Weekend Tribune Vol 3 Issue 14

Vol 3 Issu e 14 | FRIDAY, J u ly 24, 2015

Dhaka Tribune

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Out of the box Eid

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Vastu Shastra

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The Bong Momma

Editor’s note Dear Readers, With homecoming a big feature of the Eid celebrations of the past week, we have had home on our minds for this issue.

Discover a Dhaka free of the immigrants for one blessed, glorious week, in two pieces – one that sees some unconventional celebrations, and the other that shows just what a difference a slight dip in population makes.

Explore the science of turning a house into home, as dictated by the ancient tenets of Vastu Shastra.

Check out our beautiful photo story about homesickness.

The Bong Momma returns with her continued adventure towards motherhood, while Yamin Khan regales us with some one-liners.

Finally, with the work week ready to begin in earnest, we have a small piece on workplace culture Here’s hoping the transition back into the grind is a gentle one.

Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

Home is where the hearth is Photo: Shekhar Mondal

CONTENTS

Volume 3 | Issue 14 | July 24, 2015 Editor Zafar Sobhan Features Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Asst Magazine Editor Farina Noireet Weekend Tribune Team Faisal Mahmud Sakib Mridha Lameya Alma Amin Contributors Saudia Afrin Minu Ahmed Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi Imrul Islam Yamin Khan Sanam Reza Sohara Mehroze Shachi Ameer Sobhan Cartoonist Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Priyo Graphics Md Mahbub Alam Alamgir Hossain Tahsin Momin Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal

4 Slice of Life

Out of the box Eid

News 2 News 3 Meanwhile

Features 5 Slice of Life

6 Feature

Vastu Shastra

Eid in Dhaka

12 Environment

Gender and disaster management

15 The Bong Momma

Minu Ahmed

16 Campaign

Global Teacher Prize

17 Focus

Production Masum Billah

Workplace culture

20 Funny Bone

Circulation Masud Kabir Pavel

Email your letters to: weekend@dhakatribune.com

Top 10

China and the world

Advertisement Zia Ur Rahman

Website dhakatribune.com/weekend facebook.com/WeekendTrib

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9 Photo Story Leaving home

Yamin Khan

Regulars 14 Legalese 18 Stay In 19 Go Out

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2 News | This week

The world at a glance

Weekend Tribune Desk

Japan demands China halt oil exploration Israel ramps up punishments for stonein part of East China Sea throwers, Palestinians protest Japan called on China, Tuesday to halt construction of oil-and-gas exploration platforms in the East China Sea close to waters claimed by both nations, concerned that Chinese drills could tap reservoirs that extend into Japanese territory.

Japan’s Defence Ministry added the demand to its annual defence review after hawkish members of the ruling party complained that its original draft was too soft on China, a ministry official said.

China resumed exploration in the East China Sea two years ago, the report said. In 2012, Japan’s government had angered Beijing and purchased a disputed island chain there. Before then, Beijing had curtailed activities under an agreement with Japan to jointly develop undersea resources in disputed areas.

“We have confirmed that China has started construction of new

ocean (exploration) platforms and we repeat our opposition to unilateral development by China and call for a halt,” the ministry said.

The platforms are being erected on the Chinese side of a median line delineating the exclusive economic zones of the two countries, the Japanese ministry official said.

Tokyo worries that the platforms will tap into gas fields that overlap the median line and could also be used as radar stations or bases for drones or other aircraft to monitor air and sea activity near the disputed chain of islets, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

Photo: Reuters

Israel’s parliament imposed tougher penalties of up to 20 years prison for people throwing stones at vehicles and roads, a move one Palestinian official branded racist and excessive.

Lawmakers voted 69 to 17 to increase the punishments late on Monday, approving legislation proposed after a wave of Palestinian protests last year in East Jerusalem.

“Tolerance toward terrorists ends today. A stone-thrower is a terrorist and only a fitting punishment can serve as a deterrent and just punishment,” Israel’s Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, of the farright Jewish Home party, said in a statement.

Confrontations between Palestinian youths and Israeli police routinely degenerate into violent clashes, and stone-throwing has been a symbol of Palestinian resistance since the first Palestinian uprising, or Intifada, against Israel in

the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Since 2011 three Israelis, including a baby and a girl, have been killed in the occupied West Bank after rocks were thrown at vehicles they were in.

Human rights groups have criticized Israel for using excessive force including live fire in suppressing Palestinian demonstrations, causing dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.

The new law allows for a sentence of up to 20 years in jail for throwing a rock at a vehicle with the intent of causing bodily harm and 10 years in prison if intent was not proven.

Photo: AP

Toshiba CEO steps down over accounting scandal Toshiba Corp’s chief executive stepped down on Tuesday after an independent investigation found he had been aware the company had inflated its profits, in the country’s biggest corporate scandal in years.

CEO and President Hisao Tanaka said he will be temporarily replaced

by Chairman Masashi Muromachi, adding that the company was considering appointing outside directors to over half of its board seats.

“I see this as the most damaging

event for our brand in the company’s 140-year history,” Tanaka told a news conference after making a ritual deep bow of contrition to a flurry of camera shutters and flashes.

“I don’t think these problems can be overcome overnight.”

Muromachi is considered a safe pair of hands to lead Toshiba through its current turmoil before handing the reins to a successor.

The company plans to announce next month the delayed business results for the financial year ended

in March.

Toshiba Corp President and Chief Executive Officer Hisao Tanaka (C), flanked by Chairman of the Board.

Tanaka’s predecessors as CEO of the laptops-to-nuclear conglomerate, Vice Chairman Norio Sasaki and adviser Atsutoshi Nishida, will also step down after the third-party report showed they played a part in the overstatement of profits going back to the 2008 financial year.

Monday’s report by an outside panel of accountants and lawyers

16 killed in Sirajganj road crash on Eid holidays At least 16 people have been killed and 60 more injured in a head-on collision between two passenger buses at west side of Bangabandhu Bridge in Mulibari area under Sirajganj sadar upazila.

Bangabandhu Bridge west side police outpost OC Helal Uddin confirmed the deaths to Dhaka Tribune. However, the identities of the deceased could not be known immediately.

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Helal said Rangpur-bound Sabbir Hossain Paribahan from Chittagong and Dhaka-bound Azad Paribahan from Gaibandha collided headed on in the area at 5am on Sunday, leaving 12 dead on the spot. Later, four more people succumbed to their injuries at hospital.

The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately.

On information, the fire service and police rushed to the spot and

conducted rescue operation.

The injured were admitted to Shahed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital in Bogra, Sirajganj Sadar Hospital, Abhisina clinic, Medinova clinic, Moin Uddin Memorial Hospital in the district.

Meanwhile, Sirajganj DC Billal Hosain, Police super Miraj Uddin Ahmed, Civil Surgeon Dr Devprada Roy visited the spot and Sirajganj Sadar hospital.

said Toshiba had overstated its operating profit by 151.8 billion yen ($1.22 billion) over several years, roughly triple Toshiba’s initial estimate.

Tanaka and Sasaki pressured business divisions to meet difficult targets knew they were overstating profits and delaying the reporting of losses amid a culture of not going against the wishes of superiors, the report said.

Local DC Billal said the district administration has formed a threemember committee to probe into the incident. The committee was asked to submit the report within three working days.

The administration will provide Tk10,000 to each family of the victims for transportation of the bodies, the DC said.

Source: Dhaka Tribune

Meanwhile

Photo of the week

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Say what?

Pro surfer fights off shark during competition

Festivities at Dhanmondi lake.

Photo: Sakib Mridha

You’Re welcome

Three best ways to say no There are many helpful productivity and time-management tips, but the most powerful one is the art of saying no.

That’s no to yourself, no to employees, no to friends, and, yes, even no (sometimes) to clients.

Reflect upon the times that you have regretted saying yes to something that took you away from your primary focus. How much time and stress would it have saved you if you had uttered one little word?

