Weekend Tribune Vol 1 Issue 18 by DhakaTribune

BPL Match Fixing 6

Double Homicide in Dhaka 18

FRIDAY AUGUST 23 2013

vol 1 Issu e 18

Itna Haor 24

CONTENTS

A Weekly Pro ducti o n o f

DhakaTribune Vo lume 1, Issu e 1 8 Au gu st 2 3, 2 0 13 Editor Zafar Sobhan Magazine Editor Faruq Hasan

6 pick of the week BPL match fixing

Weekend Tribune Team Sumaiya Shams Faisal Mahmud Sheikh Mohammed Irfan Yusuf Banna Fuad M Hossain Joseph Allchin Adil Sakhawat Art Direction/Photography Syed Latif Hossain Cartoon Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Contributors Isnaad Sharabeel Alex Hillsberg Naheed Kamal Bassema Karaki Dina Sobhan Tamoha Binte Siddiqui Design Mohammad Mahbub Alam Asmaul Haque Mamun Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad Web: www.dhakatribune.com Cover Photography Syed Latif Hossain

Cricket accessories: courtesy of Asian Sports, Bashundhara City Mall

Send us your feedback at weekend@dhakatribune.com

18 CRIME FILE Double homicide in Dhaka

27 Obituary Abdur Rahman Boyati

3G services

EDITOR’S NOTE

End of innocence C

orruption is nothing new to a Bangladeshi, but graft was never something associated with our cricket. Till January this year, match fixing, fraud and overall greed and sleaze were something we associated with shores afar. Not anymore, though; Ashraful’s confession of abetting match fixing that goes back at least five years, fixed matches allegedly in both versions of the BPL, and even local competitions with dubious results – all have put the spotlight on our cricket. So, where do we go from here? Isnaad Shahrabeel goes back to the BPL, the tournament that’s getting attention

2 This Week in Pictures 4 Bottled Up 5 Whose Line Is It Anyway? Confusion, confusion 8 Post-Riposte Beauty products 9 Top 10 Local Bangla fiction 10 Feature The superhero business 12 Big Mouth Strikes Again Consequences of a rape culture 13 Photo Story Horse race 17 Digital Bangladesh Social networking in Bangladesh 19 Interview Tanvir Mokammel 20 What’s the Problem? Sugar flush 21 Stranger in a Strange Land Love in Bangladesh 22 Tough Love 23 WT | Leisure 24 Travelogue Itna Haor 25 The Way Dhaka Was Dhaka Central Jail 26 Culture Vulture Fighting stereotypes 28 Last Word

feedback 18

a hiGh school student 24

FRIDAY AUGUST 16 2013

vol 1 i ssu e 17

for all the wrong reasons, and gives us his insight as to what turn our cricket should take. Elsewhere, if you are remotely a fan of comics, Alex Hillsberg explains why comic book heroes are now role models for businessmen as well. Faisal Mahmud walks us through Beshto, Bangladesh’s answer to Facebook, Sheikh Mohammad Irfan explains what is holding back our sugarcane industry and Yusuf Banna says goodbye to legendary folk musician Abdur Rahman Boyati. Hope you enjoy our latest issue. n

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

THIS WEEK

INTERNATIONAL

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani (front C) speaks with UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon (front L) during the inauguration ceremony of the Centre for International Peace and Stability in Islamabad on August 13 REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood

An Egyptian mourns over the body of his relative in the El-Iman mosque at Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt, on August 15. Egypt faced a new phase of uncertainty after the bloodiest day since its Arab Spring began, with hundreds of people reported killed and thousands injured as police smashed two protest camps of supporters of the deposed Islamist president AP/Manu Brabo

Rescuers search victims at Alisay fish port amidst debris washed ashore in Talisay, Cebu in central Philippines on August 18. A ferry sank, killing 38 people and leaving 82 missing, after a collision just outside the central port of Cebu REUTERS/Erik De Castro

Palestinians celebrate the release of prisoners at the Palestinian Authority headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah on August 13. Israel released 26 Palestinian inmates, including many convicted in grisly killings, on the eve of long-stalled Mideast peace talks, angering families of those slain by the prisoners, who were welcomed as heroes in the West Bank and Gaza AP/Majdi Mohammed

In this photo released by China’s Xinhua News Agency, local residents collect logs at Shachang Residential Compound in Hongshi town of Huadian City, northeast China’s Jilin Province on August 17, following floods. At least 25 people have died in storms and floods in China’s northeast in the past week, local authorities and state media reported AP/Xinhua, Xu Chang

People walk inside the burnt Rabaa Adawiya mosque, the morning after a protest camp was cleared nearby, in Cairo August 15. Egypt is in turmoil after security forces moved in to clear the protest camps of thousands of supporters of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Mursi on Wednesday, and violence spread around the country. Protesters clashed with police and troops who used bulldozers, teargas and live ammunition to clear two Cairo sit-ins. Egypt’s health ministry says 623 people were killed and thousands wounded in the worst day of civil violence in the modern history of the most populous Arab state. Picture taken on August 15 REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

NATIONAL

During an emotional tribute at the graves, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lays floral wreaths at Banani Graveyard in Dhaka on National Mourning Day on August 15 BSS

BGB personnel stand guard during the countrywide hartal in Paltan area on August 14 Nashirul Islam/Dhaka Tribune

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia celebrates her birthday on August 15

Dhaka Tribune

Nobel laureate professor Muhammad Yunus addresses at a programe of “Social Business for Vulnerable Women in Rakibnagar under Tangail District” at Yunus Centre at Mirpur in Dhaka on August 17 Nashirul Islam/Dhaka Tribune

Goutam Ghosh, President, Friends of Bangladesh, speaks at meeting on Role of Media on Strengthening Relatioship between Bangladesh and India at Hotel La Vinci in Dhaka on August 17 Mahmud Hossain/Dhaka Tribune Oishee Rahman, daughter of slain SB inspector Mahfuzur Rahman and his wife Swapna and also one of the accused in the murder case,is being taken to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court on August 17 Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

BOTTLED UP

letters to the editor

LETTER

of the week Dear Ms Big Mouth Y

our columns are a guilty pleasure of mine, your selfimportant rants being a source of equal parts of annoyance and amusement. Your recent attack on Disney princesses took the cake, though. I’m not sure what the point of the piece was. First you bash the original fairytales for having a moral tagged on, and for being “utterly terrifying and bleak,” and then you bash Disney for adapting them and making them more family-friendly. What do you want? You complain about the originals being too dark, and then you complain about the remakes deviating from the original, but again, the aspects that you’re complaining about (fitting traditional gender roles), are actually from the original stories. The “over-exposure” to the Disney franchise that you blame for spoiling children is actually a parenting fail. And finally, if you insist on seeing monsters under your bed, you will find them. Ditto for your “analysis” of the characters. Anything can be twisted to look bad. It’s all very well for you to realise you don’t want to be a Disney princess. The thing is, why should anyone else care? n One “Disney princess” Dhaka

Tagore tributes I have gone through the article on Tagore by Faruq Hasan on Weekend Tribune issue 17, and found it pleasant to read about an English medium student discovering Tagore from a different dimension and perspective.

Hope to see more such articles on life, works and study of Tagore in the magazine. Anisur Rahman Swapan Barisal

Friday frolics I must tell you, that Dina girl has some wicked sense of humour. Thanks to her, I get to start my Fridays laughing at other people’s expense. Way to go,

Dina! Keep going with that razor-sharp wit of yours. Saad Bin Ahaad Chittagong

Ode to an obituary Thank you, Ibtisam Ahmed, for writing the amazing piece on Belal Mohammad. I wish lives and works of heroes like Mr Mohammad had gotten more spotlights in the media than the

rotten politicians. Revisiting history might do us some good. Samia Zabin Gulshan 1, Dhaka

Daily deeds I am very pleased with the Day in the Life of section of the Weekend Tribune. I just feel this section should make a regular appearance on your magazine. It is high time someone paid attention to the lives of people we barely know about. However, I also feel that last

week’s piece about the high school student was out of place. That aside, great work! Karishma Khan Baily Road, Dhaka

Passionate about photos Last week’s Photo Story was purely breathtaking. Witnessing how people around the world celebrate Eid ul Fitr in such detail and colour was truly a pleasure. I would appreciate if you would pass on my complements to the photographer. Simultaneously, I would

also like to forward my gratitude to the Weekend Tribune team for publishing such an amazing story. Keep it up! Shah Fuad Hossain Mohammadpur, Dhaka

Send us your feedback at: weekend@dhakatribune.com

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?

