Weekend Tribune Vol 2 Issue 25

Dhaka Tribune | vo l 2 I ssu e 25 | F R I D AY, N o ve m b e r 7, 2014

Blackout nation 6

Dark nights

8

Barisal ferrywoman

17

Liar liar

CONTENTS

1

Volume 2 | Issue 25 | November 7, 2014 Editor Zafar Sobhan

News

Executive Editor Shahriar Karim

2 News 3 Meanwhile ...

Managing Editor Jahangir Hyder Features Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

Features

Assistant Magazine Editor Rumana Habib

4 Feature Blackout nation

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

6 Listology Blackout world 7 Environment Solar streetlamps

9 Photo story

8 Profile Barisal ferrywoman 15 Feature Wedding of the season 17 Funny Bone Yamin Khan

Symbols of Ashura

20 Event TEDxDhaka

Cartoons Syed Rashad Imam Tonmoy Priyo Rio Shuvo

Regulars 14 Legalese

Contributors Sumaiya T Ahmed Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi Yamin Khan Mohiuddin Molla Adil Sakhawat Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique Dina Sobhan

16 Tough Love 18 Stay In 19 Go Out

Production Masum Billah

12 Social

Advertising Shahidan Khurshed

Born into brothels

Graphics Md Mahbub Alam Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal

Circulation Masud Kabir Pavel Website dhakatribune.com/weekend facebook.com/WeekendTrib Email your letters to: weekend@dhakatribune.com

the cover

Our humorous take on Saturday’s nationwide blackout, seen from space. It’s not scientifically accurate – many lights were still on thanks to plentiful backup generators – but it’s certainly how we felt!

We used a Google Earth satellite image for the background.

Art: Syed Latif Hossain

construct

Editor’s note

Blackout nation

S

aturday’s blackout got us curious about all things technical and electrical. We break down what we learned in some handy infographs (pg 4-5).

These things happen, and not just to developing countries like ours.

Enjoy the schadenfreude with our list of other major blackouts around the world (pg 6).

In fact, thanks to our chronic power shortages, Bangladesh was better prepared than most of those countries (pg 4), but there’s always room for improvement. We revisit the stalled project for solar streetlamps (pg 7), which could have really come in handy this week.

We continue our fade to black with our Ashura photo story (pg 9-11).

Shia Muslims donned their mourning

clothes on Tuesday to honour this important occasion, and we learn the history and symbolism behind the traditional rituals.

Journey to another world, ferried by a remarkable boatwoman from Barisal, whose watery world gives her freedom from societal pressures (pg 8). And meet the children born into brothels, who dream of a better life – some make it and some fall back into the vicious cycle (pg 12-13).

On a lighter note, we gatecrash at the wedding of the season – between the 67-year old minister Mujibul Haque and his 29-year-old bride – which was the talk of the town (pg 15). And Yamin Khan pokes fun at our foibles and white lies (pg 17).

Have you registered for TEDxDhaka?

Flip to our last page to find out all the reasons why you should (pg 20).

- Rumana Habib

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 7, 2 0 1 4

2 News | This week

The world at a glance Republicans win control of US Senate

The Republican party in the United States has made significant gains in midterm elections, capturing a majority of seats needed to take control of the US Senate.

Republicans increased their control of the house of representatives by at least 12 seats, and retook the Senate as the big prize.

The victory puts the Republicans in position to shape, if not dictate the congressional agenda. Their priorities are likely to focus on the economy.

The party picked up at least six senate seats, guaranteeing at least 51 members of the 100-member chamber, TV networks said.

Clashes erupt inside al-Aqsa compound

Israeli police clashed with Palestinian protesters after far right Israelis tried to storm the al-Aqsa mosque in the first of a series of confrontations in Jerusalem.

The incident on Wednesday at al-Aqsa was followed by two other incidents in the city, underlining a severe

escalation of tensions in the city.

A truck rammed into Israeli pedestrians in West Jerusalem while they were waiting for the light rail. The driver, whose identity is still unclear, was then shot and killed following a scuffle with Israeli police.

In a third incident, two policemen were run over by a car in the Sheikh Jarrah area, though it is still unclear if this was a deliberate attack.

Hindu right rewriting Indian textbooks

You cannot blame Bhavana Vaja, 12, for telling you that the first airplane was invented during the mythical Dvapara Yuga.

By rewriting history, books printed by western Gujarat’s education department are teaching children that airplanes existed in India since Lord Ram’s era, when he flew from Sri Lanka to India with his wife Sita and brother Laxman in a Pushpaka Vimana - a swan-shaped chariot of flowers.

That is just a sample of how religious content is being included in science, history, environment and mathematics books.

Weekend Tribune Desk “Every week we are asked to do projects in our science and social studies classes. We refer to these books then,” says Saras Solanki, age 9.

The Gujarat government has introduced nine new books this academic year for classes 1-12. These books, written by Hindu nationalist ideologues, have been delivered to 42,000 elementary schools across the state free of cost.

Eight of the nine books were penned by Dina Nath Batra, founder of the Hindu nationalist organisation Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti. Batra was responsible for forcing Pengiun India publishers to withdraw all copies of Wendy Doniger’s book The Hindus in February.

Enthused by its success, Batra went on to force two other publishers - Aleph and Orient Blackswan - to withdraw books that he deemed “hurtful to Hindu religious sentiments.”

WHO decries lack of investment for Ebola World Health Organisation DirectorGeneral Dr Margaret Chan decried

War crime diaries indeed.”

The tribunal found him guilty of systematic killing and torturing and also liable for the criminal role of civilian superior responsibility.

Kamaruzzaman sentenced to death

Death for al-Badr commander Mir Quasem

The International Crimes Tribunal 2 on Sunday handed down a death sentence to notorious war criminal Mir Quasem Ali, who has been playing a key role in recent years to foil the initiative of trying war crimes suspects by spending a large amount of money at home and abroad.

The tribunal convicted Quasem for his notorious role as a commander of al-Badr force (a para militia killing squad) in Chittagong where he had committed crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.

Quasem, the 62-year-old Jamaat-eIslami leader, has been found guilty of murder, abduction, and of confining and torturing non-combatants and freedom fighters.

“The al-Badr camp at Daleem Hotel (in Andorkilla area) was a ‘criminal enterprise’ of which accused Mir Quasem Ali was a ‘boss’,” says the verdict, announced by the threemember tribunal headed by Justice Obaidul Hassan.

“Mir Quasem Ali had been in the steering and guiding position of alBadr force headquartered at Daleem Hotel which was a ‘death-factory’

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 7, 201 4

The death penalty was given to Jamaate-Islami leader and former al-Badr man Kamaruzzaman by the appellate division of the Supreme Court for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. The four-member bench headed

by Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha pronounced the verdict in response to an appeal petition filed by Kamaruzzaman, challenging the verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal.

The appellate division acquitted Kamaruzzaman for the killing of Badiuzzaman under charge 1.

Earlier, he was given a life sentence for the charge.

News: Desk. Photo: Dhaka Tribune.

the lack of investment in Ebola cures and vaccines, suggesting many aren’t motivated by a disease crippling poor African countries.

“A profit-driven industry does not invest in products for markets that cannot pay,” Chan said in her address to the Regional Committee for Africa.

The transmission of Ebola is still “widespread and intense” in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, WHO said Monday. There have been 13,567 cases of Ebola worldwide, and 4,951 deaths.

Facebook offers ‘dark’ option for users seeking to evade online spying

Facebook, which has a controversial policy mandating that users provide their real names and other personal information, has become the first major social network to launch a “dark Web” version of its site, allowing users of popular anonymity software Tor to hide their location from Facebook and protect their data from online spies, be they of the government or corporate variety.

Kofi Annan to PM: Don’t lower marriage age

F

ormer UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to maintain the minimum age of marriage for girls at 18 years.

