Weekend Tribune Volume 3 Issue 49

vol 3 Issue 49 | FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Dhaka Tribune

6

Interview Matt Preston

12

Focus Pop culture

14

Musings Bookstores

CONTENTS

1

Volume 3 | Issue 49 | April 1, 2016 News

2 News 3 Meanwhile

Editor Zafar Sobhan

Features

Features Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

4 Tailored

Men’s fashion

5 Trending

Asst Magazine Editor Farina Noireet Weekend Tribune Team Saudia Afrin Moumita Ahmed N Anita Amreen Sakib Mridha Saqib Sarker Syeda Samira Sadeque Mahmood Sadi Shuprova Tasneem

Women’s fashion

6

8 Interview

Interview

The magic man

Matt Preston

12 Focus Pop culture

13 Origins Myth busting

14 Musings Bookstores

15 Nostalgia

Contributors Minu Ahmed Jennifer Ashraf

17 Book Review

Cartoons Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Priyo

Regulars

Graphics Md Mahbub Alam Alamgir Hossain Tahsin Momin Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Advertisement Shahin Ahsan Production Masum Billah Circulation Masud Kabir Pavel Website dhakatribune.com/weekend facebook.com/WeekendTrib Email your letters to: weekend@dhakatribune.com

Children’s classics Poet in turmoil

9

16 Legalese 18 Stay In 19 Go Out 20 The Bong Momma

Photo Story Alor jatra

Editor’s note Dear readers, With a clap of thunder and the warm kiss of sunshine, April is upon us. We’re kicking off this month with April Fool’s Day, and looking forward to Children’s Book Day tomorrow, and for this, we have a treat for you.

Starting off with fashion forecasts for the month, we move on to a special interview with Matt Preston, who joined us in a tour of Dhaka.

April Fool’s Day is usually treated with some suspicion because of a certain myth circulating about its origins.

We’ve done our best to debunk

said myth and explore the history behind this celebration.

Our photo story this week takes a look back at an Independence Day event and how it translated poignantly into a theatre of light and colour.

We have several nostalgic pieces about children’s books in Dhaka, sure to take you back to the days of magic and mystery.

So grab your cup of cha and kick back with your favourite Friday magazine and let us entertain you

- Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

About the cover

Painting: Little Hearts Artist: Liza Hasan

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, APR I L 1 , 20 1 6

2 News | This week Suicide Attack kills 72 in Pakistan park on Easter Sunday

Ally to power broker Suu Kyi sworn in as Myanmar’s President

At least 72 people were killed and

TTP-JA spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan

more than 320 others injured when a

said from an undisclosed location

suicide bomber targeting Christians

while using an Afghan cell number.

blew himself up at a busy park in Lahore on Sunday last week.

Many of the victims had lined up to buy tickets for a train ride when the blast occurred. The dead included 36 children. The Associated Press reported that 10 members of one

He added: “We didn’t want to kill women and children. Our targets were male members of the Christian community.”

The State Department called the attack a “cowardly act.”

It was the deadliest attack in Pakistan since the December 2014

Htin Kyaw, a trusted friend of Nobel

power in the government and

A splinter group of the Pakistani

massacre of 134 school children at

laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, took over

parliament, and the president himself

Taliban — Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan

a military run academy in the city

as Myanmar’s president Wednesday

will play second fiddle to Suu Kyi,

Jamaatul Ahrar (TTP-JA) — claimed

of Peshawar that prompted a major

last week, calling it a “historic

who has repeatedly said she will run

responsibility for the attack.

government crackdown on Islamist

moment” in the country’s long-drawn

the country from behind the scenes

militancy.

transition to democracy after decades

because the military has ensured —

Photo: Reuters

of military rule.

through a constitutional manipulation

family were killed, all Muslims.

“Members of the Christian community who were celebrating

In a day full of ceremony and

Easter today were our prime target,”

symbolism, Htin Kyaw was sworn in

Suu Kyi who has been the face of

along with his two vice presidents and

Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement

18-member Cabinet that includes Suu

endured decades of house arrest

Kyi in an austere hall of parliament

and harassment by military rulers

with lawmakers dressed in traditional costume.

The world at a glance 16 States announce a new coalition to ‘Fight for Climate Change Progress’

— that she cannot be the president.

Weekend Tribune Desk

without ever giving up on her nonviolent campaign to unseat them. The

While a momentous

constitutional clause that denied her

day in the history of

the presidency excludes anyone from

this impoverished

the position who has a foreign spouse

Southeast

or children. Suu Kyi’s two sons are

Asian country,

British, as was her late husband. The

democracy still

clause is widely seen as having been

feels incomplete.

written by the military with Suu Kyi

The military

in mind.

retains considerable

Photo: AP

Bangladesh court upholds Islam as religion of the state Bangladesh’s High Court on Monday,

and without giving us any chance to

last week rejected a 28-year-old

present our argument on the point of

petition calling for the removal of a

locus standi, the court dismissed the

constitutional provision recognising

case,” he told Al Jazeera.

Islam as the official religion of the Sixteen of the nation’s top law

press conference Tuesday.

Muslim-majority South Asian nation.

Others, however, were pleased with the decision.

enforcement officals have come

“In my view, there’s nothing

together to curb greenhouse gas

we need to worry about more than

petitioning organisation, the

the president of the religious party

pollution, advance clean energy,

climate change,” added Massachusetts

Committee against Autocracy and

Nezam-e-Islam who was present in

and pursue joint investigations into

Attorney General Maura Healey. “It’s

Communalism, did not have the

court, said: “This is the decision of

whether the fossil fuel industry and

incredibly serious when you think

right to be heard in the court.

the highest court in the land. Islam

its allies committed crimes by lying to

about the human and economic

investors and the public about climate

consequences.”

change.

“In face of gridlock in Washington,

The coalition also includes

The court ruled that the

Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque, one

Lawyer Maulana MA Raquib,

should be the state religion. The

of the three judges sitting on the

majority of people in this country

bench, said that the court found that

believe in Islam.”

attorneys general from Connecticut,

the petitioner does not have locus

we’re stepping into this breach,”

the District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa,

standi, and that is why the petition

the state religion would not affect

said New York Attorney General Eric

Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New

will be summarily rejected.

minority religions. “Minorities will

Schneiderman, flanked by former Vice

Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, the

President Al Gore and a half dozen

Virgin Islands, Virginia, Vermont, and

Subrata Chowdhury, said that he was

is a guarantee in the constitution for

colleagues, as he announced the new

Washington.

“100 percent disappointed” with

the minorities,” he said.

coalition of state attorneys general at a

Photo: AP

the decision. “Without a hearing

Source: Al Jazeera

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, AP R I L 1 , 201 6

The organisation’s lawyer,

He argued that having Islam as

not be discriminated against as there

. . . Meanwhile

3

Photo of the week

Firefighters trying to bring a rampaging bull under control at Panthapath last Tuesday.

Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

say what?

Cop rescues cat with a taser An adorable feline is back on solid

kitty followed the red dot down the tree

ground after police officers said they

to safety.

used the laser aiming system on his

In a series of Tweets capturing

taser to lure the cat down from a tree

the hairy March 16 rescue, Officer

where it had become trapped.

TJ Markowsky noted that one of the

The tiny daredevil was found

officers will have to file paperwork

precariously perched about 20-feet

for using a Taser, and that charges are

above a creek when officers with

pending against the cat ‘for scratching

Nebraska’s La Vista Police Department

me’.

went to work earlier this month.

