Weekend 2 19

| vo l 2 I ssu e 19 | F R I D AY, se pte m b e r 19, 2014

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Local superstitions

12

Harijans hurting

17

Lying about your age

CONTENTS

1

Volume 2 | Issue 19 | September 19, 2014 Editor Zafar Sobhan

News

Executive Editor Shahriar Karim

2 This Week

Managing Editor Jahangir Hyder

3 Meanwhile ...

Features Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

Features

Assistant Magazine Editor Rumana Habib Weekend Tribune Team Tasnuva Amin Nova Mark S Baidya Farhana Urmee Farina Noireet Faisal Mahmud Ishrat Jahan Sabrina Toppa Art Direction/Photography Syed Latif Hossain Cartoons Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Rio Shuvo

4 Top 10 Fake brands 5 Food Decaf

9 Photo story

6 Feature Local superstitions 8 Education Online courses 12 Feature Harijans hurting 17 Funny bone Lying about your age

A matter of perspective

20 Tea with WT Hasan Masood

Contributorsw Quamrul Abedin Mushfiqul Alam Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi Shudeepto Ariquzzaman Shadman Hasan Dina Sobhan

Regulars 14 Legalese Slippery conditions 16 Tough Love Good riddance and bad

Graphics Md Mahbub Alam Alamgir Hossain Tahsin Momin Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Kazi Syras Al Mahmood Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Masud Kabir Pavel Website dhakatribune.com/weekend facebook.com/WeekendTrib Email your letters to: weekend@dhakatribune.com

the cover

This car/work of art belongs to Anusheh Anadil, folk singer and founder of Jatra. It was painted by one of her company’s rickshaw artists, Shekh Mohammad Solayman.

Photo: Shadman Hasan

grievance

15 analysis

Judicial impeachment

18 Stay In 19 Go Out

Editor’s note

Think for yourself W

e were so inspired by the message painted vibrantly on Anusheh Anadil’s car we devoted this issue to it.

We take fake brands to task for their lack of imagination (pg 4), and poke fun at our most common superstitions (pg 6-7) and our national refusal to reveal our true age (pg 17).

Some customs are way past their expiration date. It’s time we mend our ways with the Harijan community (pg 12-13).

Knowledge is power, so get some – there are thousands of free classes online, and even local groups to support (pg 8).

Need some brain juice? We sat down for tea with artist Hasan Masood, but he ordered a latte (pg 20). Good coffee is hard to find in our otherwise foodie town (pg 5).

Our photo story is an ode to looking at things the “wrong way,” which is just a matter of perception (pg 9-11). These days, even judges can be impeached for thinking outside the box (pg 15), a troubling development.

Free thinkers unite.

- Rumana Habib

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2 News | This week

SAYEDEE GETS LIFE TERM The appellate division of the Supreme Court has given top Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee life imprisonment for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. This is a commutation of the death sentence handed to him by the International Crimes Tribunal.

The five-member bench headed

by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain pronounced the verdict in response to an appeal petition filed

by Sayedee, challenging the verdict of the tribunal.

The appellate division handed down the punishment on three counts of crimes, including killing Bisabali and setting fire on houses at Hindu Para of Umedpur (charge 10), abduction, confinement and rape of Mohamaya, Anno Rani and Komol Rani (charge 16) and forced conversion of members of the Hindu community of Pirojpur(charge 19).

The bench also awarded him 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under charge 7 for torture and political persecution of Shahidul Islam Selim, and 12 years of rigorous imprisonment under charge 8 for killing of Md Ibrahim, the torture of Mofiz Uddin and other religious persecutions.

Earlier, he received a death

Weekend Tribune Desk UK aid worker beheaded

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday said the brutal beheading of a British aid worker by the terror group ISIS, which follows the execution of two American journalists, showed exactly why the UK needs to work to destroy the organisation, "the embodiment of evil."

US vs ISIS

sentence under charge 8. The Supreme Court had acquitted him from charges no 6, 11 and 14.

The verdict has been awarded the punishment on majority opinion.

News and photo: Dhaka Tribune

SCOTLAND'S LONG ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE

On Thursday, Scottish voters took to the polls to answer one yes or no question: Should Scotland be an independent country?

It might sound simple, but the issue of Scottish independence is a bit like a complicated divorce (well, that's how British Prime Minister David Cameron is describing it).

The relationship between Scotland and the UK goes back more than 300 years – and already the main players are worrying about the potential custody battles that could follow if the Scots vote yes.

Yes vote

This means Scotland is no longer

The world at a glance

a part of the UK parliament.

The “yes” side argues Scotland is in need of change after 300 years, and says it can manage its own affairs better than the Westminster government can.

The proindependence camp is headed by the Scottish National Party and its leader, Alex Salmond.

No vote

This means Scotland continues to remain under partial control of the UK parliament.

The “no” side argues independence would ruin Scotland's economy. They say the UK has been one of the world's most successful unions, so why try to fix what isn't broken?

Leading the “no” team is Scottish Labour Party politician Alistair Darling and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

News: Desk. Photo: one-europe.info

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A supporter of Islamic State militants has warned of attacks on the United States and its allies if they continue to carry out military action against the group, which has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria, the SITE monitoring service said.

Diplomats from around the world sought a global strategy to fight Islamic State extremists Monday, while Iran ruled out working with any international coalition, and rejected American requests for cooperation against the militants.

US law enforcement is investigating a new phenomenon of women from the American heartland joining Islamic State, as President Barack Obama vows to cut off the militants' recruiting at home.

Children of war

Some 500,000 children returned on Sunday to school in the Gaza Strip, where many will be given psychological counselling before regular studies begin after a devastating 50-day war between Palestinian militants and Israel.

Hurricanes and volcanoes

Hurricane Odile blazed a trail of destruction through Mexico's Baja California Peninsula on Monday that levelled everything from ramshackle homes to luxury hotels and big box stores, leaving entire neighbourhoods destroyed.

The Philippines has evacuated more than 12,000 people from around the foot of its most active volcano as the crater glows red and authorities warn of a possible eruption.

International relations

• Chinese President Xi Jinping's

trip to India this week highlights subtle shifts in the regional power dynamic, bringing in warmer ties between the two Asian giants, challenging China's traditional relationship with Pakistan, and opening a new chapter in Beijing's ongoing competition for influence with arch-rival Japan.

• Fresh US and EU sanctions imposed on Moscow will bring an abrupt halt to exploration of Russia's huge Arctic and shale oil reserves and complicate financing of existing Russian projects from the Caspian Sea to Iraq and Ghana.

• China and Russia will build one of the largest ports in northeast Asia on Russia's Sea of Japan coast, reports said, in a further sign of the powerhouses' growing alliance.

• Respect-for-the-Aged Day, a national holiday held on Monday in Japan, honoured its centenarians, people who are at least 100 years old. The number of Japanese centenarians has reached 58,820, according to the latest government estimate that released every September.

