Weekend Tribune Vol 2 Issue 44

Dhaka Tribune | vo l 2 I ssu e 44 | F R I D AY, M arch 20, 2015

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Joy Bangla concert

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The Govt and the CHT

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KG Mostafa

CONTENTS

1

Volume 2 | Issue 44 | March 20, 2015 News 2 News 3 Meanwhile

Features

Editor Zafar Sobhan Features Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Asst Magazine Editor Farina Noireet Weekend Tribune Team Farhana Urmee Faisal Mahmud Tausif Sanzum Sakib Mridha

4 Event Joy Bangla concert

6 Feature

8 Origin Story Old Dhaka 12 Post-Riposte The Govt and the CHT 14 Feature The rock and the hard place 15 Feature Bangladesh Meteorological

Empowering women

Department

20 Interview KG Mostafa

Regulars

Contributors N Anita Amreen Tanusree Ghosh Shehzaad Shams Sakib Sarkar Yamin Khan Graphics Md Mahbub Alam Tahsin Momin Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Advertisement Zia Ur Rahman Production Masum Billah Circulation Masud Kabir Pavel Website dhakatribune.com/weekend facebook.com/WeekendTrib Email your letters to: weekend@dhakatribune.com

16 Tough Love 17 Legalese 18 Stay In 19 Go Out

9 Photo story

About the cover

Multiculturalism in Bangladesh

Editor’s note Dear Readers, The upcoming week seems to be a significant one around the world.

Tomorrow is the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day, and this gives us the perfect reason to discuss racism within our own borders.

Start off with a debate on the CHT situation, and refresh your palate with a beautiful photo story on the many faces that make up the canvas of our people.

Also coming up is World Meteorological Day on March 23.

We have a small piece on the life of

weathermen to commemorate.

With our Independence Day right around the corner, we also look back at the recently staged Joy Bangla concert, to hear from some of those who attended. While we’re looking back, might as well zip through the history of our beloved capital city.

Here’s hoping the week ahead for you is a good one.

-Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

A post-box near Tagore's Kuthibari in Potishor, Naogaon.

Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

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2 News | This week

The world at a glance Weekend Tribune Desk Syria claims downing of US drone

Syria’s military shot down a US drone over the coastal province of Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar alAssad, state media said on Tuesday.

The US military confirmed that it had lost communication with an unarmed Predator drone over northwest Syria on Tuesday and was looking into the claims it was brought down.

If confirmed, it would be the first time that Syrian forces have attacked a US aircraft since the coalition fighting the Islamic State began raids against the jihadist group in Syria in September.

The claim came as activists said Syrian regime forces had carried out an attack using chlorine gas that killed six people, including three children.

Syrian state news agency SANA reported the apparent downing of a US drone in a breaking news alert.

“Syrian air defences brought down a hostile US surveillance aircraft over north Latakia,” it said, without providing further details.

Photo: Reuters

Ex-Singapore leader Lee Kuan Yew’s health deteriorates

The health of Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore, has deteriorated further and he remains critically ill in intensive care, the prime minister’s office said on Wednesday.

Singapore’s first prime minister Lee, 91, has been in hospital with severe pneumonia since Feb. 5.

“Lee Kuan Yew remains critically

ill in the ICU and has deteriorated further,” the government statement said, without giving further details.

The update follows Tuesday’s announcement that Lee’s health had worsened due to an infection.

Lee, an iconic political figure in Asia, is widely credited with transforming Singapore from a mosquito-infested swamp under British colonial rule to a financial powerhouse with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

Although he has receded from the public and political scene, his health is watched closely as he is still seen as an influential figure for the current government. His son Lee Hsien Loong is the country’s current prime minister.

Photo: Reuters

Lawyer for Pakistan doctor who helped CIA find bin Laden shot dead A Pakistani lawyer under death threats for defending a doctor who helped CIA agents hunt al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was shot dead on Tuesday, police said, and two militant groups claimed responsibility.

Samiullah Afridi represented Dr Shakil Afridi, who was jailed in 2012 for 33 years for running a fake vaccination campaign believed to have helped the U.S. intelligence agency track down bin Laden. That sentence was overturned in 2013 and the doctor is now in jail awaiting a

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new trial.

Samiullah Afridi was shot dead on Tuesday as he was returning to his home in the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said. According to media, he had recently returned there from abroad after leaving Pakistan for his safety.

“He was returning home when armed men opened fire. He died on the spot,” police official Jamal Hussain said.

A hospital spokesman added that Samiullah Afridi was shot twice, in the abdomen and the neck.

Russian says Chinese, North Korean leaders to attend WWII anniversary in Moscow Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will attend celebrations in Moscow to commemorate the end of World War Two. Lavrov said the heads of 26 countries have confirmed their attendance at the May 9 celebrations which mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.

North Korea and Russia have grown closer recently as relations between the North and its traditional ally, China, have cooled.

This month, North Korea and Russia declared 2015 to be a “year of friendship” between the two countries.

Russia has also expressed eagerness to broaden economic ties with neighboring China.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency cited Russian media as saying that among the 26 countries attending would be Vietnam, Greece, Israel, Egypt, and the Netherlands.

Photo: Reuters

Vanuatu avoids big casualties with shelter and early warning When Cyclone Pam ripped across the tiny South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, there were fears its monstrous winds could kill thousands. But as aid workers finally reached the archipelago’s hardhit outer islands on Wednesday, it appeared that residents’ familiarity with disasters and careful planning had spared the lives of most.

The scale of the devastation was just beginning to emerge as relief workers rushed to deliver food and water to the archipelago’s outer islands, which bore the full fury of the storm that struck Saturday with winds of 270 kilometers (168 miles) per hour. Yet despite finding scores of flattened villages, the death toll in the

nation of 267,000 people stood at 11.

Many locals took shelter in larger buildings such as schools and churches — a practice that relief groups have impressed upon Vanuatuans as a life-saving measure during storms.

Vanuatu is frequently battered by cyclones in the southern hemisphere’s summer months and lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where earthquakes and volcanic activities are common — and residents have set up buildings designated as evacuation centers.

“A lot of people did evacuate,” said Hanna Butler, an aid worker with the Red Cross in Vanuatu. “Here in the Pacific, we know that disasters happen every year at this time.”

Eight indicted in blogger Rajeeb murder case A Dhaka court has framed charges against eight accused in blogger Ahmed Rajeeb Haider murder case.

They are-- Chief of Islamist outfit Ansar Ullah Bangla Team Mufti Jasimuddin Rahmania, North South University students Faisal Bin Nayeem alias Dwip, Maksudul Hasan alias Anik, Mohammad Ehsan Reza alias Rumman, Nayeem Sikder alias Irad, Nafiz Imtiaz, Salman Yasir Mahmud and Redwanul Azad alias Rana.