But how do you say no to your own mother when she calls to chat in the middle of the day? Or to the client who expects you to go beyond the scope of a project without their paying for the extra work? What about all of those cool ideas that enter your mind; how do you say no to yourself and remain focused on what’s most important?

Here’s a hint: You can say no without uttering the word. Here are three simple guidelines that might just make your life easier.

fulfil but it would put a crimp in your schedule, think about giving them a partial yes – or offer another solution.

1. Don’t respond immediately.

When you are asked to do something that isn’t a part of your primary focus, simply tell the person that you will get back to them. Take a little time to assess the pros and cons of saying yes. Reflect upon your goals and review how saying yes will affect them.

3. Keep it simple: Never over explain or apologise profusely.

You do not have to apologise for doing what’s right for you and your business. If you are kind in your response and offer a few very simple words of explanation, most people will respect you for it. Take a moment to put yourself in the other person’s position and choose the words that seem most appropriate for their personality type. If they are direct, be brief and direct; if they are emotional, use a more compassionate tone. n

2. Consider creative solutions.

Sometimes we say yes because we just want to be nice. Saying no does not mean that you aren’t a nice person; it simply means that you have priorities and boundaries.

When someone comes to you with a request that you would like to

Officials in South Africa called off a surfing competition on Sunday after a shark attacked one of the surfers on live television at the start of the finals.

Australian pro surfer Mick Fanning fought off the shark and escaped injury, though terrifying video of the incident shows just how close he came to sustaining a bite. The shark narrowly missed his leg, instead severing the leash that tied his ankle to the surf board.

“I was just sitting there, I was just about to start moving and then I felt something grab... get stuck in my leg rope,” Fanning told Fox Sports just after the incident.

“I just saw fins. I was waiting for teeth. I punched it in the back,” he said.

According to the World Surf League, which organised the J-Bay Open, held yearly in Jeffreys Bay, not one but two sharks were involved in the attack. Both Fanning and his competitor, Julian Wilson, were quickly plucked from the water by rescue boats.

Wilson shared his own emotional account of the incident shortly after, holding back tears as he recalled watching Fanning topple from his board and thinking, “He’s gone.”

“We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today,” the World Surf League said in a statement after. “Mick’s composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic and the rapid response of our Water Safety personnel was commendable – they are truly world class at what they do.”

Source: Huffington Post

Source: inc.com

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4 Slice of life | Out of the box eid

The many faces of celebration Eid off the beaten track Faisal Mahmud

S

elling old newspapers at Tk2 per piece is no rookie business. However, Fakhrul Amin knew just the right time to make the most of this trade.

“It’s all about knowing the timing of this business,” Amin, who normally sells leather wallets in city buses prudently comments, while selling newspapers in front of Dhanmondi Eidgah.

“During occasions such as Eid, mosques and other places similar to Eidgah maidan are not large enough to accommodate the congregation of massive crowds. People have to use roads and streets around the mosque to be able to join the prayer,” said Amin. “That is where I do the business,” he added.

“Especially when it drizzles on Eid day, it makes it difficult for people to pray,” he said. Interestingly, the people who forgot to bring their prayer mats line up eagerly to buy old newspapers from him to use in exchange, allowing them to offer

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Photo: Courtesy

their prayers on the streets.

“The idea came to me two years ago. I went to attend Eid prayers at Baitul Mukarram and there I noticed people tearing posters from the wall.

They were using those posters as temporary prayer mats,” he said.

“That’s when I thought to myself – how about using old newspapers instead?” he recollected.

Amin also mentions that for the last two years, he has been in the business of selling old newspapers in front of mosques. “Although it’s not Eid everyday, I can still sell my newspapers. Especially during Ramadan, every Friday, I made good money selling newspapers to people going in for Jumma prayers,” he said.

Biker’s day out Even though it has been four years since the formation of the 46 member Posta Biker’s club, they still don’t have a designated club meeting place.

“We don’t need to have a house

for the club. The roads feel like home to us and a day like Eid gives us exactly what we want – lots of space,” says Rial, the club’s president.

Posta Bikers club came into the limelight during the ICC world cup 2011 when they organised the victory bike rallies in the capital after each Bangladesh win.

“We love the victory rally and that’s one of the main reasons for forming the club,” he said, “But that’s not the only reason.”

Rial said that in Dhaka’s trafficclogged roads, they barely have the scope to ride their bikes at high speeds. “I have a Yamaha SZ-R bike and it can run at 150km per hour.

Eid days are when I can really race and enjoy my rides with friends,” he said. “And bike racing is also a reason behind forming the club.”

Rial said that from Posta Bikers club, they have arranged a friendly bike race on Dhaka’s roads on Eid day. “We don’t get roads devoid of traffic too often, that’s why we take it upon ourselves to arrange a race at an opportune time. I am not sure whether it’s legal or not since even last year, we arranged a race on the airport road and the police didn’t bother us,” Rial responded, when asked whether arranging such bike races are prohibited or not.

“Besides, the race is friendly. We don’t do it for money, we do it for fun,” he quipped.

A river cruise With all these advanced miniature

music gadgets, using the old, large sound box for listening to music, sounds anachronistic these days.

However, the youths of Sutrapur of the capital, have a different idea.

To them, Eid doesn’t feel like a celebration if it’s not celebrated with loud Hindi music from large, old fashioned sound boxes.

During any normal Eid celebration, the narrow streets of Siraj Bepari lane of Sutrapur suffer from serious noise pollution, but this year the area remained quiet as the local younsters planned something different.

They decorated a few boats and loaded them with large sound boxes.

They hopped on, and thus began their very own river cruise through the Buriganga River.

“The elderly people of our locality asked us not to make too much noise this year. So we planned the party on the river instead,” Tanvir, a university student and a resident of Siraj Bepari lane said on Sunday.

“We know that Buriganga water in Sutrapur Ghat is severely polluted, with the river giving out a nasty stench but we still want to go on our river cruise,” Tanvir said, “Besides, if you just cruise for two hours, you will see the difference in the river water. It’s actually very clear from then onwards,” he said.

Tanvir informed that they arranged three boats to go up to Mawa. “It’s about a five hour long boat ride. We will have lunch there before returning back,” he added. n

Eid in Dhaka | Slice of life

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A welcome break for Dhakaites Faisal Mahmud

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Photo: Bigstock

or the residents of Khajidewan of Lalbagh of Dhaka, having lights, fans, televisions and all those things that run on ‘electricity’ for only two to three hours a day is a regular feature.

“But the electricity did not die even for half an hour in the last three days,” quipped Rashed Jitu, a resident of Khajedewan of Lalbagh.

“Who would say that we had hours of power cut just a week ago,” he said. “And the long hours of waiting for running water in the tap seems a thing of distant past.”

Ahsanuzzaman Khan, a pharmacist by profession, meanwhile had a happy time for a different reason. “It took me less than half an hour to reach Gulshan from Dhanmondi. I actually forgot how fun driving is for a long time,” he said.

Over the last few days, many such Dhaka residents have experienced virtually no power failures, water shortages or traffic tailback – things that a 360 square kilometre city with about 16 million residents have to otherwise constantly live with.

All thanks to the Eid holidays!

been paralysed, apparently forcing the remaining few city dwellers to stay indoors. Some areas of this busy capital turned into a ghost abode as most of the tenants who went home for Eid celebration kept their homes under lock and key.

However with an estimated six million Dhaka dwellers away for the Eid holidays, the consumption of utility services in the capital was reduced to almost half, giving the rest a welcome respite from the prolonged supply shortage that have been plaguing the city.

And with all those people absent in the roads, the infamous traffic jam of Dhaka almost vanished, except for a long tailback in and around the few recreational places of the capital.

The continuous rain during these three days however has curbed the enthusiasm of many.

With electricity, water shortages and traffic jam now a permanent part of life, it was a welcome change for Dhaka-dwellers who relished the uninterrupted supply of utility services and jam-free roads during the Eid holidays.