• Edward Snowden could be granted safe passage in Switzerland if the former intelligence contractor helped a potential criminal inquiry into US spying there, the Swiss public prosecutor's office said on Monday.

• Chinese police will clamp down on "foreign bride" websites in Southeast Asian countries, as the practice leads to human trafficking and prostitution, the state-run China Daily reported on Monday.

• The number of hungry people dropped by 100 million worldwide over the last 10 years, though one in nine are still undernourished, with Asia home to the majority of the underfed, the UN said Tuesday.

• Japan is the most efficient among Asian countries in turning the building blocks of creativity into tangible innovations that benefit their economies and people, according to a new index ranking.

Meanwhile Myanmar, Pakistan and Cambodia are least efficient.

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meanwhile ... | News

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I AM DHAKA

‘Studying is my passion. It’s not my fault that I was born as a girl. I tackled a lot of problems and finally won against people who think only boys have the right to study. And guess what?

I stood first in the class.’

– Amina (10) from Munshiganj Photo: Mushfiqul Alam

24-year-old woman missing part of her brain

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woman in China’s Shandong Province checked into the hospital for dizziness and nausea, but her diagnosis took doctors by surprise: She was missing a big chunk of her brain.

Specifically, she lacked a cerebellum, a tiny mass in the back of the skull that holds more neurons than the rest of the organ combined.

The patient reported that she’d always had trouble maintaining her balance (not surprising, since the cerebellum is important in motor control) and that she hadn’t been able

to walk at all until she was 7.

Her speech was slurred as a child (again, not surprising – scientists are pretty sure that the cerebellum plays a part in language development), but was intelligible by the time she was 6.

So essentially, it took less than a decade of life for the rest of her brain to pick up the missing cerebellum’s slack. The fact that the patient is alive and thriving is incredible.

The results of her examination were published last month in the journal Brain.

News: Desk. Photo: Feng Yu, et al.

You’re welcome

Infograph: The Huffington Post

Say what?

Send us your photos about Dhaka and its people. Email your submission with the subject ‘I Am Dhaka’ to weekend@dhakatribune.com

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4 top 10 | fake brands

Knock it off Why come up with something original when we can just piggyback on tried and true brands? Sabrina Toppa

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angladesh is awash in locally-made products with foreign influences. But sometimes the countrywide appreciation for Western brands – often associated with higher quality and taste – veers off into the perilous terrain of copyright infringement.

Opening a new business should

require more than a few tweaks to existing brands, but weak copyright enforcement of Bangladesh’s Copyright Act, 2000 and International Copyright Order, 2005 gives many popular international companies little power in protecting their name.

Here are Bangladesh’s most egregious offenders.

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Oreo vs Doreo Oreos have inspired many spinoffs, and Bangladesh’s own version of this treat is the Doreo, or the “black chocolate sandwich cream.” Ironically, even Oreo’s arrival in the world was preceded by Sunshine’s Hydrox cookie, essentially the same thing as an Oreo, but made in 1908 – before Oreos ever existed.

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Pizza Hut vs Fried Hut In Bashundhara Mall, Fried Hut’s red background and yellow hut are a bit too reminiscent of the American fast food chain’s. To its credit, Fried Hut’s not even trying to compete with the original—it specialises in Indian and Chinese cuisine, not actual pizza.

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MasterChef (TV show) vs Master Chef (food cart) Sometimes food carts increase their marketability by getting brand inspiration from a TV show. We can leave it up to the customers to decide if they can have two Master Chefs in their lives.

Photo: Bigstock

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Kentucky Fried Chicken vs A/B/G/FFCs The American fried chicken franchise has moved a long way from Kentucky by inspiring Bangladeshis to eat just as unhealthily.

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Dominos vs Dominous Pizza This popular pizza delivery service in the US now has its own ersatz franchise in various malls in Bangladesh.

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Nutella vs Nucella Bangladeshis claim there’s no difference, and an undiscerning eye may not catch the orthographical deviation, but one hazelnut spread is the original.

Fun fact: Nucella is another term for a genus of sea snails. Yum?

Photo: Bigstock

5

Gucci vs Guci Filtering through Dhaka’s markets, one will invariably come across high-end designer wear that’s a letter off. Genuine or fake, though, chasing status elevation through sartorial choices seems to be a pastime anywhere in the world.

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7

Burger King vs Burger ‘N Boost Burger ‘N Boost does produce a better-quality burger, but this is relative in a city where new burger eateries materialise every day.

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Subway vs Subcity With a logo featuring a green background, white and yellow text, and letter-turnedarrow design: we have a truly simulacratic version of a sub franchise. Both sandwicheries use the tagline “eat fresh” with identical italicised typefaces.

Subcity makes no attempts to hide its sources. Given all the grousing about the lack of healthy fast food options in the city, though, this offense might be worth forgiving.

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The Hulk vs HALKa Dhallywood is happy to recreate Hollywood films without significantly changing the plot, characters, or even the name.

HALKa is a stout young man (4.5ft) who turns into a green bully fighter (16ft). You won’t like him when he’s angry, either.

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Coffee conundrums

Photo: Bigstock

decaf | foodie

In Dhaka these days, there’s coffee, coffee everywhere, but hardly a drop worth drinking Farina Noireet

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fter a long day’s work at the office last week, I decided I was in desperate need of a rejuvenating cup of coffee – a steaming, frothy cappuccino, to be precise.

As I got into the car and started towards home, however, I soon realised that any of the fancier coffee places, like North End and Gloria Jeans, would be too out of the way, so I figured I’d make a quick stop at another place that also promises good coffee.

Now I’m not much of a coffee drinker in general, but I do enjoy the occasional cuppa with extra milk or cream, especially as a little reward to the self after a particularly long day.

So naturally, I was looking forward to my coffee rendezvous, as I tried not to fall asleep in the car.

When I got to the place (which shall remain nameless), I walked to the counter and ordered a cappuccino. What I got, a good eight minutes later, however, was a

lukewarm cup of thin, insipid, drab looking liquid that barely had the hint of coffee. Even the 3-in-one Nescafe sachets tasted better than that. I tried to explain to the manger that what I was given was nothing close to being a cappuccino, let alone a decent cup of basic coffee. Halfway

I was surprised to hear him tell me of many such situations that he, as a coffee person, had to endure on many occasions. One would think that in a city like Dhaka, where the restaurant scene is progressing with such drastic leaps, the coffee scene would be way better than it is. We

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number of negative reviews I got on some of the supposedly more renowned coffee places. And it wasn’t just limited to the quality of coffee served, but the service also.

One friend recounts: “Its so difficult to get a simple cup of café Americano, which is just black coffee with sugar. Even some of the fancy cafés don’t know the proper terms for the different types of coffee, and its almost pointless to explain it to them because you’ll still end up with something completely different – and I mean bad different – from what you initially ordered.”

“A number of places understand coffee as very sweet coffee flavoured milk,” said another.

“When service sucks, that influences the perception of taste too.”