Judge Ruhul Amin of Dhaka’s Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court passed the indictment order on Tuesday morning.

The court also fixed April 21 for recording the deposition of the witnesses.

The Detective Branch of Police submitted the charge sheet against the eight persons on January 28 last year.

Rajeeb, known as Thaba Baba in the blogging community, was hacked to death on February 15, 2013 near his Pallabi home, only 10 days into the historic movement at Shahbagh demanding the death penalty for the 1971 war criminals and a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and its student body Islami Chhatra Shibir.

Rajeeb was an active member of the Shahbagh movement, and was vocal on Facebook and blogged against Jamaat-Shibir and their institutions, including Islami Bank.

A day after the murder, the victim’s father Nazim Uddin filed a murder case with Pallabi police station.

After two weeks of filing the case, the police arrested five NSU students.

However, none of them took part in the killing mission directly, the investigator said in his report.

News: Dhaka Tribune

meanwhile ... | News

3

Say what?

Photo of the week

Cocaine dealers caught after buying 12 food blenders at once from the same supermarket

“What we are eating?” The buying/selling of used oil from a CP chicken outlet near Dhanmondi road 31 Photo: Sakib Mridha

You’re welcome

Party Perfect 3 quick and easy vinaigrette recipes Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

As we become more health-conscious, salads start to take prominence in our everyday menus. But if you’re not careful, you might end up gaining weight instead of losing it. A lot of fancy salad dressings, particularly mayonnaise-based ones can be just as fattening taken in large amounts as the biriyani you’ve chosen to forgo.

Here’s a possible solution to help you eat healthy and still enjoy your salads: vinegar dressing. And to help you along, here are three quick and easy vinaigrette recipes to keep your salads tasting tangy and delicious:

Ooh la la

Combine ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, ¼ tsp paprika.

Add ¼ cup white vinegar and ½ cup olive oil.

Beat thoroughly. It yields nearly ¾ of spicy, tangy goodness.

Two drug dealers were arrested after they had the idea of buying 12 food blenders at once to speed up production at their £300,000 cocaine factory.

Suspicious supermarket staff tipped off police as neither Gavin Etchell or Thomas Davies “looked like cooks or bakers”, a court was told.

And officers found a “wellequipped” drug operation in a raid on Etchell’s home.

Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said four blocks of cocaine worth £300,000 were to be mixed in the £7.99 blenders with 5.8 kg of the pain reliever benzocaine so the pair could increase their profits.

He said: “It was the purchase of mixers by Davies in such quantities at the Asda store that the suspicions of the staff were aroused and the police were informed.”

Etchell and Davies, both of Tonypandy, South Wales, both pleaded guilty at Merthyr Tydfil crown court to conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Etchell was jailed for nine years and Davies for six years eight months.

Photo and story: The Mirror

Saucy surprise

Drop ¼ cup sugar, 1 tsp salt and a dash of paprika into an empty mason jar. Add half a cup of white vinegar, 5 tbs of chilli sauce or tomato ketchup, and 1/3 cup olive oil, 3 tbsp of grated onion. Cover and shake it like a Polaroid picture. Yields 1 ½ cups of saucy deliciousness.

When 2 become 1

Take the first recipe we mentioned above, add ¼ cup tomato ketchup, ¼ chopped celery, ¼ cup chopped green pepper, and 2 tsp of grated onion.

Mix well, and you have a whole cup of finger licking flavours.

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4

Event | Joy Bangla Concert

Snap shots The famous speech of March 7 by Banhabandhu sends shivers down every patriotic Bangalis spine to this day. In light of this historic day, Young Bangla, an initiative under Center For Research and Information (CRI), organised the Joy Bangla concert, bringing in some of the country's best rock bands and music artists all under one roof.

The event included performances by Warfaze, Artcell, Arnab and Friends, Shironamhin, Nemesis, Arbovirus and Shunno.

As an epilogue to the concert that was, we bring to you some snippets from a few who were a part of the event: Abdullah-Al-Mashrif (Student, North South university)

Umme Hani (Student, North South University)

The concert was well managed and the basic theme was wonderful. This was the best concert I have ever been to in Bangladesh. The stage was outstanding! And all the bands performed their best.

A great initiative. Wonderful show.

Overall rating 9/10

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Shows like this should be arranged more often. Thumbs up to the organisers!

5

Photos: CRI

Mark Halder (Student, American international university of Bangladesh) One of the best concerts I have ever been to. Mostly the laser show was amazing. Thanks to the organisers for an amazing line-up of bands.

Javed Haque (Student, East West University) Huge respect to CRI and Young Bangla for arranging such a great event. Long live Bangladeshi band music. Moreover the lineup was massive.

Saurav Nandi (Student, Brac university) Joy bangla concert was too much fun. It was epic and the lineup was awesome. I hope the organisers will arrange more such events in the future.

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6 Feature | Empowering women

Simply lensational Lensational’s radical way of breaking stereotypes in Bangladesh and beyond Bonnie Chiu

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t the dawn of the post2015 development agenda, there is no better time for us to evaluate the progress of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) across regions. At the heart of this vision for a better future is gender equality. South Asia stands out as a region where this vision remains a distant dream. Non-agricultural wage employment is an indicator of MDG 3, to promote gender equality and empower women. South Asia has the lowest percentage of women in non-agriculture wage employment, a mere 20%.

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Photos: Courtesy

Lensational is a social enterprise which aims to empower women in developing countries economically and emotionally through equipping them with digital cameras and photography training.

What are the gender issues in Bangladesh?

Gender issues in each and every country are different. We situate ourselves in the day-to-day realities of the women and girls by first conducting research before designing any programme. This is important to us as a moral imperative, but also as a

guide to which group we should work with.

In Pakistan, the most acute issue we identified is education, which is why we worked with non-formal schools near the cities of Lahore and Multan, aiming to build confidence among school girls and to re-imagine prescribed gendered roles. According to the World Bank (http://data. worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ENR. PRSC.FM.ZS), the enrolment ratio of girls to boys in primary and secondary education is only 82%. To our surprise, gender parity has been achieved in primary and secondary

education as that ratio is 110%. What then is the acute issue in Bangladesh then? It is child marriage. According to UNICEF, Bangladesh has the second highest child marriage rate in the world. Sixty-six percent of children are married before the age of 18, compared to 47% in India and 32% in Pakistan. In Bangladesh, 18 is the minimum age allowed by law to get married, yet the practice remains common due to restrictive social norms. This also has a financial advantage as the practice of dowries increases once the women become older.

