INDEPENDENCE

@ASIANSTANDARD

PABDA FISH CURRY

By Afeliaskitchen.com

INGREDIENTS For prepping the fish:

If you’ve grown up in a traditional Bangladeshi household you will be sure to have consumed a variety of fish curries on the dinner table, along with a huge helping of rice. Fish has been a huge part of many Bangladeshi diets and we don’t want to miss out in our celebration special. So thanks to Afelia’s Kitchen (https://www.afeliaskitchen.com) we bring you this very special Pabda mas (mas means fish and pabda is known as Indian Catfish).

Pabda Fish Curry is a regular dish in many Bangladeshi households. It’s a simple and easy fish to cook often cooked with clementine peel or a citrus fruit known as Citrus Macroptera, better known as Hatkhora or Shatkhora in Bengali, and sometimes it is cooked on its own.

Pabda Mas, isn’t a very bony fish for those of you who have never tried this fish. There is one main bone along the body of the fish and some smaller ones along the rib cage, so it’s a good one to try if you’re not experienced at eating/cooking fish.

Before cooking, it’s important you prep your fish, remove the skin, tail, whiskers, fin, the gut and head.

Afelia advises the most important thing to remember when you cook fish is that your masala should be cooked well, because fish cooks through in a matter of minutes the masala should be cooked to remove all rawness from the spices prior to adding the fish. After adding the fish it’s important to coat the fish in the masala while it’s still uncooked (do this with the heat turned down low) – if you try to stir or mix the curry after the fish has started to cook through you’ll end up breaking the fish and exposing the bones.

Once the fish is opaque in colour just top up with water, boil for 10 minutes, add your chillies/ coriander and it’s done, as easy as that! So without further ado, let’s cook some fish.

• 1 block of frozen Pabda mas, thawed completely (frozen is easier to buy from all good Asian supermarkets) • ½ tsp salt • ½ tsp turmeric powder (optional) • 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional) • water as needed For the masala: • fresh/dried clementine peel (optional) • 1 onion (small medium size) • 2 - 3 tbsp of oil • 1 - 1.5 tsp salt (adjust to your taste) • 1 tsp chilli powder • 1 tsp turmeric powder • 1 tsp coriander powder • 5 - 6 green chillies • water (as needed) • coriander (for garnishing)

METHOD If you are using dried clementine peel for this recipe it's a good idea to soak the pieces with boiling hot water before doing anything else to rehydrate the peel. There's no need to do this if you're using fresh peel.

Those who don’t want to use clementine peel can avoid this part completely.

Peel 1 small - medium onion. Keeping the top of the onion makes it easier to grate.

Using the large side of a grater, grate the onion and set aside until needed.

To prep the fish you need to remove fins, whiskers, guts and tails. This process might take you awhile, but is worth it.

Once all your fish are clean add ½ tsp of salt, ½ tsp of turmeric powder and 1 tbsp of lemon juice.

(Turmeric and lemon is only essential if you feel the fish aren't very fresh, otherwise just using salt is enough. So, use your judgement and add whatever you feel is necessary for that freshness.

Top up with enough cold water to cover the fish and leave to soak until needed.

In a medium sized saucepan add 2 - 3 tbsp of oil.

Once the oil is hot, add the grated onion, followed by 1 - 1.5 tsp of salt (adjust to your taste, it's better to add less as you can add more later if you feel you need it).

Stir well and then cover. Cook over a low - medium heat until the onions are translucent and soft (Approx 8 - 10 mins).

After 8 - 10 minutes check to see if your onions are soft, if you feel it's too dry add a splash of water.

Cook for a few minutes and once you can see the oil has separated from the onions start to add your spices.

ADD THE CLEMENTINE PEEL (dried/fresh) now if you are using this, this will give it time to cook.

Add 1 tsp chilli powder, 1 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp coriander powder, mix and allow to fry for a few minutes.

After the spices have fried for several minutes and the rawness has gone, add a splash of water to create a thick masala.

Cover and cook the masala for a further 5 - 10 minutes, over a low flame, whilst you wash the fish.

Rub and massage the fish as you wash it under cold running water.

Drain the water and wash again, several times, until the water runs clear.

Place the fish in a colander and allow to drain once you are happy the fish have been thoroughly washed.

The masala is ready to have the fish added to it once the oil has separated from the onions.

Add the washed fish and gently, using a wooden spoon, coat all of the fish with the masala. This will be the ONLY time you stir the fish using a spoon so make sure you coat everything evenly over a low flame.

Once coated, place the lid back on the saucepan and turn the heat up to medium till you can see water oozing out of the fish.

In the meantime, slice 5 - 6 green chillies and chop your coriander.

Once you can see the fish are looking cooked and solid in colour, you may proceed to add water to create the gravy (shira) for the curry.

Add as much or as little as you like, remember the more water you add to the curry the more watered down the curry will taste. I tend to add just enough water to cover the fish without drowning them (bottom right photo, pun intended lol).