Misery seeking company, I posted a question on The Food Talk, one of the many local food discussion groups on Facebook. That opened up a whole world of interesting and pretty detailed responses. Some of the tepid feelings include: • “Coffee World was my worst coffee experience in Dhaka. Horrible coffee same as instant coffee, watery froth. Quality of service and value for money: Non-existent.”

• “To make a thick froth they usually over-steam the milk, which kills the sweetness in the milk.”

• “At Saltz, I ordered a cappuccino after my dinner and got a coffee that was probably just Nescafe.

And the mug wasn’t the right one either.”

To conclude, I suppose that the only thing that can be said is, for those who don’t live in the GulshanBanani area, and hence don’t have the luxury of being near the more promising coffee places, the conundrums following the pursuit of a satisfying cup of coffee can leave you quite frazzled.

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Its so difficult to get a simple cup of café Americano. Even some of the fancy cafés don’t know the proper terms … and its almost pointless to explain it through my attempt, I realised there was no hint of understanding coming from the other end, so I just gave up and walked out.

On recounting my coffee experience to a friend the next day,

have to depend on just a couple specialty cafés, and which too are restricted mostly to those living in and around the Gulshan-Banani area.

As I asked around more on the subject, I was astounded at the

Photo: Bigstock

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6 feature | local superstitions

One for sorrow, two for joy Superstitions, whether we believe them or not, are a big part of our society – and sometimes too ingrained to simply shake off Rohini Alamgir Photo: Shahad Ahmed Raju

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he belief that follows the yellow-beaked bird commonly known as shalik, is that seeing one inspires some form of tragedy. Spotting a pair has the opposite effect.

Flying solo

Now birds, like many other species, travel in flocks. It is therefore highly unlikely to see a solitary shalik just meandering about, and chances are that a couple more are loitering somewhere close-by.

Someone may spot a lone bird before noticing the rest of the group, and if she or he is of a superstitious nature, the implications are devastating. So focused are we on conforming everyone and everything into a form of social order, that we now deny these birds the right to just take some time out.

The shalik, therefore, can be seen as the “black cat” of the eastern world.

In our bones

In Bangladesh, like in any other country that is teeming with different cultures, ethnicities, and religious orientations, there is an abundance of folklore, myths, and superstitions.

It is basic human nature to fear the unknown, to reject that which we cannot understand. This is where superstitions come in.

Defined by Webster’s dictionary as: “An irrational belief in the ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance, or occurrence,” superstitions have so deeply ingrained themselves into our unconscious minds that even the most logical or rational of us react to them without really thinking about it.

even do that, but this applies more to our rural brethren, and to our urban gardeners. Regardless, it is a form of bad luck that can be passed on to others traversing in the vicinity, so next time you’re tempted to leave brooms lying around, don’t.

And while we’re on the topic of brooms, never brush one against

someone, or they will fall ill. The “logic” behind this is that jinns have some strange attraction to brooms (anyone else thinking of witches here?) and tend to hang around them.

A person touched by a broom may receive the evil eye from one such angry spirit.

Broom of doom

Superstitions work 24/7. Before the day even starts, make sure to never leave a broom lying in the middle of a field, or it will become the playing ground of evil jinns. Most of you are probably wondering why you would Photo: Bigstock

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7 Crossing the threshold

The idle mind, they say, is the devil’s playground. In Bangladesh, apparently, the active head provides a similar arena.

As the day progresses, we find ourselves running around, getting on with our busy lives, but wait. If you’re leaving the house, beware.

Don’t leave if you: break something, stumble while leaving, or if someone calls you from behind.

In the first scenario, it is more of a superstition born from the concept of karma, whereby any form of destruction, including breaking a vase, must come back upon the destroyer ten-fold.

The second and third are also somewhat karmic in nature in that if you stumble or someone calls you back, you’re probably not meant to leave, so don’t, otherwise something bad will happen.

In fact, even before that, while you’re getting ready to leave, if you “accidentally” drop your comb while brushing your hair, quickly make sure you have ample amounts of food in the house, because guests will be coming over.

Itchy and scratchy

If you’re just itching for a fight, make sure to check which exact body part is itchy, because it’s said that if your right hand itches, money will flow in, but if your left hand itches, money will leave you. So if the wallet feels a little lighter, do everything in your power to avoid itchy left hands.

Baby bumps Photo: Bigstock

Double or trouble

When those guests do come over, which they invariably do in Bangladesh (usually without notice), and you are offering them refreshments, make sure to serve them twice, because otherwise you will fall into water and drown.

The idea behind this is that one portion goes to the guest, and the other portion to any jinns around about (though the guest is usually the one consuming the entire portion). If the jinn is not served, it will get angry and harm you.

The logical mind suggests that we Bangladeshis just like to eat, and being served small portions upsets us.

In all likelihood, we will do harm to the server ourselves, so you better be safe and serve us twice.

Photo: Bigstock

Just like with our food, we Bangladeshis never give up a good fight.

If your shoes are flipped over or if one shoe rests atop the other shoe, be wary, because at any moment, you’ll be butting heads with someone.

It is believed that we must respect all things equally, and in these two cases, by neglecting the shoes that protect our feet and enable us to progress, literally, we are disrespecting them, and so must be punished.

And if you borrow a handkerchief from someone, pay them a penny, or get ready for some more violence.

Cradle to grave

Not all superstitions keep things light: the most ominous of these darker superstitions says never feed your mother with your own hands, because then you will have paid back your debt to her (incurred because she birthed you), and you will be unable to see her face when she is on her deathbed.

For this last one, I don’t even want to know why. As I sit here writing this piece, I mull over the many times I’ve fed my mother, and I feel my left eye twitch.

But true to my new code of optimism, I pet my black cat who lies next to me, and slowly cross my fingers. After all, these are just irrational beliefs. They can’t possibly come true, right?

Twisted sole

Penny for your thoughts

When bringing in life anew in this world – and this is purely for pregnant mothers – never eat pineapples, or you’ll have early contractions.

Or perhaps it’s just gastric acidity masquerading as contractions.

Segueing from fetuses to babies, the most common superstition that has effectively and completely blended into our culture is the marking of a child with a black dot in order to ward off the evil eye.

Foremost in the minds of children lie the grave warnings of their mothers: do not walk over each other or you will not grow, do not cut nails or hair after dark or jinns will cut years off your life.

That we, as children, gave credence to these omens speak volumes about our gullibility and naiveté. Or perhaps it hints at strong, creative imaginations.

Eclipse of the heart Photo: Bigstock This one though is one of those unexplained ones that somehow survive modernisation.

Continuing on the topic of butting

heads, if you do accidentally bash your head against someone else’s, repeat the action, or you will grow devil’s horns on your head.

During an eclipse, make sure you do not move, and stop all action and work. Forget itchy hands, be absolutely still. This is because an eclipse is apparently a sign of doomsday, and the best we can do is sit and pray for the eclipse to pass, and life to continue once more.

