Weekend Tribune, Vol 2 Issue 26

Dhaka Tribune | vo l 2 I ssu e 26 | F R I D AY, N o ve m b e r 14, 2014

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Roots of Bangla

8

Building green

12

The Tech School

CONTENTS

1

Volume 2 | Issue 26 | November 14, 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 Listology Bangla classic films

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 Origin story Roots of Bangla language

6 Arts

8 Architecture Building green 12 Digital Bangladesh The Tech school 15 Business Customer service

Dhamrai brass craftsman

16 Interview Md Abdullah: Hip-hopper

Cartoons Syed Rashad Imam Tonmoy Priyo

17 Social construct Being lesbian in

Contributors Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi Amer Habib Shadman Hasan Tahsin Momin Philippe Mueller Md Abu Syed

20 Profile RP Shaha

Graphics Md Mahbub Alam Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal 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

Reminding us of the great Hitchcock film Rear Window, each window of this ferry boat contains its own story.

Together they tell tales about family, about modernity, about religion and vice. What do you see?

Photo: Sumaiya Tazin

Bangladesh

Regulars 14 Legalese

9 Photo story The runaway

18 Stay In 19 Go Out

Editor’s note

launch

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his week we celebrate our heritage and look forward to forging a new future.

Leading the charge are the young not-yet-teenagers at The Tech School, who are learning to build robots (pg 1213). On the artistic side, hip-hop artist Md Abdullah is promoting the scene in Bangladesh (pg 16).

It’s not all smooth sailing. Our infamous customer service seems to be improving at local businesses (pg 15).

And despite the burgeoning popularity of eco-friendly “green architecture,” some builders think it just means full of foliage (pg 8).

It’s no picnic being lesbian in Bangladesh, although it seems to be both easier (identity-wise) and more difficult (community-wise) compared to being a gay man (pg 17).

Also living a mixed existence are the impoverished runaway children living on the streets (pg 9-11). Meet one boy who fights for survival, but still seems to enjoy his freedom to do so.

Of course, we can never forget where we’ve come from. We honour the sanskritik roots of Bangla (pg 5), and our classic artforms, both high (Dhamrai brass craftsman, pg 6-7) and low (Dhallywood hit list, pg 4).

We close with a salute to two great men who would have had their brithdays this week: filmmaker and writer Humayun Ahmed (pg 18) and the philanthropist and educationist RP Shaha (pg 20).

Progress is built on the shoulders of giants.

- Rumana Habib

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2 News | This week

The world at a glance

Weekend Tribune Desk

Former Berlin wall marked by 8000 glowing balloons

In Berlin, Germany, a new public installation commemorating 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, wowed the city last weekend.

Lichtgrenze – that’s “border of light” in German – consists of 8,000 glowing balloons, swayed along marking the path of the original Berlin Wall.

It snakes through the city for a remarkable 15km. This visualisation of the piece, from above, captures the scale of the route.

Photo: now-here-this.timeout.com

Amid strains, Obama puts bright face on China ties Putting a bright face on for the future of US ties with China, President Barack Obama announced Monday that the two countries would start granting visas to each other’s citizens for up to a decade.

Yet thorny issues like human rights and trade lurked just under the surface, reflecting the tough road ahead for the two economic powers, as Obama began a week-long trip to the region.

Obama, addressing Asian business leaders at a high-level summit, sought to dispel the notion that America’s interest in Asia should be a cause for concern for China’s leaders.

Beijing has viewed Obama’s engagement here with trepidation, suspecting the US wants to limit China’s rise, but Obama insisted that “one country’s prosperity doesn’t have to come at the expense of the other.”

Photo: AP

Kiss of Love

The Kiss of Love campaign reached New Delhi, India, on Saturday, with over 150 young men and women turning up in front of RSS headquarters in the capital’s Jhandewalan area to protest against moral policing.

Despite heavy police presence in the area, the campaign soon turned into a melee with a group of Hindu Sena members disrupting the two-hour campaign several times.

The campaigners, mostly students and activists, turned up around 4pm and began sloganeering against the “Love-Jihad bogey” and moral policing.

“We live in an age where a Dalit man is hacked to 40 pieces because he fell in love with a woman from a higher caste. This Kiss of Love campaign is a defiance of moral policing and a struggle to uphold the spirit of love in all its forms and for everyone,” said Zareen, a campaigner.

The first Kiss of Love event was held in

Kochi on November 2 to protest against moral policing by right-wing groups.

Similar events have been organised at Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

“If conservative elements can capture our public spaces and impose their diktat on us, we will do the same in retaliation,” she said. Our university spaces, parks and roads are not free any more. We are reclaiming them now,” Zareen said.

Young people hugged and kissed

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each other to the background score of Bollywood songs celebrating love and freedom. Soon Hindu Sena members arrived on the scene and protested that the “Western culture was corrupting and degrading Indian culture.”

Additional Commissioner of Police (Central) Alok Kumar said, “There were around 70-80 campaigners at the venue. We detained 70 persons for a brief period at Paharganj police station.”

Photo: Indian Express

BRTA drive: Scarcity of public transport continues Thousands of commuters have been facing scarcity of public transports in the capital city due to the ongoing combined drive initiated on Monday by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Home Ministry and Road Transports and Bridges Ministry to check the viablity of vehicles and licenses of drivers.

On Tuesday, passengers were still struggling to catch buses or human haulers at various public transport stops.

At one point near the Engineering Institute of Dhaka, executive magistrate Tarique of Dhaka district filed some 16 cases and fined offenders Tk13,300.

Another mobile court led by magistrate Sarowar is conducting a drive in Jatrabari area of the capital.

Bijoy Bhushan Paul, BRTA director (enforcement), said as of Tuesday, the BRTA enforcement department had filed 2,249 cases, imposed fines of Tk16,71,410, sent 21 offenders to jail, and dumped 65 vehicles that were considered unfit, nationwide.

A mobile team is conducting another drive near Dhaka’s golf club area.

News: Desk

meanwhile ... | News

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You’re welcome

Photo of the week

How to apply for a Machine Readable Passport (MRP) 1. Deposit passport fees at an authorised government bank. Keep the deposit slip for reference.

2. Fill out the online application at passport. gov.bd and save your application.

Hijra Pride 2014: A rally of approximately 1000 members of the Hijra community gathered on Monday in front of the National Press Club, marking the one-year anniversary of legal recognition of the third gender. Simultaneous rallies were held in the 6 other divisions, drawing 200-400 participants across the country.

Photo: Mahmood Hossain Opu

Say what?

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PETA criticises man for being eaten alive by anaconda

TV show commissioned by the Discovery Channel, in which a man is apparently eaten by an anaconda, has been heavily criticised by animal rights supporters.

Eaten Alive, which airs in the US next month, features naturalist Paul

Rosolie donning a “snake-proof” suit and a secured rope, before being swallowed by a snake and pulled back out.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) accused Rosolie of “tormenting” the animal, and called the programme a “blatant publicity stunt.”

Rosolie approaches the anaconda in his snake-proof suit

On Twitter, supporters of the organisation dismissed the show as “unnecessary and cruel.”

In a statement, PETA said: “This blatant publicity stunt sounds far-fetched, but if the description is accurate, the snake was tormented and suffered for the sake of ratings – as animals usually do when they’re used for entertainment Shame on this pseudo ‘wildlife expert’ for tormenting this animal, and shame on the Discovery Channel for giving him the incentive to do so.”

The Discovery Channel has assured viewers that the stunt is not a hoax, and the snake survived.

Entertainment Weekly reports that Rosolie covered himself with pigs’ blood to encourage the snake to eat him, but both parties are not saying how much actually went down.

News: Desk.

Photo: Discovery Channel

3. After filling out the first page, you will get an email with your application ID and password. Keep these in a safe place for future print/view/modification of your application.

