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Dhaka Tribune | vo l 2 I ssu e 23 | F R I D AY, OCTOB ER 24, 2014

Shifting winds

4

Veiled and fearless

6

Migrant workers

8

magic for magicians

CONTENTS

1

Volume 2 | Issue 23 | October 24, 2014 Editor Zafar Sobhan

News

Executive Editor Shahriar Karim

2 News 3 Meanwhile...

Managing Editor Jahangir Hyder

Features

Features Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

4 Listology Veiled and fearless

Assistant Magazine Editor Rumana Habib Weekend Tribune Team Tasnuva Amin Nova Mark S Baidya Farhana Urmee Ishrat Jahan Farina Noireet Faisal Mahmud Tausif Sanzum Sabrina Toppa Art Direction/Photography Syed Latif Hossain

5 A day in the life Dhalliwood makeup

6 Photo story

artist

6 Social Construct Bangladeshi migrant workers

8 Feature Magic for magicians

Mental health in Bangladesh

15 Health Breast cancer awareness month 17 Top 10 Things we miss abroad

Cartoons Syed Rashad Imam Tonmoy Rio Shuvo

20 Interview Dio Haque

Contributors Quamrul Abedin Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi Allison Joyce Raad Rahman Dina Sobhan

Regulars

Graphics Md Mahbub Alam

18 Stay In

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

Tis the season of the kashphul, immortalised by Tagore in one of his most memorable poems Our S=mall River: ‘By the sparkling sandy shore, no mud in sight / Blooms a field of kashphul – flowers of white.’

This photo was taken in Munshiganj.

Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

14 Legalese Offshore offside 16 Tough Love Unbrotherly and untimely

12 Foodie

The Food Talk meetup

19 Go Out

Shifting winds I t’s the first day of the Muslim new year, and we are in the middle of a change of season, from hemanto to winter. We can feel the shifting winds in our very bones.

Leading the charge this week are the fearless hijabi ladies who are making waves across the world (pg 4).

Bangladeshi migrant workers have travelled far and wide, taking great risks to earn money for their family and country, and we look at safe migration programmes trying to protect them from frauds and abusive employers (pg 6-7).

If you’ve ever lived abroad, you’ll relate to our list of top 10 things we miss from Bangladesh (pg 17). Which is your #1?

Editor’s note

We have some fun around town at a magic show for magicians (pg 8), tag along with a Dhalliwood makeup artist (pg 5), and land in foodie heaven at The Food Talk meetup (pg 12-13).

Rockstar Dio Haque shares his insights in creativity in the modern age. (pg 20) And on a more serious note, our photostory looks at the critical situation at Pabna Mental Hospital (pg 9-11). And we honour breast cancer awareness month with helpful pointers from a local expert (pg 15).

Hope you find it a great read.

- Rumana Habib

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2 News | This week

The world at a glance Adadevoh a national hero.

WHO: Ebola serum for Africa ‘in weeks’

A serum made from the blood of recovered Ebola patients could be available within weeks in Liberia, one of the countries hit worst by the virus, Photo: Reuters says the World Health Organisation.

A candlelight vigil for Dr Adadevoh and other Ebola Dr Marie Paule Kieny, victims in Abuja, Nigeria WHO assistant director general for health system and Honour for doctor innovation, said drugs and a vaccine A day after the World Health would be ready by January 2015. The Organisation declared Nigeria free of Ebola outbreak has already killed more Ebola, the doctor who treated patients than 4,500 people. Most of the deaths of the virus and subsequently died has have been in Guinea, Liberia and been honored as a hero.

Sierra Leone.

Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, a doctor Limited incidents have also been at First Consultant Hospital, oversaw reported in North America and Europe, treatment of Patrick Sawyer, Nigeria’s spurring grave concern and rigorous Ebola patient zero. Sawyer arrived sick quarantining of those patients. to Nigeria on a flight from Liberia in July.

When Dr Adadevoh detected Ebola Bangladesh wins 3rd term on UN in Sawyer, she promptly reported the Human Rights Council case to public health authorities, saving Bangladesh won membership in the many lives.

United Nations Human Rights Council In October 22, the Nigerian for the 2015-2017 term. The country government publicly crowned Dr has served on the UNHRC twice.

Weekend Tribune Desk Bangladesh served on the council from 2006-11 and withdrew for the 2012-14 period due to rules and regulations governing membership.

The UNHRC is a 47-member inter-governmental body dedicated to promoting and defending human rights.

Swedish navy widens search for mystery submarine

In a throwback to the Cold War, the Swedish navy increased the hunt Monday for a suspected foreign submarine in its waters, pointing at Russia.

Sweden strictly enforced airspace restrictions and warned the public to keep a distance.

On Monday, Russia and The Netherlands denied owning the vessel as tensions in the Baltic rose over the crisis in Ukraine. The Baltic Sea, an area of immense strategic importance, saw intense naval manoeuvrings throughout the Cold War, with the Soviet Navy paying particular attention to neutral Sweden’s long, rugged coastline.

Iraqis return to school after unrest

Iraqi students went back to school on Wednesday amid tightened security.

The academic year began a month late

because of population displacement

by ISIS, which took shelter in school buildings.

Areas captured by ISIS in northern and western Iraq earlier this year, including the country’s second largest city Mosul, meant that students were not required to attend classes, but would be able to watch lectures on state-run TV to prepare for final exams.

More than 1.8 million people have been uprooted from their homes, with many sheltering in schools, mosques and abandoned buildings. Last month authorities decided to delay school by a month in order to provide alternate housing arrangements.

Washington Post editor passes

Ben Bradlee, the editor of the Washington Post during the Watergate scandal that toppled US president Richard Nixon, has died at age 93.

Bradlee was credited for transforming the Post into one the most respected newspapers in the US. “For Benjamin Bradlee, journalism was more than a profession – it was a public good vital to our democracy,” President Barack Obama said in a White House statement on Tuesday evening.

In 2013, he was given the country’s highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Threat Level: High T

36 killed in local bus accident

A

t least 36 people were killed, including six members of a family, in a fatal road accident at Rezur Crossing of Razapur area in Baraigram upazila in Bangladesh on Monday.

Around 3:40pm, a Natore-bound bus of Keya Paribahan from Dhaka rammed into a bus of Othoi Paribahan heading towards Gurudaspur from Natore. The Keya Paribahan bus was carrying at least 40 passengers while 70 were on the other.

The collision, which took place on

Banpara-Hatikumrul highway, left the Othoi Paribahan bus badly damaged while the other vehicle fell into a roadside ditch.

The injured were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Natore Sadar Hospital, Baraigram Upazila Health Complex and other local clinics.

The district administration formed a three-member probe committee after the accident.

News: Desk. Photo: Courtesy.

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BANGLADESH'S BIGGEST FEARS 30% he greatest Source: PEW Research Center Religious and threat in the ethnic hatred 11% world is religious AIDS & other Bangladeshis are diseases and ethnic more worried about religious hatred, according and ethnic hatred than regional to Bangladeshi 11% neighbours Nuclear respondents of a new weapons poll conducted by the Pew Global Attitudes Project. Thirty percent 16% 22% of Bangladeshis Pollution & Inequility environment ranked this as the most alarming issue MAI. DT INFOGRAPHIC worldwide, putting us in the same percentage atomic bombs killed over 100,000 category as Israel. people, understandably ranks nuclear The poll offered five categories: weapons as the greatest threat.