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8 education | Online courses

Free your mind

Free online courses from some of the best universities in the world Esha Aurora

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f you would like to brush up on a subject or explore academics from the comfort of your own home, then the internet has the answer for you.

Some of the best universities in the world offer free courses and lectures that you can view online. You can take your time to do the coursework, and learn something new.

Here is an opportunity to learn from some of the best institutions in the world, gratis.

The Open University:

It is an online university that offers country-specific courses that can be used for credits, or you can also complete a degree from here. For Bangladesh, they offer courses in BBA, IT, engineering, environmental studies. www.openuniversity.edu

BBC Learning:

The BBC learning website is an awesome resource for anyone who wants to take skill based courses, language courses or academic ones. There is a plethora of options to give your brain muscles a good workout. bbc.co.uk/learning/onlinecourses

Academic Earth:

This site curates all the free courses available from universities world-

wide. You can select your subject and pick courses from many different universities that offer the same course.

The list is endless when it goes to course topics, and they also have test preparations for SAT and GRE exams. academicearth.org

Coursera:

Coursera partners with top universities and organisations worldwide, and offers a certificate for completed classes that include the name of the teacher’s university. In addition to lectures, there are regular assignments, quizzes, essays, and a final exam. The offerings are primarily in science and engineering, although they do offer a wide range of humanities classes as well. www.coursera.org

Open Culture:

This is a curation website that offers courses in a range of subjects like the humanities, art, art history, film, cooking, geography, history, journalism, language, literature, law, linguistics, philosophy and religion. www.openculture.com

Washington University:

Their outreach program offers a limited number of courses mainly in Humanities and Literature but never

the less on quite interesting subjects like History of the jazz age and Shakespearean comedy. www.outreach.washington.edu/ openuw

edX:

They offer free courses on subjects like humanities, math, science and computer science from leading universities in the world like Boston University, University of California Berkeley, Caltech, Cornell University and the Berklee College of Music. www.edx.org/

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Ishrat Jahan

MIT Open Courseware:

The same world famous MIT offers tailored courses in a vast array of subjects like business, humanities, art, social science, science, health and medicine, mathematics and education. http://ocw.mit.edu

Stanford Online:

You can use the site to download your lectures, or go on iTunes and get them if you are an apple device user.

The list of course topics includes: business and management, design and creativity, education, engineering and computer science, environment and energy, humanities, medicine and health, natural and social sciences, statistics and data science. online.stanford.edu/courses

Harvard Extension School and Yale Open Courses:

Photo: Bigstock

Meet virtual Classmates

If you didn’t get an opportunity to study at an Ivy League university but always wanted to, here is your chance. Nothing beats hearing some of the greatest minds in academia teaching you things from the comfort of your own home.

Harvard’s extension school offers degrees, certificates and free courses.

The entry requirement is based on what you are looking for, but Yale offers mainly humanities introductory courses. Once you sign up, the first four courses are for free and the rest which offer you a certificate will cost you some money, but it may be worth it if you are looking to apply it in your career. www.extension.harvard.edu/openlearning-initiative oyc.yale.edu

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Bangladesh has recently grown it’s own community of MOOCs students, those who have enrolled in Massive Open Online Courses like those listed here.

The Dhaka MOOC Exchange is an online community on Facebook, made up of existing MOOCs students in Dhaka.

The group currently has 773 members, who come together from different walks of life to post, connect, exchange and discuss on issues related to their courses.

At Dhaka MOOC Exchange, they also focus on coding workshops through Google Hangouts, personal tutorials, and a range of other 2-3 days crash courses.

Since their launch last year, they have also held several in-person “salon meetings” at Robindro Shorobor and the EMK centre, where they exchange resources and hold discussions on a versatile range of topics.

The group has three basic functions: to share education resources through crowdsourcing, to help cultivate a culture of online education and to promote and support MOOC enthusiasts.

Dhaka MOOC Exchange was founded on a vision of a world where quality education was free and accessible for all regardless of the socio-economic issues that divide the world.

A matter of perspective | Photo story

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inside-outside

...and upside-down, our watery world plays tricks on our eyes but leaves plenty of room for reflection

‘T

here are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.’ -Aldous Huxley Human beings don’t actually see with our eyes. We see with our minds. And nowhere are we more free to see our world in a fresh new way then from the outside looking in, or from the inside looking out. That is where art is born.

Like most things, it’s all a matter of perspective.

Turn for more photographs

Photos: Syed Latif Hossain

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10 PHoto story | A matter of perspective

A rickshaw puller takes a break while the art on his vehicle prays for his health

The sky may be the limit but this one has a glass ceiling

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Well, shit happens

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In a traffic jam in front of the prime minister’s office, this man contemplates ‘power of the people’ or maybe just lunch

This poet prefers to work in the dark, but even he needs a drop of light

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12 Feature | Harijans hurting

Untouchable hearts The Harijans of Dhaka have been a part of our city since British colonisation, silently and tirelessly toiling away, subjected to to same discimiration for generations Shudeepto Ariquzzaman

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ven before the first rays of sunlight have fallen on the deserted streets of the teeming metropolis, Jagdis Das is hard at work. Unlike the conventional occupants of the predawn city streets, Jagdis is an honest and hardworking man, struggling to make ends meet.

The nature of his work is unpleasant: He cleans the streets of one of the dirtiest cities in the world.

There are no holidays. Seven days a week, 365 days a year, Jagdis must report for duty.

Jagdis belongs to the Harijan community, the lowest caste of Hindus, commonly known as untouchables. Like most Harijans, he is shy and uncomplaining. Despite the obvious dirty and undesirable nature of his work, not to mention the meagre payment, Jagdis seems pleased with his profession.

The same goes for his partner Shombhu who has a more difficult job. He cleans the drains and often has to bathe in the sewage infested manholes to remove clogging, a job for which the beneficiaries of the ungrateful city would never thank him. But he has no hard feelings.

Unlike the mainstream Bangali populace, the Harijans were brought in by the British rulers from Uttar Pradesh to keep this part of the country clean. Even today, the

Harijans maintain a distinct culture, communicating with each other in Hindi. Sweeping the streets and cleaning the toilets was considered a job that Muslims and higher caste Hindus considered below their standards.

Boxed in

Jagdis’ house lies amidst the labyrinth of Old Dhaka. Even by the standards of Old Dhaka, his neighbourhood is an unhygienic maze of alleyways

A visitor to the Mironullah colony is greeted by a huge dump of stinking waste, where children play alongside rats the size of cats. Human beings and the occasional goat crowd the narrow alleyways as there is little space in the houses and no fields.

Suddenly, the skies open up and the Harijans rush inside their houses. Not the best refuge, since the ramshackle houses cannot keep the rainwater out.

The rain lasts for half an hour, by

Sweeping is the reason that we have been brought to Bangladesh. We know no other profession, and no other profession accepts us surrounded by ramshackle houses shared by extended families living alongside clogged drains. Along with approximately 8,000 other Harijans, Jagdis inhabits the Mironullah sweeper colony. Approximately 22,000 Harijans reside in the 13 colonies of Dhaka. Altogether there are approximately 1.5 million of them scattered throughout Bangladesh.

