Weekend 1 23 0

Ecotourism 6

RELIGION IN POLITICS 18

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27 2013

vol 1 Issu e 2 3

Dhaka Premier League 24

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

Let’s be good citizens!

DhakaTribune

10 Post-Riposte Rampal power plant

Editor Zafar Sobhan

12 Big Mouth Strikes Again Good girl gone bad

A Wee kly Pro du cti o n o f

11 Top 10 Rockstars and famous bands

Vo lume 1, Issu e 23 SEPTEMB ER 2 7, 2 013

Magazine Editor Faruq Hasan

13 Photo Story Traditions and festivals

6 Pick of the Week Ecotourism

17 Realpolitik Hartals

Weekend Tribune Team Sumaiya Shams Faisal Mahmud Fuad Moazzam Hossain Yusuf Banna Sheikh Mohammed Irfan Joseph Allchin Shah Nahian Phil Humphreys Adil Sakhawat Rohini Alamgir

20 Crime File Fraud with Rana Plaza victim 21 6° of Connotations Beware of your choices 22 Tough Love 23 WT | Leisure 24 Game On Dhaka Premier League

Art Direction/Photography Syed Latif Hossain

25 The Way Dhaka Was Aeroplane Mosque

Cartoon Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Rio Shuvo Contributors Naheed Kamal Ikhtisad Ahmed Nadia Chowdhury Dina Sobhan Isnaad Sharahbeel Bassema Karaki Ibtisam Ahmed Pranab Das Design Mohammed Mahbub Alam Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad Web: www.dhakatribune.com Cover Illustration Ecotourists

by Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Send us your feedback at weekend@dhakatribune.com

18 Feature Religion in politics

26 Travelogue Lebanon

27 Obituary Ray Dolby

28 Last Word

Bangladesh goes nuclear 6

EDITOR’S NOTE

Work and prosperity 20

anWar hossain 27

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20 2013

vo l 1 i s s u e 2 2

The case for ecotourism I

s ecotourism a niche product, something that only environmentalists seem to advocate, a lifestyle choice for the rich and famous? Or is it a sustainable industry that can actually be practised in the context of a country like Bangladesh? Sheikh Mohammed Irfan explores the ins and outs of a small but burgeoning business that seems to bring a glimmer of hope for Bangladesh’s tourist sector that seems to have plateaued off.

Elsewhere, Joseph Allchin investigates Awami League’s secular credentials ahead of the upcoming national elections, Game On spells out all the hype behind the Dhaka Premiere League, which is finally underway, and our Obituary section highlights the rich heritage of Ray Dolby, a life dedicated to sound. Hope you all have a fun and restful weekend. n

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THIS WEEK

INTERNATIONAL

The “Rubber Duck” by Dutch conceptual artist Florentijn Hofman is displayed at Kaohsiung Harbour, southern Taiwan, on September 19.

The giant rubber duck, which is 18m high and weighs 1,000kg, made its first public appearance in Taiwan on Thursday. It will be displayed at Kaohsiung Harbor from September 19 to October 20 Reuters/Pichi Chuang

Egyptian armed policemen patrol a street of the village of Kerdassah on the outskirts of Cairo on September 19. A police general was killed when Egyptian security forces stormed Kerdassah in the latest crackdown on Islamist militants, security officials said AFP/Khaled Desouki

European Union rule of law mission (EULEX) police officers inspect a EULEX vehicle after a shooting incident on the road near the village Banjska, north of Mitrovica, Kosovo on September 19

AP

An Indian student displays “NO RAPE” message painted on her hands during a demonstration to demand death sentence for four men convicted of rape and murder of a student on a moving bus in New Delhi bus last year, in Hyderabad, India on September 13 AP/Mahesh Kumar

Kenyan army soldiers and police officers patrol near the

Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya on September 24. Kenyan security forces battled al-Qaida-linked terrorists in an

upscale mall in what they said was a final push to rescue the last few hostages in a siege that has left at least 62 people dead

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AP

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NATIONAL

Relatives of the injured Sekender Bepari look on with desperation and hope in their eyes as he receives treatment at the DMCH burn unit on September 19. Sikander, a truck driver, was hit by a petrol bomb hurled by pro-hartal activists during the Jamaat enforced 48-hour shutdown in Comilla Mahmud Hossain Opu Akbar Ali Khan speaks at a roundtable discussion titled Review of the Amendments to the RPO on September 19 at the CIRDAP Auditorium Mahmud Hossain Opu

Debapriya Bhattacharya addresses a dialogue titled Delivery of the MDGs in LDCs and Reflections on Post2015 Issues, organised

by CPD at the capital’s Brac Centre on September 20 Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin, popularly known as Bhasha Matin, joins a human chain formed by Chouhali Upazila Welfare Association in front of the National Press Club on September 20, seeking government help in resisting river erosion

Rajib Dhar

Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

RMG workers take to the streets in Gazipur demanding immediate payment of due wages and allowances. Photo taken on September 23

Dhaka Tribune

Activists belonging to Jamaat-e- Islami’s student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, assault law

enforcers as their procession was halted. The photo was taken from the New Market area on September 22

Dhaka Tribune

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4

BOTTLED UP

letters to the editor

Panoramic Panam City

LETTER

of the week

I really enjoy your photo stories every week. The relic of Panam City looked absolutely brilliant and I look forward to what you guys publish next. Keep up the good work!

Ornob Uttara, Dhaka

Malleable Mango What is the deal with Mr Mango? If you are trying to make him some sort of mascot for your paper, it’s not working – trust me.

Hats off to hospitality

Ayub Ghani Tajmahal Road, Mohammadpur, Dhaka

B

assema’s article on the hospitable Bangladeshi’s was a refreshing read. I could relate to the countless times I have gone to people’s homes and been fed till my stomach could burst. I realised while reading her article that people are always too busy noticing everything that’s wrong with Bangladesh, but Bassema here did a great job showcasing the kind of love, respect and unity one has for another. There’s always a flip side of a coin and I’m glad that this write up chose to pick out the side of Bangladesh that shows our culture in a good light. Great read Bassema, keep it up! n Natasha Naureen Uttara, Dhaka

Powerful piece I always love reading Phil Humphreys’s articles. His story on the nuclear power plant was a good analytical piece. I especially loved the bit about the pressured power reactor.

Snigdha Sarkar Baridhara, Dhaka

Eager to make error-free Issue 22 of the Weekend Tribune was pretty solid in terms of content. There were small errors, but overall you guys have improved a lot. Don’t become complacent, though – there’s always room for improvement.

Abu Tayab West Badda, Dhaka

Send us your feedback at: weekend@dhakatribune.com

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5

WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?

Let’s be good citizens!

“I don’t have an income, so no taxes for me!”

“The E-TIN registration programme will mean that we can all pay taxes from our homes, sitting in front of the computer.”

AMA Muhith, finance minister

Mr Mango

“The E-TIN registration and reregistration cannot be started because of serious server problems.”

Bashiruddin Ahmed, NBR member

Rio Shuvo/Dhaka Tribune

“Through the automated database system, the E-TIN registration system will not only determine the number of total taxpayers, but also reduce time, hassle, toil, and could ensure maximum service.”

Hasanul Haque Inu, information minister

“The new database of E-TIN will have all information about the taxpayer, thus no fake TIN will exist in society. If the process is made simplified, and fullfledged online tax filing and registration go active and are made hassle-free, minimum 50% taxpayers, including the people from rural areas, will pay taxes regularly.”

Kazi Akram Uddin, FBCCI president

“We were unable to register any E-TIN for 5-6 hours since the database server of the Election Commission, which we need to verify the taxpayers’ information, was down from the morning.

Without the effective operation of EC database, we cannot register E-TIN.”

“If I have to wait for the whole day to register myself with E-TIN system, why do I need to come to the fair? If the newly introduced system does not save our time and cannot reduce hassle, there will be no differences between the circle offices and the E-TIN system.”

Anisur Rahman, a tax official working at a booth in the Income Tax Fair

Marjia Sultana, a taxpayer at the fair

“The revenue body has taken various steps to ease the income tax process, and E-TIN is one of them. It has largely received appreciation from the people and, this way, we are trying not to impose more tax on existing taxpayers, rather emphasising on increasing the tax net through areabased tax and by exploring undiscovered sectors.”

Ghulam Hossain, NBR chairman W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, SE PTE MB E R 27, 20 1 3

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PICK OF THE WEEK

Ecotourism

How green is my valley

In Bangladesh, ecotourism is still a specialised area – a small slice of the bigger tourism pie. But does it hold enough promise to turn into a sustainable, flourishing market?