4. Upon completion, click the “submit” button. Check your information carefully as you will not be able to modify anything after submitting.

5. You will receive a copy of the completed form in pdf format. Print it out.

6. The system will assign you to your authorised regional passport office (in Dhaka, that’s Agargaon).

Your application remains valid for 15 days from submission, after which the system will automatically remove your record.

7. Report to the passport office for providing biometric data, along with a printout of the pdf and your application payment receipt. The form, photo and deposit slip must be attested by a first class gazetted officer.

8. At the end of this procedure, you will be given a date to collect your passport from the regional office.

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4 listology | bangla classic films

Dhallywood hitlist There is no arguing with the box office. These are the some of Dhallywood’s most unforgettable blockbusters.

Tausif Sanzum Beder Meye Josna (1991)

Keyamot Theke Keyamot (1994)

Directed by Motiur Rahman Panu, this was one of the first joint Indian-Bangladeshi coproductions. A girl belonging to the Bede community, which is known for their association with snakes, is the only one who can save a prince who is dying from a snake bite. Love blossoms between them, only to face opposition from the imposing king. This movie starring Chiranjeet and Anju Ghosh is a tribute to the bygone era of Dhallywood movies.

Directed by Sohanur Rahaman Sohan, the remake of the Aamir Khan Bollywood hit of the same name. broke all box office records in Bangladesh. It also gave the nation the “chocolate boy” Salman Shah, who still has a fan following

Dipu Number 2 (1996) Bangladesh’s answer to Tom Sawyer, this film is based on a novel by Bangladeshi children’s book writer Muhammed Zafar Iqbal. Directed by Morshedul Islam, it is a simple tale of family, friendship and love. Dipu is a teenager whose father’s government job requires him to travel all over the country.

After his latest transfer, Dipu finds himself again struggling to fit into his new school life. He makes new friends, particularly foe-turned-bestie Tarek, and they end up uncovering an antiques smuggling racket.

Bachelor (2004) The first movie to be directed

by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki was not only a blockbuster within the country, but was quite popular among Bangladeshis all over the world. Farooki created a group of characters that the youth of the country, particularly those living in urban areas, could relate to.

They went in droves to the theatres despite the movie having been simultaneously released on television and in cinemas. Though some argue that Farooki’s style of moviemaking corrupted the youth, it cannot

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 1 4 , 2014

18 years after his untimely death.

The story had all the ingredients of a blockbuster: a fresh romantic pairing between newcomer Salman Shah and girl-next-door Moushumi, two warring families and a heartwrenching climax. The song “O Amar Bondhu Goh” from the film continues to remain popular.

Golapi Ekhon Train-e (1978)

Shaat Bhai Chompa (1968)

If you have been to Ajo Cafe, you may have noticed a drink called “Golapi akhon glass-e.” The drink is named, of course, after the cult classic film starring the evergreen Bobita and Anwar Hossain, which won the National Award.

Over the years, the title of this movie has become a popular catchphrase, more popular in fact than its two sequels “Golapi Akhon Dhakay” and “Golapi Ekhon Bilatey,” the latter of which was by the same director Amjad Hussain, and starring Mithun Chakraborty and Moushumi.

Folklore has been popular movie inspiration around the world.

Based on a story from the Bangla folklore compilation Thakurmar Jhuli, a queen gives birth to octuplets and unleashes the envy of other queens, who bury seven of the infant princes. In the style of Snow White’s huntsman, a servant saves the eighth newborn, a girl, and sneaks her into the jungle for safety. The princess grows up as a commoner, and upon discovering her real identity, returns to her kingdom and avenges her brothers.

Amma Jaan (1988)

be denied that he was able to give new life to the faltering popularity of Dhallywood movies, particularly among young people.

This movie gives us a morality check, particularly now when there are so many cases of elderly abuse and controversies about retirement shelters. The late superstar Manna starred as the ideal son, whose only work in life was to fulfil all the wishes and dreams of his mother. The title track can be considered a national anthem dedicated to mothers.

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roots of bangla | origin story

5

Let’s talk Bangla

While tracing the roots of our mother tongue, we find ourselves entangled with people, place and time Tasnuva Amin Nova

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angla branched out from the eastern Indo-Aryan language nearly a thousand years ago.

In the early days of settlements, when humans first started migrating, there were fewer spoken languages. As our population increased, the human race became more diverse, and more languages continued to branch out from parent languages.

There are now somewhere between 3000-8000 languages spoken around the world.

Sanskritik

Bangla evolved – along with languages like Chittagonian and Assamese – from the Magadhi Prakrit, a declined vernacular of the ancient Vedic Sanskrit, back in 1000–1200 CE. Originating in the land of Bengal (which includes Bangladesh, West Bengal, and some parts of Assam and Tripura) – Bangla is ranked sixth in the list of most spoken languages in the world, with more than 220 million speakers.

“Bangla is a valley language in Bangladesh which never climbed up the mountains. People living in the hills have very different dialects from what you hear most Bangladeshis speak,” said Willem Van Schendel, professor of Modern Asian History at University of Amsterdam in an interview.

Migration influences evolution of languages. A group of people living in different conditions, eating different foods, and having neighbours different from another group elsewhere will develop different ways of expressing themselves.

“Settlements of people in different geographical areas gave birth to different dialects. Language is a very local thing,” Nayeema Sultana, assistant professor of Bangla in College of Development Alternative (CODA) told me in an interview.

Common ancestors

In a small country like Bangladesh the number of languages spoken by different groups of people is as many as 42.

Bangla is the language spoken by the majority of the population. Despite

having a common Indo-Aryan ancestor, languages such as Chittagonian and Bangla are quite distinct.

“Similar sounding words do not say much about the relationship between languages. The terms could be borrowed or have completely different roots,” said Nayeema.

For example, the word pao-ruti is derived from the Portuguese word for bread, pao. It was brought here by the Portuguese when they settled in the port city of Chittagong. This is just one of the many instances of how words migrate and integrate.

“Languages belonging to the same ancestor can be determined by studying grammar and syntax as well as basic vocabulary such as pronouns, numbers, or similar terms,” says Nayeema. She also suggests using systematic changes in phonetics as a reliable measure to construct family trees.

Loss and change

Languages are often lost with a decline in the population of the group that speaks it. According to a 1991 census, there were only 250 people who spoke the Mizo language in Rangamati with no current updates available. Losing a language endangers the traditions and culture of its speakers.

Bangla language is also losing alphabets as time progresses.

“It is done for the convenience of speakers. There are many alphabets in Bangla which are pure substitutes of each other,” says Nayeema. “In this day and age we have less time to do many things. Your language should be swift and accessible. Why keep two 'toh' (a Bangla alphabet) when one does the job?”

“But in trying to simplify our language, we are corrupting its purity.

People are developing new ways of talking. Many people, especially the younger generation, imitate Western accents to pronounce Bangla words.

Under such circumstances Bangla seems to be evolving into something different,” said Nayeema.

Learning Bangla

Hiroto Nakagawa, a Japanese citizen

Infograph: Tahsin Momin

studying in Bangladesh, has been taking Bangla language lessons at an institute in Banani. There he comes across many non-Bangla speakers who are also learning Bangla.

Five years ago when Hiroto came to Bangladesh for university admission, he only knew a few Bangla words that he had picked up from his attio-shojon (relatives) who are Bangladeshi.

“I have achieved conversational fluency in Bangla. I can read in Bangla a little, but I have difficulty writing Bangla alphabets,” said Hiroto. The words were in Bangla, but they were spoken in a sedate voice that belied

his Japanese origin.

Adopting the native language of a land is often more than a mere hobby for migrants like Hiroto living in foreign countries. He started to learn Bangla after feeling excluded and frustrated during social gatherings.

Language indeed is something local, which speaks volumes about the history of its speakers and their settlements.

