Weekend 1 29

Dhaka Comicon 2013 6

BANMUN 2013 18

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15 2013

vol 1 Issu e 2 9

Reshma 27

1

CONTENTS 2 This Week in Pictures 4 Bottled Up 5 Whose Line Is It Anyway?

The leaving of a ‘jet plane’ 10 Post-Riposte Videogames and human behaviour

A Weekly Pro ductio n o f

DhakaTribune

11 Top 10 Dhaka greenery

Vo lume 1, Issu e 2 9 NOVEMB ER 15, 2 0 1 3

12 Big Mouth Strikes Again The evil that men do

Editor Zafar Sobhan

13 Photo Story Tanguar Haor

Magazine Editor Faruq Hasan Weekend Tribune Team Sumaiya Shams Faisal Mahmud Yusuf Banna Joseph Allchin Shah Nahian Phil Humphreys Adil Sakhawat Rohini Alamgir

6 Pick of the Week Dhaka Comicon 2013

20 Legal Eagle 21 6° of Connotations The hypocrisy of social media 22 Tough Love 23 WT | Leisure

Art Direction/Photography Syed Latif Hossain

24 Travelogue Bristol Balloon Festival

Cartoon Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Rio Shuvo Contributors Syed Samiul Basher Naheed Kamal Jennifer Ashraf Nadia Chowdhury Dina Sobhan Ibtisam Ahmed Pragya Rahman Design Mohammad Mahbub Alam Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad Email: weekend@dhakatribune.com Web: www.dhakatribune.com Cover Old age home for heroes by Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy

17 Digital Bangladesh A safer Uttara

25 The Way Dhaka Was Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban 26 Culture Vulture Aminul Islam Young Artist Award 2013 27 Obituary Reshma 18 Thought Plot BANMUN 2013

28 Last Word

EDITOR’S NOTE

C for comics, C for culture I

f you think you’re the kind of person who doesn’t read comics, think again. Or better yet, attend one of the many comic conventions—or comicons—that seem to be popping up every few months in Dhaka. Last week’s Dhaka Comicon 2013 in Jamuna Future Park was attended by a cross-section of Dhaka residents: students, government employees, businessmen, rock musicians, librarians, and even those who once considered comics as an anathema to learning—teachers. The truth is, what used to be relegated to the nether zones of geekdom, is now becoming more mainstream and accepted: comics, and more importantly, comic book fans are definitely here to stay. Our own comic aficionado Shah Nahian gives us a behind the scene look into

the latest comicon rendition, and explains why comics are now a currency to popularity.

Elsewhere, Nadia Chowdhury takes a different outlook to the double standards embedded within “social media,” Pragya Rahman isn’t buying the need for a temporary caretaker government preceding our national elections, and I duke it out with our pop culture guru Shah Nahian again about the effects of videogames our young. But a preNew Year special treat for all of our readers is the introduction of a new section—Legal Eagle—where your own personal barrister answers all your legal problems, and sculpts her answer specially according to your needs.

Check out our new section, and while you’re at it, check them all out! ` n W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, N OVE MB E R 1 5, 20 1 3

2

THIS WEEK

INTERNATIONAL

Russia’s Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft carrying an international crew, including Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin and US astronaut Rick Mastracchio, and an unlit Olympic torch for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi aboard blasts off from the Russian leased Kazakh Baikonur cosmodrome on November 7

This video grab, taken on November 7, shows Asmatullah Shaheen (R), caretaker chief Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), announcing the new leader of TTP during a press conference in an undisclosed location in northwest Pakistan

AFP/Tahir Khan

AFP/Kirill Kudryavtsev

Election officials empty a ballot box prior to the start of vote counting in Male on November 9. Voting got underway in the Maldives, in its third bid to choose a president and end unrest sparked by the toppling of their first freely-elected leader 21 months ago A house is engulfed by the storm surge brought about by powerful typhoon Haiyan that hit Legazpi city, Albay province on November 8 about 520km south of Manila, Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded, slammed into the Philippines, setting off landslides, knocking out power in one entire province and cutting communications in the country’s central region of island provinces

AP/Nelson Salting

Indian police detain Kashmiri government employees during a protest march in Srinagar on November 9. Indian police detained dozens of government employees as they tried to stage a protest march demanding the regularisation of contractual jobs and an increase in salary

AFP/Rouf Bhat

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AFP/Ishara S Kodikara

3

NATIONAL

A relative of a killed Rana Plaza worker bursts into tears at Jurain graveyard after recognising the grave of her beloved one through DNA test results

Mahmud Hossain Opu/ Dhaka Tribune

Students attending the exams as Junior School Certificate and the Junior Dakhil Certificate examinations start across the country on November 6. The photo was taken from Tejgaon Government Girls’ High School

Dhaka Tribune

Pickets set a BRTC bus ablaze in Jatrabari on the day before an 84hour hartal called by the 18-party alliance. Photo taken on November 9 Mahmud Hossain Opu/ Dhaka Tribune

Montu, a goldsmith by profession, suffered burns on 90% of his body as he was caught in a fire in the bus he was riding. The bus was doused with petrol by pickets on November 10, during the 84-hour hartal

Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune

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4

BOTTLED UP

letters to the editor

LETTER

of the week

Animal love

I just loved your photo feature on the recently opened safari park in Gazipur. Our culture isn’t really known to be very open to animals.

The fact that we are trying to give them a safe home, and make it a picaresque tourist spot, makes me want to applaud this great initiative Tahmina Khaleque, Eskaton

Feminism fail W

ith this ridiculously pompous article, writers like Ms. Naheed Kamal show she is a prime example of how feminism is being used as a status quo in Bangladesh these days. To quote Ms. Kamal: “because women are more social” - don’t know how she said this as if some universal truth (no evidence presented, albeit).

I have never read a more wasted write-up. It reeks of feminist idiosyncrasies. Women like her, more than the misogyny and sexism she writes of, are responsible for making women likethe “weaker sex” when they really aren’t that. n

Mizanur Rahman Filmmaker, founder of Mad Lungi Filmz

Lou no more

They don’t make musicians like Lou Reed any more, and your Obituary last week hit all the right chords in revisiting the artist’s magnificent career. Lou Reed’s music inspired me to go through some of the most trying times in my life. I just hope the next generation of young people find someone equally inspiring Sarah Huq Banani, Dhaka

Top 10 confusion

I beg to differ with last week’s Top 10 winter activities. A lot of the activities are not necessarily winter related, as I play badminton and eat pithas all year. But yes, winter does make them better!

Syeda Farhana Huq Mirpur, Dhaka

Send us your feedback at: weekend@dhakatribune.com

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5

WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?

The leaving of a ‘jet plane’ “We are donating Biman’s last DC 10 to the Museum of Flights in Washington. It is being replaced by a brand new Boeing 777.”

Kevin Steele, CEO, Bangladesh Biman

“But when are you going to replace the other Biman antiques?”

Mr Mango

Rio Shuvo/Dhaka Tribune

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6

PICK OF THE WEEK

Dhaka Comicon 2013

Shah Nahian is a staff writer at Dhaka tribune with a passion for music and art. When he’s not being forced to work, he spends his time daydreaming and hanging out with friends

Bigger, better, super

Sadia Marium/Dhaka Tribune

Shah Nahian geeks out at the ultimate comic lover festival in Dhaka

A

fter initial hiccups and schedule changes due to the country’s political state, Dhaka Comicon 2013 finally took place on November 8-9 at the Jamuna Future Park. The organisers promised a “bigger and better” event. But did they deliver?

Comicon redux

Sadia Marium/Dhaka Tribune

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Dhaka Comicon 2013 promised an improvement from last year’s event.

This time around, there have been significant additions to the event. Preregistration on the Comicon website allowed you to take part in the cosplay competition where you got to dress up as your favourite character, a live-art show and a short film competition.

A ticket bought at the venue gave you access to an action figure display, an artist’s corner to get various illustrations drawn, a gaming corner, and live performances by various bands including Nemesis. Plus you

got a sneak peek of Cryptic Fate’s new music video, “Akromon.” And of course there were the usual booths selling all kinds of pop-culture merchandise from t-shirts, mugs, buttons, action figures and collectables.

The killing que

My first reaction: shock. The large number of people in attendance was simply unbelievable. The queue stretched on for miles, with hundreds of people waiting for their chance to get in. While this was a good thing for the organisers, for the attendees, the entry process was simply slow and inefficient. Most ended up waiting in line for hours to get in. Unfortunately, the space reserved for Comicon was unable to accommodate such a large crowd, causing a whole lot of confusion and chaos.