Confusion, confusion

Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

“It is also really sad that Khaleda Zia chooses to spend her birthday on this day every year. She has several different birthdays listed on various official documents, none of which is August 15. What kind of person does this?” Sajeeb Wazed Joy, on his Facebook page

“The government would not hold any dialogue or reach an agreement with those who celebrate “fake” birthdays on a

national mourning day. Many things could be said under political consideration, but celebrating your birthday on the day we lost the Father of the Nation is not a political issue. The prime minister would never accept those who make fun of the national mourning day by cutting cakes.” Syed Ashraful Islam, LGRD Minister and the AL Spokesperson

“Khaleda is celebrating her birthday on August 15 only as an act of political vengeance.” Jute and Textile Minister Abdul Latif Siddique

“When she was the PM and I was in foreign service, I had seen September 5 as her birthday on passport.” Former diplomat Mohammad Zamir

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

6 Isnaad Shahrabeel is an ardent sports enthusiast. He wishes to be a voice for the common sports fans across the country

PICK OF THE WEEK

BPL Match Fixing

The scattered traces of black ink

Will we ever see the tournament again? Isnaad Shahrabeel is pessimistic

he Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), inaugurated on February 9 last year, has been a revolution within the sporting peripheries of Bangladesh. Despite being an adopted version of foreign T20 leagues, the tournament has been able to steal the spotlight on several occasions. Much to the disappointment of many, controversies have outweighed the tournament’s moments of glory. Internal corruptions, lack of proper execution of plans and unprofessionalism have left the tournament’s future uncertain, to say the least.

BPL has given exposure to many associate players, unlike other premier leagues. This, in fact, makes BPL a stand out among all others. The mandatory presence of one associate representative per team in BPL 1 yielded great fruits for underprivileged quality players from associate nations Economic perspective

The total price of the seven current BPL franchises adds up to $24.5m (Tk1.91bn). On the other hand, the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) total team price, barring defunct teams, tallies up to a jaw-dropping $775.6m (Tk60bn), while the Sri Lankan Premier League (SLPL) has a much similar summation to that of BPL; it stands at $30.15m (Tk2.35bn).

Positive outcomes

BPL has been an ideal platform for local players to showcase their ability in challenging conditions. The opportunities to talk to and seek advice from the experienced foreign representatives have, reportedly, boosted levels of confidence and expertise among the upcoming youngsters. The recent improvements of W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh in the shorter formats have been accredited to the competitive cricket played in BPL. Foreign participation has given the tournament a lot of foreign fan support and lucrative sponsorship offers, which added to the positives the tournament has had to offer.

Brush with Controversies

Sadly, controversies made their way into BPL even before its initiation.

Bangladesh Premier League

Team

Owner(s)

Price

Dhaka Gladiators

Europa Group

Tk3.93bn

Chittagong Kings

SQ Sports

Tk4.05bn

Sylhet Royals

Walton Group

Tk3.94bn

Khulna Royal Bengals

Orion Group

Tk85.6m

DurontoRajshahi

Digital Auto Care

Tk161m

Barisal Burners

Alif Group Bangladesh

Tk234m

Rangpur Riders

I-Sports

Tk234m

7 A few economic snippets on the tournament The broadcast rights of the tournament are well diversified, covering South and South-East Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean Islands and Europe

Game on Sports Management (GOSM), an Indian management company, is in charge of the tournament after winning the bid from the BCB for six years for $44.33m (Tk3.45bn)

As estimated by NBR, tax revenues of BPL stand at more than $2m (Tk156m)

The Dhaka Gladiators won this year’s tournament, but their victory has been marred by match-fixing claims

Prior to the first edition, Mashrafe Mortaza, ex-skipper of the national team, reported a potential spot-fixing approach by an undisclosed cricketer. Further developments of that incident, rather surprisingly, died out. Towards the end of BPL 1, confusions regarding the fourth semi-final spot arose as Barisal Burners got the nod ahead of Chittagong Kings at the very last moment. The second edition of BPL, too, had to deal with an uncomfortable start owing to Pakistan’s refusal to releasing 27 players who were sold in the auction. The vacancies created were filled up in a hurry with relatively lesser-known foreign players.

Payment concerns

Without a doubt, one of the biggest issues with both the editions of BPL has been delay of due payment. After the end of BPL 1, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) initiated legal proceedings against BCB as their repeated assurances and deadlines of clearing the payments came to no avail. Referring to the payment issues, Tim

May, the then chief executive of FICA, told ESPNcricinfo: “This is a black and white matter.” He further expressed his concerns and distrust over BPL’s governing body. Before the start of BPL 2, BCB assured strict monitoring of payment and set deadlines for every instalment. This promised a clean start to the second edition without payment hassles, but the plans failed to fall into place as a few franchises did not cooperate.

Fixing allegations

Despite having to put up with one controversy after another, for the last two editions, BPL was able to move on, although with occasional hiccups. But one recent development has left the tournament’s fate in severe doubt: fixing allegation. As mentioned before, hints of match fixing in BPL can be traced back to right before the initiation of BPL 1, when Mortaza was approached. Only two weeks later, Sajid Khan, a Pakistani citizen, was arrested for suspected affiliation with match fixing. As reported then, the security officers found the bank account number

of one player from the Chittagong Kings (allegedly Nasir Jamshed) and the e-mail address of another who was playing for the Dhaka Gladiators in Sajid’s mobile inbox. Right after the arrest, BCB formed a four-member committee to look into the allegation. No conclusive statements on the matter could be framed up due to lack of concrete evidence. Later, in the second edition, there were more allegations about fixing. The alleged fixing involved a match between the Dhaka Gladiators and the Chittagong Kings. Mohammad Ashraful had been, as alleged, paid about Tk1m to lose the match on February 2, but the cheque he was given later bounced, according to the local media. He was also allegedly involved in fixing another match 10 days later, against the Barisal Burners, which his team lost by seven wickets. As far as the latest developments are concerned, Ashraful has confessed his guilt and asked for forgiveness, but he has not specified his involvements with match fixing in BPL in front of the media. The wait, now, is for the Anti Corruption Security Unit report of the ICC, based on their interrogation.

Besides Ashraful, Mahbubul Alam Robin, who played for Dhaka Gladiators this year, was also suspected of involvements with match fixing. Among team officials, the names of Sanwar Hossain and Dhaka Gladiators’ Mohammad Rafique, the veteran spinner of the national team, came up, but both of them denied any kind of association. Investigations regarding the three matches that have been questioned are still pending. At the face of all the controversies, BCB President Mr Nazmul Hasan told reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on June 4: “The BPL is a pain, no doubt. Since taking over, I had to spend most of my energy behind it.”

Cricket is more than a game in Bangladesh: it’s one of the few sources that give us reason to celebrate and be proud as a nation. The accusations and evidence of corruption in BPL is like a strike on national pride

End notes

While all the positives from BPL have given Bangladeshi cricket a ray of hope, the negatives have raised some serious questions among people: n Is BPL benefitting Bangladesh from an economic perspective? n Is BPL worth the risk of putting the country’s dignity at stake? n Will BCB put up with BPL despite the troubles they’ve had to go through? n Does BCB have the capability to tackle further challenges, provided the tournament doesn’t cease to exist? Majority of the die-hard Bangladeshi cricket fans will want an affirmative response to each and every question mentioned. To state the obvious, revival from here on will be a steep mountain to climb. Time will be the witness of either a commendable revival, or a very sorry end. The former, for sure, will do the country’s cricket immense favour. n

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

POST-RIPOSTE

Beauty products

Nature or nurture? Necessary evil

Sumaiya Shams

hy not? We live in a society whose collective psyche is programmed to favour outward beauty. And beauty products promise to give you that flawless look. There are proven results – they do work! So, if I can make myself look better, prettier with a little outside help, why would I not take it? Looks are important, no matter what anyone tells you, otherwise there wouldn’t be beauty pageants on this planet. We live in a time when most of us lead a hectic life. We get burnt under the sun, our hands and feet get ruined, we start going bald before we hit 30. In such circumstances, beauty products are the easiest way to recover what little we can. Spot cream makes the dark spots go away, sun blocks prevent our skin from getting burnt, special shampoos help prevent hair fall. There obviously is some demand for beauty products, and surely they work, or they wouldn’t grow into such a gigantic business all over the world. Everyone likes perfection, and that involves a perfect look, which involves perfect skin and hair. As long as you’re not using some overly harmful chemicals, I say go for it. Anything to give us an even footing in this shockingly biased world is fair game. n

Waste of resources Fuad M Hossain

o, simply because it impacts a person’s psychology besides containing ingredients harmful to the largest organ in the human body: the skin. The various elements present in popular beauty products tend to cause more harm than good. For instance, parabens, alcohols, mineral oil and fragrances presiding within these products can be carcinogenic. Some are known to even clog pores and irritate the skin resulting in dry and flaky skin. Others have been known to disrupt the body’s ability to rid itself of toxins, resulting in acne outbursts. What I personally find annoying is how these products are marketed to begin with. The commercials keep telling the consumers that they are never good enough aesthetically. There is this one brand which has released their “for fairer under-arms range,” which is a joke at best. Imagine if they ever sponsored an event, all the attendants would have to walk around with their arms held high. They would greet each other as such, “Hello, my what fair armpits you have” and the reciprocation would be, “Glad to have been PITTED against you.” Further reaffirming my stance, don’t let the big corporations make money at your expense, physically and psychologically. n W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

TOP 10

Local Bangla Fiction

Read away!

Yusuf Banna gives you the best fiction titles of all time, written by Bangladeshi writers. The list was compiled on the basis of popular votes from social media as well as the Weekend Tribune desk

‘Kritodasher Hasi’ by Shawkat Osman

A mockery of General Ayub Khan’s tyrannical reign when East Pakistan still existed, this fiction introduces Tatari, the protagonist of the sotry, who is one of the most unique fictional characters in Bangladeshi literature.

