RMG in trying times 6
Murder in savar 12
FRIDAY JULY 12 2013
vol 1 Issu e 13
two weddings and a hartal 28
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CONTENTS 2 THIS WEEK 4 Whose Line Is It Anyway? The ‘greater good’ o
5 6 of connotations Celebration of street delicacies 8 Post-Riposte Who watches the comedian?
A Weekly Pro ducti o n o f
DhakaTribune
9 Top 10 Press rewind 10 Feature A tale of winners
Vo lume 1, Issu e 1 3 J ULY 12 , 2 0 13 Editor Zafar Sobhan
12 Crime file When hate hath no bounds
Magazine Editor Faruq Hasan Weekend Tribune Team Fahim Razzaq Sumaiya Shams Faisal Mahmud Tamoha Binte Siddiqui Sheikh Mohammed Irfan Yusuf Banna Fuad M Hossain Joseph Allchin
6 editor’s pick Foreign geese and our golden egg
13 Photo story Boat race 17 realpolitik Of foreign hats and dependencies 18 Digital bangladesh Another step towards digitalisation 20 what’s the problem? Home bound, or home away?
Art Direction/Photography Syed Latif Hossain
21 stranger in a strage land Jalil, Ananta Jalil
Cartoon Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Rio Shuvo
22 Tough love
Contributors Nilufer Ahmed Kerin Backhaus Adil Sakhawat Baseema Karaki Dina Sobhan Rifat Islam Esha Phil Humphreys Design Mohammed Mahbub Alam Sabiha Mahmud Sumi Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad Email: weekend@dhakatribune.com Web: www.dhakatribune.com Cover Illustration Chaor caused by hartal, by Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy
23 WT|Leisure 24 Culture vulture Keep calm and take no ‘pera’! 25 The way dhaka was Modhur Canteen 19 Interview Digging the dancing queen
27 Obituary Mita Noor
EDITOR’S NOTE
The Weekend Tribune calling
26 travelogue Sa-wut dee krup! 28 Last Word DECENTLY INDECENT 4
MARINE SHIPYARD 13
IN SEARCH OF NESSIE 26
FRIDAY JULY 5 2013
VOL 1 IS S U E 1 2
I
n a couple of weeks, we will be celebrating a mini-anniversary of sorts. While the last three months have been a formative experience for our magazine, we keep evolving to fit the needs of our readers. It is with this spirit, Adil Shakhawat, our in-house contributor, reports on crimes from Savar in our latest addition, Crime File. Also, as the Backbenchers’ Club has come to an end, we launch a new array of comic strips to add to the weekend fun. Have we made a difference to your weekends? Do you have a favourite columnist, or va section that you would like more from? Or maybe you simply don't like us that much, but see potential that could be forged into something else? Whatever the case may be, we would love to hear from you. Please drop us a line at weekend@dhakatribune.com with any constructive criticism you might have and help us grow and improve. We will always strive to make your weekends better. n W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, J U LY 1 2, 20 1 3
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THIS WEEK
INTERNATIONAL
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Search and rescue officials surround an Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 plane after it crashed while landing at San Francisco International Airport in California on July 6
Protesters against drone strikes gather in an attempt to deliver a letter to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan as they gather outside the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia on June 29
Opponents of Egypt’s Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi celebrate outside the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt on July 3. The Egyptian military replaced him with the chief justice of the Supreme constitutional Court, called for early presidential election and suspended the Islamist-backed constitution
AP/Niranjan Shrestha
AP/Hassan Ammar
REUTERS/Jed Jacobsohn
Blood lies splattered on the floor of the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya on July 7 PTI Photo
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AP/Korea Pool via Yonhap
Tibetan students perform a traditional dance during celebrations to mark the birthday of their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Katmandu, Nepal on July 6
Suh Ho, the head of South Korea’s working-level delegation, left, shakes hands with his North Korean counterpart Park Chol Su during their meeting at Tongilgak in North Korean side of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, on July 6
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NATIONAL
Mahmud Hossain Opu/ Dhaka Tribune
Limon, with his mother, following the withdrawal of the cases filed against him, at hospital in the city
Dhaka Tribune
Dhaka Tribune
A training helicopter of Army aviation crashes near the Dhamrai area of the city on July 3
Four new water buses have been launched in Dhaka’s circular water way. Photo taken on July 4 near Gabtoli terminal
Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune
A survivor from a recent ship wreck near the Andamans gets back to his near and dear ones on July 8
The newly elected mayor of Gazipur City Corporation M A Mannan pays a courtesy visit to his contender Azmat Ullah Khan at the later’s residence on July 8
Dhaka Tribune
W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, J U LY 1 2, 20 1 3
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whose line is it anyway?