Clearly having an understanding

The cat was taken to the local Humane Society and adopted six days

of cat culture, an officer whipped out

later. n

his taser and used the device’s laser to

News and Photo: Huffington Post

guide the animal to safety. The curious

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, APR I L 1 , 20 1 6

4 Tailored | Men’s fashion

Spring into action Here are the must-haves for the current season Mahmood Hossain

F

eeling the touch of Spring,

Whether they are round or squared,

gentlemen? The random

aim for the Tortoiseshell or D-Frame

rain and the hectic heat

acetate sunglasses. And they don’t

are the perfect signs of our

always have to be made by Ray-Ban

wacky weather in the city of Dhaka.

either, shake things up a bit and wear

It’s irritating, we know. But as always,

something no one has ever heard of. In

we must keep our chins up and strap

fact, you’re better off wearing a stylish

on the best gosh darn attitude with the

pair of frames that is brandless than a

flyest gear. Get your notebooks out, and

knock off of a popular brand.

check the following off your list.

Light bottoms

Denim on it

The whole idea behind the spring

For those extra suave occasions, a

closet is to make things as light as

denim jacket (please don’t call it a

possible. The bright sun and sometimes

“jeans jacket”) is the weekend and

smouldering heat is not the time for

evening chill layer to go with it for the

you to be wearing wool suits all day,

season. We know it’s grossly hot but

everyday. The modern-fitted chinos

for those random, windy days a proper

are the go-to option for work-wear and

denim jacket makes for a more edgy

evening hangouts. The trick is not to

and cool substitution for a windbreaker.

look too uptight and keep things as relaxed as possibly without having to

Those suedes though

sacrifice the sophistication. Think Ivy

When the weather shifts back to the

League.

warmth, bring out those suedes and talking about regular suede loafers,

Do you row? Bring out the crew team

we’re on about a fresh pair of suede

If you must wear t-shirts, get yourself a

brogues or lace-ups. The thing is

bunch of crewneck t-shirts. We cannot

you’ll be out and about on a working

begin to tell you how amazingly cool

schedule, and you’ll need proper work

you can look in something so simple.

shoes that go better with chinos, dressy

Colours like washed out pink or powder

jeans, dress pants and casual suits.

blue make for one hell of a statement

Versatility, gentlemen, stick with the

in the suavity department. Even Loden

program.

greens look fantastic with a pair of

sport them proudly. We’re not just

white or off-white jeans. Keep it comfy,

Marco! Polo!

don’t overdo things.

A polo shirt is a no-brainer; it’s an essential for a man’s spring wardrobe.

Sneakers too fresh

It’s sporty and sophisticated at the

We’ve spoken about white items in

same time. And now that many brands

the closet on numourous occasions,

cater to the more fitted polo wearers,

but a fresh pair of white sneakers is a

you’ll have no problem wearing these

Illustration: Priyo/Dhaka Tribune

polo shirts on casual and semi-formal

staple for this season’s wardrobe. It’ll be difficult to keep them clean and

occasions. Remeber that versatility we

sleeves or long sleeves is the epitome

in all occasions. Opting out of those

safe but imagine how many countless

mentioned earlier? Yeah. Which other

of spring sophistication. There’s

Hawaiian shirts, keeping your options

outfits you can match them up with. It’s

shirt can you wear to work and on a

something about a genuine cotton shirt

open with a solid white shirt is the best

white for goodness sake! And if you’re

tennis court right after? Meeting and

in white that exudes cleanliness and

choice to make.

too lazy for laces, you can always do

a tennis match cuts down on the time

gives off that light as a feather feel to it.

consumption.

Things will get hot, so don’t be afraid

Through the lens

to roll up those sleeves for a cooler and

Avaitors and Wayfarers are always a

youthful look. The loud prints can be

safe bet but this season let’s try and

acceptable on certain occasions but not

make a statement with new sunglasses.

Pristine white A white button-down shirt in short

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, AP R I L 1 , 201 6

like Daniel and get some classic slip-ons Vans. n

Women’s fashion | Trend Report

April forecast

Racy lacy Lace is back in a big way this season.

What’s trending in the month to come

It’s finding its way onto the edges of the camisole tops that are enjoying a 90’s revival right now, adding a

Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

W

5

goth touch to the LBD, and skirting merrily over blouses and dresses alike.

hile we’re inching

odd lag, sartorially speaking, and, in

towards the wild

conjunction with the second fashion

incorporate into our local garb. From

This one is pretty easy to

storms and muggy

season in the country this year, gives

lacework on kameezes to lace saris,

afternoons of

us a window to express ourselves in

to cut-out details on blouses, the

summer, the Western world has

really creative ways. Let’s check out

options are endless. Our favourite

just welcomed their first warm

the month’s biggest trends

eveningwear trend are sari blouses

winds of spring. This gives us an

with lace sleeves.

Photo: Vittate

From day to zzz One of the weirdest, yet hottest trends this year, is that for daytime pajamas. Probably a

It takes two

result of so many entrepreneurs

Matching separates are also going

breaking away from the shackles

strong everywhere. While mixing

of corporate jobs and starting

and matching your top and bottom

their own businesses, often

will probably never really go away,

working from home, making the

a set takes a lot of the stress off

business suit less relevant for

planning what to wear, and this

them. Designers such as Thakoon

season, it’s charming and polished.

and Adam Selman have tapped

Matchy-matchy shalwar

into this spirit and come up with

kameezes haven’t quite caught on

loungewear you can dress up and

here yet, but they’re beginning to.

take to lunch.

From Yellow’s lawn offerings, to a

While we’re not about to see

number of sets available online at

daytime pajamas on the streets

Daraz and Kaymu, you’re bound

of Dhaka anytime soon, what

to find a set for you. Even less

we can take from this idea, and

common, but quite the style gamble

what local designers have been

would be to tailor make your own

working on are ankle-length

set of printed kurti and matching

robes, inspired by the Middle

culottes.

Eastern jalabiyyas/thawbs.

Adorned with local motifs, loose and free-flowing, these have the multiple benefits of being figure flattering and comfortable in the heat if made with cotton. And the silhouette is something Slap on some chunky bangles and earrings and take it to lunch, or add churidars and wear it to work.

Photo: Mrimmoy

Photo: Yellow by Beximco

Loud and proud

countries. You don’t need to break the

April’s “It” bag has a lot of personality.

bank to get on board this trend. From

Graphic prints, textural embellishments,

the ethnic bags available at New Market

unusual colours, designers have brought

and Chandni Chowk, to the party-

out all the bells and whistles for this one.

perfect clutches from Aarong, you have

This is one place where we have a

an abundance of options that meet the

real comparative advantage over most

specs and won’t break the bank. n

Photo: Fingey

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, APR I L 1 , 20 1 6

6 Interview | Matt preston

‘A cookie is everything’: Lessons from #MeetMatt

In conversation with one of the most recognisable faces of food around the world N Anita Amreen

L

ast week, the Dhaka Tribune

cookies themselves. As someone who

flavoured tea. What he loved most was

had the chance to have a

truly enjoys the luxury of solitude,

just how “food obsessed” the nation

private sit-down with Matt

sipping a hot cup of tea, Matt believes a

was, taking time to note down his very

Preston, one of the most

cookie is everything.

own favourites from the trip. “Kachhi

recognisable faces of the global culinary

“We did a biscuit challenge on

5 things no one knows about Matt Preston

biryani and Chicken Roast,” he jotted

He doesn’t always wear a suit.

industry who, upon his arrival in

MasterChef season four and they asked

down on his phone, as recipes he’d like

“That is absolutely right, I don’t

Dhaka, took the capital by storm. In

me to talk about the joys of biscuits and

to try his hand at.

