Weekend Tribune Vol 3 Issue 15

vo l 3 Issu e 15 | F RIDAY, J u ly 31, 2015

Dhaka Tribune

6

Embassy art weekend

8

The Bong Momma

12

The Royal Bengal Tiger

Editor’s note Dear Readers, Maybe it’s the rain slowly washing the city out like a canvas waiting to be painted, but percolating in our pages is a mixture of art, nature and bittersweet homecomings.

The holidays may be over, but take one last trip before school week begins, and check out this beautiful resort, just a few hours’ drive from the city. The green gardens and rare animals are sure to be a soothing experiments.

Speaking of rare animals, for all our love of the symbol of the tiger, we’ve done precious little to preserve our Royal Bengals down in the Sunderbans. Our piece on the International Tiger Day is hopefully an eye-opener.

This week has been a good one for art. We’ve covered the Art Weekend hosted by five embassies. Our photo story this week is taken right off the walls of the newest Latitude Longitude exhibition, and even dug up (pun intended) an interesting archaeological find.

As the city swells up with the masses coming back in to work, we focus on the high number of road accidents that befell the passengers returning home from Eid holidays. We also take a moment to look into work culture and the glass ceiling set over the heads of women by their families.

Finally, with Friendship day right ahead of us, kick back with a bit of nostalgia about friendships of the past, or, if you’re in the mood for a little slice of life, check out what the Bong Momma has been up to.

Have a great week!

Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

Questions? Comments? Send them to weekend@ dhakatribune.com

Photo: Mehedi Hasan

CONTENTS

Volume 3 | Issue 15 | July 31, 2015

Editor Zafar Sobhan Features Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Asst Magazine Editor Farina Noireet Weekend Tribune Team Moumita Ahmed Faisal Mahmud Sakib Mridha Shaida Prodhan Saqib Sarker

6 Feature

Embassy art weekend

12 Conservation The Royal Bengal Tiger

Contributors Saudia Afrin N Anita Amreen Minu Ahmed Ameer Sobhanw

News

Graphics Md Mahbub Alam Alamgir Hossain Tahsin Momin

Features

Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Advertisement Zia Ur Rahman

2 News 3 Meanwhile

8 The Bong Momma

Tales from a first-time mom

Mozaffer garden and resort

14 Focus Local social development

15 Focus Social thinking

16 Focus Highway accidents

Production Masum Billah

17 Reflections Friendship day

Circulation Masud Kabir Pavel

20 Conservation Bochaganj temple

Website dhakatribune.com/weekend facebook.com/WeekendTrib Email your letters to: weekend@dhakatribune.com

4 Travel

Regulars

9 Photo Story

18 Stay In 19 Go Out

Photo exhibition

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2 News | This week

The world at a glance “father of Indian missile programme” dies

Former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam, known as the father of the country’s military missile program, died Monday after collapsing while delivering a lecture, a top state official said. He was 83.

The president from 2002 until 2007, he was a scientist and science administrator for four decades before that, mainly at the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Space Research Organisation. He played a key organisational and technical role in India’s nuclear programme.

He also served as a scientific adviser to the prime minister.

Kalam fell sick Monday while addressing the students of the Indian Institute of Management in the Meghalaya state capital, Shillong, said PB Warjri, chief secretary of the state. He was rushed to the hospital, but was declared dead after doctors could not revive him.

The federal government would declare national mourning for seven days for him, said federal Home Secretary LC Goyal.

Kalam’s body will be flown to New Delhi on Tuesday for burial.

India’s President Pranab Mukherjee said: “Kalam would be long remembered for his passion for science and innovation and his contribution as an eminent scientist, administrator, educationist and writer.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “His death is a great loss to the scientific community. He took India to great heights. He showed the way.”

Photo: AFP

Iran a ‘formidable’ danger to Europe: Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Iran posed a “formidable” threat to Europe, accusing its proxy Hezbollah of operating cells across the continent.

Just last month, a member of the Lebanese Shiite militant group was jailed in Cyprus for plotting attacks on Israeli targets on the Mediterranean island.

Netanyahu, on an official visit to Nicosia, said “Iran and Hezbollah organise a terrorist network that covers over 30 countries on five continents, including just about every country in Europe.”

Iran and leading world powers signed a deal this month on Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme, an accord the Israeli leader criticised as a “stunning, historic mistake”.

Netanyahu said Israel and Cyprus were faced with the dual

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dangers of Iran and the extremist attacks perpetrated by the Islamic State group, which controls large parts of Iraq and Syria.

“ISIS obviously endangers European societies, Western societies, African societies, the whole world,” the premier said, using an alternative acronym for IS. “These are two formidable dangers. They are expressed in many weapons, in many attacks, but the most prevalent one that concerns Cyprus and Europe is of course the terrorism that emanates from these areas,” he added.

Photo: Reuters

Weekend Tribune Desk

Libya court sentences Gadhafi son to death for 2011 killings A court in Libya on Tuesday sentenced a son of Moammar Gadhafi to death by firing squad after convicting him of murder and inciting genocide during the country’s 2011 civil war.

It is unlikely, however, that the sentence against Seif al-Islam Gadhafi will be carried out anytime soon, as a militia in western Libya has refused to hand him over to the government for the past four years.

That uncertainty reflects the chaos still gripping this North African nation split between rival militias and governments while facing an affiliate of the extremist Islamic State group.

The Tripoli court sentenced to death eight others, including former Libyan spy chief Abdullah al-Senoussi, who is in their custody.

Also sentenced to death were foreign intelligence chief Abuzed OmarDorda and Gadhafi’s former Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi.

The rulings can be appealed, and a defense lawyer in the case, Ali Aldaa,

said he would challenge it before the Libyan Supreme Court. The Tripoli-based top court has in the past ruled the Tobruk government as illegitimate, raising questions over whether it is under pressure from militias that dominate the city.

Only 29 of the 38 Gadhafi-era figures were present in court. Six others were sentenced to life in prison and four were cleared of charges.

Photo: AFP

Another accused confesses to Rajon murder Another accused in a case filed over the brutal killing of Rajon has made his confessional statement before a district court.

Metropolitan Magistrate-1 Shahedul Karim recorded Ayaj Ali’s statement under section 164 of the code of criminal procedure (CrPC) on Tuesday evening.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) Rahmatullah confirmed the news to the Dhaka Tribune.

Ayaj was picked up from the city’s Kumargaon area around 1am Saturday.

Rajon, the ill-fated teenager, was tortured to death by a group of persons at Kumargaon on the outskirts of Sylhet city around 7:30am on July 8.

The accused filmed the torture of the boy.

A 28-minute video, recorded on a mobile phone camera, shows the victim tied to a pole in front of a

workshop in the still-closed Sultan Ali Market, beside the DhakaSunamganj road.

From the video, it seemed there were five to six men who took part in the barbaric torture.

One Muhit was caught redhanded while dumping Rajon’s body on the day of the murder.

A murder case was filed in this connection by Jalalabad police, in which Rajon’s father later became a plaintiff.

Muhit was listed as the prime accused in the case, while his brother Kamrul Islam, 24, their accomplice Ali Haider, 34, and guard Moyna Miah, 45, were charged with murder as well.

Thirteen people have so far been arrested in connection with the gruesome murder.

Of the arrestees, eight have made their confessional statements separately.

Source: Dhaka Tribune

Meanwhile

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Photo of the week

A rare yellow bougainvillea tree in full bloom in the midst of urban life in Dhanmondi.

Photo: Sakib Mridha

Your’e welcome Four things you need to know about shift work Shift work is work that takes place on a schedule outside the traditional 9am-5pm day. It can involve evening or night shifts, early morning shifts, and rotating shifts. Many industries rely heavily on shift work, and millions of people work in jobs that require shift schedules.