The organisers, however, saved the (second) day by expanding on the

7 allocated space and making for easier movement.

Comibuffs, rollout

Inside the venue, there was beautiful chaos: bands performing on stage, showcases scattered throughout proudly displaying rare action figures, graphic novels and a range of collectibles, and obviously the booths full of t-shirts and pop culture merchandise. If you’re looking for diverse pop culture merchandise, ranging from hard to find Hollywood collectibles, to rare comic books and prints, this was the place to be.

But aside from comics and other paraphernalia, it was the crowd of fans that really got your attention. You could easily get lost in the sea of comic super villains, Disney characters, and some downright weirdos.

By the power of … costumes?

Whether to express creativity or to show respect for their heroes/ anti-heroes, everyone showed up to cosplay with different reasons for putting on the mask. Among the cosplay participants, a Scholastican Grade 7 student with a passion for reading manga, paid homage to her heroes, including Itachi Uchiha and Naruto. Others such as Raihanur Rahman (dressed as Noob Saibot from Mortal Kombat) and Sayeed Muntasir (dressed as Raiden from the

same game) wanted to bring focus on characters they thought deserved more attention.

Gustav Mozumdar confessed that a common love for comics and cosplay forms a strong bond between the participants. “We think alike, and that’s what creates a kind of chemistry among us,” Mazumdar, dressed up as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, the Batman villain, explained.

In the spirit of cosplay, even Irad Mustafa, not wearing a costume, claimed: “I went as a serial killer, they usually look like normal people. So I’m just dressed as me.” Maleena Gomez created her own version of the Red Riding Hood, carrying a baseball bat: “I’m all set to take on the big bad wolf.”

The Megaminds Syed Abu Yousuf

1. Not Peter Parker or Clark Kent 2. Mostly involved in family’s garments and jute product export businesses 3. Owns a clothing store in Dhanmondi called RollOut, which occasionally takes online orders and makes apparel for corporate houses

Saadi Rahman

1. Did schooling and undergraduate studies in the US where he was exposed to the world of comic cons 2. Has been busy with his music label, Incurzion Music, for the last six years 3. Also started Saadi’s Collectibles and currently also occupied with Dhaka Museum of Toys

Welcome to Geekopolis

In an era where it’s perfectly cool to be comic book geeks, this year’s Comicon illustrated that comic books are now no longer a niche sub-genre. Irad Mustafa, who admits to having read “more comic books then I have hair on my head,” and Syeed Muntasir who is obsessed with Playstation games (he has over 500), were just two “regular’’ attendees at this year’s event. And, as they were quick to point out, they are not “geeks”— they’re just fans of pop art.

Raihanur Rahman said it best: “Yes, I like reading comic books and I like superheroes and videogames, Sadia Marium/Dhaka Tribune

Sadia Marium/Dhaka Tribune

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8

PICK OF THE WEEK

Dhaka Comicon 2013

Comicon: Evolution

Walking among a horde of heroes and villains, I had the chance of getting to know the duo who brought Dhaka Comicon to life: Syed Abu Yousuf and Saadi Rahman

How did comic books and superheroes first catch your attention?

Abu: Superheroes and comic books are what I grew up with. It all started out with those superhero cartoon videotapes that my parents would always buy me.

Then I started collecting action figures of my favourites, and that later inspired me to start collecting comic books.

Saadi: Growing up, I was lucky to have access to all the classics, since various members of my family were comic buffs. My first exposure was to Classics Illustrated, Phantom, and tons of other DC comics, but it was my friends Zeeshan and Sohrab Rahman Khan who got me into action figures. When the “Star Wars” movies came out, I became a collector of action figures.

Why bring Comicon to Dhaka?

Abu: Comics and pop culture is often a means of escaping from reality. Added to that, there isn’t always much to do around here, and so we thought of introducing this culture to Bangladesh.

After all, who doesn’t love a little bit of magic in their lives?

Saadi: I’d rather bring people together in unity any day, rather than be a part of our daily political chaos! When we took a chance in December of 2012 with the very first Dhaka Comicon, 10,000 people showed up at the Bench. We read the signs.

What were your expectations from Dhaka Comicon?

Abu: Well, honestly, we didn’t know what to expect last year. People on Facebook went wild when we first posted the event. We had around 2,000-3,000 people attending on the event page.

The reality: close to 10,000. So this year all our activities were pretty much planned in advance, though the political situation hampered those plans a little.

However, the attendance exceeded our expectations this year too.

Saadi: Last year, we were pleasantly surprised by the turn out. If people were blown away from the first event and wanted more, we wanted to deliver something bigger and better.

Was Dhaka Comicon strictly a business idea?

Abu: Dhaka Comicon is Saadi bhai and my dream project. We are both just two crazy, passionate fans who went ahead

Tihan Shah

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and executed our ideas.

Saadi: It all started with a Facebook page called Saadi’s Collectibles which I created to connect to others with the same pop culture passion. I met some amazing people through this and many other groups, yet the convention remained a dream. Abu often laughed about our convention idea, till one fine day we just decided to go for it and see what happens. With the help of our collector friends, certain sponsors who believed in us (Samdani Art Foundation and Ananta Group), and some funding from our own companies, Incursion and RollOut, we locked the dates for the very first Comic Con in Bangladesh.

How did you go about deciding what to include/exclude from this year’s Comicon?

Abu: This year, Dhaka Comicon had a lot more to offer. We didn’t exclude anything from last year. As a matter of fact, we ended up including lots of fun stuff.

Saadi: If you follow all the international Conventions, you’ll see the list of activities are never ending. We are only on our second year, so we still just have the basics.

So, you guys plan on coming back next year? What do you hope to achieve from Dhaka Comicon 2014?

Abu: Absolutely! Bangladesh needs this and our fellow comic lovers deserve it.

As far as expectations go, I guess I should say “Bigger-ER” and “Better-ER,” but what I can say for Dhaka Comicon 2014 is that it might carry an international flavour to it.

Saadi: We’d like to have Dhaka Comicon annually. So yes, you’ll be seeing us every year from now on. We want to bring smiles to people’s faces. That’s actually what we always wanted to achieve.

People that share the passion for pop culture look forward to such events with a lot of excitement.

What did it take to transform Dhaka Comicon from just a single idea into a reality?

Abu: Passion, belief and persistence.

Rocky Balboa never gave up that fight against Ivan Drago despite being on the backfoot for most of the 12 rounds. His persistence and patience won him that match. We’re just in the second round, but going strong. n

9 A year ago, Comicon was nowhere close to this year’s. In one word, it was MASSIVE! When the Dhaka Pop Culture Expo took place in September this year, it became obvious that there’s a huge demand for these events. We all follow pop culture, and all we needed was a setting to connect with other fellow ‘popheads.’ I can’t wait for the next one. We LOVED it!

Momin Avid comic reader and Comicon fan

Comicon: Legacy

but I hate it when people try and discriminate against people like me by calling us geeks and nerds. We are just normal people. Would you look down on people who collect books or art?”

Saad Hasib explains further: “No, I don’t consider myself as a comic geek outwardly, but I admit it’s an important part of me. The term ‘geek’ often carries a negative social stigma in modern culture, but essentially a geek is anyone with a passionate interest in something. It’s good to have passion.”

And the ladies are on par. Sarah Khaled, another participant, sums up her annoyance with being called a “geek”: “As long as you’re not sleeping on a bed made of comic books with a life-sized plush-pillow of your favourite anime character, I would say you’re a pretty healthy individual, with something interesting to share with the world.

“In the real world, we are slaves to drudgery and work. But in my ‘geekdom,’ I can choose to be Mario or Batman. Some people take drugs to deal with real life. We are into cosplay.

Guess which one is destructive?” she added.

1. The spelling ‘comicon’ was intentional because the organisers wanted the name to have a certain ring to it 2. A special edition booklet with a DVD covering Dhaka Comicon will be released sometime next month 3. Dhaka Comicon will be brining mini exclusive conventions, such as Gi Joe, Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Gallactica, DC, Marvel, etc 4. A series of mini conventions will follow up to the main event of Dhaka Comicon 2014 5. Next year, Comicon just might be held in a stadium. Solid fact, though: it will have an ‘international flavour’

V for Verdict

Dhaka Comicon 2013 exceeded my initial expectations. There was a lot more to do and with more people involved in the cosplay and other competitions. There is room for improvement, but things are already looking up. Dhaka Comicon is definitely headed towards the right direction and I look forward to next year’s event.