The roots of Bangla language are dispersed among centuries, cultures, people and lands, which have lead to the creation of what and how we now speak.

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6 arts | dhamrai brass craftsman

The brassy arts of Dhamrai

One family keeps alive a precious metal crafting heritage Tausif Sanzum

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he Banik family owns the largest and oldest metal workshop in Dhamrai. On a recent visit, Sukanta Banik, the fifth generation member of his family to devote himself to this traditional artform, gave me an A-Z understanding of the Dhamrai metal craft industry of Bangladesh.

No easy task

The wide range of metal products manufactured here range from daily-use crockeries to intricate decorative statues.

There are four different methods of metal crafting: sand casting, hammering, clay casting and the lost-wax method.

Banik expresses pride in using the lost-wax method, which he believes sets apart the creations from his family's workshop compared to any other in the world.

The brass/bronze creations of Dhamrai are completely handmade and no machine is involved in any step of the entire process.

One-of-a-kind masterpieces

Even though the brass crockery can be made by amateur craftsmen, the creations of deities and other figures can be mastered only by master artisans.

“The aesthetics and beauty of the craft depends upon the calibre of the craftsmen involved.”

While there are brass/bronze replicas available elsewhere at cheaper prices produced for mass consumption, the wax moulds used in the lost-wax method is for one use only. Once they give shape to a product, they can never be used again. This means that each structure produced here is unique and different from one another.

“This makes it more expensive due to the huge cost incurred to pay the master craftsmen, as well as the one-time-use nature of the product as well as its exclusivity,” says Banik.

The need for revival

Sukanta Banik has been a pioneer in attempting to revive this traditional form of craftwork. “Though there are metal craft industries in other parts of the country, Dhamrai has always been the epicentre of metal crafting. But now the essence is lost.”

“The industry – mostly dominated by the Hindu community – saw a decline with the decrease in the Hindu population and also the rise of substitute products made of plastic and other relatively cheaper materials,” he said.

While once craftsmen could earn a decent living, times have now changed.

Photo: Philippe Mueller

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Photo: Amer Habib

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Photos: Philippe Mueller

The lost-wax method Banik offers his insights on the unique lost-wax method, in his own words below: Photo: Amer Habib

To make the entry into this field easier for the younger generation, they have apprentice programmes.

But the lack of income and work opportunities have led to a gradual decline in the number of skilled workers over the years, with only a handful now remaining.

Trying to reach the world

To add to the misery, Banik complains as to how the craft is failing to find patronage internationally due to the lack of support from the government.

He elaborates: “When a foreign patron orders a craft, there is a limited time they are willing to wait to receive it.”

The entire process of sending an artefact abroad is made difficult by the government and its excessive red tape. Apparently brass objects are sometimes used to smuggle illegal goods. By the time the item has gone through all the necessary permissions, the customer's interest in the product has often waned.

They drift instead to markets in India and other countries.

Banik has initiated a programme for the preservation of their craft. “We bring in interested students from various places and teach them the art of metal casting.

We also do skill exchange programmes, through which

craftsmen from India and Nepal come and share their expertise with us.”

They document various techniques employed in Dhamrai as well other parts of the world.

While the efforts carried out by Sukanta Banik has created a renewed interest in this dying craft among many buyers, particularly from abroad, it is evident that immense financial support and patronage is required to keep this work of art from becoming extinct. n

Wax, clay, jute straws, sand, paddy husk, bronze or brass are the main components involved.

• First a mixture of wax and paraffin is used to make a new wax like substance, which is special in that it neither completely melts nor solidifies.

• Then it falls upon the artisan to use his skills and carve out intricate designs on the wax structure.

After this, there is a long process involving various layers.

• First a layer of clay is put on the wax structure. Even this clay is special, as only the clay from the adjacent river bank is used. After collecting the clay from the river bank, it is mixed with water until the right consistency is achieved.

• Once the wax structure is covered with this clay, it is left to dry for three days.

• After it dries, a second layer of clay is plastered onto the structure. To make sure that this layer of clay is hard, it is mixed with sand and jute straw.

• Finally a third layer of clay, sand and paddy husk is put over the structure.

• Two wax pipes are added to the bottom of the mould to drain out the wax later on and to pour in the liquid metal.

The structure is then placed in special ovens capable of reaching extremely high temperatures.

• Under such high temperatures, the wax melts out through the holes made by the wax pipes, but by then the mould has taken the shape of the creation.

• Once this structure is taken out of the oven, molten metal is poured into the mould and left to solidify.

• Then the solidified shaped clay is meticulously carved to produce the most intricate of artefacts.

The entire process of turning paraffin wax to the most lavish of structures requires a long period of time, sometimes as long as nine months.

Photo: Philippe Mueller

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8 environment | Building green

Still greener on the other side Bangladesh’s green architecture movement leaves many disappointed Faisal Mahmud

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reen architecture has both aesthetic and economic appeal to buyers, as well as offering the satisfaction of being environmentally-friendly.

But some businesses just view it as a fashion statement.

Green architecture is meant to incorporate solar power and rainwater harvesting to reduce building operation costs, energy consumption and maintenance.

But in Bangladesh, some property owners are merely planting green trees on rooftops and balconies and calling it “green,” without truly understanding green principles.

Green disappointment

ABM Tazul Islam, former chief engineer of department of public works, lives in a green apartment complex in Uttara. “When I bought the apartment, the developers charged me more per square feet, as they termed the building green. I saw the building plan and found that it had large windows that allowed for lots of air and light,” he said.

“I was satisfied. However, three years ago new apartment buildings were constructed on both sides of my building. Now the large windows have no function as the space is blocked from both sides,” he said.

Tanvirul Haq Probal, managing director of Building For Future and former president of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), admits this is a problem, and that true concept of green architecture is barely practised in Bangladesh.

He believes rooftop solar panels are not always feasible in Bangladesh’s urban areas. “I personally oppose this as it eats up space. In an urban jungle, rooftops are a place for respite,” he said.

That’s rubbish,” he said.

“The real estate companies, which mostly construct residential buildings, seek to maximise profits.

So they don’t go for rain water harvesting and solar panels, as these would cost them extra money and extra space – space that they could sell instead,” Habib said.

Habib, a staunch green activist, mentioned that many companies violate RAJUK-approved plans by constructing buildings without maintaining the floor-to-area ratio.

“The supposed ‘green buildings’ of our country have not been certified by competent authorities as a recognised green structure. Rather, the builders self-advertise these as green,” he added.

Real deal

Cost-Effectiveness

Architect Iqbal Habib, managing director of Vitti Sthopoti Brinda, has a different view. “Roof space can be given to construct mobile towers, but it can’t be used to mount solar panels.

Photos: Grameen Phone

“The problem is that there is a great misconception regarding the cost effectiveness of the green design and construction,” said Sanwar A Sunny, founder and president of Bangladesh

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Green Building Council (BGBC).

The energy savings far outweigh the initial costs when green projects are done properly, Sunny said.

“My building was advertised as green,” said Nurul Islam, owner and resident at a posh apartment complex in Dhanmondi called Lavender. “Yes, we have lots of little green trees on the rooftop, but I am paying more than Tk15,000 per month on electricity bills and apartment service charges.”

“In a green building electricity bills are supposed to be lower, as far as I know, as they have the advantage of ample natural light and air. But I have to run air conditioners in every room and switch lights on even in the daytime,” said Nurul.

Often, developers think the high expenses arise from added technology, but the price is hiked when builders have to pay for certification as an internationally recognised green building.

LEED certification, which is designed by the US Green Building Council, is the most popular green building rating system, but also one of the most expensive.

“We are in the process of developing a green building rating

system in the context of Bangladesh,” he said.

Leading by example

Officials from the ministry of housing and public works hope to popularise the true green building concept by constructing a large-scale ecofriendly condominium with solar power panel installations and a rain water harvesting system.