What professions participate in shift work?

Most shift workers are in service occupations, like protective service (such as police and firefighters), food preparation and serving, media, healthcare, and transportation.

Why do people work shift schedules?

• It is the “nature of the job.”

• It allows for better arrangements for family or childcare.

• Shift work is the only option available.

• It is a personal preference.

Shift work is vital in many industries, and people rely on shift workers to provide important services offhours.

How does shift work affect your health and wellbeing?

Unfortunately, shift work can also be very disruptive to a person’s health and wellbeing. In a study conducted by the US National Sleep Foundation poll finds that only 63% of shift workers (versus 89% of non-shift workers workers) said their work schedule allows them to get enough sleep. They were significantly more likely to sleep fewer than 6 hours on workdays, to work more hours per week on average, and to experience drowsy driving at least once a month in the previous year.

What problems come from shift work?

Not all shift workers suffer from sleep issues. But, approximately 10% of night and rotating shift workers are thought to have a sleep disorder known as shift work disorder.

Between roughly 25-30% of shift workers experience symptoms of the disorder such as excessive sleepiness or insomnia.

Source: sleepfoundation.org

Guy’s attempt to take Rattlesnake selfie ends with $153,000 bill A San Diego-area man sent KGTV footage of himself lying in a hospital bed after he said he tried to take a selfie with a rattlesnake.

The bill for services rendered to Todd Fassler on July 7 comes to a whopping $153,161.25, as tweeted by KGTV’s Dan Haggerty.

As the Washington Post’s Wonkblog noted, by far the largest expense listed on the itemized bill is $83,341.25 for “pharmacy.” That’s because Fassler’s treatment depleted the anti-venom supplies at two local hospitals, KGTV reported.

As Wonkblog explained: There’s currently only one commercially available antivenin for treating venomous snakebites in the United States – CroFab, manufactured by U.K.-based BTG plc. And with a stable market of 7,000 to 8,000

Say what?

snakebite victims per year and no competitors, business is pretty good.

Attempts to reach Fassler were unsuccessful.

Fassler might have learned of the physical and financial perils of rattlesnake bites from Eric Ferguson.

Last year, a North Carolina hospital charged him $89,227 for anti-venom medicine.

So here’s a tip to all those itching to take selfies with wild animals: Dont to it.

Source: Huffington Post

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4 Travel | Mozaffer Garden and Resort

Montu Mia’s Bagan While holiday getaway destinations have always predominantly been located abroad, Bangladesh is fast filling the gap with many local hotels and resorts sprouting up all over the country Saqib Sarker

A

Photos: Pinu Rahman

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s we started toward the Mozaffar Garden and Resort, locally known as “Montu Mia’r bagan” we were told that it was only about a half an hour ride from Shatkhira town. It clearly wasn’t. But that wasn’t the problem. We were riding on a battery powered three wheeler “van”. The bumpy road gave me and my travel partner Pinu blurred vision. We tried to soothe our eyes by looking at the astoundingly beautiful natural landscape stretching to the horizon on both sides of the road.

Pinu Rahman is an award winning photographer who kindly agreed to accompany me to the resort. My photographic skill are as terrible as the ride to Mozaffar Garden.

“We are doing everything we can to get the local government to rebuild the road,” Atiqul Alam, the General Manager of Mozaffar Garden and Resort told me when we met him at his office at the resort an hour later. “We have been expanding and enhancing the resort with all sorts of improvements but we can’t build the road,” he said. Indeed the commute to the place takes away a lot from the experience as we found out.

The resort spans over 60 acres of land and is situated on the west of Shatkhira town. Visitors are charged a Tk25 entry ticket and a further Tk10 to visit the small zoo in the resort. The zoo contains a number of different species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. The bird cages were at the entry point. There was no boundary fence, allowing visitors to watch the birds up close. The huge serene Greater Adjutant (Bengali name “hargila”) gave us the chills as we observed it looking questioningly back at us. It was quite an experience to stand only a few inches away from a bird that is nearly as tall as us.

There were three different types of hawks of formidable size that gave us extremely nasty looks.

Atiqul told me that the resort got an initial permit to house exotic animals and is waiting for a full license to expand the zoo. The zoo currently has a brahminy kite, some beautiful emerald doves, purple moorhen (Bengali name: Kalem bird), spotted deer, estuarine crocodile, one species of hoolock gibbon, macaques monkeys, a peacock, a white peafowl, emus, and bears. Not surprisingly the monkeys drew the largest crowd and greeted them with hooting noises and other laugh for inducing activities.

As expected, with loose security enforcement, many visitors were feeding the monkeys, which can potentially harm the animals.

But before we entered the zoo we were amazed by the breathtaking beauty of the resort. There are nine huge lakes/ponds and the whole area is filled with many different trees.

The first impression that we got was that the place is very well maintained and well planned. The walkways are beautifully built and kept spotlessly clean. “We have a total of 50 regular employees. But during the peak season we hire over a hundred temporary workers to properly cater to our guests,” Atiqul said.

There are outdoor badminton and indoor table tennis facilities for the guests. The resort has a mosque with accommodation for women. Visitors can also go boating on paddleboats on the lakes or spend time fishing.

“With such a vast area, security must be a concern?” I asked Atiqul. “Our security is top notch. We cover the whole area with close circuit cameras and our security team patrols the area to ensure safety,” Atiqul ensures me.

5

The resort has 40 rooms with modern facilities. There are well decorated restaurants and snack shops for visitors and staying guests.

“We have a lot of new plans that will add to the enjoyment of staying at the resort,” Atiqul told me excitedly.

“We are building a 3D cinema and hoping to have it up and running very soon,” he added. Atiqul worked at a resort in Maldives for seven years. It appeared to me that his experience in the international tourism industry and management is clearly helping Mozaffar Resort. But his discontent over the terrible road to the resort did seem to encumber

the man’s commendable passion for his work. “We even have a fully functioning helipad for VIP guests,” he informed us with mournful pride.

“The Prime Minister visited us last year and we were really hoping that the road would be repaired after her visit,” he said.

Atiqul is immensely hopeful that this can be a great holiday destination for a lot more visitors from across the country. With some help from the government this resort can potentially make valuable contribution to our local tourism, which will greatly improve the local economy too. n

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6 Feature | Embassy art weekend

A weekend of art

Five embassies, one weekend, and a whole lot of cultural exchange N Anita Amreen

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ast weekend, five ambassadors opened their private homes to host and promote artists from Dhaka's local art community.

The embassies of Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland jointly hosted "Art Weekend" on July 24-25, with each ambassador hosting individual exhibitions in their respective residences. As far as art exhibitions go, it was a first-time collaboration between the embassies where each proudly hosted and promoted a diverse selection of some of the city's best cultural offerings. Together, they selected artists and artwork they personally felt passionate about, making Art Weekend an intimate platform to both launch young talents, as well as to foster a casual ambience that allows for conversation among those involved with the vibrant Dhaka art scene.

Keen to make artwork by some of their favourite artists accessible to the expat and local community, they opened up the doors to their residences in a bold new move to show their support.

This private initiative by the heads of mission based in Bangladesh was meant to bring together photographers, expats and local art lovers on a single platform to appreciate and experience the beauty and splendor of photographic pictures and painted art of local talents that brings forth the true essence of life in Bangladesh.

Photo: DRIK Picture Library Production (Bangladesh. Seen From Within)

Fishing by Kaisar Ahamed

A walk in the rain by Shovon Mahbub

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Dream Weaver by Javed Miandad,

“I want to give artists from Bangladesh a chance to present themselves to the greater audience.