‘Shongshoptok’ by Shahidullah Kaiser

The end of British reign, the HinduMuslim feud, the birth of Pakistan and the communist ideology of the protagonist are tied altogether with one string in this story, which makes it a work of epic proportion.

‘Uttam Purush’ by Rashid Karim

A uniquely vague and dark fiction written in first person where the story proceeds by the narrator bullying himself.

‘Surjo Dighol Bari’ by Abu Ishaque

This is a master piece, based on life in pre-Liberation War rural Bangladesh. The novel was later adapted into a feature film, which also earned wide acclamation.

‘Hajar Bochhor Dhore’ by Zahir Raihan

Coming from the legendary writer and director, this novel is set in rural Bangladesh, depicting the typical picture of family values and feuds that has been the same for centuries.

‘Dipu Number 2’ by Muhammad Zafar Iqbal

One of the best teenage fictions ever written in the history of Bangladeshi literature, this novel depicts a beautiful adventure story, the core theme being adolescence.

‘Shonkhonil Karagar’ by Humayun Ahmed

This novel is also based on events that took place during the Liberation War. It was adapted into a feature film in the early 90s.

‘Chhappanno Hajar Borgomile’ by Humayun Azad

As far as the execution of the story goes, this one is an experimental novel. The story is based on the writer’s attitude towards military rule and dictatorship.

‘Nishiddho Loban’ by Sayed Shamsul Haq

Based on the events during the Liberation War, this 64-page fiction is written in a hypnotic style that makes the readers unable to resist. The elaborate description of genocide and guerrilla warfare takes the reader right into the turmoil of 1971.

1 ‘Nandito Narake’ by Humayun Ahmed

The first novel published by the literary giant, which instantly caught the eyes of intellectuals. With a child-like innocence and charismatic writing style, the tragic story of a middle class family is narrated with a positive attitude, which later became the the writer’s signature style. n

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

10 Alex Hillsburg is a blogger, a social commentator and an avid comic book fan

FEATURE

THE SUPERHERO BUSINESS

From panels to profits Alex Hillsberg explains the financial success of comic book franchises

We will always love comics and the film industry knows this. Most comics that are converted to movies usually have a captive audience. It’s profitable for all industries involved

f you’ve been bullied in the playground, ridiculed in the classroom, taunted because you’re different, shunned because you’re poor, then you’re the prototype for the lifelong comic book superhero fan. Despite everything negative that’s been said about comic books in the last few decades, their popularity endures. If uninformed critics only took enough time to understand this “low-brow” art form, they would realise that serious stuff is being W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

Photos: Courtesy

discussed – everything that’s true, good and beautiful, as a matter of fact. Heavy issues like tolerance, freedom from oppression, xenophobia and genocide all find their time of day inside the coloured pages of a comic book. As the medium grew, so did the quality of storytelling. From simple black and white stereotypes, you now get the whole gamut of evil and good. And the readers remain hooked. The thing is, we never really outgrow comic books. Hollywood

knows this and only too well. Movies are the perfect medium for making static comic book images come to life. The nuances of personality can be fully explored, and fans are more than willing to forgive the storyline tweaks necessary to transform a comic book into a film. Comic books have a captive audience. While comic-book movies aren’t guaranteed spectacular returns every time, the odds are in its favour. There have been more hits than misses. People of all ages have flocked to superhero movies and bought the merchandise promoted with it. It’s a win-win formula for both the comic book and film industries. We’re nearing the end of 2013 and we’ve already witnessed the success of superhero summer blockbusters: “Iron Man 3” and “Man of Steel” have made a killing at the box office, and we’re expecting the latest “Wolverine” movie to be a hit as well. Lots of people have made lots of money from comic books and movies and we’re sure you

want to know which movies and comic books top the bestseller list. The honour of starring in the most valuable comic book of all time rightfully belongs to the hero that started it all – Superman! Action Comics #1, featuring the alien from Krypton with very human curly forelocks, sold for a whopping $2.1m (Tk161m) in 2011. Then there’s Spiderman #583, which sold more than half a million copies in 2009 so fans could read about his battle with the Chameleon disguised as Barack Obama. In fact, Spider-man comic books have been in the top 300 weekly bestsellers for close to 1,500 weeks in the last 10 years. This translates to estimated sales of 49 million grossing over $140m (Tk11bn), making the web slinger top gun in the pantheon of top-selling superheroes. What’s not to love about a superhero with major issues? Loving from a distance, losing a parent, struggling to make ends meet

11 Who says art and business can’t blend? Superman, Spider-man and Batman aren’t just comic icons, they are business icons as well

by shooting selfies – Spiderman has it all covered! And that includes being shy and smart-alecky at the same time. Who can top that? How about another superhero with even more issues? Strong as Spiderman is, brooding Batman may now be even stronger. Figures from the Comic Chronicles reporting yearly sales show that since 2010, Batman has sold more than Spider-man. But both these solitary superheroes are eclipsed by the sheer volume of X-Men comic book sales, which sold close to 65 milllion copies grossing almost $200m (Tk15bn) between 2002 and 2012. In the box office, Iron Man rules! The record for top-grossing comic

book adaptation, as reported by Box Office Mojo, is held by “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which is really an Iron Man movie with an all-star supporting cast. Add to this the total gross of the three “Iron Man” movies exceeding $1bn (Tk78bn), and you have a clear fan favourite. “Spider-man” doesn’t do too shabbily either. “Batman” remains in the mix, holding on to #2 and #3 spots in the all-time list (courtesy of “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises”), but less-than-stellar results from previous Batman incarnations have watered down his box office mojo. So, we know that comic books feed the film industry with captive fans

and captivating storylines. But is the relationship symbiotic? Do box office receipts translate to higher comic books sales? Apparently, they do, if the film gets good reviews. George Arnett of TheGuardian. com reports that “the release of big blockbuster movie adaptations appears to have a significant effect on comic book sales.” He cites the boom in the sales of Avenger titles after the release of “Marvel’s The Avengers” in 2012. The same goes for almost all comic book adaptations that are well received. The boost comes not from regular subscriptions, but from people who aren’t into comic books but would like to discover the source of the

storyline. Or they may be comic book fans of other superheroes who want to get into a series that they weren’t into before. No boost was observed for superheroes whose movies were panned by critics or passed by the viewing public. Few art forms are as fascinating as comic books, and this fascination has resulted in extremely interesting bits and pieces of information, especially where finances are concerned. There is serious business behind all the fun and fantasy. For more of the facts, check out this infographic: http://financesonline. com/the-comic-book-industry-10-factsabout-its-financial-superpowers/. n W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

Big Mouth strikes again

Naheed Kamal

Consequences of a rape culture Naheed Kamal is an irreverent and irreligious feminist. An old soul of indeterminate age, with one too many opinions and a very loud voice (for a little person), she laughs a lot, mostly at herself. She lives in Dhaka, against her best judgement. Mostly, Ms Kamal rants, a lot!

Sexual violence does not end with the act itself; the taboo continues long after

exual violence and harassment of women is not news I like to hear or read. The barrage of mind numbing news on TV, newspapers and the internet is making me crazy. In any given situation, if authorities are more interested in making moral judgements about someone, mostly women, then they won’t care whether she has been harmed or not, and who’s to stop them? We should be able to report a crime, and if it is rape then we must go to the police. We should be able to expect that the crime will be investigated without turning the spotlight on us.

If consensual sex is wonderful, the reverse must be the most awful experience anyone can ever have. To imply that it is somehow less harmful because of prior contact with the aggressor is adding injury to insult In some countries, this is true. Authorities may not be assensitive as they ought to be, but there is recourse to the law. But I am never sure what we should do if threatened, assaulted, abused, or raped. Human Rights Watch said the number of women imprisoned doubled since late last year. Women reporting rapes are arrested for adultery, those fleeing violence and abuse, or forced marriages are jailed for running away. These are the moral crimes. And so a court in Pakistan rules women are not allowed to travel alone to shops during Ramadan because a woman alone is a temptress waiting to be ravaged! And if a man does give in to temptation, the woman is to blame, of course. And if by chance a male family members feels dishonoured and decides to kill their female relative, he is either exempted by the discriminatory provisions in penal codes or handed down a lesser sentence. But I might be wrong: after all I am a woman, so what would I know? I will tell you what I know. I know that women are reluctant to report domestic abuse, rape, or other forms of gender-based violence to authorities

