Weekend Tribune Vol. 2 Issue.12

| vo l 2 I ssu e 12 | F R I D AY, J Uly 25, 2014

Fitr festivities 6

Many faces of Eid

15

Magic flutist

20

Sher Khan

CONTENTS

1

A W e ekly Productio n of

DhakaTribune

Volume 2 | Issue 12 | July 25, 2014 Editor Zafar Sobhan

News

Executive Editor Shahriar Karim

2 This Week

Managing Editor Jahangir Hyder

3 Oddities

Features Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

Features

Assistant Magazine Editor Rumana Habib Weekend Tribune Team Tasnuva Amin Nova Farhana Urmee Rifat Islam Esha Faisal Mahmud Shah Nahian Syeda Samira Sadeque Tausif Sanzum James Saville Sifana Sohail Art Direction/Photography Syed Latif Hossain Cartoons Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Rio Shuvo

9 Photo story Secret snacking 12 Origin story Essential deshi iftar 13 Profile Nishat Majumdar

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15 Music Pandit Pannalal Ghosh

feature

17 Standpoint Eid cocktail

Eid over time

20 Interview Tiger man

Regulars

Contributors Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi Zareef Kamal Yamin Khan Ruwaida Khandker Dina Sobhan

8 Funny Bone 14 Legalese

Graphics Md Mahbub Alam

16 Tough love

Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Kazi Syras Al Mahmood

18 Stay In

Production Masum Billah

19 Go out

Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad Website dhakatribune.com/weekend facebook.com/WeekendTrib

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Email your letters to: weekend@dhakatribune.com

the cover

Look carefully and you will find the Arabic phrase “La ilaha illallah” (there is no God but God) written 8 times within the calligraphic puzzle.

Designing is an everyday job for Maruf Raihan, a second year student of BUET architecture department, and calligraphy his hobby.

Maruf came up with this digital print after experimenting with Kufi fonts and geometrical arrangements. He says he has a personal attachment to the yellowish brown color.

This piece was exhibited at the Calligraphy Festival held at the EMK Center in Dhaka on July 16.

artist: Maruf Raihan

feature

Eid around the world

Fitr festivities H

ow is Eid celebrated around the world? This week we do some armchair travelling to see the “Many faces of Eid” (pg 6-7).

Travel through time to learn about the drastically “Evolving Eid” in Bangladesh (pg 4-5), trace the history behind the “Iftar trinity” of pyaju, haleem and jalebi (pg 12).

Check out our hilarious #throwback “Eid rewind” to childhood (pg 8), and the very grown up way people celebrate when they go straight “Back to vices” (pg 17).

Peek at some “Reluctant Ramadanists” and enjoy roadside tea behind the purdah. No judgement.

Editor’s note Meet three fascinating Bangladeshis: mountaineer Nishat Majumdar, our first “Women on top” of Everest (pg 13), “The magic flutist” Pandit Pannalal Ghosh (pg 15), and “Sher Khan” tiger researcher Monirul Khan (pg 20).

If you don’t want to leave that armchair, you can have “Eid, Delivered” (pg 18). Or venture with our handy list of hotspots (pg 19).

Please note, Weekend Tribune will not be published next Friday.

See you all in two weeks. Happy holidays!

- Rumana Habib

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2 News | this week

A Bangladeshi pro-Gaza protester in Canada When I first saw a Facebook post calling for a rally to protest against the increasing death toll in Gaza, I wondered if I should go.

Since the bombings started, I’ve been repulsed and furious – joining in with bashing the Israeli military at every opportunity. But having never been to such a rally before, I wasn’t sure if my being there would tangibly help those suffering on the ground in Palestine. I have a wise friend who convinced me by saying: “The more people show up, the more media coverage the protest will get.” That did it.

When I arrived in front of the Israeli consulate, I was shocked to see Israeli supporters with their own banners and flags under the consular building. While the throngs of Palestinian supporters inspired me, the Israeli supporters made me wonder: “What are they protesting? Shrapnel on their pruned backyards?”

Their placards said Hamas was carrying out child abuse, which I obviously don’t condone. But we must take into account the glaring disparity of human deaths on the two sides of this conflict.

So, I rushed right into the centre of the Palestinian fury, was handed a placard by a friend and joined in with the scores raising their voices to shout: “Free Palestine!” and “Stop killing children!” As the evening wore on, the crowd grew in size, the voices grew in volume, and the air thickened with passion and anger.

It was rather bizarre watching the counter-protest on the other side of the street. The Israelis were quite literally having a party, with trance music, drinking, dancing, and a show of middle fingers to convey their sentiments about current events. They used toy rockets as props in their dance, threatening to throw them at our side.

I was thankful for the strong police presence in the area.

Walking out of the crowd that night, I felt great. Maybe our rallying would not convince Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to get off his Israeli bandwagon. Maybe, as much as we wished it were not so, saving lives in Gaza was beyond our power. Yet if the tables were turned, and it were my family and my people that

Insurgent threat shatters Iraq Christians' uneasy peace Christians in the Iraqi city of Mosul were wrong-footed by its new jihadist masters, who initially left them in relative peace but later forced them to flee for their lives.

The turnaround in the attitude of Islamic State insurgents who overran Mosul last month could indicate the group is now confident enough of its hold on Iraq's second city to impose its extreme rules.

Analysts say the relative leniency the group had shown Christians may have been a sop to allied Sunni militant groups with a less severe interpretation of Islam.

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"They tricked us, because in the beginning they did not threaten us, but after they established themselves they began imposing their terrorist laws on us," said Father Emmanuel Kelou, who once headed a Mosul church but now ministers to displaced Christians in the town of Qaraqosh, around 30km away.

Some Christians even returned to their homes after IS insurgents first took control of the city in a blistering offensive on June 9, lulled into a false sense of security by the near absence of attacks on co-religionists who stayed behind.

A displaced Palestinian from the Shejaiya neighbourhood in the Gaza Strip sits on a bench at the UN school where he and others have taken refuge after fleeing heavy fighting in their area, on Monday Photo: AFP

• • • •

Gaza death toll tops 670, Israeli death toll rises to 32 UN Security Council on Monday called for immediate ceasefire.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon was scheduled to meet Israeli, Palestinian leaders.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi

Pillay has said there is a “strong possibility” that Israel is violating international law and may be committing war crimes in Gaza.

• US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Cairo last week, pushing for ceasefire *Latest updates as of Wednesday

were being ruthlessly murdered, day in and day out, I know I would want the world to collectively raise their voices for us.

(Due to the sensitivity of the issue, the author has requested this published only with their initials SH).

In this photo, nuns visit an Iraqi Christian family that fled the violence in Mosul, upon their arrival in the village of Qaraqush.

Last Monday, two nuns and three orphans were released in Mosul after being held for 17 days, a development the city's Chaldean Christian Patriarch Louis Sako described as "a glimmer of hope, and a breakthrough" in relations with the city's Islamist leaders.

Yet, days later and just over a month after arriving, insurgents would circulate a statement demanding Mosul's thousands of remaining Christians convert to Islam, pay a special tax or leave, triggering an exodus of people who had barely enough time to gather a few belongings.

Last Friday the city's mosques were blaring calls for all Christians to depart by a deadline set for the following day, echoing the IS ultimatum seen by AFP, which said there would be "nothing but the sword" for those who did not comply.