Everyone from diplomats, people from the business community, the cultural and art community as well as my friends from all other embassies are all invited. You must note that these artworks are also up for sale, creating a platform for young talents, so it’s not just about exhibiting art but about selling it too,” noted German Ambassador Dr Thomas Prinz as he fondly looked at photographs jointly chosen by him and the curator of Drik gallery.

As an avid photographer and photo enthusiast himself, when asked about his favourite photo from the series, he struggled to choose just one. “It’s difficult to choose one. Fishing by Kaisar Ahmed would definitely be one of my two favourites,” he chuckled. “The river, the flat lands, the blue hues, the small rowing boats, it’s all so symbolical. It represents the true essence of Bangladesh as I see it,” he continued as he swanned around the span of his bungalow, commenting on his favourite pieces.

Just down the road, lies the residence of Norwegian Ambassador Merete Lundemo. Another art enthusiast herself, she was the original proponent of the Art Weekend, before she proposed the idea to her contemporaries who enthusiastically agreed. As someone particularly passionate about art, Ambassador Lundemo believes that art truly is the ultimate means for communication and understanding between the country she represents and Bangladesh: “The idea is to open my residence and use this large space for what it’s meant to do - be a meeting place between my country and yours, to create a platform for the Bangladeshi art community, to have the international community host the work of these brilliant local artists, giving them an opportunity to grow and prosper.”

The exhibition included paintings

by Rokeya Sultana along with artworks that employed the use of ceramic, textile, brass as well as sketches and paintings. “If you look at the exhibited pieces, you’ll notice there is ceramic, there is textile, there is glass, there are all kinds of oil, acrylic and etching. There are so many different kinds of mediums, so many faces of expressions! I find it

7

Exhibition at the Swiss Embassy Photos: Abir

Norweigian Ambassador Merete Lundemo with Rokeya Sultana and her students from Dhaka University. Photo: Shamsul Haider Badsha

so inspiring to see all the work these outstanding work these students have done,” she excitedly added.

Artist Rokeya Sultana, too, embraced the idea of the exhibition, wanting to give her female students the initial push and encouragement to continue following their passion for art. “I’ve often seen many talented young artists graduated with flying colours but struggling to keep up their with their passion.

When I look back, I see how I’ve had to struggle myself. I want women, especially female artists like my students to have the will power to really beat the odds and make it as independent artists. This is why I enjoy initiatives like this, initiatives that help artists during the beginning of their career,” she commented.

Looking back at her life as a young female artist, Rokeya Sultana understands the struggle female artists face and considered Art Weekend to be an excellent platform to help promote young artists.

“It’s not very easy to have your work exhibited, especially since we are young artists and on top of that we’re women. In this case, Rokeya ma’am has really helped us get started. She has helped us get our work exhibited and that is something that isn’t easy in this day and age,” commented Akhi Noor Binte Ali, a student of the Faculty of Arts, Dhaka University.

Afternoon songs by Vinita Karim

Discoveries of gold by Vinita Karim Photos: Mahzabin Haque Rothy, Bengal Art Lounge

Down at the Netherland Ambassador Gerben Sjoerd de Jong’s residence, walls were lined with artwork from Vinita Karim’s latest exhibition titled “River Stories.” The vibrant paintings in bright shades of scarlet and crimson, depicted abstract pictures of Bangladesh’s cityscape, as seen through the eyes of Vinita. “All the artwork was painted in Bangladesh.

This beautiful and riverine country was my main source of inspiration. The river is also a symbol of life for me, with its ever flowing magical waters which symbolise the ebb and flow of life,” she stated.

Often called a “global nomad,” Vinita was born in Burma but lived around the world travelling between Islamabad, New Delhi and Dhaka before finally traveling across Europe: “I have immersed myself into many changing landscapes. Each city which I have lived in, has left an imprint into my mind and thus into my art. Each city has its own special nature, you will find hints of chaotic Manila, historic Cairo and of course the bustling and busyness of Dhaka all in my work. As an artist one soaks in the very fibre of a city and allows it to influence ones work.”

The event at the residence of the Swiss Ambassador Christian Fotsch was hosted by the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Embassy, Caroline Trautweiler, who had

selected the photographed works of Abir Abdullah. On display was a series based on what seems to be Abdullah’s pet project, the lack of fire safety and the impact of fire-related accidents and arson attacks, as well as a smaller, more serene series depicting the majestic Swiss peaks.

Over cocktails, Trautweiler explained to the press that they had selected Abir Abdullah based on his previous engagements with the Embassy. “So many of the accidents showcased in this collection get buried once media attention shifts to the next breaking news. Art has a way of staying in the consciousness the way news coverage cannot; it stays on your walls as a reminder, a call to action” she commented on the potential for the series to raise awareness on the issues both the photographer and the Swiss embassy were passionate about.

The two day long exhibition concluded on Saturday, July 25. This was the very first time ambassadors jointly collaborated to hold a multifaceted exhibition of artwork by artists both young and old, making it a mustsee opportunity for anyone interesting in getting a glimpse of the art stars of tomorrow. The collaboration was a true manifestation of each Ambassador’s mission to foster cross cultural exchange by engaging both the local and expat community. n

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8 The Bong Momma | Tales from a first-time mom

Jellybean The Bong Momma’s first look at the Baby Minu Ahmed

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fter our families found out that we were expecting, the next few days went by in a blur. Everyone had their two cents to say – from which doctor I should consult, to which brand of diapers I should buy, to how I shouldn’t buy diapers at all, and raise my baby like it was the Middles Ages. Since, I was the vessel carrying the seed of the next generation, it was expected of me. Oh cherished seed, who now kicks me and tells me to “staahp it”.

My in-laws are the over-protective kind, and as wonderful as that is, it was the equivalent of throwing a wrench into my career machine.

I had a couple of interviews lined up that month, but the news of my pregnancy put everything on hold.

My calendar was soon going to be filled up with doctor appointments and ultra sonograms.

I had no idea which doctor to go to so, we picked one who was relatively well-known and whose chamber was nearby too. On the first day, I went with The Husband and my mom-in-law in tow. We sat in the waiting area outside the doctor’s room, and I looked around at all the women present there. They came in all sorts of shapes and sizes and at different stages of pregnancy. Some were young, some were old, and some threw me a nasty look because their husbands were looking at me.

My name was called and I entered the chamber slowly, only to find more female eyes staring back at me.

The doctor was old and thin, and had on thick glasses and some sort of head covering. Immediately, I was reminded of Harry Potter’s Professor Trelawney, but without the crazy hair. Hiding a snicker, I sat down in an empty chair and proceeded to amuse myself with the posters on the walls. I was in the middle of contemplating how something that large could pop out of an area that

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Photo: Bigstock

small, when a nurse nudged me towards the doctor.

The doctor asked if it was my first baby, and upon my assent, made me lay down on the examination table.

She didn’t really explore as much as I had expected her to, she just pressed my stomach here and there and returned to her desk, ushering me to follow. She prescribed some vitamins and asked me to get an ultra sonogram. There wasn’t much time for me to ask any questions, and before I could open my mouth I was pushed out to make more room for the entering herd. Mooo.

We left as quickly as possible, and even though I wasn’t too happy about the experience, I was more inquisitive about the impending ultra sonogram. The day finally arrived, and as usual, my two bodyguards (same people as before), accompanied me to the diagnostic centre. A nurse calls my name and comes up to me, handing me a white plastic cup. My quizzical expression prompted her to point to a water filter. I told her I wasn’t thirsty, but she said I needed to drink water before the sonogram. How much?

Until I felt “the pressure” she said. A million cups of water later, when I’m

about to burst like a water balloon, I go in.

The doctor exposes my abdomen, and while I’m feeling slightly selfconscious of my blub, she applies a cool gel on the sonogram device and pokes my belly in different places.