always wear a suit and cravats. I

town to promote Rivoli cookies, the

I talked for eight minutes,” he said. “I’ve

Masterchef judge embarked on several

eaten biscuits around the world and I’m

when anyone mentions biryani. When

I was 18 but I’ve worn it when

culinary adventures, approaching every

a bit of an expert on them. I bake a lot of

you ask someone what you should try,

I’ve wanted to wear it, not when

dish he tried with childlike wonder

them. I love a good biscuit.”

almost everyone says biryani. But when

fashion or marketing demands. If

you ask where to get it from, there’s

the studio is 45 degrees, I won’t wear it.”

and excitement. Full of young, boyish

“The hardest thing about a chocolate

“I love how heated the debate gets

have been wearing cravats since

charm, the Matt Preston was much

chip cookie is to make the biscuit crisp

always a debate and I love that,” he

like a giant teddy bear – finding joy

and the chocolate soft. I think the

shared.

in the little kachki maach for lunch,

quality of the chocolate is fantastic. It

As someone who always “has to get

or instagraming photos of strawberry

has Belgian chocolate and the biscuit

a map” of where he’s going, Matt loves

“Family Guy, obviously. I also

bhorta at TSC.

is crisp which is really rare,” he shared

to go to a supermarket to see what

love record novels. I used to be

about Rivoli cookies.

people are buying. “I have to try the

obsessed with the artwork of

junk food because looking at what the

Frank Miller. I also love Deadpool

Alongside his culinary adventures, Matt also went on several promotional

With an insatiable appetite for

He loves cartoons

escapades for Rivoli, a brand he

adventure and exploration, Preston took

people are eating tells you a lot about

and all that kind of stuff. Back in

genuinely believes in. It wasn’t just any

a genuine interest in almost everything

who they are. And the range of junk

the day, I used to get out a Tin

run-of-the-mill endorsement for Matt;

he saw in Dhaka – from the dance

food also tells you who they are and

Tin book or an Asterix book on an

rather, he specifically accepted Rivoli

and art classes he walked through at

how they’re obsessed about food,” he

Easter Sunday’s.”

because of just how much he loved the

BAFA, to how tea stalls at TSC had chilli

added.

He loves wearing shorts I love wearing shorts and I love getting a tan on my legs. Shorts make you feel so jaunty.

He likes his tea more than his coffee “In terms of when I do drink coffee, I used to be a latte drinker and now I’ve moved to a flat white. After 12 years of drinking coffee, someone asked me if I’ve ever tried a flat white and I tried it and liked it. Usually, if I have to have a drink of choice, it’s just a cup of tea.

He loves his greens “I love raw food. I think people perceive me as sitting down to Henry the VIII style feast but that isn’t really me. I eat a lot of vegetables and salads. A lot of grains. I might smoke the grains but I love that kind of combination. I’m also obsessed with sugar snap peas. n

Photos: Mahmud Hossain Opu

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, AP R I L 1 , 201 6

7

Here’s a quick conversation with Preston: The best meal you’ve ever had?

excited about here is the little fish

It was stir-fry and I hate stir-fry and

Your guilty pleasure?

Something my mother-in-law or

(kachki maach) or that flaky bread

the endless chopping. I was doing this

Firni would be a guilty pleasure.

my mother cooked, obviously. You

(bakarkhani).

thing called “Can you make me love

understand that the only answer ever,

a stir-fry?” I was given a recipe, so I

How do you feel about Gordon

anyone should ever give. There is no

Your favourite cuisine?

cooked stir-fry for the family. They

Ramsey?

other answer. Oh wait, and my wife!

Bangladeshi, of course.

liked it.

I don’t know really. Well, he’s got an

One culinary trend you wish would

Best thing about food?

Your favourite celebrity chef?

three star restaurant in London when

die?

I think it’s very simple - the great thing

George and Gary, although George

he was still involved and it was great.

People drinking really good wine out

about food is the people you eat it

hates being called a celebrity chef.

His style is just somewhat different to

of jam jars.

with. I think that is the essence of it,

amazing palette and I’ve eaten at his

really.

ours.

One dish you can never resist?

Ice cream. Cheese. A really good cup

If you could exchange lives with

should visit?

One vegetable you hate?

of tea. Biscuits? How can you have

someone, who would that be?

I think everyone who is interested

You can’t hate vegetable! That’s pretty

biscuits out next to a cup of tea and

in restaurants and interested in the

unfair and you can’t hate food. But,

resist it? You can’t. The cheeseboard

special. When you’re younger you

future of restaurants in Bangladesh

ah! Maybe the durian - but I only hate

is the same. I like my toast as well.

like to start over as someone else. You

should fly to Copenhagen and eat at

it because it smells. In terms of things

And peanut butter and jam. And then

think I wouldn’t mind being five years

Noma or go to Stockholm and eat at

I don’t like to eat, I’m not a fan of

there’s street food, it’s at every corner,

younger but I think now I look at my

the Faviken. They are very modern,

undercooked and dirty kidneys.

whispering your name. It’s a very long

life and I get to do the best thing in

list!

the world, eating and meeting people.

One restaurant you think everyone

very cutting edge but they are specific

I’d be Adam Gilchrist. He’s pretty

about their sense of place. Both

Your comfort food?

those places exemplify the idea of

It’s probably a brown rice dish my

Best midnight snack?

people. I struggle to find anyone else

eating locally and for me, that’s very

mother-in-law makes with lamb, curry

Anything Nigella cooks. A nice rice

who’s got a better life than me. But

important. I’m sure there are some

powder and pineapple juice.

and curry would absolutely be there.

I guess I could be the Donald Trump

Something like a cold rice pudding.

and then I could shut my own mouth!

Like Firni!

[Laughs.] n

Chinese /Japanese restaurants here in Bangladesh too, but what I get

The last meal that you cooked?

I get to sit in the studio talking to

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, APR I L 1 , 20 1 6

8 Interview | The magic man

A rendezvous with the illusionist Moumita Ahmed

I

t all started almost eight years

they still appreciate my work –

ago, when Syed Wasiul Alam

which is very encouraging.

Galib began experimenting with and exploring the different fields

of magic.

When he was nine or ten, he once

Who are your favourite magicians?

Some of the magicians whom I really like and who have inspired

watched a magician on TV and was

me are: David Copperfield, David

instantly taken by in, his curiosity only

Blaine, Derren Brown, and to name

growing with age since. Known today

a few. I feel magic is a form of art,

as Magic Man Galib, he has come so

and these men are artists in their

far that it is not a stretch to say that

own right. I’m usually inspired by

he’s one of the most promising young

the way they perform and engage

magicians of our country.

the audience while they do so,

Given his busy schedule, it was quite a challenge to get hold of this

and that is what I try to do as well.

young artist but we eventually did manage to schedule a tete-a-tete.

How important is

Talking to him, not only does one get

showmanship for a

to know the magician but also the

magician?

simple and humble person he is.

It is very important, because 20% of

Describe your first encounter with

an act is the magic

illusion and how it managed to grab a

whereas, the greater

hold of you.

part is capturing the people’s

I remember I was nine or ten years

attention, keeping them

old, when I saw David Copperfield on

and building their curiosity. It

Have your skills proven to be useful in

on the national channels about

television, and since then I got hooked

is important to keep them hooked

the real world? If so, how?

street magic, and that is what I want

to it. I knew since that very moment

through conversation and humour.