A rainy, deserted mega city

According to sources at Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC), the amount of electricity usually consumed during the Eid holidays tend to be around 1200 to

With the heavy down pour since Saturday evening, normal life has

Utilities on check

1400 MW, while the regular amount of demand hangs around 1800 to 2200 MW. “You wouldn’t have complaints of power outages during this time as about half the population is away from the city,” Saiful Islam Chowdhury, director of communication of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) said, “The city has just too many people during normal time for an uninterrupted power supply to all.”

Meanwhile, city dwellers who spent the whole month of Ramadan amid acute water crisis had little complaint against Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Wasa.

During Ramadan, water crisis was so acute in several city regions that many people found it hard to get water from the mobile water supply cars of Wsds as those too were short in supply of water due to increased demand.

But water consumption also experienced a dramatic decrease during eid holidays. “The city that requires well over 250 crores liter of water everyday, consumed an average of around 110 liter during the Eid holidays,” Kamrul Alam Chowdhury, deputy managing director of Wasa said.

He also said that most of the water used in the Eid holidays was

for household use, not for industrial or commercial purpose. “That also help reduced the demand for water because of which we can ensure smooth water supply across the capital,” he said.

A traffic jam free Dhaka!

The best part of Eid holidays is however traffic jam free Dhaka.

With half the Dhaka population off the roads, almost three-fourth of the city buses is in terminals, making the roads free of long traffic tailback.

“We will start the regular bus service from Sunday. Right now there are few buses in the raod,” Raifqul Islam Kajal president of Association of Bus Companies (ABC) said.

“Traffic doesn’t occur in Dhaka because of the public buses. There was traffic jam in Mirpur Road even on Eid day due to arrays of private cars. It’s those private cars that create jam in Dhaka”, he said.

Agreeing with Kajal, renowned urban planner Prof Dr Sarwar Jahan said, indeed it’s the array of private cars which create the traffic clog in Dhaka. “A city with such a large population doesn’t have a sustainable public transport system.

So people opt for their own private transportation. That creates the traffic clog in the capital.”

“However Eid holidays are a welcome break for all of us,” he said. n

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6 feature | Vastu Shastra

The science of homes Exploring the local version of Vastu Shastra and its practice in Bangladesh

Saudia Afrin

“P

ub duwari ghorer raja, Dokkhin duwari tari proja” is a saying by Khana, a legendary Indian poet and astrologer. There are thousands of rituals and rules that come in the form of common sayings, like the one above. These sayings are a breathing part of Vastu Shastra, the ancient science of architecture and construction that defines the basis of architectural designs and layouts.

Sayings similar to this have been incorporated within our culture and ecosystem. This raises an important question - when it comes to Vastu Shastra, are architects in Bangladesh adopting the correct form of this science?

All human beings desire a

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healthy, happy life. This has always been an undeniable part of almost every man’s dream. One of the greatest manifestation of a happy life includes a home – the ultimate symbol of protection. Similarly, in many ways, one’s home is also considered to be a living entity.

However, we must take into note that other external factors such as the weather and social factors have an impact on our lives. It makes us wonder, are we truly living a healthy, protected life?

On this note, let’s take a moment to close our eyes and think of all the different kinds of houses we have come across over the years.

There’s a reason behind these differences, as explained by Pavel Partha, a researcher on ecology

and biodiversity: “Every place has its own ecology and ecosystem.

Depending on certain features, the rules of Vastu Shastra differ from one person to another. The type of land a particular region has and the sort of material available in that particular region, becomes a determining factor. Moreover, the specialities

in climate when merged with ingenious tradition, culture and art of architecture, combines to make its own kind of Vastu Shastra.” It is clear that every person has a different identity, taste and background, leading to diverse cultures that are currently evident.

The basic idea behind building

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a house in Bangladesh is to make sure it is built on level ground.

However, this does not hold true for the Bedey community. They live on boats and their theory of living varies from those who belong to landscape settlements. Once upon a time people from the Mandi and Garo community made “Burong,” - houses that were located on tree tops. Due to rapid deforestation, this architectural art form has been declining in Bangladesh.

As for the communities that live in hilly areas, many prefer to hold on to the natural ecosystem and make do with their surroundings. Instead of cutting down hills, they make their homes atop these hills, balancing it with the use of bamboo. They believe that if a hill gets cut it will lead to their misfortune. Scientific research has proven that if a hill is incised at a 45 degree angle, the hill will eventually have to suffer a landslide.

Pavel Partha also noted that the pattern or structure of homes in rural Bangladesh is determined by the type of work the heads of these families undertake. He said, “There are 30 agri-ecological zones in Bangladesh. Having different patterns of houses in every zone is natural. In some households that are surrounded by small water bodies, the granary is stored inside the house. Alternatively, in other households, the granary is stored directly in the courtyard.”

Some communities even make their homes based on climate and weather conditions. Even though this is not common practice in Bangladesh, you can still find people from the Mro, Tripura, Khubi and even Chakma communities only making houses during the Jum agriculture season.

If we assess the different kinds of houses in Bangladesh, many houses are made of materials like Shon ghash (a local grass made with various kinds of bamboo and wood from local trees) to cope with the climate.

Moreover, all the materials used to make everything from the rooftop to the floors are not only associated with the land, forest and hills but also river tracks. Interestingly, with the changing pattern of river routes, people migrate to new places to create new settlements, with a whole new idea of home-building that is relevant to that particular area.

He continues, “When people from Jamuna or Tista’s chor migrate to Dhaka, they face difficulty adapting to the environment. This is due to the fact that these houses have no connection with the local ecosystem and resources.”

Some village cottages seem too dark from inside. Pavel Partha explains: “Our subaltern people mostly work in broad daylight the entire day. As a result, they crave darker living spaces unlike urbanites who prefer their homes to be bright and full of light.” While stressing this point, he shared one of the assumptions about the comeabouts of Shat-Gambuj-Mosque and Kantajir Mandir. He mentioned that ample amount of lighting is necessary for urbanites as they prefer staying indoors.

When thinking of these architectural choices, it makes us wonder are these houses truly ecofriendly? Partha emphasised that they aren’t since most houses use asbestos sheets, a globally banned material that is used to construct roofs.

Furthermore, even though people are aware of the harmful effects of materials that are made using lead, they continue to use these to build their homes. These days even glass houses can be found across the capital, with most people unaware of how this raises a houses internal temperature as glass absorbs heat from sunlight. He also stated that the practice of filling water bodies to build houses also has strong negative impact on the ecosystem. Ideally, according to ancient Vastu Shastra ideologies, having water bodies

near homes helps balance a house’s temperature.

“Before, people would cement their homes using soil collected from different sources to coat their walls.

Nowadays, people use industry grade cement and paint to coat their walls,” he mentioned.

He said, “Back in the day, a person would know just how long that soil would hold up their walls. They’d know when it would expire and when it would require a new coating.

People who live in urban dwellings are under the misconception that their homes will survive the test of time and weather, not really knowing

exactly when the materials used to cement their walls will expire.”

He recommended the practice of rain water harvesting and the use of solar or wind panel for electricity. Moreover, he stated that it’s suggested not to build homes on water bodies.

“Interestingly, even different kinds of roofs indicate what kind of people live under it. People from the Sawtal community consider their homes to be a sacred place – the roofs of their houses are much lower so that everyone entering their homes have to bend or bow before entering,” he added.n

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8 Focus | China and the world

The re(emergence) of China China’s “soft power” policy in the world arena Ameer Sobhan

C

hina’s nascent growth as an economic powerhouse has been well underway since it joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001.

This was a process long in the making since the economic reform initiatives of Deng Xiaoping in the late 70s. Through its “socialist market economy” model, China has impressively grown from strength to strength. It best displayed its endurance in the face of global turmoil in the advent of the Great Recession of the late aughts – a global slump the likes of which the world hasn’t seen since the Great Depression. In those years China acrobatically maneuvered its way through global pitfalls and maintained (if not increased) impressive economic growth rates, making it clear to the world that it had earned its place in the forum of world leaders.