After several minutes of prodding, I could hear The Husband getting impatient outside and demanding to be let in, because, in his exact words, “I am the father!” It took all my willpower not to giggle, or else the dam in my bladder would’ve let go.

Half an hour later, an envelope was handed to us, and I took out a small black and white printout of an image. I saw a small kidney-shaped white outline, with an even tinier whitish mass inside. At first glance it looked like an owl’s face, and then I figured that was the embryo.

The Husband was less complacent; he blinked at it for a few seconds, and then whispered exasperatedly: “That’s it? A dot? Where is the baby?!”

After explaining to The Husband that the baby was still far away from looking like a baby, my energy wound down and I sat quietly on the way back home. I took out the ultra sonogram image again and rubbed it with my thumb, inspecting every pixel. This tiny, miraculous nub of existence was mine. My little Jellybean.

At home, my in-laws were excited to see the ultra sonogram, and so I sent a scanned copy to my parents and sister. My parents, being doctors, were very good at taking realistic approaches towards everything – except their children. Hence, my parents were ecstatic at receiving this “proof of life”, I might as well have become the ninth planet in the solar system (sorry Pluto!). They went on and on about which doctor I had consulted, if she was expert enough, why didn’t I take a 3D ultra sonogram, blah blah blah. I mean, I get it. It’s a big deal for them. But I already gave them their most coveted son-in-law, now can I have this baby in peace, please?

The answer was no. Obviously, my being an adult, married, and pregnant still did nothing to make them realise that I wasn’t their little girl anymore. Thus at the insistence of my father, I changed doctors and hospitals, and finally, got that 3D ultra sonogram. As much as I hate to admit, the new doctor and hospital burned a hole (and then some) in The Husband’s and my parents’ pockets.

However, many months later when The Husband and I (and on different occasions, additional family) would see Jellybean in her wholesome 3D glory, moving around and playing peek-a-boo with us, it was worth every penny. n

Minu Ahmed is your not-so-average homemaker, norm-shirker and abomination of awesomeness, juggling a career in communication, motherhood and a fatter half. Questions? Send to thebongmomma@gmail.com

Photo Exhibition | Photo story

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Latitude Longitude

Longitude Latitude is a periodical art event that hosts exhibitions and workshops across different venues. The core philosophy of this event is “any space is a good space to interact with art.” Shehzad Chowdhury, along with his team of organisers, have been curating this event since 2003. This year they are occupying a space by partnering with Bay development

at Plot 96, Road 11, Banani. They plan to have performances, art exhibitions and musical events for the next four months at this venue.

This week’s photo story, features images showcased at the exhibition.

For more information on the event, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/ LaitudeLongitude6/timeline

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10 Photo story | Photo Exhibition

Photos: Shehzad Chowdhury

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11

Photos: Safder Hossain

Photos: Tushikur Rahman

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12 Conservation

| The Royal Bengal Tiger tiger range countries, Bangladesh

The big cat of the mangrove On account of International Tiger Day, this July 29, we take a look at the current situation concerning habitat, population and overall well-being of our majestic national animal Faisal Mahmud

has not been able to fulfil any of the targets.

Reasons behind tiger losses Both anthropogenic and natural causes are responsible for tiger loss in Bangladesh. The most significant cause of tiger loss is direct poaching to supply the increasing demand for tiger products, experts said.

Moreover, Tiger-Human Conflict (THC) is very high in Bangladesh, which is evident from high rate of human killing, livestock depredation and ultimately the killing in retribution of tigers by affected local communities. In addition, prey poaching, unsustainable forest management and climate change induced natural calamities also affect tiger population.

Several million people directly depend on the Sundarbans for their subsistence. They collect wood, honey, gol-pata and other forest products from the Sundarbans.

There is a common perception among policy makers that those forest dependent people are responsible for the Sundarbans’ degradation.

Researches however explore that commercial extraction by outside people through corrupted forest officials is mainly responsible for the Sundarban’s degradation.

The outsider commercial

F

Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

extractors collect forest resources beyond sustainable limit by violating resource collection rules. Hence,

or Bangladeshis, the Royal

forest use and climate change

mangrove forest of the world has

Bengal tiger is not just

threaten to reduce the area in which

long been a safe sanctuary for

a mere beast. It’s a little

tigers can live, poaching of prey

tigers but it’s not anymore. Data

more than that.

reduces the capacity of the forest to

analysis of the recent tiger census

support tigers.

in the Sundarbans suggested that

New projects on hand

the number of Bengal Tigers in the

To save tiger population and its

Aside from being the national

animal of the country, this big cat has been playing an important role in enriching our literature and remains a central character in many folk tales

All these make the life of the king of the jungle very difficult indeed.

The shrinking tiger population

forest’s Bangladesh part might have come down to half of what it was 10 years ago.

like Gazir Gan, Bonbibir Kotha. The

The world has been trying to save

The 2004 Bangladesh-India

tiger is also a symbol for many of our

tigers since the 1970s, when it was

joint tiger pugmark survey in the

national agencies.

discovered that populations had

Sundarbans put the number at

shrunk precipitously, and in some

419. The recently finished census

Regiment, which fought for the

places vanished, throughout Asia,

said that the number is less than

country’s liberation, the logo of

home to all the wild tigers left on

200 in the Bangladeshi part of the

the national cricket team and the

earth. But conservation has largely

Sundarbans.

hologram in our national currency

failed.

The emblem of the East Bengal

are some of the examples the tiger

Drastic loss of habitat, half-

A new report of the Global Tigers Initiatives (GTI) shows Bangladesh

hearted efforts by the governments

is lagging far behind other

of many of the 13 tiger-range

neighbouring tiger range countries,

culture is also evident. The great

countries, uncoordinated objectives

including India, Nepal and Bhutan in

politician AK Fuzlul Huq is called the

of competing NGOs, and, above all,

conversation activities.

‘Tiger of Bengal’ for his outstanding

an unstaunchable and illegal market

The report released during the

contribution in favour of humanity.

for tiger parts in China have reduced

Global Tiger Stocktaking Conference

the number of the world’s wild tigers

in Dhaka in last year was prepared

to a meagre 3,200, at a high estimate.

based on nine activities regarding

symbol taking pride of place.

Even it’s presence in our political

Things however are not looking bright for our tigers in the Sundarbans. While unsustainable

The Sundarbans, the largest

tiger conservation. Among the 13

prey, a new project titled Bagh

Activity, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was

launched recently. The five-year project is designed to reduce

wildlife trafficking and minimise human-tiger conflicts in the Sundarbans.

WildTeam, a Bangladesh-based

organisation of tiger conservation

activists, will implement the project with technical assistance from the Smithsonian Institution of

the US and Bangladesh Centre

for Advanced Studies. It will also collaborate with national and

international law enforcement

agencies in keeping wildlife out of harm’s way.

13 Interview of Dr Monirul H Khan

the balance of the forest ecosystem has been dwindling. In contrast,

He said tigers were seen leaving

the forest dependent communities

forests more frequently than usual

are living in the Sundarbans area

after cyclone Sidr in 2007 and Aila in

for centuries by collecting forest

May this year.

resources more or less sustainably using their traditional knowledge.

Thus, the most evident threat

the University of Cambridge on

tigers of the Sundarbans. Currently he is working as a professor

Tiger poaching in the Sundarbans

of Zoology in Jahangirnagar

Even though the government has

to tiger habitat is unsustainable

taken various measures to protect

commercial extraction of forest

Bengal Tigers in the Sundarbans, its

resources that degrades the habitat

poaching is on the rise with 49 being

quality.

killed in last the 14 years (2001-2014),

Effects of climate change

Dr Monirul H Khan has a PhD from

University. He is known as the

foremost authority about Royal Bengal Tigers in Sundarban.