Sheikh Mohammad Irfan investigates

Photos: Sadia Marium

W Sheikh Mohammed Irfan is a pragmatist, spotlighting persistent problems in Bangladesh

hen someone hears the word “Bangladesh,” the first thing that usually comes to mind is the congestion (especially in Dhaka), pollution, and impoverished population. However, opportunities to turn that concept around are within our grasp. One of them is ecotourism – the new buzzword in the tourism scene here, attracting both domestic and international interests. But what exactly is ecotourism?

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Farming is a science.

But it’s a science that most local farmers have already mastered. It’s not about inventing ecotourism, it’s about discovering practices that we seem to be forgetting Kristin Boekhoff

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Placing a monetary value on local goods and services should not be an anathema to environmentalists; indeed, it should be welcomed as an effort to include local farmers and craftsmen into the domestic economy

Getting the definitions right International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” It differs significantly from mainstream ecotourism in the sense that it focuses on the livelihood of the communities that are directly involved in the industry. Ecotourism also emphasises on sustainability – making sure that the incomes generated with the trade goes back to the industry to keep it going.

Does Bangladesh have what it takes?

Excluding its capital, Bangladesh is somewhat of an untapped treasure, not getting enough global attention and enjoyed mostly by the locals. Be it the mystical forests of the Sunderbans, the breathtaking tea gardens of Sylhet, or the tropical paradise of Cox’s Bazar – the natural beauty of this country is mostly admired by Bangladeshis escaping the noise and bustle of the city.

Tourists who do visit mostly stay in hotels and rarely get a fully authentic experience of the Bangladeshi culture.

How is it going to change, then? With ecotourism on the rise in the region, tourists will now be able to experience the true colours of Bangladesh, unblemished by mass tourism. We began to see the positive effects of nature-friendly tourism in Cox’s Bazar, St Martin’s Island, Sylhet, and even in the economically undeveloped areas in Rangpur and Dinajpur.

It’s all in the economy Counter-intuitively enough, ecotourism starts with economics, something a lot of ecotourism purists seem to treat as an anathema. Shezad Ahmed, a local consultant on ecotourism, explains it well: “The essence of ecotourism – or any tourism, for that matter – starts with trying to capture or put a monetary value on the goods and services produced within a local community.

Without understanding the market prices that a region or locality can command within an economy, we might as well just be admiring nature without really making any money out of it.”

Money seems to be central in starting any ecotourism business. By capturing a share of the monetary value of the benefits derived from the local environment, ecotourism will be better able to finance management activities to protect natural and cultural resources, and move on to broader social objectives of providing for scientific research and education, as well as provide an income base for the local community members.

Given that Bangladesh faces a paucity of basic infrastructure, ecotourism offers the attractive allure of not being capital-intensive. “It’s not about building roads, bridges, and canals; it’s about linking markets,” Shezad says, “So the farmer who has been using chemical-free fertiliser for the last decade has to be made into a hero, a driver within the community, as opposed to commercial farming which has lost connection to the soil. That’s the kind of paradigm shifts we are talking about in ecotourism.”

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PICK OF THE WEEK

Ecotourism

Vastu Shastra

The agricultural industry faces many challenges in Bangladesh. With no control over the amount of fertiliser or pesticides used, fruits and vegetables are full of harmful toxins that result in serious health hazards. Ecotourism helps to confront such public health hazards directly

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Kristin Boekhoff, an American entrepreneur who has been working with the ecotourism industry in Bangladesh, uses the doctrine of Vastu Shastra, an ancient guide of architecture based on the traditional view of how the laws of nature affect human dwellings, as her guiding philosophy in making ecotourism work in Bangladesh. (“Vastu” refers to a house with a corresponding plot of land, and “shastra” means guidelines.)

This doctrine states that a home is a shrine in itself, and must attain a balance between physical energies, such as light and sound, and the five basic elements of nature (earth, water, air, fire, space) in order for its dwellers to experience peace of mind and soul.

Not one tree is cut unless completely necessary, or if it’s already dying, and most of the structures are built to include nature within for a true connection with the environment.

Kristin explains how Vastu Shastra can be easily achievable in the context of Bangladesh: “People here already have a holistic view of nature and commerce; all we have to do is practise it on a more regular basis. Such a spirit forms the heart of most communities in rural Bangladesh.”

The quest energy

for

renewable

Sustainability is the heart of ecotourism. Kristin, who has been working on the Panigram Resort in Jessore, one of the country’s first ecotourist-friendly destinations, uses a variety of sources of renewable energy, such as solar power and biofuel.

With the rivers surrounding and flowing through Panigram, currently suffocated by hordes of water hyacinth, Kristin discovered a way not only to rid the water of these harmful weeds, but also to make full use of them.

Water hyacinth contains very high nitrogen content, and in the form of slurry mixed with cow dung, the hyacinth produces a substantial amount of biogas. Panigram Resort plans on building the third hyacinth biofuel plant in the world, using cows to mash the hyacinth into sludge to produce bioethanol and biogas. Not only will this revolutionary bioplant use a renewable, natural resource to run the resort, but it will also clear Panigram’s water bodies of their hyacinth infestations.

Since hyacinth grows very fast and depletes water bodies of oxygen and nutrients, it adversely affects flora and fauna. Getting rid of it will not only positively affect the environment,

but will also relieve the villagers of hyacinth river blockages, which make fishing and irrigation very difficult. In many parts of the world, a substantial amount of money is spent on getting rid of hyacinth, which decreases biodiversity and makes ecosystems less fertile. As a long-term solution, Panigram Resort will use these plants as a source of alternative energy and alleviate the problems associated with their growth.

The fruits (and vegetables) of labour The agricultural industry faces many challenges in Bangladesh. With no control over the amount of fertiliser or pesticides used, fruits and vegetables are full of harmful toxins that result in serious health hazards. Kristin is currently working with farmers in Jessore, teaching them the techniques of organic farming, and distributing a variety of indigenous crops for them to grow.

“Farming is a science,” Kristin explained as she dug up the compost to be used in the field. She had experts in organic farming demonstrate how to assemble the ingredients needed in producing the compost, which consists of cow dung, mustard oil cake and rice bran mixed in a certain ratio.

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Ultimately ecotourism can only thrive in Bangladesh if the state gets involved. No amount of individual efforts will have the same amount of political and economic clout to give the movement the necessary momentum, something which only the government can

Did you know?

Ecotourism is a form of socially responsible tourism to places where the natural environment and cultural heritage are the main attractions.

Criteria of ecotourism: • Involves travel to unspoiled, natural sites (in the remote wilderness or rural environments) • Minimises negative impact of tourism on environment • Builds environmenta l awareness • Promotes recycling, water conservation and energy efficiency • Provides direct financial benefits to conserve the environment through ecosystem protection • Provides direct financial benefits and empowerment of locals • Conserves and enhances cultural integrity of locals • Shares socio-economic benefits with locals

The compost is placed in a dry area and covered for two weeks (turned over every three days), during which fermentation takes place and its temperature rises to 180F, killing all bacteria within.

Farmers are also taught to use natural pesticides, including turmeric, neem, ginger and tulsi plants, rather than chemicals to protect their crops.

These natural insect-repellents are planted around the plot, which is separated from the plants by a trench.

Kristin had the first plot of organic crops planted within the resort as a model for villagers to follow. “They say the land is so fertile in Panigram, all you have to do is spit and something will grow. Unfortunately, with excessive use of fertiliser and pesticides, the soil has become degenerated over the years. I am teaching the farmers, and they will see with time, that organic farming actually produces a higher yield and does not have the same negative effects on the environment as inorganic farming does.”

Getting it altogether The various components to start a successful ecotourism movement is already present all over Bangladesh: it’s a labour-intensive industry that doesn’t rely on capital, but instead focuses on nature. “I see ecotourism already thriving in scattered ways across the country. But getting it together is not the work of an individual, but rather a movement.

And that is lacking in Bangladesh. But already, plenty of young people who see the benefits of ecotourism are coming together to form an industry of sorts. And that’s a great start,” Shezad explains. And we all know good things happen with small, significant steps. n

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POST-RIPOSTE

Rampal Power Plant

Pro-development or pro-environment?

How feasible is the proposed coal power plant in Rampal, Khulna, which is close to the Sunderbans?

It’ll solve the power crisis Rohini Alamgir

T

he Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics lists that one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Bangladesh, to be achieved by 2015, is to, “in cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communication (Target 8.F).” A commendable goal, but for an “underdeveloped” country like ours, we need to recognise the primary hurdle we are facing to attain this goal: the demand for energy failing to keep pace with industrialisation and an ever-growing population. Electricity is a major source of power for our economic activities and, currently, the per capita energy consumption, at 136 kWh, is one of the lowest in the world.

Imagine what we could achieve with more power. The 1,320MW of power that will be produced by the Rampal coal station proposes to make that fantasy a reality.

Protecting our mangrove forest is definitely of high importance.

However, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) published by the Department of Environment (DoE) clarifies that the Environmentally

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, S E PTE M B E R 27, 201 3

Cartoons: Rio Shuvo

Critical Area (ECA) lies within 10km of the forest, and the location of the power plant is set to be at least 14km away, hence green-lighting the project.

Considering that, the question is: what is holding us back from doing everything in our power to correct the inefficiencies of our infrastructure, boosting our GDP, and the overall living standard for our people? n

The Sunderbans will be at risk Phil Humphreys

F

irst, the logistical argument: three years ago, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed a memorandum with her Indian counterpart that provides for the construction of two 660MW power plants at Rampal, 14km from the edge of the Sundarbans on the east bank of the Passur River.

According to the EIA report conducted by the DoE, the ECA of the forest reserve is anything that falls within a 10km radius. And yet, India’s Wildlife Protection Act 1972 prohibits the building of a power generating plant within 15km of a national park or forest. In short, what the Bangladesh government deems okay would be proscribed by law on the Indian side of the world’s largest mangrove forest. One habitat, but two standards?

This, however, is about more than mere millimetres on a map. The Rampal equation is the embodiment of a much larger dilemma that Bangladesh must confront over the coming decade: how to develop its economy in the short to medium term without forever destroying its ecology. These two aspirations are not mutually exclusive, but the government must prove it has a coherent strategy in place before laying any more foundation stones.

Ultimately, energy can be bought in from abroad to meet a shortfall, but you cannot put a price on preserving the natural wonders of our environment for future generations to come. n

TOP 10

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Rockstars and Famous Bands

More than just a garage band

Shah Nahian and Rohini Alamgir re-introduce you to the biggest musical talents in the Bangladesh rock music scene. This list was compiled based on a poll run on social media. To vote in our next poll, please visit the Dhaka Tribune Facebook page!

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4

Saidus Salehin Khaled (“BassBaba” Sumon) began his musical career in 1993 with Feelings, before joining Warfaze, and subsequently starting a solo career which gave rise to his band Aurthohin.

As a bassist, Sumon significantly changed underground music when he introduced the famous “slapping popping” technique.

Warfaze, a hard rock band officially started in 1984, has infamously changed their band lineup several times since. However, even with their constant changes, the band has not only produced some great numbers, but has also given Bangladesh a taste of some great talent. Warfaze is noted for their amazing collaborations with musical maestros like Russel Ali, Kamal, and Aurthohin.

Sumon (BassBaba)

Warfaze

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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 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

3

Black

Heavily influenced by Peal Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Sound Garden, and various other bands, Black was formed as a rock band in 1998. With four commercially successful albums to date and a plethora of hit singles, Black has been very influential with many younger bands and artists.

Arnob

Shayan Chowdhury Arnob began his musical career in 1997 with the Bangladeshi band “Bangla” before going off on a solo track. Using old fashioned recording equipment to create his “raw” sound and feel, Arnob infuses folk and rock, to create what can only be called indie fusion. Arnob recently moved into film scoring, and is currently a musical director.

8

James

2

Faruq Mahfuz Anam (James) is a renowned singer, guitarist, and composer who has been active since the 1980s. He is also the lead singer and guitarist for the band Nagar Baul, formerly “Feelings.” Called “Guru” by his numerous fans, James’ distinct tonality and voice take his fans through a spiritual journey. More recently, James has produced some super hit play back music for Bollywood.

Cryptic Fate

A progressive metal band formed in the early 1990s. This Scholastican band is most well known for the patriotic elements in their music that can found in their album Sreshtho (which came out in 2002 and is based entirely on the liberation war), and their hit single Cholo Bangladesh.

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Nemesis

One of the biggest alternative rock bands, Nemesis was formed in 1999. Their original lineup comprised of Maher Khan, Zohad Chowdhury, Dio Haque, and Raquibun Nabi Ratul. They experienced their first line-up change in 2011 with the departure of Maher, and brought in brothers Zeheen and Zerif Ahmed.

6

LRB

A band which needs no introduction, Love Runs Blind (LRB) was founded in 1991. The band consists of Swapan, Masud, Romel, and the very famous Ayub Bacchu. Though their primary musical focus lies in the rock genre, LRB has frequently explored various genres such as pop and folk, and their fan base spans business tycoons to the common man.

5

Aurthohin

A hard rock and metal band, Aurthohin was started in 1993 out of Sumon’s (BassBaba) solo project Sumon O Aurthohin. Unlike their name, Aurthohin has a lot of very meaningful tracks, and brings us a mix of melodic acoustic and heavy rock tones. Aurthohin has matured elegantly as a top “underground” band, and has been a great influence for several newer artists.

1

Artcell

Since their inception in 1999, Artcell has been one of the biggest progressive rock bands in the country. Comprised of guitarist and backing vocal Ershad Zaman, drummer Kazi Sajjadul Asheqeen (Shaju), bassist Saef Al Nazi (Cezanne), and vocal and lead guitarist George Lincoln D’Costa, Artcell has entertained metalheads and rock fans for years. Regardless of their selfproclaimed genre, Artcell’s sound carries a heavy metal influence, namely of bands like Metallica. n W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, SE PTE MB E R 27, 20 1 3

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Big Mouth strikes again

Naheed Kamal

Good girl gone bad 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!

When Oishee’s birth certificate was found, it proved she was 18 when her parents died and people shook their heads in horror. And we learned that Oishee turned 19 on Saturday, August 17, the day she turned up at the police station

Or, how the hunter becomes the hunted

L

ast April in England, a woman died when her house burned down. Her 14-year-old son survived, he said there was an intruder.

Investigators later said she had been bludgeoned to death first. In February, the teenager was convicted and jailed for her murder. It wasn’t until April when reporting restrictions were lifted he could be named. Nearer to home, last September in Hyderabad, a couple and two daughters died of gunshot wounds reported a Pakistani daily.

Their son and one daughter survived but no names were published. All societies try to protect children from harm. We seem to have no such qualms. That’s why Oishee Rahman’s fall from grace was reported in sordid details, her face splashed across every possible platform.

By the time it dawned on anyone she had the right to protection from exploitation, it was too late. By then we knew too much. Smug statements in a publication because they “blurred” her face, in my humble opinion, is too little too late. You didn’t stop publishing those other vital details so do please get off your high horse, now!

From the moment police found the dead bodies, reports implied their “missing” teen-aged daughter – with her bad habits and promiscuous ways – was involved. So shocking! What was she thinking? How could she do that? Why would a daughter kill her parents?

Parricide is not as uncommon as we like to think it is. In the US, every day a child kills a parent. But Americans are so depraved, the US is a big place and far from where we are.

In our little world, no one stopped to ask about the huge gaping holes in the story told by police at “press briefings”.

Gratefully we lapped up every word and regurgitated for the delectation of the gullible public. If you are not above making moral judgements and reaching fantastical conclusions like most people, then please allow me to help you get some clarity.

The moral of the story so far seems to be - girls like Oishee have no morals.

And so, girls like Oishee are to blame for the lack of morals in our society!

An anonymous police source said addiction drove immoral Oishee to reach the desperate decision to kill her

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parents when her mother confiscated her phone - she said so herself! confirmed by a suicide note found in Oishee’s room, proof she was ready to kill herself and so she killed her parents…wait a minute!

She was suicidal because she was frustrated with life and wanted to die so she killed her parents? No, that doesn’t add up. I am not an expert and more often than I care to admit my powers of deduction are...hazy, but even then how she went from wanting to kill herself to killing her parents, is unclear. Oh that? That was because she was on drugs, she told us so.

She killed her parents because she is an addict. Drugs. “Yaba” actually, mad-medicine drove her mad. In a murderous rage she stabbed her parents. No she didn’t, did she? It still doesn’t add up.

I do not deny Oishee’s substance abuse issues, but if she was on a drug fuelled rampage then her brother and the maid would have been as dead as the parents. To my inexpert eyes she doesn’t look like a wicked drug fiend, she looks scared, and desperate, to escape unspoken horrors we know nothing of.

A

fter much soul searching I went searching for answers, online. But before I go further, see what you find when you Google “why children kill parents”?

Not much research has been done on parricide. Psychologist Kathleen M Heide’s “Why Kids Kill Parents” is the most comprehensive and her conclusions widely accepted. Children who commit parricide are severely mentally ill, or dangerously antisocial, or – the most common; over 90% – severely abused. Experts, who deal with parental abuse all the time, are surprised there aren’t more cases of parricide by abused children pushed beyond endurance.

British psychotherapist Phillipa Perry said though child abuse is very common, few children seek escape through parricide. Those who do have no one to listen to them, and no one who believes them, they feel trapped and the child or children think they have no other recourse but to remove the abuser. American psychiatrist Emanuel Tanay concurs and adds

That the police and courts don’t care for the law, are not sensitive towards women or children, are inherently corrupt, is a fact.