As China emerges as a key economic player in world affairs, its rise is being received with some trepidation by the gatekeepers of the global economy. Although China’s ascendance is generally perceived to be a relatively new event, experts such as the political scientist Joseph Nye choose to look at it as the “reemergence” of, what used to be, the world’s leading civilisation.

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Photo: Bigstock

This appears to be the same lens with which China sees its role in world affairs. As Henry Kissinger has written in his book, “On China,” even tales that purportedly depict the roots of its origins cast it as an entity that already existed instead of one that came about through the means of any discovery or invention.

In addition to directing the world’s gaze toward Chinese reemergence, Joseph Nye has also prominently written about how China has increasingly engaged with various regions of the world through what he calls “soft power.”

In contrast to “hard power” politics that draws on the material components of financial and military strength (and other key markers of conventional material power), “soft power” seeks to increase influence through other means such as cultural engagement. In the case of China, the government-backed Confucius Institute - the Chinese counterpart to language institutes such as Alliance Française and Goethe Institute - has drawn a lot of attention, especially due to its everincreasing number of branches in universities around the world. Much of the ire has focused on attempts by some Confucius Institutes to prevent discussions on sensitive matters such as Tibet, the Dalai Lama and

other military and political issues.

Despite such criticism, these institutes are continuing to attract an increasing number of students who are not only interested in learning Mandarin but also about Chinese culture and history.

Although China has strategically employed soft power tactics to increase its influence around the world, that has not prevented it from making stronger attempts to make a mark on the international stage.

This was most recently seen through its proposal to introduce the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a financial institution seen by the United States as an alternative to institutions such the World Bank, the International Fund (IMF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The latter organisations are perceived to be heavily influenced by countries such as the US and its western allies and are seen as allowing them the power to dictate the running of the global economy. As AIIB seeks to focus on development in the AsiaPacific region, the US is weary not only of China’s attempt to establish itself at the top of the food chain in the eastern hemisphere but also the consequences that might come about if the AIIB makes a prominent mark in the world of global development. This may also

gradually lead to a situation wherein it may even seek to rewrite the rules of how development issues are addressed.

That China is a key player in world politics today cannot be disputed. As the internal structure of international institutions of governance of the post-WWII world become increasingly antiquated particularly in the case of the UN Security Council - the traditional identities of world leaders are being reconfigured. It is in that tug of war that China is now finding itself and to make its standing firmer, it is engaging with the world on an expansive scale. From offering postrecession assistance through the IMF to European nations to increasing engagements with oil-producing and resource-rich states within Africa, China has consciously made sure not to restrict its footprints to the Asia-Pacific region. As it increasingly gets comfortable playing the role of a nation capable of disbursing financial assistance to countries and creates opportunities to educate the world about its culture and history, it is clear that despite a relative cooling down in recent economic growth, the Chinese sphere of influence will continue to grow. n

Leaving home | Photo story

9

9/11

9/11 happened and overnight, we weren’t the token minorities anymore. Islam became the face of evil, and for thousands of peaceful Bangladeshis, their identity as Muslims became their greatest liability.

Hiraeth

Photos: Imrul Islam

The rains don’t smell like rain back home. The lights are brighter, the streets strange. Religions clash here, 9/11 happened and almost overnight, Muslims weren’t the token minority anymore.

Everything’s in English and Bangla has to claw its way out of my throat when I speak. The children we bring into this world will have to decide which culture to grasp on to, which language to speak, which God to believe in. When we got on to a flight from DHK to JFK we fragmented forever the notion of home. You and I, we will never belong to any one physical location, our tongues will not prefer any one language over another, our dreams will teleport endlessly across the Pacific Why then, do the rains not smell right? Why do the streets appear unknown? Why is home still packaged in red and green?

Hiraeth is a Welsh word that signifies homesickness tinged with grief or sadness over a past lost or departed, and it is an emotion these photos attempt to capture. The struggle of every Bangladeshi immigrant is different, but the emotions that define leaving home are rooted in commonness. There is melancholia, muted sadness, grief. And there is hope that leaving home will one day be worth it.

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10 Photo story | Leaving home

Waves

Like waves crashing ceaselessly onto shore, our dreams foam and froth before ebbing away.

Hope

My aunt left her sheltered life back home to provide greater oppurtunuties home to providegreater oppurtunities for her two sons - both of whom will apply for collages soon enough.

Rain

The rain don’t smell like rains back home. It is a synthetic deluge without the wonderful melancholia that mansoon in Bangladesh brings.

The American dream

A Bangladeshi cabbie sleeps in his car at dawn. Photographed at Jackson Heights.

Rush

Everyone’s in a rush, no time to be lost. The city waits for none.

Sightseers

Brooklyn Bridge is one of those places every Bangladeshi immigrant makes a point to visit in New York. Here, a son in a hat photographs his mother in a sari atop the bridge.

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11

Nani

My grandmother of 85, eats alone in her daughter’s house in Queens. She moved to NY permanently in 2014 since most of her children emigrated.

Hope redux

And sometimes the sacrifice seems worth it.

The future is theirs.

Before the fireworks

Fourth of July. Fireworks, a celebration of America, its promises and disappointments. Children run under a fountain of Coney Island.

Star spangled

A Bangladeshi woman walks by in a hijab with the American flag draped over her shoulders.

Untitled

A Bangladeshi food cart owner enjoys a quiet moment. Photographed in Union Square.

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12 Environment | Gender and disaster Management

Gender and Climate Change Adaptation

Climate change poses greater threats to Bangladesh’s rural women, particularly due to gender inequality, and this must be taken into account when developing or establishing any form of disaster management programme Sohara Mehroze Shachi

W

ith increasing threats of climate change induced calamities, specially for low lying nations such as Bangladesh, the concept of adaptation has become vital. In the context of climate change, adaptive capacity is the ability to overcome and recover from external climate change related stress, ie it is essentially about resilience. Vulnerability to climate change is determined in large part

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, J U LY 24 , 201 5

Photos: Shekhar Mondal

by people’s adaptive capacity. A particular climate hazard, such as a drought, does not affect all people within a community – or even the same household – equally because some people have greater capacity than others to manage the crisis.

The inequitable distribution of rights, resources and power – as well as repressive cultural rules and norms – constrains many people’s ability to take action on climate change. This is especially true for

women, and gender is a critical factor in understanding vulnerability to climate change. Yet, most of the debate on climate change so far has been gender blind.

Women are found to be more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than men, not because of any inherent weakness but rather due to their gender prescribed roles and socio-economic situation, which reduces their resilience to climatic impacts. Women are responsible

for climatically sensitive tasks such as securing food and water, which negatively impacts their health and well-being in the context of climate induced disasters. Given the severity of gender inequality, particularly in developing countries such as Bangladesh, climate change and accompanied increased frequency of natural disasters is likely to magnify existing patterns of gender disadvantage.

13

Women’s Health and Safety: During floods, latrines, which are usually situated outside of the main dwelling units of villages, are submerged. Field studies have found that in flooded areas, rural Bangladeshi women have to go outside on rafts in order to excrete in the water, often in the middle of the night, which poses risks to their health and safety. They also have to bathe in flood water due to dearth of fresh water, often at night to avoid

being seen. Moreover, the kitchens are also usually situated outside the house and women, who are primarily responsible for cooking, cross the waterlogged courtyard several times a day in chest high water to reach the kitchen, and also commute large distances to fetch water. All these water exposure increases their risk of contracting diarrhoea, dysentery, snakebites and skin diseases.

Furthermore, in such situations they face extreme difficulties in coping with conditions such as pregnancy or menstruation. Women and girls

often report rashes and urinary tract infection during floods, as they are unable to wash their menstrual rags in clean water or dry them and hence have to use damp clothes.