After all, with such limited means of having fun in the city, these new and innovative forms of entertainment are always welcome. n

Photos: Sadia Marium/Dhaka Tribune

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10

POST-RIPOSTE

Videogames and Human Behaviour

Do games turn kids violent?

There have been numerous debates over the pros and cons of playing videogames all over the world, and one such argument heated up the WT desk

It’s bad

Faruq Hasan

I

No, not really

t’s tough to evaluate the effects of videogames on people in general, let alone children, precisely because we don’t have enough data on a nascent industry that has been around for less than two decades. There has been some empirical research, though.

A study commissioned by the US Senate in 2004 found that children who played videogames for more than two hours every day tended to be more aggressive, prone to confrontation with their teachers and peers, and would usually decline in school achievements. Big surprise, since most videogames actually comprise people hitting other people.

But number crunching and behavioural research aside, videogames, unlike movies or cartoons, constitute a unique mode of

entertainment where viewers need to be more immersed in the medium to participate, rather than passively sit back and enjoy. Thus, you are not just watching violence on your television; you, along with your wired machine gun and mock virtual grenades, are actually committing it as well. And let’s face it, with the gaming industry as it is, videogame programmers would make substantially more money making the next instalment of the Call of Duty series, than an episode of Thomas the Engine.

Of course, videogames can also teach better hand-eye coordination, speed up our reflexes, and even instil a sense of kinship and camaraderie amongst peers. But kids used to have something better to promote all that jazz: sports. n

Shah Nahian

O

ne fact about humans: we LOVE to play the blame game.

Aggressive behaviour, bullying and delinquency among children have existed long before videogames did. Still, we try and bridge the two to put the blame on videogames.

Most studies linking videogames to violent behaviour proved to be flawed over time: the studies used outcome measures that did not include important variables such as family violence, mental health issues, etc. The most recent study, published this year in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, conducted by Christopher Ferguson of Stetson University and independent researcher Cheryl Olson (author of “Grand Theft Childhood”), came to a conclusion quite opposite to the common belief: videogames do not cause children, even those considered to be vulnerable (diagnosed with ADD, depression, etc), to become aggressive and turn into bullies, delinquents, or murderers. In fact, the study revealed that these videogames had a slight calming effect.

Another research conducted on German children by Maria von Salisch and her colleagues and published in Media Psychology, found no veritable connection between violent behaviour and videogames.

Just like anything else, but if you can strike a balance between playing videogames and your other daily activities, there should not be any problem. It would just be a part of your routine. n

Cartoons: Rio Shuvo/Dhaka Tribune

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TOP 10

11

DHAKA GREENERY

A sapling story Dhaka might not be the greenest city in the world, but in reality trees are an integral part of our lives. Yusuf Banna lists the most popular foliage seen around town. This list was generated from the WT poll on the Dhaka Tribune Facebook page. To take part in the next one visit https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

10

5

This particular tree is so plain looking that you are bound to pass it by a dozen times a day without ever noticing it. But this short, stout tree with its dark, grey bark and white flowers dot the national landscape like no other. Not particularly aesthetic or useful, it adapts easily in all climates.

The Shimul is a cotton tree, very tall, and provides a large shade area. In spring time, its big, red flowers bloom and dry up, burst, and have white cotton coming out of them, which comes very handy for weavers.

Akashmoni

9

Jackfruit

Jackfruits are our national fruit, and the trees are very popular to both urban and rural residents. They are easy to grow, but need a lot of space.

Bangla summers are never complete without climbing a jackfruit tree at least once!

8

Bougainvillea

Struck by its beautiful flowers, Tagore named the tree ‘Bagan Bilash.’ These flowers have a magenta/violet hue to them, and have a strong lavender smell that is also used in perfumes. They are planted mostly for beautification and are seen in the street dividers along Dhaka highways.

7

Palm

Just like coconut trees, the palm tree is synonymous with Bangla poetry, music and a fast-disappearing rustic life. The fruits, palms, are similar to coconuts, and are useful for a variety of purposes including hair oil, medicine, and even energy.

6

Mango

The mango might as well replace the jackfruit as our national fruit, but the mango tree isn’t very far up the popularity list either. Mango trees, if cultivated properly, can grow upto 150 feet tall, and aside from the luscious fruits that they produce, the wood from the trees are sturdy and great at making furniture.

Shimul

Yusuf Banna is a staff writer at Weekend Tribune. He would be happier if he could be a poet. He also dreams of being a painter and is envious of those who are

4

Coconut

You can’t imagine the Bangla countryside without thinking of a coconut tree. They are branchless and can grow upto 30 feet high. Bangla folklore is enamoured with coconut trees, and you can often hear of them in our fairytales, folk songs and even in lullabies for kids.

3

Radhachura

Radhachuras are very similar to their cousins Krishnachuras, except they are greener, and their flowers have a more yellow tinge than the strong orange Krishnachura flowers. Radhachuras usually grace the most important roads of a city, due to their stately appearance.

2

Neem

The Neem tree is famous in Bangladesh for its medicinal qualities: its crushed leaves are used in toothpaste, soap, skin cream, and even in aftershave balms.

This evergreen tree with spreading branches has a round shape, and a fairly dense crown. Neem is a cornerstone of the ancient Ayurvedic healthcare system and is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs in the world.

Almost every part of the tree has a different and efficient medicinal value.

1

Krishnachura

An emotive and nostalgic tree, loved by most, a muse to all. In summers and monsoon time, when in full bloom with gorgeous red flowers, the Krishnachura is ever present in Bangla poetry, songs, and even movies. You can easily spot a Krishnachura in the Botanical Garden in Mirpur, but they are also found in great numbers across all the major parks across Dhaka. n

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12

Big Mouth strikes again

Naheed Kamal

The evil that men do In the land of few possibilities, nothing is impossible Naheed Kamal is an irreverent and irreligious feminist.

An old soul of indeterminate age, with one too many opinions and a very loud voice (for a little person), she laughs a lot, mostly at herself.

She lives in Dhaka, against her best judgement. Mostly, Ms Kamal rants, a lot!

I

was delighted to read about Bangladesh officially recognising hijras as a separate, third gender.

I noticed a third option on the form when I applied for the machine readable passport – three years ago, the form said He, She and Other.

We should all be praising the prime minister for giving the hijras recognition and allowing for a third possible gender identity. It will ensure their rights and end discrimination; now they can identify themselves as such in all official documents. AFP quoted a cabinet secretary saying there are at least 10,000 hijras in Bangladesh, who are denied their rights because they are a marginal group. He also said the word Hijra would be used in English and Bangla, because “Any other translation in English is misleading.”

Given that these are the last days of this government, I wonder if this was a last ditch attempt at ensuring that voter base.

Hijras fall under the umbrella of trans identity, but in Bangladesh they are usually intersex individuals – with physiologically male bodies but identifying as female. More importantly, though many hijras work as commercial sex workers, they do not consider themselves as gay or women.

This is a significant step for LGBT rights, because any attempt to “transition” or change gender is banned in Bangladesh, and homosexuality is still a criminal offence. So activists are right to express caution: there are possible consequences to being identified as hijras, especially considering how gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders and hijras are spoken of in Bangladesh.

I smell a rat, because I am paranoid and suspicious of contradictory moves.

Am I wrong to think this privilege could easily be used to harm more than help anyone who wants to target and persecute hijras? This may well be an insignificant concession made to satisfy critics, because just a few months back the government refused to consider annulling an archaic clause to decriminalise homosexuality.

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In July, when a 16-year-old Hindu girl was arrested with a 21-year-old Muslim woman in Dhaka, they were threatened with life imprisonment because they were “married.” The fact that Sanjida Akter and Shibronty Roy Puja dared to marry caused such a stir, it surprised me. When tutor and pupil fell in love, they decided to leave Pirojpur. Puja’s father filed a case accusing Sanjida of abducting his daughter; within three days, the police tracked them down to a flat in Dhaka.

An amazing feat, given that our law enforcers rarely manage to find missing persons, and never anyone wanted in connection with assorted crimes – even if they are walking around in front of them.