Observers say IS's expulsion of Christians is in keeping with its proclaimed aim to create an Islamic caliphate in lands it has conquered, but that it may have waited to consolidate its hold on Mosul and other areas it had won before making a move.

News and photo: AFP

MH17 black boxes handed over to dutch investigators

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Malaysian officials on Wednesday handed over the black boxes from flight MH17 to Dutch lead investigators of the crash in rebelheld Ukraine, the Netherlands government said. Pro-Russian rebels controlling the eastern Ukraine crash site of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 had handed over the black boxes to Malaysian officials following intense international pressure.

Flight MH17 was carrying 298 people, with all on board killed.

The jet is believed to have been downed by a surface-to-air missile.

Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte confirmed Tuesday that his country would lead the crash investigation, which normally would have fallen to Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Najib Razak announced a breakthrough deal with separatists from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, who currently stand accused by the US and some other nations of bringing down the aircraft, allegedly with a missile supplied by Russia.

News: AFP

Oddities | News

‘Mannequin’ dumped at Florida landfill was ‘mummified’ man

T

wo men hired to clean out a Florida rental house thought they found a mannequin hanging in the garage, so they cut down what they believed to be a Halloweenstyle prank and took it to a landfill.

But on Thursday workers at the dump in west-central Florida grew suspicious of its foul odor and called authorities who determined that the workers had

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Say what?

actually brought in a dead man in a “mummified state,” said Denise Moloney, a spokeswoman for the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

After interviewing the workers, detectives decided they were telling the truth and not trying to cover up foul play.

Authorities believe the dead man, Jeremy Witfoth, 33, hanged himself in recent weeks. An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death.

News: Reuters

Romanian princess admits running Large crater opens up at cockfighting ring in Oregon “the end of the world” A Romanian princess and her husband pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one charge of running an illegal gambling operation for their involvement in a cockfighting ring in the US state of Oregon.

Irina Walker, 61, daughter of exiled former Romanian King Michael, and her husband John Walker, 68, appeared in a federal court in Portland in connection with cockfights they held in Irrigon,

Oregon, in 2012 and 2013.

They had originally denied any wrongdoing, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Peifer said that, under the agreement to change their plea, the couple will sell their ranch and forfeit $200,000 to the government in lieu of incarceration.

Cockfighting is illegal under federal law, and under the laws of every state.

News: Reuters

This mysterious crater in Northern Russia, discovered by helicopter last week, is about 30-60 meters wide according to present estimates (in contrast to original estimates of up to 100 meters).

Meanwhile, the crater is now known to be about 70 meters deep, and it’s appears to have an icy lake at its bottom. There seems to be water flowing down the smooth crater walls. A Russian science

team has returned from exploring the crater, and they still say it is a natural formation, but there are no answers yet as to what caused it.

The Yamal peninsula, where the crater is located, is a region whose name roughly translates as “the end of the world.”

News: Desk Photo: Siberian Times

Giant toad afloat People ride in a boat in front of a 22-metre tall inflatable toad displayed at a park in Beijing on July 21, 2014. Summer has arrived in the city marking peak tourist season, with tens of thousands domestic tourists visiting the capital.

News and Photo: AFP

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4 FEATURE | EID OVER TIME

EVOLVING EID: ELITE TO EVERYMAN How the festival developed in Bangladesh Farhana Urmee Photos: James Burke for Life Magazine, Dhaka 1954 Reprinted courtesy Bangladesh Old Photo Archive

The faithful strain to listen to the Eid day khutba (sermon) at an Eidgah - some things never change

O

nce upon a time in Bengal, Eid was only celebrated by the ruling class.

According to Prof Shamsuzzaman, the director general of Bangla Academy who has also conducted research on local festivals, it took a long time for Eid celebrations to gain traction in the larger community. Scripture-based rituals were not always accepted and understood by everyday citizens.

But as society evolved, and as Eid became a massive source of income for local entrepreneurs, more and more people began to embrace it.

The dawn of Eid

The celebration of Eid is not an ancient tradition in Bengal, though it does date back to the 13th century. Prior to this, Eid was observed only on a very limited scale by those who had converted to Islam under the influence of travelling Sufis, dervishes and Muslim traders.

It was the Muslim Mughal rulers who brought their religion to our This family is visiting relatives with enviable ease in the still underdeveloped capital

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Balloon sellers still delight children on Eid today, but the street scene in the background is certainly different

land on a bigger scale, but the local traditions were preserved with respect. Islam spread gradually.

Even after the Mughals arrived, people were not that eager to observe occasions like Eid, as they did not have much money to spend on celebrations. Most people were farmers whose income relied entirely on the seasonal harvests.

The few middle class people did not have much disposable income either, and found the price of new clothes and celebratory foods prohibitively expensive.

For the Nawabs

The nawabs were always in the mood for celebration, and never spared a chance to arrange musical events and theatre performances.

Eid was more a secular kind of celebration then.

Dhaka’s nawabs would arrive in procession for Eid prayers at the Eidgah on Satmasjid Road, the same space that is still used today.

Local aristocrats and elites accompanied them in the procession and joined them in

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prayers. Eid prayers were not yet attended by the general community at that time.

Evolving society

Until the 19th century, Bangalis were mostly rural farmers. Few people were educated in schools and colleges. But during the British era, a new middle class emerged and gradually began gaining a financial foothold in the early 20th century.

The national election of 1927, when everyone was a voter, was a crucial turning point in the history of the Indian subcontinent. This was the first time speeches were given in Bangla. By then, a Muslim middle class had arisen and they wanted to identify themselves with the elites and aristocrats.

Ramjaner Oi Rojar Sheshe

In the 1930s, when Kazi Nazrul wrote a song about the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, many religious leaders initially opposed the song being written. But when the song was first sung by Abbasuddin, those same leaders could not hold back their tears.

The beautiful tune of Ramjaner Oi Rojar Sheshe eventually became the virtual anthem of the occasion in Bengal. It is still played on TV and radio every year.

The Pakistan period

The celebration of Eid gradually lost its pre-Islamic components during our identity as East Pakistan.

There was less music being played on the radio and in public places.

But the celebration was not stifled

These toys of yesteryear were a big source of income for savvy Eid entrepreneurs

In this region, the widespread celebration of Eid is not ancient, but modern completely, as the growing middle classes insisted on some degree of fanfare.

Bangladesh boom

After 1971, the joyful celebration of independence spilled over into popular culture, and into the festival of Eid, which became a national celebration.

Ordinary people also benefitted from this huge expansion of Eid celebrations. Some people even began doing their Eid shopping

abroad, an indication of newfound economic success.

In recent times, the scale of the celebrations have also given people a chance to profit, as Eid means big business. Even impoverished people in villages come to the city in search of a little extra income during this season.

For those not working, visiting family has become the norm.

Almost 80% of people from Dhaka travel to their home villages for Eid every year.

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Many women still kept purdah, such as these ladies travelling by veiled rickshaw

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6 feature | eid around the world

Many faces of Eid

Beyond the requisite prayers, new clothes, visiting relatives and collecting eidi – Muslims in some countries mark Eid with special traditions of their own, adding charm to the most eagerly awaited Islamic festival of the year

Compiled by Zareef Kamal

India

Eid begins from the previous night on Chand Raat (night of the moon), with Muslims swarming into shopping malls and bazars for celebratory shopping. Women draw elaborate henna patterns on the palms of their hands and buy bangles to match their Eid dresses. One of the most common Eid dishes across India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is shemai, a dish of toasted vermicelli noodles, dried fruit and milk.