Increased incidence of violence against women in disasters is one example of how issues of gender inequality can be a cause of the disproportionate effects of climate change on women and men. A study on conducted by Nasreen in 2008 uncovered that 71.6% of the women studied were subject to more violence during disasters. Married women mentioned increase in physical and psychological violence.

Some women and girls reported sexual harassment including forced sex, rape at home and in shelters.

Due to climate change, the frequency of cyclones is also increasing in Bangladesh. However, Cyclone shelters in Bangladesh are few and far between, so families often take refuge in nearby embankments or in the open, which is insecure for women. Those who dare trek the long distance to reach a shelter on foot, often fall prey to local miscreants (ie mastans).

Girls are often harassed sexually if not accompanied by adult women.

Elderly and pregnant women find it difficult to walk along muddy rural roads under stormy conditions to reach a cyclone shelter, or to climb the steep stairs up to a shelter.

Women’s plight doesn’t end on reaching a shelter. The inadequate cyclone shelters often go beyond capacity during cyclones and people have no places to even stand. In such circumstances, women suffer a lot. Males often take advantage of the physical proximity of girls when the refugees are cramped in such shelters. Moreover, there is hardly any designated space within these shelters for lactating mothers and pregnant women to either serve the infant or rest. Thus the gender blindness of the cyclone shelters acts as an impediment to women’s health and safety.

Climate Vulnerability and Gender: Towards more inclusive development Vulnerability to climate change is gendered, because women are disproportionately vulnerable to natural hazards due to social norms, entrenched gender inequality and

reproductive responsibilities, which constrain women’s mobility and survival options. Household data substantiate that adaptive capacity is gendered, because women have less control over capital, limited economic opportunities and lack voice in decision making, and these factors reduce women’s capacity to adapt and overcome hazards.

Finally, access to institutions that can help increase adaptive capacity is also gendered; as studies show that very few women have access to public institutions, and as a result are not able to access adaptation information and support. When institutions promote gender inclusion, they can help women emerge as change agents with higher adaptive capacity.

If gender is overlooked in the planning of adaptation interventions, the measures may not be appropriate or sustainable.

For example, women in Bangladesh are generally responsible for fetching water, but if they are not consulted about where to build new tube-wells, the tube-wells may be placed too far from their homes, thereby increasing women’s burden. Gender-blind adaptation programmes are detrimental to development, as they can exacerbate existing inequality, hence development interventions need to adopt the approach of gender main-streaming and assess the different implications of any planned action for men and women.

It’s crucial to recognise that women are not only hapless victims of climate change, but also powerful agents of change whose leadership on climate change is critical. Women often know a range of coping strategies traditionally used to manage climate variability and change. They not only have roles as caregivers, but also typically form strong social networks within their communities, thereby meeting a prerequisite for collective management of the risks posed by climate change. Thus women need to be included in the decisionmaking processes and allowed to contribute their unique expertise and knowledge to adapt to climate change, because any climate change intervention that excludes women’s perspective and any policy that is gender blind, is destined to fail. n

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, J U LY 24, 20 1 5

14 LEGALESE | Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi

Five types of Writs

Got a problem?

Write to Jennifer at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

Q

I am a high school student and have an avid interest in law (aiming to be a lawyer sometime in the near future!). Consequently, on most days, I find myself perusing the legal pages and legal articles in newspapers and magazines. Most of the issues are clearly explained and that makes it easy to follow.

However, I also keep reading about “Writs” and “Writ Petitions”. Whilst the verdicts and related news is fascinating, I would appreciate if you would kindly explain more about the subject of Writ Petitions. What exactly is a Writ?

A

Dear Reader Wow, that is actually a difficult one to answer. It is difficult mainly because the subject of Writs and Writ Petitions span an entire area of law. Countless books have been written on this matter and t appears to be one of the most popular legal alternatives available to the general public. I am going to try my best to answer your query and summarise, to the best of my ability, what writs and writ petitions are all about.

The dictionary definition of a writ is as follows: “a written command, precept, or formal order issued by a court, directing or enjoying the person or persons to whom it is addressed to do or refrain from doing some act specified therein.” To put it simply, a writ would translate to a ‘written order’ which would require someone to either consequently do something, or to refrain from doing something. Historically, the writ originated in the British legal system.

Today it serves as an important legal remedy, aiming at providing measures for the infringement of fundamental rights. Article 102 of the Bangladesh constitution Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi is a barrister and solicitor of England and Wales. She is currently Senior Partner at Legacy Legal Corporate.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, J U LY 24 , 201 5

Photo: Bigstock

confers powers and enables the initiation of writ petitions.

Writs are of five principal types, namely Habeas Corpus, Certiorari, Prohibition, Mandamus and QuoWarranto. Although now explicitly stated in Article 102, they can be presumed from a detailed inspection of Article 102. The textbook “Law of Writs in Bangladesh” by Siddiqur Rahman Miah does an excellent job in succinct explaining the classification of these five types of Writs and these are as follows: “Habeas Corpus is a kind of order of the Court that command the authorities hold an individual in custody to bring that person in the Court. The authorities must then explain why he is being held.

The Court can order the release of the individual if explanation is unsatisfactory. Thus Habeas corpus is a process for securing the personal liberty of the subjects. Certiorari is meant to

control the action of the inferior Courts and to make it certain that they have not exceeded their jurisdiction. Prohibition prevents a tribunal possessing judicial or quasijudicial powers from exercising jurisdiction over matters not within its cognizance. The purpose of prohibition is to limit the jurisdiction of the Court. Mandamus is an order or command of the Court directing to any person, corporation or inferior tribunal requiring him to do some particular thing as his duty when a Court, Tribunal, Authority or person has failed to perform his statutory obligation, High Court, compels the Court or person to do his statutory obligation. Quo-Warranto is a writ by which the High Court verifies the title of a person to the office and thus the unauthorised occupants are ousted by judicial order. When a person illegally holds a public office created by law, the High Court on the application of any person can by

issuing quo-warranto, ask the person to show on what authority he holds the office and can make him not to hold such office further.”

Therefore, what sort of Writ would apply in this case, would depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. There are certain necessary requirements for a writ to succeed and there are certain procedures which need to be followed before a writ petition can succeed. I have tried my best to explain what writs and writ petitions are all about.

However, having said that, please bear in mind that this would be similar to skimming the surface of the ocean – the information available on this subject is massive, proven by a visit to a law book shop at Nilkhet or New Market. With this in mind, I have decided to dedicate another Legalese column next week to briefly go into the details about the aforementioned requirements and procedures. Till next time, ciao! n

Minu Ahmed | The Bong Momma

15

“You’re…what?”

Tales from a firsttime mother Minu Ahmed

M

y eyes shot open at 6am. I felt like I was in Mission Impossible as I stealthily went

to the bathroom and fished out the pregnancy test from my pocket. It was now or never.

Five minutes later, I was back in my bedroom. The Husband lay spread-eagled on the bed, snoring away noisily like a hibernating bear.

One swift kick to his backside woke him up. I told him the tests came positive. He muttered a groggy “Okay,” and gave me a thumbs up.

Photo: Bigstock

Ignoring The Husband’s lack of

The tricky bit was calling my

enthusiasm, I carefully thought out

that he was overjoyed at the news,

Husband and his brother, were of the

the next move. The parental units

and that we had made the right

species that had been particularly

parents next. I just had dinner with

were going to be hard to conquer, but

choice.

difficult as children, and were

them the night before, and I could

notorious for mischief. By the time

imagine their baffled expressions.

dropped her jaw five seconds ago

The Husband was three years old, he

My mother was surprisingly cool

and still hadn’t managed to close it.

already had five stitches on various

about it; why wouldn’t she be? It was

sitting in the living room after

If there was a signboard above her

sections of his face and head. He

her life’s dream to get me married off

breakfast. I encouraged them into

head, it would have been flashing,

came built-in with an inexhaustible

to a handsome dulha and then as if

telling me humorous stories about

“OH…MY …GOD” in neon lights.

source of energy, an inquisitive mind

by magic, she would be surrounded

She proceeded to ask how we

and a penchant for destroying things.

by grandchildren. She went on to

I would win them over emotionally.