In October, another couple was arrested in Dhaka after the police were “tipped off” – no doubt by nosey neighbours. Mishty and Lucky fell in love while working in a factory and had been renting a place together for eight months. Some reports said they were married, but it was what followed after they were “detained” at their home that I am still disturbed by. The two of them were “made to submit to sex tests,” because Lucky apparently presented a masculine appearance; the tests deemed both as female.

Last week, I read about a young couple somewhere in Bangladesh being arrested when they went to get married. It caught my attention because the accompanying photo showed one of them made up like a bride, dressed in a bright red sari.

The report said the police were called because the one dressed in sari was a boy, and his groom to be was also a boy. Incidentally, a young lady I know was so shocked to see the news on her newsfeed that she whispered in horror, “They are starting to come out,” which made me laugh.

In September, the government’s decision to reject recommendations by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was criticised. The recommendation to remove the clause as it criminalises consensual same-sex relationships was not

On the one hand, we have laws to ensure Hijras’ rights, extensive HIV/AIDS programmes that include men who have sex with men, and on the other hand we have a refusal to remove the clause for social reasons? accepted because it conflicted with “constitutional and legal provisions” or “socio-cultural values of the country.”

Ah, such bittersweet irony to hear about hijras being recognised, along with gay couples being arrested for wishing to unite in holy matrimony.

Homosexuality is illegal under the penal code (and nothing to do with the Constitution, as some believe) Section 377 – a relic of British colonial rule and redundant just by this fact; in neighbouring India and Nepal, it has been repealed. Section 377 demands that “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life [or hard labour] for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to [a] fine.”

In all three cases, the couples were arrested under Section 29c, which concerns itself with “offences affecting the public health, safety, convenience, decency and morals.” It is that bit about being “against the order of nature” that makes me uncomfortable.

Reeking of ignorance, this part is used to justify discrimination and abuse of LGBT persons by many heterosexuals, and to treat anyone in a same-sex relationships, sexual or otherwise, like a dangerous criminal.

Last year, Dr Muhammad Yunus signed a statement calling on the Ugandan government to stop the persecution of LGBTs, which said: “By expressing our solidarity with LGBTI people around the world, we recognize the inherent dignity and human rights of all individuals, without prejudice or intolerance, and we take an important step forward in our collective journey toward peace.”

Last month, the mollahs started a campaign against Dr Yunus because

he supports LGBTIs. AFP reported a mollah saying: “Yunus must apologize for supporting homosexuality or he must be prosecuted for standing against the Quran and Islam.” They said he is an apostate for supporting homosexuality, and demanded his execution. Nationwide protests were planned in 600 towns and cities across the country, 600,000 leaflets distributed about the Nobel Laureate’s LGBTI leanings, ending with a grand finale. “We’ll hold a massive rally against Yunus in the capital on October 31,” Moniruzzaman Rabbani, secretary general of the Islami Oikya Jote, said (IOJ). The finale never materialised for obvious reasons, but I bring this up because the IOJ is part of the ruling alliance.

The on-going smear campaign against Dr Yunus is, of course, because of a brief lapse of reason on his part, when he was dragged into the political arena against his will and best judgement. As a sacrificial lamb, as it turned out, because as soon as the tables turned, his supporters abandoned him faster than you could say Your Noose!

So, the next time you are wondering why we don’t have able persons to stand up against the usual doddering senile idiots and their two psychotic fearless leaders, remember Dr Yunus. n

PHOTO STORY

13

TANGUAR HAOR

Delta of diversity A photo story by

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

T

anguar haor, located in the Dharmapasha and Tahirpur upazilas of Sunamganj District in Bangladesh, is a unique wetland ecosystem that has recently come into international focus.

The Government of Bangladesh declared Tanguar haor as an Ecologically Critical Area in 1999, acknowledging its critical condition as a result of overexploitation of its

natural resources.

In 2000, the hoar basin was declared a Ramsar site --a wetland of international importance. With this declaration, the government is committed to preserve its natural resources and has taken several steps to protect the wetland.

Tanguar haor is also a ‘mother fishery’ for the country, supplying a significant portion of fish to the

national markets. Every winter, the haor is also home to about 200 types of migratory birds. Rare plant species like Hizol (Barringtonia acutangula), Clematis cadmia, Crataeva nurvala, and Euryale ferox call Tangor haor their home.

With such a rich and colourful biodiversity around, more measures are needed to protect our national rheritage.

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PHOTO STORY TANGUAR HAOR

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W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, N OVE MB E R 1 5, 20 1 3

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PHOTO STORY

Syed Zakir Hossain is the chief photographer at Dhaka Tribune

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 15, 2013

DIGITAL BANLADESH

17

A safer Uttara

Digital cops

Faisal Mahmud enthuses over the tech-savvy Bangladeshi police force

Faisal Mahmud is a staff reporter at Weekend Tribune who specialises in writing IT and telecom articles with depth and analysis

Mashroof with Tonmoy and Tarik

F

or Uttara residents, getting help from the police on time is something that they can now take for granted. It’s no longer a situation where some costumed, tired souls armed with age-old, dysfunctional three-knot-three rifles arrive way late after the crime has already happened.

Now, when they think of police help, it’s a quick response by an agile and able police team. A Facebook page and a mobile app have made this possible.

“In this era of technology, the police can’t stay behind in providing services to people efficiently,” Nisharul Arif, deputy commissioner of Uttara division of Dhaka Metropolitan police said. ‘We have started using technology and the responses are immense,” he explains.

Arif said that using technology to provide efficient police service started when the assistant commissioner (petrol) of Uttara police division, Tahsin Mashroof Hossain, opened a Facebook page titled ‘Assistant commissioner of police petrol Uttara’ on September 8 this year.

“After Mashroof took that initiative, it became a major hit within a short span of time and the police got motivated,” said DC of Uttara police.

Mashroof Hossain said he opened the facebook page to facilitate the police service to Uttara people: “After I started the page, people started to make comments and seek help, and we, from the police, established a quick response team to provide the services.”

“This quick response team comprised of 10 members led by a sub-

Photos: Tarik Mahmud

inspector is active 24/7 in six police stations and four police outposts across Uttara division. They are patrolling in four motorbikes and can reach any place around Uttara within the ten minutes of seeking help,” said Mashroof Hossain. He said that as of now, his facebook page has more than 18,000 likes.

Mashroof, an ex cadet from Jhenaida Cadet College, said that another two ex-cadets from Barishal and Mirjapur cadet college, Tarik Mahmud and Mansur Hossain Tonmoy, approached him with a better idea. “They (Mahmud and Tonmoy) are both graduates in computer science

What’s app?

1. Available at Google play store with the name ‘Uttara division,’ free of cost 2. Windows and iOS versions will be available by the end of December 3. The apps have all the necessary and important numbers of the law enforcement personnel in Uttara 3. It can locate the nearest police station with help of Google enabled GPS service 4. So far it has been downloaded over 2,300 times

Here’s where it’s at:

Mobile Application Page: https://www.facebook.com/ mobileappdmputtara Page of AC(Petrol) Uttara: https:// www.facebook.com/acpatroluttara

and engineering from BUET, and they offered to develop a mobile app for us to facilitate the police service further,” Mashroof said.

Talking with WT, Tarik Mahmud said that Tonmoy and he had been planning to develop such apps for while. “We thought of this app while we were undergraduate students in BUET. But we didn’t know whom should we have approached,” he said.

Mahmud said they came to know about Mashroof’s Facebook initiative and they asked him to create the mobile app. “He accepted the offer wholeheartedly and made all the arrangements to overcome the

government red tape and getting permissions.”

Mahmud said that so far they have developed the app for Google’s android platform. “But we are working to expand the app service to Windows and iOS platforms too. Hopefully by the end of this year, we will be able to launch the app in those two platforms as well,” he said. This app is the first in Bangladesh from any law enforcement or emergency service. Through this app, the 300,000+ residents of Uttara can easily find the nearest police station to his or her current location.

One just needs to have the GPS enabled on their mobile handset.

He said that after locating the closest police station, one could make a call to duty officer or DC of that respective branch if needed. He then expanded on the app’s usability saying, “Moreover, our app has all the contact numbers of the police officials so that you know whom to contact in case of various emergency situations like accidents, robberies in progress or fire outbreaks etc. You can also call/ text the higher officials if necessary.”