In early March, ministry officials decided to build 33 buildings containing 52 apartments in Mirpur.

The proposed site covers 7.5 acres, and each 1,230sqft apartment will cost Tk48.89 lakh, a ministry official said, adding that the proposed Anandanagar Residential Apartment Project will be financed by the government’s national housing society.

The approved project has allocated Tk403.34 crore for its 33 buildings. The project’s engineering drawings will be completed by the public works department, and the detailed architectural design will be undertaken by the national housing society.

Leading by example is one way the government can promote green architecture. n

The runaway | Photo story

Joy, runaway son of the streets

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Counter Foto is one of the leading independent photography institutes in Bangladesh

Photos: Md Abu Sayed in partnership with Counter Foto

Turn for more photographs

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housands of runaway children live on the streets in Dhaka. Most are boys, 6 to 12 years old who fled homes filled with poverty, violence and turmoil.

Joy, 11, is one such runaway. He lives on the streets, and he is a fighter.

It all started when he was only five, a runaway from a troubled home. His father, Hashem Shordar, was a carpenter in Ashuganj and a drug addict. When Joy was

three, his mother abandoned his father for another man, and his aunt took him and his sister in. She was abusive, and became intolerable after his sister ran away.

Joy spends most of his time at the Tongi railway station.

A considerable number of homeless children live in railway stations, using the trains to roam the city and frequently change locations. They can also be found at bus terminals, launch terminals, junctions, and mazars.

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10 PHoto story | The runaway

Adopting to life: At Tongi railway station, Joy met luggage-bearer Songram, whose caring nature made him a father figure

New family: Joy has made his own new family with other runaways like himself,

Keeping his nose clean: While many of his peers are drawn to drug addictions like fume-sniffing and marijuana, gambling, or going to prostitutes, Joy manages to steer clear of bad influences and retain his innocence – so far

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Heroes: The children like to go to the movie

, and they stick together and scrounge for their meals

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Life in a bottle: Every morning, Joy and his pals get on the train to collect disposable and recycled plastic bottles from Dhaka Kamalapur railway station, which they sell to earn money for food

e theatre or park, but they are not always welcome, and get kicked out from many places

Freedom: Released from whatever haunted them at home, on the streets these boys develop a sense of selfsufficiency and free will, which help them navigate a dangerous and uncertain future

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12 digital bangladesh | the tech school

junior engineers

Engineering in the classroom is no child’s play – until it is Ishrat Jahan

I teach the kids to be a creator before being a consumer

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year and a half ago, a group of engineering students taught robotics classes for children of all ages in a rented room in Niketon. With seven students, a messy classroom and their idea – their classes took off.

They called their idea World’s Next Education System (WNES). The aim was to re-engineer the education system to rediscover creativity and freedom in learning, away from a system of rote memorisation.

A year later, WNES disintegrated, leaving behind Shams Jaber and Neloy Anik. Together, they founded The Tech School, and are currently training 15 students.

The Tech School

A GPS tracker built inside an ice-cream box one of the many surprises that lie around the classroom Photos: Shadman Hasan

The Tech School holds art and engineering classes in Niketon.

Along with Shams and Neloy, other board members devote most of their time to educating children. Luke Doyle and Kobir Uddin are part of the board. They have an organisation of their own named Caffe that educates underprivileged students through computers and tablets.

The Tech School also operates as a product-developing firm on the side.

They have worked on developing different applications and products for companies since February.

The latest in their bag is

Neloy (far right) laughs along with the students as they learn and play

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 1 4 , 2014

developing automated violins for the Bengal Foundation.

The playground curriculum

The core idea of The Tech School is to treat engineering as a subject to be imagined and created, not memorised.

“Even with a curriculum, our classroom resembles a playground.

We believe children learn better when they are on their own.”

Following a year of trial and error in their classroom, Shams and Neloy came up with a year-long curriculum for their current students. The curriculum is separated into three sessions throughout the year.

In the initial stage, a student is given the basic ABCs of programming and electrical sciences.

Next students themselves choose whether they want to concentrate on a particular section, ie programming or circuitry.

Finally they advance to applying their knowledge in a much more detail-oriented approach.

This primer can work for a child as young as 5, such as Uzair Hossain, who is currently studying at BIT in nursery. Since joining The Tech School, he has developed a surprising understanding of the programming and electronics world.

While other children his age are

learning to read, Uzair is learning how LED lights work, what positive and negative voltages do, and motor function according to the polarity of charge and how to manipulate very basic codes in the Arduino IDE to control RGB LEDs and normal LEDs. To him, the positive polarity signs in 4v batteries are like the symbol found on ambulances and LEDs are characters that can get hurt if you bend them too hard.

The sorcerers’ apprentices

After students complete their oneyear curriculum, they “graduate” and move on to become apprentices. As apprentices, they continue taking classes that are conducted like workshops.

They experiment and create through trial and error, sometimes with a little help from their teachers.

Many seem determined to do it all on their own.

So far they have two apprentices, Abrar and Safwan, aged 9 and 11, who are currently working on creating an automated electrical car.

Shams and Neloy work with the students exhaustively – giving each one particular attention and devoting their time to understanding how and where each child is special and creative.

Shams explains why: “In regular

Shams (far right) and his students work on coming up with a set of codes

13

Safwan takes his role as an apprentice seriously and explains circuitry to new students

schools you have a student teacher ratio of 1:20 or more. But we have a ratio of 1:2.”

Maintaining that ratio allows a teacher to learn a child’s interests and capacities and determine whether they will be comfortable with programming or circuitry.”

Meet the prodigies at TEDxDhaka These bright young minds are the opening speakers at TEDxDhaka on November 22.

At The Tech School, Safwan and Abrar have both learned to write code for line follower robots, gesture based appliance automation systems, GPS trackers, motion sensor security systems, gaming gadgets and code breakers.

The parent trap

But Shams and Neloy’s plans for the children have nothing to do with grades and certificates.

“We want them to learn – just learn. Be creative, make new things, and learn by trial and error on their own. Kids these days bargain their creativity and their playful nature for accomplishments.”

But parents want grades and certificates.

The education system has been mechanised to teach one generation after another that excelling in school and college is essential.

This has become the “parent mentality” - good grades, certificates and admission into an impressive college ensures a promising future.

Shams and Neloy’s idea challenges the “parent mentality.”

“A problem we faced previously as WNES was the fact that parents are unwilling to send their child to class that guarantees no form of tangible success. They need proof – certificates, success rates, etc.”

But fighting their logic would only result in the loss of their best assets – their students.

“Now we have learnt to strike a bargain. The prizes and recognition we have gained pacify the parents who would otherwise think our classes were a ‘waste of time.’”

Shams is hopeful that parents will warm up to the idea and the benefits the children receive. After all, the creative development and learning capacities is much more important than the certificates they may receive.

It is safe to say that the children who enroll for the long-term receive

Students are encouraged to experiment and the proof of it lies scattered across the class in a large pile of finished and unfinished experiments

much more than enhanced skills and creativity.

As they graduate into apprenticeship, the students work on developing products for companies along with their teachers. This gives them work experiences that most 9-year-olds don’t have.

New beginnings

In Ramaripara village, Muro residents have lived here for generations with virtually no connection to technology.

Free-flowing electricity is more common in stories told around a bonfire rather than in their daily lives.

Shams intends to change that soon.

He hiked through the hills and valleys of Bandarban to visit the government primary schools located around the communities. The students he met have no idea of technology and are not aware of the functions of a computer.

He thinks the glass is half full here.

“We have been taught to be technology consumers – not creators, and hence most of the children in urban localities will rather buy a computer than make one.