Police and civilians in Bandra, India

Oman

Cooking a goat in the shuwa style, Oman

Three days before Eid, goats are slaughtered and wrapped in banana leaves, then cooked in a hole in the ground surrounded by hot coals.

The dish is called “shuwa.” It is a very traditional way of cooking, done in Oman for generations.

The meat is shared among family, friends, relatives and neighbours on Eid day. A small portion is also given away to the less fortunate.

A few days before Eid, special markets are set up over the country selling meat, sweets, spices and other essentials.

A horserider visiting the Kano state durbar, Nigeria

Nigeria

In the northern state of Kano, the emir hosts a durbar festival to mark Eid-ul-Fitr and the end of Ramadan. It begins with prayers, followed by a parade of the emir and his entourage on horses accompanied by music, and ending at the emir’s palace.

The durbar culminates in a procession of elaborately dressed horsemen who pass through the city on the way to the emir’s palace. Once assembled near the palace, the groups of horsemen – each of which represent a nearby

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village – take turns charging directly toward the emir, then pulling up just a few feet in front of the seated dignitaries to offer their respect and allegiance.

Politicians and religious leaders have used the festival to urge Muslims to embrace forgiveness, sharing, kindness and love, and to eschew violence. Local people enjoy a variety of traditional games, including bullfights and football games, known as the “Kano pillas.”

Moon sighting on Green Hill, South Africa

South Africa

The on 29th of Ramadan, South African Muslims don brightly coloured clothers and gather at dusk on Green Point. They share iftar before looking up into the sky to catch sight of the new moon.

They wait together for either the announcement of Eid, or to hear they still have one more day of

Ramadan left.

Green Point is near Bo-Kaap, one of the city’s oldest, traditionally Muslim residential quarters.

Built on a hillside, it is a dense neighbourhood of historic, brightlypainted houses interspersed with tiny mosques in bright pastel shades and eye-catching minarets.

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Egypt The whole family goes to the mosque together to attend Eid prayers The sermon reminds Egyptians of the virtues and good deeds they should do unto others, even strangers, during Eid and throughout the year.

Family visits are considered a must on the first day of Eid, but on the other two days people go to parks, cinemas, theatres or the beaches. Some like to go on tours or Nile cruises. Sharm el-Sheikh is also a favourite holiday spot in Egypt.

Family gatherings involve cooking and eating all kinds of Egyptian food, but the items most associated with Eid-ul-Fitr are “kahk,” cookies filled with nuts and covered with powdered sugar. It is common to see a bakery crowded with kahk buyers in the last few days of Ramadan.

In many working-class neighbourhoods, kids gather to listen to storytellers who mesmerise them with folktales. It is also customary for kids to rent decorated bikes and ride around town.

Myanmar

For Burmese Muslims, Eid ul-Fitr is just one day long, though it has many names: Eid Nei (Eid day), Eid Ka Lay (Small Eid) or Shai Mai Eid

(Shemai Eid).

To wake fellow Muslims for sehri, during Ramadan, young Burmese Muslims organise singing teams called “jaago” (wake up).

Before sunrise, They walk through neighbourhoods and sing, using tunes from popular Hindi movie songs, and replacing the original lyrics with Burmese lyrics about fasting.

On Eid day, these groups visit Muslim homes, where they receive food and donations for their team in the form of eidi or duit raya (green envelopes, the Islamic version of the Chinese red envelope.

Australia

Claiming to the be the largest gathering of Muslims in the southern hemisphere, the Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair last year hosted 30,000 visitors, who enjoyed performances representing 25 cultures, carnival rides and fireworks. This festival, now in it’s 30th year, travels to several cities across the continent, and

is open to Muslims and nonMuslims.

In Canberra, Australia’s capital city, an Eid festival takes place on the Sunday following Eid, sponsored by the Australian Federal Police. This festival is also comprised of stalls from various nations, a cultural program and a large number of entertainment rides.

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, Eid is a festival of getting together. From the 15th of Ramadan, people prepare by cleaning their houses and renovating home decor. During the three days of Eid, damilies decorate their dinning tables with some dry fruits, cakes, cookies, and black and green tea.

Eid is celebrated slightly different in rural areas, especially for women, who stay at home for all three days while men visit friends and family. Women then go out on on the fourth day. Eid gives them an opportunity to meet relatives they cannot meet other times during the year.

Eid fair in Adelaide, Australian

Sharing food is an old tradition

Saudi kids receing gifts

Traditional Eid candy

Saudi Arabia Eid-ul-Fitr is generally celebrated with great pomp and grandeur in Saudi Arabia, with slight differences between the various provinces.

Following Eid prayers, people gather at the patriarchal home, which has been lavishly decorated. The elders of the family give children small gifts of money, toys and sweets.

Shopkeepers are generous during Eid, and may give gifts to customers. For example, it is common for shops to give customers a crystal plate when they

buy a certain quantity of chocolates.

People from all walks of life greet each other, and sometimes children receive gifts from total strangers.

In some regions, it is conventional for Saudi gentleman to anonymously deposit large quantities of rice and other essentials outside the houses of the less fortunate. In certain regions of central Saudi Arabia, residents put down huge rugs in the streets and prepare feasts to share with the neighbours.

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8 Funny bone | Yamin Khan

Eid rewind

Yamin Khan reminisces about the triumphs and tribulations (mostly

tribulations) of his childhood Eid celebrations Show me the eidi

For me, being continuously broke was a habit formed in childhood Eid has been a very important part of my life ever since I started appreciating the sweet smell of crisp fresh banknotes. The feeling of having currency in your pocket, as opposed to gum or a handkerchief, can do wonders for your confidence level.

But I never got to experience that feeling because my parents never allowed me to receive financial gifts. For me, being continuously broke was a habit formed in childhood.

While all my friends would get excited over all the fun they were planning to have with their new found wealth, I was busy explaining to them the benefits of communism. On most occasions it didn’t work – and by most occasions I mean every occasion.

The best that I got out of it was a

sit-down with my parents, who blamed Cold War-themed video games for my highly inappropriate behaviour.

The irony is that some of my friends now work for banks, where their jobs require them to extract money from those who have a surplus of it. Something I did as a kid. For free.

Costume malfunction

My clothes were hand-picked by my mother (who still buys my clothes, incidentally Back then, I remember all the kids would show off their new clothes on the day of Eid. I never understood why. I was like: “I've already seen you in your normal clothes – who are you trying to fool?”

I feel exactly the same today when I see girls uploading flattering profile pictures on Facebook –

pictures that could never be used to get a visa (not even to Sri Lanka, where you can get one on arrival).

With such misleading portraits, they'd be accused of identity theft.

No matter how much I judged other kids for wearing flashy new clothes, I would always be wearing something new myself. The only difference was that my clothes were hand-picked by my mother (who still buys my clothes, incidentally).

In fact you’d often see us wearing the same clothes at social gatherings, which is partly the reason I find “40-Year-Old Virgin” such an inspiring movie.