7 At Lensational, we believe that photography – which leads a change in perceptions and a possibility to earn extra income – can be part of the solution of ending child marriage.

Another issue is poor working conditions for garment factory workers. The garment sector is the largest employer of women in Bangladesh, and provides a way – perhaps the only way – for rural, uneducated women to enter into the formal workforce. The garment industry accounts for 80% of Bangladesh’s exports, and 80% of garment factory workers are women.

Yet, they are underpaid with little recognition from their families and society. The vivid images from the Rana Plaza factory collapse haunt them every day. Yet we can’t deny the fact that these garment factories hold the biggest promise to changing lives for millions of women in Bangladesh.

What did we do in Bangladesh and what next?

Identifying the two important gender issues in Bangladesh and how ‘Lensational’ can make a critical difference, our team, led by me and a volunteer from Hong Kong (Sunnie Chiu) with field experience in Bangladesh, reached out to potential partners. In the end, we found two key groups of women and girls to work with: Surf girls in Cox’s Bazar and garment factory workers in Dhaka.

We came across the surf girls from a photojournalist Allison Joyce (allisonjoyce.com) on Twitter. A group of 10-12 year-old female beach vendors, have been learning how to surf with Rashed Alam, who started a surfing community called Cox’s Bazar Life Saving and Surfing Club. Allison Joyce has wonderfully captured the surf girls’ energy and beauty in her collection. Our team was moved by her collection, and thought that the stories of these surf girls can challenge the restrictive gendered norms regarding adolescent girls.

Hence, our team reached out to her to explore collaboration opportunities, which materialised in a two-day workshop in Cox’s Bazar in early February with 8 surf girls. After learning basic photography skills and practising the skills through a photo outing with our volunteers, Sunnie and Elaine, they got the opportunity to take the digital cameras home for an overnight assignment. Last week, we shared their wonderful stories and aspirations with the wider world through a small exhibition at the London School of Economics. Our ambition is by May, each of the girls will get access to a digital camera.

Through our volunteer, Mahbub, a talented young graduate from the University of Dhaka, we got in touch with Anna Troupe (http://annatroupe.

com/), the Head of the Fashion Department at BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT).

In London, I was fortunate enough to have met Kate Larsen, the Acting Global Director Social Responsibility at The Children’s Place. She worked in China and Bangladesh, among others, to create a fairer workplace for female garment workers. Anna and Kate are two incredible women, working tirelessly to advance female garment workers’ rights, and they both see the potential of photography as a way to empower these women. Photography gives them a voice, a channel of free expression, and just a way to have fun – all of which they are denied in order to work day and night. Hence, in early February, Sunnie and Elaine worked with 10 female garment workers in Dhaka to conduct an introductory photography workshop. This for us is only the beginning, and we are looking to engage with corporates based in London and Hong Kong in order to bring our pilot to the next level. n

How can you help?

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All we need now is second-hand digital cameras, lots of them.

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If you are based in London, please drop off your cameras at London School of Economics (LSE) Careers, located on 5/F of Saw Swee Hock Student Centre (1 Sheffield St, London WC2A 2EY).

•

If you are based in the US, please send your camera to The Resolution Project (1120 Avenue of the Americas, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036).

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If you are based somewhere else or have any questions for us, please e-mail: info@ lensational.org, or tweet to us at @LensationalOrg.

Bonnie Chiu is Co-Founder and Director of Lensational

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8 Origin Story | Old Dhaka

The ever-adapting city Dhaka is a city that was built and rebuilt, forgotten then replenished over and over again. As we approach March 21, the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day, we take a walk down the streets of Old Dhaka to remind ourselves of the many foreign influences that make our city so multicultural. With an influx of the Europeans, Hindus and Muslims co-existed as healthy adapters to those changing times and we hope that the charm and laid back atmosphere of Old Dhaka never changes Reema Islam

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n the deltaic land of the Brahmaputra, the Meghna and the Jamuna, there was a city which was covered by the flaming crimson of the polash trees or Flame of the Forest. Also known as the dhak tree, this city was sometimes referred to as the city of the Dhak trees. Yet in the 12th century CE, the queen of king Bijoy Sen of the Sena dynasty, went to bathe in the Langolband while she was full term pregnant. Coming out of the water, she felt her labor pains and gave birth to the young Ballal Sen, who later grew up to be King and built a temple to honor his birthplace. It is said that Ballal discovered the figure of a deity in the jungles, thought to have been one of the shakti peethas or remnants of the goddess Sita, which were dropped by Lord Shiva.

Temples have been built around the possible areas of these remnants and the deity (which now lies in Kolkata) was named Dhaka-ishwari (goddess of Dhaka) Much later when the Mughals appointed Subedaars also locally known as Nawabs to Dhaka, a drum was beaten and the distance which the sound of it or the Dhak travelled is said to have been the boundaries of the city of Dhaka. Thus the city is thought to have gotten its name from a multitude of cultural and political references: from the trees surrounding it to the temple built within it to the sound of a drum and today, it is home to myriad cultures and religions as the central metropolitan city of this populous country.

Dhaka was renamed Jahangirnagar when the first Subedaar Islam Khan Chishti, locally known as Nawab

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took over in 1607. Sent over by the Mughals, Dhaka went on to be ruled by several of these Subedaars during which time this city became one of the trade centres. Known to be one of the 12th largest trade hubs of the Mughal empires, the city drew many foreigners who built factories and left their mark in many ways. The French arrived in 1682 and the area called Farashganj (French ganj) was named after them. They rented out a huge compound as their factory or kuthhi which was later converted into the Ahsan Manzil. Yet their legacy is all but lost in the hullabaloo of the ever changing city. The Armenians followed in the 17th century but they ended up leaving many a remnant which tells us of their immense influence on Dhaka. Adaptive and ready to mingle with the locals, the Armenians did business in cloth, salt, jute and betel nuts, built schools like the Pogose school by Nicholas Pogose, who was also one of the members of the Dhaka Municipality. The Armenians left us many famous landmarks including the famous Armenian Church, in Armanitola. They used a popular prefix to their names: Koja which was morphed into Khoja and the later Nawabs a la Ahsanullah of the famous Ahsan manzil aka Pink Palace and Sir Salimullah, took on this title which was a result of their association and business with the Armenians. Thus the Khaja Nawabs of Dhaka who mainly brought our city on the map of the Indian’s eventual independence from the British, were also influenced by their business partners, the Armenians. The Portuguese have had

Pogose School

a mixed influence on our heritage with death and plunder on the one hand as the seafaring Portugese who entered through our Southern ports joined forces with the Maghs of Arakan or Myanmar, to claim areas between Dhaka and Chittagong as piracy zones. They set up a trade centre in Dhaka called the Firingee bazaar but Portugese arriving from other parts of India were encouraged by the Subedaar Shaista Khan to do trade.