The ‘greater good’ Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina HM Ershad, chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party
Common Man
Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune
W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, J U LY 1 2, 2013
6o of connotations TOP 10
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nilufer ahmed
Celebration of street delicacies
Nilufer Ahmed is a columnist and a profound thinker. She has travelled widely and gained unique exposure to varied cultures, societies and intellectual lives, trying to absorb the best of the east and west
My experience at the World Streetfood Congress in Singapore
I
t sounds serious and official when you hear the name. Well, it was, and it wasn’t. The World Streetfood Congress took place from May 31 till June 9, organised by KF Seetoh, “food ambassador” and founder of Makansutra, a restaurant in Singapore. Foodies, entrepreneurs and luminaries of the food industries around the globe flocked to Singapore for the festival. The attendees included Anthony Bourdain, American chef, author and TV personality, and Claus Meyer, owner of the famous Noma restaurant in Copenhagen. Many renowned chefs, restaurant owners, food critics, and street food vendors participated in the festival. My curiosity about the term “congress” was met when my Singaporean friend explained about the two-day dialogue held before the festival commenced; it was about how street food is gradually disappearing worldwide. The days of crowding around food stalls in the streets and waiting in queues for lip-smacking snacks are fading away. The recipes that were handed down to generations of street food sellers are also on the verge of extinction. These stalls are also an excellent
place to build camaraderie with fellow street food enthusiasts. Whether it’s hot-dogs in New York, hot chestnuts in Paris, freshly made shawarma in Cairo, or even the spicy jhalmoori and delectable phuchkas in Dhaka – you truly create bonds there.
I
must say, the concept of such a food festival seems great. I agree with the participants in their dialogue that the trend of street food is disappearing rather quickly all around the world for several reasons. Take China, for instance: urbanisation is the reason street food businesses are dying there. The vendors should be trained and provided with facilities so that they can maintain the required hygiene and don’t have to worry about the technical matters. It was also discussed during the dialogue that street food sellers should have a permanent place for their stalls and not get chased away by the police or harassed by hooligans. With all said and done, I do hope to find my jhalmooriwala exactly where I left him when I return to Dhaka. Same goes for my phuchkawala too. Great job, my Singaporean friends. See you next year la! n
10 countries that participated in the festival The US Indonesia Vietnam Singapore India France China Thailand Malaysia Denmark
Why was Bangladesh missing in the World Streetfood Congress? The entry tickets were SG$8 (Tk488) for each person. Each dish cost about SG$6 (Tk366), not to mention the fact that the ingredients had to be brought in and paid for by the participants. Even if they could make profits while selling the food, the hassle of getting 10 days’ worth of supply would be overwhelming for our street food vendors. They would need sponsorship and the visas would have to be restricted. For restaurant owners, the same problems would arise with the prices of ingredients. Besides, who would want to buy a plate of chotpoti or phuchka for S$6 anyway? Food coupons of S$20 (Tk1220) would not be sufficient for a family who would want to try several dishes from different countries.
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EDITOR’S PICK RMG in Trying times
Joseph Allchin Is a senior reporter at Dhaka Tribune. Follow him on twitter: @J_Allchin
Foreign geese and our golden egg Joseph Allchin writes on the state of the garments sector in Bangladesh
A grieving relative outside the Tazreen Fashions factory in Ashulia holds up a portrait of one of the deceased.