Hungry hungry hypocrite

People around me have adopted a ‘noise cancellation’ approach to my blabbering Now that I have been judging others for quite some time, it’s only fair that I reveal some negative

attributes about myself. As you see above, my hypocrisy is at the top of the list. In fact, if hypocrisy ever gets the recognition it deserves, I'll be considered a rare talent.

Another negative element of my personality is that I complain about everything, especially during Ramadan starvation. It can range from: “There’s too much salt in the food” to “There’s too much salt in the sea.”

The problem has reached such a level that people around me have been forced to adopt a “noise cancellation” approach to my blabbering. Every time I start complaining, my friends start making random noises with their mouths. As a consequence, my parents are now fully convinced that I am friends with a group of talentless beat-boxers.

Okay now I am beginning to feel a bit self conscious, as if I've told more than I should have. So without further ado, I would like to return to the warmth of harmless childhood Eid experiences.

Bad reception

I got so nervous, I didn’t know what to say During those days, when television meant BTV and movies meant VHS, Eid programmes were a big source of excitement for everyone.

They were eagerly anticipated, and talked about for a long time afterwards. My favourite used to be Ittadi, a satirical comedy show, which is still the most popular television programme to date in Bangladesh.

The creator of the show, Mr Hanif Shonket, the godfather of comedy in Bangladesh, is a star who inspired millions. I remember my first interaction with the legend quite clearly. It was a dream come true for me to meet my childhood hero. In fact I got so nervous that I didn’t know what to say and ended up blurting: “You look much better on TV than in real life.”

Given my age, he was kind enough to ignore the incident, but it didn’t go unnoticed by my parents, who again blamed video games for ruining my mind.

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Secret snacking | Photo story

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The Reluctant Ramadanists What’s happening behind those purdahs draping roadside tea stalls, which always spring up at this time of year? Photos: Syed Latif Hossain

I

f you are a not fasting during Ramadan, if can be embarrassing. But enterprising roadside shops have found a way to shield them from judgmental eyes – ironically with a with purdah.

“Yesterday at noon I was able to publicly have a cup of tea and

a piece of cake, in peace,” said Kazi Syrus. “The tea stall is well covered, so I was relaxed, knowing I wouldn’t be embarrassed by someone seeing me having a drink and snacks during Ramadan.

“But just as I was leaving the curtained tea stall when a few school children saw me – or rather

caught me. You should have seen their faces,” he laughed.

Kazi’s story is a typical one according to the owner of a typical makeshift roadside tea stall in Dhaka.

According to him, business booms during Ramadan, as many office goers come to his stall to eat

and drink away from the eyes of their colleagues.

The stalls and restaurants are also frequented by those who cannot eat or get lunch at home during Ramadan, so cigarette-andcha sales actually go up.

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10 Photo story | Secret snacking

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12 Origin story | Essential deshi iftar made its way to Somalia and even parts of the Middle East, is only one of the marvels of ancient maritime trade.

Haleem: The one-pot meal

Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

The rise of the iftar trinity It’s not iftar in Bangladesh without. How did these musthaves make it into our cuisine Reema Islam

“F

irst greet, then eat, then talk,” Chishti Sheikh Nizamuddin Aulia would say to dervishes visiting his dargah.

In a culture that has always paid immense importance to the quality of the food on the table, the iftari spread is simply incomplete without certain items.

As this Ramadan progressed, the length of the fasting day got shorter, but iftar menus just got lengthier, and the food more succulent. Many of these have transformed over the centuries, carving their own unique niche in the hearts of fasting Bangladeshis.

Now, as the month of abstinence gives way to the big day of eating everything we had been craving all month, here’s to keeping these age old traditions of our rich heritage alive.

in the shape of the piyaju, which virtually defines the flavour of Ramadan for us. Although the pakora is said to have originated in Uttar Pradesh and been influenced by many cooking styles, including Portugese frying methods, the piyaju’s humble beginnings remain fairly elusive.

Guesses range from the Portuguese influences to those of Bihar upon Bengal, as the versatile pakora eventually morphed into red lentil fritters. As Indian maritime routes increased, the Middle East, South Africa and the Horn of Africa took on various items from the Indian menu and incorporated them into their own cuisine.

Thus a very integral part of the Bangladeshi snacks menu found

Photo: Syed Latif Hossain

its way into a Somalian kitchen in the form of “bajiy,” a replica of the piyaju using the exact same ingredients (but perhaps with a lot fewer spices). The name is obviously a version of bhaaji or bhujia. How this East Indian snack

Piyaju: Of rainy days

The most popular use of a newspaper in our part of the world is as a proxy for a pakora plate.

Eating fried food, especially the pakora, is synonymous with rain in the Indian subcontinent. Whether you come from Kerala, Karachi or Khulna, a rainy day calls for a plate of hot pakoras with steaming cups of tea.

Yet Bengal has its own unique version of this much loved fritter,

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Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

While the more tantalizing and chatpatta street food originated in Uttar Pradesh during the time of the Avadhs – the samosa possibly came from Varanasi itself – some Arab influences still find a comfortable place on our iftar tables.

Haleem is said to have been brought to Hyderabad by Arab settlers. It is specifically accredited to Yemen. The Nizams, known for their rich tastes and a sincere appreciation of the art of foodmaking, absolutely loved the merry mixture of wheat, lentils, meat and garam masala.

Of course haleem, which was a stylized version of the Arab hareesa, saw a change in its original ingredients over the centuries, but this staple iftari dish has tranversed many miles to find its corner on the Bangladeshi iftar table, garnished with a generous dose of ginger strips, fried onions, coriander and green chillies topped off with a squeeze of lemon. The extra toppings could possibly be a Hyderabadi touch of decadence.

Jalebi: Twist of sweetness

Seldom is a jalebi maker seen without an entourage of ravenous onlookers during Ramadan. They watch as the flour concoction swirls in the heated oil, waiting to be bathed in a sugary mixture.

The jalebi has been a favourite item on iftari menus for much longer than we can imagine.

This tradition has a rather ambiguous origin. Thought to have been first documented in Muhammad bin Hasan AlBaghdadi’s cookbook during the 13th century, the jalebi began its epic journey from the opulent kitchens of Iran, where it was called Zulbia, to the Mughal bawarchi khanas of India.

Distributed especially during Ramadan amongst the poor, the jalebi truly spread its sweetness and became a part of all kitchens, rich and poor. Claims have been made by other historians dating it back to the times of ancient India. where it was possibly named jal vallika (eventually morphing into jalebi), a mixture of fermented wheat and yoghurt.

The jalebis we eat today in Bangladesh have a more Maghribi or Western influence, especially if yeast is involved in fermenting the dough. Zlabia is eaten with the same gusto in Turkey, the Middle East and North African, as we witness at the stalls of Chawk Bazar in Dhaka.

Iftaris everywhere are incomplete without this twisted delight.

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Nishat Majumdar | Profile

13

Woman on top

The first Bangladeshi woman to conquer Mt Everest recounts how she caught the climbing bug Farhana Urmee

A

s a rule, Nishat Majumdar is a doer, not a talker. This is tricky, considering I’ve come to hear her tale.

Yet her habit of long thoughtful silences during our conversation only adds to her mystique.

We met at Dhaka’s WASA office where, when she’s not mountaineering, she works as the senior accounts officer. She tells me her day job is mostly routine number-crunching. The monotonous work belies her spirit of adventure.