Muhaha.

Around 9am, my in-laws were

The Husband and his brother when

My mom-in-law however, had

they were kids. The plan was that

knew, and I told her that I had taken

From friends to old school teachers,

tell me how she had prophesied this

The Husband would slowly chime

a couple of home pregnancy tests

the reaction to the marriage had

occurrence and that I would have a

in with the good news and I would

already and they were all positive.

been along similar lines, “You’re

daughter who would look like her

support. But he chickened out at the

She asked if this was what we

marrying…him? Why?!”

and become a doctor like her as

last minute, piped in with, “Minu

wanted, and I replied that it was.

has something to say!” and then

She shook her head slowly and said

been young and unprepared for her

became apparent in my voice, I hung

disappeared into the background.

nothing.

adventure as a mother, but I was

up and called my father.

My mom-in-law might have

well. Before my vicious eye-rolling

My dad had recently become hard

Any other person would probably

older than she was when I became

be disappointed at this reaction, but

pregnant, and in simple terms, not

of hearing and before he made me

to me, and the feeling was like

I wasn’t. And no, my mom-in-law

as naïve. Boy or girl, I knew the

repeat myself, I told him that I had

stepping out of the shade into direct

wasn’t being condescending either.

experience was going to be arduous,

something important to say, and

blinding sunlight. I could feel my

Twenty-seven years of flashback

but more importantly, life-changing.

that he should listen carefully. I told

temperature rise and the synapses

memories had suddenly hit her, like

worked overtime in my head.

a car crash in slow motion.

Traitor!

My in-laws shifted their attention

My mom-in-law asked cheerfully,

My mother-in-law had always

The Husband then called his

him I was pregnant, and after a few

younger brother over the phone and

seconds of silence, the first thing

told him, after which I received a

he says to me is, “What about your

“Come on, tell us. You got a job,

told me how the gene pool in The

very upbeat, “Congratulations!!!” on

reception?” I reassure him that it

didn’t you?”

Husband’s family was strong, and all

my mobile phone.

wouldn’t be an issue and we would

I broke out into the biggest smile

of the family members were similar

I called my younger sister next,

cross that bridge when it came. Not a

I could muster and beamed, “Errr…

in one way or another. The Husband

who was then studying abroad. My

man of metaphors, he was curious as

No. I’m pregnant.”

was exactly like his father, and my

news resulted in an involuntary

to which bridge I was talking about.

mom-in-law had no doubt that our

stumble, because I had called her

Sigh.

hear the last word echoing in the

kids would be replicas of their father.

while she was walking down the

So, yes, between The Husband’s

room, “…pregnant… pregnant…

With my announcement, she saw

stairs at her university. She replied

horror stories, my parents’

pregnant…”

history repeating itself and well,

with a flustered, “You’re….what?” I

eccentricity, and my quirky

alarms went off in her head.

laughed and told her the whole story,

off-handedness; the growing

after which there were a series of

amalgamation in my tummy was

OMGs, LOLs and more OMGs!

certainly in for a ride! n

The room fell silent and I could

My dad-in-law, being the diplomatic and observant mediator that he is, immediately informed us

You see, my father-in-law and his siblings, and subsequently The

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16 Campaign | Global Teacher Prize

Celebrating student successes Feedback on the local education system from a teacher Sakib Mridha

“E

ducation is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’’ - Nelson Mandela Tamanna Chowdhury, is a senior teacher in the elementary section of Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College.

How does it feel to teach teens who are the future of the nation?

A: It’s terrifying, you know. There is no room for error while you are teaching a child because they learn what you teach them. They follow and imitate you. So no mistakes are allowed and you always need to be cautious. But it feels good though, knowing some day these kids will run this nation, prosper in their fields, and enlighten the path wherever they will go.

The text books have been changed, and so have the question patterns.

Students are learning things in a more productive, practical way.

Investing a million dollars could help the system a lot. That sum of money can be a vital fund for training teachers for upcoming challenges.

Laboratory facilities for practical work can be increased, libraries can be developed.

Bangladesh is a middle-income country. There are around 85,000 primary schools all around Bangladesh. Not necessarily all of them have proper sitting

given a chance to implement them.

Hence, the outcome of this would be really sweet, if more money could be poured into this area. Dreams come true when investments are made to execute these plans.

Many aspects of our education system are developing, providing a good environment for our students.

However, there is always room for improvement and development. So, if I won a million dollars it would really help an institution.

Moreover, if an ideal teacher from a less developed institution wins this prize, he/she can really help improve

If you are asked to nominate one teacher for this award who would you choose?

Wow. That’s a tough one because every teacher is unique in their own way. They try to deliver their best to the students. They figure out every student’s capability and prepare them for the future. Yes, sometimes one teacher might have more impact on a student’s mind than some other, but every teacher has something to offer that others cannot. Thus, to pick one of them would be unjust.

What is the best thing about being a teacher?

After every lesson, when I look at my students’ glowing faces and realise that they understood what I taught them, as a teacher, that’s the best feeling for me. Also, when I bump into former students and they recognise me and tell me how they’re doing, it gives me immense pride.

Photo: Courtesy

Have you heard of the Global Teacher Prize?

Yes, but not elaborately.

The Global Teacher Prize is an annual award of one million dollars to be given throughout a year to a brilliant teacher, who teaches students in the compulsory schooling system, for his/her contribution to the profession and the learning community. If you were to participate and win one million dollars, what changes would you bring to the education system here?

In the last decade, the education system in Bangladesh has changed a lot. It has broken away from the traditional education system and has become a more creative platform.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, J U LY 24 , 201 5

arrangements for their students, let alone libraries and laboratories. A million dollars, which is around 8 crore taka, could really help these primary schools flourish, creating brilliant students who can take charge of the future.

Our country is moving forward and our schools are becoming more digitised. We now use the Internet to show students what is going on around the world. We give them practical examples of the lessons being taught. They are introduced to world famous philosophers, scientists, Nobel laureates. These inspire and help them to dream big. And these dreams later come to reality when the dreamers are

the scenario of their institution.

You said we are getting digitised.

What is your thoughts on online

What is your idea of an ideal

education?

teacher?

It would be great. If good educational institutions come forward and start taking online classes lots of people would get the opportunity to learn. We are now using modern equipment like high-end mobile phones, tablets, and fast internet. Streaming online classes would be easy. People with disabilities, and lack of transport could benefit from this.

An ideal teacher is one who doesn’t only teach you, but also gives you lessons about life. They motivate, inspire, move, and mesmerise you.

They give you hope when you give up on yourself. They guide you and channel your inner strength towards greatness. They give away everything just so you can learn. These teachers know how to find talent, as they see the best in students and stimulate them to work on it. They are like touchstones, who have the ability to discover hidden talent.

For more information about The Global Teacher prize, visit: www. globalteacherprize.org n

Workplace culture | Focus

17

The value of work place culture – which century are we in?