Religious and ethnic hatred, pollution The Middle East remains the & environment, nuclear weapons, hotspot for religious and ethnic inequality, and AIDS/other diseases. hatred, with 68% of Lebanese and Surprisingly, Bangladeshis are more 40% of Palestinians saying it’s a worried about religious and ethnic global problem. hatred than regional neighbours India In Bangladesh, recent attacks (25%) or Pakistan (13%), the latter of on Hindu and Buddhist places of which is more concerned with nuclear worship may be one reason why our weapons (30%). countrymen are raising the alarm In Africa, the recent Ebola crisis about religious and ethnic hatred. may be why most of the continent’s News: Desk. Infograph: Dhaka respondents ranked infectious Tribune. diseases at the top. And Japan, where

meanwhile ... | News

Say what?

A

Freak sea creature baffles Singaporean fisherman

fisherman thought he was part of the plot for a sci-fi movie when he hauled in a bizarre looking sea creature while angling off the Singaporean island of Pulau Ubin.

“I know that area has a lot of seaweed, so I thought that was what I had hooked up,” 53-year-old Ramlan Saim told Singapore’s English-language newspaper The Straits Times. “But then when I put it on the boat it started to move like an alien.”

Upon further investigation, it was later concluded by Discovery News, that the unusual creature is likely a basket star, an invertebrate related to the starfish.

Basket stars start out with five arms, from which smaller appendages sprout out over time. The creatures can re-grow their limbs – which have small sharp hooks on them to capture prey – if someone or something breaks them off.

News: Huffington Post. Photo: Youtube.

3

Photo of the week This photograph is one of the finalist of this week’s Out of the Box 5 contest, organised by Through the Lens: Bangladesh. Check out their exhibition at Dhaka Art Centre this weekend. For more information, see pg 19.

Photo: Inzamam Islam Piyas

You’re welcome

Measuring on the fly

H

ave you ever found yourself in desperate need for a ruler, but can’t seem to find one handy?

The key is knowing the length of certain items in your wallet – or on your person – and letting your mobile phone calculator do the rest: • Tk20 note: 5” x 2.4” • Standard business card: 8.5cm x 5.5cm • Your hand: Measure from the base of your wrist to the tip of your middle finger – which is helpful for measuring larger surfaces you touch with your hands, like tables and cushions

• Your pinkie finger: This finger is handiest because it’s on the outside of your hand and has a clear start and end, unlike thumbs • Your height: The distance between your fingertips with your arms stretched to the sides is roughly the same as your height • Your stride: Lay a measuring tape on the floor and have someone else watch you walk at a normal, natural pace – though you might have to do it a few times to make sure you’re not drastically changing your gait

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4 LISTOLOGY | VEILED AND FEARLESS

Hijabi power

While the world debates whether or not the hijab constrains women’s freedom, the success stories of these women go beyond the veil Tausif Sanzum Inner circle: Dalia Mogahed

Fighting spirit: Ayesha Farooq

Mogahed is using her influence to help the west break away from antiMuslim stereotypes in the post-9/11 world.

She started her career at the Gallup Centre for Muslim Studies as executive director, during which time she co-authored the book: Who Speaks For Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think. It was based on rigorous six-year research and interviews of 50,000 Muslims from 30 nations.

In 2009, US President Barack Obama appointed her to his Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighbourhood Partnerships.

While Malala is advocating for women’s rights from outside her country, Ayesha Farooq, 27, is creating change from within. She has become a role model for girls throughout the country, a significant number of whom are denied even basic education.

In the last decade, only 19 women have become pilots in the Pakistan Air Force, of which Ayesha is the first war-ready fighter pilot.

In interviews, Ayesha often highlights that she has to work twice as hard to match her male counterparts. She also tied the knot with her cousin in an arranged marriage, bravely balancing both her traditional and modern identities.

(Egyptian-American)

Newsworthy: Somayya Jabarti (Saudi Arabian)

In a country with regulations against women driving, this year marked the beginning of a significant era in Saudi Arabia for women empowerment, as Somayya Jabarti became the first ever female editor-in-chief of a national daily.

Jabarti’s rise in the media has been meteoric – from a local desk editor at the Arab News, to the deputy national editor, and finally the executive editor and managing editor, before joining her current national daily, Saudi Gazette, as the deputy editor.

In an interview, she mentioned that the majority of reporters are female, but decision making lies mostly in the hands of men. She wants to make a space for women to become part of this decision making body.

(Pakistani)

Vote of confidence: Lubna Khalid Al Qasimi (Emirati)

Forbes named Qasimi on its list of the 100 most powerful women in the world.

She made history back in 2004 when she became the first female cabinet minister in the UAE. Some grumble that belonging to the ruling family of Sharjah has contributed to her political success, but it cannot be denied that she was the first to rise to power among many women of influential families in the country.

She became the minister of economy in 2004, the minister of foreign trade in 2008 and has been minister of international cooperation and development since 2013. She also holds a number of influential positions in various organisations in UAE.

Nobel cause: Malala Yousafzai

Lady imam: Amina Wadud

Earlier this month, Malala became the youngest recipient of the Nobel prize.

At 17, the advocate for education for girls’ has come a long way: from writing an anonymous diary about the oppressive Taliban rule, to authoring her New York Times best-selling memoir and speaking at some of the most high profile conferences around the world. During her meeting with President Obama back in 2013, she criticised his drone strikes in Pakistan.

Amid the international focus, she still identifies herself as a regular teenager who wants to finish her studies and get into Oxford University.

Born as Mary Teasley, Wadud converted to Islam in 1972. She got her PhD in Arabic and Islamic studies from the University of Michigan.

In 1994, Wadud faced a lot of controversy for being the only woman to ever lead a Friday khutba. In 2005, she again bended Islamic rules by leading a Friday prayer, which was attended by a mixed gender crowd in the US, without the traditional wall of segregation between males and females. Wadud has stated that she does not want to change Islam, but wants to make it more accommodating.

(Pakistani)

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(American)

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Dhalliwood makeup artist | A DAY IN THE LIFE

5

Making faces

Jony, makeup artist to the stars, talks shop Farhana Urmee

B

efore a film director kicks off production, there are so many things to take care of. Hiring a good makeup artist is a priority. Without him, many silver screen beauties would look like unremarkable girl next door.

Jony’s canvas is the human face and body, which can take on different characters according to his imagination. Though you may not know the name of this offscreen hero, his artwork is immortalised in celluloid. The work of the fifty-yearold fixture at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) has appeared in films, TV dramas, and commercials nationwide.

After 34 years in the industry, his makeup techniques show an aesthetician with a skillful eye.

Jony was born and brought up in Mirpur, Dhaka, but often visited BFDC to glimpse his silver screen idols. As

a shooting spectator, his presence elicited attention from actor Zafar Iqbal, who asked Jony whether he wanted to work in films. Without pause, Jony replied he wanted to be a film makeup artist. Back then, Jony did not even know what the job of a makeup artist entailed.

“Becoming a makeup artist was my best chance to stay in close connection with the superstars I saw on the screen,” Jony tells me, backstage at film shooting in Uttara.

The daily grind

His days are long.

At six in the morning, Jony starts from his home in Tongi to arrive first to a film shoot, where he will redraw the faces of actors with his beauty implements. He almost never eats breakfast at home, nibbling away hungrily between work sessions. He frequently dips into his bag of tricks:

his large duffel with transformational makeup materials. One by one, he creates new faces for the actors.

Jony remains in a state of readiness throughout the day.

The only way to keep an actor in character is by applying makeup, according to Jony. He and his assistant have to keep a sharp eye on the actors’ faces throughout the gruelling hours, vigilantly correcting any problems. If it is summer, they commonly have to fix their hair almost after every shot.

Above all, Jony’s art must help tell the story. “Working for films or TV serials is not merely putting products on their faces that make them look beautiful. We always have to keep them in the character of the story,” Jony says.

Film plots contribute to the style of makeup for any visual media, given the situation or the emotional charge

involved.

Real world education

Jony learned this art behind a working makeup artist. He observed a makeup artist at BFDC year after year, and gradually learned how to imitate him.