Uncomplaining as Jagdis and the Harijan community might be, they are appalled by the deteriorating living conditions of their colonies.

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which time the water is almost knee deep, mixing with the sewage of the clogged drains. Even then, many of the Harijans are adept at keeping their houses spotlessly clean, despite the population pressure and the unhygienic environment.

It was not always like this. There were lush green fields where the now extinct cows used to graze, and the children used to play. There was plenty of room for expansion for new residences. But political musclemen have taken advantage

of the marginalised community, and the colony has decreased in size. No longer do new houses come up, as there is no space. When the family members of Harijans increase by marriage and/or birth, they still have to live in the same space.

One such unfortunate man is Ram Swami Das. He has five younger brothers, two of them married, the other three who should have been married by now. Ram Swami himself has children who have reached marriageable age.

“This is a problem for lots of us,” says Ram Swami, “since there will be no housing, it is impossible for many of them to marry.” His house already has four partitions, where family members literally cram together at night. Many extended families erect partition to render some semblance of privacy.

Pay to stay

Once upon a time, at least job security was guaranteed for the Harijan community. The older members of the community like Jagdis simply took over from his father when he went to retirement. But thanks to the endemic corruption that plagues modern day Bangladesh, times have changed.

“A decade ago, there was no corruption regarding the recruitment of sweepers in the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC),” says Jagdis.

13 Shudeepto Ariquzzaman is a research associate with Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)

Photos: Saydur Rahman He claims that nowadays a six-digit figure is required as bribes to be recruited. “Is it possible for us to gather such a huge sum of money?”

Although the relevant authorities in DCC deny such allegations, a number of fellow Harijans have voiced similar concerns. “It is almost impossible for us to give such a large amount – hundreds of thousands – to the DCC,” says Kaisar Das. “So many of us are unemployed. We scrape a living working for individual households, but that way, we can scarcely put food in the mouths of our families. These days, the Bangali sweepers are taking away our jobs because they can afford to come up with the bribes.”

Unlike the Bangalis who vie for the job, the Harijans do not have land, assets or political connections. As a result the Harijans make up less than 40% of the sweepers employed by the DCC and the proportion is naturally decreasing.

I sweep therefore I am

“Sweeping is the reason that we have been brought to Bangladesh,” says Kaisar. “We know no other profession, and no other profession accepts us.” According to him and other Harijans, this profession is their identity. In fact, the Harijans are known throughout Bangladesh simply as methors (sweepers), the

word Harijan being an unknown term outside their community.

Kaisar explains that from time immemorial, his community has swept the dirt and cleaned the waste of these lands (modern day India and Bangladesh). Now they are being edged out of this profession. “What is the future of our sons and daughters if we are not given priority in this cleaning job? What will happen in ten years?” he asks.

Rise and shine

On meeting many of the Harijan children, an optimist might be tempted to conclude that times will change for the better.

The Harijan community is both hardworking and saves up for their children’s education. Their educational qualifications starting from primary to the secondary is undoubtedly superior to their Bangali counterparts. In spite of the hostile environment that makes it difficult to study, and the financial problems they face, the Harijan children of Dhaka are doing quite well.

The primary school of the colony bears the pictures of ten students who have obtained outstanding results notwithstanding the adverse educational atmosphere of the colony. Those who can afford it send them to better primary schools, in many cases hiding their origins.

Still a dirty word

But community members disagree that their bright children have a bright future.

“We face discrimination not only in our traditional job, but everywhere else as well,” says Kaisar. “As soon as government employers learn that we are sweepers by birth, they reject us.”

“The situation is no different for private companies,” he says. “So even educated Harijan youngsters have to do this traditional job and here lies the problem of bribery.” The end result is unemployment and despair. Many Harijans in fact hide their identities when applying for private jobs.

In the midst of this sorry state, there is some good news. The Harijans of Dhaka say that as far as their social standing in the society, things have improved remarkably.

“Previously, they did not let us in the restaurants, we had to have tea standing outside,” says Jagdis, “now we can sit besides the Muslims, the higher caste Hindus, in the same table, we can talk.”

“During the Puja festival, Muslims come here, and the other Hindus pay their devotions alongside us,” says Kawsar. Ram Sami Das says that was impossible in his younger days.

Mahtab Das, a cleaner working at a residential building, says although his colleagues are Muslim, he faces no discrimination. “I have been working

here for 15 years and I am on friendly terms with all the security guards, drivers and the other staff,” he says.

But Mahtab is wrong. When he is not around, a security guard can be heard telling his colleagues: “We need a Muslim sweeper here. These jaat (generational) sweepers cannot smell dirt, because they have been with garbage forever!”

The situation in suburban and rural Bangladesh has not changed much.

“When I go to visit my relatives in the countryside, I am not allowed in the restaurants,” says Kawsar. He says the Harijan community there are still literally untouchable.

His views are confirmed by a lawmaker in North Bengal. “The Muslims and other Hindus don’t regard the methors as human beings,” says the lawmaker on condition of anonymity. “Forget about having tea at the same table. When these people set up shops, no one buys from them. People are unwilling to work alongside them. They are simple minded folk, but because of our polluted mentality, we regard them as social outcasts.”

In this part of the world, the curse of caste and creed is as old as time itself. It shall be a long time before the Harijan community can overcome the social stigma that has haunted them for generations.

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14 Legalese | Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi

Slippery conditions

Q

The government rented two acres of my father’s land in Sylhet district for drilling purposes for oil and gas search explorations.

My father agreed on the rent, but I am anxious that if the drilling is in vain, it would ruin the land. We would be at a loss, and the compensations may not be enough.

Could you please advise me on what I need to be aware of so that damages can be minimised?

Got a problem?

Write to Jennifer at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

A

Dear Reader: I am a little confused.

Are you writing in, asking for advice, after your father had agreed to the terms and the lease deal between your father and the government has been completed? This is a prime example of a big “no-no,” also showing how realisation can often set in too late.

I have countless examples of meeting clients every day, finding out that they failed to obtain the initial legal advice as required, and have now ended up putting themselves in a pickle. Sad, but true.

The first thing to do (for future reference) when you are approached for oil and gas exploration/drilling purposes, is to consult a lawyer who is well versed in oil and gas and land law.

Oil and gas are valuable commodities. Their presence beneath your land could mean extra income if you choose to grant a lease to an exploration company. A lease is a legal document or contract between a landowner (lessor) and a company or individual (lessee) granting exploration and development rights to subsurface oil and gas deposits.

Review it very carefully and have your lawyer look over it in order to advise you well.

Negotiate changes to meet your needs and protect your interests before signing. Get all agreements and conditions in writing. Remember, this lease agreement is key to ensuring that your rights are protected well enough, in case the need may suddenly arise in the future.

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

Entering into a lease agreement does not necessarily mean that a well will be drilled on your property.