They built Dhaka’s oldest surviving church in Tejgaon, influenced our language heavily with a number of words which we use till date as part of our daily vernacular, and left an indelible mark on the genes of the people down South who bear resemblances to the Portuguese with their mixed features. The Dutch also established their kuthhis or factories in Tejgaon in the 1660s and they primarily lived in the Mitford hospital environs, eventually handing over their trade to the British by the 1780s.

A Dutch grave in the cemetery at Narinda lays claim to their legacy.

Yet, the local Dhakaites consisted a mix of the Muslims and Hindus that resided through all the ups and downs that Dhaka saw as the capital of the Mughal Bengal, then as the capital shifted to Murshidabad, a period of despondency as famines

Ruplal house

hit and a very low economic output made it into a poverty stricken area.

The gap between the rich and poor was phenomenal yet Dhaka survived relentlessly. Bengal was divided, the 1947 partition happened and in the 1960s, devastating communal attacks on the Hindu families of Old Dhaka left the harmony between the two religions very fragile. Yet the Hindus who called this their home lived on and today areas like Shakahri bazaar the last continuous lanes of old Hindu inhabitants and establishments like the old Ruplal House which won the competition with the Ahsan Manzil to host lord Dufflin in 1888 give us an insightful look at the multicultural ambience of our city.

Botanical enthusiasts like Narendra NR Chaudhury who built the Baldha gardens are some of the few famous people that left us a part of themselves to cherish and appreciate. We hope that the camaraderie of the inhabitants of old Dhaka of both religions pays homage to the history of this 400 year old city, as we step into a time when religion the world over, is being used as a political ploy. So let us celebrate holi with a gusto in Shakhri bazar, Eid with the succulent food of Chowk bazaar and bask in the warmth of the old Dhaka charm. n

Photos: Courtesy

Multiculturalism in Bangladesh | Photo story

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We are Bangladesh Photos by Syed Zakir Hossain Bangladesh is home to people with different religious and cultural backgrounds and come such customary festivals throughout the year, we proudly take part in the celebrations, be it grand or small.

This week’s photo story features moments captured during all these wonderful festivities, in which lie proof that we are a multicultural country where secular coexistence is very much a reality.

Turn for more photographs

Rashleela celebrations in the Monipuri Community of Komolganj, Moulovibazar

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10 PHoto story | Holi

Hindus performing Gongasnan at Langolbond, Narayanganj

Rashleela Utshob

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Eid celebrations in rural areas of Dinajpur

Independence D Dhaka Universit

Wangala festival of Mandi Community in Achipara, Haluaghat, Mymensing

Day celebration in ty campus

11

AShura in Old Dhaka

Gila Khela of Tanchayangya community in Rangamati

Celebrating Pohela Falgun or the Spring Festival in Dhaka

Rajpunnah Festival of the Chakma community in Rangamati

Pohela Baishak celebrations at Ramna Batamul

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12 Post-Riposte | The Govt and the CHT

The recent government mandate on restricting contact with the CHT. Is it racism or not?

YES – s Ahmed Historically special rules have been made about the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) – firstly with the CHT Manual and then with the CHT ‘Peace’ Accord of 1997. The former was done in recognition of the distinctive geographical and cultural characteristics of the area and in order to preserve the culture and environmental protection of the area.

The latter was done in recognition of the historical wrong done by the state on a people because of their ethnicity and language. It was done in order to right a wrong done through military aggression and demographic engineering and as an attempt to end insurgency in the area. Such special measures are taken all over the world in areas where indigenous people live in order to protect the rights of the

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indigenous people.

However, the recent government decisions about the CHT are quite different. These decision have been placed to restrict the rights of the indigenous people of the CHT. They even restrict the rights of Bengali citizens from socialising and from carrying out work and business in the CHT and give unacceptable power and privileges to the government administration and law-enforcement agencies including police, military and border guards to maintain surveillance over the ordinary day-today activities of indigenous people. It is highly discriminatory in nature. In essence it criminalises ordinary social and work-related congregations.

Also, while foreigners all over the country are able to travel and work

without surveillance their activities and movements are controlled to the dot when they do the same things in the CHT. What all of this indicates is that the state structurally “others” one percent of the population of the country based on their ethnicity. This is the same “othering” that alienated indigenous people of the CHT after the War of Liberation and led to the insurgency in the mid-1970s. No matter how much we claim that we as a country believe in diversity and pluralism the communal-ism and the subsequent violence will follow if we do not show in practice what we preach in words.

Through these home ministry decisions we are not only discriminating against the indigenous

people of the CHT, by deploying the military and border guards to be in charge of the law and order of the area we are essentially dealing with the area in the same way we would deal with an area outside our country. Such decisions indicate a deep suspicion about citizens of this country who for the past 40 years have been demanding recognition of their identity in the constitution as equal citizens of this country. While indigenous people continue to lose their lands in the CHT to those with political and military power these decisions put the onus of the crime on the victims. All citizens of the country should protest such “othering”, discrimination and racism.

13 NO – Faisal Mahmud We need the presence of strong armed forces in the CHT It’s easy to say all those positive things about human rights while sitting in an armchair but ruling is not an easy task and sometimes ruling comes at a cost, especially in areas like the CHT. To put things into perspective, let’s go back to the pages of history.

When an independent Bangladesh emerged from behind the curtain of East Pakistan in 1971, many representatives of those residing in the CHT began to fight for the autonomy and recognition of the rights of people of the region. As such, the constitution of Bangladesh, which did not recognise non-Bengali inhabitants, was heavily protested.

It is to be noted that article 1 of the constitution declared Bangladesh to be a unitary state, ruling out any possibility of a separate legislature or autonomy for the CHT. Article 3 specified Bengali as the state language, and Article 6 declared that the citizens of Bangladesh were to be known as “Bengalis” These provisions aggrieved the minority communities and were seen as clear acts of the state’s identification and patronization of the dominant community at the cost of minorities.

In 1977 things took a turn for the worse when a civil war erupted between the government of

Bangladesh and the United People’s Party of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (PCJSS). A huge Bangladeshi army presence was stationed in the area.

The conflict continued for two decades and was finally concluded in 1997 with the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.

The CHT Peace Accord theoretically recognised the CHT as a “tribal inhabited” area with traditional governance systems.