Turn the heat up to full and boil for 10 minutes.

Minutes before removing the curry from the heat add in the sliced green chillies.

Immediately before removing the curry from the heat add the chopped coriander.

Serve your Pabda Fish Curry with plain Basmati or long grain rice and enjoy!

Have a tantalising recipe? Want to share? We would love to feature your recipes. If you would like to have your recipe featured on this page then email us at: recipes@asianstandard.co.uk

SPORTS

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REALLY HAPPY AND HONOURED TO BE SELECTED AGAIN FOR ENGLAND, SAYS SHAW

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has admitted that he had given up hope of returning to the England squad before his dramatic return to form this season. Shaw went to the World Cup with the Three Lions at the tender age of 18 in 2014 and picked up six of his eight caps before turning 21. His last appearance for Gareth Southgate's side came in a Nations League match with Spain in September 2018, but earlier this week it was announced that he had been recalled due to his impressive recent form for the Reds.

"At times, I made bad mistakes, pulling out of squads may be at times when I shouldn't have. That was down to me.

Joe Gomez Of course, back then, I was going through bad times. There

was in the back of my mind, especially my family and my girlfriend, they thought that it was done," Shaw told United's official website.

"At the start of the season, I had ambitions and sat down with my girlfriend and said that I wanted to get back in the England squad, doing everything I can to be back there. You know, of course, with my form, I thought there was a bigger chance than ever that I could be back in it. Gladly, Gareth's given me another opportunity to be involved in there, so I'm just really happy and honoured to be selected again. Hopefully, I can show Gareth why I deserve a spot in the squad,"Dijk he added.

Virgil Van Euro 2020 will finally go ahead in June and July, after last

year's postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now he has been called back into the national set-up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers with San Marino, Albania and Poland, Shaw has set the target of being part of this summer's pan-European tournament, after disappointingly missing out on the reckoning for Russia 2018.

"Of course, it was expected, my form wasn't brilliant back then. I wasn't playing too much. Of course, you always have hopes as an England player of going to big tournaments like that and you know, they did an amazing World Cup that year. I was happy to sit and watch it but it's one of them where you want to be involved," he said.

CITY KEEP QUADRUPLE HOPES UP, REACH FA CUP SEMIS Manchester City maintain their hopes of winning four titles this season thanks to a 1-0 win away to Everton to book their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Two late goals earned Pep Guardiola's side a place in the last four, with Ilkay Gundogan heading City ahead in the 84th minute before Kevin de Bruyne scored his side's second in the last minute on Saturday 20 March. City lead the Premier League by 14 points, and are set to play Tottenham in the Carabao Cup final.

Southampton put their dreadful league form behind them to book a ticket to Wembley with a comfortable 3-0 win away to second-tier near neighbours Bournemouth. Moussa Djenepo put Southampton ahead in the 39th minute and Nathan Redmond doubled the lead in first-half injury-time, before his second of the game sealed the win before the hour mark.

Manchester United face Leicester City, while Chelsea entertain Sheffield United in Sunday's quarter-finals.

Brighton took a huge stride towards Premier League survival with a 3-0 win at home to fellow strugglers Newcastle United, who had a woeful night.

Newcastle suffered a major blow just before Brighton's first goal when defender Isaac

Hayden was carried off on a stretcher after an accidental collision injured his knee.

The game was stopped for around four minutes, and in the subsequent injury-time Leandro Trossard scored an

excellent rightfoot shot to put Brighton ahead. Danny Welbeck doubled Brighton's lead in the 52nd minute, just moments after Joelinton hit the post for Newcastle, and Neal Maupay added a third in

the 68th minute. Newcastle's defeat is good news for Fulham, whose Premier League survival hopes suffered a setback when they lost to Leeds United on Friday night.

Raphinha

scored the winner after Joachim Andersen's first goal for Fulham had given the Premier League strugglers hope after Patrick Bamford's opener for Leeds.

SPORTS

INDIA THE TEAM TO BEAT AT T20 WORLD CUP: ATHERTON “India are the team to beat at the 2021 T20 World Cup due to the depth they have, but England and the West Indies are also the contenders”, said former England captain Mike Atherton, who noted that the Men in Blue also have an added advantage of playing at home.

The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played in India in October and November this year.

"They probably have more strength in depth because of the IPL and the T20 cricket they play and the fact that they have just beaten England without probably three main bowlers," Atherton said on Sky Sports.

India on Saturday 20 March completed a 3-2 series win over England in Ahmedabad. They played the five-match series without all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

"Put all those things together, and the fact that they are playing at home, they are the team to beat. It won't be a cakewalk -- England are a very good side and the West Indies and other sides are dangerous as well -- but if you price it up, you would say India are the favourites," Atherton said

COVID EFFECT: NO OVERSEAS SPECTATORS AT TOKYO OLYMPICS The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in a meeting with four other bodies has, decided to not allow overseas spectators for the July-August Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Tokyo due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic globally.