The former UN chief made the call in an open letter sent to the prime minister Sunday. Kofi Annan, current Chair of The Elders, a group of independent leaders working together for peace and human rights across the globe, made the urge on behalf of the group.

On behalf of The Elders, Kofi Annan said they were concerned on learning that the cabinet has recently approved language in the draft Child Marriage Restraint Act 2014 to lower the minimum age of marriage from 18 to 16 years for girls.

In the open letter, Kofi Annan warns of the dangers of lowering the minimum age of marriage for girls.

News: Desk. Photo: Dhaka Tribune.

meanwhile ... | News

3

You’re welcome

Photo of the week

Ward off mosquitoes

T

hese pleasant wintry breezes bring with it a necessary evil: mosquitoes.

Here are some herbal remedies to keep mosquitoes at bay without polluting the air with harmful mosquito coils, sprays and toxic creams:

The lunchbox ladies at Shuwarighat fetch lunch in steel tiffin carriers from households and cross over the rivers on boats to deliver them at offices in Old Town.

Photo: Mahmud Hossain Opu

Say what?

Oops: UN head means Austria, thanks Australia

I

t was clearly a slip of the tongue, but many Austrians will not be amused because they hear it all too often: Expressing his gratitude for the hosting of a major conference in Vienna, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon offered his thanks to — Australia.

Ban recovered Monday about 20 minutes into his news conference on the sidelines of the meeting focused on landlocked developing countries.

Tipped off by aides, he apologised, noting he knows full well that there are “no kangaroos in Austria.”

Ban was addressing a pet Austrian peeve: Tourists often say Australia when they mean Austria. Cashing in on the mistake, most Vienna souvenir shops stack t-shirts with a crossedout picture of the bouncy marsupial and the slogan: “There are no kangaroos in Austria.”

News: AP

• Spray away – Combine 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol with 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice and 10 drops of peppermint oil in a spray bottle. Spray around the perimeter of your gathering or play area. Bugs don’t like the intense smell of lemon or mint so it acts as a natural barrier.

• Double duty – Combine 5 drops of eucalyptus oil and 5 drops of lavender oil with 6 ounces of water in a pretty cup and add reed sticks. These essential oils are perfect for deterring flying pests, with the added bonus of making your table look pretty. Flip the reeds over every few hours to refresh the scent.

• Dream cream – Combine 5 drops of lemongrass oil and 5 drops of clove essential oil with 1 cup of unscented body lotion. Mix together in a bowl and transfer to an empty bottle. Lemongrass makes you unappealing to ticks and mosquitoes and cloves can keep mosquitoes away for up to two full hours.

• Dry and clean – Remove any standing water near your home including buckets, recycling bins, and birdbaths. Skeeters need standing water to reproduce.

• Drawn to the flame – Burn citronella or unscented candles where you’re hanging out. The carbon dioxide they give off attracts the mosquitoes to the candles and away from you.

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4 feature | Blackout nation

lights out

How Saturday’s nationwide blackout affected us – and how it didn’t Farhana Urmee and Faisal Mahmud

L

oud cheers could be heard in Dhaka late Saturday night as the lights came back on phase by phase in large parts of the capital, after thousands of residents spent hours outdoors or on their roofs, AP reported.

Earlier that day, Chayan, who lives in the Kazipara area of Dhaka, did not think much of it when the electricity went out in his building. Believing the power failure was the usual load shedding, he did not even notice that power had gone down across the street, across town, and across the country.

The coolness of the autumn afternoon meant he could painlessly withstand the lack of AC or fan. But he felt less forgiving by sunset when the power was still not back.

Chayan went out for candles, and only then did he realise the extent of the situation.

The city looked like a ghost town as dusk descended, with homes,

businesses and shops plunged into darkness. Mosques that use loudspeakers to call for prayers five times a day had also fallen eerily silent.

The national grid had failed, and no one knew why it happened or when it would be restored.

Chayan realised there would be a scarcity of water at his house and his phone battery was on the verge of running out. The shopkeeper was charging ten times the actual price for shoddy birthday candles, as his was the only shop that still had candles left in stock in the entire neighbourhood. Chayan came back home with candles and a bottle of water, and waited in darkness.

Meanwhile, for those fortunate enough to have generator backups at their residences or offices, the blackout caused only a minor inconvenience.

For once, the unreliability of the power supply in the country worked

to its benefit. Unlike developed countries that have experienced similar blackouts (see pg 4), Dhaka proved well equipped to cope with the lack of electricity, which is a regular occurrence.

But the 11-hour blackout caused strain even here. At government hospitals, the intensive care units functioned on backup generators, but regular ward patients suffered from reduction in facilities.

Power returned to the airport after several hours, during which it ran on generators, officials said.

Diesel fuel became a hot commodity. Afzal, a watchman for an apartment in Dhanmondi, stood in a queue for four hours to buy diesel for his building’s generator. The rumours and uncertainty about the restoration triggered many to run out to stock up by the gallon.

Then there were citizens, like Abdul Hye, an office attendant, who deal with a lack of electricity on a

daily basis.

On Saturday, like everyday, his family lit candles after sunset. They drank from the bucket of water that is always stored in their home, as water access is a chronic crisis.

For Dhaka citizens who already struggle for access to utilities, the blackout affected them perhaps least of all.

.

The national grid had failed, and no one knew why it happened or when it would be restored

NOVEMBER 1

BLACKOUT

A 400-kV transmission line

HOW IT HAPPENED India normally supplies 250MW to 350MW to the high voltage DC substation in Bheramara under an agreement for supplying 500MW

DT Infographic

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 7, 201 4

Bahrampur Power Station, India

In November 1,444MW was supplied from Bahrampur to Bheramara, triggering a technical glitch, as the station was not used to receiving such load

Bheramara Power Station, Bangladesh

Under frequency relay is designed to be used for the protection of power generators and other AC equipment against over frequency and under frequency. This usually prevents other power plants from shutting down in a domino effect due to the abrupt supply shortfall

Under frequency relay failed

In an interconnected power plant system, a power supply vaccum of 10% lowers the frequency of the whole network, resulting in a domino effect

Creates lower frequency vacuum

Cascading failure is common in power grids when one of the elements fails (completely or partially) and shifts its load to nearby elements in the system. Those nearby elements are then pushed beyond their capacity so they become overloaded and shift their load onto other elements

Creates cascading failure

Blackout

The Bheramara substation can receive more than 400MW power at a time, but cannot transmit more than that

Blackout nation | FEATURE

5

NATIONAL POWER GRID MAP

COURTESY OF PGCB

BHERAMARA

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4 listology | Blackout world

Dark nights around the world Complete blackouts are unusual but not unprecedented, and they don’t just happen in developing countries. Here are a few other major blackouts we’ve seen in the past 15 years.

Tausif Sanzum India, 2012

Two consecutive blackouts hit India on July 30 and 31 when the northern and eastern electric grid failed. The latter holds the title for being the largest power outage in history. The power failure left 20 states in India without electricity. Miners had to be evacuated, while highly graphic news reports circulated about half burnt dead bodies kept aside in electric crematoriums. The power disruption gave rise to a number of debates as to how developing countries find it difficult to balance their booming populations with their power supplies.

Bangladesh, 2007

The last two nationwide blackouts were one month apart. After cyclone Sidr struck coastal areas and hit the national grid, power collapsed on November 15, then again on December 15 when officials were unable to stabilise the system after the sharp fall and rise and fall of demand, officials said.

Java and Bali, 2005

Photo: Mahmud Hasan Opu

Italy, 2003

The entire nation of Italy (except for the island of Sardinia) lost power at 3:30am on September 27. Though CNN reported that there were only three causalities, including two elderly women, it cannot be denied that the entire population of Italy didn’t have access to electricity for nearly 12 hours. It was later found that the failure of major power lines from France, Switzerland and Austria were responsible for the largest outage that engulfed Italy in nearly seventy years.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 7, 201 4

More than 100 million people were affected when the two islands went powerless after the Java-Bali power grid failed. The PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara stated: “There was disruption in the interconnection networks. Since the big power plants are sensitive, the disruption in the network caused them to shut down.” To date, authorities have not been able to pinpoint the cause of the glitch in the electric system.