“I do not have any professional training in makeup, but I have spent a good time learning it. Since we don’t have proper makeup training in our country yet, this has become an established practice here in BFDC,” says Jony, giving an account of at least 45 helpful makeup artists who are currently working in the industry.

Jony is also part of a 2,200-member association of makeup artists in BFDC. Lunch and dinner breaks are rarely honoured, since work takes precedence. And for his tireless labour, Jony’s work – often spanning twelve hours at a time – yields at least Tk3000 for a day. He goes back to his abode after midnight, washing off the day’s colours.

Another dream

The makeup studio is powered by hundreds of lightbulbs, which leaves Jony’s pendant, emblazoned with his wife’s initials, glittering. The ebullient man carries another dream in his makeup bag, which will come true when he retires from his work.

He hopes to start a makeover salon in his neighbourhood, with a training centre where he can teach struggling makeup artists for visual media.

Although Jony’s name is unfamiliar to most, it is perhaps most foreign to himself. His real name, Jahirul Islam, was unpronounceable to film actress Diti, who offered it as a pet-name. It grew in popularity until everyone in the studio began using it.

“Today, I am Jony, the makeup artist,” smiles the gratified professional.

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Photos: Quamrul Abedin

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6 social construct | Bangladeshi migrant workers

Better safe than sorry How Bangladeshi migrants are warned against unsafe migration for overseas work Sabrina Toppa

“I

know how it feels one minute before death,” Rashed says. His memory flickers to Dubai, where he was illegally placed in a van en route to Europe. “I was in there for a month and a half. I couldn’t tell when it was night or day.” Now back in Bangladesh, his lachrymose face draws out the final words: “Apu didn’t survive.”

Rashed is a fictional character illuminating the plight of Bangladesh’s most at-risk migrants.

In the telefilm Proshnobodhok, popular Bangali stars Arefin Shuvo and Tisha highlight the value of legal migration channels. It is one media tool for raising awareness about safe migration created by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The screen cuts to a woman

admonishing viewers. “Undergo training in a trade of your choice, become a skilled labourer and go abroad. If you don’t live, you won’t be able to fulfil your dreams.”

A confusing system

Twenty-eight-year-old Manik from Tongi thought he was prepared when he applied. Sitting at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment office, he tells his tale of a South Korean labour limbo. He spent the last 4 years waiting to board a plane. After passing the medical examination, he registered on the online job board.

“You have two years to find a job. If you don’t, your profile will be deleted,” he says. His profile has been deleted twice, and he now sits with his hands crumpled in the ministry office, asking what job is left for him.

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“I watch a lot of television,” he says. “With no work, I have to do something with my time.

The last show I watched was about safety measures to take when abroad,” he says. “I don’t remember the exact plot or characters, but I remember the message: Safety in the workplace.”

Choosing the right path

With 7.7 million migrants overseas, Bangladesh is one of the world’s top exporters of manpower. Threequarters of Bangladeshi migrants end up in the petroleum-rich Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Oman.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that over 6.6 million Bangladeshi workers have used official channels to find employment overseas. But the

number of migrants using irregular channels is harder to track.

Going through legal channels offers greater protection in case of harm. Registered workers are entitled to Tk35,000 for deceased body burial, and can present wage theft or extortion claims at a labour court overseen by the labour ministry.

Under its project “Promoting decent work through improved migration policy,” the IOM has taken steps to reach out to vulnerable migrants to reduce migration risks.

This includes branding buses and billboards with colour-coded warnings from a traffic light advising safe migration. A green light encourages migrants to retain photocopies of important legal documents, such as passports and visas, with their family. The yellow light asks them to obtain the required

Photo: Nashirul Islam

7

This year Australia spent around $20 million dollars on a controversial campaign strongly discouraging illegal migration after many misinformed labourers, led by unscrupulous middlemen, ended up on its shores without the legal right to live or work in the country Photos: Courtesy

training. The red advises workers not to engage with middlemen, known to con workers by appropriating money and luring migrants with spurious hopes.

Cost burdens

This fall, the IOM-supported GTV docudrama, Sopnera Kora Nare (Dreams Knocking at Your Feet) used case studies of real migrants to communicate the benefits of using legal routes and the risks of going through irregular channels. AIMS Bangladesh, a communications agency, prepared a script with IOM endorsed by the Bangladeshi government.

Many middlemen harm migrants by locking them in debt and financial dependence. In Manikganj, AIMS Bangladesh approached 5 rural women who went to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea. Using dalals (middlemen) to navigate the migration process, the women ended up indebted to the men, who charged them almost Tk100,000 for maid positions. The government sets maximum recruitment fees for lowskilled labourers at Tk30,000.

“They didn’t know the price of migration and were cheated by local dalals,” said AIMS’ Kazi Roksana Ruma, who spent time interviewing the women.

ILO reports that low-skilled

positions bear the highest cost burden, as middlemen prey on an applicant’s unawareness about risks.

Half of all Bangladeshi workers are classified as low-skilled.

“Before they went overseas, they didn’t undergo training,” Ruma says.

“The maids didn’t know the language of the country and didn’t get their salary.”

“The dalal prepared the passport for them because they were not so literate. They used loans from families, not from banks, and sold property to afford the cost,” Ruma says.

These irregular channels are precisely the methods IOM hopes to wean migrants off. Doing so saves money for migrants and government agencies.

Tausif Mumtaz (real name changed) is a waiter at an upscale Dhaka cafe who wished he had known about safe migration before heading off to the UAE. He went to Dubai on what he thought was a working visa, only to realise it was a 7-day visitor visa. After a week in the UAE, he was kicked out of the country and discovered his company had cheated him.

Spreading the word

IOM is using “edutainment,” a portmanteau of education and entertainment, to disseminate

information to men like Tausif.

Recently, it partnered with ABC Radio, whose programme reaches 10 million listeners in Bangladesh, to deliver songs and dramas with safe migration messages. Radio guests included government officials and cultural luminaries like Fakir Alamgir.

IOM also brings interactive theatre performances onto the country’s streets. Inventing characters like Bahadur, a Bangladeshi man applying for work but confused about which steps to take, audiences find their situations reflected in the character’s.

“Is this the right way to go?” he asks a crowd around the market.

“Should I go to the government office?” Bahadur’s popularity among audiences is so impressive that IOM is hoping to reintroduce him in future campaigns.

Each media tool is evaluated by IOM pre- and post-development to assess its impact. Screened to local stakeholders (media, journalists and government officials), the dramas also get sent out to union offices to ensure dissemination at the grassroots level.

And it’s clear why tools like this need to exist. Even high-skilled migrants are bewildered by the murky process. Islam, sitting in the expatriate office heading to Qatar, already has friends working in the engineering company he will join

in Doha. But he remains perplexed about life in Qatar, despite the mandatory cultural training migrants are expected to undergo predeparture.

Part of the problem is the centralisation of government resources in Dhaka. In addition to Dhaka, the majority of Bangladeshi migrants originate from the districts of Comilla, Chittagong, Tangail, and Brahmanbaria – where migrants encounter informational deficits for vital information.

Salim Hussain, a Bangladeshi electrician returning to Singapore, sees the TV shows as necessary precisely for this reason. “Even basic information is not known by people who go overseas,” he says. “If they really want to help, they should make it a less confusing process.”

Salim is not alone in this viewpoint. IOM, partnering with the government, is developing these demystification tools precisely to help.

Since migration is a key livelihood strategy undertaken for poverty alleviation in Bangladesh, which earned $11 billion through remittances alone in 2010. Despite its significant contributions to the country’s economy, it is clear that migration remains fraught with high risks for the labourers involved.