Monsur Hossain Tonmoy said that after they released the app on October 8 this year, they have been downloaded more than 2,300 times and the number is increasing day by day. “We are now working on developing apps for the whole of Dhaka city and hopefully, the process will be completed by the end of this year,” he said. n

At 1:59am my housekeeper called and informed me that a robber might have infiltrated our house. I called my brother first and then the police at 2:03am using the DMP Uttara division app from the phone. Checked locks of all doors and windows and turned off lights in about three minutes.

The police arrive within five minutes. I actually saw a bit of movie-like police action, policemen running with a gun to the fourth floor. They were followed by Sector-9 security guards too, really awesome job.

Shihab Siddiqui, October 20, in his Facebook status

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18 Rohini Alamgir likes looking into the details of seemingly simple matters. She is constantly working on her autobiography because she thinks her life is worth reading about

THOUGHT PLOT

BANMUN 2013

Creating the future Rohini Alamgir experiences prospective Bangladeshi leaders in action Pluralism in progress

1. Students from various schools and colleges of Bangladesh act as delegates of the different countries within the UN 2. The number of participants is usually around 300 3. This was the second BANMUN comprising of O’ and A’ Level students 4. Last year 200 university and school students partook in the conferences to share their passion for international affairs, and the art of diplomacy 5. These students will go on to become leaders in their respective fields: law, business, international affairs etc

I

n December 2001, Kofi Annan, the seventh Secretary-general of the United Nations stated in his Nobel lecture that he believed that in the 21st century, the mission of the UN would be “defined by a new, more profound awareness of the sanctity and dignity of every human life, regardless of race or religion.” Fast forward to 2013, and for Bangladesh, this is now a shared dream and mission, though perhaps on a much smaller scale model. The Bangladesh Model United Nations (BANMUN) programme that is slowly gaining momentum, aims to motivate and sensitise the youth in taking positive concerted actions for the global harmony, cultural interactions and the exchange of knowledge.

Behind the scenes

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The United Nations Youth and Student Association of Bangladesh (UNYSAB) has been around for many years. For at least the last 12, they have been busy organising Model United Nations (MUN) across the globe and more recently, in Bangladesh. A voluntary group focused on youth and student movements, UNYSAB’s main aim is to “convey the voice of the young generation regarding current global issues such as MDG, human rights and development, environment, disarmament, social justice etc,” and through these MUNs, they hope to not just start conversations, but to actually hone the organisational, research and leadership skills of our future leaders, and further their intellectual abilities.

Under the banner of the UN, UNYSAB

helps to spread the purposes and principles of the UN as well as raising awareness about its agencies. But their real work begins at home.

Thus far, the MUNs that UNYSAB have organised within Bangladesh have been geared toward college and university students. As senior vice president of UNYSAB, Anika Binte Kasem said: “This was the first time an MUN was arranged for school students. We realised that in other countries, their students were being trained for MUNs at a much earlier age, and Bangladesh was lagging severely behind. It’s time to step it up.” Mohammad Mamun Mia, the current president of UNYSAB, envisions this drive not just as a way to train future world leaders, but to

train the youth to make educated decisions for Bangladesh and help our country become a leader in progressive thought worldwide.

Building on the past

The first BANMUN in the history of Bangladesh took place in 2011. The summit was entitled Ensuring Food for All, since it was a platform for the youth to explore ideas on various issues regarding food security and to propose solutions to the existing problems. Following that was the Dhaka+20, an initiative targeted towards the undergraduate students of Bangladesh that mobilised young people from across the country, and educated them on the urgency of sustainable development issues, urging them to find innovative solutions to solve issues, and finally encouraging them to involve themselves in the negotiation process of RIO+20. An added bonus: their resolution was actually presented and discussed in the Rio+20 Conference.

The resolution was finalised in Dhaka+20 and was handed over to the Bangladeshi delegate team attending the Rio+20. And finally, leading up to this year’s event was the UNYSAB and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), joint BANMUN, with a theme of “End Violence against Women,” which involved the United Nation’s agendas on Ending Violence against Women, and where national and international delegates engaged in debate sessions over the course of four days.

And creating the future leaders

Photos: Courtesy

19 Model United Nations Conference (MUN)

1. Is an educational simulation that focuses on civics, communications, and multilateral diplomacy 2. During a MUN, students take on roles as foreign diplomats and participate in a simulated session of an intergovernmental organization (IGO) 3. Participants research a country, take on a role as a diplomat, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to world issues 4. Every year, over 200,000 university and school students come together in conferences across the globe 5. Together, they engage in lively debate, and discuss the problems and their solutions that face the world we live in.

BANMUN 2013 was hosted with the aim of educating Bangladeshi school students about effective communication, globalisation and multilateral diplomacy. The conference, entitled Sustainable development of South Asia, was originally supposed to span three days, but had to be rescheduled and later shortened to two days, October 25 and 26, because of the political unrest within the country.

In true form, the participants were divided under the banners of the various UN committees: United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) talked about “developing an efficient and effective framework for industrial and power plant waste management,” Economic and Financial Committee (ECOFIN) tackled the necessity of “introducing a common currency in South Asia,” United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) dealt with “ensuing ethical working

environments in the RMG sector in Bangladesh,” and United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) talked about “encouraging girls’ participation in primary level education to advocate women empowerment.” Initially, each committee was supposed to deliberate over two issues each, but the rescheduling hindered those plans as well. Ironic, since many of the issues actually concern Bangladesh today.

For many of the students, this was their first MUN, while others were veterans. Mashiyat Rahman, a Scholastican A’ Level student, said it was the second one she had attended, and thought this was the best one thus far in her experience. Shadman Sakib, also a Scholatican A’ Level student, said: This was a new experience. At first I was tongue-tied and nervous, but the chairs and moderators and the other participants soon made me comfortable enough to open up and really speak my mind. I learned a lot about the world and the issues we struggle with daily, and I think this is

an experience that every child should have the privilege of having.”

Perhaps the only complaint about this event could be the localised topics they had the participants deliberate over: the objective of an MUN is to tackle issues of a global nature.

However, the critical thinking, research

and speaking skills that this practice provided to the participants are obviously invaluable. If the youth are our future, then we should feel more confident in our upcoming tomorrow, than we do about our present state of affairs. n

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20 Jennifer Ashraf is a barrister and solicitor of England and Wales. She is currently Senior Partner at Legacy Legal Corporate When she is not solving complicated legal problems, Jennifer is usually found travelling to exotic locations sampling the indigenous cuisine.

LEGAL EAGLE 2

I am the only daughter in a family of three sons. Recently, my father has passed away, leaving property equally divided among all four children. But my brothers claim that according to Islamic law, they are entitled to more of the share than I am. Are they right?

Am I to have a lesser share of the will just because I am a woman?

Got a problem?

Write to Jennifer at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

Jennifer Ashraf Dear Reader, Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this. The current legal framework in Bangladesh simply states that if a deceased person does not make a will, the property will pass to his heirs immediately after death. With regards to the division of property, the legal position is more reliant on Muslim law which states that yes, if there are daughters and sons present, the daughter is to receive half the share of the son. Thus, as per Islamic law, it would appear that your hands are tied.

However, this is not strictly adhered to nowadays. You can address this issue by primarily having a frank conversation with your family, which will help immensely by avoiding future strife, discontent and bad blood. Ensure that you outline your arguments and reasoning in a logical manner. Be firm, but diplomatic; explain that you are respectful of Muslim law but state why you think it should not apply to you.

Unsurprisingly, this is

a question which has plagued quite a few of us for decades. Inheritance law is never simple and, in fact, even law itself is never simple. Legal frameworks often have so many loopholes and ambiguous guidelines that a large proportion of it is open to interpretation – interpretation by your lawyers, interpretation by opposing counsel and interpretation by the judge and the courts. So, when you try to combine it with another legal aspect (like combining inheritance law with Muslim law), it tend to become a big gooey mess of khichuri. And, as yummy as khichuri may be on rainy days, it is common knowledge that all the individual ingredients are indistinguishable and muddled.

Since the partition and inheritance issue is such a massively grey area, it is not uncommon for quite a few land

law cases appearing in the courts.

I once worked on a land partition case which had commenced in 1970, regarding a spot of land in the village, adjacent to the river. The main parties (the original sblings) are mostly now deceased and their descendants are carrying on with the case. The mother has passed away now and a new claim has been made regarding her share. To top things off, the riverbed has now risen, which means that during the monsoon season, part of the land is briefly flooded.