W
hen Delwar Hossain, owner of Tazreen Fashions, first showed up at court, he said that, had he been in the West, he would have been compensated after the fire that killed at least 112 people in November. In many ways, however, he already has been compensated by the West. As arguably has much of the garments sector in Bangladesh, possibly at the cost of the rule of law and the economic development as a whole. Tazreen Fashions produced clothes for the American retail giant Walmart, among others. The horrors of the fire induced the visiting US Senator George Miller to describe meeting survivors
as the most difficult experience in his 40-year career in politics. Walmart has responded with a plan, which is described as legally non-binding but is an effort to regulate their suppliers. Involved in this plan are the Washington-based think tank Bipartisan Policy Centre (BPC) and the German development agency GIZ. Despite pledges to black list “rogue” suppliers, consignments of garments from black-listed suppliers have still been entering the US and Canada, said a report in Pro Publica, a US investigative magazine. Or as Celeste Drake, a trade policy analyst at the ALF-CIO, said at a June 6 senate hearing: “Unilateral schemes have
already proven themselves ineffective and their failures can be measured in corpses.” GIZ, with the German government seeing the sector as “part of our development policy,” has played a leading role in the country’s garments sector. This sector is seen as a factor in what the World Bank recently described as “remarkable progress” in eliminating extreme poverty. However, researcher Dr Gisela Bruckhardt notes: “A great deal of money is spent on promoting exports, developing new markets and raising productivity. That serves the interests of employers, many of whom are members of parliament, and makes sure that the minimum wage is not raised.” Wary of the image that Bangladesh may give to their clothes, retail giants have formulated their own accords to provide a semblance of regulation to the facilities in which they are sourcing. This has occurred while lethargy persists from the Bangladesh government. Delwar Hossain was taken to court not by a public prosecutor but by private plaintiffs, who have pursued the painful process of seeking justice in between studying or their day jobs. Central to their attempts to bring some justice against Hossain has been a home ministry report on the tragedy. The factory’s fire certificate was six months overdue, and Hossain was in the habit of locking workers into the fateful building. The government’s report described Hossain’s actions as “unpardonable negligence” and recommended pressing charges against him. The plaintiffs have been waiting since December 17 (when the report was published internally). “We only want the government to follow their own recommendations,” one of the plaintiffs said.
Magnus Schmid, GIZ programme officer, labels transparency as a major problem, but this has not prevented GIZ from being evasive about the exact nature of their assistance to Walmart and Gap’s legally non-binding accord. While confirming their involvement, they have prevaricated with details on, for instance, whether German tax money is being spent assisting the world’s largest retailer [Walmart] to put in place basic yet non-binding regulations into Bangladeshi plants. (BPC also declined to comment.) Another accord led by Industriall, the Geneva-based global union federation, is voluntary to sign up to, but binding once joined. This has seen major brands such as H&M from Sweden, Inditex from Spain, PVH from the US and Tesco from the UK to jump on board. GIZ wanted to work on this accord as well, but according to Dr Bruckhardt: “Fortunately, GIZ finally did not get the role it wanted to play and was not directly involved in the elaboration of the accord.” Indicative of the necessity for their accord, Brian Kohler, head of health and sustainability at Industriall, describes the Bangladesh labour ministry as “terrified” of the garment industry. The industry boasts at least 35 MPs with direct ownership, while many more murky connections exist. (Sohel Rana, owner of the Rana Plaza factory complex, of course, was a key player in the Jubo League, the “youth” wing of the Awami League.) Despite the tragedies, garment exports remained robust up until May, showing 15% year on year growth. There are no prizes for guessing why; the minimum wage of Tk3,000 every month is not only one of the lowest in the world, but is also static, meaning that the minimum wage is actually decreasing in real terms by about
1990s The garments sector grows at an average rate of 15% per year during the decade. At the beginning of the 1990s, it accounts for around 40% of foreign exchange earnings
2000 Bangladesh now has 3,000 factories employing around 1.8 million workers, a number that is growing by around 8% per year. RMG exports approach $5bn (Tk390bn)
RMG sector: A brief overview 1974 The Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) is signed by developed nations putting quotas on developing nations, such as Taiwan and South Korea. Buyers start looking for cheap alternatives as a result
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1982 Bangladesh puts in place a new development strategy focusing on export-led growth, leading to the implementation of a series of Export Processing Zones (EPZs). The country has around 50 factories employing a few thousands, accounting for some 4% of foreign exchange earnings
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Photos: Joseph Allchin/Dhaka Tribune
Machines move in to clear rubble from what was left of the Rana Plaza factory complex in Savar; the site of the garment sector’s worst ever disaster.