The police are trying to save the reputation of one of their own, but how did these insensitive, cruel and clueless judges get to “judge” us? parricide occurs when a child feels they could break free, and often it is triggered by the need to protect, a parent or siblings.

W

hoever convinced Oishee to return did her and her brother a disservice. When she left the house with her brother and maid Sumi it was proof (for me) she was not strung out on drugs and it wasn’t just drugs that turned her against her parents. Maybe she was trying to keep her brother safe from harm? In case you missed it, her brother is traumatized ever since he was “in custody” while she was being interrogated. Reason enough for us not to discard Oishee’s claim she “confessed” under duress.

I am told people read tales of debauchery, and not repulsed but seduced. They want to know everything and emulate. It beggars belief that Oishee’s story may lead others astray, not just the young and innocent, would want to be “just like her”.

I don’t know about you, but when I heard the news, my immediate thoughts were not “I wish I was Oishee!” or “Tell me more about her murderous ways!” but concern about two terrified children. It distracted me from jumping to conclusions and making vile comments about her weight, face and worse because I was too busy wondering why a daughter would kill her parents. The answer: Drugs, because she said so, and because we say so.

Am not arguing, but I still have other questions and no answers.

Doesn’t the law say anyone 18 or below can’t be in remand for more than three days? Was it ethical of police to give information with the media? Even if she “confessed” isn’t she innocent until a trial proves otherwise? Even if she is

19, didn’t anyone else recall being 19; was it that big a jump from 18?

Evidently, no one thought these questions mattered or needed to be asked or answered because no one cares. Drugs made her do it.

Nothing else matters, there is nothing to hide, but oh how they bicker: about her age, how many boyfriends she had, and the two girls are sent for humiliating medical tests - there are more shocking stories, every possible distraction. Oishee was in the papers daily until the High Court ordered a psychological test. She was moved to a hospital, where she remains until her next court date.

I can only hope she is safe there. n

PHOTO STORY

13

traditions and festivals

Charak

ritual of a faith PHOTO STORY BY

PRANABESH DAS

Charak puja is a traditional Bengali festival celebrated mainly in the rural areas. A festival dedicated strictly to penance, Charak puja stands unique in the scenario of Bengali festivals.

The groups of men and women, who take up this “Brata,” or the time bound ritual, have to go through a monthlong fasting from sunrise to sunset, live strictly on fruits, and perform a daily ritual to get the blessings of the lord. On the day of the “Charak” or the “Gajan,” as it is also called, bamboo stages are made on bamboo poles, the height ranging from 10 to 15 feet. What follows is macabre yet fascinating.

After the month-long penance, the devotees step up the high bamboo stage and hurl themselves forward. The ground on which they fall is embedded with glass, thorns, knives, and other weapons. The devotee escapes unhurt.

The blessing of the god keeps him safe from all the possible harm.

The devotees have other ways to earn blessings. They impale their body without feeling pain. The festival not only reflects their blind faith, but also their eagerness to accept penance on the road to salvation. n

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14

PHOTO STORY Traditions and festivals

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W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, SE PTE MB E R 27, 20 1 3

16

PHOTO STORY traditions and festivals

Pranabesh Das was born in Sylhet, Bangladesh, in July 1980. He started doing photography in 2006, and was later trained in Pathshala, South Asian Media Academy, Bangladesh.

Being interested in social issues as seen through the backdrop of Bangladesh’s changing economic and political landscape, his work has centred around those topics.

He has been published in numerous national and international newspapers, magazines, and publications including Reader’s Digest, National Geographic online, Daily Star, Dhaka Tribune, New Age, Prothom Alo, and many others.

His photographs have been exhibited in Bangladesh, China, UK, Japan, Indonesia and USA --pranabesh@gmail.com www.pranabeshdas. com

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REAL POLITIK

17

HARTALS

Is might always right?

Once considered a means for peaceful protest, hartals today have turned into a disruption of public order and a threat to safety. Ikhtisad Ahmed sheds light on the true purpose of hartals would have been a safe assumption that peaceful protests against oppressors would be on the wane, since the days of tyranny had been left behind. Instead, they took on the form of incitation and agitation to destabilise governments, with the hope that hartals would lead to their collapse.

Emboldened by the decision of politicians to make hartals fashionable and broaden their ambit beyond simply peaceful, passive protest over the years, activists have started taking to the streets armed with more than just fists, banners and symbolic sticks.

One salient detail has been overlooked in this disconcerting development: the Constitution allows for “the right to assemble and to participate in public meetings and processions peacefully and without arms, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of public order or public health.” Legal provisions, domestic and international, reinforce this principle, with the emphasis very much being on “peaceful.” Furthermore, freedom of association under the Constitution is also subject to the interests of morality and public order.

The plot thickens when the infamous Chapter VIII of the Penal Code is taken into consideration.

“Unlawful assembly” is clearly defined as a crime. Notwithstanding the

At a glance Bangladesh is party to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Articles 19 and 20 of which establish the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, and peaceful assembly and association for everyone n There were about 100 hartals between 1979 and 1986 n The number of hartals rose to 245 between 1987 and 1990 n Between 1991 and 2002, there were 827 hartals n

harmless name given by the leaders who seem to know better, hartals nowadays are more akin to riots than Gandhi’s peaceful protest, or, at the very least, unlawful assemblies that inevitably see the use of weapons and the destruction of public and private property (criminal offences on their own). Section 150 of the Penal Code allows for “whoever hires or engages, or employs, or promotes, or connives at hiring, engagement or employment” to be punished as well as those taking part in the unlawful assembly.

Given these and many other legal provisions (aiding and abetting, criminal conspiracy, etc), it’s perplexing that the discussion about hartals is limited to the party that calls them, parties that support or join them, the graphic visuals of violence against people and property, and the announcement of more hartals. Once a leader is made to take responsibility for announcing or supporting a hartal, the floodgates will be opened. And this will not be so desirable from the other side of the aisle.

Hartal, in the purest sense of the word, may refer to what has been happening in Shahbagh since February 5 this year. It may refer to the human chains formed and mass gatherings held to demand justice for heinous crimes, or the large-scale protests organised by human rights activists to make their largely ignored voices heard. It can’t refer to politicsendorsed unrest that is deliberately violent. Then again, the politicians seem to have redefined the term hartal with a complete disregard for the law, and, like so many other things, have never been held accountable for it. n

Dhaka Tribune

M

ight is often, if not always, right in Bangladesh.

Perceived wrongs are righted by physical violence against the perpetrators of said wrongs; governments are thought to be toppled by force, most notably via the excessive use of hartals, or general strikes. Regrettably, the nature of this supposedly effective political weapon has changed over the years, shifting it away from the “legal” column.

The first hartal in the Indian subcontinent was staged on March 30, 1919 organised by Mahatma Gandhi as a peaceful protest against the Rowlatt Act in line with the Satyagraha principles that he had piloted in South Africa. Chaos theory dictated terms, and, predictably, such a large-scale gathering turned violent in places.

Bangladeshis remembered this mode of passive resistance on March 11, 1948, calling the one and only strike in the first three years of Pakistan to demand recognition of Bangla as the state language. Following the 1952 Language Movement, hartal was used to great effect and played a decisive political role in the lead up to the Liberation War. After independence, Articles 37, 38, and 39 of the Constitution of Bangladesh established the rights to freedom of assembly, association, and speech respectively. Despite this, it

Hartal: over the years 1860 The Penal Code states that ‘unlawful assembly,’ which includes, but is not limited to, riots and the use of weapons is a crime (Chapter VIII).

Instigators, planners and supporters are not above punishment (Section 150)

1972 The Constitution of Bangladesh establishes the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly (Article 37) and freedom of association (Article 38)

Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer. He is bound by absurdity, and exists, therefore he is

1991 The government of President H M Ershad collapses when faced with recurring hartals called on the issue of legitimacy

1996 The Sheikh Hasinaled opposition Awami League uses hartals to devastating effect to bring BNP’s reign to an end

2013 Hartals, now a permanent fixture in the politics of Bangladesh, have become violent to the point where the lack of casualties is rare (evidenced by at least five dead and a hundred injured during the Jamaatcalled and BNP-supported hartal on February 24, 2013)

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18 Joseph Allchin is a senior reporter at Dhaka Tribune.

Follow him on twitter: @J_Allchin

FEATURE

RELIGION IN POLITICS

Staying afloat with a leaky ‘Nouka’ Joseph Allchin looks beyond Awami League’s rhetoric of secularism

A

Unravelling secular credentials Of recent note is the 2006 ICT law, which the Awami League should have abolished years ago. Its notable causalities have been Adilur Rahman, former deputy attorney general, (somewhat ironically in the BNP administration that enacted the law), Mahmudur Rahman, BNP mastermind and propagandist with his Amar Desh newspaper, and the four bloggers who were hounded by the latter’s paper after they helped rally the Shahbagh movement. They were ultimately jailed by the Awami League because of religious conviction to appease W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, S E PTE M B E R 27, 201 3

Joseph Allchin

s elections creep closer, the Awami League will assume the mantle of the only true secularists in the country. However, the judicious use of law and rhetoric demonstrates that there are two games in town: vote winning rhetoric and appeasing action versus state building. As far as secularism is concerned the Awami League is playing a dangerous game by fostering this idea of state neutrality, for in countering their opponents’ rhetoric, they risk shooting down the more silent task of building the secular state. opposition critics.