Also, remember that you are granting a right to others that may be viewed as an encumbrance on the property. When you sign an oil and gas lease, you are not only leasing the oil and gas rights for these minerals that lay underneath your property.

Inherent with the lease of oil and gas rights is the right of the lessee to enter upon the surface of your property to explore and drill for the oil and gas that is being sought after.

A well negotiated lease will protect your surface rights and limit extraction activities. The key components of a lease like this would

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include, but not be limited to: • Cash Bonus – an up-front payment or bonus generally computed on a per acre basis for signing the lease • Primary Term – the number of years that a lease is in effect • Delay Rental – annual rental payments paid to the lessor after the first year of the primary term, usually on a per acre basis • Secondary Term – the duration of a lease is extended beyond the primary term if a producing well is drilled on the lease or if the lease is “pooled” with other leases to form a “unit” for a producing well • Royalty – the landlord’s share of the production from beneath property, usually referred to in the lease as a

fraction – ie 1/8 of the value of the oil and/or gas produced and sold • Shut-in Royalty – payment in lieu of a production royalty, ie when a well is “shut-in,” capable of production but not producing for maintenance or other reasons • Termination (self-explanatory) You say that you are worried that compensation will not be enough – well, this is a matter that should have been focused on and negotiated before leasing the land.

However, let bygones be bygones. if you’re seriously worried at this stage, do take a copy of your lease agreement and immediately consult a land, oil and gas law specialist.

Best wishes.

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judge impeachment | analysis

15

Good for the house, bad for the gavel

Politics and law are poor bedfellows Faisal Mahmud

I

t was the talk of the town last week: the proposed 16th amendment to the constitution that would give parliament the power to impeach a Supreme Court judge.

It is a monumental shift indeed.

Currently, the parliament plays no role in this process. There is a threemember Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) comprised of the chief justice and two appellate court judges, who can recommend impeachment of a judge to the president. Then the president can exercise his power to promulgate the order.

In a parliamentary democracy, elected lawmakers are charged with upholding the will of the people. But judges are not elected by the majority, as they are meant to make decisions based on reasons beyond popular opinion. Judges are appointed to uphold integrity and transparency, keeping politics out of the judiciary.

Other parliamentary democracies like UK, India and Canada also have laws similar to the proposed amendment. But collectively, those three have impeached only one judge in the last 300 years.

Why? To fire judges for misconduct or malpractice, one needs to have at least a two-thirds majority in parliament. That doesn’t happen too often.

this provision before. The original constitution of 1972, based on a British model, gave the parliament the power to impeach judges. But the fourth amendment gave the sole power to the president, and the fifth amendment gave it to the SJC. Prominent jurists and the analysts concerned have been saying that passing the amendment would not be a good idea. The fear is that, as a result of the 16th amendment, no court will dare to pass an order that goes against the interests of the government.

They also argue that the removal of judges is a judicial process, and parliamentarians from different educational and professional backgrounds would have no clue about how to deal with the investigation process.

In addition, article 70 of our constitution imposes a tight rein on lawmakers, which threatens banishment from the party if they go against their party line or position in the house. Members of parliament do not have any freedom to question the party’s stance in parliament even if they disagree.

Therefore, the party chief’s decisions will be regarded as the

party decisions, so the power of impeaching judges basically goes to the head of the government. This violates the democratic practice in every sense, because an independent judiciary without the influence of the government is one of the pillars of democracy.

.

Timeline 1972: The first constitution vested the power of impeachment of judges to parliament 1975: The fourth amendment, passed under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, curtailed parliament’s power to impeach Supreme Court judges.

Instead of parliament, the president alone was empowered with the authority to impeach a Supreme Court judge, on grounds of misbehaviour or incapacity.

1977: General Ziaur Rahman abolished the president’s authority to impeach Supreme Court judges.

Zia, who declared himself president in 1977, brought in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) by amending the constitution through a martial law proclamation, exercising his power as chief martial law administrator.

1979: The fifth amendment, passed in parliament by Zia’s regime, ratified and validated all constitutional changes, including the introduction of the judicial council. The Supreme Court later declared the fifth amendment illegal, but condoned the provision for the SJC. 2011: The provision was regarded as a product of martial law until the democratic government led by the Awami League introduced it afresh through the fifteenth amendment in 2011.

Why now?

The current government’s desire to restore the provision is well timed, since they currently hold more than two-thirds majority in parliament.

We say restore because it did have

Judge impeachment in other parliamentary democracies UK: Empowered by the Act of Settlement 1701 to remove judges of the High Court and above, but has never removed an English judge in the past 300 years India: Has not impeached a single judge either of the Supreme Court or High Court in 67 years Canada: Has impeached only one higher court judge since 1867, but neither the committee nor parliament has the power to block the prime minister’s final decision Photo: Bigstock

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16 TOUGH LOVE | DINA SOBHAN

Good riddance

Got a problem?

& Bad grievance

Write to Dina at weekend@ dhakatribune. com

Q

I broke up with my boyfriend after two years of dating. I just want to stay single for a while and am not looking for anyone new. My ex and I are still working in the same office, and it is really awkward at times.

I just feel like he’s trying to make me feel guilty and does not want to talk (like mature adults do). Is there any way to cut the tension? I don’t want to be friends but I do want this awkwardness continue at my workplace.

A

I’m not sure I see the problem.

It appears to me his present behaviour simply confirms that you made a good decision by breaking up with him. You should be happy that he’s making it easier for you to stick to your guns.

And why would you want to talk to him anyway? You dumped the guy so you wouldn’t have to talk to him anymore. You can’t have your cake and eat it too (whatever that means).

You don’t want him anymore, but you want him to be a “mature adult” about it and behave nicely with you in the workplace?

News flash, Toots. He is not happy about being rejected and probably spends every waking hour thinking of all the things he would say to you if you were talking and plotting imminent revenge. If I were you, I’d stay well clear of him and count your blessings. The fact is, it’s probably harder for him to have to see you everyday than it is for you to see him.

If you want to dispel the tension, send another woman in his direction and help him get over his feelings for you quickly. There’s nothing like a hot, new lady in one’s life to make it tension-free.

He’ll be smiling at you in no time.

Better yet, he won’t even know you exist once there’s someone new to obsess over.

Cartoon: Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy / Dhaka Tribune

Q A

I thought I was a lucky woman who had found the guy of her dreams.

He is tall, handsome and has a good heart.

We have been in a

Women all over the world are desperately searching for men who fit the description of your boyfriend, who is unlovable due to one drastic flaw: His inability to overcome text talk.

While I find it difficult not to ridicule you for being so shallow and superficial when you should fall to

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relationship for a few months now, but I am staring to get really weary of his typos. Reading his texts and emails make me feel like a school teacher/newspaper editor. Besides, we’re not teenagers in high school

and it’s not “cool” anymore. I had brought this up previously but I don’t think it has registered in his head. How can I drive the point home without hurting him?

your knees and thank the stars that you are not one of the lonely few destined to live in a house overrun with cats, I also feel an iota of sympathy for your plight.