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8 Feature | magic for magicians

Night of the conjurers

The brotherhood of Bangladesh Jadukor Parisad comes together for their annual magical extravaganza Faisal Mahmud

M

Mainul Khan performing his cup and ball routine

ost of the men who gathered at Shilpakala Academy’s experimental hall last Wednesday night were not average people. With their distinctive clothing, sharp eyes and polished body movements – this much was apparent.

Then it starts. Objects vanish and appear from seemingly impossible places. Cards rise from the deck, a matchbook turns into a crumpled card and the backs of queens change colours. Three separate solid rings become linked and the audience’s eyeballs grow big in surprise.

Not your regular magic show

“We love to see the expressions on the audience’s faces. This is what we magicians consider job satisfaction,” says Arif Asgar, a young magician sporting a stylish beard and moustache.

Only fifty of the audience-goers were non-magicians, who attended out of camaraderie. The other hundred or so were magicians.

“This is not a regular magic show. It is the Eid reunion of the Bangladesh Jadukor Porishad (BJP),

Photo: Arif Asgar

a brotherhood of Bangladesh’s magicians,” says Asgar. “It takes place once a year and we eagerly wait for the event.”

“Magicians don’t like doing magic every waking moment. But when you have a reunion of the magician’s brotherhood, you would expect lamps to levitate and cards to materialise inside water bottles,” he says smiling.

“Magic is the point, so we should do something,” he said.

The scene for the evening was set at the intimate experimental theatre – with extravagantly-draped windows and upholstered chairs standing in rows. A small table-clothed wooden table was set up in front of the stage.

Khan MA Mainul, a man in a red coat and with an impish smile on his face, positioned himself before the table.

He began with a trick using cards and an absorbing coin. He wove humour into his act, including personal anecdotes and involving the audience (mostly fellow magicians).

Then he put down an ordinary cup upside down on the table. He drew a red ball from nowhere and casually put the ball in his coat pocket. He

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, O CTO B E R 24 , 201 4

lifted the cup, and the ball was there.

It happened over and over again.

Finally two apples – one could hardly fit – appeared from out of the cup.

“That’s the dessert,” he announced to an exhilarated crowd.

Youthful energy

Mainul is the vice president of the BJP and the senior-most magician of the country.

“Magic keeps you young. I am an architect by profession, but this is my passion. I have been at it for more than 50 years,” he said.

“Usually some of us gather once a month to discuss and perform magic, but this Eid reunion of fellow magicians is the best place to know about their work because you have most of them under the same roof,” he explained.

Mainul said the reunion is also a good place to learn and exchange tricks with one another.

Dedicated stunners

“For an art based on secrecy, most of the magicians are generous about helping other fellow magicians, especially the newcomers who

wander in and want to learn to amaze.

But it’s more like the medieval guild system in action, where apprentices learn from masters,” he said.

“But you have to have serious dedication for learning magic,” he added.

“You also need to have a quick pair of hands, flashy clothing and most importantly, a fun-loving attitude,” said Surjendra, another magician.

“Magicians love to talk but they love patter even more,” he says, referring to the talk a magician does while performing magic. “And they surely love to do magic, so lets have some magic.”

He stood up at the stage and transformed black and white pages of a book into multicoloured ones.

Jaynal took the stage after Surjendra. He opened his jaws wide, displaying an empty mouth, then closed it, and in the next moment, produced multiple sharp blades out of his mouth.

“He loves to stun the audience. We call him the extreme magician,” said Babul, another magician.

Babul produced flowers from nowhere and then turned them into cute-eyed rabbits. “This act has been out there and many know how to do this trick,” he said. “The best magicians can do is take existing routines and sort of put our own spin on them. Here you need your costume and your attitude.”

Professional opinion

The audience members were clearly having a good time. Appreciating their colleagues performing a good trick is a double pleasure for them.

“With so much of our daily experience mediated by technology, I think there is something alluring about being mystified with a deck of cards, or a coin or a thimble – something very unassuming – which happens directly in front of you,” said Zadu Azad, a veteran magician, while watching his peers perform.

“I personally prefer big stage illusions like floating a human being in the air, but watching these simple yet very complex tricks are always refreshing,” he said.

“And its educational when you are among the fellow magicians on an occasion like this.”

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Mental health in Bangladesh | Photo story

9

Seeking sanctuary Photos and text: Allison Joyce

Turn for more photographs

Patients look through the door of their ward in Pabna Mental Hospital

M

ental health in Bangladesh is a hugely stigmatised and largely neglected issue.

The Pabna Mental Hospital is the only specialised psychiatric hospital in the country. It employs few trained psychiatrists and holds just 500 beds.

Some more statistics: there are only about 150 psychiatrists in this country, which is less than one per million people. And the prevalence of mental illness effects approximately 16% of the population.

In the largely uneducated rural areas, there are few doctors. Families generally take the patient to a traditional healer or religious leader, who usually tries to exorcise the

jinn with holy water or a tabiz (a metal amulet containing religious scripture).

Families who have a mentally ill family member – lacking awareness or options – sometimes restrain them with ropes or chains out of desperation. Less than 0.5% of the government health budget is spent for mental health.

These photos were taken in August at Pabna Mental Hospital.

Allison Joyce is a photojournalist covering social

issues, based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her work has appeared in publications worldwide including The New York Times, National Geographic, Time, Paris Match and Newsweek.

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, O CTOB E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 4

10 PHoto story | Mental health in Bangladesh

The hospital is understaffed, but these nurses do their best

Monirul Islam, 26, has a medical check-up before his family admits him

Md Saidul Islam, 27, is seen at the intake centre of Pabna Mental Hospital

Schizophrenic Tara Banu,16, stands chained to her front porch

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, O CTO B E R 24 , 201 4

11

The chained legs of Rofikul, 22

Mentally ill Rofikul smokes a cigarette

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12 foodie | The Food Talk meetup

Thoughts for food Bringing together Dhaka foodies to do what they love most: photograph, critique and eat Tasnuva Amin Nova

“I

f you are paying for your food, you definitely have the right to criticise it,” says Taskin Rahman.

“Food is something that everyone understands. Anyone can describe how a particular dish tastes, hence everyone is a food critic,” he explains.

Setting the table

However, this foodie who created an online platform to discuss food called The Food Talk states what differentiates his group from similar groups: “The Food Talk is a place where foodies criticise food in the most civic manner.”

It rates restaurants and dishes in a structured way, based on criteria like ambience, food and value for money.

In the next six months, the group plans to rank restaurants in addition to rating them.

In order to maintain the quality of reviews food and restaurants get in his group, Taskin handpicked experienced food critics as group administrators – and he personally screens each member request before approving their entry into the closed group.

The Food Talk was opened three months ago. With more than 3,500 members and over 100 requests per day from Dhaka’s Facebook foodies asking to join the group, this platform is blooming into a large community.

On the rise

Trying out newest eateries has become the single most favorite pastime among Dhaka dwellers of all ages, followed by uploading photos

Photos: Courtesy

and reviews of their experiences on social media.

Taskin has been a keen observer of this trend, and admits he is no different from the rest. A foodie at heart, this connoisseur has written more than 100 food reviews from restaurants all over the world including Italy, Australia, Hungary, Malaysia, Thailand and many more.

Apart from eating, Taskin also knows how to cook. He has done several cooking courses including a barista course with North End Coffee Roasters and a Thai cuisine course in Thailand.

Inspired by food talks on the Facebook group, The Food Talk team got out of the web for a day to host its first live discussion on food.

Sharing more than a meal

On a rainy afternoon of October 11, I walked into Tarka, Banani’s favorite new Indian restaurant, to find myself among 30 or more major foodies of Dhaka. It was an ideal setting for a foodie’s heaven: smell of food wafting through the kitchen window, tables teeming with delectable dishes and people overwhelmed by the food talk.