The key passage in section 54 of the law reads: “If any person deliberately publishes or transmits or causes to be published or transmitted in the website or in electronic form any material” that,“causes to” … “prejudice the image of the State or person or causes to hurt or may hurt religious belief or instigate against any person or organisation, then this activity of his will be regarded as an offence.”

The atheist conundrum If we consider the issue of things that hurt, or may hurt, religious sentiment,

most Abrahamic religions suggest that all other faiths are wrong, and that a failure to believe in them will lead to eternal suffering: “But as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them; boiling fluid will be poured down on their heads; Whereby that which is in their bellies, and their skins too, will be melted; And for them are hooked rods of iron.”

[Quran 22:19-21] This is contained in scripture, but groups such as Hefazat-e-Islam publicly express interpretations on the street, such as: “All atheists should be hung!”

In challenge to such public statements Sheikh Hasina has not reaffirmed

“Atheism is a take on religion shared by many in China, Japan, and large parts of Europe and North America; basically across the world”

19 “So what’s the point?

Why maintain a law that is used only selectively and to protect only the most powerful and numerate grouping in the country?”

secularism as a policy. Instead, as a Financial Express report said: “If her government returns to power in the next election, there will be one mosque in each district such as the BaitulMukarram Mosque.”

We’ve already had central mosques in some districts; this project will be expanded to all districts and later to all upazilas.” This may be populist but it is not equality before the law. Or even coherent with her own statements, as she told the BBC in April: “This country is a secular democracy. So each and every religion has the right to practice their religion free and fair. But it is not fair to hurt anybody’s religious feeling. Always we try to protect every religious sentiment.”

So the state under the Awami League is sponsoring one religion and allowing defamation of minorities.

It would therefore be fair to suggest that these two paragraphs, which can be found online, therefore constitute offences as per the ICT Law 2006.

Institutions vs politicians Thus we have a paradox. A secular state cannot be about Sheikh Hasina, it is about institutions. It cannot be about what she will bring to people, it is about the state acting as a neutral arbiter, thereby ensuring liberty. To do this, politicians must relinquish power to bureaucrats or institutions.

To employ objective bureaucrats and the infrastructure of state, you need taxes to pay people who are not at the whims of elections, people who are neutral and beyond the lure of temptation to give succour to popular communal emotion. This phenomenon can loosely be termed patronage politics and is visible at party offices where the dispossessed loiter hoping for favour from a politician, because the state has essentially failed them.

To be fair to the Awami League, what they don’t talk about, but should; is the efforts to enlarge the country’s current pitiful number of taxpayers,

who are estimated to number around one million in a country of 157 million.

Under the tenure of the Awami League however the ratio of tax intake to GDP has increased significantly, from some 8% to 10.7%, according to the IMF who have been assisting with this effort.

A new game in town It can be said then, that there are two games in town. One is occurring silently at the behest partly of MFIs: the bureaucratic development of objective institutions. The other is the rhetoric of the emotional “tyranny of the majority.” To say that one will win over the other is missing the point.

For now both can coexist dripping away till a future breaking point, when arguably either may vanquish the other.

For instance, as silence is slowly imposed on deviant voices and difference is chilled to such a point

that a false consciousness exists whereby it is commonly believed that these differences don’t exist (as is the case with atheists). Or if the silent roll out of bureaucratic enhancement can win, to a point where courts can exert decisions that go against the majority or most powerful politician, because there is a level playing field.

This idea does not benefit politicians; it disempowers them for they may then have to offer voters reality or ideas about the management of society, as opposed to them distributing the effects of material wealth that should be distributed by the market or by objective law. The effect, by contrast is to mortgage all to a small number in exchange for emotional succour once every five years to our worst instincts and fears.

As Thomas Paine said: “When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.” n

No one however has been arrested for electronically transmitting the said offences or taking to the streets to state that people who possess beliefs that have existed here since before the advent of Islam, should be hung. The only people who are punished by the religious section of the law are those who are felt to be defaming one religion, that of the largest number of voters.

If the law is used selectively and as a tool of the state, which the ICT law 2006 seeks to also protect, then individuals (as in the case of Adilur Rahman) will not be able to rely on the state to ensure their rights, the society’s morality or interests.

This then leaves the space open. It is understandable therefore that if the state fails to do this religion and its dogma has and will take over and be used.

Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

The defamation game

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20

Fraud with Rana Plaza Victim

No justice even in death Adil Sakhawat investigates how there is no respite for the Savar victims

K

haleda Akhter, an RMG worker, was one of the victims of the Rana Plaza disaster. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina provided a grant for the family members of victims like Khaleda.

However, her husband and two children are yet to see a single penny from that fund, as it has been alleged that her uncle and parents misappropriated her share from the grant. Khaleda’s husband Jasim Uddin lodged a case with the Barisal Chief Judicial Magistrate Court accusing six of Khaleda’s family members.

Profile

Quamrul Abedin

Adil Sakhawat reports on crime for Dhaka Tribune. Any information can be sent at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

CRIME FILE

Lead investigator

“After a primary police investigation, it has been proven that Khaleda’s uncle Mizanur Rahman and her parents collected the money by using false identification documents.

Earlier, Jasim Uddin lodged a general diary with this police station when Khaleda’s uncle refused to give him the documents provided by district rescuers committee that came along with Khaleda’s body.”

Mostafizur Rahman, sub-inspector, Airport police station, Barisal metropolitan police

Government representatives

“Khaleda’s two children have a right to the money provided by the prime minister. When I heard from Khaleda’s husband, I ordered her parents to deposit Tk100,000 in the name of her children. Aside from her children and husband, no one else should have access to that fund.

“I cannot remember what information was provided by Khaleda’s parents, but I will check that again. I will also tell the union parisad chairman to look into it, as he knew the details about the case.”

Abdur Rouf, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), Jhalakathi sadar “As far as I remember, Khaleda’s parents mentioned her children in the documents, and I also gave them the testimonial where the children were mentioned.”

Alin Sarder, union parisad chairman, Binoykathi, Jhalakathi

The husband

“When I first went to the UNO, he seemed confused since my wife’s family did not mention anything about our children in any of the documents.

“I called Khaleda’s uncle Mizanur Rahman several times for the death W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, S E PTE M B E R 27, 201 3

certificate, but he did not give me the documents and also threatened to kill me. Then one day, I heard they had taken the money from the Prime Minister’s funds for Rana Plaza victims without informing me. All this for just Tk100,000. This money belongs to my two children.”

Jasim Uddin

Families of other victims

“I have two children and my husband’s parents are alive. We received Tk300,000 from the Prime Minister’s funds. I feel sad for Khaleda’s children; I hope the matter is resolved soon.”

Bulbuli, wife of the deceased Sumon, who worked on the third floor of Rana Plaza “I got Tk100,000 from the fund, and my daughter’s husband got Tk200,000 for their two children.

I heard many stories similar to Khaleda’s. It seems as if there is some sort of conspiracy between certain family members of the victims, along with the authority in charge of disbursing the funds. This is just another example of how people are profiting from a disaster that destroyed so many lives. It’s just sad that even in death, Khaleda’s soul cannot find any peace.”

Father of a Rana Plaza victim, requesting anonymity

Prime suspect

“Whatever you want, you can do it. I don’t care. Do not call me again.”

Mizanur Rahman, Khaleda’s uncle and also the primary convict in the case lodged by Jasim Uddin.

“Someone has obviously been giving

you false information. It’s true that we took Tk100,000 from the funds, but that money has been set aside solely for Khaleda’s children, in a separate bank account in Krishi Bank.

We haven’t touched a single penny.

Jashim, who has a personal vendetta against us, is essentially slandering our name. He used to beat up my daughter regularly and also abuse both my grandchildren. He is the dishonest one here, not us.”

Abdus Salam Hawlader, Khaleda’s father, and also the second person accused in the case lodged by Jasim Uddin.

Witness

“Jasim and Khaleda lived in my house for more than a year. I never observed any quarrels between them. Khaleda was a very hardworking woman and she always thought about the future of her children. Both Jasim and Khaleda were honest people and do not deserve this kind of dishonesty from their loved ones.”