Now comes the issue of tribal and indigenous. The tribal and the members of the minor races of the hill-tracts and the plain land of Bangladesh have, for a couple of years, been raising voice for Constitutional recognition as “indigenous” (adivasi). They wanted the recognition in the 15th Amendment to the Constitution in 2011. The Amendment, however, recognised them in Article 23A not as indigenous but as tribes, minor races, ethnic sects and communities.

Now as per the international labour organisation (ILO) convention, tribal people are not entitled to the same rights as that of indigenous people.

Still, the Bangladesh government ensures enough rights to the tribal people of the CHT. According to the census of 2011 the population of the tribal and minor-race people is 1.57 million that amounts to 1.10% of the total

population of the country. Nearly 98.90% of the population is ethnically and linguistically Bangalee. But in the BCS and other competitive examinations for public service 5% quota is reserved for them which is four-times than their proportion.

Moreover they are free to enjoy the other service and education facilities preserved for the backward section of the people that is backed by Article 28(4) of the Constitution: 30% for freedom-fighters, 10% for women and 10% for districts.

It is relevant to mention here that no such quota is reserved for the religious minorities of the country like the Hindus, Buddhists, Christians or Sikhs. So the tribal people of the CHT are not being robbed of any human rights, rather they are being ensured of more.

Now comes the issue of why the extensive military presence.

By the mid-1970s, a full-blown insurgency had erupted in the CHT under the leadership of the United People’s Party of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (PCJSS), with its military wing, the Shanti Bahini (SB), Peace Corp, actively aided by the Indian government.

India’s support for the Shanti Bahini is not a genuine support for the rights of the CHT peoples. India has its own insurgency problem in its north-eastern states. Some

of these north-eastern states want full political autonomy from India.

Providing military training to the SB and aiding them with weapons, India is creating political chaos within the CHT, without it achieving the status of autonomous region.

The establishment of an autonomous region in the CHT would motivate the insurgents’ demand for political freedom in India’s own north-eastern states. Thus we see how the local power, India, uses a minority population in its neighbouring country – not to defend their genuine rights, but as pawns to defend its wider interests.

History says that the SB first attacked a convoy of the Bangladeshi military in the CHT in 1977. The brazen nature of the attack, coupled with the fact that the SB was operating with Indian assistance, greatly alarmed the Bangladeshi military.

The government responded by undertaking a full-scale military solution to the political problems of CHT. Now the conventional wisdom of military pundits is to establish its authority in a disputed region and use force to quell any unrest. The practice and record of Bangladesh Armed Forces in the CHT testifies this very well. The harsh truth is that we need this sort of military presence there. n

Photos: Ashraf Ul Zubair

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14 Feature | The rock and the hard place

Is CHT an unannounced conflict zone now?

The current state of the relationship of the Government with the CHT

Probir K Sarker

R

ecent developments in the apparently isolated Chittagong Hill Tracts and the environment which was supposed to prevail in the adivasi region in line with the 1997 Peace Accord appear to contradict at a larger extent nowadays, more than any time in the past. In a nutshell, the ruling Awami League, which signed the much-desired Accord with Shanti Bahini, now Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) to end a decade-long armed struggle, claims that the process of implementing the provisions of the Accord has been running smoothly while the other party blames the government for not being sincere in keeping its word as they see no sign.

Based on such claims, the PCJSS, led by Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma has threatened to wage non-cooperation movement from May 1 if the government fails to chalk out a roadmap to materialise the provisions by this time. The group has also been campaigning since November to drum up support from like-minded groups and individuals.

Its leaders say they will remain prepared for any adverse situation.

On the other hand, the government did not hesitate to rudely put fresh restrictions on the indigenous people, their political parties and groups, and the local and international organisations working in the CHT on different issues – from basic rights to legal assistance. Moreover, the government has ordered crackdown on members of indigenous groups responsible for possessing illegal arms and extortion. These acts clearly reflect that people who want to implement the Accord cannot make such decisions under any circumstances.

Following the declaration of Santu Larma in November, the adivasi groups active in the CHT, Dhaka and other countries have intensified campaigns on the long-pending disputed issues – ranging from grabbing and acquisition of land to persecution of women. In some cases, groups which earlier maintained distance among each other have begun to work together. The United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF known as an anti-Accord group), in particular, has vowed to support the upcoming hard-line movement of the

PCJSS though they were believed to be arch-rivals earlier.

The ruling Awami League-led alliance government at this moment of possible confrontation has strongly been supported by its allies, the law enforcement agencies and the armed forces, and the highly-privileged local Bangalis having affiliation with ruling party, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami to not giving the indigenous people breathing space. Security forces and several ministries recently expressed concerns over the rise of threats from adivasi groups.

Such a conflicting state of affairs has not been a bolt from the blue.

Mistrust and practice of means to deceive others are to be blamed for the current situation.

Opposing the Accord, the previous BNP-Jamaat-led government did almost nothing to implement its provisions after the Awami League left office in 2001. The incumbent government since 2009 implemented a number of sections of the Accord but the key issues – resolving land disputes, withdrawal of army camps and transfer of some divisions and departments – have remained unfulfilled.

Even though the government claims that they have executed most of the 72 sections of the Accord, the PCJSS terms it sheer lie mentioning that only 25 have been implemented.

The incumbent government drew massive criticisms first in 2011 by not recognising the hill people as adivasis or indigenous people during the Fifteenth Amendment and thus refusing to adopt international obligations to ensure the rights of the indigenous people. The functioning of the Land Dispute Resolution Commission was also criticised at that time since its chief started working with an aim to resolving cases without the participation of the indigenous

representatives and bypassing the directives mentioned in the Accord. Finally, the government was compelled to suspend the commission’s activities and initiate amendment to the related law. On the other hand, since no election has yet taken place in the last 22 years to the three hill district councils, those local government bodies are now run by people appointed by the government on ad-hoc basis.

Land dispute is the most important issue to be addressed first; but despite settling a single land-related case, the government and Bangalis in the CHT, ironically, have already created thousands of new complications – for instance, by acquiring and grabbing at least 3,900 acres of land owned by the adivasis last year alone. Moreover, another 84,647 acres are in the process of being acquired and occupied, according to a report of Kapaeeng Foundation, a rights body.

Meanwhile, well-planned

attacks are being carried out on the indigenous people’s land, houses and businesses, and women and children so that they leave their land voluntarily. The Bangali settlers behind such attacks usually remain out of the radar of the law enforcers due to a longstanding culture of impunity awarded to them by subsequent governments. Last year, the number of such attacks increased sharply creating a frightening situation for the adivasis.