I’ve always performed for the sake

to accomplish. I also have a plan to

of making myself and others happy;

perform an endurance stunt, and I

and ever since he has been working on

How often do you practice and who

yet along the way, I have learned

think it’s going to be pretty interesting.

it. That’s when I started to follow the

serves as the test audience?

quite a few things which have proven

works of famous magicians and tried

I practice whenever I can. Magic is my

to be very useful. A magician has to

Can you please mention some of your

to make myself better.

passion, and a part of my lifestyle; so

interact with people, and magic has

recent works?

in order to become better at it, I have to

helped me develop my communication

The very last show I performed at was

Does the possibility of your secrets

practice. It’s not like I have a set time

skills, meet people from different

at the IUB marketing carnival, which

being uncovered play on your mind

but I usually carry a pack of cards and

backgrounds and has given me

is the biggest event at the univeristy.

during the show?

train myself at every opportunity I get.

confidence which I had lacked as child.

I appeared at the last ‘12 Grameen

Well, it’s always there. A big part of a

My friends and family who are my test

I’ve met a few friends who are in this

Phone Timeless Melodies’ events, and

audience as well, have always been

field, and over the years, they have

I’ve also performed at the “Grameen

very supportive and always there when

helped me grow as a magician and as a

Phone Achievers Club Gala Night.”

audience. However, if you practice

I’m practicing, patiently observing me

person as well.

Another big event was Foodland, I’ve

enough and know what you’re doing

while I show them my new tricks.

that I wanted to do something like that

magician’s job is to keep his secrets safe and away from the scrutiny of the

Photo: Courtesy

had the opportunity to share the stage with few of my favourite bands.

you can easily perform without anyone

Did you ever get the chance to meet

noticing.

What is your favourite trick?

any famous magicians? What advice

I really enjoy the ‘invisible touch’ trick,

did that person give you?

mark was at Mohammadpur Shishu

and am still trying to master it.

I consider myself to be very lucky

Hospital, where I performed for

to have met the president of the

underage cancer patients. I even

magic?

Do you think people’s perception of

Bangladesh ring. He advised me to

performed at two corporate gigs for hp

Different people act differently. It is

magic and magicians have changed

keep the performances short and

last month, and one for BAT the month

easy to make an impression on the

overtime?

precise, hence I always try to apply

before.

young crowd whereas, it is equally

Yes, I think so. People are more open-

that. I always keep my performances

In the near future, I look forward to

difficult to impress the elders who

minded and there are more scopes

short and interesting, the longest of

taking my act to every college and

do not hesitate to question your

for illusionists like us. Let’s take my

which might be a minute or so.

university in Bangladesh. And I’m

moves. I’ve seen the children are more

parents for example, they have always

enthusiastic and usually mesmerised

supported me even though a lot of

What are your future plans with

unique close-up show which would

by what they see. On the other hand,

people did not take magic seriously,

magic?

be videotaped, and will include few of

even if the elders do ask questions,

even a few years back.

I’ve noticed that there was no show

the best close-up tricks in the world. n

How do different crowds like children, teenagers and elders respond to

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, AP R I L 1 , 201 6

The performance that left a

looking into putting together a very

Alor jatra | Photo Story

9

Let there be light Photos: Kamrul Hasan Qaium

March 25, 1971 is one of the most grievous and horrific nights in the history of Bangladesh. This year, under an initiative taken up by Grameenphone, that fateful night was remembered through light and strength. Thousands of people, including eminent and celebrated personalities, lit candles in the Capital’s Manik Mia Avenue on the night of March 25 this year, to mark the eternal triumph of light over darkness. The initiative was named ‘Alor Jatra’.

This week’s photo story features moments from the event.

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, APR I L 1 , 20 1 6

10 Photo Story | Alor jatra

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, AP R I L 1 , 201 6

11

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, APR I L 1 , 20 1 6

12 Focus | Pop culture

F.R.I.E.N.D.S – an era (of homophobia and hypocrisy?)

At what cost did one of the biggest TV shows in history sell their jokes?

Syeda Samira Sadeque In fact, their relationship was the sole

who have a fluid gender identity and/or

basis of a lot of the jokes on Ross, with

have gone through sex change surgery,

the audience laughing at the mention of

can be laughed at. And that it’s okay.

anything “gay.”

The homophobia is seen in many other scenarios across the series. There

But tasteful humour doesn’t touch on

are various scenes of Joey, Ross and

sensitive issues that need addressing –

Chandler vehemently fighting others’

not at the cost of perpetuating further

suspicions of being gay on different

stigma against those issues. Both

occasions – the sense of paranoia with

homosexuality as well as body-image-

which they respond when referred to

issues were (still are) issues not quite

or looked at as “gay” is disturbing. It

resolved, and therein remains the risk

sends the message that that is the only

of making jokes out of those issues

reaction the identity warrants.

– it doesn’t end the stigma and the

Moreover, Chandler is constantly mistaken to be “gay” (with a round of

M

The uncomfortable truth about humour is that it needs to be offensive.

stereotype, it further perpetuates them.

Perhaps what’s most disturbing

recorded laughter going off at every

about this is not that the TV show

such instance), while his biggest

overall has conservative views.

childhood insecurity draws from his

Whether it was Ross’ repetitive

parents’ failed marriage, a result of his

marriages (and subsequent divorces),

father having had a sex-change surgery.

Rachel choosing to be a single mother

Even though this is not as apparent

in the city, Phoebe having her brother’s

throughout the show, when his father

children, or Joey’s promiscuous

(now mother) does make an appearance

lifestyle, it reflected on lifestyle

at his wedding in season 7, there are

practices that are progressive and

ore than a decade ago,

Carol and Susan’s relationship, Phoebe

entire scenes (“humorous” scenes)

unconventional. Thus, it is rather

when American TV

giving birth to her brother’s children,

based on him.

hypocritical of the same show to

sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S

her brother marrying a woman much

ended, it broke hearts

Even worse, the jokes are an attack

portray both these progressive lifestyles

elder to him, Joey’s promiscuous

on the father who, upon commenting

as well as homophobic and fat-shaming

across the world. Throughout the 90’s,

lifestyle, and so on, the sitcom is

on Chandler’s mother’s dress, is told

content as a basis for their humour.

it had made a mark on the different

mired in jokes that are fat-shaming,

“Don’t you have a little too much penis

In fact, if anything, it may have

generations, reaching millions of

homophobic, and quite hypocritical.

to be wearing a dress like that?”

normalised these jokes even among

people – and at one point being one

You can’t miss it. The jokes are

of the most popular TV shows in the

explicit – and consistent. Take Monica’s

US. Despite having ended more than a

weight, for example, which is used as

decade ago, it is regularly screened in

a source of humour the entire series.

many channels even today.

Whether it’s portraying her as “the fat

What was probably most engaging

or portraying how she would remain

was (still is) to the struggles of young

a virgin way into her 20’s had she not

people. Those in their 20’s could

become thin, or allowing her a happy

relate to both the hopelessness yet

ending with Chandler once she is thin

hopefulness of not having a steady

– all it did was reiterate, to an entire

job, marriage, or any other kinds of

generation, how a happy ending is

“stability” that society loves to impose

only possible when you don’t weigh a

on us.

hundred-something pounds.