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

because of difficulties we face if we seek redress. Rarely do we read about individuals and groups tackling these issues, because we are incapable of having an honest discussion about why violence against women continues to take place even today, in every society and culture. The implication that women are to blame for any attack simply by being some place makes me angry. It is alarming because no public space should ever be off-limits to anyone. If a woman cannot travel on her own, or escort another woman or man safely in any public area, express her political views publicly, and be seen or heard, without being routinely harassed and threatened, then we have a problem that call for subversive acts. The point is, a woman cannot report a crime, and that is also an issue that should cause all of us moral outrage. Regardless of where we live, how old we are or what our backgrounds, attempts to control women means everything a woman does is often used as an excuse to attack her! We tend to look at instances of sexual violence as something that happens to others, elsewhere. When a woman is attacked and we ask why she was there, instead of holding anyone accountable, it gives the abuser the courage to continue. It says women are fair game and no one will stand up for them. I wonder if silence and denial surrounding sexual assault did not exist, would men attack women so frequently at home and on the streets? Women are most likely to be raped by someone we know. Whether it was while on a date, when inebriated, with someone who agreed before, who said yes but then decided against it, refused to have sex, even if you are married, or if she is naked…sex without consent it is rape!

magine, if you can, what it must be like to be raped by someone you know. The trauma of being betrayed and attacked by someone you lived with, and loved, the mistrust and sense of isolation that follows must be the worst feeling anyone ever experiences. Half the sexual assaults are never reported because women are afraid of not being believed, of re-victimisation,

of being judged, the trauma of interrogation, medical examination and court experience. And reprisals, if the offender is a partner or ex-partner, are common. In the wake of the Delhi victim’s death, an account of another young Indian woman’s gang rape went viral. Sohaila Abdulali wrote in the Guardian on July 14 how she wrote the first piece for Manushi magazine 32 years ago. Her piece resonated with women because Abdulali wrote what every woman feels and knows but can’t always articulate. Rape is horrible, but not for the reasons drilled into women. It is horrible for being violated, scared, losing control over one’s body and hurt in the most intimate way. It is not horrible for loss of virtue but because fathers/brothers/husbands are dishonoured. She declares boldly: “I reject the notion that my virtue is located in my vagina, just as I reject the notion that men’s brains are in their genitals.”

We need coordinated efforts to meet the needs of girls and women across the country, not just in the large urban centres. There must be real penalties for rapists and real protection for victims. We need politicians, celebrities, teachers, legislators, journalists, law enforcers, doctors and nurses to take sexual abuse seriously All the talk about rape and shocking revelations has awakened in women and men the need to protest. Fear of being placed in the spotlight keeps survivors of sexual violence silent. The fear of being violated again by doctors, police, lawyers, etc is understandable, and justifiable. But something has given way, women are no longer afraid. Perhaps with nothing left to lose, more women are willing to speak about their experiences. n

PHOTO STORY

Horse race

Blazing Saddles PHOTO STORY BY

Syed Zakir Hossain

Sherpur thana in Bogra, in a cold winter day. (December 2012). Horses and racers come from all over Serajganj, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Pabna and many other adjacent areas of northern Bangladesh come to race against each other in a two-day event. Amidst fanfare and festivities, the locals get treated to a tradition of racing that has been going on for over a century. In an era dominated by machinery and technology, one last glimpse exists where man and beast unite to race.

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

PHOTO STORY HORSE RACE

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

PHOTO STORY HORSE RACE

Syed Zakir Hossain is the chief photographer at Dhaka Tribune

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

Digital Bangladesh

social networking in bangladesh

It makes you say ‘besh toh!’ Faisal Mahmud writes about Beshto, the first Bangladeshi micro-blogging site

imple, short, succinct posts and remarks with refreshing quips and humour - all that, in Bangla. Comprising these features, beshto. com, the first Bangla micro-blog site in Bangladesh, has caught the eyes of the local netizens. In contrast to blogs, which essentially cater to users with information, views and opinions on varying issues that interest people on the virtual space, micro-blogs make it simple and short. Recent studies reveal the current generation of internet users want relevant and interesting posts to be quickly digested. So Beshto offers just

users within a very short time. Renowned musician, columnist and blogger Maqsoodul Haque, who has been on Beshto from the beginning, says: “The most admirable and user-friendly aspect of Beshto is the transliteration service on the site itself. For someone like me who has suffered from ‘Bangla dyslexia,’ this is surely a benefit because, not only am I able to type in Bangla, but the in-built software gives me options to spellcheck and use alternate words as well.” Fahim Mashroor, founder of the country’s largest job portal Bdjobs. com and also one of Beshto’s founders,

economic and cultural issues and events. While fans and enthusiasts of cricket streamed about the BPL (Bangladesh Premier League) throughout the tournament, users interested in socio-political affairs were engrossed in streaming posts about Shahbag, during that time. AH Mustafa, team leader of social information service at Beshto said: “Beshto is a platform with multiple purposes. The virtual space banks on having people who are knowledgeable. If you see other strong voices, why wouldn’t you be there?” The Proshno section is what makes Beshto different from others. Users

mobile phone applications for wider access. Maqsood, popularly known as Mac says: “Today’s world is supported by images. There should be more space for photographs and videos.” While users appreciating an answer with points are identified, those taking away points by disliking an answer are kept anonymous. Hillol Sobhan, another micro-blogger says: “There should be a mechanism where anyone disliking an answer is prompted for an explanation.” Where LinkedIn helps make connection among professionals, Facebook allows hearing from friends and Twitter caters internationally,

Faisal Mahmud is a staff reporter at Weekend Tribune who specialises in writing IT and telecom articles with depth and analysis

In order to find a stream of posts on common topics, Beshto facilitates users with links on words. Using star signs before and after a word, such as *Shahbagh*, users can add their posts to the popular streams

that – posts within 250 characters. And it works well. In little over four months since its inception, the number of Beshto users reached 10,000. Features such as on-site Bangla phonetic service (to help users type in Bangla using English alphabets) and “Proshno” (Question) make the micro blog exciting. Afsan Ahmed, a member of Beshto, believes that the site has already made itself a strong product in the virtual space by having great content providers. He says: “It’s because comments posted by the users are shown in a nicer and refreshing fashion here.” Its refreshing look has earned itself a number of famous personalities, including musicians, technocrats, artistes, cricketers and journalists, as

says the micro blogging site stands above the rest as it blends the popular components of Facebook and blogging sites together, making it unique. “Besides, the language is Bangla here, so as a Bangla-speaking individual, I feel comfortable using Beshto,” he says. Former captain of Bangladesh cricket team, Habibul Bashar, mostly prefers to remain away from social media. However, he enjoys interacting with his followers on Beshto. Bashar says: “I am writing posts in Bangla; it feels good. I have a lot of followers there. I share posts not only about cricket, but also about my personal life and experiences.” Since its inception in October last year, Beshto has observed a surge of voices pertaining to social, political,

ask questions, seeking reliable and helpful answers. Both questions and answers are moderated in order to maintain the quality and standard of the section. Mustafa says: “Proshno is aimed at helping the community with the best answers.” The answers are appreciated with points when users find them useful. Beshto is built on the groovy and grails application which not only secures the site but also helps adding new features quickly. Mehedi Hasan, tech team leader and chief architect at the micro-blog site, says: “Adding up new features is swift because of the technology we are using.” Regular users on Beshto believe that there is room for further improvement, though. The micro-blog has yet to introduce email notifications and

Beshto is where Bangladeshi voices are more prominent. Mac believes that given time Beshto is destined to go viral and its usage, applications and functionality will quadruple. Lastly, Shadman Rahman, team leader of Beshto services, says: “We are still new. I believe with time and feedback from the users, Beshto will only do better.” n

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

18 Adil Sakhawat reports on crime for Dhaka Tribune. Any information can be sent at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

CRIME FILE

Double Homicide in Dhaka

Slaughter in Chamelibagh Adil Sakhawat investigates a double murder from the crime scene

olice recovered the bodies of Special Branch (SB) Inspector Mahfuzur Rahman (50) and his wife Swapna Rahman (40) from their rented flat at Chamelibagh in Dhaka’s Malibagh area on Friday, August 16. The couple lived with their two children – Oishee Rahman (17), an O Level student at Oxford International School in Dhanmondi and Oihee Rahman (7), studying at class II in Razarbagh Police Line School – and house maid Sumi (10). The Detective Branch (DB) of police claim Jony and Saidul, two of Oishee’s friends, were also involved in the crime.

Crime timeline

August 14

First police on site

“Mahfuz went home after work at 11pm on Wednesday. As he remained out of touch for a prolonged period of time, a team from SB went to his house on Friday afternoon and discovered the dead bodies. We suspect professional killers might be involved.” Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, deputy inspector general, SB, at the scene

“We are suspecting the couple was hacked to death sometime between early Thursday and Friday afternoon.” Golam Sarwar, officer in-charge, Paltan police station “We recovered a daa (traditional kitchen knife) and a dagger from the crime scene.” Mehedi Hasan, additional deputy commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Motijheel zone Oishee and Sumi was missing when police recovered the bodies.