The mindsets, acts and future plans of both the government and the adivasi community leaders have now created a terrifying situation not only among people in the hills but also those peace-lovers at any part. Both the parties, especially the government’s policymakers, would exercise restraint and follow the country’s constitution and the landmark Accord to establish peace in the CHT region as pledged 17 years ago.

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Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, M ARC H 20, 2015

Bangladesh Meteorological department | Feature

The data observed and collected from those weather forecasting instruments are sent back to the BMD headquarters in Dhaka.

Zaman said that apart from surface data, the BMD also conducts pilot balloon observation. “We have ten weather observation balloons in ten of those weather observation stations.

From pilot balloons, we get wind speed and directions.”

He said that there are three stations from where the BMD gets Radio Sounding observations (RSO).

“We use special balloons with transmitters there. The transmitter receives and cross matches data through GPS satellite.”

Data analysis process

The weather man Faisal Mahmud

R

emember Phill Connors? The grumpy old weatherman from the 93’ classic Groundhog day, who found himself in a time loop, repeating the same day again and again, after indulging hedonism and suicide attempts, then begins to re-examine his life and priorities.

Rashed-uz-Zaman, one of our own weathermen also finds himself in a loop – a work-loop – and he doesn’t have the time to ponder his life priorities. Because he doesn’t have that luxury.

It’s workhouse

It’s true. The very office premise of Bangladesh Meteorological department (BMD) is not like other government establishments. Yes, the old administrative building still has that age old furniture and the stereotypical scenery of a middleaged clerk nonchalantly reading newspapers but if someone enters the operational office premise, he/she would get the vibe that “real works” is being done here.

The weather forecast that we see round the clock on TVs and radios and other media are produced in BMD with thorough rigorous calculation and diversified methodologies.

We found meteorologist Rasheduz-Zaman, who was in charge of the forecast centre on the day of our visit, busy analysing a pile of paperwork,

schematic diagrams and outputs from particular software and plotting his observation and analysis in a large forecasting sheets.

“We need to send and analyse data every hour and send the results in different places. We, in the BMD work 24/7 in three shifts. From 8am-2pm, 2pm-8pm and 8pm-2am.

There is hardly any time to rest,” said Rased-uz-Zaman.

How the forecast is produced

The operational office of the BMD does all sorts of weather forecasting including the daily forecast.

The BMD has a total of 35 weather stations across the country. These are all manual stations which are run through manual observation.

Explaining manual observation, Zaman said that there are a numbers of observers who read weather measuring instruments like thermometer, barometers, anemometers, rain gauges and wind speed gauges in cyclic manners in every three hours.

Data including temperature, wind pressure, and humidity is collected with these measuring instruments.

These are all synoptic data or surface data. In 24 hours, these data are collected eight times.

The 35 manual stations also observe the times of sunrise and sunset. It also records the maximum and minimum of the measurements.

The data received from the RSO balloons includes wind speed, geopotential height and temperature of the higher surface. Zaman explains that the first existence of any weather formation is found in the atmospheric height, then it gradually shifts down to the surface level. That’s why the condition at the upper surface is important and all meteorological departments need to profile that.

“For example, if there was an approaching cyclone, our observation station would first locate it at the upper atmosphere, then it gradually come down to the surface. If we can’t plot that cyclone at the upper surface then we cannot provide warning in time.”

He said that the BMD cannot predict weather and create a forecast just by collecting surface data from their observation centres because weather doesn’t form by maintaining geographical boundaries. “We have to consider the condition in the surrounding areas of our neighbouring countries. For accurately measuring the weather and creating a forecast, we need data from India, Myanmar and the Gulf region and we also do that.”

History of the department

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) is a government organisation under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. The origin of BMD goes back to 1867 when the country’s meteorological activities started through the establishment of one observatory in Satkhira, a district in Southwestern Bangladesh.

In 1947 the service was renamed as Pakistan Meteorological Services and after the country’s independence in 1971, it became the Bangladesh Meteorological department.

15

Responsibilities of BMD • Monitor and issue forecasts and warnings of all meteorological extreme events like tropical cyclone, severe thunderstorm/tornadoes, heavy rainfall, drought, cold and heat wave along with daily routine forecasts round the clock.

• Issues short, medium and longrange forecasts for agricultural planning and operation of daily farmer’s activities.

• Provide Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre with rainfall data, forecasts/warnings, radar and satellite image for the operation of flood forecasting and warning system.

• Provides seismological information in and around the country along with Tsunami Advisories and warnings to the Government and public.

• Cater all International and Domestic airlines, VVIP and VIP flights by providing take-off, landing and the route forecasts.

• Supply and facilitate the application of climate data and information to the Government and private agencies for planning and performance of socio-economic development activities.

• BMD is involved with WMO’s science based monitoring of the change/variability of climate and preparation of 21st century climate scenario development activities • Archives all weather and climate data, maintenance of historical records of all meteorological and seismological extreme events in numeric and graphical forms.

• BMD is associated with SMRC activities and also involve in the collaborating efforts of BIMSTEC establishment regionally.

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16

TOUGH LOVE | DINA SOBHAN

Teen-aged and troublesome

Got a problem?

Write to Dina at

weekend@dhakatribune. com

Cartoon: Syed Rashad Imam Tonmoy/Dhaka Tribune

Q

Dear Dina, My brother and I are really close, but he’s totally annoying. His room is very messy, he eats in front of his computer, and always keeps his door locked. I understand he needs privacy, but it shouldn’t be so difficult for his own family to reach him. When we knock on his door and he doesn’t hear us because he’s got his headphones stuffed in his ears, he’ll say things like: “So knock harder!” If I ask him to leave his empty plates in the kitchen instead of cluttering up his room, he’ll say, “So why do we have maids?” I love him, but he’s just so arrogant! How do I make him understand things without starting a fight?

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

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, M ARC H 20, 2015

A

Dear Stressed-out sistah, You got 99 problems, but that brother shouldn’t be one. Why are you taking on the role of mother and caretaker? You may as well try underwater basket weaving or taming lions with a q-tip for all the luck you’re going to have trying to reason with an adolescent boy. While his behavior is disgusting, annoying and a host of other adjectives, what does it matter at the end of the day? If his hygiene standards are particularly low, you should be dancing a gleeful gig that it’s confined to his sty-like quarters.

Let him wallow in his own filth and shower every fortnight. Let the dishes pile up until he chokes on the stench of his fungus-laden leftovers. When the situation becomes untenable, let your mother and the maids grapple with it while you paint your toenails and plan how to spend your Friday night. If your brother is all you’ve got to fret about, girlfriend, you need to get a life like yesterday.

Q

Dear Dina, When I was in my early teens, I had a minor romance with a man a few years older than me.