US northeast, 2003

Like a Hollywood disaster movie, the lights went out in New York City, and various parts of northeast and midwest America and Canada.

Around 4pm in 2003, a record number of 50 million people lost power. The grid distributing electricity in these areas got overloaded and crashed. While authorities managed to restore power

to New York in 13 hours, the rest of the region remained in darkness for the next two days.

Solar streetlamps | Environment

7

Waiting for green lights This week’s power outage reminds us that our country still awaits the promised, and much-needed, solar streetlamps Faisal Mahmud

T

wo years ago, it started off well.

Within a 2km stretch of Dhaka, a total of 244 street lights on 122 streets from Kakrail to Notre Dame College via Fakirapool were replaced with energy-saving solar-powered LED lights.

The Tk2 crore project was initiated by the two Dhaka City Corporations (DCC) with the technical support of a private company called Alive Solar.

Observing the success of the pilot project, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement with the Ministry of Power to provide US$37.86 million to the endeavour in January 2013. They would gradually replace all the street lamps of eight city corporations with solar-powered LED lights.

Dhaka alone has 79,000 conventional fluorescent and sodium lights requiring 4.71MW of electricity on a daily basis. If all the streetlights were replaced with solar powered LED lights, 10MW of electricity would be saved on a daily basis.

But over a year has passed and nothing has happened.

few steps have been taken to tackle the country’s power crisis...solar LED lights are an ideal choice for the city streets Long road

The plan for replacing the conventional streetlight with solar powered LED lights is not a new one. It has long been claimed that at least 800MW of power can be saved daily by replacing all sorts of sodium, incandescent and mercury lights from Dhaka’s streets with solar-powered, energy saving LED lights.

Right now however, few steps have been taken to tackle the country’s power crisis – as we found out earlier this week in the nationwide blackout – including installing solar LED lights on the streets.

In 2010, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources sent a letter to the erstwhile DCC bodies to begin replacing sodium, incandescent

lights with energy-saving LED lights.

However, DCC did not heed this letter and instead purchased 112,500 high-pressure sodium lights at the beginning of 2011. They replaced the 90W sodium lights with these 250W ones on many streets of Dhaka, according to DCC North.

DCC South officials said that out of the total 79,000 lamposts in the capital, 22,000 have the 250W sodium lights, which requires nearly three times the power consumed by the old lights.

Experts illuminate

Mursalin Ahmed, head of Energypack’s lighting division, the country’s leading manufacturer of energy-saving light bulbs, thinks replacing the sodium, incandescent

Power struggle

This project delay is the result of a discord between the power division and the project financier, Asian Development Bank (ADB).

When the project was designed, ADB and the ministry of power agreed to cover 1000-1200km in the country’s eight city corporations.

But the idea was changed after implementing the pilot solar-powered LED project from Kakrail to Arambagh Road.

Under the pilot project, each solarpowered LED light installed was 30W. But the ministry of power determined that this capacity was insufficient to illuminate the city streets. Instead, 60-100W LED lights would be required.

From the pilot project, the power division estimated that the earmarked ADB funds could cover 250-300km in 8 city corporations. The power division revised the project and sent a new plan. ADB, however, did not agree to the reduced coverage.

As a result, the project has been indefinitely delayed.

and mercury lights with solar LED lights will make the capital a greener city.

“Energy-saving LED lights are not only good for the environment, but also save a huge amount of electricity.

In addition, the average lifespan of one light is 8-15 times higher than that of a normal or high pressure sodium light,” he said.

Mursalin, who previously worked on the DCC project, said the LED light typically has a lifespan of 6,00015,000 hours, whereas sodium lamps usually have 750-1,000 hours.

“A solar LED light usually costs 3-10 times higher than a sodium light, but the extended lifetime and lower power consumption more than compensates for that, which make it an ideal choice for the city streets,” he said. “And the LED lights are as luminous as the high-pressure sodium ones.”

“The ADB did a feasibility study on Dhaka’s streets and the result was promising. That’s why a recommendation of using the energyefficient solar lights were made to the ministry,” he said.

However, Jafar Ahmed, chief superintendent engineer with the DCC South, thinks it is not practical to cover all of the capital with the solar lights.

“There are many streets in Dhaka where there simply isn’t enough sunlight to charge the photovoltaic cells of the solar panel in these lights.

Also, during the rainy and winter seasons, when the sun might not be seen for days, it will be difficult to charge the lights. So the best practice is to install both the solar lights and a back-up supply in those streets,” Ahmed suggested.

Tapash Kumer Roy, additional secretary at the power division, as well as the head of the renewable energy division at the same ministry, told the Weekend Tribune that many cities across the world have adopted this new technology to light up their streets.

He said a huge amount of power could be saved just by systematically replacing the power-consuming streetlights of the capital with the energy-saving ones.

.

Photo: Bigstock

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8 Profile | Barisal ferrywoman

Lady of the river A self-employed ferrywoman explains the life of a floating boat community Sabrina Toppa

I

n southern Bangladesh, the 8-million populated port of Barisal sits along the Kirtankhola River, beckoning those seeking its tranquil hold. Firuza, a sari-draped woman in her mid-40s, lives here, on a bobbing riverboat swelling with all her possessions.

As a ferrywoman, Firuza earns an income by rowing boats from dusk to dawn each day, accruing approximately Tk200-300 by nightfall.

On the water I am free.

Here, it matters less that I am a woman

Water world

On a tiny slice of land in Rasulpur, in close proximity to the Dhaka launch terminal of Barisal, over 100 families attempt to eke out a livelihood as “char dwellers.” Belonging to a landless group called the Shardar, some construct homes here directly on the water, using corrugated metal sheets propped up by wooden stilts.

Ligneous boats docked nearby hold their chattels.

Others like Firuza lack even this shelter. Boats are her entire world: she lives on one boat, which holds her entire possessions, and she works with another, rented to earn her livelihood.

Residents know they will not be here long. The Bangladeshbased Association for Climate Refugees estimates that by 2050, Bangladesh will host up to 30 million environmental refugees. Rising sea levels and riverbank erosion displace these climate castaways. And most of Firuza’s neighbours will end up in the urban metropolis of Dhaka.

“We have little to our name,” Firuza says, chewing betel leaf. “We are just surviving.”

Rowing with the wind

Five years ago, Firuza’s husband abandoned her for a Bede woman.

Informally referred to as “river gypsies,” the Bede are a transient

Photo: Courtesy

community – 98% of Bedes live in abject poverty, and over 90% do not appear on voter ID lists requiring address registration.

The Shardar and Bede are interlinked by overlapping roles on the river, and increasingly, by poverty itself. Firuza’s community is mostly involved in precarious labour, lacking job security and suffering occupational hazards for low wages.

The port of Barisal offers Firuza little, but as an independent ferrywoman, at least Firuza does not answer to a boss. She schedules her own hours. “I move when and where I want,” she says.

She moors herself on land only when gathering medical provisions or collecting vitals from the market.

Firuza prefers the aquatic idyll of her boat lifestyle to the punishing concrete of the city.

On land, she is limited by her gender, where people watch her movements with judgment, or worse, pity. On water, she navigates fluidly, rowing away from a community that ascribes importance to male figureheads.

“It is more peaceful for me on the water,” Firuza says. “I am free. I have

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 7, 201 4

my own boat, my own job, my own independence. What’s there for me on land?” she questions.

“In the city, they will make rude comments and judgments, but here it matters less that I am a woman.”