And what a spirit she has. Nishat made history by becoming the first Bangladeshi woman to conquer Mt Everest.

Young Nishat

Nishat has been athletic since childhood. “I always used to do physical exercise. People may laugh at doing exercises everyday with no training or guidelines, but I simply loved doing it.”

She also grew up longing to see the world. “I used to like reading adventure books and travel stories.

I used to visualise places I read about.”

Coming from an ordinary family, Nishat could only dream of travelling to exotic places. In her university days, she was finally able to travel somewhere exciting.

The first mountain

“In 2003, my younger sister asked me to join a trip to Keokradang, the highest peak in Bangladesh,

Photos: MA Muhit

arranged by the Bangladesh Astronomical Association (BMA). It was the first step on my journey of discovery,” she said.

“We summited Keokradang only in only two days, taking a difficult route. The very first moment I saw the beauty of the mountains and clouds embracing each other, I stood still. I felt like all my sweat and fatigue had disappeared for good. Before that moment, I had never felt so connected to nature.”

Joining the club

Nishat’s interest was further aroused in 2004, when the Bangla Mountaineering and Trekking Club (BMTC) announced a team who

would aim to conquer Mt Everest in the next ten years. Nishat saw their pictures in the newspaper, and noticed they included a woman.

In 2006 BMTC founder Inam Al Haque, the pioneer of mountaineering in Bangladesh, formed a team of five women to go to Everest base camp. After a series of stamina tests, Nishat’s name was recommended by BMA for the team.

In 2010 Nishat’s went on an expedition to a difficult virgin peak in Himalayas. It took 13 attempts before the team managed to reach to summit. Before that, she had not seriously considered summiting Everest.

Journey to the top

“Conquering Everest, being on the top of the world – I had not thought of that.

When I first went to Kalapatthar, the place from where you can see Everest from afar, I had the feeling I would never be able to reach that beauty, let alone summit it,” remembers Nishat.

“My whole experience of conquering Everest progressed very interestingly. The desire to go further and further gradually grew in me, and the completion of one phase took me to another.”

Nishat has never seen climbing mountains as triumphs to trumpet, but rather as a way to discover nature and become more down to earth.

It was only after several successes that Nishat developed a plan in her mind to conquer Everest. “Until then I was simply climbing, and seeing the nature.

This is how four years passed, by just climbing. I was okay with that.”

But the moment after the thought of climbing Everest first occurred to her, she could not think about anything else. She decided she would do it. “I set the target to conquer Mt Everest in 2012, and I did so, on my very first attempt.”

Blazing trails

Speaking about her remaining dreams, she tells me of her desire to see “more and more” of the world.

Yet she does not want to shirk her responsibility to other mountaineering enthusiasts of Bangladesh. She has yet to settle on an initiative, but she desperately wants to do something that involves children and youths – who, with their whole lives ahead of them, can make their own dreams come true.

Nishat has to walk regularly, at least 30-40km once a month, to keep her body fit for mountaineering. The little girl who loved to do physical exercise, now a mountain queen, finds contentment as she walks on.

An eternal optimist, she believes her wandering will lead her to new and exciting paths.

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WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, J U LY 2 5, 2 0 1 4

14 Legalese | Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi

Noisy neighbours Q A “The gigantic and obnoxious mall next to our office has been playing extremely loud music every day from 11am till midnight, with

occasional breaks during azaans, iftar and taraweeh. It’s so loud that it makes better sense to dance to the music than try and hold important meetings. I have almost memorised their promotional message. Each time we get them to

turn the volume down they simply hike it back up after a few minutes.

What legal recourse can one take in the face of such public nuisance?”

Dear Reader, What a nightmare.

No one wants to listen to promotional messages for “priyo kreta – shadharon” more than once a day, and I can imagine the torture you guys are going through if you have to endure it constantly.

Thankfully they are considerate enough to give you a break during azaans, iftar and taraweeh. Fasting affects people in different ways and it is likely that once Ramadan is over, life will go back to normal and your office neighbours will be more considerate than they are now.

However, if this is something that you have been enduring since before Ramadan and there is no indication that the situation will improve in the near future, then perhaps you are correct in seeking alternative solutions.

It is no secret that Dhaka is the most rapidly growing city in Bangladesh, and with rapid industrialization comes unwanted side effects. Noise pollution is one of these side effects.

Noise may be defined as unwanted or offensive sounds that unreasonably intrude into people’s daily activities, ie when its intensity is such that it interferes with the ability to hear something or causes discomfort, annoyance, and stress.

In recent years noise has emerged as one of the most important pollutants of the environment.

Owing to a lot of demand to tackle this issue head-on, a study was conducted and the findings reported that the noise issue was bad enough to warrant the enactment and implementation of regulations.

The resulting framework was the Sound Pollution (Control) Rules 2006 which specifically states that daytime/night-time permissible

sound levels, in decibels, are 50/40 in silent zones, 55/45 in residential areas, 60/50 in mixed areas, 70/60 in commercial areas, and 75/70 in industrial areas. Since you have not mentioned the location of your office, I cannot advise you about whether your office falls is in a “commercial area” or “mixed area.” Regardless of where your office is situated, if the noise of the music being played exceeds 60-70 decibels – Houston, we have a problem.

The problem is that, in spite of laws, rules and regulations constantly being enacted, enforcement is an issue in Bangladesh – and a major one at that. The Sound Pollution (Control)

Rules 2006 is no exception to this trend.

If enforcement and implementation were strictly maintained, you wouldn’t be facing this problem in the first instance.

Therefore I would not suggest bringing a claim against the mall under these rules just yet.

You are, of course, entitled to pursue a claim under “nuisance” against your neighbour, but you are looking at a long-winded legal dispute which could turn out to be quite expensive and timeconsuming as well.

Practically speaking, there is one suggestion I do have that could actually help you out. You could try sending a letter to your

Got a problem?

Write to Jennifer at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

neighbour’s landlord, complaining about their conduct and implying (not expressly stating) that you may have to resort to seeking legal recourse if the situation is not remedied immediately.

This will have the desired effect of spurring the landlord into speaking to your neighbours (maybe even suggesting a termination of the lease). This will make them take you and your complaints seriously.

Sometimes practical steps can be more effective than legal recourse, and often just the implied threat will suffice! Hope this works out for you – do keep us updated!

.

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

Cartoon: Rio Shuvo/Dhaka Tribune

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, J U LY 25, 2014

Pandit Pannalal Ghosh | Music

15

The magic flutist

Remembering the flute legend ahead of his 103rd birth anniversary on Wednesday, July 31 Farhana Urmee

T

he bamboo stick that floated down the Kirtonkhola River found its master. The boy who picked it up was looking for something to herd his cows with, but he quickly recognised the stick as a discarded flute. He decided then and there to master the instrument.

Pandit Pannalal Ghosh (also known as Amal-Jyoti Ghosh) was the boy who became a legend, raising the humble bamboo flute to the highest levels of classical music. In fact, The history of Indian classical music is indebted to Pannalal because of his marriage of typical folk instruments with traditional classical forms.

Kolkata based singer, song writer and political activist, Kabir Suman, announced that he is making a film on Pannalal’s life. The film will

be entitled “Nupurdhwani” after Pannalal’s signature raga.