Khadiza Begum, owner of the building where Jasim and Khaleda lived with their children

Lawyer

“It is definitely a case of fraud, and based on the police report, it has been proven that Khaleda’s uncle submitted forged documents to take the money and had threatened my client Jasim Uddin. It is a violation of the law under section 406/420/467/471/109/506(2) of the penal code. The court had issued a warrant for the arrest of the first perpetrator and has issued summons for the others, at the next court hearing.”

Abdul Mannan Mridha, advocate, Bangladesh Supreme Court

Khaleda Akter was the elder daughter of Salam Hawlader and Setara Begum. In 2000, she got married to Jasim Uddin. All witnesses claimed that both Jasim and Khaleda were happy together.

Khaleda gave birth to sons Rafiu Islam in 2004 and Nafiu Imam in 2010. Because of Jasim’s limited income, she joined New Wave Style Ltd, an RMG factory on the seventh floor of Rana Plaza, in April 2013. She died later that month when the building collapsed.

Crime timeline April 24 Rana Plaza collapses, Khaleda Akhter disappears April 26 Khaleda’s body is identified by her husband. Body is handed over to Khaleda’s family.

Khaleda’s uncle provides false information to the rescue team April 27 Khaleda is buried in a family graveyard near her husband Jasim’s house May 1 Khaleda’s parents agree to take care of their grandchildren for a year, but Jasim disagrees with them about the financial arrangement and a quarrel ensues May 10 Jasim makes a general diary in Airport police station, Barisal, after Khaleda’s uncle refuses to hand over her death certificate May 20 Khaleda’s mother receives money from the Prime Minister’s fund for Rana Plaza victims, but does not inform Jasim August 16 Jasim lodges a case against six of Khaleda’s family members for misappropriating money that is officially meant for Jasim and their two children August 23 Barisal chief judicial magistrate court issues a warrant against the primary convict and issues summons for five others

60 OF CONNOTATIONS

21

NADIA CHOWDHURY

Beware of your choices

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

A dummy’s guide to financial planning over Nadia’s favourite snack

I

t’s a whole new world and one that has never been scarier. Growing up as a child, I remember idolising Batman (and his enormous mansion, of course, who wouldn’t) while aspiring to be a brown girl who would one day own a mansion like that (and a costume of Batman’s too, yippee). That dream shattered owing to the financial recession of 2008 which affected more than half the world and many parts of the so-called industrialised world.

This opened our eyes to the fact that nothing is ever given or should be taken for granted. If one thinks they are safe because of their baari, gari and garage then it takes just one layoff to lose them all.

You are bound to hear many stories relevant to us all as I write this article.

However fret not- even if there are no meaningful stories within there are bound to be lessons. Let’s face it really, that is all stories are about anyway.

Want to know what my favorite snack is? It’s chanachur and what is chanachur, you say? A rich mix of spice, spice and everything nice.

Not to essentialise myself as a spice addict, but any South Asian who has ever tasted chanachur will agree: “It is the absolute shit.” Which comes out urgently out of me 1 to 20 minutes after having had it but I digress.

Similarly, finances and bad timing is associated with making financial choices. It can create a significant poop

One of the most crucial tools in good financial planning is knowing what one is getting into.

Personal finances is just like chanachur, it’s a mixture of a lot of things.

You better know what your mixture holds for you

in one’s financial future and this would be a mess no one can just clean up, even after a second chance. Life is real and let’s face it there are no second chances, harsh as that may sound.

Unless good financial planning is complimented with every life decision, one cannot expect success.

One of the most crucial tools in good financial planning is knowing what one is getting into. With the 2008 global recession and the Occupy movement coming into full force, financial issues and its related problems were discussed all over the world. Many kinds of information came out at the time, including laws related to loans, debt, mortgages, corporate and financial abuse and what one can afford and what one cannot. As an undergraduate student at the time, I remember the sense of panic and hysteria that broke upon the world as illusions began to break. The so-called golden era of the 90s was over and the dreams it had projected would never come true. In many parts of the world, people already poor had slipped into further destitution, while many former lower and upper-class families saw their futures crumble before their eyes, unable to stop it.

Financial abuse of each and every kind in every possible environment, heightened in severity and intensity.

Despite all these “difficulties,” people marched on, doing what they did the best: suck it up and slip even further. As of today, many of my graduating friends still work minimum-wage jobs and have to contend with debt, many of whom will not see a desk-job in years to come. Many families, having lost their entire investments during the crash, were-and still are-in great financial peril, many of whom will not see their children enjoy the same kind of life they had. Chances can no longer be taken helter-skelter; each step must now be judged with caution.

In such a climate, we as South Asians must come together as a community, become more vigilant and aware of our surroundings. Finding out

about the financial options available to us, figuring out whether they are right or wrong for us and making the right choice is important. This will also require a relaxing of previous histories and conflict that often divide us up; getting over history is harder than looking to the future. And change is not easy, though it is easier to continue a destructive habit than convert to a constructive one.

Despite these limitations, in the post-recession world, it is time we

In a climate of financial insecurity, we South Asians must come together.

Finding out about the financial options available to us, figuring out whether they are right or wrong, and making the right choice is important make choices with wisdom. And not under the pressures of cultural, societal and/or familial expectations; it’s time we started doing things for ourselves to save ourselves. n

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

TOUGH LOVE 1

I have a problem saying “no” to people. As a result, I always get suckered into working overtime for my boss, shopping with my girlfriend (which I hate), and listening to people’s problems, which bore me to death. Is there a simple way for me to turn down people without sounding rude?

DINA SOBHAN Yes. Say “No.” You may sound like a jerk, perhaps a rude one depending on how you say it, but that may be just the thing to cure your chronic case of wimpitis. Every morning when you wake up and every night before you go to bed, stand in front of the mirror and practise saying the word. If it helps, imagine all the different scenarios in which the word could feature. And if necessary, get a friend to stand in as a proxy while you enact skits of you extracting yourself from various painful and dull situations by yelling “NO!” at the top of your lungs. Once you’re comfortable with the word, use it at random. For instance, if your girlfriend asks you to pass the salt, say “no way.” If your colleague asks how your day was, reply “nope,” and so on.

Eventually you should feel confident and assertive enough to be the rude jerk that you aspire towards and deny anyone anything. Oh yeah. n

2

I am an 80s child. Quite literally, I’m afraid. I was born in the 80s, and I love the decade so much that, even in 2013, part of me is stuck in the 80s. I dress like as if it’s 1987, I still use 80s lingo, I drive an old 1987 Datsun, I constantly watch 80s TV shows and movies – you get the picture. I personally have no problems with my lifestyle decisions, but my wife and close friends seem to think I am in denial and should exit my bubble. What do you think? Am I living an unhealthy lifestyle?

You’re not in denial. You’re retro. A hipster. People pay a lot of money in places like Brooklyn to be you. Your friends are clearly not tuned into your refined sense of irony. You love the 80s but with the distance and clarity of someone who has seen what came after, and can appreciate the camp aesthetic of the time while mocking the politics of the period. Right? Right?

I just made you the coolest person in the para. n

Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

3

I met a girl, a total stranger, in Bashundhara city the other day. We literally bumped into each other. We chatted briefly and parted ways. But I am sure we had a connection. I know I sound corny, but I’m serious when I say I think I’ve met my soul mate. Can you advise me as to how I can track her down? Maybe place an ad in the newspapers or hang out near the store around the same time again?

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, S E PTE M B E R 27, 201 3

It sounds like a potentially fantastic (but possibly terrible) film script: “How I Met Your Mamuni.” You have to pursue this as though your life depends on it. Seeing as you did not have the presence of mind to, I don’t know, ask your soul mate for her phone number, you’re going to have to allow kismet to bring you together again. You should definitely place an ad in every newspaper in town, making sure to articulate every detail of your meeting. Don’t forget

to rhapsodise about your feelings for her so the whole town knows and can aid and abet in this romantic union destined by the heavens. And for good measure, just move into the store where you met, because if the newspaper broadcast of your love doesn’t bringing her around, some good old-fashioned stalking should secure a future of ever-lasting love for you two. n

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23

WT LEISURE DILBERT

Across 1 5 6 8 10 11

Mixture of earth and organic matter (5) Burn offering for a Wednesday (3) Chicken row? (5) Consent to religious class in time (5) Tool for first of annual woodwork lessons (3) Flower, like simple music (5)

Down

PEANUTS

1 2 3 4 7 8 9

Vacation top a cycling knight keeps (7) New York after a choice of everything (3) Pitch a new art organisation (3) Queen in extravagant weather forecast (7) Easter symbol, for example, gold top (3) Laptop found in middle, of mountain (3) Average ascending music style (3

Solution and clues for last week’s crossword

Across 1 6 7 8

Market stall pub argument (6) Two businesses accumulate first bean (5) Obvious bowling spell to start (5) Essential home for use of typists (6)

Down 2 3 4 5

Lacy hem arrangement changes lead (7) Cheesecake ingredient stirs up cat riot (7) The law about prosperity (6) Irish city under Unit Nations release (6)

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, SE PTE MB E R 27, 20 1 3

24 Isnaad Sharahbeel is an ardent sports enthusiast. He wishes to be a voice for the common sports fans across the country

GAME ON

Dhaka Premier League

A dig into the domestics Isnaad Sharahbeel looks into the details of the prestigious local tournament

W

hen it comes to cricket, the thought of the new fangled premier leagues tends to remind us of bustling domestic T20 leagues, particularly BPL in Bangladesh. Dhaka Premier League (DPL), which has been around for ages, unlike BPL, tends to get overlooked as a result. Despite the dip in popularity, DPL still remains a tournament that the domestic players, as well as many foreign representatives, look forward to every year.