Civilian on site

“Oishee, along with her little brother and the housemaid, wanted to go outside at around 8am on Thursday, August 15. I didn’t let her go without a guardian, as per her father’s instruction who didn’t want her to go outside without his permission. Later, I received a call from madam’s (Swapna) mobile number telling me to let them go. The voice sounded like madam.” Jahangir Alam, manager of the apartment complex “Oihee said he had spent Thursday night with her sister in a house. He W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

Dhaka Tribune

did not know the address” A police official requesting anonymity “We heard strange sounds coming from the flat early on Thursday.” A neighbour requesting anonymity

Forensic report “According to the autopsy, the murders of Mahfuz and Swapna were planned and done by amateurs. Two stab wounds were found on Mahfuz’s body and 11 on Swapna’s body, which damaged their livers and kidneys. They died due to their respiration tract cut off by multiple stabbings.” Sohel Mahmud, assistant professor at the forensic department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH)

Lead investigator “A case has been filed with Paltan police station regarding the double murder by Mahfuz’s brother Moshiur Rahman. We have already interrogated three arrestees – Oishee, Rony (another friend of Oishee’s) and Sumi. We are still looking for Jony and Saidul; if we can arrest them, we will be able to discover what happened.” Monirul Islam, joint commissioner, DMP

Prime suspect

“After preliminary interrogation, we came to the conclusion that Oishee, who is a drug addict, was involved in her parents’ murder. She did it because they were trying to put a stop to her reckless lifestyle. We will know more when we find Jony and Saidul. “Jony and Saidul live in Dhaka’s Bashabo and Manda areas. They are also prime suspects in this case as they influenced Oishee to kill her parents and helped her plan it, according to her statement.” Monirul Islam

Witness

“Sumi said she didn’t see the murder happen, as she was sleeping. Oishee woke her up to help clean the bloodied floor. “At the time of the murder, Oihee woke up, and Oishee locked him up inside the toilet. When Oihee asked his sister about the blood, she said their father had hit their mother.” One of the DB interrogators, requesting anonymity “During the interrogation, Oishee said she had mixed sedative tablets with coffee and given it to her mother first. When her father came back from work, she served him the spiked coffee as well. Jony supplied her with the tablets.” Monirul Islam

8:30pm Oishee gives sedative spiked coffee to Swapna, making her unconscious 11pm Mahfuz gets home and is given the same coffee by Oishee. He passes out as well August 15 2-3:30am Oishee kills her parents, wraps their bodies in bed sheets and hides them in her bathroom 8am Oishee, along with Oihee and Sumi, goes out August 16 2pm Oishee calls her maternal uncle Iftekharul Alam and asks for his address 2-2.30pm Iftekhar calls Rabiul Alam, his brother, to take the children to his home as he is out of Dhaka. When Rabiul goes to pick them up, Oishee sends Oihee home with him 2:30-7pm A team from SB visit the victims’ residence to look for Mahfuz. They discover the bodies in Oishee’s bathroom August 17 4pm Oishee surrenders at Paltan police station 5:15pm Oishee is taken to the DB headquarters at Mintu Road 6-6:30pm DB arrests five individuals following Oishee’s statement August 18 12pm Oishee, Sumi and Rony are arrested and taken to the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court. Subinspector Shahidullah Pradhan of Paltan police station requests for a 10-day remand. The Court grants fiveday remand August 21 4:30pm Shahidullah Pradhan requests the Court’s permission to identify Oishee’s age. The Court grants permission and Oishee is taken to DMCH

INTERVIEW

Tanvir Mokammel

Reel story

Faruq Hasan interviews the veteran movie director Faruq Hasan is the Magazine Editor of Weekend Tribune and the resident devil’s advocate

Tell us how you got into films. Are film-makers born or created? During our university days we were film-society activists. We used to organise film screenings, seminars and workshops for a better cine-culture in the country. At one stage I thought it would be more interesting to make films by myself than to showcase other people’s works. Hence I made a short film “Hooliya” based on poet Nirmalendu Goon’s poem. Regarding your second question well, there are two kinds of filmmakers. There are film-makers who take it as a profession and keep on making films as it becomes their livelihood. These film-makers can be created from film schools. Then there are others who make films because they have something to say to the society – the artistes. You cannot create them, they create themselves.

Why has there been such a drastic fall in both quality in local films and downturn in business? How can we achieve a resurgence? Cinema has been decaying in Bangladesh for decades for several reasons. The FDC-centred mainstream commercial cinema is lagging almost 30 years with regards to technology, when compared to the rest of our sub-

Courtesy

What are some techniques of directing a movie or a documentary? What are the essential qualities a good director must have? Both fiction and documentaries must have a dedicated and skilled film-unit. The cinematographer is a very important person in the filmmaking process as through his camera work, the vision of the director gets translated unto the screen. Similarly the art-director, the actors, the soundman and the music-director are equally very important contributors to a film. A good director should have the skill to choose the right unit and it is advisable that he maintains his own film-team, a cohesive team that can easily visualise what he wants to show on-screen. For fiction films, as they say, right casting is fifty-percent of the job done. The next priority goes to location and the ability to work with a diverse team. All these qualities may create a worthy film-team and also good cinematic possibilities. However those possibilities still do not guarantee a perfect film. To make cinema as a piece of art, a film-maker has to have other qualities, qualities similar to those a good poet or a painter would normally possess. That is creativity, and without that, all other efforts will go in vain.

continent and world cinema. Film-producers of the old are gone now and we are yet to see a new generation with enough resources to produce quality films. Though we have a good number of private TV channels who are minting good money, these channels are yet to come up with means and resources to make good movies. We also lack technically proficient people, and cinema, above all, is a hightech sector. Therefore, we badly need a proper film institute in the country to teach young people the art and craft of conjuring a worthy cinema.

“Finance, technology and creativity are needed to make our ailing film industry into a profitable business” Old-school cinema halls which could seat thousands are no longer economically viable. Rather, small halls like the cineplex, where different kinds of cinemas cater to the diverse tastes of audiences, seem to be the future. We need more cineplexes and auditoriums in Dhaka as well as in the district towns. The overall film culture of the

country needs a sea of change. For that, film-education has to be included in the universities, colleges and other institutions. A national film-centre like Kolkata’s “Nandan” or London’s “National Film Theatre” is a must where regular international and national film-festivals, retrospectives and film-related activities will take place. That will help improve the overall cine-culture of the country. What are some of the themes that interest you in your body of work and why? Big historical events such as the Partition of Bengal in 1947 or our Liberation War tend to allure me immensely, as destinies of millions of individuals and families were determined by those major upheavals. I made a film on the Partition of Bengal in 1947 named “Chitra Nadir Pare” in which a Hindu family from a small town refused to leave the then East Pakistan and what ultimately had happened. “Swapnabhumi” a documentary was about the Urduspeaking Muslims who had migrated to East Pakistan from Bihar and other parts of India, also has a strong reference to the 1947 Partition of the sub-continent. I have three fiction films on the war of 1971—“Nadir Naam Modhumoti,” “Rabeya” and “Jibondhuli.”. My documentaries on 1971 were “1971,” “Tajuddin Ahmad: An Unsung Hero,”

”Smriti Ekattor” and “Swapnabhumi.” The events of 1971 are figured in my films repeatedly because those were perhaps the most dramatic and important events I had witnessed in my life. I witnessed genocide, torture, rape, suffering of the refugees, brutality by the Pakistani army and their collaborators and the valour of the freedom fighters. Therefore whenever I think of shooting a film, subconsciously, like a “leit motif,” 1971 comes to my mind. I also think a lot about Islamic fundamentalism and have made a feature film against religious bigotry “Lalsalu,” based on a remarkable novel on the rural Muslim community, authored by Syed Waliullah. What ingredients do you look for in choosing your actors/ actresses? Physiognomy remains important in the choice of my actors or actresses, I mean, one’s appearance and physical look must be in accordance with the class and the socio-economic condition of the character. Then we also double check on what kind of a person the he or she is, meaning their human qualities. Normally we prefer group theatre activists as they are dedicated to the art of acting. However, we also look for individuals who make good team members as we normally shoot our films in remote places or in rural areas with very little modern amenities. n W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

What’s the Problem

SUGAR FLUSH

‘Cane’ it be saved?

Sheikh Mohammed Irfan discusses whether the sugarcane industry is here to stay

Sheikh Mohammed Irfan is a pragmatist, bringing spotlight to the persistent problems in Bangladesh

A few sugary facts n

Sugar was a luxury and expensive spice in the 18th century n

80% of the world’s sugar comes from sugarcane n

Crystallised sugar first appeared in the Indus Valley civilisation 5000 years ago n

Sugarcane plantations were the major cause of human migration and the slave trade n

The Dutch traded New York for the sugar plantation region of Suriname

weets are an essential part of Bangladeshi culture, and the key ingredient in making all sweets is sugar. Around 80% of the world’s sugar produce comes from sugarcane. South Asia is known to foster the optimum climate for sugarcane cultivation. Our neighbouring countries, India, Thailand and Pakistan are the second, third and fourth largest sugarcane producers respectively. Surprisingly and unfortunately, Bangladesh does not export sugar! Although this is due to numerous factors, the main cause, however, is rooted in the agriculture industry itself. Sugarcane production is essentially the development of sugarcane crops and eventually the production of raw sugar. In Bangladesh, farmers cultivate sugarcane annually and harvest these crops and sell them to sugarcane factories controlled by the government. Although the stateowned body Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) buys all the produce from the farmers, price subsidy in the consumer market results in a loss of, or for factories and eventually sugarcane farms. According to BSFIC, the cost of production is Tk62 each kg, yet sugar is sold in the market at Tk35 each kg. This discrepancy encourages farmers to abandon sugarcane and grow