Sanam Reza

W

Photo: Bigstock

e hire someone for

job holder basically just gives the

of the mentality our people hold so

from frisbee to foxtrot” according to

their educational

minimum output required by him/

dear, resulting in fairness cream sales

the Google website.

qualifications,

her and waits for the pay check at the

shooting up every day.

their skills, and

end of the month, having absolutely

Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin

Google believes in an open culture where everyone gets to contribute

their professional experience. Yet,

no connection with the final product,

Group said “When you lavish praise

and feels comfortable sharing

when they make a suggestion it is

or the organisation; leading to work

on people, they flourish. Criticise,

ideas and opinions. In their weekly

unacceptable to hear it out because

over-load and stress as you lose the

and they shrivel up.” There was a

meetings, which sometimes are

they hold a post lower than yours.

love for your job, or what you do

time when IBM was going through

held in cafes, Googlers directly ask

This is a common scenario in our

eventually is just wait for an offer

a downfall. Louis V Gerstner, CEO

questions to Larry, Sergey and other

offices. You believe as an employer

from another company with better

(1993), IBM; shared his thoughts

executives about any number of

that, I have been there before I was

pay.

about his first meeting at IBM about

company issues.

strategy where everyone in the room

The five stages of the ‘Empowerment

promoted so I know all about the

Laszlo Bock, HR Manager, Google

process. But, are you then ignoring

says “We want to understand what

was actively sharing ideas and he

Process’ has five characteristics:

the fact that the world and its ways

works here rather than what worked

felt that after eight hours he did not

skill variety, task identity, task

are changing by the second? Or is

at any other organisation.” Following

understand anything and he felt

significance, autonomy, and

it the fear that they might come

a text-book approach does not work

depressed. He claimed that he didn’t

feedback that help improve work

up with something better than

with humans, we are not machines!

see himself as the main man behind

cultures. Seniors at least need to give

you? Regardless, you are ignoring

Knowing what works best for your

IBM’s transformation, in fact, he was

that autonomy to their managers

the very basis of the formation of

office is the sign of a true leader and

just able to study the organisation

to create the right work place

a business entity – all activities

a successful manager. If you are

as an outsider to understand what

culture. This would at least help

should work for achieving the vision

responsible and have the power to

made the company tick. He felt

small companies who can’t provide

and mission of the organisation

set rules and ways of how the work

that change came to IBM partially

luxuries like Google to improve

which is usually based on creating a

is done; you will be smart enough

due to the pride and energy of the

productivity and welfare of both the

product that satisfies the consumer’s

to know whether a carrot or a cake

employees themselves. Eventually,

company and its employees. “If you

needs and has a competitive

needs to be hung in front of your

he felt that they had a culture of

are lucky enough to be someone’s

advantage, bringing in profit for the

employees to get their most efficient

“crisp white shirts, the culture of

employer, then you have a moral

organisation.

and effective output. You need to

hordes of administrative assistants,

obligation to make sure people do

identify if leaving post-its on your

and the culture, most debilitating,

look forward to coming to work in

issue that is usually and very

employee’s desk makes him feel that

of the individual with a capital “I,”

the morning,” states John Mackey,

conveniently ignored in developing

you value his work or a direct order

of me-first for every employee”. It

CEO, Whole Foods Market. Managers

countries, and text-book like culture

does the job. It is crucial to identify

took him years to realise that at the

greatly ignore the comfort of

is observed instead, one which is

what makes them motivated and

end of the day, culture wasn’t just

discussion or support, employees

highly influenced by the culture

feel like a part of the creation of the

a term people talked about, like

need from them yet, they pride

of that nation. In Bangladesh, for

organisation they work at. In some

“advertising” or “marketing.” At IBM

themselves to be the middleman

instance, our culture demands that

developed countries, they usually

he realised understanding culture

between the employer and

you do not raise your voice at a

do not allow you to mention your

was everything.

employee. If you choose to ignore

person older than you, you do not

gender or attach a photo to your

question what elders, teachers, or

resume until you are very close

at the campuses of Google. Google

you have failed to understand the

anyone with a more advantageous

to selection; but, in Bangladesh,

believes “It’s really the people that

very meaning of “management”. n

position than you says; or at least

unfortunately, most companies ask

make Google the kind of company it

you don’t oppose it. That sounds

for these when you are applying.

is. We hire people who are smart and

very respectful and noble but does

Why? What is the connection

determined, and we favour ability

that really help resolve the issue? In

between the person’s gender or looks

over experience.” ‘Googlers’, as the

some situations outside your work

and the work they will produce?

employees are called, share common

place it may be fine. But, at work,

This is a reflection of how our offices

goals and visions for the company

it is simply a waste of talent and an

work. Unless it is a model, actor, or

but, they hire people from all kinds

opportunity cost that you let go to

a similar individual you need for

of backgrounds. “And when not at

have your way. This usually also

the job, what really is the purpose

work, Googlers pursue interests

leads to job alienation where the

of photos? This is also the reflection

ranging from cycling to beekeeping,

The right work culture is an

One of the best work cultures are

the importance of workplace culture,

Rotarian Sanam Reza is a business graduate of International Trade from Victoria University, Melbourne, and holds a Master of Business and Commerce degree from University of Western Sydney, Sydney.

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, J U LY 24, 20 1 5

18 stay in Mini cryptics

Book Review

“Translation – Vol. 1, Issue 1”

Clues ACROSS 5 View Greek letter in bulb (7) 6 Vegetables for South African boy (5) 9 US capital’s endless laundry (7) DOWN 1 Take orb sneakily (3) 2 Photo of idiot has nothing on artist (7) 3 Ship found in attic mess (7) 4 A number of opponents (3) 7 We are after a feeling of wonder (3) 8 Time for silver Euros º(3)

Sakib Sarker translated texts. All of the translators seem to have been very conservative in their translation of the poems.

These translations were very faithful to their sources. The inclusion of Tagore is more of a tribute than an attempt to introduce him to the world readers, because of course, Tagore is the most known Bengali writer in the world.

The translation of the poems are easy to read and understand. For instance, the translation of “Then Deep Within” by Shamsul Haq (translated by Abdus Selim) depicts the affectionate reminiscence of the poet very tastefully: “Birds’ chirping misleads me – Perhaps it’s they! Them! At the fair somebody still calls me By the very nickname of mine that’s long forgotten.

Then from within firmly stirs timeless aroma of corn –” The translators contributing to this issue are Fakrul Alam, Abdus Selim, Tusar Talukder, Mujtoba Ahmed Murshed (translated his own work), Binoy Barman, Farhan Ishraq

(translated his own work and a short story), Parveen K. Elias, Zia Nazmul Islam, and Kabir Chowdhury.

Parveen K. Elias’ translation of Hasan Azizul Haque’s short story is amazingly crisp and engrossing.

Other translations are well done and easy to read and comprehend. How much of the original humour, wit, and cultural nuances the translators were able to convey is up to the literary critics and readers to decide.

Many of the translations were made by Abdus Selim, the editor of the journal, as he was quick to point out in an apologetic tone in the editorial. His unease of having to use so much of his own work is valid and much less worthy of concern than he thinks. Because any sincere literary effort to promote and disseminate our literature is immensely important and anyone doing that with any reasonable effectiveness deserves praise. The journal is published by Charitrya Prokashoni Publications at 1164 Malibagh Chowdhurypara, Dhaka 1219. n

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‘Translation’ is an ambitious literary journal that publishes a halfyearly compilation of translation of Bangladeshi literary works. The issue being reviewed here is the first issue of the journal. It was published in June 2015. Abdus Selim, the editor of the journal, found inspiration from a magazine of the same name published by the Columbia University in USA and later decided to do the same for Bengali literature published by Bangladeshi writers.

The first issue comprises of poems, short stories, an essay and a play. It features poems by Rabindranath Tagore, Syed Shamsul Haq, Anuwara Syed Haq. Abdul Mannan Syed, Mujtoba Ahmed Murshed, Razu Alauddin, Obayed Akash, Farhan Ishraq; short stories written by Hasan Azizul Haque, Abdul Mannan Syed, Aktaruzzaman Elias, Shawkat Ali, Qayes Ahmed, Syed Manzoorul Islam. The essay is by Shamsuzzaman Khan and the play is by Abdullah Al Mamun.