“To them that is an unnecessary ordeal. But here, I can teach the kids to be a creator before being a

Safwan Rahman, 11-yearsold

consumer. The fact that they have no knowledge of technology gives them the benefit of learning not just how to consume but how to create as well and this is an amazing prospect.

“A few months back, I was in the lookout for a remote area to go and teach about technology. I knew in the long run, it would enable massive innovation to emerge from that place.”

I posted about it on DSD (Facebook group), someone replied with Bandarban on my post. I checked out the place via the Internet and knew it was the right place. That man was Lt Wahid – he’s been a great help through my journey.”

When asked about how the communities are reacting to his “new” ideas, he said, “They absolutely love it! I was telling them how you can actually create electricity through the currents of water-falls. The idea was so mystifying to them that they wanted me to stay back and help them build that electrical connection.”

He intends to go there every month for a week and implement peer learning techniques to teach the students at the government school the in and outs of technology. n

“I like circuitry because I like creating new things.”

Safwan studies at Oxford International School, and specialises in circuits, mechanics and hardware development.

Before coming to The Tech School, Safwan’s favourite hobby had been to break toys in order to find out what’s inside and how they function.

Abrar Zawad, 9-years-old “I like art. Right now, I’m learning pottery.”

Abrar studies in Bangladesh International School and College. An apprentice, Abrar specialises in programming in the Arduino IDE (coding in electronics, mechatronics and robotics projects) and computer programming in Processing and Java at the Tech School.

He successfully created his own calculator.

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

14 Legalese | Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi

Divorce, Bangladeshi style

Q

I got Canadian immigration and brought my wife and my daughter over in 2011.

We were married in Dhaka in October 1987, but separated in 2006. In 2007, we were together but did not have any conjugal life. She does not behave well with any of my family members, particularly with my mother.

I sent her a separation letter from the Ward Commissioner of Comilla in 2013.

Now, my question is: Can I divorce her from Bangladesh, and what will be the divorce procedure?

A

Dear Reader: Thank you for writing in to me. Marital and family problems are probably the 2nd most common in the legal arena, following business and land disputes.

From the stated facts, I see that you got Canadian immigration. Here, the question of dual citizenship arises.

Whenever any Bangladeshi becomes an immigrant of any other country, his/her citizenship in Bangladesh becomes void. In such a situation, those who wish to also keep their Bangladeshi citizenship will have to apply for the dual citizenship certificate in Bangladesh.

It is not clear from the query what you actually mean by the “separation letter” that was sent from the Ward Commissioner of Comilla. The law relating to divorce in Bangladesh covers both Muslim sharia divorce (pronouncing the word “talaq”) and the registration of talaq with a kazi (Muslim marriage and talaq registrar).

Section 7 of the Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961 states about talaq: (1) Any man who wishes to divorce his wife shall, as soon as possible after the pronouncement of talaq in any form whatsoever, give the chairman notice in writing of his having done 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

so, and shall supply a copy thereof to the wife.

(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to Tk10,000 or with both.

(3) Save as provided in sub-section (5), a talaq, unless revoked earlier, expressly or otherwise, shall not be effective until the expiration of ninety days from the day on which notice under sub-section (1) is delivered to

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 1 4 , 2014

the chairman.

(4) Within thirty days of the receipt of notice under sub-section (1), the chairman shall constitute an arbitration council for the purposes of bringing about a reconciliation between the parties, and the arbitration council shall take all steps necessary to bring about such reconciliation.

(5) If the wife be pregnant at the time “talaq” is pronounced, talaq shall not be effective until the period mentioned in sub-section (3) or the

Got a problem?

Write to Jennifer at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

pregnancy, whichever be latter ends.

Again section 6 of the Marriages and Divorces (Registration) Act 1974 says about the registration of divorces: (1) A nikah registrar may register divorce effected under Muslim law within his jurisdiction on application being made to him for such registration.

(2) An application for registration of a divorce shall be made orally by the person or persons who has or have effected the divorce. Provided that if the women be a pardanashin, such application may be made by her duly authorised vakil (legal representative).

(3) The nikah registrar shall not register a divorce of the kind known as talaq-i-tafweez except on the production of document registered under the Registration Act, 1908, by which the husband delegated the power of divorce to the wife or of an attested copy of any entry in the register of marriages showing that such delegation has been made.

The supreme court of Bangladesh held that: “Talaq in any form shall not stand effective, and talaq shall not be talaq in the eye of law, unless provision contained in section 7(1) of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961 is sternly complied with …”

Therefore, if a notice was served and talaq was registered in accordance with law stated above, a legal divorce or talaq will be executed.

However, according to the facts outlined above, it appears that this has not been complied with.

Divorce proceedings usually require a minimum period of three months, so I would recommend that you commence proceedings immediately, owing to the implicit urgency in your query.

Please note Muslim divorce in Bangladesh does not require any court proceedings.

I hope this helps with your query.

Please do keep us updated.

.

customer service | business

15

At your service Domestic consumption is rising among Bangladeshi urbanites, but are companies prioritising satisfactory customer service?

Survey says:

The good

Tasnuva Amin Nova

“W

elcome to Poplar,” greets a group of smiling men in purple shirts and black aprons with a distinct musical tone, as you walk into the inviting dessert shop.

“Our servers are trained to greet everyone who arrives and departs our stores. This is a part of Taiwanese culture,” says Patty, who is the chef’s assistant at this Taiwanese franchise at Jamuna Future Park.

The first time I visited the mall’s food court, at Jamuna Future Park, I had wandered into this shop, curious about the wide range of breads I spotted through its glass walls. A server walked over and patiently walked me through their whole collection, describing details about every product on display.

He not only shared intricate details about preserving freshness of breads, but also surprised me with the accuracy with which he pronounced the names of breads, completely foreign to his Bangladeshi tongue.

Impressed by his knowledge about the products he serves – a rarity among servers in Dhaka – I asked if he was the chef, but he turned out to be just a regular server.

“Staff members working here are taught about the products so that they can help customers with purchasing decisions. Sometimes customers don’t know which product they want,” says Patty, who came from Taiwan almost a year ago.

Ready and waiting

As consumer confidence rises among Bangladeshis, there is reason to anticipate increased demand for higher standard services.

In fact, Bangladesh recorded the biggest increase in consumer confidence among countries in the Asia-Pacific, African, and MiddleEastern countries during the first half of this year, according to the

A waiter serving food to a customer at Poplar Photos: Muhit Hasan

MasterCard Worldwide Index of Consumer Confidence report released on October 14.

This means Bangladeshis are optimistic about the country’s economic outlook and are spending more.

Booming private schools and hospitals, new restaurants, beauty salons, shopping malls and art galleries in the city bear testimony to the growing demand.

But not all companies succeed in achieving customer satisfaction.

Especially in consumer markets, where options are becoming seemingly endless, companies need to do more than just supply the product.

With international chains entering the restaurant business in Bangladesh, with their strictly mandated standards, customer service seems to be improving in the food industry – yet consistency is rare.

Service with a frown

“I have been a loyal customer of King’s Confectionery for a long time.

The last time a bunch of friends and I were there to pick up some goodies, the lady at the cashier was inexcusably rude to us for asking her to bill each of our purchases separately,” posted Ahsan Sajid on FoodBank, a popular Facebook group.

Customer service experiences tend to vary.

“One day my friend and I were checking out the cosmetic section of Priyo. When we asked the sales person to show us a perfume, he nonchalantly blurted the price at us. We were casually dressed for which he made us feel that we could not afford it. Moments later, when an extravagantly dressed customer walked in, the salesman snapped to attention, leaving us unattended,” says Farina Noireet.

While some businesses display

subtle problems like bias for one customer over another, others can be blatantly rude.

“I am never going back to Ban Thai. A hairstylist there once told my aunt that she has too much fat on her shoulders, so she cannot get a haircut,” says Noushin Parvez.

Leave a good impression

There are many options available to customers these days. Providing uncompromising customer service simply makes good business sense.

