Treehouse Vol 1 Issue 18

Dhaka Tribune

Tuesday, August 20, 2013 Volume 1, Issue 18

Hot Topic COLLEGE REALITY Spotlight THE PARTY CRASHERS Written in the Stars ISHTIAQUE AMIN

tmag

CHECK IT OUT

About the cover Dhaka Tribune

A weekly production of

Models Sreya Chowdhury, Zarif Bazme Hafeez, Nahian Shah

DhakaTribune

Magazine Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad TMAG Team Sabiha Mahmud Sumi Rubab Nayeem Khan Munira Fidai Afshan Sattar Natasha Rahman Azfar Rahman Saudia Afrin Tahsin Momin Sama E Deen Rifat Binte Haider Contributors Fardeen Ameen Nabeela M. Imtiaz Salim Naveed Al Razi Shishir Hoque Graphics Asmaul Hoque Mamun Sabiha Mahmud Sumi

Hot Topic COLLEGE REALITY Spotlight THE PARTY CRASHERS Written in the Stars ISHTIAQUE AMIN

Photographer Saudia Afrin

More inside Gossip 12 Blush Much 12 Dear Diary

11 Happening New possibilities 11 Game Jet Set Radio

picks Of the week 2 Room of the Week Nayeem Khan 3 Doodle of the Week Ehsan Alam 10 Guitar Tabs of the Week Icon’s Oporanho Part 3

11 App of the week Songify Your world 5 Car talk Master the basics 9 Comic Book Top 4 must reads 9 Book Top 4 must reads 10 Album Prayoshchitto 10 Instrument Epiphone Standard Plus 11 Sports Go play 11 TV Glee

Horoscope 5 Your Forecast Fashion 4 Wardrobe check The shopping rap 4 Beauty check Computer face TMAG says 2 Funk up Your Room Home sweet home 2 FYI Visa requirements 3 School Survival Your dream school 10 Playlist Top 10 leaving the nest tunes

Advertising Shahidan Khurshed

When everything comes your way you’re in the wrong lane.

6 Hot Topic Starting your journey to college

Love from the TMAG desk

Status of the week My day starts backwards, I wake up tired and I go to bed wide awake.

Email: tmag@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

Dear Readers, A lot of news this week! We recently received an email from a reader saying we should have an advice column. Yay or nay? Send your votes and/or problem questions to tmag@ dhakatribune.com. We’ll maintain confidentiality, and if the column doesn’t happen, we’ll address the problem questions through our regular FYI columns. We’ve also been getting e-mails asking for opportunities to write for us, and so what we’re going to do is open up the “Fiction” and “Non-fiction” columns for aspiring writers. Our word limit for each column is 250 words, and as for topics, we give teasers about upcoming themes on our Tumblr page, which is http://tmagtribune. tumblr.com. Finally, since it’s that time of the year when the college application process starts, we’ve dedicated a whole issue to help you out. Best of luck!

Real Life 3 Event Tweets 9 Non-fiction Ace that essay!

12 He says She says

Production Masum Billah

Circulation Wahid Murad

Editor’s note

Tuesday, August 13, 2013 Volume 1, Issue 17

Be a happy hippie and let us take the stress out of college applications for you

Editor Zafar Sobhan

1

Quote of the week Lingo of the week

Floordrobe The use of the floor as a storage space for clothes.

Example Girl: So where do I keep these new shoes?

Messy Roommate: Just stash them on the floordrobe

8 Written in the Stars

5 Look of the Week

Football fantasies realised

De-stress your shopping spree

TM AG TU E SDAY, AU G U ST 20, 20 1 3

2

tmag

Your Life

FYI

Funk up your room

Home,

sweet home

bigstock

When planning to pursue your education abroad, most of us are occupied with what schools to go to, what programs to study and of course how we will be coping with home-sickness. With all of those concerns being relevant, we do forget that it all happens in the future once we have applied for visa.

Read on more to find out the necessary steps to take before applying for colleges overseas Research

Browse the web for schools to find out if they are offering the courses you want to study. Take the pre-requisite tests based on the country you’ll be going to. Find out if your parents will agree to cover your tuition as well as your living costs, and if they have all the facilities you need.

You should also check if your desired school accepts your latest academic qualification.

Financials

This is your proof of maintenance i.e. your bank or asset statement which determines if you have enough money to cover the trip. If this is your own account, or an account held by your guardians, you have to show evidence of your relationship with them, and that you have the permission to use the funds for your expenses.

Passport

When filling out your visa application form you need a passport that has at

TMAG’s Room of the week!

Name nayeem khan Area mohakhali new dohs We like the bright, colourful, yet sophisticated feel of this corner. If you’re an aspiring art collector, putting your acquisitions on display is a lovely way to add some personality to your room. The artist of the works of this room in particular is Zebun Naher Nayeem

least 5 years of validity. If you renew your passport, it should have a recent photograph (passport sized) and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor.

Other documents

Collect school transcripts from the respective boards. You’ll also need the documents that were assessed by the sponsor once you’ve been accepted for the course and undergone CAS clearance. Remember to photocopy all your documents. Rubab Nayeem Khan Saudia Afrin

bigstock

Making a new vibrant living space away from your homeland isn’t child’s play, particularly for the homesick.

However, a home-like surrounding can be created with simple bits and pieces which can compose a more amiable space for you. This week, TMAG brings to you a bunch of such ideas that will truly add worth to your place and make you feel more comfy in your home away from home.

Let’s start with the windows.

Culturally, Bangladeshis are very vivacious; hence, using colours of nature in your curtain adds that wow factor. Tye dye or block printed cotton curtains showcases the personality of Bangladesh. Moreover you’ll find incredible motifs in different types of stitches which will give you a feeling of your own roots. Try to keep the rooms of your wall in muted colours to make your curtains stand out.

Very classy, very original and very colourful is our very own- Rickshaw art. Nowadays it has become iconic in terms of our cultural representation.