Gender obstacles

But it’s not always easy. Firuza gently clasps her oar, modestly covering her thin frame. When boats pass her, she drapes her sari cloth over her nose and mouth, hoping to gain some modesty. Her face is covered in deepening age lines, sped up by the unyielding sun rays that strike her boat.

Although women are half of Bangladesh’s population, only 36% of the labour force is comprised of females, according to the International Labour Organisation.

Firuza takes careful consideration of her gender in her work schedule, opting not to work at night, when few women are on the water. It’s clear why: When male fishermen pass her, they volley unsavory comments and note Firuza’s singularity as a woman.

Sometimes, customers on other boats will even brazenly eve-tease her.

Firuza is an easy target: on most days

she is one of only two women ferrying passengers.

Firuza’s boat is encircled by small children who yelp excitedly, but Firuza has no children of her own. Each hour, she steers the boat past ramshackle homes dangling perilously close to the water. Mothers hanging kameezes on makeshift clotheslines squint into the water, barely acknowledging Firuza.

On the line

Firuza has other dreams, too. She expresses an interest in commercial fishing, but the opportunities for a single woman are grim.

“Without a man to help you, it’s an impossible and unsafe job. You have to stay in the middle of the river with a group of men, and they already eve-tease me when I’m working on the boat. It can be dangerous, not to mention it is a heavy load for a woman to carry.”

Instead, she rents her ferryboat for Tk100 a day, setting loose on the water, her sari clasped tightly around her. “We are here to work. That is what God wills us to do.”n

Ashura | Photo story

9

The symbols of Ashura Reema Islam

Turn for more photographs

Cradle to grave

A miniature cot symbolises a child’s cradle in remembrance of six-month-old Ali al-Asghar, who was shot in his neck by arrows when his father Hussein held him up to beseech Yazid’s army for water.

U

nique among religious events around the world, which usually highlight celebration and festivity, Ashura is a day of mourning and commemoration of the deeds and sacrifices of Hussein, the prophet Muhammad’s grandson, who died in the battle that caused the rift between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

It is said that the angel Gabriel told the prophet that Qarbala was a land that would cause many agonies (qarb) and afflictions (bala).

As the Islamic new year begins, we enter the period when the air rings with mournful sighs, in remembrance of the sacrifice made by the prophet’s family, and their supporters, during the battle of Qarbala in 680CE by the

Syed Zakir Hossain

banks of the Euphrates River in Iraq.

Denied drinking water in the heat of the Iraqi desert, Yazid’s army cornered the small camp that housed Hussein, son Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fatima.

Hussein was with his family and his supporters, who never left his side till the end. He fought valiantly against the men of Yazid, son of Mu’awiyah and killed many of his men in one-on-one encounters. He was beheaded while in a sajda (supplicant position) during his final prayers.

Hussein’s sacrifice and the inhuman way his clan was treated are relived by Shias Muslims the world over.

Starting from the first day of Muharram, the mourning period known as Arbaeen continues for forty days.

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10 PHoto story | Ashura Dhuljanah

Syed Zakir Hossain

Dhuljanah was Prophet Muhammad’s white stallion, which he gifted to his beloved grandson Hussein.

At the battle of Qarbala, the horse never left his master, and when Hussein was martyred the horse went back to his sister Zaynab, who grasped him and wept for the loss of her family and her clan members.

Dhuljanah remains to this day a symbol of bravery and loyalty, and colourfully bedecked horses are an integral part of the Muharram procession.

A blood-splattered white flag also plays a major role in depicting the sacrifice of the 72 martyrs who laid down their lives.

The bloodied imprint of a hand can often be seen on these flags, which is in remembrance of Abbas ibn Ali, Hussein’s brother who braved the odds to fill a water sack to take back to his four-year-old niece Sakina, Hussein’s young daughter.

Shot from behind by arrows, Abbas lost both hands finally clutching the water sack with his teeth, but was finally martyred before he could reach his beloved niece. He is also known as the hero of Al-Qamah, another name for the Euphrates River, which flows beside his mausoleum in Iraq today.

Syed Zakir Hossain

Bloody Flag

Mahmud Hossain Opu

Ta’ziya

Boys as young as 10-12-years-old participate in self-flaggelation, an age-old tradition that is a common sight in the Ashura processions in Dhaka

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Ta’ziya originates from the Arabic word aza or condolence, but in the Indian subcontin it is the name given to the mini-mausoleum that symbolise the graves of Hussein and h brother Hassan.

Timur is known to have first started this tradition as he built these faux mausoleum so the men in his army could observe the tenth of Muharram. The Nawab of Awadh’s

s ms

s

Hamsa

Mahmud Hossain Opu

Syed Zakir Hossain

Also known as the hand of Fatima, it has long been a symbol that protects and wards off evil.

A derivation of the Arabic word for the number five (khamsa), a central eye in the palm of a five fingered hand alludes to khamsa fi ainek (five fingers in your eye) which is a Middle Eastern symbol that actually predates Islam by many centuries.

The hamsa has had many interpretations that influenced its inclusion into the symbolism of Islam, and according to the Shia, the five fingers stand for the five people of the cloak: Prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatima, her husband Ali and their two sons Hassan and Hussein.

They also believe that the five fingers depict the five pillars of Islam, making the hamsa a universally accepted symbol of protection.

The hand of Fatima is widely used during the processions of the tenth day of Muharram, and is also conspicuously present in the mini mausoleums and within the Rawza Mubarak, or holy sites.

Mahmud Hossain Opu

The threads are tied by believers seeking to fulfill, or rather ‘secure’ their ‘mannats’ while they recite prayers with a hopeful heart

mausoleums are said to have been made of filigree silver and gold with fine inlay work of gems.

As in the case of the Ta’ziya built inside the Mohammadi Begum Imambara (house of the Imams) found at 48 Hasnat Road in old Dhaka, two miniature graves covered in red and green cloth symbolise the graves of Hussein and his brother Hassan.

Mahmud Hossain Opu

a nent ms his

11

Believers seek blessings from Hassan and Hossein with a brushing of their foreheads with a broom

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12 Social construct | Children of prostitutes

Born into brothels

An insight into the complicated lives of children of sex workers Adil Sakhawat

T

umpa, a class two student, is waiting patiently outside her mother’s room.

When asked why she is standing there, she replies in a drab tone: “Ma is working inside. Come back after a few minutes.”

Tumpa is the daughter of a sex worker who lives in the now re-opened Kandapara brothel in Tangail. Even at this early age, she is completely aware of her mother’s profession.

In the evenings, at a time when children are usually busy studying, Tumpa has no choice but to wait outside their room until her mother finishes dealing with her clients.

Tumpa is also the first girl in her class.

One day, she says, she would like to become a police officer. “Only then I will be able to rescue my mother from here, and sleep on her lap. I

have missed that for a long time,” says Tumpa.

According to the Sex Workers Network of Bangladesh (SWNOB), approximately 1,700 children are living in 12 brothels across the country, and 1,500-1,600 children of street based sex workers are living in the slums and on the roads.

However, experts claim that the number is likely much higher.

and alcohol inside the rooms is as common as breathing.

Ten-year-old Smrity, who lives in Madaripur brothel, said: “I hate the violence and drinking that take place here and when they take my mother away from me. My mother has to entertain them, but I need to spend time with her. Those people who come to my mother hate me and call me names.”

Unhealthy environment

Vicious cycle

While a caring and healthy environment is needed for the sound development of any child, many children inside brothels live in difficult conditions, surrounded by activities that can create long-term emotional damage.

According to many accounts, they sometimes hide under the bed while their mother attends customers above. The consumption of cigarettes

Despite sincere efforts by many mothers to keep them away from the profession, some children living inside the brothels take up sex work when they come of age.

Girls sometimes join the profession when the mother gets old and cannot find enough customers.

Choked by poverty, harassment and stigma, they make a living in the profession they know.