Are tigers numbers decreasing

according to forest department data.

in the Sundarbans?

Among the 49 tigers, 17 were

Experts said that a major reason for

killed in the Sundarbans east zone of

frequent straying by tigers may be

the forest department while 15 were

a growing prey crisis due to greater

killed in the Sundarbans west zone.

frequency of cyclones and tidal

According to the data, the forest

surges triggered by climate change.

department recovered 17 tiger skins

Yes, they are decreasing at an

alarming rate. The problem is that Photo: Courtesy

smugglers, they added.

The residents of Banglabazar,

from different parts of the country

Uttar Rajapur, Sonatola, Bagi

have been seen to leave their jungle

between 2001-2014 while being

and Khuriakhali villages near the

habitat most frequently at two forest

smuggled out of the country.

Sundarbans also said there are a

The critically endangered tigers

Although official data shows

number of active wildlife poachers’

range in Satkhira and Sharankhola

that some 49 tigers were killed in

groups in their neighbourhoods and

range in Bagerhat.

the last 14 years, the locals of the

the villagers can hardly raise their

Sundarbans claim that the actual

voice in fear of reprisal.

ranges in Bangladesh – Burhigoalini

Renowned environmentalist Dr Ainun Nishat said that large

number of poached tigers is much

populations of the Sundarbans deer

higher.

might have perished in recurrent

They said wildlife poaching

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Zone Amir Hossain Chowdhury said many

cyclones. “The population cycle

continues rampantly in the

plans are being implemented to

of the Sundarbans deer will be

Sundarbans while poachers

protect Bengal Tigers while the

adversely affected as their habitats

frequently hunt tigers, deer and

Forest Department’s Wildlife Circle

become prone to cyclones and more

other wildlife using traps and guns.

has been strengthened, officials of

saline because of climate change.”

There are a number of wildlife

the department have been trained

poachers’ groups in the nearby

and coordination among the forest

villages of the Sundarbans and they

department, Coast Guard, Rab and

jungle for food and cyclones may

are poaching wildlife in both the

police has been strengthened to

very well have caused the food crisis

Sundarbans east and west zones. The

check wildlife poaching.

there,” said Nishat.

groups are linked with international

He said officials of the forest

wildlife smugglers, according to local

department are conducting drives

sources.

across the country to arrest poachers

“The tigers are coming out of the

“After natural disasters pass, the affected regions are naturally hit by a prey crisis. Deer often die in large

The local poachers bring their

and they are often detaining

numbers, which is likely to affect the

hunted wildlife to the nearby villages

members of wildlife smugglers and

tigers though they themselves are

and process the hides, bones and

also recovering hides of tigers and

not particularly vulnerable to such

other limbs of the animals. Later,

deer. n

natural disasters.”

they sell those to the international

large carnivore species like tigers naturally occur at low densities, which make them particularly

susceptible to extirpation and

extinction. At present, the only

stable population of tigers is found in the Sundarbans, and they are

isolated from the nearest human populations by about 300km of agricultural and urban land.

How many tigers are left in the Sundarbans?

First of all, we have to understand that tiger ranges vary in

accordance with prey densities.

There is no long-term work on the range size of the tigers in Bangladesh.

Some studies indicate that

tigers are fairly evenly distributed throughout the Sundarbans at a density of about 1 per 10sqkm, but subsequent studies have

suggested that there may be a

density gradient, with numbers being highest in the south and lowest in the north. Based on

camera-trap surveys, together with track counts, and in the light of

prey densities, the tiger population is estimated to be lower, at around 220-230 tigers in the Bangladeshi part and another 65-70 in the Indian part.

What can we do to protect the Sundarbans?

Since the breeding peak of tigers is probably in winter, the season should remain uninterrupted.

Unfortunately, winter is also the

main harvest and tourist season when humen disturbance is

intense. I also suggest that some

zones should be demarcated, and tourists should be allowed in only

those areas. Controlled ecotourism should be developed so that both the government and the local people benefit financially.

Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

14 Focus | Local social development

Finding the balance To fully realise its potential, Bangladesh must base its economic successes on a foundation of social development Ameer Sobhan

O

n July 1, 2015, the World Bank upgraded Bangladesh from a low-income to lower middle-income country. The World Bank’s website explains how these calculations are made by applying the World Bank Atlas method (which uses a conversion factor to account for fluctuating exchange rates when countries are compared according to their national income).

Lower middle-income countries are categorised as such when they have a Gross National Income (GNI) between US$1,045 and US$4,125 per capita. Bangladesh’s elevation to this category is not only a feat we can boast of internationally but also a breath of fresh air for a country that is slowly recovering from the severe political disruption that it was subjected to at the beginning of the year.

Talking numbers In the World Bank press release that announced this commendable achievement, Kaushik Basu (World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President) highlighted that in 1994, 56.1% – or 3.1 billion people – of the global population resided in lowincome countries and that number fell to 8.5% in 2014 – i.e. 613 million people. By any estimate, the latter figure indicates both remarkable progress and yet too high a number that must be brought down further.

A closer look at the World Bank’s data on Bangladesh shows that the percentage of people living in poverty in the country stood at 31.5 in 2010, down from 40% in 2005 and 48.9% in 2000. Additionally, life expectancy at birth was 71 years in 2013, noticeably higher than India’s at 66 years and Pakistan’s at 67 years.

Bangladesh is doing better than its neighbours according to several development indicators. The credit for this remarkable progress

should be attributed to government initiatives that are bringing in dividends and the unyielding tenacity in people to build a better life for themselves. The figures above also indicate that Bangladesh is on a clear path to economic development and serves as a model for other developing countries to follow suit.

However, it is also important to note that these figures are all economic indicators and real development in terms of an improved quality of life can only come about when economic and social development are married together.

But wait ...

For a developing country like Bangladesh, it is risky to fall into torpor when it comes to providing education to the general populace because quality education (and access to it) continues to be one of the central tenets of development.

Any country that doesn’t have an educated populace will be in danger of seeing stagnation in development after a particular period of time. An educated citizenry doesn’t only help a nation develop through technical and professional skills it learns in school but also by demanding rights guaranteed to it by the constitution and upholding democratic principles that prove crucial to long-term social and political stability.

On campus Despite the rise of private educational institutions around the country in the last two decades, the majority of students in Bangladesh continue to study under the national curriculum in schools and universities. That makes it incumbent on the government to ensure that these public institutions use their (admittedly limited) resources efficiently and that evaluation mechanisms are put in place to ensure that teaching

materials are continuously improved and upgraded to meet international yardsticks. Additionally, the government must also ensure that it doesn’t create barriers for those who fail to find a place among the limited number of seats available in public institutions. By increasing the cost of private education, as it did recently (however marginally) by imposing a VAT on the tuition of private universities, the government is making an already troubling situation worse.

Who runs the world?

Another one of Bangladesh’s big achievements over the years has been the integration of women into the country’s workforce. From their work in the garments industry to their presence in micro-credit and other development programs throughout the country – not to mention the myriad of other roles they must balance concurrently – women here are an essential part of the labour force, contributing substantially to the country’s economy, much like they have throughout our history. There are few other Muslim-majority countries that can boast of such relative gender parity. Now, with a similarly impressive (and still increasing) number of girls enrolling in schools at the primary level, Bangladesh is demographically well-placed to have an educated population that is not skewed along gender lines over time.

These successes shouldn’t overshadow the fact that weaknesses in institutions of governance and public administration remain and are proving to be alarmingly entrenched.

Conventional institutions of democracy such as the Fourth Estate that can play a critical role in keeping the government in check by cultivating an informed public should be allowed the space to do their work freely (although they must also be self-critical in ensuring that its contributions are constructive and non-partisan).