Soon the event kicked off, with Taskin speaking about the idea behind the group and its future plans.

“Dhaka is a tough city and here, if you don’t love your job and you don’t love to eat out, you may have a challenging life,” says Taskin.

In a city where food is the best and most common recreation, The Food Talk intends to create a platform to get tips and exchange opinions on

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, O CTO B E R 24 , 201 4

restaurants in town, he said.

They ran a “best restaurant in Dhaka” activity with the foodies present, where each table of six members nominated a restaurant they thought has been most consistent in terms of taste, ambiance, service and price.

Some of the places that stood the test of time and taste were Saltz, Bella Italia, BBQ Tonite and Izumi.

Tricks of the trade

Checking-in at restaurants and sharing food photos has been a consistently popular activity among food lovers around the world.

The Food Talk arranged a food photography session by renowned product and food photographer Sohel Rana Ripon. Ripon has been in the photography industry for 30 years, and the session was a lively one, discussing the use of different gadgets, such as smart phones and tablets, for food photography.

Farzana Afroz Urmi, a popular and Ripon’s photo tip: Use a single light source on the subject to made the food look more appetising active Food Talk member, presented bread baking tips and tricks.

She has been a regular activist in the group and people continuously asked for recipes. It was the day Urmi’s answered all recipe queries of her fellow foodies. She had brought breads and buns for the audience to try and the foodies seemed to give her a green go.

Urmi’s baking tip: Brushing breads with a milk and egg mixture gives a superior glaze to breads

Authentically deshi

After a healthy discussion on baking, the foodies moved onto something more serious. Bangladesh has a diverse range of food, but internationally our cuisine is associated with Indian food.

The Food Talk ran a table activity to identify some truly Bangali dishes.

These can be found on tables across the country, but are not widely available in Dhaka’s restaurants, such as: mezbani beef, kalabhuna, dal, elish, chitoi pitha, shapla, bakarkhani, phuchka, chorchori, bhapa pitha, chui jhal mutton, okra fry, various bhortas like chingri, aloo and dal.

Biriyani was mentioned, but proved a debatable dish, because as far as its nationality is concerned, its identity is mixed in with India and Pakistan.

Dishing on pizza

From authentic Bangla dishes the discussion moved onto bitter food experiences. The group ran a worst restaurant experience activity, where names such as Pizza Hut, Pizza Inn, Mozzaria, and Rice and Noodles came up.

One of the verdicts about pizza was that thick-crusted pizzas do not satiate Dhaka foodies.

Promoting new food businesses is also one of Food Talk’s agendas. In

13

Typical Food Talk The Food Talk frequently posts questions encouraging its members to contribute with fun, informative, short reviews and opinions on topics such as favourite Chinese restaurants and coffee places. A recent post asked: “Is there a good breakfast place in Dhaka?”

Like always, this generated a host of interesting responses from the group’s dedicated members.

Here are a few: • Nasrin Khaleque: “There are lots.

I only wish they opened before 9am. My personal favourites are The Taste, and Maloncho.”

• Natasha Huq: “Korai Gosht, Shonkor Road.”

• Farzana Afroze Urmi: “Gloria Jeans opens at 7am I guess.

I haven’t been, but I heard the buffet breakfast at Platinum Suites is not bad for its price. I

the “food & technology” chapter of the event, Pizza Roma came in to the party to present their success story.

Pizza Roma started in late 2013 as a venture of the Italian Ferri family.

Their goal was to make the kind of pizza in Bangladesh that they missed from their home in Rome, and the authentic flavour has really caught on in Dhaka.

Katerina Don, Pizza Roma’s communications in-charge, introduced the company, and their head chef Filippo shared some tips about Roman pizza, which has a thin, crisp crust with a burst of flavour in the core, and which is cooked for only a few minutes in a very hot oven.

Just desserts

The Food Talk runs polls every now and then on a variety of food related topics. One of the polls was on cheesecake, and the crowd’s favorite was the oreo cheesecake from Tastebud. The cafe was given a green circle, which The Food Talk calls “The circle of recommendation.” It is a title you attach to places you’d recommend to your friends and family.

The favourite Indian food “circle of recommendation” was given to Tarka, and the most consistent restaurant that stood the test and taste of time went to Bella Italia.

.

Sign the bill: Inspired by the success of the first event, The Food Talk has future events lined up for foodies. Stay updated with the group’s activities by becoming a part of the conversation at facebook.com/groups/thefoodtalk/.

like to take away Kings croissant in the morning ... they are pretty good for Tk95. I had the Holey Artisan Bakery’s croissants ... they are really good, but its too expensive to have regularly ... once in a while as a treat it’s great.”

• Nasrin Khaleque: “I love Holey, only wish they had coffee and a croissant that doesn’t cost a million dollars!”

• Musa Haroon: “For a quick breakfast the best is a quick sandwich from Sausly’s, but for weekend breakfasts I heard Tastebud is pretty good as well, as is George’s Cafe. But by far the best breakfast I had was at Dhansiri Hotel – amaziingggg!”

• Farhana Imran Opi: “Star.”

• Fahmid Ishtiaque Ahmed: “Preetom also serves breakfast!!”

• Natasha Huq: “Al Razzak in puran Dhaka.”

• Omar Sharif: “Royal at Lalbagh.”

• Humaira Hossain: “Moubon at

Dhanmondi 4. They serve breakfast.”

• Natasha Huq: “Khaboi Khabo at Maghbazar, Kafe Usuf at Johnson

Road, if you want to taste typical Dhakaiya bangali nashta.”

Talkin’ Tarka Food Talk’s main man reviews Tarka for the Weekend Tribune Taskin Rahman

Tarka: A journey into Indian cuisine Rating: 4.0 Taste of food 4.0 Quality of service 4.0 Decor and ambience 4.0 Price 4.0 Presentation 4.0 Tarka is stirring up the Banani food scene with tasty and economically-priced Indian food.

The restaurant opened on March 2 and is doing quite well.

Tarka is an Indian restaurant that has brought India's colour and charm to a Bangali table.

They have a dhaba-style area outside with bench seating and a juice bar. The main restaurant area features wooden furniture and a window looking outwards to an

open kitchen. The hand wash area is absolutely striking, the basin and tap both are copper, which gives it a rich Indian look.

All the food here has a strong Indian accent. I tried quite a lot of their dishes and found them to be consistently good. Their naans in particular are aromatically soft.

I would recommend their garlic naan, but Tarka also has a naan kulcha, which is a paneer-stuffed naan.

Tarka’s Chicken Lajawaab Makhani and Beef Delhi Night are my favorite to accompany the naans. The beef dish definitely brings a new flavour and taste to the Indian dining scene in Bangladesh. It is a good mix of the sweet and savory tastes, having a twisted sour taste that makes the

dish stand out loud. The chicken is a good-looking dish with lots of thick gravy to compliment the somewhat dry Beef Delhi Night, if you are trying these dishes with naan.

If you're looking for a lighter eat, Tarka has a range of snack items like dosas and chaats. I would particularly recommend their paneer dosa. The size and filling of the dosa is delicious.

We heard good recommendations for their Hyderabadi Biriyani, so try that scrumptuous offering. I also found their Tarka special platter to be wonderful. It has a range of kebabs including fish, prawn, beef, and chicken.

Bon appetit!

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14 Legalese | Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi

Offshore offside A foreign footballer isn’t getting his due

Q

A friend of mine is a foreign football player who signed a contract with a local football club in the first tier football league in Dhaka.

Lately, he shared how poorly he’s been treated, and that his salary has never been nearly accurate as per his contract. Worse, he claims that there are many other foreign football players like him in Dhaka. I wanted to ask you what legal help he could seek in these matters.