Many local brands producing plenty of home decor stuffs with Rickshaw paint will give your room a dramatic feel and make you feel like you are back home. Pick any corner of your room beside a wide window; place a leafy rug and spread loads of gigantic colourful pillows adorned with nakshi stitches. In the middle of the rug, place a beautifully painted low height table, over it place hand painted candles and VOILA!

Where to buy

Many of our local brands such as Aarong, Jatra, and Deshal have particular segments for room decor.

Saudia Afrin

Send in a picture of your room to tmag@dhakatribune.com and you may be crowned TMAG’s room of the week!

TM AG TU ESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

tmag

Schoologistics

3

School Survival

Your Dream School Just a Dream? bigstock

School listing

Simply going onto the school website will not help. Schools and colleges have crew specializing in beefing up their websites to boost up student applications. Use credible college ranking sites like Maclean’s or CollegeBoard.org to help you.

Accreditation

Make sure your college has proper accreditation, meaning it can assure recognition from other colleges and potential employers.

Accreditation basically is an assent by peers of

the industry that the college has the characteristics of quality that makes a student passing out from it, worthy and valuable in the job market.

Courses and faculty

It may be your dream college but does it offer the dream courses for your dream career? If not, it’s time to snap out of that dream and look for something that’s genuinely for you. Many of us rush into colleges we have fallen in love with and then end up having to change career paths because the courses are simply not there. Faculty is another thing you need

to look at. Are they qualified enough?

Are they published/researched enough?

Are they helpful enough?

Budget compliant

However hot your pockets are, an education abroad is sure to put a dent in it. Check their offers for financial aid, whether they give it out on merit or need basis. Check out the location of this place. Is it in the main city or the suburbs? What would your living costs be? Is rent cheaper than dorms? How much would you need for conveyance?

All these are questions you must answer

We all have a dream school or college we’d love to study in. We apply with boundless energy and full on optimism.

Hold on. Rewind. Isn’t there a whole lot of research you just missed out on doing before sending in the application?

What exactly is it that your dream school should have?

There may be a number of factors to look into, to ensure your dream doesn’t turn into your worst nightmare. Diligence and patience are virtues. TMAG tells you how to use them in the best possible way before applying.

Quality of education

Finally, the most important of the issuesthe actual educational process. Find out how substantial their mentorship programs are, i.e. teaching advisors, etc and what the student-teacher ratio in class is. If one teacher caters to 50 students, it may not be very wise for you to add your weight to an already meaty herd. Also make sure you’re not the only Bangladeshi in an all white college. Go for something with a more diverse crowd to avoid cultural shocks. munira fidai

EVENT Tweets ehsan alam doodled this while he was unhappy about studying for his math exam

Jol Bindu

TMAG’s Doodle of the week!

5:30am and 8am, August 23-September 6 Venue La Galerie, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka

8th Ascent Corporate 5-A-SIDE Indoor Soccer Cup 9am and 5pm, August 23-31 Venue STM Hall, Scholastica

Lohor presents “Tribute Fest 2013”

11am, August 23 Venue National Library Auditorium Line-up Oath, Sin of Carnage, MeTroNomE, Lohor, Drizzle, Quanta, Chainsaw, Wings of Tomorrow, Demonic, Silent Time, The Triad, Kolorob, What?, Generation Y, Anukkhon, 5ive Trick Card Ticket Tk150

Savagery “Prayoshchitto” Digital Album Launch 4pm, August 20 Venue Incursion, Bangla motors

The uprising merciless raw thrash metal act Dissector is going to release their debut EP “Local Maniac Syndrome” on August 16 at Russian Cultural Center, Dhanmondi screaming with the best underground bands of Bangladesh such as Powersurge, Thrash, Homicide, Exalter, and more by arranging a launching ceremony concert. Dissector officially plans to bring the audio CDs of the EP and t-shirts for the fans who are attending the gig. The ticket price is Tk200; CDs are at Tk100; Dissector logo t-shirts are at Tk200. If you want to have some insane head-banging moments, then join the Local Maniac Syndrome. Imtiaz Salim

If you are a classroom doodler, email your doodle to tmag@dhakatribune. com and see it in our weekly!

TM AG TU E SDAY, AU G U ST 20, 20 1 3

4 tmag

FASHION FACE-OFF Wardrobe Check

Look of the Week

Hagglemore Footpath Shop

STRESS FREE

SHOPPING When you’re out shopping for your big move abroad, you want to be comfortable and hassle-free. A bright tee, comfy jeans, fun and breezy loafers is a chill, fuss-free ensemble

Instructions: While reading the following bit of writing, it’s advised that you read the whole thing to the tune of Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” rhyme.

That said, now let TMAG show you what Dhaka shopping is all about!

“I am gonna pop some bags, Only got a thousand taka in my pocket, I-I-I’m hunting, looking for a Jama, And a jeans would be awesome.

Yeah, walk up to Gulshan like,’ whaddup I got a big rock,’ I’m so pumped about some stuff from a cheap shop.

Shirts on big shops, they’re so damn costly, That people like,” damn! eibar a to taile morsi” Rollin’ in, hella deep, headin’ to the B. City, Dressed in all black, except my jeans, those are fadin’, Probably shoulda washed this, smelled like somethin disgustin’.

Model Zarif Bazme Hafeez Photographer Saudia Afrin

Beauty Check

Computer Face

bigstock

Q: Smart phones, computer monitors, laptops- what do they all have in common?

A: A bunch of over users with a “computer face!”

Now let’s get to what exactly a computer face is. It is a kind of face that has frown lines and wrinkles due to long hours of staring at the computer screen. Not just that but if you have droopy jowls, and a double chin, aka turkey neck, you’re probably a victim of the “computer face.” If you have a habit of staying up late at night browsing the net or texting or whatsapping, don’t be surprised when you

TM AG TU ESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

next look into a mirror and see an angry, frowning face staring back at you! This is how you break out of it

Curb the staring match

However long you stare at the computer screen, it will still be the only one winning. Shut the pc down, turn of your phones and give yourself good 8hr shut-eye. Sleeping evens out blood circulation and your face deserves it after a long day at school or university.