Papri, who completed her SSC in 2009 with an A grade, now works as a sex worker in the Madaripur brothel.

“I was a meritorious student in my class,” she says. “Everyday I went to school, local people, boys, sometimes even my teachers, would tease me. They asked me my ‘rate’ and called me the child of a prostitute.”

“Enduring all this, I continued my studies,” she says. “But my mother told me that she could hardly find customers anymore and it was becoming difficult to bear my study expenses. I quit school and decided to take up this profession.”

“I had no desire to do this. I also got a chance to work for the Bangladesh police. But there I was asked to bribe them, which I could not do for lack of money,” Papri recalls with distress.

Her friend Bithi, who is also a

Those people who come to my mother hate me and call me names

Papayia - an underage sex worker

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 7, 201 4

Photos: Courtesy

13

sex worker, says: “I had to quit my studies when I was in class 10 because my mother could not bear the expenses. I have two more siblings and I am the eldest. So I had no choice but to go into prostitution.”

Scarlet letter

These children start facing fierce discrimination from a very early age, be it in availing education, medical treatments or any other civil rights.

These children realise that they are not part of the “mainstream” children.

A number of sex workers and their children at Jamalpur brothel allegedly said that an NGO had assured them they would build a school inside the brothel, but they never did. They were eagerly waiting the school, as they did not find acceptance in public schools outside the brothel.

At a public school named Shahid School in Tangail, while walking around the school area with the daughter of a sex worker, I saw boys from the school passing comments at her continuously.

The girl said although she never disclosed her identity as the daughter of a sex worker, somehow someone got to know it, and since then she had been facing such harassments.

A few days later the girl left and went to a new school.

The name of the father

Another ordeal for the children of sex workers is providing the names of their fathers, especially when it comes to seeking admission in schools or availing health facilities in clinics and hospitals.

On one hand, they are embarrassed as there is no acknowledged father, and on the other hand, they are discriminated against because of the mother’s profession.

Shahnaj Begum, former president of Durjoy Nari Sangha, an NGO, said: “In a patriarchal society like Bangladesh, the absence of the identity of a father creates a hazardous impact on children’s lives and emotional development.”

“They need a father’s name to get admitted in public schools. But from where would they get it?” she laments. “The government should take this issue into consideration. It can design a policy to use maternal

identity in cases of these children, if the father’s identity cannot be found.”

Kolpona (not her real name), a sex worker says: “If a doctor finds any sexually transmitted disease in a child, they know that the child belongs to a sex worker. Then they start avoiding us and do not provide my child with proper treatment.”

“I don’t understand why they hate us. We are also human beings. Now we prefer NGO run clinics rather than the government or private ones. But still there are cases of emergencies when we have to approach these places and we are really hesitant in those times,” she adds.

Future tense

A large number of children are born every year inside brothels and in slums inside cities. As more and more girls aged under 18 are getting into this business, the rate of child birth is also on the rise.

Miscarriages often take place.

Many infants die from malnutrition, as the mother has to get back to business as soon as possible after giving birth to the child.

A 14-year-old sex worker, Mukta of Madaripur brothel, gave birth to a dead child one month ago. According to her, the child was secretly buried by the manager at night.

Hena Akhter, secretary of SWNOB says: “Like every mother, sex workers also want their children to grow up with all the rights that a child is entitled to have, and with respect from society.”

“But these mothers cannot provide their children with proper education because of their profession,” she says. “The children face further discrimination when it comes to getting jobs. Mothers who are sex workers face difficulties in marrying their daughters off.”

“Only a few children get proper facilities when they are kept away from their mothers. In these cases, they hide their mothers’ identities,” Hena adds.

“For these reasons they cannot socialise with other children normally,” she says. “They are always afraid to disclose their original identity as this country is not like India, where children of sex workers feel free to say that they are the children of sex workers.” n These children face discrimination and abuse in all phases of their lives

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14 Legalese | Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi

Lender’s sorrow Got a problem?

Q

I had loaned a lot of money to a distant second cousin, but he is dropping my calls and is ignoring me. Even when I go to his apartment he is never “at home.”

I need him to return the money now.

I don’t like his attitude and want to teach him a lesson. He has a bad habit of borrowing money.

What is the best approach to deal with this issue?

A

Write to Jennifer at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

Dear Reader: Thank you for writing in to me. If you were present in my office right now, there would have been a multitude of questions that I would

ask you.

Was there any contract between the both of you? How long ago did this happen? What does your second cousin do? Is he a student, or a professional? If he is a professional, what job does he do?

Who else is aware of the fact that this transaction took place between the both of you? Do you have any documentary evidence at all regarding this issue? What was the sum of money you loaned him? Was it a substantial amount or a relatively small amount? Were there any witnesses?

In what manner was the money loaned to him – was it via a cheque, a bank transfer or good old-fashioned cash?

It is difficult to give you an exact answer on the best approach to deal with this issue without having all the important facts as outlined above. Let me explain why.

If it is legal action you are intending to pursue against your cousin, the first step is to determine what type of legal action would be appropriate. If there is an existing contract between you and your cousin, then we would be looking at “breach of contract.”

A contract usually is a formal and legally binding agreement between two or more parties, enforceable by

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

Cartoon: Priyo/Dhaka Tribune

law. Contracts also contain certain terms – in this instance the important terms would have outlined the sum of money involved, the manner of transaction, the purpose of the “loan” and the repayment provisions by your cousin.

Another important factor is the time aspect in itself, ie how long ago this happened. In legal terms, we have to carefully consider something called the “limitation period.” A limitation period is a legally specified time period, beyond which an action

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 7, 201 4

may be defeated or a property right does not continue.

In your case, to simply explain, any legal action which you intend to commence against your cousin would have to be done so within the specified limitation period, and not 5 or 10 years down the line. Therefore, if you do have a contract and there has been a breach of the repayment provisions, your cousin may be attempting to dilly-dally and “buy time” – a very smart move indeed.

Next we explore the situation of

your cousin when the money was loaned to him. Was he a student then?

By any chance, if he was under the age of 18, even if you do have a contract with him, it would be void. This is primarily because any individual below the age of 18 would be considered a minor, thereby being unable to enter into a contract legally enforceable by law.

Also, if he is a professional, his financial capability will have to be scrutinised. It’s all good that you would like to “teach” him a lesson, but at the end of the day, if he truly does not have the financial capability to pay you back, you can huff and puff all you want, but the results don’t look very promising.

This also takes us back to the issue of the amount of money loaned.

Legal action is an expensive and time consuming process and if the amount of money involved is minor, you will truly have to take a step back and evaluate your primary purpose of initiating legal action.

And last but not least, witnesses and manner of money transfer are also important evidential aspects.

Cash transactions are always the hardest to prove – it’ll pretty much boil down to your word against his.

Witnesses, if present, will have to be objective and independent ones who would make your case stronger, successfully refuting any allegation of bias which your cousin may allege during the proceedings.

Photocopies of any cheques or bank statements would surely serve as good documentary evidence. Did your cousin sign any promissory note at all, by any chance?

In conclusion, any form of legal action you take against your cousin is likely to be civil in nature, and not criminal. Regardless of whether you initiate money suit proceedings or breach of contract proceedings, keep in mind that you would have to invest more money and time into this whole situation.

Hope this helps.

.

Wedding of the season | FEATURE

Minister of love

15

Photos: Courtesy

Young and old come together with much fanfare: 67-year old minister Mujibul Haque marries a woman 38 years his junior Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique and Mohiuddin Molla

S

ince the graying railway minister Mujibul Haque, 67, got married last week to Hanufa Akhter Rikta, 29, the news has been circulating among media and the citizenry as a hot topic.

Even within parliament, it has led to humorous confusion. Another ministry officer, coincidentally with the same name, claimed that his marriage might be on the rocks if people thought he was pursuing a second one.