A

Dear Reader: Thank you for being this out in the open. It’s a shame that situations like these are popping up around us like mushrooms these days.

Decency and ethics are non-existent, while fraudulent activities seem to be the theme of the day. Or the month. Or the year. You get the picture.

It’s hard to think of a time when a man’s word was his bond, even though we know that those days did exist in the past. Regardless, coming back to the topic at hand, let’s look at the legal and practical options open to your friend.

You stated that your friend has a contract. Let us look at the elements of a contract and its legal obligations in detail.

According to Section 10 of the Contract Act, 1872: “All agreements are contracts if they are made by the free consent of parties competent to contract, for a lawful consideration and with a lawful object, and are not hereby expressly declared to be void.”

Since that appears to be satisfied here, there are certain commitments and obligations that each of the parties to a contract will have, as stated in Section 37: “The parties to a contract must either perform, or offer to perform, their respective promises, unless such performance is dispensed with or excused under the provisions of this act, or of any other law. Promises bind the representatives of the promisor in case of the death of such promisors before performance,

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

unless a contrary intention appears from the contract.”

The most important thing to do here is to check your friend’s contract in detail. Contracts are tricky stuff – they can contain just that minuscule word or that seemingly innocent sentence that can prove fatal when disputes arise. And more often than not, disputes do arise.

The major contractual breach that appears to be taking part here is the fact that your friend is getting paid much less than what he is rightfully owed under the contract.

The Contract Act clearly specifies: “When a contract has been broken, the party who suffers by such breach is entitled to receive, from the party who has broken the contract, compensation for any loss or damage caused to him thereby, which naturally arose in the usual course of things from such breach, or which the parties knew, when they made the contract, to be likely to result from the breach of it. Such compensation is not to be given for any remote and indirect loss or damage sustained by reason of the breach.”

I would also like to point out something here. Since you mentioned that there has been a continual breach during the duration of the contract, I’m guessing that I can safely assume that your friend is unhappy and wants out.

The best thing to do here is for your friend to rescind the contract.

A person who rightly rescinds a contract is entitled to compensation for any damage which he has sustained through the non-fulfilment of the contract.

Therefore, even though he rescinds the contract, your friend will

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, O CTO B E R 24 , 201 4

Got a problem?

Write to Jennifer at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

Cartoon: Rio Shuvo/Dhaka Tribune

still be due to any compensation (ie differences in salaries and payments) that he ought to have received, pursuant to the terms of the contract.

Most importantly, yes, your friend surely has a good leg to stand on here.

and should pursue this to the full legal extent. Exploitation in any form should never be tolerated. Hopefully this has been helpful. Do keep me updated regarding the outcome.

.

Breast cancer awareness month | feature

15

what you need to know about breast cancer Prof Golam Mohiuddin Faruque, a departmental head at Dhaka Medical College, discusses breast cancer awareness and prevention Farhana Urmee 1. What is the rate of breast cancer in Bangladesh?

Every year at least 22,000-25,000 patients get breast cancer. One new patient is added every half an hour.

Cervical cancer used to be the #1 cancer in Bangladesh, but breast cancer has now eclipsed it.

2. What are the risk factors?

Breast cancer is known to be inherited and genetic. But 8 out of 10 patients are getting it from unhealthy nutritional habits, environmental pollution, and urbanised lifestyles.

The rest are getting it genetically.

This means our lifestyles play a significant role. This risk can be curbed by our choices, so awareness can work as prevention.

• Smoking: A big risk factor is smoking – even passive smoking.

Women who smoke are ten times more likely to get it.

• Diet: The urban diet preference for high saturated fat content, and an affluent diet rather than a healthy diet, also increases the risk of breast cancer.

• Breastfeeding: Not breastfeeding can contribute to the risk.

• Birth control: Previously, there seemed to be a strong link between birth control pills and breast cancer, but new research has shown that other factors were involved, and birth control in not considered as risky anymore.

• Age: The risk goes up significntly after menopause. Breast cancer is directly proportional to age.

Women rarely get breast cancer before 20. Women above 20 need to know they might get the cancer gradually.

3. What is your assessment of the level breast cancer awareness in Bangladesh?

We have made significant developments. The government and NGOs have screened at least 10,000 breast cancer patients. The Bangladesh Cancer Society conducts year-long awareness-building programmes.

4. What does that programme cover?

We go to university dormitories to raise awareness. We visit urban women’s colleges especially. For the last three years, the Bangladesh Society of Radiation Oncologists, an organisation of cancer specialists, has also held breast cancer awareness programmes. Other than that, Oporajita, Jatiya Mahila Shangstha, and Bangladesh Mahila Samity held programmes, including at the upazila level, for the last ten years.

5. Is an awareness programme sufficient?

We need to decentralise the awareness programme. I recommend breast cancer education in textbooks, to reduce cultural barriers and build awareness.

Awareness should cover two dimensions: prevention through a healthy lifestyles and early cancer detection to seek the best treatment.

6. How can we better prevent breast cancer?

Proper awareness helps prevent cancer by one third. Remember: If cancer can be detected at an early stage, it is not fatal.

Prevention is in our hands.

Previously, we could only do mammographs, but nowadays we can do MRIs and ultrasonograms.

Also, if a woman has breast cancer in her family, she must be taught to examine herself.

7. How can we spread awareness to rural villages or underprivileged women?

Our National Cancer Institute runs awareness programmes at a the village level, but it might not cover a large population. It expects community leaders and other stakeholders to spread the information.

Motivated leaders are required to build awareness among a large population. A comprehensive and consolidated approach, comprised of public and private efforts, is needed.

Awareness programmes can involve people from different levels to spread

messages effectively. It is crucial to involve schoolteachers, local health experts, medical graduates, and NGOs. Telemedicine programmes have also been recently launched to reach remote areas.

Self-examination tips from Dr Mohiuddin

Conduct a self-examination seven days after your period to check for: • Lumps • Orange skin colouring • Rashes or itching around the nipple area • Retracted nipples • Nipples at different levels • Nipple discharge (other than milk)

8. What are major challenges for Bangladesh?

Cultural barriers: We get women at the advanced stages of cancer, because they often cannot talk about women’s issues in front of men. It’s better in private. People have a tendency to hide this disease, even from other family members.

Doctors have to break the cultural barriers of speaking openly about diseases.

• Technical barriers: Some people depend on alternative medicines to cure cancer. Medical science does not conflict with alternative medicine, but we need a list of certified alternative medicine practitioners. Some quacks claim to cure cancer, but only make the

situation worse.

• Affordability: There is a myth about the high cost of cancer treatment. The treatment is increasingly affordable.

Nowadays, cancer operations can also be done at the upazila level.

• Infections: Post-operative infections only occur in 10% of cases. Things are way better than ten years ago, and good quality treatment can be provided from government hospitals. There is also a misconception about cancer diagnoses. Worldwide, only 5-10% of diagnoses are wrong. Get treatment!

.

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16 TOUGH LOVE | DINA SOBHAN

Unbrotherly and untimely Got a problem?

An overly solicitous brother-in-law and neverpunctual wife vex two complaining husbands

Write to Dina at weekend@ dhakatribune. com

Q

I recently married my beautiful wife, and lately I have noticed her brother-in-law stares at her while she’s in the kitchen, or whenever she is out of our bedroom. He’s always there to help even when there is really no need for help.

I have spoken to my wife about this but she gets very defensive and upset at me for asking silly questions.

I know my brother, who has always been a flirt and an untrustworthy person.

Could you possibly help me bring some peace and order back into my life?

A

It galls me that, in typical Deshi fashion, the onus of responsibility falls once again on the woman to amend her behaviour in this all-too-typical

scenario.