The reason I remember my first visit to Poplar is because of the way they made me feel.

“We don’t give our customers the chance to say: ‘Excuse me.’

That means that we are not paying enough attention to them. We are expected to respond instantaneously to our customers’ needs,” says Patty.

Sustaining the quality of service is a continuous challenge that companies need to attend to as business expands with time.

As I left the glasshouse of baked goodies, the friendly voices at the back sang out: “Thank you for coming.”

.

One of the best services I like about many Bangladeshi restaurants is the interactive communication between waiters and customers. The most important part of a restaurant, apart from food quality, is the customer experience through the waiters.

Their attitude, behaviour and manners make a difference.

Tahsin Mahmud

The bad

I went to an iCenter once with my grandfather because he was having trouble with the iPad my aunt gave him. The guy was majorly rude, didn’t respond to my questions properly and at the end said: “If you can’t use it, why bother spending so much money to buy it?” It wasn’t even a huge problem. Just the connection was a bit wonky.

Adiba Hossain

The ugly

One day in Banani, I went into a particular restaurant and ordered coffee. After 10 minutes, I went up to the counter, and they said they had served my coffee to another customer.

I was offended, and the waiter said: “So what if I gave it to another customer. Who are you to tell me what to do?” I asked why he was being so rude, and he brusquely replied: “I will behave in any way I like.”

Nafis Imtiaz Rahman

7 essentials of service Expert advice from the customer relationship management industry.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Customer is king: The customer pays your salary and makes your job possible. Listen to your customer patiently and attend to their needs.

Identify and anticipate needs: Customers don’t just buy goods or services. They buy experiences. Make it worthwhile for them.

Help customers understand your systems: All customers aren’t alike, so be patient with those who aren’t accustomed to your business practices.

Be courteous: If someone is telling you about their grandson’s inability to appreciate good art, be patient and make them feel important.

A little apology goes a long way: You will not always get everything right, nor will the customers. Whatever happens, be the first one to apologise and make your customers feel comfortable.

Give more than expected: Do something unexpected and unique. Follow up with your customers and thank them even when they don’t buy anything.

Treat employees well: Your employees are on the frontline while transacting with customers. Appreciate them when appropriate and make them feel important. They will reciprocate by making your customers feel the same.

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

16 interview | md abdullah: hip-hopper

Inside Deshi hip-hop

The old-school genre is gaining traction among teenagers in Bangladesh Mark S Baidya How did you get started in hip-hop?

I had started for fun, back in 2003, when I would imitate my favourite rappers.

Then I came across underground hip-hop in 2005. I could relate to it, and I found my voice. This was my motivation to start writing. By 2007, I started performing in Canada with a friend who is a DJ and owns an online music platform.

I put out a compilation record in 2012 and it got 3000 downloads. I like to talk about stuff that’s going on and I don’t really talk about myself (unlike certain artists).

T

Photos: Courtesy

he early history of hip-hop music was not written with corporate interests in mind, Rather, the genre was largely ignored by major record companies.

In Bangladesh, hip-hop first took root during the early 2000s, following the introduction of satellite cable TV and the distribution of popular hip-hop music via pirated CD shops.

Hip-hop in Bangladesh is slowly maturing, with dedicated artists and the infant producers emerging in the scene.

“We now have a dedicated hip-hop label, Wreck Records, which is a sub-label under Incursion Music,” Muhammed Abdullah, artist and owner of Wreck Records, tells me.

Here is the rest of our conversation:

Do you think hip-hop can become a true medium of expression in Bangladesh?

Yes. However, the new bills the government passed on the media is scary, because now even songwriters cannot express themselves without fearing the barriers imposed by authorities.

This means, you could be tried for treason for speaking your mind. This will affect hip-hop artists negatively.

Is hip-hop more effective as an underground genre?

As an artist I feel that way, but as an entrepreneur, I’m not so sure.

Online social networks such as Myspace and Facebook played a heavy role in bringing various underground Bangladeshi rappers together in sharing their music. Now there are numerous rappers and hiphop crews in Bangladesh.

I am coming across young artists.

How is the local hip-hop scene today?

There is an established scene, but it consists only of one or two guys.

Rapping in Bangla takes a particular skill as Bangla is a “classy” language.

I have had several MCs and producers approach me. There is interest, but I just tell them we need to build much before we reap the harvest.

We have yet to build our base. The active audience is too young and does not have much money to spend on recordings and such.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 1 4 , 2014

For example, one is still in high school, and he has true stories behind every song.

The hip-hop circuit’s demographic majority is 16 to 17-year-olds. They may buy a lot of crap but they do sustain our infant hip-hop scene with their funds.

3 beat boxes. It is very raw and feels like a very well kept secret.

Hip-hop enthusiasts are still unsure whether people will accept it, and do not spend their energy on recordings. They do not have the right motivation or space to meet their potential.

Can hip-hop musicians support themselves with their art?

Revenue is generally earned through live performances, but shows are not happening enough.

Even established artists don’t make money off of selling CDs any more. The label will spend money on distribution, but not on recording studio bookings. This causes many people to give up even before they begin.

On average, it takes Tk5,000-6,000 per track. A 12-track album could costs around Tk90,000. These artists do not have that kind of money.

How do you feel about the word ‘fusion’?

I feel we shouldn’t do fusion for a while. Fusion takes away from the essence of your craft. Hip-hop should come raw first.

We have not paid enough dues to hip-hop yet. Then when the art is mature, then fusion becomes a natural succession.

Is there a hub?

There is a hub and there are two sides now. It’s almost like an “east coast” and “west coast” thing in Dhaka, like in the US. There is the scene of Run Bangladeshi Hip-hop Generation (Run BHG).

Street hip-hop events are happening every 2-3 months in say, Dhanmondi, where kids come in and bust a rhyme, and pull off bike stunts (laughs).

Beat boxing is also big in Bangladesh. Many people do not know that. It is respected on a higher level than before. Every crew has 2 or

What is the biggest challenge for hiphop, on an artistic level?

Industry politics and lack of professionalism from peers. If you are committed to something, you should be committed all the way.

Bad hip-hop can survive without rap music, but rap music cannot survive without hip-hop. Hip-hop needs to be redeemed from the way it is being portrayed now.

What’s next for you?

I look forward to performance poetry at the Hay Festival end of this year.

I feel as if I have paid my dues and earned respect from fellow hip-hop fans.

Peace Love Unity and having fun – this is what rap music should be about, nothing else. Rap music cannot be a way to sell advertisements. n

Being lesbian in Bangladesh | Social construct

17

QUEER QUANDARIES With only 170 women ‘out,’ lesbians in Bangladesh are still searching for a platform and for each other Sabrina Toppa

“I

s there something you want to tell us?” her parents asked upon discovering a diary detailing her romantic experiments with another young woman.

The distressed parents offered Ayesha, then 15, an exit strategy – they promised to forget their daughter was attracted to women if she reassured them that the story was fictitious. “If there is something, know it is a mental disorder and we can get you help.”

Official stance

The Bangladeshi government does not collect statistics on the number of lesbian women in the country, but according to Bangladesh’s LGBTQ activists, the figure is approximately 170 – a number thought to be grossly under-reported because of the difficulties organising a safe space for lesbians.

According to a 2007 Pew Global Attitudes survey, 84% of Bangladeshis believe society should reject homosexuality. Same-sex attraction, termed “shomokami,” remains subterranean and misunderstood, with many Bangladeshis denying its existence outright or prescribing psychiatric treatment as a panacea.

Same-sex female couples rarely enter the public discourse in Bangladesh, but in 2013, a high-profile case featuring a lesbian couple roiled the country. Life imprisonment sentences were threatened when

21-old Muslim Sanjida Akter married 16-year-old Hindu Shibronty Roy Puja.