While this joke was based off the

F.R.I.E.N.D.S – and each of their white,

insecurity of women and our ideas of

straight, middle-class characters – very

“beauty”, there were others that poked

relatable, there lay certain problematic

at other sensitive issues. Even though

messages that the show indirectly

secondary characters such as Carol

conveyed. Despite portraying lifestyles

and Susan were given the privilege to

deemed sexually deviant – such as

be gay, it didn’t come without a price.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, AP R I L 1 , 201 6

many progressive viewers. n

of scene. The joke remains – that those

friend” who loved to bake (and eat),

about the show was how relatable it

While this angle definitely made

Laughter from the audience. End

A scene from Season 7 featuring Chandler’s dad, “Mr Bing”

mythbusting | origins

13

April Fool’s Day Debunking the myth Moumita Ahmed

A

pril Fool’s Day, also known as “All Fools” Day, has been observed across the world for centuries on the first

day of April. The day has been named so given people around the world have made it a custom to play practical jokes on friends and closed ones.

Muslim myth Muslims are usually against celebrating this day, as many people believe that it is the celebration of the kufar – the conquest of Muslim Spain.

It has been said that the Muslims there were on Taqwa (an Islamic term for piety, fear of God), and Christians sent alcohol and cigarettes for the Muslims to lose their Taqwa. The Christians succeeded, and in doing so, they took advantage of the Muslims and defeated them on April 1st, and thus began the celebration of “April Fool’s Day”.

Moreover, the Moors – Muslim inhabitants who ruled Spain for centuries, were protected in their homes, but the Christian armies wanted to get rid of them. They told the Muslims that they could leave their homes safely and could only take the necessary belongings, and sail away in the ships anchored on the quayside.

The Muslims wondered if this was a ploy. However, eventually they were convinced to go to the quayside to check the ships. The next day, on April 1st, they took their essentials and walked to the harbor. Before the Muslims could get onto the ships, the

Facts

We should also know that

Morrrissette, PhD, smoking of

then set both the houses and ships on

Muslim Spain ended on January

cigarettes were not even

any kind did not exist in Spain

fire. The Christians then attacked the

12 in the Christian year 1492AD,

invented until after the time

until after it was brought back

Muslims and killed them all.

April Fool’s Day was not heard of

of the fall of Muslim Spain.

from the ‘New World’ (Europe

until over fifty years later.

According to the State College

and America), after King

a ritual that was celebrated every year

in Framingham, the Human

Ferdinand and Queen Isabella

as “April Fool’s Day” given it “fooled”

Biology course by Dr Roger

had come to rule Spain.

Christians looted their homes and

•

Rumor has it that this then became

Considering the historic fact that

Photo: Bigstock

•

the Muslims. Research suggests that this is a myth, and that celebration of April Fool’s Day has nothing to do with fooling or torturing of Muslims.

Origin and History

celebrated the festival until April 1st.

When the calender was changed

However, some conservatives resisted the change and continued to

nonexistent parties.

The victim of this April Fool’s Day

under the influence of Pope Gregory,

celebrate New Year’s from March 25 to

prank was called a “poisson d’avril” or

King Charles IX announced that New

April 1. During this period, the French

an “April fish”, because at that time of

Back in the 16th century, people in

Year’s Day should be celebrated on

who obeyed the king’s order mocked

year, the sun was leaving the zodiacal

France celebrated New Year’s Day on

January 1st, instead of the beginning of

the rigid merrymakers by sending

sign of Pisces. n

March 25th, the arrival of spring. They

spring.

them foolish gifts and invitations to

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, APR I L 1 , 20 1 6

14 Musings | Bookstores

Lost magic Farina Noireet

O

nce upon a time there

Children’s Book Day, which also

Wood, which is the home of The

used to be a corner at the

coincides with the birthday of Hans

Faraway Tree, the tallest tree in the

Gulshan 1 DCC market,

Christian Andersen, a prolific writer of

forest, and home to an array of fun and

happening upon which,

plays, travelogues, novels, and poems,

quirky characters who inhabit its many

you could quite literally be transported

but probably best remembered for

branches and help the three siblings,

to a magical dimension. The corner

his widely read fairy tales which have

Jo, Fannie and Bessie in their many

used to be occupied by a second-hand

been translated into more than 125

adventures as they make their way up

bookstore, the name of which, does

languages. Some of his most famous

the tree to the top-most branch and

not come to mind unfortunately, but

fairy tales include The Emperor’s

onto the clouds which is a gateway to

what I do vividly remember is how one

New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, The

other fantasy dimensions full of many

not-so-fine day, I turned my favourite

Nightingale, The Snow Queen, The

more whimsical characters.

corner to stop dead in my tracks in

Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina, and many

sheer disappointment at being faced by

more.

stationary store. That disappointment

Characters such as these, and in other classics written much earlier,

Looking at how the culture of

such as Lewis Carroll’s Alice and

still remains as an encumbrance

reading among youngsters today has

Rumpelstiltskin by the Brothers

particularly difficult to bear whenever I

drastically gone down, I suppose I was

Grimm, were a wonderfully perplexing

visit Gulshan 1 market.

privileged to have lived my pre-teen

mix of so many humane attributes,

years in a Bangladesh before the advent

making them way ahead of their

with its rows and stacks of dusty and

of cable TV. In those days, a trip to the

time. Their stories, as well as other

sometimes yellow-paged books was a

well-stocked bookstores at New Market

unquestionable classics by authors

veritable real-life Diagon Alley, where

or Gulshan 1 market was a much looked

such as C S Lewis, J R R Tolkein,

I chanced upon many of the all-time

forward to event every other weekend

Charles Perrault, and in modern

book was something youngsters and

favourite characters from Western

for not just me but many of my friends.

times, J K Rowling, have become

entire families greatly looked forward

children’s literature. From Mr Toad,

Receiving books as birthday presents

culturally embedded in our collective

to. It was a place to meet other book

the wealthy scion of Toad Hall and

was and still is a particularly happy

consciousness, while presenting

lovers and get lost in the magic of it all.

wise and solitary Mr Mole of Kenneth

feeling, especially if someone has been

lessons of virtue and resilience in the

Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows,

attentive enough to remember the one

face of adversity for mature readers as

bookstores, sans The Bookworm,

to the headstrong tomboy Georgina

book I mentioned I was dying to get my

well.

thanks to its loyal clientèle of avid

aka George and her highly intelligent

hands on.

The simply furnished bookstore,

and affectionate dog Timmy of Enid

As a youngster, I particularly loved

Just a decade ago, Dhaka was home

Unfortunately today, most of these

readers, have closed down. Whether

to a number of high-end bookstores

we blame Facebook or cable television

Blyton’s The Famous Five series, and

Roahl Dahl and his unconventional

such as Words and Pages, The

for the decline of the reading habit,

still many many more, that bookstore

characters such as the unusually

Bookworm and Omnibooks. In the days

most of today’s young learners will

was a haven for fantasy-loving

precocious Matilda and the eccentric

before comicons became all the rage,

never know the magic of stepping into

youngsters in the verge of becoming

but good-natured genius Willy Wonka.

dressing up as your favourite fictional

a bookstore and cracking open a brand

avid readers.

Another fabulously fantastical concept

character and lining up at bookstores

new hardcover to meet their next best

was in Enid Blyton’s The Enchanted

for the launch of yet another Potter

friend. n

Tomorrow is International

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, AP R I L 1 , 201 6

Children’s classics | Nostalgia

15

The world of Russian fairy tales Mahmood Sadi

D

uring the 90’s, four or five

culture for generations and carry the

odd booksellers used to

same world of magic, devils, angles,

sell children books at the

beautiful princesses and poor peasants

right side of the mosque of

as any other folk tales do.