In his genes

Pannalal was born in 1911, in Barisal to a musical family.

His father Akshay Kumar Ghosh was an established sitar player, and his brother Pandit Nikhil Ghosh became one of the most eminent tabla players of the twentieth century. His nephew, Pandit Nayan Ghosh, would also go on to become a sitar and tabla maestro.

Recording career

Pannalal later moved to Kolkata, which was a big hub for music at the time.

Pannalal made his name on All India Radio. His live performances across different parts of India gained him a large fan following.

In the earliest days of his career,

he played music for silent films in Kolkata to earn money. Later on, he started composing and recording for film soundtracks, where he was driven to improvise with the bamboo flute.

In 1940, he moved to Bombay and wrote music for some early movies.

Why bamboo?

Before he finally settled for a bamboo flute, he tried working with different types of wood and even metal. Earlier bamboo flutes had 7 holes, but Pannalal’s had 8, and after a thorough series of experiments, he set the length of his flute to 32 inches.

As another experiment he invented a flute that had 22 holes, which is now kept at the Delhi museum.

In addition to inventing longer

flutes, he also introduced the bass bansuri to Indian music. His other inventions include a high pitched tanpura and surpeti, and another special six-stringed tanpura.

Playing style

It was alap, the most subtle form of Indian classical music, which received most of his attention. He gave flute playing the status of high art, and is also remembered for his creation of the unique Raga Nupurdhwani.

Pannalal learned from a number of gurus like Khushi Mohammad Khan and Girija Shankar Chakraborty, who were iconic harmonium players and vocalists at that time. Eventually, Pannalal managed to become a disciple of Ustad Alauddin Khan in 1947.

.

Did you know?

THE FLUTE

1. Legendary flute player Pandit Hariprashad Chaurasia wanted to learn from Pandit Pannalal and went to the All India Radio station to seek him, but was stopped before they could meet and he left without ever being taught by Pannalal.

2. Lata Mangeskar, while recording a song with Pannalal for the Hindi film Basant Bahar, asked him not to play so beautifully because she could not concentrate on her singing.

3. Before becoming a full-time musician he was a wrestler.

He was a champion in boxing, various martial arts, and athletics.

4. Pannalal did not speak on Thursdays to observe silence, and meditated regularly. He was attracted to spiritualism and took the vows of Ramakrishna, as he desired to take the path of Sanyasa (asceticism).

1. The flute is the oldest known musical instrument, estimated to be 42,000 to 43,000 years old.

2. The Hindu god, Lord Krishna, is considered to be the master of the flute.

3. The holes in a bamboo flute are burnt with hot skewers, as drilling will often split the bamboo.

4. A bamboo flute is never an everlasting instrument as the vibrations eventually cause the flute to crack or split.

5. Flutes can also be made from wood, bone, ivory, plastic, clay, ceramic, brass and even precious metals like gold.

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, J U LY 2 5, 2 0 1 4

16 TOUGH LOVE | DINA SOBHAN

Slack-man and Robin Q A

My good for nothing son has, despite his expensive foreign education, decided to become a circus acrobat.

This is the latest in a string of misguided career attempts, which include homeopathy, stand-up comedy, taxidermy, fortune telling and puppetry. I’ve been trying to convince him to take up

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

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, J U LY 25, 2014

Got a problem?

Write to Dina at weekend@ dhakatribune. com

Q

The job will make him no money, and as far as I can see he intends to continue leeching off my husband and I.

an offer in the HR department of a family friend’s law firm, but he insists the corporate world is not for him. How can I persuade him from pursuing all these deadends?

A: You are, what is known in common parlance, as an enabler.

Ergo, you are complicit in his

living a life entirely devoid of ambition and direction.

Cut him off and he’ll soon be forced to get a job that earns actual money, instead of gallivanting through life like an entitled dilettante!

Cartoon: Priyo

My wife is a climate change scientist and she is very good at her job. After years of studying and writing in obscure scientific journals she finally got offered an amazing research fellowship. The only problem is the job entails her going off to live in Antarctica for at least a year to study the impact of global warming on Emperor penguins.

A

I’ve always supported her in what she does, but I can’t help feeling that having her depart for a year with no prospect of intermediate home visits, and little means of staying in touch, will be too much for me bear.

Furthermore I worry about the impact her absence will have on our three-year-old son. She is very keen to go, and I’m not sure I should pressure her to stay as I realise jobs in her field are very hard to come by. I really don’t want her to go, but I don’t want to irreparably damage her professional career either.

A: Well, despite your faux ambivalence, it is apparent that you DO NOT want your wife furthering her career and doing something she loves, so just be honest and lay the guilt trip on nice and thick. Tell her everything you’ve mentioned here, emphasising how you’ve ALWAYS supported her but that you’re not sure your fragile emotions can withstand the onslaught of loneliness that her departure will subject you to.

For good measure, pinch your son a few times before presenting his tear-drenched face to her, wailing, “And little Pappu …how could you possibly do this to your baby boy???” You could then fling yourself at her feet and beg her to stay, but that might have exactly the opposite effect when she realises what a big girl’s blouse she has for a husband.

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Eid cocktail | standpoint

17

Back to vices

Of all the excuses for into inebriation, Eid is possibly the worst Shah Nahian

T

he clock finally counted down to zero as the bitter drink touched my lips, for the first time in exactly one

month.

I didn’t really enjoy the taste, but I downed it anyway. This whisky had more to offer than a pleasant taste.

In a few short minutes, my head started to get dizzy, vision blurred and before I knew it, I had lost all control. I had been replaced by a more confident person – the kind who slurs when he speaks, can’t walk in a straight line, and should never ever get behind a wheel of a car.

Nowadays, there seems to be a close relationship between celebration and intoxication.

Too often, “celebration” means loosing control of your mind. Even during Eid, people all over Dhaka – and likely in other countries around the world – are celebrating the holy holiday with drugs and alcohol.

Come on.

Of all the excuses you can think of to jump headlong into inebriation, Eid is possibly the worst.

In our everyday lives, most of us tend to be Muslims only in name. I moved away from all kinds of intoxicants after I discovered religion and became a practising Muslim.

Prior to this, I called myself a Muslim but knew nothing about the religion. I never prayed, and instead took part in all kinds of sinful activities. Yet even then, I behaved during Ramadan, the month of repentance and purification of mind, body and soul.

Benefits of fasting

1. While fasting, one has to practice a tremendous amount of selfrestraint. There are also many health benefits: 2. By not eating throughout the day, your body starts eating into fat reserves to source energy.

The body detoxifies itself by burning away harmful toxins that reside in fat deposits.

3. Due to an increase in a hormone called adiponectin, the body’s metabolism becomes more efficient – meaning the amount of nutrients you absorb from food increases.

4. The reduction in food intake causes your stomach to gradually shrink, meaning you’ll need to eat less food in the future to feel full.

5. There is a reduction in blood cholesterol levels. If one maintains a healthy diet after the month of Ramadan, cholesterol levels should remain low.

6. Maintaining mental focus while fasting increases the brain’s neurotrophic factor, causing new more brain cells to be generated, and thus improving long-term brain function.