DPL 2012/13: Early hiccups

This year, DPL was initially supposed to start on the March 15. Owing to the unavailability of National cricketers who were away on duty in Sri Lanka, the tournament was postponed till June. 181 cricketers were listed for an auction, bringing changes to the whole system of payment. Many cricketers united against this auction forcing further delay in the initiation of the tournament and it was moved to July 1.

At the end of May, spot fixing scandals jolted Bangladeshi cricket, leading to investigations from ACSU. This postponed DPL yet again andthe tournament was moved for the fourth time to July 31. Meanwhile, in midJune, a majority of the players decided to boycott DPL in protest of the auction system. The tournament’s fate was

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left swinging like a pendulum. After successive events including ACSU’s report publication, a new date was proposed for the tournament to start: August 29. It was once again moved to September 3, but since the teams could not be finalised on time, the start of the tournament was delayed by yet another week.

The first round of the tournament finally commenced on September 10. It is being held in four different venues: Fatullah, BKSP, Bogra, and Rajshahi.

Walton is the official sponsor of the tournament.

What’s new?

•

From this year on, DPL matches are being considered List-A matches.

Supposedly, this will help in enhancing the overall quality of the domestic infrastructure within Dhaka.

• DPL has had notable participation from Pakistani players in the past.

This year, similar to BPL 2013, no Pakistani players are participating.

• The teams that have been formed this year are much more balanced than last year in terms of strength.

• Internationally recognised players like Yuvraj Singh, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Scott Styris, Mohammad Nabi, Elton Chigumbura, Charles Coventry, etc are likely to participate or are already participating for either short stints or for the span of the whole tournament in this year’s DPL.

The contenders

Many teams this year are evenly balanced, which promises a very competitive build-up as the tournament progresses. Sheikh Jamal and Gazi Tank have the most decent squads while Victoria Sporting Club and Kalabagan Krira Chakra aren’t far behind. The majority of the rest of the teams also have the potential to make an impact on the overall standings.

Abahani is backing a comparatively inexperienced team this time around, much to the disappointment of their fans. CCS, Prime Bank CC, and Khelaghar have reasons to be a bit disappointed with their team selections as well.

Irrespective of that, the tournament promises intense competition and the race towards clinching the title, which has already started well, is looking very interesting.

As always, the players of the National team will play a very crucial role for their respective teams. Besides that, the diversity of the teams this year provides more space for young players to step up and make a statement. DPL is a good platform for almost forgotten former National players, as they go on to try and prove that they are still worth a call back into the National squad.

This year’s tournament is very crucial and will work as a factor for the National team selection, owing to the vacancies, especially in the pace bowling and top order departments for the home series against New Zealand. Besides that, the National players are getting exposure to competitive cricket that was both

Notable performances till date (In the half column) • Rubel Hossain 6/18 & 5/37 • NafeesIqbal 150* (140) • Mohammad Nabi 146 (90) • Al-Amin Hossain 6/16 & 5/65 • Roshane Silva 140 (127) • Mominul Haque 129 (122)

necessary, and much awaited prior to the home series.

All in all, this year’s DPL looks very promising. Dhaka, as always, still remains the centre of cricketing gravity in the country, and the enthusiasm of players centering DPL is veritable proof. Thus, the tournament is bound to contribute more to the domestic sporting infrastructure, but only if proper steps are taken towards improving the overall standards. n

THE WAY DHAKA WAS

25

Aeroplane mosque

As a kid, I never knew praying would be so much fun. My family used to live right next to Gausia Supermarket on Old Elephant Road in the 80s, and my fondest memories growing up was going to pray in the “Airplane Mosque.” It was as if we were actually boarding an aircraft to pray! The airplane is still there of course, but it has been refitted and now points the other way for some reason. And the loudspeakers don’t work either. Shame, because it was such a novel idea.

Aeroplane Mosque, Old Elephant Road, 1992

Abul Kalam Azad, 50, Elephant Road resident

Bangladesh Old Photo Archive

Mahmud Hossain Opu

Today

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26

Travelogue

Lebanon

The Mediterranean queen

Bassema Karaki explores the wonders of the small country on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea

Bassema Karaki is a LebaneseAmerican married to a Bangladeshi. She shares how strange, crazy, and humorous life in Bangladesh can appear to an outsider looking in

Don’t be discouraged by the unstable situation of the Middle East.

Lebanon is a very peaceful country, is the No 1 travel destination in the Middle East, and is every traveller’s haven

I

f you’re looking for a vacation spot where you can do everything – from basking under the warm sun, to swimming in the clear blue Mediterranean sea, to skiing down thrilling mountain slopes, to touring ancient ruins of the Roman Empire, and partying in some of the most electrifying clubs in the Middle East, then Lebanon is the place for you.

Lying on the coast of the Mediterranean, Lebanon is a small piece of fertile land located between Syria and Palestine. Filled with rich culture and history, it is host to a colourful people of varying religions and backgrounds living side-by-side under one state. Beirut, the capital of the country, is known as the “Paris of the Middle East,” and is a city known for its vibrant nightlife. With the majority of people speaking at least two, but usually three, languages (Arabic, French and English), you should find no difficulty getting around (even the taxi drivers can speak broken English).

One of the first places to visit in Lebanon is only 10 minutes away from the airport and is called Hamra Street, historically known as the heart of Beirut. Filled with designer boutiques, a large number of Western chains, hotels, hookah cafes, pubs and local restaurants, this street is always buzzing with life, especially in summer when it’s filled with tourists from around the world. In and around this area are the most famous clubs in Lebanon where the party is on fire

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Photos: Courtesy

every night and people are having the times of their lives. After a night of partying, you can take a stroll down to the sea and relax under the warm sun with the soothing sound of waves.

Strangely enough, in this area you will be able to enjoy an authentic yet international experience, which is probably why even the locals love it.

Travelling outside the city towards the north, you will be delighted to discover one of the ancient wonders of the world. Baalbek, once known as Heliopolis or City of the Sun, was built during the Roman Empire as a sanctuary of the Roman world, and a model of imperial Roman architecture.

What now remains of this once flourishing city, to which thousands of pilgrims flocked every year, is the complex of great temples, with the principle one being the Temple of

Jupiter. Taking a tour of this majestic city, you’ll be awestruck to behold these exquisitely detailed yet colossal monuments as well as intrigued to hear of the pagan practices for which each majestic court and temple was built. Right outside the ruins, you can enjoy walking through beautiful parks and over-bridges crossing rivers, riding camels, shopping for authentic Lebanese artefacts and eating the famous, to-die-for sfeeha (meat pies) of Baalbek.

Not a big fan of history? What about nature? Lebanon is home to one of the finalists of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. High above the city, in the depths of Mount Lebanon lies a compound of the most miraculous caves ever known to man.

This compound is known as Jeita Grotto and consists of two separate, but interconnected limestone caves, upper galleries and a lower cave through which a six-kilometre river runs. To get inside the caves, you will first need to take a cable car ride up to the top of the mountain. Though this is just a means to an end, it’s a thrilling and quite enjoyable part of the tour.

When you reach the top, you can enter the upper galleries through tunnels and walkways created for tourists.

Attempting to describe the overwhelming feeling you will get when you enter this cave is difficult, and it will suffice to say that the mesmerising sights which you will behold are enough to turn any atheist into a believer. The cathedral-like vaults of limestone, the magnificent curtains and fascinating rock formations, and

the colours and shapes of stalactites and stalagmites definitely earn this cave the reputation it has. Visiting the lower cave is even more exciting, because it can only be reached by boat since it channels an underground river that provides fresh drinking water to over a million Lebanese people.

The cave is indeed nothing short of a miracle, and no article or book on it will ever do it justice. You must see it for yourself.