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

Dhaka Tribune

alternative crops, which provide them with more value. Furthermore, only 10% of the sugar produced by BSFIC is consumed in Bangladesh, which imports 10% of its fine sugar and 80% of its raw sugar, which is later refined by private sectors. According to the Bangladesh Sugar Refiners Association (BSRA), refineries in the country are capable of producing 3.5 million tonnes of sugar annually, yet in reality are unable to meet the annual demand of 1.5 million tonnes. Clearly, the sugarcane factories are not running efficiently. Although Bangladesh nurtures fertile land for sugarcane cultivation, the lack of mechanised agriculture results in lower yield. The biggest obstacle to mechanisation of sugarcane farms is the limited amount of land owned by individual farmers. In other words, to implement mechanical and efficient farming, farmers need larger quantities of land. The government, however, is reluctant to provide private ownership of sugarcane farms, knowing that about five million people are directly or indirectly make a living through agriculture. According to research done by the Bangladesh Agricultural University, most farms are incurring losses due to spending large sums of money

on personnel and maintenance. In Bangladesh, the machines currently used by farmers are pumps for irrigation, subsoilers for tillage, power tillers and tractors, disc ploughs, disc harrows, weeders, pesticide sprayers and threshers. Recently, the intensity of cropping and production of food has increased significantly due to the adoption of mechanised tillage, irrigation, and spraying operations. However, farmers are still unable to afford the financial burden that accompanies these operations, and as it pans out, there is still a major need for the government to subsidise farming equipment. A partial solution to the farmers’ loss would be the local production of agricultural machines, the increased use of machines to reduce the cost of labour, the use of high yielding varieties and, of course, the unified ownership of land.

ne other reason for the sugarcane industry’s decline is the ineffective fertiliser farmers use on their crops. A major cause of poor yield despite the use of subsidised fertiliser is thought to be the detrimental impact of industrial waste on the land. Due to lack of proper monitoring, industrial waste, air pollution and global climate changes, the fertility of the sugarcane farmlands are severly being injured.

The lack of diversification is another factor responsible for the decline of the sugarcane industry. Apart from sugar, sugarcane can produce ethanol – a key ingredient in alcohol and a fuel used in ethanol-based cars in Brazil – pens, mats, screens and much more. Since the manufacturing of these products has never been introduced and due to the cultural taboo we place on alcohol, none of these products are being produced locally. Instead, the government is importing massive quantities of sugar and selling it at a cheaper price than the cost of sugar produced locally. At the time of East Pakistan, the production capacity of sugarcane factories stood at 12,800 tonnes every day as opposed to Bangladesh’s current production of 4,000 tonnes every day. Today, we are at an impasse; sugarcane has been our legacy and our ticket to a developing economy. The fact that our sugar market faces extinction is sad and woeful. It is still possible for us to save the industry, which perfectly suits the country’s condition. In doing so, we will not only empower our farmers, but also thrust our economy as a whole towards sustainability. Unless we have a better alternative to the gift that nature has bestowed us with, we must save our sugarcane industry. n

STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND LOVE IN BANGLADESH

Laila and Majnu

Bassema Karaki welcomes you to the world of romance with a deshi twist

f you’re looking for love and lust in Bangladesh, don’t expect to get into a relationship like the ones you watch in “Sex and the City.” Due to the conservative culture here, people are very cautious about announcing their relationships and everything from public displays of affection and dating to open relationships and sex are social taboos and must be kept secret. Of course, romance is in full bloom throughout the country, just not the type you’d see in Hollywood movies or French cinema. Particularly true in the case of “low income class” citizens, ideals of romance have been affected by Dhalliwood and Bollywood cinema, where the woman hides behind a veil or tree and the man circles around her like a rooster. When they’re not busy working to make a living, girls dress up in traditional saris or salwar kameezes, bedeck themselves in bulky imitation gold, paint their faces as fair as possible, and decorate their hair with colourful flowers. They flaunt around their neighbourhood and sometimes get their pictures taken in photo studios, while men ogle at and sometimes stalk them. That is how their romance begins. The giggling and excitement is followed by marriage proposals, which are typically snatched by the girl’s family at the first chance, and the girl, usually no older than 16, is married into a new family and submerged into a life of hardship even more challenging than her previous one. The charm and exhilaration of getting into a relationship is replaced with the burden and responsibility of raising an army of children almost singlehandedly, tending to household chores and earning money as a housekeeper or garment worker. In most cases, the husband goes and comes as he pleases and when in need of money, he simply puts more pressure on his wife to provide dowry or forces her to get two jobs and work twice as hard. Relationships, on the other hand, between “middle class” citizens are quite different. In this case, flirting and dating begin secretly during school years, during which many teenagers experience their first sexual encounters. The most common dates consist of eating in fast food restaurants, followed by a walk in the park or near a lake. Malls and ice cream parlours are filled with couples strolling around, taking snapshots and

updating their current locations on Facebook as means of entertainment. Of course, all this is strictly within their social circle, and is kept hidden from adults. By the time girls’ graduate from university, they are usually engaged to

trips with their children is considered romantic for such couples whose lives become centered entirely on their families. As for the “upper class” citizens of the society, their families are extremely involved in the marriage

Their children are usually raised by nannies and spoiled with the latest technology and perks available. Of course, all of these observations are more generalisations rather than the golden rule, as family dynamics vary throughout society.

Bassema Karaki is a LebaneseAmerican married to a Bangladeshi. She shares how strange, crazy, and humorous life in Bangladesh can appear to an outsider looking in

The tragic love story of “Laila and Majnu” may apply to many Bangladeshis who are unable to marry due to social restrictions, which include things like coercion of individuals to enter arranged marriages, and prohibiting of wealthy women from marrying poor men

Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

a man of their or their parents’ choice. Once a big wedding is thrown for them, these girls will then move in with their in-laws and begin a new life in service of their husbands and husbands’ families. From cooking and caring for their elders to raising children and keeping the house in order, most of them become housewives and depend on their husbands as the breadwinners for the family. Going out for dinners or

process, which becomes somewhat of a business contract. The girl chosen must either come from a wealthy family or be breathtakingly beautiful in order to buy her way into the man’s family. Once a marriage is consummated, the girl is usually absorbed in an endless, competitive world of shopping, socialising and gossiping while her husband is away on “business trips” most of the time.

All in all, love is not restricted to couples but can be seen flowing from the open hearts of Bangladeshis towards everyone surrounding them, and their welcoming attitude and unconditional acceptance of others is what makes Bangladesh such a hospitable and attractive country, despite its many flaws. n

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

22 Dina Sobhan is a freelance writer and cautions readers not to take her “advice” here too seriously!

TOUGH LOVE 1

I have a caustic sense of humour and I’d like to think of myself as witty and charming. Problem is, most people disagree. It’s gotten to a point that whenever I go to a social gathering, I often get rude glances for making a joke that I think is perfectly funny, and more often than not my jokes get me into heated fights. My close friends love me for who I am, which encourages me, but my sense of humour doesn’t really have a switch that I can shut off at will. Should I just stop being social or demand that people put up with my wicked tongue?

DINA SOBHAN Nobody has the slightest problem with witty, charming people, but not many people are into obnoxious morons who think they’re the life and soul of the party. It’s okay to be edgy if you temper your comments with intelligent critiques on society or what have you, but less so if you’re doing it just to piss people off. Has it ever occurred to you that your “friends” and family don’t so much love you as put up with you IN SPITE of who you are, which is often the case with characterless monkeys such as yourself who are encouraged by the dearth of swifts kicks to one’s behind?

And yes, you do have a switch that can shut you up – it’s a little something known as the prefrontal cortex, which allows you to actually govern your behaviour (GASP!). You can’t demand that people put up with any aspect of your abhorrent personality, but you can amend said personality to be somewhat less abhorrent. And if you honestly do feel that this extends beyond your grasp, there’s a wonderful little monastery in Chittagong with a very lenient door policy that you can consider for your hermitage. n

Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

A colleague and I got drunk a few nights ago and made out. We are both married. I haven’t told my spouse anything and I don’t think she has either. I feel guilty about the whole thing and I feel I should tell my spouse, who I know will not be at all understanding. On top of that, ever since that night, my colleague has also started completely ignoring me at work, which is making things worse, since work demands that we interact a lot. Help!