Instead, these institutions are often altercast by the government in a hostile role whereas both should ideally work in conjunction because the eventual objective of both institutions is the same: the welfare of the country. The public sphere should be allowed to flourish so that constructive debate – which in Bangladesh is in a dreadfully moribund state – can take place without fear of reprisal from biased actors.

Although it is clear that Bangladesh has achieved much to be proud of, some of the issues raised here need to be addressed if the nation is to meet its development objectives more comprehensively.

While Bangladesh’s graduation from low-income to lower middleincome status should be rightfully lauded, it is important to highlight that social development must be treated as an independent initiative if the long-term potential of our recent economic successes are to be harvested effectively. n

Photo: Bigstock

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, J U LY 31, 201 5

Social thinking | Focus

15

Papa, don’t preach Social pressure affecting women in the workplace Moumita Ahmed

I

t is well known that women’s employment in Bangladesh is lower than in any of the South Asian countries.

However, Bangladesh has been focusing attention on the most disadvantaged group in the society – women. Moreover, sharp growth has been evident when it came to female employment rates and the level at which women are joining the workforce. There has been an increase of almost one and a half times in women’s employment in the last two decades due to economic growth and better opportunities presented to them.

What’s interesting to see is that women’s participation in the labour market is not always because of their own personal choices. Rather, it is a result of the cumulative opinion of members of the society ranging from everyone from their fathers to their husbands. Bangladesh, in particular, is a male dominant society. A study on the Gender statistics of Bangladesh 2012 by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and Informatics Division showed that 84.4% of the households at the national level were headed by men in 2011 whereas only 15.6% were headed by women. As a result, it is common practice for the heads of families, usually the fathers, to dictate and control the decision making abilities of the rest of the

Photo: Bigstock

household, especially the women.

While these factors play a key role in deciding the fate of women, even for women who do manage to find gainful employment, they aren’t free from constant societal pressures.

Often times, the reputation and values of the family are brought into the equation and is used as a reason to restrict women from working, especially late into the evenings or night. Many parents, especially fathers consider it to be unsafe for women to be travelling alone while going to work. According to the Ain-O-Salish-Kendra from the period of January 2014 to March 108 cases of rape/attempted rape was noted, with up to 13 deaths and 2 suicides resulting from it. To an extent, it is difficult to refute their points because violence has been rampant, especially against women.

“In my last year of university my father told me that he would get me married by the time I graduated.

Even though he has always been keen on me finishing my education, he never believed in the idea of me working,” says 24 year old Kareema Khan. True to her father’s words, Kareema is now married for a little over a year, expecting her first child in a few months. Interestingly, she is also pursuing an MBA on the side.

This scenario has been seen in every other house in the country.

Moreover, society’s attitude and cultural norms also set constraints to working women till date. It is still hard for most people in our community to digest the fact that a female is working in the corporate world, let alone believe she possesses a respectable, highranking position. We hardly see any women women working in the top management of any company, also for women working in the agriculture sector. This is due to the gender gap in the workplaces, where women are seldom favoured, only because she is a “woman”.

This trend can be seen changing even though for an elite like Munim Rahman in Dinajpur, it is hard to accept it. “Women from our area did not do these kinds of jobs (in the rice mills) before, though they were very poor and much in need of an earning source. Bengali women of this area used to stay home, and these kinds of jobs were mainly done by the Santal community.

But when women of our society (Bengali women) began to take loans from these NGOs, they started to work outside their home and family premises in order to pay off the loans they took”, he said.

In a male-centric nation like Bangladesh, women are usually expected to leave their jobs after marriage. Interestingly, even if some

are allowed to work after marriage, their independence is short lived as most of them end up getting pregnant after few months/years of their marriage. Hence, they are expected to quit their respective jobs, and take care of their first born, which soon cumulates to 2-3 or more children in a few years, and, having been away from the competitive job sector for so long, its difficult to get back into it. On top of that, as Bangladesh is a Muslim democratic country, many families here do not allow women to work in many places where there is no separate place for men and women, because Islam does not agree with intermingling of the sexes.

Our experiences show us that when equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help their families and entire communities. But as most of them are bounded by social pressures, half of the population cannot contribute to their family’s and communities economic development. This is how a great resource goes untapped. All the same, women are an important part of the solutions needed to truly overcome these societal pressures.

They play a major role in handling their family and their community to a better life. n

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, J U LY 3 1 , 20 1 5

16 Focus | Highway Accidents

Road Reality

Photo: Dhaka Tribune

Promises of road safety are being made years after year without any results Saudia Afrin

E

ight people died when

project, what can we really expect

without facing any proper verification

implementation of the existing

a train rammed into a

from them.”

by the authority, let alone sitting for

laws are standing in the way of

re-examinations.

improvement.

CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Gazipur. A bus lost control

Momitur Rahman, a surviving passenger, was in an accident near

“Therefore, why would they care,

Accident Research Institute,

and fell into a ditch near Baokhola

Hamidpur Sholeasa Bazar with

if they can evade the law and get

detected seven reasons behind road

area of Dhaka-Tangail highway and

a truck. The accident occurred

away with killing people and breaking

accidents. Moreover, it also confirms

took eight more lives. A similar

because of reckless overtaking. He

the law.”

that 91% of accidents occur because

incident happened when another bus

said: “The huge traffic jam around

took the lives of four people. It had

Dhaka disrupted the regular schedule

we want because laws are not

above mentioned reasons, imperfect

been overloaded with an excessive

by 8 to 10 hours during the Eid

enforced,” he concluded.

road systems, unfit vehicles and often

number of passengers and as a result,

holidays. There is a huge rush of

fell into a roadside ditch in Osmani

people at every stop waiting to get

Talukder, Director, Accident

Nagri, Sylhet. Two more people died

back to Dhaka city. Moreover, the

Research Institute (ARI), BUET feels

when a bus collided with a CNG

bus services forced the same driver

the need for more connectivity

to fight this the transport sector has

auto-rickshaw. This is just a part of

to drive two consecutive journeys,

and coordination among related

to develop as a properly functioning

the whole horror show that transpired

which meant that a driver who drove

organisations. He said: “No one

industry. The corporations should

on July 23. On that very day a total of

all night had to drive the next day on

organisation can alleviate this

specialise in specific fields such as

26 people died on road accidents all

the same vehicle without any fitness

situation all alone. Besides, Ministry

making particular types of vehicles,

across the country.

check-up.”

of Road Transport and Bridges and

training drivers and improving

Eventually, it was seen that

the Prime Minister should step in. If

efficiency. Moreover, creating field

considerably higher than in previous

these careless drivers often handed

necessary then they should explain

for motivation, counselling, health

years.

over his duty to the conductors.

it to her in inter-ministry meetings.

examinations, recreation and civility

While bringing up the topic of

The District Road Safety Council,

is equally needed for transforming

incidients, Illias Kanchan, chairman

incapable drivers and malfunction

and National Road Safety Council

the existing situation for the better.

of Nirapad Sarak Chai (We demand

management, he urged for dividers

should play critical roles. However,

Safe Road) said: “We gave a list of

between roads as he believes it only

they don’t seem to be conducting the

a rather bleak picture. He said that

recommendations to the present

can control the reckless overtaking.

meeting that is supposed to occur

there is no money allotted to combat

and past governments in order to

In his comments, Illias Kanchan

every three months.”

against road accidents.

The rate of casualties is

In concern to these gruesome

“On the road, we can do whatever

Meanwhile, Mahbub Alam

According to Mahbub Alam

of careless driving. Along with the

carelessness of pedestrians are all contributing to accidents.