As a result, the government is now laying claim to that portion of land, and has been added as a party to the partition claim. Consequently, this is the current picture 40 years down the line: the primary parties’ descendants carrying on with the original claim, the new claim regarding the deceased mother’s share, and the joint claim of the family against the government.

Gives an entirely new meaning to the term khichuri, don’t you think? n

Rio Shuvo/Dhaka Tribune

1

I live in a residential apartment complex. Lately I have noticed that an apartment next to me has opened up an office inside, which is strictly against the rules of the lease I signed. I confronted the apartment manager about it, and he said it’s not a conventional office, but an “e-business,” and he is fine with that.

I really don’t want to be living next to an office. If my apartment manager does not take any action, can I do something about it?

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Dear Reader, I am presuming (as per the usual standard) that you had signed your lease with your landlord. If the terms of your lease agreement expressly forbid the operation of any businesses in the apartment complex, then obviously you are well within your rights to express discomfort and demand that the office be relocated.

Inform your apartment manager that if he does not take the necessary steps, you will be contacting the local

City Corporation and Trade Licence authorities, and will be informing them that there is an office in your “residential” apartment complex, which is clearly in contravention of the law.

If you are not inclined to pursue this route, and your apartment manager shrugs off your complaints (some of them do have remarkably thick skin!), consult your lease agreement once again. Usually, in the event that you desire to terminate your lease early

and move out, you would be required to give a fixed term notice (normally a month) to your landlord.

However, since there seems to be an express breach of the terms of your agreement, you will be entitled to take advantage of this and terminate your lease immediately, giving you the option of relocating to a nice residential complex where the apartment manager actually does have a healthy respect for the tenants’ needs. n

6 DEGREES OF CONNOTATION

21

Nadia Chowdhury

The hypocrisy of social media

Nadia Chowdhury contributes to the Weekend Tribune because she loves writing, oh yes she does. Read her works, you will love them

I refuse to play this game

W

ho doesn’t like social media, with Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon and all the other good stuff out there? In fact, most people love spending more time on these websites than they would with their friends or loved ones these days. As a child, I remember spending time reading my books and playing with toys, and now, kids these put up photos of their first kiss on Instagram and share it with everyone on Facebook Sadly, the world has come to the point when we communicate more with texts than by actually talking.

While I enjoy texting as much as I like talking, it can’t be denied that spelling abilities are getting lost in the process – it’s a real problem. The fact anyone can see personal information, like their friend’s party pictures, on their Facebook newsfeed is not a good thing; the fact that anyone can even download that stuff and post it on their wall is even worse. Oh well.

Where would we be today without Facebook, though? What would its wild delusions of “social revolution” and “social justice” do to those who continue to use it? Where would we be without Linkedin and the scope it gives to young people to flash

It’s somewhat astounding that creating a rage about the unfairness of the world and running a campaign for justice in the virtual world takes the wheel in most people’s lives, when they could easily step out in the real world and actually do good

their professional history to their connections quite literally? Where would we be without Twitter and all the time it consumes out of my daily day when I could easily have been doing something much more interesting? Nowwhere, apparently.

If these are the questions that keep me up at night, then I might be drinking the wrong kind of wine, aren’t I? When I think about social media, I tend to not only think about the technology, but also the time wasted by people on thinking that technology alone will revolutionise the world.

Sometimes, I wonder how stupid is when people tell me they have been busy “helping the world” by browsing Facebook pages dedicated to this war movement or that charity. I wonder how foolish it is when people assume that they can be complacent on issues just because they “shared” this Facebook news item and think their work is done. Just because someone took the time to click on the like button on an anti-war page, does that mean people living in war thousands of miles away will be free of it?

More importantly, what makes me even more stupefied is the lack of modesty of those who claim to be part of the social media “campaign.” In other words, why on earth should they take the energy and time out of their lives to go and spend it somewhere to actually make a change?

That is, indeed, the point. For those of us who think it is people in power suits and huge cars who are part of the power dynamic, and so our “enemies” – that is not true. Those of us who think deeper realise that it is the compliant who like to keep the things as they are, not only because many of us are perfectly fine with stagnancy, but because many of us are perfectly fine with not putting ourselves in danger to make somebody else’s world right.

Why? Because, at its very primal point,

we are mortally scared for our lives.

We’re scared that the powerful might come after us, might come and find us as we try to help others.

Will we ever be free of this fear? n

What is it that keeps most social media users so hooked? Was life so bad before social media came along? Socialising was a real thing back in the days, wasn’t it?

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22 Dina Sobhan is a freelance writer and cautions readers not to take her “advice” here too seriously!

Got a problem? Write to Dina at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

TOUGH LOVE 1

My twins are 15 now and, contrary to mainstream media images of twin siblings living in harmony, they are constantly fighting and wreaking havoc everywhere in the house. This has become a serious issue, since not only are they actually destroying my house, they are also one step away from getting thrown out of school.

Any tips as to how I can diffuse this situation?

DINA SOBHAN Have you considered selling them to the circus? Twins are always a draw, especially if they’re conjoined. Glue them together. Not only will they be forced to get along, they’ll rake in the big bucks for you.

Not an appealing option? Okay, but you can always dangle it over their heads as a threat.

However, I suspect that the problem is not rooted in their embryonic status

but in how they were dealt with after they emerged. In other words, it’s not them, it’s you.

If both your kids are behaving like delinquents, you’ve probably made them dress in the same ridiculous matchy-matchy outfits, bought them identical gifts, and treated them as one person for so long that they’re rebelling. They are demonstrating their unique individuality by beating

the crap out of each other. Since you can’t pack them off to an orphanage, consider sending them to two different schools, or even boarding schools, especially since they’re getting thrown out of their present institution anyway.

Let them have a last hoorah and leave with a bang. And then separate them or suffer the apocalypse. They need a break from each other, and you sound like you could use a break from them both. n

Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

I have a phobia about technology. I refuse to work on computers, send emails to people, drive with a GPS in my car, etc. My family and colleagues are constantly making fun of me, but I think technology is an invention from hell, and my life without it is peaceful.

But, lately, my kids - who live abroad – have started insisting that I Skype with them and get a smart phone to communicate better. Should I yield, or should I stick to my principles?

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W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 15, 2013

Stick to your principles? What principles are those, might I ask?

Getting lost? Not communicating effectively with people? Missing out on important news and information?

I’m amazed you haven’t gone the way of the proverbial dodo, as do most human beings of your ilk once they leave their cave dwellings. It’s all well and good to be a Luddite, but only if you live in the 18th century and have no friends.

You could of course join the Amish.

In fact, the Amish are the only group of peoples in modern society who share your principles, as you put it.

You will have to churn your own butter, clean copious amounts of horse dung (carriages are your only means of transportation; no GPS required, just a whip!) and chafe your delicates in burlap, etc. But there is an extra downside. You are sequestering

yourself to a life of quiet misery by holding on to these rigid principles so tightly. Perhaps you could give in just a smidge by, say, buying a telephone with buttons as opposed to a rotary dial. If you’re feeling really crazy, get a TV with a remote control. You may never leave your couch again. Thusly, you can avoid the world, which will soon be run by robots anyway. n

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WT LEISURE

Across 1 5 6 8 10 11

Significance of wayward throw (5) Bird lost in the music (3) Get rid of the Spanish in East London (5) A dunce returns uninterested (5) Acorn enthusiast (3) Vivacity displayed by 500 antelope (5)

Down 1 2 3 4 7 8 9

Sounds like a feeble close to a mini break (7) Scrubber supplies a perfunctory massage (3) Chop like a Welshman (3) Drank loudly with energy in college yard (7) Hedwig is one headless chicken (3) Had supper before nine perhaps? (3) Eggs sound like yesterdays news (3)

Solution and clues for last week’s crossword

Across

5 Rubbish fashion era? (7) 6 Duplicate 151 (5) 9 Princess in attempt to hide processing business (7)

Down 1 2 3 4 7 8

Encourage in the middle of arpeggios (3) Swap plainer chocolate with nuts (7) Wash and iron the French below (7) Number of fingers partly bitten (3) Semi-styled animal enclosure(3) Sounds like atmosphere in Scotland (3)

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24 Jennifer Ashraf is the Weekend Tribune ‘Legal Eagle’ who likes to travel a lot

TRAVELOGUE

Bristol Balloon Festival

Of balloons and kites Jennifer Ashraf shares her excitement of watching balloons fly

T

he first time I flew a kite, I was six years old. Being the daughter of a marine engineer, my childhood involved sailing the open seas with my parents and chatting away with imaginary friends. This was also exactly why my first experience of kite-flying wasn’t in an open field, or from the rooftop of my building – it was on the blue open seas.