I know too well the infuriation caused by a husband who is always late, be it to your parents’ anniversary dinner or for an airplane flight. Or the boyfriend who cannot walk past a store without gazing

at his reflection in the window, and spends more money on hair products than you do.

While I sympathise, as stated, I also feel an overwhelming urge to thump you on your head and say: “Deal with it, woman!” because it could be infinitely worse.

Solution: keep your emails short, your conversations long, and your complaints to a minimal.

.

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

lying about your age | funny bone

17

Come on,

you’re obviously older The Bangladeshi equation: Certificate age + 2 <= real age Rifat Islam Esha

“H

ow old are you, for real?” As a Bangladeshi, if you hear this question, you already understand the implication.

The amount of thought and mental calculations required to reply with an appropriate answer is worth everyone’s acknowledgement.

There is also the old habit of clinging to our glory days. We can get away with much more during our younger, carefree days. Certain things are overlooked, and hence may not attract negative remarks. We can hardly expect the same luxury as we grow older and venture into our “wiser” years.

Work till you drop

Age is a very delicate topic in Bangladesh, particularly for women.

Few ladies like talking about their age. If you happen to be a woman in your late twenties or beyond and are unmarried, this notion can be particularly painful.

It’s not uncommon to hear people commenting on your age with a smirk on their faces. This smirk may very well mean they already assume you are lying (or hiding, to use a kinder word).

There is no scope for truth in this complex world of “certificate and real age” – no bold truth is good enough.

You are probably so familiar with hearing: “meyeder boyosh jigesh korte hoi na.” (Never ask a lady her age). Its funny how asking about a woman’s age is considered rude, whereas judging a woman based on it is not.

There are various reasons people think it’s necessary to hide their age.

One of the most common reasons you hear people give is: “You get to work for more years.” As if working yourself when you are nearing the end of your life is everyone’s ultimate goal!

However, this sentiment is understandable. Take the example of Shahid Afridi who, although not a Bangladeshi, is one who has managed to smoothly pull-off the “hiding age” manoeuvre, and can still represent many of today’s young people. I mean, the man was 17 for many years.

So I suppose we can understand the importance of this traditional regional flaw.

The pursuit of happiness

I asked a couple of young men in their mid to late twenties why this phenomenon of hiding our age exists.

One of them seemed a tad offended.

“What do you mean?” he retaliated. “Why are you calling me old?”

This is a common reaction, to be expected. In fact, you may even find yourself being blacklisted for asking such questions.

In our society, ageing not only indicates the passing of one’s youth, but is also deemed as a way of analysing one’s successes in life. Have you overcome enough great hurdles, or achieved enough great rewards?

‘Never ask a lady her age’

Its funny how asking about a woman’s age is considered rude, whereas judging a woman based on age is not

On the spot

Some argue that it is essential to hide age because it “puts you on the spot” – as if getting old is a matter of great embarrassment.

You can forget the notion of “ageing gracefully” and the natural course of life.

No matter what happens (read: wrinkles), officially, you have to be forever young.

.

Photo: Bigstock

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18 stay in

Penny dreadful Rumana Habib

new, absolutely riveting tale. From the first minute of the pilot episode, it’s hard not to be drawn into its dark universe.

Clues

ACROSS

1 Volume won’t make you fat, it’s said (5) 5 Bird eaten by lemur (3) 6 Bike race in toilet is chancy game (5) 8 Drive around composer (5) 10 Short aim of Indian state (3) 11 President of Northern Ireland on after ten (5)

DOWN

The central plot revolves around Sir Malcolm (dapper ex-Bond Timothy Dalton), who is looking to rescue his daughter Lucy (yes, the same Lucy from the Dracula novel) from a mysterious monster.

He is aided by Vanessa Ives (Eva

Green in the role of her life) and gunslinging cowboy Ethan Chandler (the always excellent Josh Hartnett).

When they are in need of a doctor,

they enlist the help of a certain Victor Frankenstein – who has an interesting side project of his own.

The series draws upon many public domain characters from 19th-century Irish and British fiction, including Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray. We see snippets of their own stories, the details of which we are familiar with, but not quite from this angle. The tales intertwine seamlessly to create a believable supernatural world, where demons and tuberculosis fit right in.

Eva Green shines in every moment. Hers is one of the few central characters invented for the series. As TV.com reviewer Price Peterson wrote: “I’m not saying we should give Eva Green all of the awards for her work here, but if she doesn’t win them, then awards are meaningless.”

Though its title refers to the penny dreadfuls from the 19thcentury – British fiction known for lurid and sensational subject matter), this series veers away from cheap thrills and the conflicts are intelligently drawn.

If you’re a fan of dark, gothic stories, this show is a must-watch.n

1 2 3 4 7 8 9

Dreadful criminal in small community (7) Strange act of Persian, for example (3) Sign of 2 Down? (3) Where to buy lots of thing (7) Match is a draw (3) Vehicle of footballer Persie? (3) Reigning monarch about ten (3)

Solved it? Email answers to weekend@dhakatribune. com and win one free month of the Dhaka Tribune.

Last week’s solutions

I

t’s Dracula meets Frankenstein meets Dorian Gray.

This movie-star-studded TV series, now airing in Bangladesh on AXN, takes familiar characters from Victorian horror novels and brings them together in an entirely

Mini cryptics

ACROSS 1 Storage place of album in 8 Down (5) 5 Nothing goes in Spain like eggs (3) 6 Babies have them, like a short sleep (5) 8 Bloom is in 24 hours (5) 10 Endless public disorder of Olympic venue (3) 11 Claw back at London’s West End (5) DOWN 1 Country lair Germans used to buy (7) 2 Explosion in hip operations (3) 3 Tired of your first plaything (3) 4 Continue with hand luggage (5,2) 7 Vegetable energy held by father (3) 8 Short word for Dorothy in Morse code (3) 9 Tablet doesn’t begin to make unhealthy (3)

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

Last week’s sudoku solutions

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Go out

19

Shaatkahon Rongila Mela When Sept 25-28, 10am-8pm Where Jatra, Rd 27, Dhanmondi

Weekly Planner

J

atra brings back Shatkahon Rongila Mela for a second time. The fair will showcase Jatra products – all locally made handicrafts and clothing – as well as present cultural events.

This time the theme of the fair is Birds of Bangladesh. Jatra’s team of designers has selected seven birds from seven divisions of the country. They are also featuring seven different patterns of embroideries from seven divisions on their products.

Birds featured in the product range are: dudhraj (Asian paradise flycatcher), kala titir (black francolin), nilkaan machhranga (blue eared kingfisher), mete hutumpecha (dusky eagle owl), boro boga (great egret), komola buk horial (orangebreasted green pigeon) and lalmatha kuchkuchi (red headed trogon).

The four-day fair has other segments too. Artists will be performing from 6pm-8pm everyday.