Talk of the town

The minister himself acknowledged that the marriage was “not a typical one” and “a talk of the country.” Over the last few days, social media has exploded on the topic. Yet, with two more ceremonies to go, the event has also been targeted by feminist and societal critiques.

Fearing solitude at a later stage in his life and wanting “to spend the rest of the life well and true,” the old minister, after spending his life in politics, finally “realised the need for a companion.”

An affair to remember

The celebration began on October 29 at a luxurious gaye holud ceremony at Krishibid Institution in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka. Singer Momtaz,

another member of parliament (MP), coordinated the cultural arrangements.

The wedding took place at the groom’s father-in-law’s house on the afternoon of October 31 at Meerkhola in Comilla.

The groom arrived with over 700 people, including six ministers and more than 50 members of parliament.

On their way to the event, the party was greeted by a number of colourful spectacles, installed on intersections of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

On arrival, the groom paid Tk100,001 to his sisters-in-laws under the “blocked gate” tradition. He signed the marriage document after he paid Tk500,001 as Islamic bride dowry.

Everyone wanted to join the party.

The number of gatecrashers overwhelmed police. In the mayhem, two people were arrested and as many as 44 mobile sets and about 100 wallets had been pickpocketed, said OC Golam Morshed of the Chandina police station.

The minister told journalists Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had greeted him on his wedding, and wished them a happily married life.

There’s still more to come: A much-anticipated ceremony will

occur on November 14 at 7pm at LD Hall in the parliament building.

Another ceremony is scheduled to be held on December 6 in the Basuara village the minister belongs to in Chouddagram of Comilla, with a proposed guest list of around 30,000 people.

The bride and groom

The railway minister was born on May 31, 1947, as the youngest son of nine to Sonavan Biwi and Rajjab Ali. Involved in politics since the 1960s, he held many important positions in the student, youth, and party wing of Awami League. In 2014, he was appointed as minister of railways, a position he had served previously.

His accomplishments are many: He was a member of the parliamentary committee of the civil aviation and tourism, and he held the portfolio of the religious affairs ministry.

His wife Hanufa, 29, is the youngest among seven siblings.

She completed her graduation in 2006, and later received an LLB and master’s from Jagannath University.

The minister said: “If she intends to join the legal practice after the wedding, she is welcome to go ahead.”

How they met

When he minister first hinted at

ending his bachelorhood, he did not say much about his intended. “She is a simple village girl. You can guess her age because she has done law after her master’s. She comes from a good family. I can’t disclose her name, but she hails from some upazila in Comilla. I hope she does not turn back.”

He did, however, mention that he had known her for the last three years, which was confirmed by family members.

Rikta, upon passing her LLB, sought a position as legal advisor at Hamdard, where Mujibul was an advisor. She was introduced to him through a teacher at the primary school in her village.

Wedding bliss among well-wishers

The minister says he is doubly happy marrying at this stage of his life, since it’s attracted so much attention.

His colleagues say that, having spent most of his life looking out for others around him, he has finally taken a well-deserved step towards his own happiness.

Most are celebrating along with the minister, but Comilla’s bachelor community has regretted losing another comrade in the “Chirakumar Samit” (club of confirmed bachelors).

.

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16 tough love | dina sobhan

Dark circles and lice hassles

Q A

Got a problem?

Write to Dina at weekend@ dhakatribune. com

My girlfriend has been acting really weird. She has been unlike herself and has dark circles under her eyes. I tried to talk to her about it but she refuses to come clean. Do people get dark circles because they have an unclean conscience? How can I help her get rid off the dark circles around her eyes?

Honey, if people manifested physical symptoms in response to their consciences, we’d all be walking around with crutches, bruises and generally looking the worse for wear.

I think you need to reign in your imagination and consider that she just may be very, very tired.

Or maybe she’s got girl problems that are keeping her up at night.

Maybe she’s so stressed out by life that she hasn’t slept for a week. Or just maybe she’s cleaning up the city streets as a superhero by night … who knows?

Since you can’t scrub dark circles or a dirty conscience away, the only way to help her is by being supportive and hope she comes clean.

However, if this strategy fails to produce results in the next month or two, I suggest tapping her phone, asking discreet questions to friends and family and sending up a 24-hour surveillance system to track her every move.

Maybe it’s nothing, but if she really is Dhaka’s answer to Batman – let’s call her Bangumeye – think of the publicity and wealth you could capitalise on as her agent.

Let the snooping commence!

Q

My colleague at work has hair lice, and a few people have complained and tried to hint that the person do something about it. She is my boss and I need a light way to drive the point home. Please help.

Oh dear, this is a most sticky – not to mention icky – situation. I don’t know how you continue to go into work everyday and refrain from spraying her from head to toe with ICI spray.

My question is, naturally, how has everyone in the office noticed that your boss has head lice and she hasn’t? Has she come to terms with the inhabitants on her head and declared a peaceful coexistence? How does she resist scratching her head without drawing everybody’s attention, and how on Earth does she interact with her colleagues if no one wants to go anywhere near her?

Whatever the case may be, my skin is crawling from just thinking about it, as is probably the case with everyone within a 10-mile radius of your office.

Frankly, I would just walk right up to her and say: “Hey, Boss Lady, the jig is up. We’re all onto you and the mini denizens of your scalp. We

must insist that you rid yourself of your companions forthwith, lest we are forced to insist you submit your resignation on the grounds that you’re gross, and if we have to work with you for another second in the same office we will all commit hara-kiri en masse.”

Now, if that’s really not an option, and you’re forced to employ a more subtle approach, I recommend the following: Have everyone in the office, from the administrative staff to the janitor, start scratching their heads whenever the lice lady is nearby. Either she will get the hint and do something about her little problem without too much embarrassment, or she will think that there is a serious lice problem in the office and suggest everyone get their heads checked immediately.

Of course, you’ll be the first to recommend that she naturally get herself checked in case she was an “unwitting victim” to the epidemic.

.

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

Cartoon: Rio Shuvo/Dhaka Tribune

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Yamin Khan | FUNNY BONE

17

Liar, liar Pointing out all the white lies we comfort ourselves with

Photo: Bigstock

As adults, we constantly tell our kids that lying is a sin. Yet, we happily participate in the act with so much skill and grace that, for some of us, it has become reflexive. The following are some of the lies told by different professionals in their lines of work.

Restaurant staff

Customer: So what would you recommend?

Waiter: Sir, you can happily try our imported T-bone steak. The meat is directly imported from Texas, and prepared with a generous touch of love, affection and care.

Truth: It may or may not be the best item on the menu, but it is certainly the most expensive one.

Film star

Reporter: Last month you were seen holidaying in Bangkok with the new actress Miss Onjolina Julie. What do you have to say about that?

Star: Oh! No, no, no! Actually I was there for a shoot and she was there promoting her next film. Mistakenly, the hotel staff confused our booking and put us in the same room. And when I entered the room, I slipped on a banana skin and fell on top of her while she was changing her clothes.

In reality, we are just good friends.

Truth: Explanation not required.

Shopkeepers at New Market:

If you are a female living in Dhaka, then you must have visited New Market. Now, a lot of people don’t know this story, but back in 1979, a

shopkeeper was killed by a lady for addressing her as “Aunty” in public.

Since then, the tradition has started that all the ladies will be addressed as “Apu.” So don’t be surprised if you are carrying a 90-year-old lady on a stretcher to the ICU and you hear shouts of “Apu” while crossing New Market.

Truth: It’s not marketing. It’s called self-defence.

Minister for Power and Energy (um, in Bhutan)

11:30 am Reporter: Sir, there’s been a national blackout. As the concerned minister, what is your take on this issue?

Minister: I would like to request everyone to remain patient.

Electricity will be restored within an hour.

7:30 pm Reporter: Sir, it’s been 8 hours and the electricity hasn’t returned yet …

Minister: I have said it before and I will say it again. Electricity will be restored within an hour.