Bangladesh does not recognise same-sex relationships in law, and inherited the British empire’s Section 377 sodomy laws outlawing homosexual acts between men. For women, the laws remain ambiguous, and largely irrelevant: “Section 377 is an archaic law that has no application to my life and has never been used in Bangladesh,” says Mona, a lesbian living in Dhaka.

Gender matters

According to Ayesha, lesbian and bisexual women suffer from a gamut of issues afflicting the wider female population: street harassment, eveteasing, and wage gaps.

To be a lesbian in Bangladesh means first contending with the overarching challenge of being female.

Attitudes toward lesbian pairings attracts mixed responses in the country. With weariness, Ayesha recalls schoolmates contemptuously turning up their noses at the lesbian label and responding: “Yuck.”

However, she notes that publicly identifying as lesbian does not undercut her female identity in the way that the word “gay,” when employed as a slur, attempts to emasculate men.

“When a Bangali man is gay, people look at him like he’s not a man, so they take his masculinity away from him. For women, being

lesbian doesn’t take away our feminine identity.”

Marriage imperative

One of the foremost challenges lesbians contend with is the pressure to marry. Ayesha says by age 26, most parents expect daughters to be married. Her own parents have couched the marriage imperative in cultural terms. Despite being the youngest child, her adolescence was filled with parents nagging her with: “You have to marry. You’re Bangali.”

When 74% of Bangladeshi women aged 20-49 are married, it can be an isolating experience for lesbians to know their love will never follow a legally-sanctioned route to marriage.

Shirin, a lesbian in her 50s, already knows marriage is an imperfect solution. Thanks to family pressures, she married a man who she later divorced.

But not all of Bangladesh’s lesbian women encounter the mandate to marry. “I might sound very naive, but I’m very sure that I am not going to marry a man, no matter what happens,” says Mona, whose parents give primacy to her education. Mona herself has devised a pragmatic solution: Go overseas for study.

Support abroad

Most of Bangladesh’s self-identified lesbians aim to tread this route, highlighting the benefit of leaving behind a homophobic and conservative milieu.

“Most of my lesbian friends have gone overseas,” Shirin says. “They are all in Canada or the United States.”

Ayesha too says she will not capitulate to the pressure to marry, divulging that Bangladesh’s attitudes toward homosexual relations have catalysed her dreams to move overseas.

Without a support network in Bangladesh, Ayesha feels the only recourse left is to create her support group elsewhere. “I will may be go to Canada – anywhere to get away from the pressure of marriage and finding a boyfriend. My parents actually bug me about not having a boyfriend.”

Long road forward

Right now, the movement to organise Bangladesh’s lesbians remains in its infancy. Most members are still struggling to locate one another, and identify a safe place to meet.

Unlike the gay community – which has the Boys of Bangladesh NGO, Roopban magazine and a thriving digital presence – lesbians are still seeking the initial tools to build their own platform.

And the first task remains as elusive and challenging as ever: Opening up.

.

Note: The names of all interviewees have been changed to protect their privacy.

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

18 stay in

Mini cryptics Clues

ACROSS

1 Opening confused cat between hotels (5) 5 Employ American energy (3) 6 Near to the first darkness (5) 8 Say yes to rage about last of pie (5) 10 Sounds like a lion not ready to eat (3) 11 Beer makes stately return (5)

DOWN 1 2 3 4 7 8 9

Eager about a country (7) Pull stomach up (3) House of chutney (3) Ever confused about hesitant painter (7) Take more than your share of animal (3) For making holes in bad law (3) Material for jazz tune (3)

Solved it?

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

Last week’s solutions

best of Humayun Ahmed Farhana Urmee

I

n memory of Humayan Ahmed’s 66th birth anniversary on Thursday, we bring you some of the most well-known films that were both written and directed by the multitalented man himself.

Ghetu Putro Komola (2012)

Ghetu Putro Komola (Pleasure Boy Komola) is Humayun Ahmed’s last film.

The musical sets its story 150 years ago in the haor area of Habiganj.

Against the backdrop of a quaint village surrounded by the brimming waters of the haor, Ahmed interweaves the story with folk songs that evolved from the eastern part of the country.

The story is about a poor boy who sings and dances for a troupe, which is called in by a zamindar for recreation during the water logging season around his land. The “pleasure boy’s” sacrifice of innocence to the greed and desire of the landlord is fascinatingly depicted in the film.

The landlord’s wife’s need to save her marriage and secure her position eventually leads her to plot the boy’s

S

u

d

death. Under her orders, she has one of her servants kill him.

The pain of the boy’s father (also leader of the troupe), the helplessness of his mother and sympathy of a painter living in the palace – all add to this eloquently woven tragedy by Ahmed.

Aguner Poroshmoni (1994)

Noy Nombor Bipod Shonket (2006)

This film is about a man who lives alone in a village after marrying off his

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

Last week’s crib sheet 1 Across: Take the “first” letters of “West Ham” = WH, add “beer” = ale, and the whole thing is “a large one” = WHALE 5 Across: There are many words for “finish,” but only one that appears “in blender” = END 6 Across: We know it’s a “month.” “Public relations” = PR and “ill” is close enough to IL = APRIL 8 Across: Of all the birds you know, the one with a “brave soul” HERO is = HERON 10 Across: “Primarily” tell us to take the first letters of “emergency room action” = ERA, which is also a measure of “time” 11 Across: “Label” = TAB, and “the French” = LE. Put it all together like IKEA “furniture” = TABLE 1 Down: Admittedly the “sport grasps” connection was unclear to us, but using the W, A, E, from the across clues, we deduced that “climactic conditions” = WEATHER 2 Down: “A blonde” is unfairly stereotyped as an airhead, and having “lost head” it just = AIR, another word for “song” 3 Down: Unlike the French, “the Spanish = EL, and we know from Einstein’s theory that “energy” = E, adding up to the “fish” = EEL 4 Down: The Roman number for “five” = V, in “a foxtrot” = A-DANCE, and it will “come forward” = ADVANCE 7 Down: “Of biker origin” suggests the word sits in “bike,” and Eisenhower was a “US President” popularly known as IKE 8 Down: “Laugh” = HA, At = AT, and before it was a kind of cricketer, “bowler” was a kind of = HAT 9 Down: RIB can be both “tease” as a verb and “bone” and a noun.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 1 4 , 2014

two daughters.

Rahmat is a well-off man who wants his daughters to visit him, but he was unable to meet them while he was alive.

His family gathers in the village after receiving a phone call with news of Rahmat’s sudden departure.

Humayun wrote all the songs for the film soundtrack, except for one song by Tagore. He worked with music director SI Tutul.

Last week’s sudoku solutions

This national award winning film is based on his novel of the same name.

The film is set during the Liberation War. Freedom fighter Badiul Alam plans guerilla operations in Dhaka. He takes shelter during the curfew in Matin’s house. Matin is a middleaged man who lives with his wife and two daughters.

The story spins around the barbarism of occupational Pakistani army and the struggles of middle class people during the war, beautifully depicting the tensions and uncertainties among people living in a time of such crisis.

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Go out

19

Weekly Planner Nov 14 Music | The Underground Fest - Level 4 When 11am-8pm Where Royal Cuisine, House 32/D/E, Road 3, Sector 3, Uttara What Festivity presents showcase of bands including: De-Illumination, Self-Potrait, Utshorgo, Revolutus, Necromancer, The Arch, Active Rockers, Dome, Corrupt Theory, Odyssey, Megawar and Milfson Cookies.

Tickets are available at Tk200 at the venue. For further details call 01745131400

Nov 15 Painting | Life is Here by Kanak Chanpa Chakma When 6pm-8pm Where Bengal Art Lounge, 60 Gulshan Avenue, Road 131, Gulshan What The opening ceremony of “Life is Here,” a solo exhibition of paintings by Kanak Chanpa Chakma, will run through December 6.