Dhaka New Market (opposite the tailor shops). They displayed their small

Dreamy childhood

army soldiers who outsmarted and

communist propaganda. After the fall

collection on a chouki (cheap wooden

I still remember the fantasies I used to

trapped ‘Death’ and is believed to be

of the Soviet Union, the funding for

bed) and the colourful covers of the

get dragged into while reading those

‘still alive’, merchants with magical

publishing those books in different

books grabbed the attention of the

books in my childhood.

objects like flying ships, kings with

languages ran out and so they stopped.

passers-by immediately.

At least they used to catch my

That was an amazing world, where

extra ordinary beasts like singing cats,

He told me that as the world was

there were no worries or targets to

or the golden falcon or flying horse,

literally divided into Soviet communist

attention. To me, the lone attraction of

be achieved or any deadlines to be

poor Ivan (almost always the hero of

block and US capitalist block for four

going to New Market with my mother

met. Entering into those worlds of

every tale) who had to walk and cross

odd decades from 50’s to 90’s, and both

was the chance of her stopping at

imagination was not at all difficult. A

an almost never-ending jungle or snow

blocks were actively trying to get more

that corner and my scope to nag her

few pages a day, kept the mind of a

covered fields to fight anacondas,

countries under their wing, the Soviet

endlessly until she bough me a new

reader like me, engaged for weeks and

the six-headed fire-breathing dragon

Union wanted to impregnate the idea

book. I was usually successful in my

floating alongside the little prince who

named Zamai Gorinich or the envious

of socialism and communism into the

endeavour.

struggled to get his kingdom back from

czar. Vengeful, cruel stepmothers,

minds of children from an early age

the clutches of the cruel Czar.

helpless fathers, wise and beautiful

through those fairy tale book.

The books that I was most attracted to were from two Soviet era publications

That amazing world had such

daughters and brave sons were part of

Interestingly, those books included

– Progoti and Raduga. They were the

wonders to behold. There were always

priciest ones because their quality of

some magic-weilding powerful people

paper and the illustrations inside were

or animals to help grief-stricken heroes

books were the illustrations, which

didacticism of Soviet ideology, and

way above the rest.

or heroines of the story. It could be

invariably helped to break the shackles

those proved to be very significant

a beautiful girl called Yelna or Wise

of my imagination. The portrayals of

for the official discourse of Socialist

published in Bangla, as I later came to

Vasilisa, the princesses or brown wolf

Brave Ivan fighting Zamai Gorinich or

Realism. The narratives produced

know that both Progoti and Raduga

or brown horse, Finist the Bright

Yelena sobbing under a tree or the cruel

during the era of the Cold War used the

were part of Foreign Language

Falcon, or sometimes even a kind witch

looking Tzar sitting on the throne – all

fairy-tale paradigm as a deconstructive

Publishing House of Moscow, that

named Baba Yaga.

was done with beautiful rich colours. I

device aimed at the very underpinnings

used to spend hours looking at them.

of the Soviet system.

landlords. There was the beautiful

The ‘very Soviet’ tales

Victor, I had an epiphany. I figured out

princess cursed to be a frog, retired

I grew up reading and loving those

how those books had inherently shaped

Russian and Ukrainian fairy tales. I

my ideas about the world. I had learned

was such a big fan of them that during

that the most powerful person of a land

my childhood, my idea of hero was

is ‘Tzar’, not a ‘king’ or a ‘Raja’, and I

always an ‘Ivan’, not a ‘Dalimkumar’

grew up learning that a Tzar can never

or a Prince Charming. My idea of a

be good and has to be overthrown

fairly land consisted of Onion Dome

by the brave young Ivan, the son of

(a distinctive feature of Russian

a peasant. I had the idea in my mind

architecture) shaped palaces and snowy

that three iron caps, three pairs of iron

forests where you have to move in

shoes, and three iron sticks were to

sledges pulled by packs of wolves.

be broken in order to achieve every

Surprisingly, the books were

translated books from the Soviet Union into different languages.

Those books used to have stories which have been part of Russian

Peasants everywhere were innocent and being exploited by local rich

almost every story.

The most beautiful part of those

Those fairy tales were a big part of my childhood. However, that dreamy

tales from traditional Russian folklore, but these were edited to adopt the

After learning this insight from

difficult mission. (Iron was the symbol of communism).

notion of mine about those fairy tales

The learning about the politicising

was somewhat distorted when I first

of ‘magic’ definitely hurt my sentiment.

visited Russia last winter. I asked Victor

Nonetheless, when I think about those

Petrovsky, one my Russian friends

beautiful fairy tale books (I still have

about why I no longer see those fairy

one book left in my shelf), the line -

tale books by Raduga and Progoti

“Once upon a time…” - flickers into my

publications in Bangladesh.

mind and those words immediately

Victor informed me that those

opens a gateway into a different world,

fairy tales books were translated

a magical realm of wicked witches,

into different languages and sent to

fairy godmothers, talking animals and

different countries to generate hidden

handsome princes. n

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, APR I L 1 , 20 1 6

16 LEGALESE | Jennifer Ashraf

Branch bewilderment Q

My friend is the CEO of his own company in Australia, which he has successfully managed for the last 20 years. He

contacted me recently and expressed a desire to establish a branch office in Bangladesh. I have been looking into this and it appears that he can also open a liaison office? Would this be better? What is the difference between a branch office and liaison office? Also, what are the requirements to establish a branch office in Bangladesh?

A

Dear Reader, Thank you for your query. I’ll jump right into it. Branch or Liaison

Cartoon: Priyo/Dhaka Tribune

Office are two options for foreign investors wishing to setup their presence in Bangladesh.

The other option is incorporating a

US$ 50,000 or equivalent as estimated

Bangladeshi subsidiary company.

initial establishment cost and 6(six)

A Liaison/Representative Office of

months operational expenses of the

a foreign Company can perform

Office must be brought in as inward

form signed by the authorized

very limited activities, have no local

remittance in Bangladesh within

person for establishment of

source of income in Bangladesh

02(two) months from the date of

branch/liaison/ representative

and all setup and operational costs

issuance of the BOI permission

(including salaries of the expatriates

letter. For this purpose, the Office

and local employees) will have to

shall have to open an account with

Association and Certificate

borne by the parent company aboard.

any scheduled bank of Bangladesh

of Incorporation of

No outward remittances of any kind

as per the instructions contained in

the principal/ parent

from Bangladesh sources will be

the Guidelines for Foreign Exchange

allowed except the amount brought

transactions for receipt of remittances.

in from abroad (the unspent part). It

proper legal entity once registered

would want to establish a branch office

with the BOI in Bangladesh. It is

instead. A Branch office of a foreign

considered an extension of the foreign

company can engage in commercial

company and not as a separate legal

activities with prior approval of BOI. A Branch office may have local source of income from the approved field of

name of the foreign company. The

business activities in Bangladesh. equivalent to the sum of not less than

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, AP R I L 1 , 201 6

Application in prescribed

office – 4 copies.

2.

Memorandum and Articles of

company.

3.

Name and nationality of the directors/promoters of the principal company.

4.

Audited Accounts of last financial year of the principal company.

The entire process requires

Company’s board of director’s

guidance from Bangladeshi legal

entity. The name of Bangladeshi

resolution regarding opening of

advisors and I would highly

Branch must correspond to the

office in Bangladesh.

recommend that your friend obtain

Proposed organogram of the office

legal assistance in this aspect and not

shareholders, structure of company

showing the posts to be occupied

attempt to do it personally. Although

and its activities are directed by

by both expatriates and local

the option to apply online exists, I

foreign company’s Memorandum and

personnel.

have been contacted by countless

Details of activities to be

clients who have had their foreign

separate Memorandum and Articles

performed through the proposed

legal advisors apply online and then

of Association for the Branch Office.

branch/liaison/representative

have the applications pending for an

A Branch Office must have an office

office in Bangladesh.

indefinite amount of time. Please do

Forwarding Letter

not hesitate to contact us should you

Articles of Association. There is no

Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi is a barrister and solicitor of England and Wales.