Truth: See page 5.

Infomercials:

Infomercials are shows on TV that sell products directly to consumers. The hosts of these shows are the happiest people on this planet, who tell you with a beaming smile that buying a necklace will change your life forever.

Unfortunately, they haven’t bought one yet themselves, and are forced to

Just Beat It.

host non-primetime shows on TV. And to justify their claim, they’ll show you visualisations of happy customers who are indebted to the blessings of the magical necklace.

Headline: Solo performance of teacher at local music school

Call centre agent:

Truth: Most of those people are out of work actors/actresses and as you may have guessed, they also haven’t bought the necklace yet.

Do you know the strategy adopted by most call centres to cut down their queue?

Truth: They force you to listen to Nicki Minaj and Rebecca Black while they make you wait.

Then finally when the agent picks up, you hear a very sincere voice, extremely concerned about your needs. She’ll even repeat herself: “Sir, please tell me what I can do for you.”

Then when you ask for a new car, she seems taken aback.

Journalist:

We all know some journalists tend to sensationalise headlines to attract more readers.

Headline: Young man beats friend to death in broad daylight Actual news: A young man beats his friend at Call of Duty 4 and wins the Inter University Gaming Championship 2014.

Headline: Scarlett Johansson goes to “bed” with Martin Scorsese Actual news: Scarlett Johansson signs the contract for her next film “Bed,” which is to be produced by Universal Studios and directed by Martin Scorsese.

It also works the other way around: Actual news: Renowned singer Ferdous Wahid sets a Guinness World Record by becoming the first person to wear sunglasses during an eye surgery.

Headline: Habib Wahid releases new album, Laptop Ft Auto-Tune Actual news: Teacher from a local music school was arrested after brutally assaulting one of his pupils with a drumstick. Name of school:

Truth: What a shameless demonstration of hypocrisy. n

Postscript One thing I know for sure is that I don’t paint a very noble picture of myself through my writings. Often people ask me what joy I get by bashing/judging other people.

To them, I reply with this English translation of an Urdu couplet: “You ask me about my business, what I have in mind I sell mirrors in the city of the blind.”

– Mirza Yaas Yagana Changezi

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18 stay in

Mini cryptics Clues

ACROSS

1 First of West Ham beer is a large one (5) 5 Finish in blender (3) 6 Feel ill about public relations month (5) 8 Brave soul has new bird (5) 10 Time for emergency room action, primarily (3) 11 Label the French furniture (5)

DOWN 1 2 3 4 7 8 9

Sport grasps the climactic conditions (7) Song for blonde who lost head (3) The Spanish keep energy for fish (3) Five in a foxtrot come forward (7) US President of biker origin (3) Laugh at the first bowler (3) Tease bone? (3)

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

Strong female leads Rumana Habib

Reign

This fall TV season has been great for shows looking for the “strong female lead” label.

Hollywood has been struggling to correct their historically male-dominated offerings, mainly by introducing women who were either ball-busters (Agents of Shield) or melodramatic divas (Real Housewives of Anywhere).

But with these two offerings, it looks like they are finally starting to get it right. The ladies in these shows are well-rounded and human. They are allowed to be both smart and vulnerable, and they don’t even have to be likeable. Now that’s liberation.

Madam Secretary

A professor and former CIA agent, Elizabeth McCord (Tea Leoni) is the newly-appointed US secretary of state, a responsibility she

Last week’s solutions

S

u

d

shoulders with grace and expertise.

Smart as a whip and able to hold her ground against the domineering chief of staff, this consummate diplomat also uses her feminine sensibilities to get the job done. As a woman, her perspective is presented as different but equal.

In every episode, an international conflict is introduced, and she and her team toil away to save the day and build world peace. This is the first season, so it has yet to be seen if this formula can hold. So far, professional and personal story lines are varied and compelling.

She is also raising three children with her understanding and supportive ideal of a husband – a history professor who is proud and clearly not intimidated by his powerful wife.

It is impossible to watch the show without thinking about former Hillary Clinton.

Homeland

Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) has come to South Asia. The bipolargenius CIA agent wrangles an appointment as the new station

o

k

u

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 Kind of animal that uses ink pen first in bed (5) 5 Anger about me first (3) 6 Groan about gas (5) 8 Cap in South East for kids plaything (5) 10 The french return before a thousand deer (3) 11 Gold country over there outside Britain (5) DOWN 1 Cover alien under nothing (7) 2 Fixing politics first, for example (3) 3 Racket in hiding (3) 4 Celt confused queen with North stand (7) 7 Headless chicken is wise bird (3) 8 Half a whisky where you see stars (3) 9 Squid produce it in middle of lakes (3)

Last week’s crib sheet Let’s start with the easiest, 6 Across: Gas = argon which is an anagram (about) of groan.

Leads us to 7 Down: Wise bird = owl, which is a headless chicken, ie fowl without the f.

8 Across: Kid’s plaything = slide. Cap = lid in South East or SE = S-lid-E. 8 Down: Half a whisky = sky = where you see stars.

11 Across: Over there = yon, Britain = UK. Y-UK-on = Yukon = Gold country.

9 Down: In = in, middle of lakes = k = ink = squid produce it.

4 Down: Celt confused (anagram) = lect, queen = ER, North = N = lectern = stand.

5 Across: Me = I, about = re. Ire = anger.

3 Down: Racket = din, in hi-din-g.

1 Across: Kind of animal = biped. Ink pen first = ip. In bed = b-ip-ed.

1 Down: Nothing = blank. Alien = ET. Blanket = cover.

2 Down: Politics first = p. For example = eg, Peg = fixing.

10 Across: The in French = le, return (means reverse) = el, thousand = k = elk = deer.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 7, 201 4

Last week’s sudoku solutions

chief in Islamabad, facing down terrorists with fearless ferocity.

She also shamelessly exploits her feminine charms to get what she needs – though always in the service of a higher cause (at least in her mind).

In this fourth season, Carrie is emerging as more of an antihero, sometimes doing rather despicable things. This has elicited strong reactions from viewers, but it is intriguing to see a woman play the kind of role usually reserved for bad boys (Mad Men, Dexter).

Claire Danes brings her usual pathos and fragility to round out the character, so you may find yourself rooting for Carrie against your will.

Other standout female characters include the steely US ambassador, Iranian-American agent Fara Sherazi, and a formidable Pakistani ISI agent (Indian actress Nimrat Kaur), who is very much a worthy opponent to the American forces.

There is the additional deshi pleasure of it being in our ‘hood.

You can hear azans, see women wearing “shalwar kameez” and even catch some untranslated phrases in Urdu. This season also features Indian actor Suraj Sharma, star of the recent film “Life of Pi.” The current episode is airing locally on cable.

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Go out

19

Weekly Planner Nov 7-8

Nov 10

Theatre | The Dumb Waiter When 7:30pm Where Prachyanat Theatre, Katabon What Prachyanat Theatre troupe presents its production of “The Dumb Waiter” by English playwright Harold Pinter. The play is translated to Bangla by Rabiul Alam and directed by Md Shawkat Hossain Rajib.

Observance | 31st Death Anniversary of MN Larma When 9:30am Where National Press Club What Jumma Parishad has organised a day-long programme in observance of the death anniversary of MN Larma. Educationalists, politicians, writers and journalists will be speaking at the programme.

Music | Open Mix at TFM When 7pm-12am Where The Farmers’ Market, 76/2, Road 127, Gulshan 1 What A night of chill electronic music featuring DJs from around the city. Enjoy the beats along with yummy eats from a variety of food carts available. Seats are limited. Contact facebook.com/ thefarmersmarketdhaka to make a reservation.

Nov 10 Music | Sound Reasons When 6pm Where German Club, House 104, Road 24, Gulshan What This is the international adventure of Electronic Music. The exclusive lounge will also offer finger foods and drink. Entry fee is Tk800.