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

The whole scenario is wrong on so many levels, I’m struggling to decide what to address first. So, in no particular order of importance: Awkward. Have you never heard the expression, “Don’t mix business with pleasure”? Are you experiencing a prolonged adolescence or a mid-life crisis? In either case, who “gets drunk and makes out” after the age of 18? I suppose the above has outlined the important point that you have made a hot steaming mess out of your life at present. I’m not surprised your colleague is loath to speak to you, since she’s probably regretting the incident and scared witless that her “sig O” will sniff out your dirty secret

like a dog with a misplaced bone. I would be grateful for the break in dialogue and use it as an opportunity to suck up to your superiors and find a new colleague to interact with. And when I say interact, I mean it in a strictly limited sense. Secondly, no amount of money or gold should compel you to tell your wife anything. This new age habit of “sharing” everything and being “honest” with everyone is what has led to the skyrocketing divorce rates we see today. Some good old-fashioned silence and discretion would not go amiss at this juncture. While you’re at it, spend some time with her and maybe you’ll rediscover her positive attributes and want to keep it in the family in future, so to speak. n

WT LEISURE DILBERT

Across 1 6 7 8

Podium place for a tanner? (6) Bloke surrounds Eliot - courageous (5) Bad guy not in Roman house (5) In truth, a pound in bank (6)

Down 2 3 4 5

PEANUTS

Royal gear, a gear change about 51 (7) After tax, dance and sport (7) Palace for Holland in France (6) Chopped livers for pirate (6)

Solution and clues for last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crossword

Across 1 5 6 8 10 11

Boast new sovereign (5) Atom of metal, by the sound of it (3) Breakfast around daybreak - of champions? (5) Southern harbour, like Rugby? (5) Eno comeback number (3) A time back where Olympians battled (5)

Down 1 2 3 4 7 8 9

Arrived many to Arthurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s court (7) Not even nothing, dead empty (3) Endless river has no goal (3) A tinier movement, or lack of it (7) Decapitated insect becomes reptile (3) Red or Dead, for example (3) Love us to be in the red (3)

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

Travelogue

Itna Haor

Faisal Mahmud is a staff reporter at Weekend Tribune who specialises in writing IT and telecom articles with depth and analysis

How to reach Itna Dhaka-Bhiarab by bus n

Bhairab-Bajidpur by CNG auto rickshaw n

Bajidpur-Mithamoin Ghat by van n

Mithamoin Ghat-Itna by boat n

Itna-Chamraghat by boat n

Chamraghat-Dhaka by bus

At the mercy of nature

Photos: Courtesy

Faisal Mahmud narrates his visit to the vast lake

aor, a large river basin, has its own beauty, especially during the monsoon, when rainwater floods the upstream and covers all the low-lying paddy fields to make them look like a lake. It’s scary, daunting and beautiful all at the same time. Haors inspired the great writer Humayun Ahmed, who wrote several stories based on the lives revolving around haor areas. When all of their paddy fields and houses are flooded with water, these people’s homes become secluded islands amid this “temporary lake.” I wanted to see a haor, so I convinced my friends to come along and we left home with backpacks and a semiplanned itinerary. We were planning to take a tour of the Itna and Jangsar Haor in Kishoreganj district. These two haors meet at a place called Nikli, making the largest haor in Bangladesh. We took a bus from Dhaka to Bhairab, where we hired two CNGdriven auto rickshaws to Bajidpur, an upazila in Kishoreganj. It was a twohour bumpy ride through a long, broken

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

road; we were exhausted at the end of the journey. We spent the night in a relative’s house beside the beautiful Bajidpur medical college. The hospitality and amazing food at their house made up for our horrible ride. Next morning, we took two vans to the river harbour Mithamoin Ghat, where several large boats were anchored. We talked with several boatmen to get an idea of the price range for renting one of those boats. Our plan was to hire a large boat with enough space to spend the night on board. Finally, we found what we were looking for. The weather was temperate and beautiful, with a gentle and fragrant breeze. Our boat started sailing towards Itna upazila, an island amid the vast Itna Haor. We heard that a “haor utshab” (celebration) was taking place there, so we planned on discovering what partying meant to the haor people. Since I’m not a big fan of water bodies, which has little to do with the fact that I don’t know how to swim and more with the fact that floating makes

me queasy, I began to feel dizzy. The Jangsar Haor was so big, it was scary; at one point, I couldn’t see any signs of land for over an hour. I went inside the cabin and started reading a novel while my friends enjoyed the view and took photos. I don’t know for how long I read, but it was an enjoyable experience. The boat was moving slowly with the unusually soft sound of the engine. The small windows of the cabin offered a magnificent view, which was, for me, the ultimate way of relaxation. After much anticipation, we entered Itna Haor, which was smaller than Jangsar. The sight of land was comforting for me. Itna looked like an island amid the ocean from a distance. It’s a small upazila with a modest market. Getting off the boat, we found a restaurant to have lunch. The fish in particular was delicious, cooked with a lot of spices, and the yoghurt from one of the sweet shops tasted excellent. The “haor utshab” in Itna comprised a fair, an exhibition of handicrafts made by the haor people and a cultural

programme organised by the students at the local school. We roamed around the festival and indulged in everything the place had to offer. We planned to make a night’s stop on the boat. We also heard that at night a jatra (village stage drama) would take place, so we planned to see that as well. It was a good decision. For those who haven’t spent the night on a boat in a haor cannot fathom the beauty of it. There was no full moon that night, but the moonlight was ethereal amid the gentle breeze and soft undulation of the water. The jatra, however, was as terrible as badly digested food; you had to stand because you couldn’t get it out of your system so easily. The next morning, we headed towards Chamraghat, because we had heard that there was a direct bus service to Dhaka. The return journey that day wasn’t pleasant because of the scorching sun, which is not a good experience to have, especially in a haor. n

THE WAY DHAKA WAS

central jail

Central jail 1980

Bangladesh Old Photo Archive

Jails are supposed to be dismal places, but the Dhaka Central Jail also happens to be a historical institute. I was only seven years old when I saw political prisoners brought in from the 1975 military coup, and although I was too young to realise what was going on, huddled figures being brought into the jail building (I used to live right next door then) made a distinct impression on my mind. Of course, nowadays, Dhaka Central Jail has become a much more â&#x20AC;&#x153;mainstreamâ&#x20AC;? institute; in fact, it has become a place of business for many touts and middlemen. But I will never forget the building and what it once stood for. Today

Amin Kabir businessman, Kakrail Chanchal Kamal

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

Culture Vulture

FIGHTING STEREOTYPES

When the first impression is the worst impression Tamoha Binte Siddiqui is a contributor for Weekend Tribune, because weekends are the highlights of her life. True story!

Stereotyping is not a one-way phenomenon. For example, everyone knows that people who are big are usually discriminated against, and the same goes for people who are skinny, who also have to face negative comments from friends and family members if they gain even the slightest weight. The programme at Goethe-Institut will hopefully highlight both sides of the story and help dissolve boundaries between groups Tasaffy Hossain

Tamoha Binte Siddiqui writes about Goethe-Institut’s initiative to fight social prejudices “… the mirror, won’t tell you about pretty insides, just outsides, not what’s inside our skulls but what grows from our scalps. Because of our figures, our faces our hearts are declined, denied, discarded. Get acquainted, with the mirror, embrace how (ugly) it is, and how (beautiful) you are.”

f you are fat, you must be ugly. If you are fair, you must be beautiful. If you are from a Bangla medium school, you must be “khat.” If you are from an English medium school, you must be a snob. If you are into blogging, you must be an atheist. If you go to the mosque regularly, you must be a “mollah.” If a girl wears western clothes, she must be a slut. If a girl wears a hijab, she must be oppressed. Stereotypes such as these are ubiquitous in not only Bangladeshi societies, but in societies all around the world. These stereotypes serve to undermine the complex nature of human beings and try to incorrectly categorise and label people based on one aspect of their lives, such as their appearance, social status, educational background, gender, etc. We are all affected by stereotyping and in most cases they impact us negatively. Sometimes, inadvertently, we even enforce stereotypes in other people. Whether we try to fit into the stereotype approved by society, or rebel against them, the fact remains that stereotyping is a problem we have to face at every stage of our lives.

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

In order to raise awareness regarding this issue, Goethe-Institut, the German cultural centre in Dhaka, is organising an event called “Open Secret: Stereotypes.” The event, which is the first in a series of programmes that will deal with different social issues, is set to be held on September 30, 2013. The event is aiming to provide a platform for people who have been a victim of stereotyping and or have fought back stereotyping successfully. In order to do this, the institute is currently asking for submissions of poetry, prose, monologues, etc from people who wish to participate in the programme. The authors of the best pieces will get to attend a workshop and perform their pieces live on the day of the event. Tanvir Alim, coordinator of cultural programmes at Goethe-Institut, says: “At the Goethe-Institut, we always try to push boundaries and address social issues, unlike other cultural institutions in Dhaka.” He says though it is not possible to change the mind-set of people with only one programme, the organisers are still hoping the event will encourage the

audience to think about the issue and challenge social values and norms that need to be challenged. He further says that Goethe-Institut always tries to represent and encourage progressive thinking and values, and this is one of the reasons why the institute has decided to host such a programme. According to Tasaffy Hossain, one of the organisers of VDAY, Dhaka, it is important to have communities in a society, but forming communities leads to forming groups, and this in turn leads to stereotyping and prejudices. She says the initiative taken up by Goethe-Institut is an important one, as it will give the participants as well as audience members an idea about how stereotyping can affect people who are being discriminated.

hamuna Mizan, another VDAY activist and one of the first people to come up with the concept of the “Open Secret” series, hopes that the series will continue even after the first programme is hosted and tackle important topics, such as child abuse in the future. She says: “The reason we chose stereotypes as the first topic