She is currently Senior Partner at Legacy Legal Corporate

1.

A Branch or Liaison Office is a

is understandable why your friend

An amount of foreign exchange

following:

address located in Bangladesh.

5.

6.

7.

8.

require more advice on this matter and Documents required for establishment

It is worth noting that registration

of a Branch Office in Bangladesh

with the RJSC (Registrar of Joint Stock

include, but are not limited to, the

Companies) is also a necessity.

I will be happy to help. n

Poet in turmoil | Book Review

17

Durghatanay Kobi by Zia Hasan Sarker Saqib

D

urghatanay Kobi (Poet in turmoil) is Zia Hasan’s first novel. A social and political commentator, Zia Hasan

is best known as a blogger. He has also written for Al Jazeera, and published a non-fiction book on current political issues. On the back flap of Durghatanay Kobi, Hasan humorously describes himself as a ‘failed musician’ among other things. This is his first novel, and it came out in the Aumor Ekushey Book Fair 2016.

Sarwar, the protagonist, is the merchandising director of a leading textile manufacturing company.

Coming from a humble background, Sarwar paid his dues to climb up the ladder to success. A troubled relationship with his wife put him in constant struggle in which he doubts and re-examines his own worth and identity, despite being successful, from his perspective beyond any conceivable measure. The unrest at home, the inability to interact with his young twin daughters normally, and pressure at work leads him to slowly unhinge. This is where we find Sarwar, when he hits and runs over a woman day labourer and her two children.

The story follows Sarwar from there up to the climax, during which few other characters are introduced. We find a sleazy journalist, an SI of police, and Sarwar’s wife Shahida among the most developed characters. Other characters were given necessary space, except one that remained terribly underdeveloped, presumably to mislead the readers in foreseeing the ending, which is really odd because this is not a whodunit thriller.

The writing is very fluid and the book easily qualifies as a ‘page turner’.

Through the story, Hasan tries

Chandpur Degree College football

The strongest element of the story

(along with the one mentioned above)

is that we really come to care about

is that Shahida’s decision was not fully

to draw an unflinching picture

team,” - the expression is repeated

Sarwar, whose mental anguish and

explained. This perhaps raises all sorts

of arbitrary arrests and custodial

in the book several times to create

confusion are very palpably felt. It is

of questions. Does a writer have any

torture in this country. His criticisms

some kind of poetic effect and/or

this connection that propels the reader

responsibility to justify the decisions

of the abuse of power both in law

simply to depict the insecurities of

to invest into the story and remain

of his characters? Do those decisions

enforcement and in journalism ring

the protagonist. The success of that

with Sarwar until the end. The story

have to be logical? The answer is not

true. But most of all, the story is about

can only be determined by individual

is also expertly arranged, the writing

very complicated. The writer may

a lower, middle class rural student

readers. n

is very engaging, and there is not one

not have a responsibility to logically

whose life is inescapably woven into

dull page in the book.

prove, but he has a responsibility to

the fabric of Bangladeshi society.

Hard Cover, 160 pp. Adarsha

adequately explain.

“Sarwar is only the goalkeeper of

Publications, Tk300, USD20

The greatest weakness of the book

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, APR I L 1 , 20 1 6

18 stay in Clues DOWN ACROSS 1 Takes heed of tangled tinsels (7) 1 Discover fat free contains raisin first (5) 2 The appearance of ether (3) 3 Badger horse (3) 5 One card (3) 4 Revitalised Frenchman married 6 Act unconcerned (7) about quiet carpet (5) 7 Uruguay’s first Royal Navy 8 Painful sound after vessel (3) final gift (5) 8 Go out with Emma’s big brother 10 It writes notes in initially (3) blue initially (3) 9 Deer act before end of June (3) 11 Turn left in mix together (5)

Sudoku

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19)- It’s time to clear away the clutter and cobwebs ‘cause Spring is officially here and you really need to clean things up and be a little more organised.

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

Taurus (Apr 20-May20)- The gift of gab may become quite overwhelming for you this week as you may have to spin stories to keep things entertained.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)- The week will make you a lot more calm, cool and collected than you normally are.

This marks the beginning of a balance between your dual life.

Cancer (June 21-Jul22)- Try your best to avoid commitments you know you will not be able to keep up with. Be sure to test the waters before you jump in headfirst.

Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22)- Putting off work until the last minute never really helps anyone. Unless you’re one of those people who enjoys working for long

Last week’s solutions

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

hours a stretch.

Last week’s sudoku solutions

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22)- You’re the star of the show this week, so regardless of how hectic it gets around you be sure to keep your cool.

Libra (Sep 23-Oct22)- That brain of yours is stuffed with far more pressure than you can possibly handle right now. A little bit of R&R never hurt anyone, not even the one’s who are superhuman.

Scorpio (Oct23-Nov21)- Lonesome you

ACROSS 5 Sounds like sick bird is against the law (7) 6 I am back in the Spanish communication (5) 9 QE2 home new in words (7)

DOWN 1 Hold down centre of backbone (3) 2 Lion may switch payments to spouse (7) 3 Not for win in a street (7) 4 Winged insect and what it does (3) 7 Number contained at work (3) 8 Big boat without light, heading off (3)

can no longer lurk around thinking it is acceptable. Get up, slap yourself and bring your wild side out again, it’s time.

Sagittarius (Nov22-Dec 21)- The men in your life may have been absent or may not have been getting as much attention as they need.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan19)- There is a possibility of you spending a lot of time outdoors this week for work, might be fun.

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18)- Try not to work too hard this week and be sure to spend as much as time as possible with your significant other.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)- Try to give back as much as you can this week either by being better confidant or by taking out your soul saver.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, AP R I L 1 , 201 6

horoscopes

Mini cryptics

Go out

19

Weekly Planner Apr 1-2

Concert | Jatra Biroti Live Performances When 8pm Where Jatra Biroti, 60 Kemal Ataturk Ave, 1213 Dhaka, Bangladesh What Friday April 1st - Open Mic Each week this event gains momentum. Many return artists are coming back for more and many new people are feeling the vibe and contributing. Its an exciting and unexpected night where anyone can perform. If you wish to perform, please contact them at the Jatra Biroti facebook page and they will put you on the list.

7pm doors open, 8pm start.

Saturday April 2nd - Biroti Lounge Biroti Lounge is a world music/DJ/Visual jam session that combines many genres of sound and music. DJ Don Donadoni is on the scene as well as the Biroti Orchestra. Many guest artists join this interesting and laid back affair.

7pm doors open, 8pm start.

Each week they will be introducing new food items.

All of these events are leading to the Pohela Boishak opening weekend.

Apr 2

Concert | Freedom Initiative: Concert in Celebration of Freedom When 7pm Where Red Shift Coffee Lounge, Radius Centre, 5th Floor, Bay’s Galleria, 57 Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka.

What In this day and age, we can never honour and protect freedom enough. In this spirit, a group of Dhaka’s veteran musicians has put together a song list from the classic rock and folk era, which celebrates the freedom promoted by great artists such as Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Neil Young, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye and many others. Join us for an evening during

Apr 3 Workshop | Wanderlust When 11am

Stauffer is educated in fine arts

which we will remember fondly the peace and love era.