You are so reluctant to hold your brother accountable for his actions that you even refer to him as “her brother-in-law,” as though that is the primary relationship in this equation!

Your wife is fully justified in feeling annoyed at your questions, because what is she expected to do to improve the situation? Is she supposed to look less attractive, or spend more time locked in her bedroom? Or should she brandish a broom every time your lascivious brother makes an appearance and beat him out of the house, screaming: “Chi, chi! Get away from me, you besharam boy!”

Obviously, the solution here is not to torture your wife, but to put a leash on your roving brother.

If you know he’s of poor moral character and has the tendency to

covet his neighbour’s wife – in this case, his brother’s wife – then keep him away from said wife … unless you live in a joint household, in which case you will have to keep your wife in a burkha, which in turn defies the purpose of having a beautiful wife.

My advice is to sternly inform your brother that you are aware of his unbrotherly conduct regarding your wife, and that you demand he keep a 20ft distance from her at all times and avert his eyes in her presence.

If he’s willing to comply with these instructions, I think your battle is won. However, if he’s unable to resist her charms, and she starts to feel flattered by all his attention, you’ve got no choice but to move your family to another country and assume a new identity.

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Q A

How do I get my wife to ever be on time? She always has an excuse for being late, and calls me Mr Fogg when I get upset as a result. I love

and care for my wife, but I feel like a broken record. Surely there must be a (caring) way to relay some proactive habits to her without her teasing me.

Help!

Your wife’s inability to be on time is probably a control issue, and it does sound as though she’s the trouser-wearing individual in your

by the time frame allotted to its respective event, leave her at home without further explanation. Let her miss out on one or two events or doctor’s appointments to feel the full effect of her own apathy.

Hopefully, this two-pronged approach will spur her into timeliness eventually. If not, just learn to deal with her inability to be punctual with a bit of humour. And get yourself a new nickname, Mr Fogg.

relationship.

Regardless, I advise you to pursue two avenues: 1. Man up and tell her in no uncertain terms that you’re fed up with her constant lateness, and feel that it reflects a serious lack of respect for you and your desire to get somewhere anywhere before the end of the century.

2. If she doesn’t start to abide

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

things we miss abroad | top 10

17

Deshi comforts

Despite ranting about this country 24/7, when Bangladeshis go abroad we sorely miss some of these essential comforts of home Tausif Sanzum 4 Boti

1 Bodna

Before there was the handshower, there was the bodna, and both are sorely missed (pun intended) in western countries, particularly in public restrooms. A plastic water bottle can be handy in a fix, but it’s just not the same.

Despite newfangled vegetable peelers and specialised knives, our mothers and grandmas are still more comfortable with the traditional boti for rapid chopping, and can struggle without this essential kitchen tool when abroad.

8 Mishti paan

5 Bua

After living our whole lives with domestic help – who over the years become like family – we often feel lost without them. We certainly appreciate them dearly when we wash our first dish/shirt/toilet.

6 Chotpoti and fuchka

2 Kolbalish

The body pillow most of us have grown up snuggling serves as our comfort after a breakup, when we are lonely, or when we need to cower behind something during a horror film. If only it didn’t take up half a suitcase, it’d be the first thing we’d pack.

Aw, the satisfaction of having a mishti paan after a hearty meal, be it at a wedding or roadside stall. Unless you’ve moved to New York or London, this can only be a sweet memory.

9 Amra or green mago with kasundi

No matter how much you try to make this at home, there is no substitute for authentic roadside chotpoti and fuchka. If there isn’t a risk of malaria, it won’t taste as amazing.

Street food doesn’t get any better than this. Nothing beats the messy fun of eating this spicy, tangy concoction of fresh fruit and local mustard from a questionable plastic bag with toothpicks.

7 Shutki bhorta

3 Jharu

Why bother improving something that’s already perfect?

Swiffers and fancy modern brooms, with their synthetic fibres, don’t stand a chance next to the all-natural jharu. Nothing picks up dirt in hard to reach places like this old faithful.

Even if you manage to smuggle some salted fish in your bag (triplewrapped of course) you won’t be able to cook it without the entire block getting a pungent whiff.

It’s an aquired taste, and those who’ve never had it just won’t understand.

10 Cha and adda

After the overly sweet and milky Tk5 tea sold on the side of the road, along with the adda that follows long after the glass is empty – solitary Lipton doesn’t cut it.

.

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, O CTOB E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 4

18 stay in

Mini cryptics Clues ACROSS 1 4 6 7

Baby kangaroo holds jar for trip (7) Mixed up coach holds it back in turmoil (7) Gift posted in advance (7) Mountain dweller finds letter in tin (7)

DOWN 1 2 3 5

Shuffle pack a little bit outside for payoff (7) American long term employment (5) Chinese money keeps pet in Mexican state (7) Robin says this, make use of social media (5)

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

Last week’s solutions

Cancer and empathy In the spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness month, check these out to empathise with the brave women who have lived with and overcome the devastating disease. Or go ahead and sympathise with those who have suffered loss at its hands.

Film: Five

TV: The Big C

Cathy Jamison (Laura Linney) is a quiet, middle-aged teacher. When she learns she has cancer, it turns her life upside-down – in a good way.

She decides to stop being so polite and putting up with bad behaviour from friends and loved ones – like her cheating husband and immature brother – while indulging in some of her own. It’s a funny, honest look at what it means to deal with the disease, for the patient as well as everyone around them.

This collection of five short films is a passion project by Hollywood A-listers personally touched by breast cancer.

• “Charlotte” (directed by Demi Moore) brings the perspective of a young girl being kept out of the room of her dying mother (Ginnifer Goodwin). It’s set in 1969 when the disease was still littleunderstood.

• “Cheyanne” is a young stripper who must undergo removal of both her breasts, which have defined her life physically, financially and emotionally.

• “Lili” (directed by Alicia Keys) follows a fiercely independent

S

o

u

d

k

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

ACROSS 1 Cheater rearranged land area (7) 4 Arranged seminar for military unit (7) 6 Best to choose sorted mail (7) 7 Galley equipment revolutionary and new (7) DOWN 1 Poke fun after bad actor made cloth bed (7) 2 Barrow holds a measure of gemstones (5) 3 One slip changed Greek letter (7) 5 New York speed of woodland spirit (5)

Last week’s crib sheet 1 Across: Land area = hectare, an anagram (rearranged) of cheater.

4 Across: Military unit = marines, an anagram (arranged) of seminar.

6 Across: Best = optimal. To choose = opt, anagram (sorted) of mail = imal.

7 Across: Galley = kitchen.

Equipment = kit, revolutionary = che, new = n.

1 Down: Cloth bed = hammock.

Bad actor = ham, poke fun = mock.

2 Down: Measure of gemstones = carat. Barrow = cart, holding (means a goes inside the word) a.

3 Down: Anagram (changed) of one slip = epsilon, a Greek letter.

5 Down: Woodland spirit = nymph. New York = ny, speed = mph.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, O CTO B E R 24 , 201 4

u

Last week’s sudoku solutions

woman (Rosario Dawson), who recruits her sister to help tell their hard-nosed mother that she has breast cancer. Lili’s family becomes her strongest allies when she needs them the most.

• “Mia” (directed by Jennifer Aniston) is a humorous survivor’s tale of the highs and lows of Mia’s (Patricia Clarkson) two-year journey, during which she gives away all of her worldly possessions, holds a hilarious mock funeral, and finds love again (Tony Shalhoub).

• “Pearl” (Jeanne Tripplehorn) is a successful oncologist and Charlotte’s daughter from the first short film. She suddenly finds herself in the patient’s seat when she too is diagnosed with breast cancer.

Article: “My Medical Choice”

“Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness,” Angelina Jolie writes in an op-ed in The New York Times about her much publicised decision to undergo a pre-emptive double-mastectomy. “For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options … I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.”