It is difficult to describe the awe that I felt – the surge of power as the kite first took flight, the feeling of insignificance that little ol’ me was nothing but a tiny spot in this big wide world.

It was a beautiful, indescribable feeling. The rush of wonder; the flash of awe.

There is something very mesmerising about the entire concept of looking down at the Earth; the thrill of flying shouldn’t just be limited to aeroplanes and helicopters. And that was the exact thought that ran through my mind when I finally dropped down on the grass and watched a hundred hot air balloons take to the skies in the annual Bristol Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2013.

swept through me as I navigated my way through the massive crowds and finally reached the balloon ascension spot. All the balloons stretched and presented a beautiful sight against the backdrop of the setting sun. I was so ridiculously exhausted after a 13mile hilly trek that I plopped down on the grass with my backpack. Only then did I finally turn back to apologise to the person behind me, whose leg my backpack was resting against.

Instead of the scorching, irritated

Have you ever watched a festival on the television and wondered how everyone has a smile on their face, even when they look tired? It’s not the cameras that bring out those smiles – it’s the feeling of solidarity, of being a part of something wonderful and harmonious

Ticking it off the list

There are a few adventures on everyone’s bucket list, and this was one of mine the first time I heard of it. It took me five years before I finally decided I wasn’t getting any younger and it might just very well be the last opportunity I’d ever get to visit the Fiesta. There are no words adequate enough to describe the feeling that

Balloon Fiesta evoked in me, memories of a carefree time, elation and happiness, as I sat and watched the mass ascent.

And then there was more

look that I was expecting, I was rewarded with a smile.

The vibe was amazing. There were people everywhere – families, couples and even lone travellers like me. In the crowd, you could feel the love, the unity.

Variety is exciting

Photos: Courtesy

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 15, 2013

The balloons were an entirely different matter – they were the very definition of magnificence personified. There were balloons in every shape and size, pattern, brand and colour. There was a trophy cup, a big bulldog, a massive Cinderella, Stuart the Minion from “Despicable Me,” and even a pair of green knickers with other balloons on their way up. The colours and patterns filled up the sky as the balloons began their descent individually.

Have you ever been to Old Dhaka during the kite festivals? People gather on their rooftops and fly their kites in unison, and the joy and exhilaration they share is indescribable – you need to feel it to know it. That is exactly what the

Thankfully, it didn’t just end there.

After a couple of hours of exploring the fiesta, happily discovering hidden gems and savouring the food on offer, the crowd congregated again to witness the magnificent Balloon Nightglow, organised by the sponsors.

Over 40 hot air balloons lit up keeping time to the music around us. Picture lanterns, but on a much larger scale – that’s how it looked like. The crowd responded with hugs and dances, glow sticks and glowing armbands.

Every time it seemed the evening was drawing to an end, they would restart, and it finally finished with magnificent fireworks over the hills.

As I said before, there are a few experiences on everyone’s bucket list, and if this isn’t on yours, it’s time to put it on your list. My advice: take a fully charged camera, two phones (in case one of them runs out of power), plenty of cash and small change, comfortable shoes, water, a tent and sleeping bag and camp on site to enjoy the complete experience. Be prepared to rough it and get close to nature.

Life, after all, is short. n

THE WAY DHAKA WAS

25

JATIYA SANGSAD BHABAN Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, 1979

Today

Bangladesh Old Photo Archive

Chanchal Kamal

You can’t really talk about Bangladesh without talking about our Parliament building. There are all sorts of writeups written about constructing the Parliament, but my favourite memory surrounds playing football inside the building. Yes, football! During the construction phase, there was no such

thing as security, certainly not the kind people are used to nowadays.

While the masons and architects were busy measuring stones and space, my friends and I would actually set up football posts near the construction site with the actual stones that were used for making the building.

Nowadays, when I retell that story, people balk and think I am making it up. But I really don’t care; whenever I pass the parliament, I think of the beautiful goals I scored next to the Bangladesh Parliament.

Mominul Haq Mohammadpur, Dhaka W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, N OVE MB E R 1 5, 20 1 3

26

Culture Vulture

Aminul Islam Young Artist Award 2013

The 10 contenders

Yusuf Banna joins Bengal Gallery and young artistes in paying homage to the legendary Aminul Islam

Yusuf Banna is a staff writer at Weekend Tribune. He would be happier if he could be a poet. He also dreams of being a painter and is envious of those who are

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elebrating the 82nd birth anniversary of one of the first generation artists in Bangladesh, Aminul Islam, Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts hosted an exhibition/competition for the young, promising artists of the country. Among 300 submissions from artists ranging 22-40 years of age, the works of 10 were nominated for the “Aminul Islam Young Artist Award 2013,” which would go to the two best artistes, along with a Tk100,000 monetary prize for each winner.

Concentrating on the imaginative power of the artist, the selection committee chose those who depicted macro to micro level reality well and expressed a unique style on canvas.

The 10 chosen artists were varied in their mediums – from sketches, ink drawings, and oil paintings, to acrylic paintings, print media, and video

installations – which was very apropos for the event (and the man they were honoring), while simultaneously showing off their maturity and undeniable talent.

Much of the art showcased human figures and faces, pivotal elements that recurred mostly in Biswajit Goswami, Ruhul Karim Rumee and Ashraful Hasan’s works. Biswajit’s pieces were dark toned, giving off a soul-searching vibe. His shades of grey provided a subtle mysticism that symbolised the human struggle and depicted in the crumbling of human bodies. Ashraful Hasan’s centre figure was a huge tree trunk painted as human figure. It denoted an anthropological perspective: the interdependency of trees and humans, and nature’s struggle for survival amid our self-destructive civilisation.

Ruhul Karim Rumee and Abdullah al Basher used print media.

Rumee’s keen observation of facial expressions, in both different times and situations, showed his yearning for self-improvement. His portraits demonstrated his mastery in woodcut media. Basher also used woodcut, but in a larger scale. He chose the image of an abandoned ship discarded at a shipyard to show the solitude and helplessness of a dejected being. His approach was very academic, but content wise, it was a safe bet. Farzana Ahmed Urmi’s works were the most colourful and visually appealing and showed her courage as a painter. Her portraits and figures were a study of nature, and her realistic expressionism was quite an accomplishment.

Gopal Chandra Saha used black felt pens for his sketches of human faces

Exhibiting only a few works doesn’t fully express an artists range, but Bengal deserves kudos for their patronage toward young artists

‘Neural correlates,’ by Anisuzzaman Sohel

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 15, 2013

Photos: Courtesy

and bulls. His art had mass, and the contrast he posed was very appealing to the eye. His mastery lay in using monochrome, and he has adeptly distinguished the figures and the tonal gradation. Md Alamgir Hossain made a video installation reminiscent of the Rana Plaza disaster. Titled April 24, it was a combination of photographs and video clips. The super-imposition technique he used also has a socio-economical significance, and though it was a form of journalistic documentation, it was done with an artistic touch. Shahid Gazi used two canvases to paint one figure. Placed side by side with blurred borders in between his art showed a car that had been in an accident, from which the victims were trying to escape. His geometric pattern of painting was a fantastic expressionistic endeavor.

And then came the top two.

Anisuzzaman Sohel was the first winner. Sohel’s paintings were basically sketches done with white ink on a black paper. An obvious anomaly to the eye of the viewer, his work is usually shocking, and his images are decisively ugly and vulgar. To tone it down, he used an ornamentation technique. His intention was to cause a mirror effect. By placing a piece of glass on black paper, he hoped that his viewers would see their reflection in the painting, and thus relate to his work. From politics to economic aggression, facts to media twists, price tags to multinationals, industrial wastes to the monsters inside oneself, his topics are not only varied, but also purposefully vague and ambiguous.

The second winner was Habiba Akhter Papia. Her masterpiece, “Effigy of time,” comprised two bronze structures shaped as wine bottles, whose bodies were riddled with cracks to express how time has ravaged them. A cavalcade of ants and a money plant created a symbolic setting: her art was an expression of the hurdles of modern day females, and how women are often seen only as showpieces.