Finish off whatever computer work you need to do in the daylight hours or much before you

sleep, in order for your face to relax.

Give your ceiling a kiss

Not literally, no. Pucker up and stretch back your neck, using muscles which would otherwise cramp and sag. Do these stretches every 15 to 20 minutes so that you can avoid a turkey neck. For sagging jowls, choose a good massage oil and massage with the back of your wrists, your jowls in first a circular motion and later, in upward motion. Repeat the routine twice a week and you’ll see the damage being duly controlled.

Look away

In most cases, it is advised to face your problem. However, in this case, we urge you, to look away! How? Simply take a twenty minute break for every twenty minutes you stare at a computer screen.

Your working elder sisters or aunts look better because they have not grown up with screens staring at their faces as you have. Avoid looking like an over worked mommy in your teens, youth is gorgeous! munira fidai

But hell! It cost two hundred and ten!

(Bagged it!)

Coppin’ it, washin’ it, ‘bout to go and get some sandals in, Passin’ up on those shiney stores everyone’s been walkin’ in, I ain’t buying it man, I’m diggin’ and hagglin’ and Savin’ my money and I’m hella happy that’s a bargain, aw yiss.

Imma take those fake bata, imma take those fake bata, No for real-250 takay den, niya nibo.

Thank you.

Rayben shades, and some batman tees, Torn at knees blue denims that I found diggin’.

Hello, hello, ei mama, mama hello 150 takay diya den, naile nibo na, hell no.

I am gonna pop some bags, Only got a thousand taka in my pocket, I-I-I’m hunting, looking for a Jama, And a jeans would be awesome. (X2) I wear super cheap clothes I look incredible I’m in this big black shirt From that thrift shop down nilkhet mart.

(Let’s go!) (X2) Is that a batman tee?”

Yeah. 800 bucks for a t-shirt: that’s some ignorance bubbling out. Just visit those cheap roadside shops at Nilkhet and also Bongobazar, with as little selfrespect as you can carry in your wallet.

Jawad Mahmud

tmag 5

Street Car Talk

master the basics Learning to drive can be expensive, especially if you plan to go abroad. Even though it is clearly desirable from your point of view, it can be heavy on your bank balance. So here are some tips to help cushion the blow It is always better to learn how to drive before you leave for abroad.

You have your perks for doing so. It is definitely cheaper to learn driving in Bangladesh rather than anywhere else.

world. Getting one would be as costly as Tk6000. Worried about your paper work? Just sit back and chill. Most of the time it’s the driving schools that will take care of the paper work for you.

Learn to drive in Bangladesh

Applying for driving test abroad

Learning to drive in Bangladesh can be a bit tricky. Mostly you have to deal with crazy road rage and to make matters worse, there are the rickshaws. It is often considered that if you can drive in Dhaka, you can drive anywhere else! Once that is out of the equation, everything else becomes a piece of cake. There are plenty of driving schools in your neighbourhood that offer driving courses for as cheap as Tk2500. Scout around for driving schools and pick the best deal.

By this time you already know how to drive, so nothing to panic about.

Contact your local DL issuing authority, show them your licence from Bangladesh and you will be exempted from getting a learner’s permit. It’s simple and this actually saves you some valuable time and approximately $300 of driving school fee. Now all you are left to do is pay a fee of approximately $50 to sit for the driving test and written exam.

Get a learner’s licence

This is the obvious one. It’s important to choose the friend or relative wisely.

You would want to choose someone who already has a foreign licence.

They are likely to be more helpful in terms of teaching theory and getting you test ready. Anyone you learn to drive with must be at least 21, and must’ve held a full driving licence for three years or more.

One might think it is quite difficult to get a learner’s licence. But its actually easier than you think it is. It costs no more than Tk300 and if you enroll in a driving school then you get it free of charge.

Get an actual licence Now this is the trickiest part in the entire process. In order to be eligible to sit for a driving test you have to wait 3 months and then another 3 months for the actual card to arrive given that you pass the driving test in the first place. Well the 6 month wait pays off really well since the new driving licence comes as a smart card that can be used anywhere in the

Drive with a relative or friend

With all that sorted out, you are completely prepped to sit for the driving test. Even if you don’t pass the test the first time, you can always reschedule another test for free. Bear in mind, most people do not pass the first time so don’t sweat it.

Tahsin Momin bigstock

Aries (Mar 21-Apr Going through with someone else’ plans may not be a bad idea this week, but you might want to run a background check before stepping foot into something unknown.

Contemplate at your own risk; thoughts can play with your mind in creepy ways.

19)

Taurus (Apr 20-May 20) If you are up against problems at home this week, try to deal with them in an analytical way rather than going all boohoo in front of company.

If you want people to take you seriously, try solving grave issues with a straight face.

Gemini (May 21-Jun20) Confidence and arrogance are two different things; if you can bring your snootiness to a minimum this week, things can be fine and dandy for you.

You’ll be bringing your A game to the court when someone challenges you; you’ll do it best when you’ve got a team.

Libra (Sep 23- Oct 22) Refrain from splurging on food or shopping this week; go to places that are within your budget. You might start liking people with whom you previously refrained from socialising, but don’t forget to keep room for doubts.

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21)

If you want to gain recognition this week, or secure it for the long run, you have to start working on it. If you have ideas that might come in handy for the future, jot them down in a notepad and do some research in order to give them shape.

Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21)

Being a control freak has pros and cons; try not to fly off the handle. You’ll excel in a particular task so well, that people will start seeing you as someone responsible. Don’t take these traits for granted, make the most of them!