Still not interested? Wait till you hear about Lebanese food. Lebanon is host to some of the best food known to the world, particularly mezza. Mezza is an array of small dishes placed before guests creating an array of colours, flavours, textures, and aromas. A typical mezza will consist of an elaborate variety of 30 hot and cold dishes, such as pickled vegetables, hummus, baba ghanoush, bread, marinated and grilled seafood, skewered meats, a variety of cooked and raw salads, and an arrangement of desserts, including the famous baklava. In other words, your taste buds will experience an adventure of their own. n

OBITUARY

27

Ray Dolby

A lover of the arts

Ibtisam Ahmed takes a look at the life of the man who created the brand ‘Dolby Surround Sound’

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

Timeline

1949 Works with Ampex’s first audio tape recorder 1956 Helps Ampex release their first videotape recorder, despite not having finished his undergraduate degree 1965 After serving as a UN technical adviser in India, returns to London to found Dolby Laboratories and the Dolby Sound System 1976 Moves company to San Francisco, California, where he spent his formative years 1989 Wins Oscar for his contribution to cinema and his first Emmy Award 1995 Wins a Grammy Award 2005 Wins second Emmy 2013 Diagnosed with leukaemia in the summer before passing away in September

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n September 12, Ray Dolby, one of the greatest pioneers of our age, succumbed to leukaemia and complications from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 80. Dolby, whose name has become synonymous with advances in sound engineering, was one of those rarest of people – his contributions have permeated into a variety of media and affect us in more ways than we realise in our day-to-day lives.

Dolby was born in Portland, Oregon on January 18, 1933. He grew up in California and received his early schooling there. It was also there that, as a teenager, he worked part-time at an electronics company called Ampex.

He would work on early prototypes of video recording technology while at Stanford University, even helping Ampex release their first videotape recorder as a non degree-holding “consultant.” After graduating from Stanford with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in electrical engineering, Dolby received a Marshall Scholarship for PhD in physics in Cambridge, UK, where he was a Research Fellow at

Pembroke College.

Following the completion of his formal education – “formal” being a distinction Dolby himself liked to use as he believed no one ever stopped learning – he acted as a technical adviser to the United Nations in India.

When he returned to England, it was in London that he founded his most enduring legacy, Dolby Laboratories, with a staff of just four people. He also invented the Dolby Sound System, a revolutionary electronic filter, that same year.

Dolby Laboratories would go on to radically change the sound recording industry. With Dolby at the helm, the company created noise reduction technology to first reduce and then eventually remove the “hiss” from audio tape recordings. The noise reduction system is gradually becoming obsolete due to the move towards digital audio recordings, but its impact on the recording industry cannot be praised enough.

The company also invented surround sound, which is now used in all forms of television and film

media. Dolby moved his company to San Francisco in the late 1970s. Not long afterwards, he was awarded an Oscar for his contributions to cinema.

Other entertainment industry awards he won included a Grammy and two Emmy Awards. In 1986, he was made an honorary OBE, joining an elite list of non-Britons to have received a Royal investiture.

Dolby’s career was one of technological innovation and scientific genius. Yet, as his son Tom often recollects, his driving force, his true passion, was a love of cinema and the arts. His is a life that proves you can contribute to what you care about the most, even if your qualifications might make it seem otherwise, as long as you are dedicated. In an age where students are constantly thinking of pursuing narrowed, specialised education to further their careers, Dolby’s extraordinary professional trajectory should serve as reminder that determination and originality are still the strongest skills you can have if you want to follow your dreams. n

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28 Phil Humphreys is a British former journalist who worked as a management adviser to an NGO in Rangpur, before joining the Dhaka Tribune as a consultant

LAST WORD PHIL HUMPHREYS

The madness of Prince George A game of thrones over the years and their lives in public light

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orn on July 22, His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis weighed only eight pounds, six ounces, but he made a disproportionately large splash on the newspaper front pages of the UK and beyond. The newest Royal was registering in the collective mindset of the Great British public long before he was registered as the first born son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. From the outside looking in, Bangladeshis are right to wonder why.

Certainly, the current crop of Royals has not always been so popular.

danger of being axed.

Fast forward two decades, and the British royals are riding the crest of a new wave of popularity. In the last three years, the country has collectively celebrated Prince William and Kate Middleton’s engagement and marriage, and a Diamond Jubilee. At the phenomenally-successful London Olympics which followed those, the Queen further softened her own image when allowing herself to be portrayed jumping out of a helicopter with James Bond. Even Prince Harry’s various misdemeanours have been largely overlooked (cherished, even).

The House of Pain

New light through old windows

In 1992, during her most memorable Christmas Day address to her subjects, Queen Elizabeth II described the preceding 12 months as an “Annus Horribilis.” And with good reason.

She had witnessed the divorce of her only daughter from Captain Mark Phillips, the separation of the Duke and Duchess of York, the revelations of Princess Diana’s autobiography and a devastating fire at Windsor Castle.

The British monarchy is riding high on the birth of George, but in the dark days of the 1990s, the world’s oldest soap opera was in danger of being axed The horrible year, however, became a whole decade. Charles and Diana divorced four years later, but not before the princess had knifed the monarchy one last time with a devastatingly-delivered interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC. When the “Queen of Hearts” perished in a Paris underpass in 1997, the Queen was roundly adjudged to have misread the public mood by delaying official comment and not lowering the flag over Buckingham Palace to half mast.

At the opposite end of Hyde Park, meanwhile, the pool of bouquets in front of Kensington Palace soon became a sea. During this undoubted low point of the Queen’s reign, the world’s oldest soap opera was in grave

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And now, the new addition.

Choosing to forgo professional portraits, The Duke and Duchess released two photographs of themselves with George, taken by the less regal of the two grandfathers in the garden of his home in Bucklebury, Berkshire. For the British public, such an insight into the private lives and land of the Middletons was extraordinary.

Daily Mirror columnist Brian Reade dismissed the Royals-watchers as “just a handful of rubberneckers and nutters in English-speaking countries that still care about the British Empire, or those looking on out of curiosity at our Hello!-style coverage.” In the very act of writing those words, however, Reade disproves his own point because for once, the coverage of this story was a story in itself. The main event was so big, it gave birth to another event.

In the days that followed, the BBC released figures which showed the arrival of Prince George had prompted the biggest global day and second largest UK day ever for BBC News Online, with 19.4m unique visitors recorded. Total UK traffic to news and media websites on July 22 hit an astounding 94 million visits - 50% more than the entire UK population. In just one hour after the announcement, the website of the Royal-leaning Daily Mail alone attracted over one million unique users, while in its print edition masthead the following day, The Sun newspaper even changed its name to “The Son.” This being Britain and the British press, at least one editorial had to overstep the boundaries of good taste.

The London Evening Standard duly obliged by asking if Prince George might be circumcised in a story headlined: “Will William and Kate call for the rabbi?” The Royals’ press office was forced to dignify the enquiry with a statement calling it “a deeply personal private matter up to the couple.” That, for many, begged the question: shouldn’t all new births be this?

Public vs private lives?

The British appetite for personal intrusion is insatiable, and yet they will go to remarkable lengths to protect their own privacy. Lounge rooms are concealed behind net curtains, net curtains draped behind frosted glass, and front windows shielded by gargantuan leylandii hedges. The British demarcate their garden borders with fences, traditionally bought in slat panel format and erected on Sunday afternoons in front of the same inquisitive neighbours it is intended to keep out. Occasionally, entire plots are locked behind big metal gates. Brits do whatever they can to prevent those on the outside from looking in.

So here is the great British contradiction: the net curtains often twitch; the hedge branches are frequently parted. Fences are peered over. Deep inside the terraced houses of the once industrial north, an ear may even be cupped over a glass, held against the dividing bedroom wall. In the surviving pubs and post offices, gossip is freely exchanged and circulated, “But you didn’t hear it from me.” The culture of privacy produces an overbearing sense of curiosity. The British want others to keep their noses out of their business, but they are themselves, inherently nosey.

In “Noel Coward: A biography,” Philip Hoare deconstructs what is arguably the British playwright’s finest work, “Private Lives.”

“It was Coward,” he writes, “who was responsible for cocktail cabinets and cocktail manners even in the lowliest semi (-detached house), where fantasies of Deauville, Dubonnet and balcony romances persisted, despite the reality outside. But when the bedroom doors close, they suffer, like the rest of us.”

The point here, of course, is that although there is no such thing as

an open society of equals, we are all subjected to the same outside pressures in seclusion. Perhaps this is why the British look for a way out; an escape. Some watch East Enders; others prefer Coronation Street (British soap operas). Many more, however, remain absorbed in the plot lines of the Royal family.

The British have an insatiable appetite for idle gossip, but they will go to extraordinary lengths to hide their own lives from outside ears and eyes In Bangladesh, by contrast, there are no royal births and there is no real concept of a right to privacy.

People do not desire or seek to defend either. With large families, communal living spaces and open front doors, your own business is everyone else’s.

You know your neighbours and their lives, and they know you and yours.

Consequently, if everyone intrudes, there can be no intrusions. William and Kate would surely prefer a life like that, to the never-ending madness over Prince George. n