9% year on year, because of inflation. Even the most responsible of foreign brands, such as H&M, seeks to reduce labour costs year on year. The government has come up with more promises and is attempting to get on board with an ILO scheme called the Better Work Programme (in order to keep Generalised System of Preferences, or GSP, with the EU). But critics and foreign dignitaries, such as US Senator George Miller, are keen to point out that promises have long existed with little action taken. Dr Jens Stanislawski, an academic at BRAC, equates Bangladesh’s relationship with foreign donors to a “resource curse,” where aid is substituted for local taxes. This, according to Dr Stanislawski, “dislocates” genuine domestic voices and demands for accountability. Likewise, the primacy of the garment industry is partly a symptom of this donor-inspired economy, as favourable trade regimes that help sustain it have also helped setting it up (with the 1974 Multi-Fibre Arrangement).
Within the framework of the weak institutions and patronage-driven politics, the assistance for garments from foreign governments has made the industry the “golden egg” of Bangladesh, which in turn means the profitability of the industry is captured by domestic elites. The government, therefore, is keen not to interfere with its “friends.” For instance, the government has made no extradition requests to their Spanish counterparts for David Mayor, the only foreign owner in Rana Plaza. How many ALconnected “politicians” have profited from Spanish firms doing business here? (Sohel Rana is the first answer). Donors have become stakeholders too, and need to see the sector succeed. For this they need the multinationals, which in turn demand the low wages and “regulation lite” environment. This is demonstrated by Walmart and Gap’s belief that, as Johan Lubbe, a lawyer advising a number of US industry bodies complained, the Industriall accord “potentially holds unlimited legal liability for them [US
companies].” In other words, Walmart and Gap want to do business here, as long as they can make their own laws up. As margins are kept tight by limited infrastructure and a lack of trustworthy credit, due to inconsistent rule of law, this further reduces innovation. Omar Chowdhury, owner of Syntex Knitwear Ltd, estimates that the industry while on paper is worth $20bn (Tk1.56tn), the vast majority of which is spent importing textiles from two major rivals: India and China. The cost of conveying and buying textiles here for wovens makes up 80% of expenses, he says. As a result, Chowdhury estimates only $5bn (Tk390bn) of that is actually value added to the economy. Thus, with little action by the government to increase productivity or reduce margins elsewhere to allow companies to add value to themselves, the industry can only bargain with the low wages. According to Chowdhury, profits make up only about 5-10% of turnover in large operations, and for smaller ones it can be as low as
1%. Walmart boasted profit margins of 24.7% in 2011 (at the height of the economic crisis in the US). Both the foreign investors, and as a result now the donors, who need the semblance of success, cherish the low wages. Ultimately, donors will not have the foresight to look at long-term industrial strategies, this being largely beyond their remit. Delwar Hossain is due in court again on July 18, but few hold hopes that he will be met with proportionate punishment. The last time round, judges limply asked lawyers if he had paid any compensation (as if this would be enough to assuage a stiff sentence that most people who commit death on this scale are liable to receive), while also noting how important the industry is for the country. Hossain has said business occurs as usual in his other factories. However, for Kabir whose wife died in the Tazreen blaze, it seems he will have to wait before a factory boss will face justice from the powers that represent him, or for any hope that his life will return to normal. n
2005 MFA ends leaving the GSP in place, which is negotiated bilaterally or unilaterally, between Bangladesh and importers such as the EU, who still impose import growth quotas on competitors such as China. In April, the Spectrum factory collapse kills 64
2010 The minimum wage is set at Tk3,000 a month after protests over the nominal wages received by the workers, which are among the lowest in the world
2012 Bangladeshi garment exports are now worth $19bn (Tk1.48tn) and employs 3.6 million people. In November, Tazreen Fashions catches fire, killing 112 workers trapped within
2013 The US withdraws Bangladeshi GSP status over poor working conditions and persistent tragedies, most notably the Rana Plaza tragedy on April 24, killing around 1,130
Garments are Bangladesh’s largest export industry. Accounting for around 80% of exports, the industry employs 3.6 million people, the vast majority of whom are women. This has been credited with empowering them and, as a result, alleviating poverty
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POST-RIPOSTE
HUMOUR AND SARCASM
Who watches the comedian? Take a chill pill
Tamoha Binte Siddiqui
H
umour is a serious business. Let the outrage faced by Jamil Ahmed, a contestant in the Zee Bangla show “Mirakkel Akkel Challenger” serve as an example. He was widely criticised and threatened from groups who did not want him to return to Bangladesh. That, too, for
making tasteless jokes at the expense of the Bangladesh national cricket team on an Indian broadcasting channel. “Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can,” said the famous American columnist and author Elsa Maxwell.