German Club members will get free entrance. Tickets are available at Goethe-Institut and German Club Dhaka.

Robotics | Robot Making Workshop When Nov 7, 10am-5pm Where 47 Priyo Prangon

Shopping Centre, Science Laboratory

Techshop BD is arranging a workshop in robotics for laymen. Participating in this unique workshop requires only enthusiasm, but familiarity with C programming language is helpful.

From making to demonstration, the workshop will give its participants firsthand experience to learn the basic components of making robots.

Participants are instructed to bring their laptops with chargers. For further detail contact 01811444730.

The rest of the components will be provided by the organisers. The cost of the components is Tk2,000 and should be submitted prior to the workshop.

Music | Rock City Touring Gulshan and Moghbazar When Nov 7 &14, 4pm-9pm Where All Community Club,

Gulshan 2, and Engineers’ Institute, Ramna

Nov 14 Painting | Emerged From Unknown When 3pm-8pm Where Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15/A, Dhanmondi What This art exhibition features paintings by autistic children. This year the event is being organised for the sixth time by students’ association HANS as part of its annual activities for special needs children.

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Nov 14 performers: Cryptic Fate, Arbovirus, Reborn, Minerva, Karnival, Poraho, Beyond Blue, Mercenaries and Halo

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Festival | Chhobir Haat Cause | Performance Art Festival 2014 Hijra Pride 2014 When Nov 7-14, 3pm-9pm Where Chhobir Haat, Shahbagh

When Nov 10, 6:30pm-9:30pm Where Bangladesh National

Museum, Shahbagh

The Tour of Rock in the City will kick off with some stellar acts along with the fresh new talents of RockTown.

Tickets are available for Tk300 at all Occult outlets. Exclusive season tickets (entry to both shows) are available online at Tk500 at: etunes. com.bd/eticket/livesquare Nov 7 performers: Nemesis, Powersurge, AvoidRafa, Indalo, Echoes, Owned, Beyond Blue, Mercenaries and Hal

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Chhobir Haat is organising a performance festival this year, and is asking for concept papers from any artists who are interested to participate. For further details contact 01718166066 and 01716 891801. The festival will be open for all.

With the objective to gain recognition of gender and identity of the hijra population by the government, BSWS is organising “Hijra Pride 2014,” the first of its kind in the country, at central and divisional level.

Related programme segments include: Henna Festival Date: Nov 8-10, 3pm-6pm Venues: Dhanmondi Lake park, Ziya Uddan and Shishu Park Colourful Rally Time: 3pm Route: Press Club to National Museum Talent Hunt Time: 6:30pm-9:30pm Venue: National Museum

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 7, 2 0 1 4

20 event | tedxdhaka

Barrier breakers take the stage Established and emerging leaders share their stories at this unique annual event Sumaiya T Ahmed

This year’s speakers

The speakers of this year’s TEDxDhaka are diverse and talented, each paving the roads in their own field. They are the current and future leaders, innovators and changemakers. Taking problems as catalysts, they are breaking barriers, overcoming obstacles and forging a new era. Inspirational and thoughtprovoking, this year’s TEDxDhaka has something for everyone: Abrar and Safwan R&D Apprentices at The Tech School Kicking off the event are the young duo Abrar, 9, who specialises in programming for robotics projects, and Safwan, 11, who specialises in circuits, mechanics and hardware development.

Arild Klokkerhaug and Syeda Gulshan Ferdous Jana Co-Founders, Somewhere in ... blog This duo paved the road for bloggers in Bangladesh by co-founding the country’s first social media company, which brought Bangla language online.

Iqbal Habib Joint Secretary, Bangladesh Environment Movement An active organiser and a public voice for pressing environmental and urban issues, he is also one of the principal architects of the award winning architectural firm VITTI Sthapati Brindo, whose projects included Hatirjheel, Dhanmondi Lake, and the Asian University for Women.

Photo: Courtesy

TEDxDhaka takes place Saturday, November 22, 9am-7pm. Register at: tedxdhaka.com.bd/attending

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eldom does a day come when we do not find a problem in our society. Many frown upon it, complain and forget it, moving onto the next day’s problem.

Then there are those who observe the imbalance around them and take it upon themselves to make a change, a difference that creates a positive impact.

Unfazed by challenges, they tackle it head on to create, innovate and change.

With the apt theme of “Breaking barriers,” these are the kind of people who are going to take centre stage in this year’s TEDxDhaka, set to take place November 22 at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh Bhaban.

What is TED?

For newbies, TED is an annual international event where some of the world’s leading thinkers and doers are

invited to share what they are most passionate about. “TED” stands for technology, entertainment and design – three broad subject areas that are collectively shaping our future.

TEDx is a local programme in the same spirit. These are independently organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.

What is TEDxDhaka?

TEDxDhaka is organised by a prolific group of volunteer TED enthusiasts, Locally.

Since 2009, TEDxDhaka organisers Mohammad Tauheed, Mirza Salman Hossain Beg and Atif Sattar, along with a team of volunteers, have hosted events with themes like: Different Bangladesh, Be the Change, and Problems as Catalysts.

With a broad range of industry pioneers such as Shahidul Alam from Drik and Mozammel Haque from BDCyclists, as well as talented underdogs like computer graphics artist Fatema Jannat Mony – a mix of raw and experienced talent have graced past TEDxDhaka events. n

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 7, 201 4

Monira Rahman Acid Survivors Foundation; Executive Director, Innovation for Wellbeing A strong voice to end gender discrimination and violence against women for the past 25 years, Monira Rahman will discuss about promoting mental health equity. Under her leadership, the Acid Survivors Foundation became the world’s leader in combating acid attacks.

Dr Anisul Karim Co-Investigator, Transform Nutrition Consortium He is a doctor, health and nutrition researcher who leverages his efforts to combat one of the scourges of the developing world: childhood undernutrition. He seeks cost-effective interventions to help shape public health policies.

Farzana Wahid and Moktadir Dewan Shanto Musicians Farzana Wahid, popularly known as Shayan, is an eclectic musician, lyricist and composer. Moktadir Dewan Shanto is an acappella enthusiast and a beatboxer.

Manik and Ratan Graphic artists Young cartoonists and animators Manik and Ratan are regularly featured

in major newspaper and magazine in Bangladesh, including: Unmad, Bhorer Kajog and Prothom Alo. Iftekhar Enayetullah and Maqsood Sinha Co-Founders, Waste Concern These pioneers in the field of environmental management and social innovation work with decentralised waste management projects in Bangladesh and other developing countries.

Rini Eshan Khushboo and Rakib Reza Roboticists This entrepreneurial duo created a platform for robotics enthusiasts, and are currently working on producing robots locally for real life use.

Shehzad Noor Taus Founder, ITTW Conferences and National Olympiad in Software Innovation This high school student is a software developer and entrepreneur who promotes IT among high school, college and university students.

Munem Wasif Curator, Chhobi Mela The internationally renowned documentary photographer will share stories behind some of his recent works.

He currently teaches at Pathshala, South Asian Media Institute.

Nina Smith Executive Director, GoodWeave International Working to end child labour in the carpet industry in South Asia, Nina has developed and lead GoodWeave since 1999. Recently the founder of GoodWeave International, Kailash Satyarthi from India, won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Tanzeem Choudhury Director, People-Aware Computing An associate professor at Cornell University, this US-based Bangladeshi’s group is inventing technology to support individuals with serious mental illness.

Tanzeem’s work has been featured in the Economist, New York Times and BBC. Dr Peter Eigen Founder, Transparency International Dr Eigen has worked for economic development and better global governance for several decades, and has led initiatives in the fight against corruption.

Rosey Hurst Director, Impactt Leading many innovations in ethical trade and labour standards for 17 years, Rosey Hurst now leads a programme that delivers better quality jobs and more productive and engaged workers in China, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.