Capricorn

HOROSCOPE Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22) Romance might be making a comeback in your life this week; but you don’t have to jump in any time soon. It’s also a good time to take part in new activities; if you are scared that you’ll suck at it, tell your mates to join you. You might get a few good laughs out of it.

Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22) Relationship issues might suck the fun out of your week. You can think about someone from your past; just don’t plan on dropping by to say hi to them. Past is one of those places where you shouldn’t step into, even for a brisk walk. Suck it up, and move on.

Virgo (Aug 23- Sep 22) Keep calm, when things are falling apart. Your patience will help you sail through unfavourable situations.

Faking a smile is a talent at times, put it to good use and it might yield in results you least expected.

Compromises aren’t your thing, but if it can make a loved one happy, why not give it a try?

(Dec 22-Jan 19)

If you are brooding over some problems this week, why not let a friend or mentor in on them? If you still think you can handle it on your own, you are certainly entitled to do that but situations like these call for increased social interactions.

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18)

Slow progress has its perks; you should double check the details before declaring it official. Ambition is fine, anything more than that will jeopardize the goals you have already achieved. If you are uptight about something, feel free to vegetate a little.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)

Try to utilise spare hours by doing something productive. If you don’t kick out your laidback nature, you won’t be able to stop things from spinning out of control. Getting some discipline in life is not boring at all; try it some time. It might serve you well in the long run.

Do it now!

TM AG TU E SDAY, AU G U ST 20, 20 1 3

6

tmag

HOT TOPIC

THE MAJORS AND MINO

COLLEGE REAL It's that time of the year again. While one batch of high school graduates are leaving Dhaka to pursue higher studies, another batch of students are just taking the first step in their journey: College applications. Afshan Sattar and Saudia Afrin highlight the steps to a successful college application process

01

MAKE A PLAN OF ACtION

The first step to take on this excursion is to decide what major you want to enter. While some already have a set plan of action for their future, others may not. It's alright to be unsure of future plans as yet, but to get a better idea of what field might be suitable for you, talk to some teachers that know you well, or the school counsellor. Your parents and peers might be able to give you some valuable insight as well. But most importantly, make sure to research into what the subject really is or what the major entails.

04

pREpARING FOR tEStS

Preparing for tests can get a little time consuming depending on which test you are sitting for, and what your background is. SAT for instance, requires a few months of practicing. While some students go to SAT coaching centres, others prefer to study at home, writing mock tests with the help of books by College Board, Barons and others (available at Nilkhet). There are also coaching centres available for IELTS and TOEFL, “Assuming that one has a good background in English, a little bit of practicing would go a long way” – Saad, appeared for TOEFL in 2011.

TM AG TU ESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

02

RESEARCH

TMAG cannot stress enough on how key this is. Research is required for everything from checking the universities’ ranking and accreditation, to making sure it has the right courses and majors for you. Make sure to research into what you want to study and what exactly you are applying for, just because the title is alike does not mean the content will be. Make sure to look into more than one university; it never hurts to have a backup plan.

Refer to this issue's School Survival article for more information about researching.

05

03

TMAG’s Room of the week!

FIGURING OUt tHE FINANCIALS

City Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Eastern Bank Ltd and other banks in Bangladesh offer education loan for students not only in local universities, but abroad as well. Some of these banks offer loan packages that cover both education and living expenses. If required, you could check out these packages prior to applying.

TAKING tHE RIGHt tEStS

When it comes to applying abroad, it's the rare occasion when just the school and board exams will suffice. There are other tests that are required, varying from country to country.

For the United States, it may be SAT or ACT. You can go to collegeboard.com to set up an account to register for SAT. For Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, it's IELTS, TOEFL, and others. The British council provides IELTS. You can contact them to register for the exam. TOEFL is offered by an American based organisation called ETS. You can register for the exam at ets.org. However, these are only general, and each university may have specific or differing requirements, so make sure to do the research before registering for any tests.

06

FILLING OUt tHE AppLICAtIONS

Different universities will have different application requirements and procedures. But there are a few staples that you will need like copies or scans of your passport, passport sized photographs, and all your certificates and documents. These will be needed not only in applying to universities, but also during exam registration. Infact, British Council has collaborated with Standard Chartered Bank to simplify the registration process for IELTS.

tmag

HOT TOPIC

7

ORS OF

LItY bigstock

07

08

09

10

11

12

ACCOmmODAtION

Don’t forget the accommodation! It can make or break your educational capabilities. If you are one who is emotionally strong enough to live on your own, dorms are always an option.

However, if you think you might get a little bit too homesick, try to find a place closer to relatives. “I used to get really homesick at first, but switching states to one where I had my aunt made all the difference. I still live in a dorm, but now I have family nearby. Not only is university life more relaxing, but my grades improved too!”

– Nahar, doing her third year in the US. Sharing apartments with friends is also an option many would vouch for.

BOOKING YOUR tICKEt

Book your tickets as early as two months before you are expected to leave. Always ask your travel agent to get you an open ticket; in this way your flight date can be flexible. Confirm your ticket by calling your travel agent a week before departure. Always let your travel agent or airlines know that you are a student. In some cases, they might offer extra luggage allowance for you.

VISA AppLICAtION

Again, research is key at this step. Get your financials in order so that you can show where the funding for the trip is coming from: yourself, your parents, or the university (in terms of scholarships). Make sure your passport is renewed and that you have all your documents and transcripts in the right order. Refer to this issue’s FYI to get more information on visa applications.

SHOppING AND SAYING GOODBYES

“Buy your basic necessities from here. If you plan to cook for yourself, take a pan, a patila, and other utensils from Dhaka” - Anam, studying in London. And if you are buying clothes from here, be sure to know what kind of weather you are going towards. Amidst the last minute get-togethers with friends, and mixedfeeling moments with the family, remember, teary-eyed-ness is just as contagious as crying.