Kick the habit

Perhaps the most important benefit of fasting is the opportunity it provides to ditch all kinds of bad habits and addictions. As you abstain from vices such as cigarettes, drugs and alcohol, your body gradually acclimatises to their absence, until the addiction is gone for good. The seductive cigarette is powerless by the end of the

month. Furthermore, the intake of these substances is also considered haram (forbidden) in Islam.

The Quran reads: “O you who believe! Intoxicants, games of chance, idolatrous practices and the divining of the future, are but a loathsome evil of Satan’s doing.

Shun them then, so that you might attain a happy state. By means of intoxicants and games of chance, Satan seeks only to sow enmity and hatred among you, and to turn you away from the remembrance of God and from prayer. Will you not then desist?” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, verses 90-91)

R-e-s-p-e-c-t

To spend Eid in an inebriated state is to make a mockery of the Muslim celebration. Eid is not a celebration of letting go, but rather of how Ramadan has changed you. What is the point of fasting if one reverts back to one’s old self as soon as Ramadan ends?

To indulge in such activities in the name of an Islamic celebration is not just haram, it’s downright disrespectful.

If you have spent the month fasting, instead of letting loose and going crazy, take the time to stop and survey the changes Ramadan has brought. You may be better equipped to avoid anger, acquire willpower and become a much stronger person. If you fail to notice the changes, these newly acquired traits may eventually disappear.

Then you have worked so hard for nothing.

Once Ramadan ends, try to learn from your experience. Selfrestraint separates man from beast. We all age with time, but sometimes still fail to grow as people. Let the month help you grow and move your life in a positive direction, rather than just going back to vices.

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WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, J U LY 2 5, 2 0 1 4

18 Stay in

Meanwhile, in Palestine

Scared of braving Dhaka’s shops right now? We’ve got the solution. These websites can provide all your Eid essentials, from clothes and jewelery to groceries, so you don’t have to leave your house.

Clothes and gifts: aarong.com Breaking news: Aarong launched an online shop last week.

Panjabis, saris, jewelery, toys, home decor – you name it, they have it all. This Eid Aarong will make your shopping experience even more convenient. If you reside within Dhaka city, you can get your goods shipped within a day. So head on to their website and have a look at their products.

Urban grocery: chaldal.com With chaldal.com, shopping for groceries at open stalls and bazaars is a thing of the past.

Avoid the hassle of bargaining or dealing with the traffic and the heat of Dhaka city. Chaldal. com has all your feast-cooking necessities. They provide free

Sudoku

Use the numbers 1-9 to complete each of the 3x3 square grids such that each horizontal and vertical line also contains all of the digits from 1-9

home delivery too.

Virtual kula-kuli: Skype and Viber Grab an internet connection and Skype account, and you are good to go with video calls from friends and relatives from all over the world. Catch up, find out how they are spending their Eid, and show off your Eid shopping. Or else catch a phone call on the move with your trusty Android phone app, Viber. And its all for free.

Food on the move: hungrynaki. com Glutted yourself on Eid food, and craving something different?

Hungrynaki.com features home delivery from various restaurants close to you, to be paid upon delivery. You can use their personalised locator to find open shops. They even have their own app, which lets you order food on the go. Note that they will be on vacation from July 27-August 2.

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WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, J U LY 25, 2014

1. Omar (2013): The Oscar nominated story of a young Palestinian freedom fighter who works as an informant after he is tricked into an admission of guilt by association after the killing of an Israeli soldier.

2. 5 Broken Cameras (2011): A documentary of a Palestinian farmer's nonviolent actions towards the Israeli army has a straightforward immediacy that is hard to forget 3. Miral (2010): Frieda Pinto stars as an orphaned Palestinian girl growing up in the wake of Arab-Israeli war, who finds herself drawn into the conflict.

It is based on the life story of Palestinian journalist Rula Jabreel, by the Jewish director Julian Schnabel.

4. Lemon Tree (2008): In this drama film, a Palestinian widow tries to stop her next door neighbour, the Israeli Defense Minister, from destroying the

Mini cryptics Clues

ACROSS 1 Something else, or the alternative (5) 5 Expression of distaste in plug hair (3) 6 Brand new cloth (5) 8 Nimble soldier found in jar (5) 10 Highest rated to place first (3) 11 Plant between old you and me (5) DOWN 1 Egg dish to let me scramble (7) 2 Egg provider in the news (3) 3 Hurry to henhouse (3) 4 Chequers perhaps home to orientals (7) 7 Energy horse gets from Easter symbol (3) 8 Initially a private trouser fitting (3) 9 The girl 4 you? (3)

Last week’s sudoku solutions

The current gruesome reports and disheartening death tolls can make the Middle East conflict feel unreal. These 7 films bring us up close and personal with the human experience of life in Palestine.

lemon trees in her family garden.

During this dispute she develops an unlikely bond with the minister's wife.

5. Waltz with Bashir (2008): An Oscar nominee, this animated documentary chronicles the story of Ari Folman, an Israeli veteran of the 1982 Lebanon War, and his quest to come to terms with the his suppressed memories from the conflict, after he suffers recurring nightmares.

6. Salt of this Sea (2008): An official selection for the Cannes Film Festival, the story of Soraya, an American-born Palestinian woman, who heads to Israel and Palestine on a quest to reclaim her family's home and money that were taken during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

7. Paradise Now (2005): Lifelong friends Said and Khaled are recruited by an extremist group to carry out a suicide attack on civilians in Tel Aviv. The two men are separated at the border, leaving one to carry out the mission while wrestling with his own conscience, as his friend tries to track him down.

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Last week’s Mini Cryptics solutions

eid, delivered

ACROSS 1 Something else, or the alternative (5) 5 Expression of distaste in plug hair (3) 6 Brand new cloth (5) 8 Nimble soldier found in jar (5) 10 Highest rated to place first (3) 11 Plant between old you and me (5) DOWN 1 Egg dish to let me scramble (7) 2 Egg provider in the news (3) 3 Hurry to henhouse (3) 4 Chequers perhaps home to orientals (7) 7 Energy horse gets from Easter symbol (3) 8 Initially a private trouser fitting (3) 9 The girl 4 you? (3)

Go out

19

Your guide to Eid in Dhaka Take a break from watching natoks and movie marathons on TV, here’s a list of places to check out over the Eid holidays Zareef Kamal

Weekly Planner July 25

July 27-29

Cause | Awareness Campaign on Road Safety

Beauty | Colour Your Eid

When 9am-1pm Where Dhanmondi What Youth Movement For Road Safety, Bangladesh (YMRS) will be conducting an awareness campaign for road safety in front of the six major shopping malls in Dhanmondi. Groups of volunteers will be distributing flyers and putting up banners on footbridges. All volunteers will receive certificates and a YMRS t-shirt. Iftar will be provided. Please register online on Facebook. The registration fee is Tk300. For more information, contact 01717214232.

Ramna Park is the oldest, and one of the most popular Eid destinations in Dhaka. Go have a stroll around the various stalls in and around the park that sell achar, pantha-ilish, and different bhortas. You are bound to hear classical music being sung by famous singers and bauls, which is usually played throughout the day.

Restaurants and chain outlets in Dhaka always have special Eid offers, such as Nando’s, Pizza Hut and KFC. Many even offer the traditional Eid breakfasts with their own twists, and it’s always worth trying them even if you are not a fan of the restaurant’s conventional food. Don’t forget the various roadside eateries that spring up on Eid. Amusement parks like the Shishu Park at Shahbagh and the Shishu Mela at Shyamoli are traditional places to share Eid with the whole family. They have enjoyable rides, albeit with a hectic crowd. Or perhaps the Fantasy Park near Savar might tickle your fancy? You will enjoy the various rock bands that come to perform open-air Eid concerts.