Nov 20 Business | PapAsia Expo & Conference Dhaka Bangladesh When 10am Where Bashundhara Convention Centre, Block C, Bashundhara R/A What PAPASIA is Asia’s only dedicated expo and conference for pulp, paper, packaging, printing and converting industries where buyers and sellers will congregate to explore the opportunities wrapped in the Asian paper and pulp industries.

Send your events to weekend@dhakatribune.com

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Dance | Nupur Beje Jai When 6:30pm Where Chhayanaut Songit Biddayaton, House 72, Road 15A, Dhanmondi What Shadhona presents Bichitro Bangladesh, the 36th episode of the

Music | Friday Blues with The Blues Brothers When Nov 14, 9:30-11:30pm Where The Farmers’ Market, 76/2, Road 127, Gulshan 1 The Blues Brothers offers a mix of some classic selections of jazz, blues, soul, as well as easy listening numbers from the 60s to 90s featuring: John Lennon, Tracy Chapman, Fleetwood Mac, Otis Redding, Norah Jones, The Mammas and the Papas, Bob Dylan, Edie Brickell.

No ticket is required for the show.

dance series Nupur Beje Jai, which showcases the dances of the ethnic minority groups of Bangladesh such as: Santhal dance from Rajshahi, Dhamail from Sunamganj, Garo dance from Mymensingh and the dance of the Tripura community.

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Literature | Hay Festival Dhaka

Photography | 2nd Anniversary of Counter Foto When Nov 21-23, 10am-8:30pm Where Counter Foto, Uttara

When Nov 20-22, 10am-8pm Where Bangla Academy

Day 1: Mirpur Campus 10am-5pm: Photography book show 5-6pm: Portfolio of Counter Foto students 6-7pm: Lecture by Salim Reza Newton, Rajshahi University 7-8pm: Wall painting and candle lighting in memory of Azizur Rahim Peu

There is a set menu dinner ranging from Tk350-750 per person.

Call 01678795405 for reservations.

When Nov 20, 8am-7pm Where Volunteer for Bangladesh, Sadek Khan Road, Rayer Bazar

the street children will be taken to a local amusement park.

Those who are interested can come to the VBD office with 2 copies of their passport photo, Tk250 as registration fee and a valid photo ID to register.

For further details call 01674314359 or 01750931944.

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Cause | Universal Children’s Day, UCD 2014

From November 1020, the “yellow army” is spreading over almost half of Bangladesh.

With more than 10,000 of its volunteers across the country, Volunteer for Bangladesh (VBD) spreads the message of education and the roles of responsible citizens.

With the theme “Invest in Education,” this volunteer platform of JAAGO Foundation will once again – take the place of street children for a day – approaching commuters on the road with their message. Meanwhile,

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Creative thinkers and litterateurs from around the world will be speaking at the festival, including: Maria Chaudhuri, Aamer Hussein, William Dalrymple, Jung Chang, Kosal Khiev, Salil Tripathi, Manju Kapur, Mirza Waheed, Rana Dasgupta, Gideon Haigh and Shashi Tharoor.

Hay will highlight interactive panel discussions, book launches, creative sessions for children, poetry performances, medleys of Shakespearean plays in translation and unplugged Bengali rap.

Day 2: Mirpur & Uttara campuses 10am-5pm: Photography books of 2014, curated by Manik Katyal (Mirpur) 10am-2pm: Portfolio review by Manik Katyal (Uttara) 3-5pm: Workshop conducted by Manik Katyal Day 3: RC Mojumder Auditorium, Dhaka University 5:30-8:30pm: Award ceremony and lectures: Shuvendu Chatterjee on “History of Indian photography,” Saiful Huq Omi on “The contemporary photographic practice of young Bangladeshi photographers,” Anu Mohammad on “Politics of Empire and Corporate Media,” and lecture by lifetime achievement award winner Abdul Hamid Raihan.

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

20 profile | rp shaha

Ranada, philanthropist Remembering Ranada Prashad Shaha on his 118th birth anniversary, the man with great wealth and an even bigger heart, who gave away his belongings for the welfare of the underprivileged Farhana Urmee Timeline: • November 15, 1896: Born to Debendranath Kumar Saha and Kumudini Saha • 1913: Imprisoned as a political suspect

Realising a dream

• April 1, 1915: Joined 16 Rajput regiment

• 1942: Founded Debendra College, named for his father, in Manikganj • 1943: Established Kumudini College in Tangail

• 1943: Opened a 20-bed outdoor dispensary named Shova Sundari in Mirzapur, Tangail, • 1944: Dispensary turned into Kumudini Hospital

• 1944: Awarded the title Ray Bahadur by British government

• 1945: Founded the residential school for women Bharateswari Homes, named for his grandmother, in Tangail

A

s a seven-year-old boy, Ranada Prasad Shaha witnessed his mother Kumudini die from a tetanus infection due to the lack of access to proper medical treatment.

He never forgot it, and decided to turn that pain into power.

He started his own business, and began to use his earnings for the benefit of his village community by establishing schools, colleges and a charitable hospital.

When he was 42, he founded Kumudini Hospital, in his own village of Mirzapur in Tangail, where thousands of people go seeking medical service for free, or at a much lower cost than other healthcare centres.

Ranada also made significant contributions to education in Bangladesh, especially for women.

Through his lifelong philanthropic work, Ranada set an example for all to love others as he did – irrespective of race, religion or class.

Ranada was abducted by the occupational Pakistani army on May 7, 1971, along with his son. They were never seen again.

• 1947: Founded Kumudini Welfare Trust, under which he put all his companies

he took shelter with a relative, and his struggles started with the job of an assistant at a local sweetmeat shop. He also worked as a train ticket collector.

At 18 he joined World War I, he was part of the Bengal Ambulance Corps, a floating hospital that operated in the Shatil-Arab River region of Mesopotamia, but was later shut down due to adverse weather conditions. For his demonstrated courage he was given greater responsibilities in the battalion.

While still a soldier, his work took him to Karachi and England.

The philanthropist was also a true volunteer. In 1916, a fire broke out in a hospital where he saved a patient who was trapped inside. He achieved a gallantry award for saving a soldier from fire while he was in the British Army.

Enterprising figure

He eventually lost his militery job in 1932, but the hardworking Ranada soon started his own thriving business ventures in salt, coal and leather. He eventually bought a ship, power houses and a company making jute bales.

The hospital, which originally started as a dispensary, is now a 750-bed hospital, run by the Kumudini Welfare Trust (KWT).

A man with foresight and attention to detail, Ranada ensured a clean and safe environment for his hospital and girls’ school by bringing a group of cleaners from India, who were given a place to live on the property with their families.

Beyond the dispensary and charitable hospital, he also dreamed of a medical college for women that would produce quality doctors who would eventually serve the poor. In 2001, KWT fulfilled this dream and founded Kumudini Medical College, a residential women’s medical college.

The trust also founded a private university to uphold Ranada’s ambition to spread education.

RP Shaha will always be remembered as a person who always prioritised the welfare of the underprivileged over everything else. Through his contributions, he made it possible for students from low-earning families to continue their studies, and achieve great things of their own. n

Did you know:

• He was in close contact with national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam during World War I • He refused the award of Helal-E-Khetab from Pakistan government, in protest of the killing of his people during the mass upsurge of 1969 • An avid lover of the arts and cultural activities, he also took part in plays performed at the theatre in Mirzapur called Ananda Niketan

Man of the world

Ranada fled to Kolkata at age 16, searching for opportunity. In Kolkata,

During the famine in 1943-44, he ran at least 275 gruel houses for eight months that fed poor and hungry people affected by the famine.

At work at Kumidini Hospital

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, NOVE M B E R 1 4 , 2014

Photos: Courtesy