Read her piece here: http:// www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/ opinion/my-medical-choice.html n

Go out

Festival | Moner Khorak Sharat Festival When Oct 24, 3pm Where Jahurul Islam City, Aftabnagar, Rampura

Weekly Planner Oct 24 Biking | BDCyclist Bike Festival

T

he autumn festival is open for all and requires no tickets. It is a platform for young hearts to sing in chorus and celebrate the changing season and natural beauty of Bangladesh. The organisers request attendees to wear white and blue.

The programme will start with the

beat of Dhak (deshi drum) and flying kites.

Fish.com.bd will be there at the programme to introduce the audience to different kinds of fish of Bangladesh.

A musical show will be performed

by Shayan, Mohammed Shoeb, Joler Gaan and Self Portrait.

Conference | Bangladesh Girl Summit 2014 When Oct 27, 9am-5pm Where Osmani Memorial Auditorium

When 11am Where Teachers Training College BDCyclist is arranging a Bike Festival.

A common pavilion for area based cycling groups will be there and a booth/stall for the organisers, Sony & BDCyclists.

Participating stores include: Cycle Life Exclusive, Lion Cycle Store, Bicycle Shop BD LTD, GSImpex, Master Wheels, The Bike House, Cafe Cyclists, Cycle Hub BD, Nazmul Cycle Store, Cycle SOS, Cycle Gear Dhaka-Online Shop, Bike Station Uttara, CycleTech BD and Cycle Source BD.

Poetry | Kobir Kobita Path

When 4:30pm-7:45pm Where Nat Mandal, RC Majumdar Auditorium, University of Dhaka Palumgiri Shangha organises a monthly poetry event featuring a different poet.

This time, Chanchal Ashraf will be reciting from his work, and answering questions from the audience.

Oct 24-26 Photography | Out of the Box 5 Exhibition

When 3pm-8pm Where Dhaka Art Centre, House 60, Road 7/A, Dhanmondi TTL is organising its yearly contest and exhibition “Out of the Box” for the fifth time.

The exhibition will display selections from thousands of submissions. They aim to present work of “unthinkable imagination and creativity.” The award giving ceremony will be held at Friday at 3pm, with photographer Nasir Al Mamun as chief guest.

Theatre | Bottola Rongomela 2014

When 6pm-9pm Where National Theatre Auditorium, Shilpakala Academy A week long international theatre festival has been organised on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of Bottola. Productions from India and the US will be performed at the festival

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dreams and aspirations of young girls (under 18).

The summit will be hosted by Brac in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and in cooperation with the Department for International Development.

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along with new productions from Dhaka. There will also be a puppet show, a mime show, performance art and music performed by various artists.

Oct 25 Education | Masters in Public Health (MPH) Open Day

When 10am-2pm Where ICDDR,B, Mohakhali Find out about the globally recognised Masters of Public Health programme at James P Grant of Public Health (Brac University) by talking to the faculty, alumni and researchers.

Oct 25-30 Environment | No Impact Week

When 10am Where Lecture Theatre, University of Dhaka The Institute of Disaster Management and Voluntary Studies at University of Dhaka is organising No Impact Week, with the help of Redraw The Line Bangladesh. It is a call to action campaign to address climate change, showing the immediate effects of people’s positive environmental behaviours.

The six-day programme is: • Day 1 Stay clean, use bin; • Day 2 Vegetation and healthy food consumption; • Day 3 Turn trash into crafts; • Day 4 Eco-friendly ideas sharing through poster presentation; • Day 5 Eco-friendly transportation – walking and biking; • Day 6 Sharing experiences during No Impact Week.

Oct 26-28 Photography | Exhibition of Snappy

Oct 24-31

he Girl Summit Asia is to be held in Dhaka for the very first time, with the objective to eliminate child marriage and promote the empowerment of women in the country.

This is a national event, and families are invited to hear and talk about the

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When 3pm-9pm Where Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15A, Dhanmondi Snappy is organising an exhibition of their work for the very first time since they started their journey in 2012.

Send your events to weekend@dhakatribune.com

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20 INTERVIEW | DIO HAQUE

Artist of a new generation Unpacking millennials, creativity and art with Bangladeshi rockstar Dio Haque of Nemesis

Raad Rahman

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is tall and lanky build can be intimidating, and yet Dio Haque is one of the most approachable people

I know.

I met him first at a friend’s house almost ten years ago. At the time, Nemesis was just establishing itself on the underground arts scene in Bangladesh, but had yet to receive the wide mainstream acclaim that it gained through the group’s hit single Kobe (When), and for their soulful rock album Tritio Jatra.

Having witnessed Dio’s growth as an artist firsthand, it has been amazing to see the growing finesse of his craft over the years, due in no small part to his perseverance.

As someone who also knows Dio’s love of Harry Potter and his ability to keep a very low profile, this mellowness feels incompatible with the phenomenal noises he produces while jamming with Nemesis.

A few months ago, Dio and I conducted a pretty surreal interview over social media. He was in an autorickshaw stuck in Dhaka’s traffic, and answered several questions that I posed to him in record speed.

The resulting interview is a wonderful testimony to emerging artists worldwide, and provides a succinct take on everything from millennials to how to be creative, even when you think you don’t have an artistic bone in your body.

What made you interested in choosing your career path?

My career path chose me. I was pretty much good at nothing before I learnt I could play a beat on the drums at age 15, and it seemed like the most natural thing for me to do.

I believe that every person is born with an ability for the arts. Some people search for it for their entire lives, while some lucky ones identify their abilities early on. By arts I mean anything and everything. Some people are just natural healers, some are born natural sportsmen.

Does the millennial generation deserve the flack they get in mainstream media for being indecisive in their career paths?

It might be an accurate

representation, but I don’t see why they should get flack for it. The circumstances they have grown up in are unlike any other in human history.

Never has any generation been exposed to so much information and spoilt with so many choices. And never has any generation absorbed

us, and that is the source of true inspiration. The more we learn and observe, the more we are able to create.

Does the speed with which technology is growing create blockages in how education is

vast to put as just positive or negative.

Given that information technology is the exclusive property of the monster we call “globalisation,” it’s true that we are losing some of the oral traditions of the old world, where information was protected and passed down from masters to students through generations (what we call the guru-shishho parampara). We might be sacrificing the authenticity of information in exchange for mere quantity.

What is the one thing about your own creativity you have been afraid to ask yourself, which may lead to your growth?

I haven’t explored enough things that I could be really good at. I haven’t explored the world. I haven’t imagined the possibilities.

That’s because I have kind of settled in my comfort zone. I have settled into a way of life and career that I know “pays.” But the fear within is that maybe I’ll stagnate. After all, creativity can only grow when we take ourselves out of our comfort zone.

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Photo: Courtesy and processed information this fast.

Its no surprise that they are “indecisive” because: A) They are adept at doing several different things and B) They have to be given enough stimulation and satisfaction in a job if they are expected to stick to it.

How can anyone improve his or her life?

Keep a clean conscience, and have a clear idea of the whys and whats of whatever you do.

What are some ways that creatives learn?

The most important way for any creative person to learn is through observation. It’s through our senses that we internalise the world within

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disseminated?

I’m still in two minds regarding the connection between information and technology. On one hand, technology has made it easier to disseminate information. But because of that very fact, it has made the processing of that information difficult because of the availability of secondary or conflicting information. I don’t think that there are particular blockages, rather that there can be oversaturation of information, and somewhere in there the actual message gets lost.

Does this relate to how arts are being taught now?

Technology does have an effect on arts education. The effects are too

Never has any generation been exposed to so much … spoilt with so many choices … and absorbed and processed information this fast