The band will feature Pilu (Renaissance) on drums, Pandu (Ike Turner’s King of Rhythm) on guitars, Mishu (Stone Free) on bass, Rahin (Imran Ahmed Quintet) on saxophone, Chotu (Stone Free) on vocals and guitars, as well as a few guests to join in on the fun.

Tickets are available at the venue for Tk600, or you can book your tickets early at www.imdhaka.com or www.jetechao.com. Seats are limited, so book early.

Apr 4 Food | Shadhu Shombaar When 6-10pm

Apr 5 Education | GMAT Seminar

Where Goethe Institute Bangladesh

and physical theatre. In 2009, he

Where Jatra Biroti, 60 Kemal Ataturk

(German Cultural Center)

started the company ‘le cabinet

Ave, 1213 Dhaka, Bangladesh

Where EMK Center, Dhanmondi 27,

House 10, Road 9 (new), Dhanmondi

des curiosités’, which explored

What Forget everything you think you

Dhaka, Bangladesh

R/A, 1205 Dhaka, Bangladesh

and created mainly site-specific

know about plant based foods and

What A seminar addressing the

What Swiss performer and

performances. He will present

come to Shadhu Shombaar (formerly

Quantitative Section of GMAT. The

choreographer Gregory Stauffer will give

Walking, a solo performance, in March

known as Mongolmoy Monday) launch

seminar will give tips from the

a workshop called Wanderlust. During

2016, in Delhi and Dhaka. He is part

at Jatra Biroti next Monday to get a

instructor on how to increase your

the last few years, Gregory Stauffer has

of the international artist collective

proper introduction! From March 28,

scores and will also have some

been developing performance, video

Authentic Boys.

every Monday evening, Obhoyaronno

problem sheets which will be solved

and Jatra Biroti will be offering you

in the classroom.

and drawing works, and experiments,

The workshop only allows a limited

based on walking. At the workshop,

number of participants, so to confirm

tasty, innovative, exciting vegan menus

Gregory will share this body of work,

your participation, you may send an

to give your tummy and soul a much

focusing in particular on practices which

email to program2@dhaka.goethe.org

needed break. Eat to your heart’s

relate to walking as a tool for the creative

or program3@dhaka.goethe.org, so

content, listen to Shayan’s soulful music

process.

they can consider you.

and learn all about eating foods that are

When 4:30pm

kind to you, the animals and the planet!

Menu includes: palak alu biriyani, veg kofta, jhingey posto, daal, streamed rice, and vegan chocolate covered caramel balls.

Entry fee: Tk300 + Cost of food

WE E K E N D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, APR I L 1 , 20 1 6

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

Milk, potatoes and potlas Minu Ahmed

N

ow that Jellybean was a year old, there were some

sweeter and lighter.

I also started making light finger

decisions I had to make

food so that she would learn to

regarding her food habits.

pick up and eat on her own.

We still made all her food at home,

You have to be careful that

but she was exclusively breastfed

the finger food is the right

and refused to touch a bottle. We had

size, because if it is too

been using a sippy cup since she was

small, there’s a chance

six months old and we had started

of choking, and if it’s

on solid food. Her drinking water

too big, they won’t

was boiled and stored separately, and

be able to bite and

only a few had access to it, to prevent

chew. Jellybean’s

contamination of any sort.

favourite was

In mommy groups on social media,

French fries, which

lots of mothers would ask about

I would twice cook

starting on formula or cow’s milk. Since

(first parboil the

I didn’t really have a reference point,

potatoes, then fry

and my attempts at feeding formula

them), because it

had failed, I decided to try cow’s milk.

was quick to make

The Husband and I went to the market

(you could parboil

and scoured almost every store for all

the potatoes and store

the brands available. Then we picked

them in the fridge to

the most common brand we saw at

fry later), and used less

most of the stores (why? Because the

oil (since it was already

most readily available brand goes to

half cooked). I would always

show market demand), and because it

strain the fries on newspaper

was the brand we used all the time, and

or kitchen tissue, and then

took it home.

sprinkle a small amount of salt and

Needless to say, the look on Jellybean’s face when I gave her the

toss them around. Voila! A tasty treat!

In fact, I’m not actually surprised

first sip, was a look of sheer contempt.

at Jellybean’s obsession with “cheef”

I could almost see it in slow motion

or “aloo baaja”; The Husband and I are

only went to restaurants where there

towards the random “potla” and will

(once you’re a mom you will end up

both potato lovers! Every time I would

was something she could eat. Most of

often stop to poke and squeeze a cutie

seeing, many, many things happen

go to visit my dad’s house, it was a

the restaurants would have some sort

on the street.

in slow motion) – the innocent

must that the afternoon snack will be

of spiceless chicken and potato dish, so

first sip, the look of confusion, the

crispy French fries with milk tea. Bliss,

we were saved. To be honest, we still go

Husband, as he would more than often

understanding and subsequent anger,

I tell you!

to restaurants keeping in mind that we

carry around Jellybean when we went

have to feed Jellybean. This kid owes

out, much to my chagrin. Despite the

I tried potato gratin was at a friend’s

us many, many sacrificed restaurant

many dirty looks I would throw at him,

For her, it was the ultimate betrayal.

place. Now this person is a foreigner

meals!

he would stand with a silly smile on his

Since Jellybean was a hardcore

(and a vegetarian to boot) and had

the twisting of the face, and then the bawling.

Speaking of potatoes, the first time

When we went to Digha in Kolkata

This worked very well for The

face while young girls would coo over Jellybean.

sleep-time feeder, I tried giving her

given a lot of effort into making a

a few months ago, we found out that

the milk at night. It didn’t work. She

(very) large pan of potato gratin. But

if you notified the hotel’s restaurant

Jellybean and her daddy both

immediately knew something was

I think she was used to making it in

that you had a small child with you,

absolutely adore the attention!n

wrong and then just to quieten her I

small batches and so the cheese sauce

they would cook you fresh baby food.

had to switch to breast milk.

was too liquid and the potatoes had

Unfortunately, we found this out on

not cooked through. Nevertheless,

the last day we were there, so could

and made it a target to somehow give

The Husband and I powered through

not avail this support. I guess that’s

her at least half a cup’s worth of milk,

two helpings each, grateful that it was

the advantage of living in this sub-

via the sippy cup. Slowly, she got used

potatoes and cheese and not some

continent; the people understand and

to the taste and complained a little less

other odd foreign dish we didn’t know

sympathise with struggling mums and

each time.

about.

dads!

As a last resort, I backed up a little

I also started making food

As long as we were home, feeding

Even here in Bangladesh, there

which included eggs and milk – like

Jellybean wasn’t much of an issue,

would always be some assistant or

homemade cookies and cakes – and

the real crisis would come whenever

waiter at a shop or eatery who would

gave them to Jellybean. She really liked

we had to go out and then either carry

call your kid and say, “Eije uncle

oat cookies and I would make them

a bunch of tiffin boxes with us, or go

eikhane ashen, ki niben?” and quite

with drinking chocolate powder instead

someplace with child-friendly food.

willingly try to entertain your child.

of regular cocoa powder as it was

In fact, after Jellybean turned one, we

We as a nation are very affectionate

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | F R I DAY, AP R I L 1 , 201 6

Minu Ahmed is your not-so-average homemaker, normshirker and abomination of awesomeness, juggling a career in communication, motherhood and a fatter half.

Questions? Send to thebongmomma@gmail. com

09.00 % 10.00 %

03 Months 06 Months

11.00 %

01 Year

11.50 %

02 Years

13.00 % Double

05 Years 07 Years

114 Chandina

th

Comilla

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