RESULt

Don’t get ahead of yourself! Make plans, but remember the final call will come from the university. And if plans do need to be changed, it’s not the end of the world. If none of the universities you have applied to come back with good news, consider spending some time in Bangladesh working or interning, and re-apply next semester.

pACKING

Pack efficiently. Pack wisely. Before you begin, find out about your destination’s cultural aspect and the weather. Get to know what seasons that country enjoys so that you can take along everything you need. Besides the obvious weather factor, select attire that can be coordinated with several other items, so that matching and dressing is never a problem.

Moreover keep in mind that your clothes should be comfortable, washing machine friendly and wrinkle free. Don’t forget to include semi-formal and formal attire because you may need them to dress up for an occasion. When actually packing, layer your items; it will help you save lots of space. You can layer pants and other bulky items on the bottom, load shirts, pyjamas and other items on top. You can roll up any wrinkle-prone items.

TM AG TU E SDAY, AU G U ST 20, 20 1 3

8 tmag

written in the Stars

For the love of the game

By Azfar Rahman

I

f you could ever have the chance to manage your dream football team, how far would you go to show your devotion and patience for the sport? To answer this question, Ishtiaque Amin, a resident of Dhaka city, has gone out of his way to prove his dedication and love for the sport by creating history and winning the first ever official Premier League Player Exchange 2012/13; a feat achieved by beating hundreds of thousand participants around the world!

For most people, when it comes to “the beautiful game,” the first thing that comes to mind would definitely be the playing part of the sport. The significance of being able to play as well as the legends, or being able to be as skillful, would definitely be any football fan’s dream. However, one of the most important parts of this sport that has rarely ever been prioritised with equal admiration would be the strategic side to the game, and with winning this tournament, Ishtiaque has proved how being the manager is just as important as being the player.

TM AG TU ESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

A Manchester United fan, Ishtiaque is studying for his undergraduate in BBA at the United International University (UIU).

Being a fan of the sport for as long as he can remember, Ishtiaque started playing the online fantasy football tournament after regularly following Sportscentre on Star Sports back during the 2011/12 season. While going through the official website for the tournament, when Ishtiaque found out about the Premier League Player Exchange tournament, he signed up right away. As Ishtiaque says, “At my first attempt, I didn’t start off well, but I kept at it hoping to get lucky, and soon enough after a few strategic decisions, I eventually won the manager of the month of February, as well as an iPad.” The victory placed Ishtiaque as 6th on the list of the winners from all over the world, and with this boost of confidence, he was more determined than ever to win the grand prize.

“Winning this tournament has been the greatest achievement of my life till now and being able to beat thousands of participants from all over the world

in a strategic contest to win such a fantastic prize is a dream come true. I feel extremely proud, not just for winning the tournament, but also for being able to successfully represent Bangladesh in the global fantasy football stage,” says an overwhelmed Ishtiaque.

Being the winner of the Premier League Player Exchange (PLPE), Ishtiaque has won a VIP trip for two to a Barclays Premier League match featuring a team of his choice, and of course, being a United fan, Ishtiaque has chosen the Manchester United versus Manchester City match. He will either be going for the home match, around December, or the away match, in February, depending on which would be a convenient time for him to get out of the country.

The whole idea of playing online tournaments and games such as these, may not have been the most popular platform until now, but it just goes to show, that if you put in some dedication and effort towards something that you’re passionate about, you might just to get make your dreams come true.

Q&A Usually most football fans choose to rather play the sport than take on the managerial duties. What made you choose to take the decisive angle of the game?

During my teen years, of course, I preferred to play the game itself. But the more I watched the beautiful game I really started appreciating the tactical side of football. I believe I quickly grasped a firm understanding of it and how most teams operate. Then I realised the best place to express that was through fantasy football where I could win based on my understanding of the game and judgment of the players.

What’s your opinion on the entire Bangladesh online fantasy football scene?

I thought it was quite big before, but I was very surprised when I saw random people congratulating me in the oddest places around Dhaka. Clearly fantasy football has become huge in Bangladesh in just a few years and it seems like it's only going to get bigger and bigger.

Do you have any advice or opinion to share with the newcomers in this game?

My advice to new comers would be to take as much advice as possible from experienced players and try to be completely unbiased when picking your squad. Your favourite player might have very bad fixtures or form and if you still insist on picking him your team will suffer. And most importantly never give up! A lot of luck is involved in Fantasy football so if you keep at it, things can easily go right for you eventually.

tmag 9

comic book

nonFiction

YOU WRITE IT

Ace that essay!

The worst thing, even for a practiced writer, is the prospect of writing the college application essay. Here are five tips to help you through it.

Be concise

Open with something snappy, focus on the main point you’re trying to make, tie up the loose ends and close the book.

Don’t fluff up your achievements to make them sound cooler. Don’t brag, but don’t grovel either. Don’t steal quotes.

Don’t try to be something you’re not. And please, please, don’t make stuff up.

Keep it simple, but stylish

Don’t give into the temptation of using your minty-fresh SAT vocab; it’ll only

make your writing “purple.” However, try using a variety of simple words instead of repeating the same word over and over again. Also, vary the length of your sentences to create a nice flow.

a Physics major who loves fashion, or a star athlete who likes collecting stamps, mention it. Also, take a stand for your beliefs, even if they’re a little radical.

Be YOU

Get someone else to read, comment and proofread your piece before you send it off. It always helps to get a second pair of eyes on it. Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

Try bringing in your individual interests into the picture, particularly if they’re the opposite of what one expects. If you’re

Rope in a friend

4 comic books TO READ BEFORE THEY HIT THE SILVER SCREEN 1

2

3

The Dark Knight Returns

by Frank Miller Fans all over the world were rejoicing when it was announced that Superman vs. Batman is coming to the big screen marking the first time these iconic characters will be sharing screen time in a movie adaptation but they’ve done it time and time again in the comic world. The Dark Knight Returns written and drawn by Frank Miller is a riveting tale set in a dystopian future where an ageing Batman and his ideologies clash with a pro-government Superman, a classic tale filled with moments you’ll never forget and an absolute must read.

book

Be honest

4

X-Men: Days Of Future Past

by Chris Claremont Wolverine: Enemy Of The State

by Mark Millar The Wolverine may have opened in cinemas to mixed reviews but if you need a book that shows you just why Wolverine is such a revered and renowned character – this is the one for you, a blockbuster storyline which cements Wolverine as the ultimate badass as he claws and slashes his way through the entire Marvel universe.