Mahbub Alam Talukder feels, that

Illias Kanchan, however, relayed

Finally Illias Kanchan raised

reduce accidents. However, other

brought up the High Court ruling

than the four lane roads, no other

that states that if any driver needs

Talukder, a complete lack of existence

the question on whether it is really

recommendations have actually been

to renew his licence, he should

in proper planning, monitoring,

possible to reduce accidents without

implemented. If they spent ten years

compulsorily sit for the exam again.

evaluation, absence of accurate

taking any of the essential steps. n

in completing only the four lane

In reality, they are getting licence

data regarding these accidents,

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, J U LY 31, 201 5

Friendship day | Reflections

17

Then and now:

the ties that bind us Comparing friendships from the past and present Shaida Prodhan

T

here are many aspects of life that define us, some of which are our friends.

We meet them throughout

the different stages of our life, each possessing different qualities and characteristics. Many of us even have best friends: those who transcend the traditional borders of friendship and with whom you form an imperishable bond.

The very definition of a friend has been dramatically altered in recent years given shifts in our behaviour and advancements in technology.

Thus, there is a very fine line between a friend of the past and that of the present.

The last to have experienced some degree of traditional friendships were the kids of the 90’s period.

or loved one would be something of

virtual platform as opposed to doing

bring along smart phones and

Many remember those years as

significance, while for us it would be

so in person. When we’re not staring

cameras to commemorate the

the transition into the digital age,

merely considered normal. For our

at the computer screen, we are left

meeting. Rather than giving more

the era during which the ease and

elders, a stroll in the park would seem

exposed and weak.

priority to socialising with our

swiftness of technology increasingly

merry, whereas many youngsters

dominated societal development

may be bored to death surrounded by

is a drug for most ordinary teenagers.

to take selfies and mouthwatering

over the years.

nature (and sweaty from not being by

The urge to stay online for as long as

pictures of food only to post them

the air-conditioner).

possible remains as strong as ever.

online. Once we do so, do we talk

Physically competing with friends

as much as we should with the ones

Gone are the days of children playing in the parks, running to ice-

To our elders, the very ability to

In terms of addiction, technology

buddies, we duck behind our screens

cream trucks with money in their

go online was non-existent. On the

in Monopoly or Scrabble is no longer

sitting beside us? Nada. Do not

outstretched arms – well, without

bright side, this can be considered to

commonplace – most resorting to

despair, however, because that’s

a device in their hands, at least.

be their greatest strength. By actually

beat each other’s CandyCrush scores

where a little game called “stack

The modern individual is hardly

meeting with their friends in person

online or planning war strategies for

the phones” comes in! It’s simple:

ever seen without a smart phone or

(as opposed to virtual means), they

clan wars on the Clash of Clans app.

friends stack all their devices in a

similar contraption – as if this were

felt more sincere and trustworthy

Nowadays, that feeling of victory in

single pile in the centre of the table.

some extension of himself.

around them – thus developing

“eating” a piece on Ludo is a rarity,

The first to reach for his/her device

strong ties with them. In contrast,

as well as when landing a killer word

has to pay the bill – and nobody likes

“authentic” friendships as the

the majority of modern friendships

on a “triple word” tile in Scrabble,

to pay. Enjoy a device-free outing!

generations preceding them. If we

are built on the foundation of

and so forth. We are deprived of

were to talk to our grandparents, we

technology – we spend more time

these simple pleasures since we

privileged than our previous

would find that most of them would

online with our friends than in

never have our friends beside us,

generations. Maybe so, but one can

have had such friendships – ones that

person. Communicating online

rather we have them behind screens.

argue that true friendships are the

weren’t riddled by technology. To

emanates a feeling of security, so one

them, a phone call from their friend

is more likely to share secrets on a

New generations lack the same

Social outings are but the same.

When we go out with friends, we

Some say that we are more

ultimate prize, one that is somewhat scarce in this day and age. n

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, J U LY 3 1 , 20 1 5

18 stay in Mini cryptics Clues

Things to do when stuck at home on a rainy day

ACROSS 1 The chat about chopping tool (7) 4 Note wobbling a lot more, strangely (7) 6 Peninsula discovered by stranger i.e. Brian (7) 7 First lady rang around in cut (7) DOWN 1 Special phone ordered in hotel (7) 2 Little Emily is in the topic (5) 3 Win easily, confusing counter (7) 5 French and Germans agree to board (5)

Saqib Sarker

Board Games When was the last time you sat down with your family or friends and played an old board game? For a lot of people it was a long time ago. Take your old board game out and play.

You may even call your old friends or cousins and spend the whole day playing Monopoly. Remember how you wished when you were younger that only if you had eternity to play Monopoly! Well... you can now... sort of.

Musical chores Pick the best rainy-day mood songs that you have been subconsciously craving to listen to and play in the background while you organise the messy desktop or things under the bed or whatever organising/cleaning

you have been putting off. This is a great way of clearing out your head for a while and feel refreshed afterwards. The clean space doesn’t hurt your comfort either. If you are an avid music listener then you may play new music that you have been planning to listen to.

Doing nothing If the idea of organising induces feelings of disgust, then the aforementioned activity is clearly not for you. You may consider spending the day doing totally nothing. This is particularly true if your professional work is very demanding and takes up a lot of your time. In that case you probably do not need anyone’s suggestion to know that you just want to get uninterrupted sleep. Some people would give away some of their valued possessions to be able to sleep in peace. If you are one of them then do not be tempted to finish just one more work. Simply seize this opportunity and you will be glad later that you did.

Movies with family and friends Watching movies together with friends and/or family is an amazing experience. It is getting harder and harder to find enough time to do it.

This could be the opportunity for you

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

to actually do it. Stack a few of your favourite films and start watching them together with people you love to spend your time with. It will be worth it. Don’t forget to fight fiercely over silly movie/story/ related topics and churn out wild hypothesis about all ambiguous endings.

Get out into the rain If you do not have chronic cold then you may want to consider actually getting out with friends into the rain. The rooftop is a great place for enjoying and experiencing the rain.

You may even play football or cricket on the rooftop (if your rooftop has proper railing). This also helps fend off the cold and keeps you warm and at the same time you will be having a lot of fun. Do not play bare foot though because it may cause injury.

Of course, be very careful to not go out on the rooftop at all if there is a thunderstorm. n

Last week’s solutions

T

here have been quite a lot of heavy downpour all over the country in the past few weeks. Many areas in Dhaka and Chittagong were flooded and a number of people could not get out of their homes because roads were submerged.

Whether you are a student or job holder or anyone in between, there are many fun and gratifying things to do on a rainy day. Here are some activities to make your rainy day at home a little more worthwhile:

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)

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 31, 201 5

Go out

Aug 1

July 31

When 7pm Where Jatra Biroti, 60 Kamal Ataturk Ave What Jatratronica returns after its first debut last year. This time they are bringing multiple talents across different media and working with unique sonic structures, challenging sound scapes and arresting visuals.

They bring you the cutting edge of artistic expression in town and dare you to look anywhere else.

They set the rig in the lounge,

When 4pm Where Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15A (New), Dhanmondi Residential Area What Join K Usayed at his travel and landscape photography exhibition, ‘Heaven on Earth’. He will be showcasing some of his favourite photos from more than 30 destinations across the globe.

His journey began here in the heart of Dhaka city but as opportunities grew, he started travelling around the world to photograph some of nature’s marvels. Breath-taking sea cliffs, stunning mountain ranges,

Music | Jatratronica II

19

Art | Heaven On Earth

turn the lights off and get the necessary dose of home-cooked electronica being live performed

by Creature Comforts, Polaroid, Fahad Zaman and Fahim Imam and Ahsan Sajid. Kaaktalio will also join in the groove with their phenomenal live visual set up.