An excerpt from one of the poetry submissions received by GoetheInstitut. In this poem, the poet, Aruba Adil (14), speaks against stereotyping based on appearance in the series is because we have all faced and have been affected by the discrimination caused by stereotyping at some point in our lives. Stereotyping can be both good and bad, but more often than not, people are hurt as a result.” Through this programme, the organisers want to provide a platform for people to share their stories where stereotyping affected them negatively. In this way, the programme will give audience members a chance to step into another person’s shoes, which may be the key to understanding and dissolution of negative stereotypes. n Further information In order to participate in the programme “Open Secret: Stereotypes,” send in your poetry/prose/monologue (Bangla or English) via email at program@dhaka. goethe.org by September 15, 2013. For more information: go to http://www.goethe.de/ ins/bd/dha/ver/en11380778v.htm

OBITUARY

Abdur Rahman Boyati

A voice no more Yusuf Banna writes about the famous folk musician

Yusuf Banna is a staff writer at Weekend Tribune. He would be happier if he could be a poet. He also dreams of being a painter and is envious of those who are artistically gifted

At a glance 1939 Born in Dayaganj, Sutrapur 1956 Started singing 1982 Formed an eightmember group called Abdur Rahman Boyati Group; recorded 500 solo and 200 mix albums in his whole career

Dhaka Tribune

he clock finally came to a halt for the man who aptly used the machine as a metaphor for the human body. Abdur Rahman Boyati, the singing maestro and global icon for Bangladeshi folk music, drew his last breath on August 19, at 7:30pm, in the ICU of Japan-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital in Dhaka. He had been suffering from age-related illness that included respiratory and neurological trauma. Boyati was an honest and dedicated singer who devoted his whole life in advocating for the blue collars, following religiously the Baul traditions with his charismatic voice and original, creative manoeuvres. His songs are in the truest form of folk music, with utter devotion to God and His presence found in humankind. Boyati’s career spanned over 65 years, creating songs that were folk by genre but modern in approach. He rendered folk music to a height with his unique gestures and appearances on stage performances that made him unparalleled in the field. His talent earned him the opportunity to perform in 40 countries; he was even invited to the White House in 1990 by the then US President George Bush, Sr. Boyati’s demise has gain widespread coverage in the mainstream media, as well as social media, by millions of his fans that included celebrities as well, some who have worked with him or took inspiration from his work. However, his death also raised one question: was Boyati given his due reverence? Because it was quite apparent that since 2003, when he suffered his first stroke, the singer slowly lost his voice and started avoiding the limelight. Even though we kept enjoying his musical creations, the man himself was forgotten. In the last years of his life, he lived off the charity by Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital. Now there is a demand for the posthumous National Award to honour his accomplishment, but it would have been a lot better had initiatives been taken to alleviate his dire straits while he was alive. Right after Boyati’s death, Abdul

“I am not going to express any light sympathy. He was a legend and I hope his works will continue to inspire the next generations. A person like him will always be remembered and a part of him will live among us forever for the timeless songs he has sung.”

1989 First appeared on silver screen, in a film titled “Ashati;” later, performed in films like “Koshai,” “Hridoy Theke Hridoye,” etc 1995 Recorded the surprisingly hit fusion “Mon Amar Dehoghori” with the band Feedback for BTV

Maqsood Haque, member of Feedback

Kuddus Boyati, one of his followers, lamented: “Throw some food our way, not flowers at our corpses.” Eminent personality Asaduzzaman Noor also

requested the government to take every step possible in order to preserve Boyati’s works for future generations. n

Won six prestigious awards, including the Presidency Award, Citycell-Channel i Award and Nazrul Academy Sammanana

Was buried in the family graveyard in Matuil, beside his grandparents

Did you know? Has toured 40 countries, including the UK, the US, China, Japan, Canada, India and Australia

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 23 , 20 1 3

Faruq Hasan is the Magazine Editor of Weekend Tribune and the resident devil’s advocate

LAST WORD Faruq Hasan

Feminists vs Disney princesses Whatever I’ve learnt about strong, female role models, I’ve learnt from Disney characters

y friend the feminist recently walked out on a Disney cartoon I had cajoled her into watching. “Why do I watch such drivel?” she complained. Could I not see the obvious signs of patriarchy, sexism and pure male chauvinism coated in fluffy animals and cutesy princesses that the Big Bad Corporation had somehow hoodwinked us into accepting and shoved down the throats of defenceless 12-year-old girls everywhere? Over the years, I have learnt to take pseudo-feminist drivel with a pinch of salt: for them, a rock in the middle of a road is a metaphor for male oppression, a barrier to freedom of movement, a stamp of male hegemony. Although I let most of their rants fly, I feel the need to defend my Disney princesses. In fact, some of the biggest paradigms of female empowerment can be found in ol’ man Walt’s royal highnesses. Here are some of my favourites: 5. Jasmine: Granted, for most of the cartoon, Jasmine had to play second fiddle to Aladdin (and maybe even to Mr Genie), but she isn’t your regular passive Disney princess. Brought up in a patriarchy where marriage was not only expected but seemingly the only ambition women harboured in her society, what does our princess do? She decides NOT to get married. Throughout the movie, she saves Aladdin’s rear end countless times, confronts the arch villain Jaffer on her own terms (without a genie, I might add), and when told that the man she was falling in love with had been executed, takes it all amid remarkable stoicism and vows vengeance. I must have missed the part where independent women who break societal norms to take charge of their own lives are horrible role models. My “Aladdin” takeaway: Don’t mess with the princess. 4. The Little Mermaid: Or the poor little girl who sacrificed herself all for a man. Gazdooks! Actually, one bothered to watch the whole cartoon or even read Hans Christian Anderson’s original fairytale, they would realise the story makes it very clear that Ariel has a very healthy curiosity about things outside her own little world. She’s an intrepid explorer who would spend hours studying the human world, and is fascinated about how things work beyond her own boundaries. Any infatuation with a particular member of male species of

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

the human kind comes much, much later. The more she studies humans, the more she wants to know what it would be like to step beyond her comfort zone. As a character, Ariel teaches us that it’s commendable to want to take risks and not fall back on the tried and trusted. And unlike the original fairytale, Ariel actually does not just give up and kill herself when things begin to go sour. She decides to fight for the things she loves and ends up proving that fighting back is always better than giving up hope. My “Little Mermaid” takeaway: Fight boundaries, fight for the worlds and people you love. 3. Beauty and the Beast: Belle is a character all feminists love to hate: why would a pretty, intelligent girl put herself on the sacrificial alter and throw her life away for an uncaring, chauvinistic man-beast? Again, I had to ask myself, were we really watching the same show? First of all, right from the beginning of the cartoon, Belle is portrayed as a bookish, intelligent, almost nerdy girl who eschews the frocks and frills to pursue her own intellectual interests: how her village works, the dwindling finances of her family and local geography. She single-handedly rebuffs the vain and narcissist Gaston for being shallow and obsessively selfish, thus evincing great judgement when every single female character seems to be swooning for him. Her sensitivity and ability to discern right from wrong is again tested by the Beast (the poor dude is cursed, what did you expect from him?) and she passes the look-beyond-the-book’scover test with flying colours. Actually, I thought Disney did a terrific job showing that the protagonist was Belle herself, as every piece of key decision-making was carried on by her. Unfortunately, but not unsurprisingly, feminists ignore all of that and decide to cherry pick. My “Beauty and the Beast” takeaway: Never judge a book by its cover. 2. Cinderella: Poor Cindy. Not only does she get headache from her two stepsisters, stepmother and the entire royal family, but she’s also a soft target for Feminists United. And yet, for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. Here we have a poor, resourceful, extremely hard working young lady who finds herself in a ball, not to catch a rich dude like every other gold

digger in the party, but just to take a break from drudgery and shake her tail feather in the process. Even when she feels attracted to the prince, she does not throw herself at him, but is perfectly charming and witty. When her party ends prematurely, she takes it in her stride and goes back to work, maybe a great lesson for our young generation with a serious problem of self-entitlement. But of course, this flies right by the feminists. Instead, they would rather reduce a strong, kind woman with a sense of duty and work ethic to a onedimensional character bent on getting her man. She does get her man, but only because her compassion and utter selflessness earn the friendship of her fairy godmother. Aren’t we supposed to look up to qualities like that and not despise them? My “Cinderella” takeaway: Work hard. When things don’t go your way, work harder.

Disney princesses are far from perfect, but they’re certainly not the agents of doom and gloom feminists make them out to be. But if you are hell-bent on finding a bucket of garbage at the end of a rainbow, chances are at some point the whole rainbow will look stinky too 1. Snow White: Feminists hate Snow White, but I could not love her more. The only character in the whole cartoon to get a real name (Dopey, Sneezy et al don’t count as real names), poor Snowy is stereotyped by feminists as beauty without brains, the archetypal passive, brainless female fantasy figure and the scum of the earth. Yet, the only character who actually is obsessed with beauty isn’t Snow White, but the evil Queen. In fact, when the dwarves first meet our princess, they aren’t impressed with her alleged beauty at all. Snow White wins them over with her kindness, ability to look past prejudices (I’m pretty sure the dwarves lived in a far corner of the forest not because they were the most popular kids back in school) and sheer hard work. My “Snow White” takeaway: Forget and forgive; holding grudges just ain’t worth it. n