Days of Future Past is the next X-Men offering that will be coming to the big screen and it’s one of the most ambitious comic book projects ever as it aims to tie in the cast of the original X-Men movies with the new generation of X-Men featured in X-Men First Class.

The time-travel based tale is based on one of the most iconic X-Men stories penned by Chris Claremont and it’s an absolute must-read, a whirlwind tale which makes brilliant use of X-Men’s diverse cast and unique plotlines.

Ant-Man Season One

by Tom DeFalco The success of so many superhero movies has allowed names which aren’t household names to grab their moment, a prime example being Ant-Man which is slated to get a movie release as well. AntMan Season One is the book that will get you up to speed on a superhero that certainly deserves much love as it delves into the life of scientist Hank Pym, one of the original Avengers. fardeen ameen

4 BOOKS TO READ BEFORE THEY HIT THE SILVER SCREEN 1

2

Starring Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford When a third invasion by the Formics threatens the existence of Earth, the military decides to train all kids aged 6 and above in Battle School, an off world institution preparing kids against the aliens, through the playing of games. This is where the brilliant and talented Ender Wiggins rises to be the very best in his lot, making this book one of the best scifi novels ever written in this century.

3

Starring Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet Already proclaimed as the next Hunger Games, Divergent is a brilliant science fiction guaranteed to blow your minds away. In Chicago, society has segregated itself by will into five factions- Abnegation, Amity, Candour, Dauntless and Erudite. When 16 year old Beatrice Prior fails to find her faction, she is called the “divergent” and made an outcast. Soon she joins the Dauntless, rechristening herself as Tris, and starts to train as a fearless warrior for the impending battles, discovering herself newly in the process, discovering the life of a Divergent.

4

Starring Rosamund Pike, Ben Affleck A high rated suspense thriller, Gone Girl tells the story of Amy Dunne who mysteriously disappears on her fifth wedding anniversary. Through several journal entries, we read the story of Nick, Amy’s husband who is the prime suspect for Amy’s sudden disappearance. If you think you can guess the story, you are absolutely mistaken because the huge plot twists that Gone Girl harbours, is unexpected and will definitely leave you shocked in the end.

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper In the year 1929, newlyweds George and Serena Pemberton travel to North Carolina and settle down in the great mountains to create a timber empire.

The strong willed and ruthless Serena is a beauty, but no less than a man.

She, along with her husband, rule the wilderness, killing all who fall in their way to success. But when a deep, dark secret is revealed, Serena turns against George and sets out to vanquish all who have betrayed her trust and her love. A dark, passionate tale of revenge and beauty, this book is a must read. Sama E Deen

TM AG TU E SDAY, AU G U ST 20, 20 1 3

10 tmag Guitar Tabs

stereo

This week’s best

Tab Part 3 of 3

Artist – Icons Song – Oporanho

spotlight

Tuning – D#,G#,C#,F#,A#,D# (half step down)

Solo 2 e |-----------------------|------------------------| B |-----------------------|------------------------| G |-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-|-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-| D |-----------------------|------------------------| A |-----------------------|------------------------| E |-----------------------|------------------------| e |-----------------------|------------------------| B |-----------------------|------------------------| G |-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-|-7-7-7-6-6-2-2-4-| D |-----------------------|------------------------| A |-----------------------|------------------------| E |-----------------------|------------------------| e |-----------------------|------------------------| B |-----------------------|------------------------| G |-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-|-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-| D |-----------------------|------------------------| A |-----------------------|------------------------| E |-----------------------|------------------------| e |------------------|-----------------------------| B |----------------------|-----------------------7------------| G |-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-|--------------7--7-9—9(v)---7-| D |----------------------|------7--7-9--9-------------------| A |----------------------|-7-9--9----------------------------| E |------------------|-----------------------------|

TOP

10

Rock hard, Party Harder!

Ever wondered what it’d be like to go to a rock concert and hear a song like “Just can’t get enough” being played live in front of you?

Yes, we are talking about the Black Eye Peas’ song. This might not

Instrument

leaving the nest Tunes

1. Leaving on a Jet Plane John Denver 2. Amar Pothchola Artcell 3. Across the Universe Fiona Apple 4. Odbhut shei Chele Aurthohin 5. Chasing Pavements Adele 6. There’s Gotta Be (more to life) Stacie Orrico 7. Sidewalks Story of the year 8. I’m Like a Bird Nelly Furtado 9. The New Gun Alternation 10. Shada Breach

TM AG TU ESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

come as a shock to most regular concert goers of the local music scene, but the ones who are reading this piece with a raised eyebrow and a confused look, rest assured, “rock” is not dead.

Introducing The Party Crashers, a group of five guys who know how to party hard and bring the house down, even at an alternative/rock concert! The Party Crashers is a band of five exceptionally talented young musicians who have introduced an entirely new platform in the music scene with their keen sense of take on the whole idea of live performances. The band has received quite the recognition in the underground music scene for their unique idea of playing and performing some of the best and popular rnb, hip hop and pop numbers, while rendering them in an entirely acoustic setup. Sounds interesting, right?

Formerly known as The Party, the band was originally formed back around mid-2011 when five guys got together to

take a break from playing the regular type of music that they used to and experiment with something entirely new.