And don’t forget Nandan Park, known for its exquisite water park, which will provide sweet relief from the scorching summer heat.

If you really are a fan of rock or bands in general, check out the 3-day concert by the Bangladesh Musical Bands Association at the Jamuna Future Park Mall. A total of 24 bands are expected to play at the concert – 8 bands everyday – from 5pm until midnight. Famous bands such as Warfaze, Aurthohin, Nemesis, Shironamhim, Dolchut, Souls and Feedback are expected to play, making it a must-see for rock lovers.

Connect with nature by taking time to visit the wildlife at Dhaka Chiriakhana in Mirpur. Boasting an area of 186 acres, with a wide collection of both local and foreign fauna, the Mirpur Zoo has more than enough place to accommodate everyone. Or you may want to relive the past by visiting the National Museum at Shahbagh, which hosts some magnificent relics of Bangali history.

Seeking a picturesque spot in the heart of the bustling city? Both Hatirjheel and Dhanmondi lakes offer pleasant sights and walks for everyone. You can also check out the large Eid fairs on the Banani and Gulshan fields, which are open to all and have a variety of traditional Eid specialties like clay dolls and crockery, as well as some enjoyable games.

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When 10am-12am Where Orchard Point, Dhanmondi What Neha’s Mehendi Designs is offering packages for Eid. Traditional, contemporary, and fusion designs will be available.

Prices range from Tk100-Tk1000.

Call 01963288238 for more information and appointment details.

July 30-August 3

July 26 Shopping | Drik Eid Mela

When 11am-9pm Where Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15A (New), Dhanmondi What The last Eid Fair taking place at Drik Gallery. Many companies will be taking part and putting up stalls.

Many Facebook stores will also be showcasing their wares. It will be the last chance for Eid shoppers to explore a wide variety of Eid collections in a fair.

July 26 -29 Beauty | Mehendi Festival 2014

When 12pm onwards Where Level 3, Bashundhara City, Panthapath What Matching Ocean will be holding a 4-day Mehendi Festival before Eid.

Travel | Bandarban tour packages

When All day Where Bandarban, Chittagong What Instead of staying inside the concrete jungle, venture out to the real forests of Bangladesh.

Eco Travellers is offering travel packages to Bandarban. Each tour will last 3-4 days and are suitable for beginners. The packages include transport, food, accommodation as well as a tour guide. The trips will involve hiking, trekking, sightseeing and other activities. Each package will cost Tk6500 per person.

Currently, two different options are available. For more information and registration, contact EcoTours at 01714444330.

Send your events to weekend@dhakatribune.com

JULY

2014

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TUE

WED

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WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, J U LY 2 5, 2 0 1 4

20 Interview | tiger man

Sher Khan

In honour of World Tiger Conservation Day on Tuesday, July 29, we caught up with one of the foremost tiger researchers in Bangladesh

Faisal Mahmud

W

Photo: Courtesy

earing a pair of mudcaked jungle boots, a faded safari shirt and a sun-bleached hat, Dr Monirul H Khan’s days are spent chasing wild animals in the jungle. Yet he still finds time to teach students at Jahangirnagar University (JU).

With the position of an associate professor and the image of an adventurer, he may seem like a deshi Indiana Jones, but Dr Monirul H Khan is no fictional character.

A PhD from the University of Cambridge, for research work on the ecology and the conservation of tigers in the Sundarbans, speaks for his achievement.

He is all flesh and blood and his works on tigers are indeed of great significance. His epic book, Tigers in the Mangroves, explains how a man’s dedication and hard work can dig out the truth even from the deep impenetrable forest.

Here is my interview with him.

Isn’t it scary, going deep into the tiger’s den?

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, J U LY 25, 2014

People do not usually go to work in the Sundarbans without a companion of the “same blood,” ie a close relative like brother or son.

They do this because they believe that if a man-eating tiger attacks someone in their group, everyone other than close relatives will run away to save themselves.

Sundarban’s inhabitants always work in groups, and many groups have a professional shaman, locally known as gunin, who is believed to have the spiritual power to lock the jaws of the tiger and move it away so that people can work freely.

I had to carry out my work without a “same blood” companion or a gunin, and I don’t find it scary. I never feel alone inside the jungle.

Have you ever had a faceto-face encounter with a tiger?

In the Sundarbans, tigers are exceptionally difficult to observe and study. It is so difficult that recently, a writer made four trips, wrote a good book and made a National Geographic film about Sundarbans tigers – without ever setting eyes on one. I have a PhD thesis on the Bengal tiger but I never had a face-to-face encounter with a tiger.

Are tigers numbers decreasing in the Sundarbans?

Yes, they are decreasing at an alarming rate. The problem is that large carnivore species like tigers naturally occur at low densities, which make them particularly susceptible to extirpation and extinction. At present, the only stable population of tigers is found in the Sundarbans, and they are isolated from the nearest human populations by about 300km of agricultural and urban land.

Saving the tiger from extinction is a challenge for mankind.

Although the tiger is a legally protected species all over its

global range, there are threats from poaching, prey depletion and habitat loss.

How many tigers are left in the Sundarbans?

First of all, we have to understand that tiger ranges vary in accordance with prey densities. There is no long-term work on the range size of the tigers in Bangladesh.

Some studies indicate that tigers are fairly evenly distributed throughout the Sundarbans at a density of about 1 per 10sqkm, but subsequent studies have suggested that there may be a density gradient, with numbers being highest in the south and lowest in the north.

He may seem like a deshi Indiana Jones, but he is no fictional character Based on the recent pugmark census, done simultaneously in both parts of the Sundarbans by the respective government departments of Bangladesh and India, it was estimated that there were 440 tigers in the Bangladeshi Sundarbans and 274 on the Indian side.

However, based on cameratrap surveys, together with track counts, and in the light of prey densities, the tiger population is estimated to be lower, at around 220-230 tigers in the Bangladeshi part and another 65-70 in the Indian part.

Tell us about your research.

My study took place across six sites in the Bangladeshi Sundarbans, of which three were in wildlife sanctuaries (Sundarban East, Sundarban South and Sundarban West) that form the UNESCO world heritage site, with a total area of 1,397sqkm.

I observed that the highest

density of tigers was found in the southern Sundarbans, where spotted deer density was highest and human disturbance was low.

Since the bulk of tiger diet is the spotted deer, the existence of the tiger is almost entirely dependent on the existence of the spotted deer. Therefore the poaching of spotted deer must be better controlled in order to ensure the tiger’s survival.

What can we do to protect the Sundarbans?

Since the breeding peak of tigers is probably in winter, the season should remain uninterrupted.

Unfortunately, winter is also the main harvest and tourist season when humen disturbance is intense.

I also suggest that some zones should be demarcated, and tourists should be allowed in only those areas. Controlled ecotourism should be developed so that both the government and the local people benefit financially.

Also, in order to reduce the conflict between tigers and humans, local people should be motivated and educated.

Alternative livelihoods should be made available and existing antipoaching regulations should be implemented properly.