On the first day, Baul Shafi Mondol and Autumnal Moon will be performing on stage. Krishnokoli and Shamageet will be singing on second and third evening of the fair, and on the last day, there will be a film

Sept 19-24 Film | Akira Kurosawa Film Week

When 11am-7pm Where Bangladesh National Museum, Shahbag What Observing the death anniversary of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, the International Academy of Film and Media is holding a tribute festival in his honour, jointly with Japan Foundation, Embassy of Japan, and Bangladesh National Museum.

The 14 screenings are open for all, including some of his greatest works: Seven Samurai (Fri at 6pm), Roshomon (Sat at 6pm), Yojimbo (Tue 11am) and Throne of Blood (Wed at 6pm).

From Sept 20-22, there is a three-day workshop on exploring Kurosawa to gain better understanding of his cinema, to be conducted by Sanjoy Ghosh. Register at iafm.edu.bd/ registration. screening along with performances by Madal and Shadhona.

The documentary “Life Is Still Not Ours: A Story of Chittagong Hill Tracts,” directed by Arnab Dewan, will also be shown during the fair, giving spectators a taste of the beauty, melody and culture of our country.

Guests can enjoy phuchka, chotpoti, tea and lemonade at the premises during the event.

Jatra, the local craft oriented clothing and home décor store, often draws inspiration from nature and folk culture of Bangladesh. They are the same creative minds who brought you the art on the cover of our magazine this week. n

Sept 19 Photography | Photography Exhibition 2014

When 3pm-8pm Where Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15A, Dhanmondi What Anyone interested in photography can participate in the exhibition, organised by Alo Adharir Golpo. The entries will be judged

by Kudrat E Khoda, wildlife and nature conservation photographer.

For details contact 01552397443 or 01811423257.

Sept 20

Ben Abdallah and directed by Mohammad Ali Haider. The drama is about political conflict and a revolution against poor governance.

Sept 21-23 Film | Film Week 25 Years German Unification

When 6pm Where Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, House 10, Road 9, Dhanmodi What On the occasion of 25 years of unification in Germany, GoetheInstitut will screen films related to the struggles between the former East and West Germany, as well as life in those two very different worlds. All films will be shown in German with English subtitles. We highly recommend The Lives of Others.

Schedule: September 21: Barbara, directed by Christian Petzold (2012, 105 min) September 22: Sonnenallee/Sun Alley, directed by Leander Haussmann (1999, 101 min) September 23: Das Leben Der Anderen/The Lives Of Others, directed

by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (2006, 132 min)

Sept 22-24 Fair | RAOWA Eid & Puja Fair

When 9am-10pm Where RAOWA Club, New Mohakhali DOHS What The clothing store Beautiful You is arranging this three-day fair with a number of small and regular stalls, bringing the crowd their fancy products.

Theatre | The Trial of Mallam Illya

When 7pm-8:20pm Where BUET Auditorium What BUET Drama Club presents their seventh show of the drama The Trial of Mallam Ilya, adapted from an African play by Ghanian Mohammed

SEPTEMBER

2014

Send your events to weekend@ dhakatribune.com

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20 Tea with WT | Hasan Masood

Quick brown fox

From army officer to journalist to actor, the mercurial Hasan Masood’s only constant is change Farhana Urmee

T

he bright personality of Hasan Masood, who loves to talk and does not look anywhere close to his 52 years, captivated me from the moment we met, on a rainy day at Barista cafe in Gulshan. Masood is most famous for the funny characters he portrays in television dramas.

“Let’s have some coffee,” I initially offered, to which he replied, “It would be better if we could have tea, because coffee has some bad effects on the body.”

He began to tell me about his love of tea and his fond memories of visiting tea gardens. Green tea is his preferred beverage, and he goes on to explain its many health benefits.

He is the kind of person who can talk at length on any given topic, be it the political situation of the country or the various types of tea.

He ordered a café latte.

“I have been maintaining a few things for better health and need to get rid of this tummy, he says,” with an affectionate pat on his mid-section. Although my scrutinising eyes failed to locate his so-called tummy, his health consciousness was a good way to start the conversation.

“I walk a lot during the day. In fact, I even walked here,” he said energetically.

Man of letters

Masood, who changed schools in his youth a grand total of 11 times, started off his career as an army officer, where he continued until he was promoted to the post of captain. Earning the designation made him realise he actually wanted something different. He wanted control on the steering wheel of his own life, and to not be bound by superficial normalcy or external validation.

This is when he decided to start over, and switched his profession to journalism.

“Although I was a captain in the army, after I quit that job I started working as an apprentice in an English daily with the intention of becoming a full time journalist,” says a smiling Masood. He still gets his pension for serving in the government, and he sees it as recognition of his first job.

He acquired a disciplined lifestyle

Photo: Quamrul Abedin from the armed forces, and his passion for sports and athletics piloted him to become a sports journalist at The Daily Star. He later shifted to BBC Bangla and started reporting on politics and economics.

Masood spent 13 years in journalism.

Picture of presence

“I never look back in my life. I always live in the moment, and this way it was simple for me to change my profession to pursue my passions and do what I was interested in,” said Masood.

“During these six years of acting, I explored another passion of mine – photography.” He immediately took out his smartphone and showed off one of his recent captures.

“I can hold a camera steadily without using a monopod or a tripod,” he said. “I think this came from my training with rifles while in the military.”

He was thrilled to show me another lovely photograph of the recent supermoon, with the silhouette of a bird flying across it. “Taking snaps of moving things is all about timing, which I learned while I was still an officer in the army.”

Just like his swift hand movements

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Taking snaps of moving things is all about timing, which I learned while I was still an officer in the army while talking, the subject of our discussion kept changing rapidly, hopping from the past, touching the present and tumbling into his future.

The conversation took its own direction as he started sharing his first experience of acting in a film named “Bachelor,” a role that he had been approached for while hanging out with some friends.

At that time, he was not sure about acting, and had turned to his colleagues and family for advice.

“Everybody laughed at me,” he said, “and I actually found that a thrilling driving force.”

Dark horse

“I continued journalism for the next four years while I was still acting,” Hasan said, “but covering the news and being a television actor was taking its toll and eventually I had to make a choice.” He paused while he sipped his not-green-tea.

“Free movement, which is exceptionally important for a journalist,

was becoming difficult for me because my face was becoming popular on TV. I gradually even stopped going to the addas, from where it all started.

Fame and riches make people lonely at a point, but I try not to become that sort,” he said with a sigh.

Regarding his current career, he says he has done three full-length films, and wants to try some different options as an actor to break his own prototype. “I have a fascination for doing antagonistic roles.”

I asked how that would work, and he replied with a grin: “Because of my dark complexion.”

Before I knew it, our interview had come to an end. Our adda resumed briefly as we walked outside the café, as he lit himself an unhealthy cigarette. He chivalrously walked me to my ride, waved a jovial goodbye, and began briskly walking home.

As I watched him go, I could see how his restless nature had driven him in everything he did. He lives his life fully, one moment at a time.

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