It lasted only a few weeks and amounted to a few stolen dates at coffee places and some melodramatic phone calls, letters, and texts; it ended on a fairly positive note. We remained friends, and he has helped me out numerous times over the years, with job interviews when I started working, recommendation letters for my university applications, and so on. Recently, he got me a job at the place where his wife works. Initially, it was okay because I was in a different department, but then I got transferred to her department. She’s a chill person, and probably doesn’t know about her husband’s history with me, but I feel weird and awkward. It’s gotten to the point where I have to force myself to go to work and answer her calls and emails, and she’s starting to lose patience with me. I don’t have anything else lined up at the moment, and I don’t think my ex will get me another job if I lose this one.

What do I do?

A

Dear Teen romance, Here’s what you do: snap out of it! I think it’s a little late in the day to develop a conscience, especially since you’ve been in touch with this man for the better part of your young adult life. While I think it’s slightly odd that he should get you a job in the same company as his wife, so is having a “romance” with a girl in her early teens. You need to accept that this is the bed you have made for yourself, if not necessarily literally, and lie in it. Furthermore, why are you feeling awkward now? Your little fling seems like a lifetime ago.

Put the past where it belongs and get yourself together before you blow it, and need him to throw you another lifeline. And lastly, if you aren’t comfortable accepting favors from him, you might want this job to be the last.

.

Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi | Legalese

17

Got a problem?

Write to Jennifer at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

Cartoon: Priyo/Dhaka Tribune

Maternity matters

Q

“I have, very recently (7 months ago), been recruited by a local company to assist them with their administrative issues and paperwork. Since I am a BBA graduate and I majored in marketing, I am also asked to frequently assist the sales staff with responsibilities and also attend the interoffice meetings regarding products. My business-card bears the title of “Marketing Executive”. I have recently conceived and am wondering how things will work with my new job, mainly because I will be requiring maternity leave. This is my first job so the details are sketchy to me. I have not let anyone at work know about my condition as of yet, because I am scared I will lose my job. Can you let me know exactly which employment laws I should be consulting in this instance?”

A

Dear Reader: Thank you for writing in to me. Firstly, congratulations are in order – I hope everything goes according to plan.

Now, to deal with the issue at hand here, let us approach it from a legal perspective. Your last question is pretty interesting ie regarding which employment laws you need to be considering in this instance. it is mainly interesting because Bangladesh does not yet have any specific employment laws to regulate “white-collar” employment officers. The prevalent law in Bangladesh is the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 and Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act 2013, both of which apply to “workers”. The definition of worker, unfortunately, does not seem to consider “all” those in employment and is instead quite restrictive within itself.

The definition of “worker” as per the labour law is as follows: “Any person including an apprentice employed in any establishment or industry, either directly or through

a contractor, to do any skilled, unskilled, manual, technical, trade promotional or clerical work for hire or reward, whether the terms of employment be expressed or implied, but does not include a person employed mainly in a managerial or administrative capacity”.

Unfortunately, many establishments opine that this means the office executives and officers do not fall within the ambit of the labour law in Bangladesh and consequently the establishments are not bound to follow the provisions as outlined in the Labour Act(s). This has lead to a lot of disgruntled employees bringing forth claims in the Labour courts whereby it then fell to the judge to decide whether the said employee qualifies as a “worker” under the labour law. This has given rise to further confusion as sometimes executives and officers are identified as “workers”, whereas in other instances they are not. you can imagine the surprise on everyone’s face when a pilot was actually found to qualify as a “worker” under the aforementioned definition, but yes,

that has happened!

Let us now look at how the labour law deals with the issue of maternity leave and maternity benefits. Labour law stipulates that “no employer shall knowingly employ a woman in his establishment during the eight weeks immediately following the day of her delivery.” Additionally, “no woman shall work in any establishment during the eight weeks immediately following the day of her delivery” and “No employer shall employ any woman for doing any work which is of an arduous nature or which involves long hours of standing or which is likely to adversely affect her health; if he has reason to believe or if she has informed him that she is likely to be delivered of a child within ten weeks; she has to the knowledge of the employer been delivered of a child within the preceding ten weeks”.

Anyone on maternity leave is also entitled to maternity benefits. Section 46 of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 states that “every woman employed in an establishment shall be entitled to and her employer shall be liable for, the payment of maternity benefit in respect of the period of eight weeks preceding the expected day of her delivery and eight weeks immediately following the day of her delivery : Provided that a woman shall not be entitled to such maternity benefit unless she has worked under the employer, for a period of not less than six month immediately preceding the day of her delivery.” I’m also guessing that this is your first child, so there should most certainly be no question of you not being eligible for maternity benefits.

Most establishments have policies relating to maternity benefits and maternity leave so I advise that you speak to an HR officer and they can advise you accordingly. I doubt that your pregnancy would mean that you would lost your job – that is hardly the practice adopted now has HR policies have evolved immensely over the last few years. If, however, things do not go according to plan and anything starts to smell fishy, do not hesitate to get in touch again, and I will be happy to assist you with clarifying any further queries you may have.

.

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

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, M A RC H 2 0, 2 0 1 5

18 stay in

Mini cryptics

Weekend’s Writing Challenge!

Clues

ACROSS 1 4 6 7

Half a dozen use chair or guest (7) Vegas resident Dave held back by relative (7) Grant title to none about odd ballet (7) 99 in game returning to warmer climes (7)

DOWN 1 2 3 5

He makes French wine for a penny (7) Spotted holding five, or a couple more (5) Don’t hurry so much to have duck (7) Call top notch city on the Arabian Gulf (5)

Photo: Bigstock

Attention, Fictionistas!

Do YOU have what it takes to win Weekend Tribune’s Drabble challenge? Grab your writing tools of choice and give it a shot.

The rules:

• We’re looking for original fiction in exactly 100 words, excluding the title. That means, a 99-worder or an 101 worder will be disqualified.

• The stories must have a beginning, a middle and an end • Mail them to weekend@dhakatribune.com, and include your name

Last week’s solutions

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

ACROSS 1 Pull of Christopher and his building? (6) 6 Father’s gratitude for noodles (5) 7 Sounds like bloom could be self-raising (5) 8 Cricket equipment let loose for fight (6) DOWN 2 Strike left a sympathetic connection (7) 3 Climbing beast holds saint right in nose (7) 4 Chicken keeps road to paradise (6) 5 Made in advance, mixed fare is lead lined (6)

Sudoku

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

Last date for submission: April 11, 2015 Five lucky winners will get their stories printed and receive a special Dhaka Tribune goody bag!