When initially started, the band featured Ali Fayaz Shoumo on vocals, Shuvanjan Karmaker and Arifeen Mahmood Khan on guitars, the writer of this very article on the bass and Dio Haque on the Cajon and percussions. Although the group disbanded for personal reasons, Shoumo and Dio still kept the party going. They eventually recruited Efaz R Khan aka Dhrubo on bass, Zafir Huq and Farazi Ghani on guitars, and with the new lineup and the new title, the band came back to the music scene, packing a punch harder than before!

The band is influenced by anything and everything that sounds good to them. With cover influences ranging from Gorillaz to Usher and Snoop Dogg to Jason Mraz, be certain that these guys will definitely blow your mind!

Azfar Rahman

The next best thing Epiphone Les Paul Standard plus is a heavy duty, rock solid bodied guitar, that comes with Alnico Humbucker pickups, and Tune-o-Matic™/Stopbar made all the way from the heart of Epi. The body is made of mahogany wood giving more sustain to one’s playability, with a rosewood fingerboard marking trapezoid inlays.

The standard plus series can be compared to a Gibson. Knowing Gibson guitars are made with supreme quality materials, the standard epiphones are just made with an average quality, as their prime is to condense a reasonable price under everyone’s affordability.

Anyone who wants the sound of a Gibson guitar, should try this one out.

This guitar has a price tag of Tk45,000, and they are available in popular music stores around Dhaka, World Music Co, Guitar Center Bd, and Melody and Co, at Bashundhara City Shopping Mall giving

you the option to explore and find more about the local prices.

Now before buying a guitar like this, make sure to remember that its playability is only limited to the players’ music taste. If you think rock and roll is your genre, or even blues melody catches up your groove, then this guitar can be your court option. From a guitarist’s perspective this falls under intermediate guitar players section, for the ones who have actually found the kind of sound they want, with the style of play they prefer to.

Chances after buying this guitar is you might fall in love with the sustain, the consistent tuning, and the finest finish you can cherish with that price.

Make sure to check all the sideburns, before you finalise the purchase, as you don’t want a guitar with a broken tailpiece or so.

the digital launches, the drill is: Purchase the Savagery album in multiple ways 1. Through BKash or DBBL/Mastercard/ Visa for local purchase 2. Paypal for International purchase 3. Cash at Incursion Headquarters for Download link 4. Cash at Incursion Headquarters for

Drive Transfer Fans are asked to bring their External drives, Flash Drives, phones, IPods and any other device to the launch for purchase and transfer and of course, a quick listen! The album launch is meant for 20th August 2013 (That’s today!) from 4-9pm so rush to support the music!

Nabeela M.

Naveed Al Razi

album Savagery’s Prayoshchitto The Rock/Metal band from Bangladesh, Savagery is about to digitally launch their debut album Prayoshchitto through Incursion Music at the Incursion Headquarters at Bangla Motor.

The launch is meant for the fans to have a “meet and greet” with the band, listen to the album, and just have a great time with many musicians in attendance. As it is for

tmag 11

playroom

WE RECOMMEND sports

Go Play A little under a decade ago Quamrul Hassan was spending so much time on football sites, gripped by the Fantasy Premiere League, and the ESPN Star Sports game, his friends began to grumble.

The sceptics were silenced when people like Jahid Hassan, Al Fuad, Saif M Ishtiaq Hossain started winning serious prize money, trips abroad, and TV time.

When Quamrul won ESS’ Knockout Cup worth $2500, the winners decided it was time to expand their ambition.

Then

tv

Clemon World Cup fantasy game winner Arifin Satej and Ehsan Haque, a fantasy football veteran of 10 years, entered the scene.

Up went the Facebook group, Fantasy Football Players of Bangladesh, to help neophytes learn the ABCs of the scene.

Soon the group became a buzzing sphere of football lovers and FFPB raised a fund of over Tk 1 lakh from its core members and friends to set up their own league The winner, Belal Ahmed, was awarded Tk 25,000 while the runner-up received Tk 10,000 and the third, fourth and fifth place winners won Tk 5,000, Tk 2,000 and Tk 1,000 respectively. The winner of the H2H league got Tk 5,000 and each of the monthly winners also received the same.

To make it better, every week the highest scoring player was sent a Tk 100 mobile recharge.

This spirit of sharing let its members reap rich dividends as Ishtiaque Amin won the title of the inaugural season of the EPL Player Exchange Game, outwitting football brains from around the globe.

“The ‘Fantasy Football Players of Bangladesh’ Facebook group is probably

the main reason for my success this year. Watching so many people give their opinions and discussing my own choices within the group really helped me think clearly and pick the best options every week,” Ishtiaque told Dhaka Tribune after his historic win.

“I am extremely grateful to everyone in it for helping me whenever I was confused about which players to pick. The discussions in this group definitely played a major hand in my victory,” he added.

Buoyed by the success of the last season, FFPB recently launched its own website. And it’s no wonder it has more than 1700 members in the group, all raring to vie for this year’s prizes worth Tk150,000.

“These prizes are just tokens.

But this might drive people to finish champion among 3 million people from all over the world come the end of the season,” hoped Ehsan.

With the success of so many Bangladeshis on the international stage in the recent times, Ehsan’s views are pretty justified.

Sing what you speak Price Free Platform Android/iOS Size 10Mb If you ever wished to sing, this is the right kind of app for you. Simply, speak into your android device and Songify will magically turn your speech into a song. Songify is the official app created by Gregory Brothers, creators of the AutoTune The News Series on YouTube, and other viral video hits like “Can’t Hug Every Cat”, “Bed Intruder Song”, “Double Rainbow” and “Winning!” Songify’s unique technology was invented by Smule to turn speech into music and is not the same as Antares Auto-Tune, which just does not work on speech. Behold and Songify yourself with popular tracks out there! Tahsin Momin

happening

By Shishir Hoque

Sing Along!