You can book or buy your tickets in advance on www.imdhaka.com or at the venue on the event day.

Tea and phuckha is included in the ticket price, which is Tk500.n

active volcanoes and the specular sightings of Aurora which are only found near the polar regions of our planet. While exploring these distant and often dangerous lands, he learned the do’s and don’ts of this photographic genre, thriving in the wilderness, dealing with difficult weather conditions and at the same time ensuring we know how to respect and care for nature, wildlife and it’s environment.

For more information, visit their page- https://www.facebook.com/ events/994461117260654/ n

Weekly Planner July31-Aug 1

Culture | Dhaka Pop Culture Expo 2015 When 2-8pm Where Baridhara DOHS, Convention Centre, Baridhara DOHS What Pop Expo is a convention for fans to gather and celebrate the things they love – comic books, film, TV, anime, and video games.

Over 10,000 people attended Pop Expo 2014 and had fun. Pop Expo 2015 is sure to be as big if not bigger.

Aug 1-7

Education | Make A Change 2015 When 9am- 2pm Where House 64, Road 2/A , Dhanmondi What Make A Change is the annual flagship event of Blissful Spirits, a Bangladesh based nonprofit and youth organization focused on creating awareness on intellectual disability through art therapy. We believe that every child has a unique talent. This

is a short term project and one can contribute as a volunteer from a minimum of one day to a maximum of ten days for this noble cause. You can also visit their page for more information- http://blissfulspirits. org/

Aug 2

Education | Lab 2 Market: Introductory Workshop When 4-6pm Where EMK Center, House 5, Road 16 (New) 27 (Old), 9th Floor, Midas Center, Dhanmondi What Lab 2 Market is an incubating initiative to assist researchers, technologists and innovators to take their products to the right consumers. It offers the craving and changing innovating world of investors to use your innovation grown through the application of science and technology. The research areas include agriculture, natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, herbal medicine, zoology-animal husbandry),

medical science, dentistry, all fields of engineering, fashion designing, beautician’s technology, food preservation, architectural designing, IT environment friendly products, media technology or event photography. You can register for the launch party here- https://goo.gl/ aTaosZ

Aug 3

Where Department of MIS, Faculty of Business Studies, University of Dhaka What National Debate Fest 2015 is a national debate competition based on Business. Organizer of this program is MIS Debating Club, Department of Management Information Systems, FBS, University of Dhaka.

Cinematography | 8-Week Program: Advanced Cinematography Techniques

Aug 6

When 6:30pm Where Pathshala Cinema Department, House 58, Road 15/A (New), Dhanmondi R/A What Pathshala TV-Film is organising an 8 week long programme where you will be able to learn the art of cinematography. They will be offering modules on movement, song projects, dialogues, and so on.

When 10am Where Bangladesh University of Professionals, Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka What Podium is a free speaking platform where students can share their ideas and thoughts, spread them to the greater mass and bring social change. Join thier idea sharing platform and share your dreams, ideas or passion.

Aug 5

Education | Podium: Flight Of Ideation

Education | MISDC National Business Debate Fest 2015 When 3pm

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20 Conservation

| Bochaganj temple

Conserved Conversion Buddhist temple turned into a Brahmanical edifice of worship

Weekend Desk

A

unique example of conversion from a Buddhist temple to a Hindu temple was

recently discovered in Bochaganj, Dinajpur. Archaeologists of Jahangirnagar University have excavated a rare archaeological enunciation of the conversion in Bochaganj, Dinajpur dating to a period between 8th and 11th century CE. Earlier the same team of archaeologists unearthed a millennium old Hindu temple, in Maherpur village of the same upazila.

If the gradual dominance of Brahmanism over Buddhism in Early Medieval (c. 6th – 12th century CE) South Asia is understood through various textual and epigraph sources, conversion from a Buddhist edifice of worship into a Brahmanical one is not unique.

Situated in the Basudevpur village, the entire area of excavation is more than 3,600 square metres.

The Hindu temple was identified

by Prof Dr Swadhin Sen after consultation with Prof Dipak Ranjan Das, a former teacher of Calcutta University, and Prof Adam Hardy of Cardiff University, both of whom are experts on ancient Indian architecture.

The site is located on the khas land (state-owned land) and it is within a village of inhabitants to whom the land was leased.

Eventually the lease led to the destruction of the site. The excavation team urged authorities to Photos: Courtesy

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21

take immediate steps to protect this

by a large staircase, one that has

these stupas. Followers of Buddhism

rare archaeological evidence.

been robbed of its glory by present

used to build votive stupas to gain

inhabitants.

merit.

The Hindu temple consists of a 2m-wide ambulatory passage

The exact ground plan of

Several terracotta plaques

around a sanctum measuring 5.80m

the earlier temple is difficult to

were found from in the remaining

× 5.80m. The sanctum was enclosed

reconstruct, as it was destroyed and

structure of the previous temple

on the cardinal directions by stone

just a few components of it were

as well as the new one. Fragments

built entrances and large niches built

reused in the newly made temple.

of terracotta plaque was identified

upon walls. The entire assemblage

The previous Buddhist temple was

by Prof Claudine Butze Picron, a

was enclosed on the east, north and

associated with thirteen votive

specialist on ancient Indian art

south by an enclosure wall with

stupas(shrines) to the south-western

and iconography as the Buddhist

tri-ratha projection, a feature of

part and they were buried under a

deity Yamantaka. Yamantaka was

Brahmanical temples.

one metre thick filling of sand, with

a Buddhist God from an enormous

a floor built over the filling. “The

repository of “Tantrik” Buddhist

enclosure wall and the main

enclosure of the Hindu temple was

divinities from the later part of the

enclosure wall was characterised

also built upon the ruins of these

first millennium CE.

by a 30-40cm thick rammed floor.

votive stupas,” Prof Sen added.

The space between the sanctum

“The depiction of Yamantaka

communities in the ancient Varendri area,” he said.

“The excavation would definitely

Another four votive stupas, and a

is very rare in Eastern India,” Prof

constructed using mud fillings along

small square shrine was found to the

Claudine added. Two of the other

throw some light on the socio-

with the ruined walls of the previous

south-eastern corner of the external

plaques have also been identified

religious history, and would help

Buddhist temple. The main entrance

part of the enclosure wall of the

tentatively by Prof Claudine – one as

us interpret the gradual downfall

into the temple was from the west

earlier Buddhist temple. A staircase

Buddhist Siddhachariya and one of

of Buddhism in the northern part

and it was perhaps characterised

was built to form a pathway towards

their female counterpart.

of undivided Bengal, an area where

This was built upon a raised terrace

Prof Sen said: “Previously, the

it once had a strong hold. Owing to

conversion of Buddhist stupas into

the lack of systematic excavation,

Brahmanical shrines was detected

the history of such complex

in Gakul Medh at Mahasthan, and

interrelationship is absent from

Bowalar Mandap at Birampur.

archaeological perspective,” he

Siddheswara temple of Bankura,

continued.

West Bengal, India was also built

Prof Seema Hoque of the

over votive topes. But except for

archaeology department at

Bowalar Mandap, the excavation

Jahangirnagar University, added that

report is inadequate.”

these findings are crucial evidence to

The finding of Terracotta

understand the intermingling of two

plaques and a Siva Lingam from the

dominant religious currents in the

association of the Buddhist votive

Varendri region.

stupas has been quite unique.

“Along with the presence of

The team, supervised by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts of Humanities

numerous earthen lamps at both

Prof Dr Syed Mohammad Kamrul

the temples, these findings are

Ahsan, is excavating the site for the

unique. More so because of the

past three months with financial

ways in which it has manifested the

grants provided by the Cultural

complex interrelationship the two

Affairs Ministry.n

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