This review is not meant as a literary critique or evaluation of the

ACROSS 1 What Spanish in a fight scent (7) 4 Simple instrument keeps saint in time (7) 6 I retain strange ability to stay still (7) 7 Place to view allergy composition (7) DOWN 1 Singer Crosby holds bird for sport (7) 2 Get together and untie jumble (5) 3 Those folk talk in psychoanalysis (7) 5 Bird the French call Earl or Duke, say (5)

Sudoku

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

Last week’s sudoku solutions

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, J U LY 24 , 201 5

Go out

19

Jul 30

Theatre | 38th Show of Swapnadal Production Rabindranath Tagore’s Chitrangada Jul 24-28

Art | Beacons 2.0 When 5pm-8am Where Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15A (New), Dhanmondi R/A What Beacons is a multidimensional cultural art exhibition which portrays and showcases the talents of young Bangladeshi artists in the fields of unconventional arts ie manga, comics, graphic novels, digital illustrations, crafting, concept arts, animation and so on. This is a platform for talented youth who are interested in using their skills in different forms of art and willing to take this as their main

or side profession in the future.

Beacons started its journey last year at Zainul Gallery, Charukola, in the University of Dhaka. The exhibition saw light with different popculture based fan art. This time they are showcasing our own original works such as manga, comic, graphic novel, digital illustrations.

For more information, please contact: 01723930951, 01534328458 or browse their facebook page [https://www. facebook.com/Icarus.bd.page].

When 7pm Where Studio Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (National Academy of Fine & Performing Arts), Segunbagicha What 38th Show of Swapnadal Production Rabindranath Tagore’s Chitrangada, a dance-drama by Tagore, directed by Zahid Repon.

The script of the play Chitrangada is an adaptation of a tale in the great eastern epic `Mahabharata’, but with new and modern interpretations. The story of Chitrangada is centred around the mythological hero Arjuna and the princess of Manipur, Chitrangada, who was brought up as a son by her father and trained as a warrior.

But after being acquainted with Arjuna, Chitrangada falls in love with him, but Arjuna refuses

her love because he doesn’t find her beautiful. Humiliated and heart-broken, Chitrangada appeals to Madana, god of love and Bashanta, god of youth, to make her beautiful for a day. Impressed with her devotion and prayer, they bless her with beauty for a whole year. The new Chitrangada appears before Arjuna, and he falls in love with her. But after many years together, they both realise that true beauty lies within in the character and soul, rather than appearance.

To book seats, please contact: 01912 022152

Weekly Planner Jul 24

Culture | HERITAGE TOUR-11 PURAN DHAKA

Education | An evening of Sarod Recital

When 8am-6pm Where Mitford Hospital Gate, Babu Bazar Bridge What Those who want to join are requested to arrive at Mitford Hospital Gate by 8am. There is no registration fee, but everyone is advised to keep a reasonable amount of money for lunch and other expenses.

Reporting is 8am as the tour starts at 8:30am.

The tour will feature: Amiruddin Daroga Masjid, Armenian Church, Armanitola School, Tara Masjid, Becharam Dewri Masjid, Chhoto Katra, Boro Katra, Chawk Bazar Masjid, Kartalab Khan Masjid, An old historic house(1707) and Kaswabtuli Masjid as the tour end around 6pm.

When 6:30pm Where Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, Gulshan, House #35, Road # 24, Gulshan-1 What Arnab Bhattacharya is a regular artist of All India radio and Doordarshan in India. He had successfully participated in several prestigious stages in India and abroad. His music is a blend of traditional and modern form of Indian classical music. He has received awards in many talent search contests in India, including, ‘Arabindo Music Festival’, ‘Ankit Talent Search Contests’, ‘All India Music Competition’ etc. He also received several awards such as, ‘Sarod Sunder’ from Orissa in 2005, ‘Sarod Naya’ award in 2007, and ‘Nabin Sarod’ in 2009.

He will be performing solo at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre.

Entry is free for all.

Jul 24-25

Culture | Jatra Biroti Live Performances When 6-11pm Where Jatra Biroti, 60 Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Banani What Friday the 24th will be hosting

an open mic session where anyone can perform. Entry is only Tk300 and free phuchka and tea will be offered.

Saturday the 25th will host an electro/acoustic session featuring Don Donadoni, Fahadzaman and The Speakeasy Crew, plus a bunch of guest artists. Entry is only Tk500 with free phuchka and tea.

Jul 27

Education | Undergraduate Advising on U.S. University Admissions When 3-4pm Where The American Center, Plot No -1, Progati Sharani, J-Block, Baridhara (Opposite from the U.S. Embassy) What Join EducationUSA’s group advising session on basic information about studying in undergraduate or Bachelor’s programs in the US. This program is free and open for everyone interested in study in the US. No prior registration is required to attend this program; simply come to the American Center as per the schedule.

Jul 30

Photography | Inter-University short film festival’15: Short Film Competition When 10:30am-8pm Where North South University, Plot No.15, Block-B, Bashundhara What North South University Cine and Drama Club (NSUCDC) is hosting its highly successful and most awaited event, the Inter-University Short Film Festival, 2015. The aim of IUSFF is to encourage the practice of film-making and appreciation of films among the young generation of Bangladesh. This event generally involves the potential film-makers from different universities of the country, to create new creative short films.

The festival has kick-started with a Cine Workshop which was conducted by two special people who have experience in film making, to teach amateur movie makers the basic theories and practical the aspects of making a short film.

For more information, visit: www. nsucdc.com

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, J U LY 24, 20 1 5

20 Funny Bone | Yamin Khan

OneLiners The world’s full of ‘em Yamin Khan

“Y

ou guys call me a loser cause my parents found my wife for me? Well, guess what? I am so manly, she gave birth to a child three months after our marriage.”

Everyone has their favourites.

Parents have their favourite child.

Couples have their favourite restaurant. Teacher’s have their favourite student, and so on.

Now working as a comedian, my favourite genre of comedy has to be one-liners. Where the joke is not elaborate and is usually expressed within one sentence.

However, being a professional, we have to often cater to people’s demands and that leaves very little room for personal favourites. So today I am going to pay tribute to all those great comedians, who were the stalwarts of this field, by sharing some of my favourite gems with all you lovely people. So here it goes. a) “My wife sent her photograph to the Lonely Hearts Club. They sent it back saying they weren’t that lonely.”

- Les Dawson b) “I don’t like country music, but I don’t mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means to ‘put down’.” - Bob Newhart

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, J U LY 24 , 201 5

c) “Dumb people send us videos all the time. They think we are YouTube.” - U2 d) “My wife told me: ‘Sex is better on holiday.’ That wasn’t a very nice postcard to receive.” - Joe Bor e) “I like to hold hands at the movies.

Which always seems to startle strangers.” - Tom Rhodes f) “Colin had his neck brace fitted years ago and since then he’s never looked back.” - Alfie Moore g) “I did a gig recently where I got booed off stage for saying that I live at home with my parents. As soon as I said it the whole audience went: ‘Booooo!’ That’s the last time I do a charity gig for an orphanage. - Nathan Caton h) “I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather.. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.” - Anonymous i) “Sex is not the answer. Sex is the question. ‘Yes’ is the answer.” Anonymous j) “If four out of five people ‘suffer’ from diarrhea… does that mean that one enjoys it?” - Anonymous

Photo: Bigstock

- Demetri Martin k) “Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.” - Anonymous l) “Crowded elevators smell different to midgets.” - Anonymous m) “Your birth certificate is an apology letter from the condom factory.” - Anonymous n) “Old people at weddings always poke me and say ‘you’re next.’ So I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.” - Anonymous o) “I think it’s wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly.” - Steven Wright p) “The worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades.”

q) “I farted in the Apple store and everyone yelled at me. It’s not my fault they don’t have Windows!” Anonymous r) “Put a bet on the Paralympics the other day; try telling the bookies that they’re all winners.” - Ricky Gervais s) “I remember the last thing my nan said to me before she died: ‘What are you doing here with that hammer?’”

- Lee Mack t) “Onions make me sad. A lot of people don’t realise that.” - Mitch Hedberg u) “This stranger waved at me and I waved back. And so did the idiot standing behind me.” - Yours Truly. n