This week we bring you the very best, “Glee.” Although a lot of people will find “Glee” nothing but a mere musical drama; this show is very promising. In Season 4 (the current season airing on Star World) we see how the actors face College after their high school graduation while some people are still awaiting to get accepted somewhere. Rachel Berry

Game

app of the week

is finding her way through NYADA while One Direction is still looking for its next lead. The show leads on to how characters cope with changes, long distances and possibly fading relationships. Nevertheless, it is the last chance for some of us to see Cory Monteith; prior to his death this July.

Rifat Binte Haider

Burn stag go!

Jet Set Radio is fondly remembered for its cell-shaded graphics and unique art style, which blends ideas from Japanese animation to graffiti art. The game features a group of skaters who grind the streets of Tokyo, making graffiti while avoiding the police and rival gangs.

Even though the game play is outdated and frustrating; the visual and soundtrack will most certainly blow you off your feet. The impressive style, graphics, and sense of fun is enough to blind anyone. However the moment-tomoment gameplay isn’t enjoyable and your skater control is like an elephant on ice skates. This lack of fine control worsens the situation. Meanwhile the camera problems take it to a whole new level. It can barely keep up with the flow of the game. There are other vital

problems as well; while tagging with graffiti, sometimes the movements are not registered correctly, leaving you standing where there is a police close by. The trick system is superficial and isn’t convincing in its own right. As for the soundtrack, the forward-looking mix of Japanese pop, dance music, and American hip-hop is as lively and fun today as it was over a decade ago.

If your goal is to relive your Jet Set Radio memories, this is definitely it.

While Sega clearly made an effort to bring back the hype of Jet Set Radio from the 8-bit platform into this reissue, the HD colour coat did not help to make for the fundamental control flaw and repetitious design.

Tahsin Momin

toy story For generations, cartoons and comics have been one of the best and most enjoyable forms of pastimes. These illustrations aren’t only just about entertainment, they are a way of showcasing how far the world of imagination and creativity can take us.

And for Saadi Rahman, showcasing his passion for the art was taken to a whole new level on August 16, when he officially inaugurated the very first Toy Museum of Bangladesh.

The much anticipated museum, solely dedicated to action figures and their accessories, starting from masks and costumes to customisable action sequence showpiece sets from some of the most famous cartoon movie scenes. The collection includes pieces from famous movies, tv series, cartoons and of course, the most favoured, comic books. The entire collection of the museum mostly comprises of Saadi’s very own collection since childhood, along with a shelf including his father’s own collection of model cars, which can be dated as further back to 1957!

The first ever Toy Museum of Dhaka is now officially open for visitors, and for fans who want to take something home, there’s also an entire collection up sale. The museum is located on the second floor of Rahman Plaza, at Bangla Motor. Azfar Rahman

TM AG TU E SDAY, AU G U ST 20, 20 1 3

12 tmag

He says

TEENARAMA

She says

Going abroad together for studies may seem like its all fun and glory unless you dig deeper and unveil the ugly. A different country usually means a different culture, and that always needs a wee bit of adapting to go through. Here we’ll divulge on how couples keep their love alive with the added pressure of being in a different country

1

I approached this girl to tell her I like her. I ended up getting so nervous that I forgot her name.

2

I wrote 2013 as my birth year while filling out a form.

3

While crossing the streets I stepped into a hollow space at the corner of footpaths, and my feet went ankle deep in mud.

4

I was checking out this girl across the streets. I soon realised it was a cross dresser.

5

I tripped on my sari and fell face first on a bunch of cables at a wedding.

6

I was screaming at the top of my lungs because I couldn’t find my glasses, came to find out that it was top my head the whole time.

7

I was so tired in class that I fell asleep. When I woke up everyone was laughing at me, I went to our principal and he was laughing at me too. I went to the washroom and saw that there was a Hitler moustache drawn on my face.

The problem of spending quality time together

He says

My girlfriend and I enrolled ourselves in the same university thinking that we’d be huddled together most of the time.

But after landing here, we realised that she’s on a different campus altogether that makes us have to wait for the end of the day before we get to see each other.

Blush Much?

Email your confession today to tmag@dhakatribune.com

She says

Although my boyfriend and I are taking a course together, we didn’t realise the amount of studying and research we need to do. We are always so overworked with studies, that we hardly ever have any time or the feeling to do anything romantic.

Dear Diary, August 17, 2013

The problem of making new friends

He says

I am a people person. I get along with Canadians very easily and have already made quite a few friends.

However, my girlfriend is a bit shy and she feels very uncomfortable around them. It just ruins both her mood and mine.

She says

My boyfriend loves partying and I can’t dance to save my life. Now that we are together in Bangkok, he insists on taking me to a club every week. The YouTube tutorials aren’t helping and I am scared he might lose interest and start swaying in some other girl’s arms.

What is going on with me? I always prided myself on being headstrong and a no-nonsense person, but my morals are slowly slipping away. It feels liberating. I have spent too many years of my life being a goody-twoshoes and I really couldn’t care anymore about what people think. At least, not right now. Once I decide on which path I want to take, I will settle down. Right now, I am not ready to simmer down. Sameer called me just once, as promised, as I had told him to stay away from me for this week. He sent me a text, “It’s just been a day and it already feels like forever.” Oh the torture of being pursued! It’s only making life harder, yet so much better.

I am in two minds now. I know I promised to stay away from Sameer for a week, but it’s easier said than done.

A Thursday night being curled up at home isn’t my cup of tea. I am really quite exhausted from my boat ride last night with Imran; I was going to call it a night but surprise surprise, Sameer is here and he wants to steal me for a few hours. It’s almost midnight and my parents would freak, but I really can’t keep calm thinking of what this night would lead to. My folks will throw a fit if they ever know of this, but there is a first time for everything.

And I’ll make sure this escape is worth the trouble ...

THE DREAMER

If you want to share your awesome or not-so-awesome life events email it to us at tmag@dhakatribune.com

TM AG TU ESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013