Aminul Islam believed that the future lay in the minds of the youth.

He felt that young talents should be nurtured and educated, and allowed to fearlessly experiment and express themselves. Apart from paying tribute to this legendary artist, Bengal has set the perfect example of passing the torch to the new generation. Following the maestro’s lead, they too are on a mission to find the hidden talents of Bangladesh. n

OBITUARY

27

Reshma

The star of excellence

Ibtisam Ahmed is a student of history and politics. He lives in a fantasy and writes about reality

Ibtisam Ahmed commemorates the rise of a stellar performer

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n the short history of the postcolonial subcontinent, one of the most thriving elements of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh is the cultural industry. All three countries have faced innumerable challenges socially, economically and politically, but their artistes have always shone through, sometimes through hardships of their own. The renowned Pakistani folk singer, Reshma, was someone who fought through patriarchy and ill health and still managed to achieve remarkable success. Her passing on November 3 is a great loss.

Reshma was born in Rajasthan, India to a camel and horse trader whose tribe had converted to Islam.

Due to a lack of birth records, it is unclear when exactly she was born, but it is generally accepted to be sometime shortly before the Partition of India in August 1947. Following the Partition, she and her family moved to Karachi, Pakistan. She did not receive any formal education and spent most of her childhood singing in the mazars (shrines) of Sufi saints in Sindh.

When she was 12, a television and radio producer happened to hear her singing at Shahbaaz Qalander’s shrine.

Enthralled by her voice, he persuaded her family to let her recording of “Laal Meri” be broadcast on radio. It became an instant hit and the masses began to clamour for more. Over the years, she recorded hits such as “Dama Dam Mast Kalander,” “Wey Main Chori Chori” and “Akhiyan No Rehen De Ankhyan De Kol Kol.” Raj Kapoor used this last song in the film “Bobby,” although it had to be performed by Lata Mangeshkar, since Pakistani musicians were not allowed in India at the time.

This was no longer the case in the 1980s, as both countries began cultural exchanges to improve relations and Reshma was finally able to perform live in India, including in her birth place, Rajasthan. Subhash Ghai used her voice in the film “Hero,” her first playback contract in India, including her famous song “Lambi Judai.” This cemented her cult status on both sides of the border. She would go on to meet then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi before returning home to continue her celebrated career.

Despite her popularity, Reshma had to overcome severe social challenges.

She grew up in a patriarchal society

The road to ascension

and struggled through an industry that was overtly male-dominated. The very producer who first brought her to the nation’s attention attempted to control her early career. However, with her parents’ blessing, she displayed a fierce independence that ensured that she would not only achieve iconic success, but also eventually become a role model for others suffering from societal suppression. She is often cited as an inspiration by other Pakistani female singers, including her younger sister, Kaneez.

Reshma was diagnosed with throat cancer around 1985, when her career had just reached its zenith.

Over the following years, her health deteriorated severely, and successive administrations (especially the respective culture ministers) took great pains to assist her with her

medical bills. Alongside fighting her cancer, Reshma continued to perform, recording songs in Pakistan and India well into the late 2000s.

Unfortunately, her health continued to fail and she slipped into a coma while in the hospital for treatment in October this year, before passing away a month later. A recipient of the Sitarae-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence), Pakistan’s third highest civilian honour, Reshma’s passing has deprived Pakistani culture of one its brightest talents. In an age when patriarchy and suppression of the arts has begun to plague parts of the country once again, this is a tragedy indeed. Women need more role models like her and it is hoped that her legacy will continue to serve as an inspiration. n

1947 Born in Rajasthan, although an exact date cannot be confirmed. Family moves to Karachi shortly after the Partition 1959 Spotted by a television and radio producer who launches her into stardom with a recording of ‘Laal Meri’ 1983 Records her first Bollywood playback song 2002 Performs in the Brunei Gallery in London, her first performance outside of Asia, in front of a packed crowd 2006 Honoured by the Pakistani government by being chosen to be one of the passengers aboard the inaugural Lahore-Amritsar bus, the first transport service between the two parts of Punjab since 1947. She is the only nongovernment official on board 2013 Admitted to hospital in April for treatment. Slips into a coma in October, before passing away in November 3

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, N OVE MB E R 1 5, 20 1 3

28 Pragya Rahman writes to please and is pleased to write.

She is mostly insane, brought to sanity by sight

LAST WORD Pragya Rahman

Repercussions of a caretaker government There are questions that need to be answered

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ur honourable prime minister and beloved opposition leader have built quite a budding relationship over their demands. The leaders of this country seem to focus more on their rivalry than on matters that are crucial. Every time a party gets a whiff of the golden throne, they choose to ignore the mistakes of their past, which tragically leads to their downfall. When in power, the chosen government pools their energy and strength towards humiliating the opposition. Sadly, the opposition always retaliates and callously causes catastrophes. In order to get a specific and basic understanding of the feuds, current causes of concern and eventful situations need to be addressed.

Let’s start with the telephone conversation that gripped the nation last month. This particular event has comically sewn smiles and echoes of laughter all around the country, along with rough-housing debates amongst all the classes. Those of us who are helpless bystanders of politically putrid and messy pudding have no understanding whatsoever of how the “red phone” was “out of service.” Most of us have been exposed to fictional superhero movies, comics and television shows, where the importance of the red phone has always been emphasised; we know the mighty diligence of said phone. A good example of the importance of the magically majestic device, perhaps, has been portrayed in “Batman” and the “The Powerpuff Girls.”

In order for a democracy to run smoothly, every citizen in said democracy has to have the right to know and speak up towards the awkward silence between bickering political parties. However, it has become very clear that for almost two decades now, most Bangladeshis, for whom these parties thrive, do

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 15, 2013

not yet have a proper understanding of how the country runs. As far as classified, confidential, hypothetically fit situations are concerned, revealing such information to the public could be of great risk. However, it might also be a good idea to actually let the general population in on the goingson to a certain extent.

Since our independence, this golden and gracious land has witnessed the cold hits of poverty, malnutrition, financial crisis and cunningly catered corruption. The ideas of capitalism are only helpful in theory, and if Bangladesh were to run on this idea, faltering storms of all that trouble would gobble us up like a loathsome lion. Idealistic and holier-than-thou attitudes to heroically suppress the power of our leaders have caused more harm than good. Every five years, common Bangladeshis fall victim to the “election season,” which devours the nation like a hungry volcano waiting to erupt. This particular season has a lot of similarities with Christmas: two aunts fight over who’s more fat and powerful at dinner, while a creepy uncle sits in the background, leering at everyone at the table and reminiscing his lustful days of glory, and the religiously enlightened uncles and aunts wreak havoc around the house.

The helpless kids give up on dinner and go out on to the empty streets to vent their frustration.

According to the Constitution, every Bangladeshi citizen has a right to publicly demonstrate their ideas; however, no state law allows anyone to set cities ablaze in the name of demonstration. General strikes are legal because it is supposed to give one freedom of expression and help convey their message to the masses, not allow anyone run amuck killing helpless people.

Despite its perks, the problem with

the caretaker government is that, during its tenure, both the leaders and the people forget about how much belligerent stress election season brings with it. During the last reign of the “caregiving” government, a lot of harassment took place. Our leaders, as well as their families and associates, had to go through persecution. What’s shocking is how one chooses to relive the same humiliation and torment.

Having said that, a government bold enough to tightly restrain the childish bickering of our politicians actually delivers more tranquillity to the nation.

The current frame of unfortunate circumstances mirror the story “Alice in Wonderland.” We have our queens, fighting like trained ninjas with their army of soldiers on both parts of the land, and Alice is yet to be called to the rescue.

While third-degree burns on the innocent are being treated, our leaders’ stubbornness still fails to melt. All parties have used violent measures of protest at least once in their governance. So why is it such a big deal to accept one’s own faults, make amendments and start afresh?

A caretaker government may not be the best path for the country to tread on now. However, the rigorously well-thought forms of totalitarianism to ease the journey of this country to the future may not be a bad idea after all. The nightmarishly convulsive cries and screams of the victims of the violence only demand this: food, clothing, shelter, employment and a hassle-free life. Unfortunately, the people of any given nation and their leaders will always complain about the government, regardless of who’s on the throne. n

In 2007-08, mayhem, chaos, anxiety and fear engulfed Dhaka city, causing social disruption in the lives of those involved in politics, as well as creating petrifying circumstances for the commoners