Last week’s sudoku solutions

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, M ARC H 20, 2015

Go out

Mar 21

Workshop | e-CAB: Workshop on Facebook Marketing for e-Commerce

When 3-6pm Where FREPD Auditorium, Dhaka University Campus area, Nilkhet

E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh has taken the initiative to disseminate the knowledge of Facebook marketing among people who are interested in e-Commerce. Facebook marketing is growing bigger each day. e-CAB is arranging this workshop for free. Only 100 participants can join the workshop.

The workshop will help young entrepreneurs to know

19

Mar 25

Photography | DIU Independent Day photography Exhibition

When 11am-5pm Where Daffodil International University Auditorium Prince Plaza, Sobhanbagh, Dhanmondi 26th March, Independence Day of Bangladesh.

To celebrate 44 years of our independence Daffodil International University Photographic Society (DIUPS) is arranging a photography exhibition on 25th March. All the photographs will be in monochrome.

Exhibition will be held in DIU Auditorium located in Sobhanbagh.

about marketing, Facebook marketing, networking and communicating with clientèle. e-CAB blog writer, Facebook marketing entrepreneur, founder of E4T 360, Tashdik Habib will be the key speaker of the workshop. Online payment service provider Walletmix is sponsoring the workshop.

For more information contact: 01673383289 or 01671639803.

For more information, contact: 01971023787.

Weekly Planner Mar 20 Photography | Photo Walk to Old Town

When 7:30-11am Where Mitford Hospital, Dhaka Online Photography School BD is arranging an educational photo walk in Old Dhaka. The aim of this photo walk is to share photographic ideas and experiences with each other.

This photo walk is open for all, especially amateur and beginner level photographers as there will be professionals to share their experience with everyone.

Interested photographers are requested to visit their Facebook page: ‘’Online Photography School BD’’.

For more information: 01622870928.

Festival | Dhaka Comedy Festival 2015

When 3-11pm Where Baridhara DOHS, Convention Centre, Baridhara Naveed’s Comedy Club is hosting the first ever comedy festival in Bangladesh. With lots of humour lining up for the audience. The ticket of the festival will cost Tk500 each.

There will be stand-up comedy, open mic for all, comedy workshop and lots more. Tickets are available at: Bitter Sweet: H 10, Rd 53, Gulshan – 2; Tastebud: H 52, Rd 12/A, Blk H, Banani. For online tickets: etunes. com.bd.

For more information, contact: info@ naveedmahbub.com

Mar 22 Education | Advising on US

University Admissions

When 3:30pm onwards Where EMK Center, House 5, Road 16 (New) 27 (Old), 9th Floor, Midas Center, Dhanmondi The US Embassy, Dhaka will be arranging a programme on US university admissions at the EMK Center. Anyone interested in pursuing your higher education in the U.S. is encouraged to join this FREE session. EducationUSA adviser will be discussing on the US university admissions process and requirements.

No prior registration is required to attend this program.

Where Plot- 67/D, 2nd Floor, Block- E, Road- 11, Banani Periwinkle is proud to announce the Grand Opening of their brand new showroom at Banani-11. The showroom will offer something for everybody as they will be showcasing their latest urban footwear brand “STEP”. There will also be products by the famous French brand “PIERRE CARDIN”, showcasing their premium range of travel goods and accessories, as well as products from the leading brand of Health Shoes “Dr. Kong”.

Mar 26 Lecture | Grand Opening of PERIWINKLE When 3:30-9pm

Send your events to weekend@dhakatribune.com

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20 Interview | K G Mostafa

A lyricist, behind the love of song K G Mostafa, journalist, former government service holder and lyricist, recalls the moments from earlier days – as a university student in the 1960s, and poet too, who found writing as his favourite, blissful time-pass Farhana Urmee Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

When did you start writing?

I used to write whenever I could. It is hard for me to remember exactly when I started writing. I also believe that Bangalis have a poetic soul in us, thus we write things. When I came to university to study Bangla literature, it was an official start for me to write poems in university magazines and other publications.

I have come across great personalities while studying in the department of Bangla liturature at DU: Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal, Dr Ahmad Sharif and many more. I clearly remember Abu Hena bhai once told me that my poems had a melodic rhythm.

Inspiration and criticism from senior writers in university has helped me continue my writing and grow a new interest of becoming a lyricist.

How did you get involved in writing songs for films?

I started writing songs which were sung by eminent artists at that time during my university days. Radio was the only widely used medium of disseminating those songs then. I taught a schoolboy in Wari, who were tenants of film actor Azim at that time. One day my song was supposed to be sung by Farida Yasmin on the radio. As neither I nor my student had a radio set, I went to Azim and asked him to let me listen to my song on the radio. At the beginning he did

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, M ARC H 20, 2015

not want to believe that one of my songs would be broadcast on the radio, that too, sung by a renowned artist, but the moment my song started playing, he gave me a big hug.

Eventually he introduced me to film director Ehtesham who needed a lyricist who could write fast.

That was the first time I wrote a song on the situation and theme of the film “Rajdhanir Bukey”, which grew to be a favourite with people of all ages.

What is poetry to you?

Poetry is love – love for self, for your beloved and love for humanity. To me, poetry is power, which helps you to express your exact feelings.

There is a body within the Jatiya Press Club where we publish a monthly publication of poems by the Press Club members. Since each and every poem cannot be accommodated in the publication, we arrange an event where these poems can be recited by their authors.

I love to see young people writing. I talk to young poets who come from all across the country to share their work. I am 77-year old now, but I feel immensely inspired by young writers who are sincere about their writing and want to pursue it as their career.

Did your work as a journalist and a poet ever complement each other?

When I was studying in

the university I, one of my friends was working for a newspaper. I showed him my interest and later I joined as an apprentice sub-editor in the newspaper. After a while, my office promoted me to the position of the shift-in-charge.

Working as a journalist turned out to be very fruitful for me. I used to earn quite a handsome amount of money compared to my peers and above all, I came across a number of intellectuals and renowned personalities too, through my work in journalism.

Do you have anything to say to today’s journalists and young poets?

Journalism is a profession where you can never compromise with your honesty. In this age of science and technology, gathering information has become easier and the world has come closer to you, but dealing with all this information requires your honesty and dedication to the profession and towards the society.

And for a poet, it is the same. Time has changed, even a poet should know that. He or she has to adopt new thoughts and discourse, modernity of language and the style of expression of the new era. If the poetry remains outdated, nobody will even read it let alone like it. A writer and poet should try to adapt modernity. n

Hit songs songs

by K G Mostafa: •

“Tumi achho pashey”

•

“Akasher oi miti miti tarar shathey”

•

“Ekti kotha bolbo boley”

•

“Rongdhonu rongey aanka, aguney abir makha”

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