"Today the five parties [the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), the Organising Committee Tokyo 2020 and

the government of Japan] met virtually. During the meeting, the IOC and IPC were informed, as outlined below, about the conclusion of the Japanese parties not to allow entry into Japan for overseas spectators for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 due to the prevailing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic," said a statement posted on the official website of the Tokyo Games on Saturday 20 March.

The quadrennial Games were supposed to be staged in 2020

but were delayed by a year due to the pandemic and will now organised from July 23-August 8.

"Olympic and Paralympic tickets purchased by overseas residents from the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will be refunded," said the statement.

The statement outlined the "very challenging" Covid situation prevailing around the globe. "Currently, the COVID-19 situation in Japan and many other countries around the world is still very challenging

and a number of variant strains have emerged, whilst international travel remains severely restricted globally.

Based on the present situation of the pandemic, it is highly unlikely that entry into Japan will be guaranteed this summer for people from overseas," it said.

"In order to give clarity to ticket holders living overseas and to enable them to adjust their travel plans at this stage, the parties on the Japanese side have come to the conclusion that they will not be able

to enter into Japan at the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This conclusion will further contribute to ensure safe and secure Games for all participants and the Japanese public."

In line with their principle of safety first for all participants and out of respect for all the parties on the Japanese side, the IOC and IPC announced in Saturday's five-party meeting that they fully respect and accept this conclusion.

"Under these circumstances, ticketholders from overseas will soon be informed of the refund mechanism," the statement read.

"Accredited Games participants coming to Japan this summer will continue to be required to follow the Tokyo 2020 Playbooks for their stakeholder group. A second version will be released by the end of April," it said.

"We will continue to do our utmost to deliver a safe and secure Games in the hopes that the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be a light of hope for people all over the world." Tokyo 2020 president Hashimoto Seiko said plans were afoot to connect fans to the Olympics remotely. "In many ways the Tokyo 2020 Games will be completely different to any previous Games. However, the essential of the Games will remain unchanged, as athletes give their utmost and inspire the world with transcendent performances," he said.

"We are currently working on specific plans to share support remotely from around the world and help bring people together in ways suited to our current times. Even if you are no longer able to come to Japan this summer, we hope very much that you will continue to support the Tokyo 2020 Games.”

Ever since the election of Tokyo as the host of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2013, all five parties have been preparing for the 2020 Games with the goal of welcoming domestic and overseas spectators, celebrating the athletes, and embodying the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"However, following the postponement of the Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Japanese Coordination Meeting for COVID-19 Countermeasures at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 issued an interim summary in December 2020 that included the following statement on overseas spectators 'The decision whether to accept overseas spectators will be made by the spring of 2021 taking into consideration the COVID-19 situation in Japan and overseas, immigration regulations in force at the time, and any prevailing restrictions on the attendance of sporting events'," it read. The five parties agreed on March 3, 2021, that a final decision would be announced by the end of March.

22 - 28 MARCH 2021

SPORTS

REALLY HAPPY AND HONOURED TO BE SELECTED AGAIN FOR ENGLAND, SAYS SHAW

INDIA THE TEAM TO BEAT AT T20 WORLD CUP: ATHERTON

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SIGNED AND SEALED: TYSON V JOSHUA Yes, not only is it a career defining moment for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, but it’s the fight every boxing fan wants to see and it’s on for later this year.

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has officially confirmed that the boxing stars have finally signed their contracts.

The star duo have been locked in talks to face-off in an allBritish heavyweight unification showdown this summer.

It’s the face-off

Tyson Fury

everyone has been waiting for, where we will witness an allBritish heavyweight showdown between Joshua, 31, and Fury.

The deal is said to be worth a staggering £200million.

Hearn told ESPN: “We’d like to get a site deal confirmed in the next month.

“The hard part is always getting everybody to put pen to paper.

"But this was a major effort from all parties to get this over the line.

"You had rival promoters, rival

networks and rival fighters.

“I actually feel we’ve done the hard part."

Hearn continued by confirming 'multiple countries' - including Saudi Arabia and America - are keen to host the mega showdown.

The promoter claimed: “Speaking for myself, Anthony and his team at 258 management, I know how hard we’ve worked these last couple of months.

"I just feel that this fight is so

big it’s not a difficult sell.

“We’ve already had approaches from eight or nine sites.

“The offers have come from multiple countries in the Middle East, from Asia, Eastern Europe and America.

“This is the biggest fight in boxing and one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

“It will be a major, major win for a country that wants to showcase itself.”

The fight purse split was agreed as long ago as June 2020.

Last summer, both Hearn and Fury confirmed telephone talks had got the financial agreements sorted for a 50-50 first leg split, with the winner taking home the larger slice of a 60-40 split in the rematch.

While the Gypsy King hasn’t fought since February 2020 and claimed an incredible win against Deontay Wilder to take the WBC strap, Joshua produced a stunning win to end 2020 as IBF, WBA and WBO champion by beating Kubrat Pulev at Wembley Arena in brutal fashion.

Anthony Joshua