Though the overly sensitive crybabies will get offended at the least slight, their low tolerance level for humour should not lead to censorship of any type of comedy. Humour is an effective tool that can delve deep into the public conscience and convey a message about our culture,
its prejudices and shortcomings, regardless of whether the public is ready to acknowledge them or not. Russell Peters is a great example of how humour can be used to break racial barriers — by making equally racist jokes about every race possible. Audience members coming out of a Russell Peters show come to realise the foolishness and insubstantiality of racial stereotypes through his humour. If you are not a crybaby, you’ll know the answer. n
Bangladeshis in ill-humour Yusuf Banna
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e Bangladeshis can withstand foreign officials making fun of our country, we can even stand people making fun of religious fundamentalists or supposed “atheists,” but make fun of our cricket team and you’ve crossed the line. A war should be waged, if not more. Our national cricket team is our pride. Amid all the political chaos, a good game played by the Tigers can bind our nation together and give some respite to the eternally tired Bangladeshi souls. Yes, when they mess up big time and are humiliatingly beaten by teams such as Zimbabwe, we scream at our TV screens and criticise the players to our hearts’ content. But that is our prerogative, and only we have the right to do so. When a comedian aims cheap jokes at our beloved cricket team on foreign soil, in front of a foreign crowd, we have a problem. The problem becomes even more profound when the foreign country is none other than India, the only country which never invited us to a bilateral cricket tour since we achieved test playing nation status, and which never gave our cricket team its due respect. Some things should be kept sacred. Comedians should know when they are crossing limits or when they are demeaning their own country’s value. Sorry, but we can’t always take a chill pill, and we shouldn’t. n
Rio Shuvo
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TOP 10
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TV Shows
Press rewind
Amid all the Hindi drama series and English movie marathons, there are some Bangla TV shows that have managed to reside in our hearts. Faisal Mahmud compiles a list of the best shows aired on Bangladeshi TV channels based on a popularity vote and opinions from TV experts
10 9 8
Shubhechchha Hosted by Abdur Nur Tushar, this hit magazine show was aired on BTV during the late 90s.
Bolun Dekhi
3
Mati O Manush This revolutionary TV show aired on BTV was hosted by eminent journalist Shykh Seraj and portrayed the contrasts of life in urban and rural Bangladesh.
2
CloseUp 1 This ground-breaking reality show on NTV focused on competitive musical performances. The launching of the show paved the way for several other reality shows in Bangladesh.
It was a very popular TV quiz show on BTV. Among its many segments, Jhat Pat and the knock out round were the favourites.
Chhayachhondo With a huge fan base during the days when BTV was the only source of TV entertainment, this weekly programme featured songs from the latest Bangla movies.
7
Khude Gaanraj
6
Anandamela
5
Pather Panchali
4
Notun Kuri
This show on Channel i attracted a lot of viewers as It searched and crowned kids with gifted voice.
Aired on BTV, this Eidspecial show features different hosts every year.
This game show was a new concept for TV viewers in Bangladesh. Hosted by Debashish Biswas, it was aired on Ekushey TV.
The first ever cultural talent hunt show, it promoted the country’s gifted youngsters. This BTV programme remains one of the most popular TV shows in Bangladesh.
1
Ityadi
If there ever was a Bangladeshi TV programme that caught the imagination of the entire nation, it’s definitely “Ityadi.” Hosted by Hanif Sanket for a whopping three decades till date, this show has everything that a perfect satirical entertainment show should offer. Photos: Courtesy
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FEATURE
Kerin Backhaus is an archivist, researcher and photographer. An intern for “Storytelling with Sari,” she seeks to explore the intersection between contemporary art and social change
Bus stop Bangladesh
A tale of winners
Kerin Backhaus writes about Katakhali women represented in the US
T
he 5pm bus approached the Terminal 1 Bus Stop outside of Mt Rainier City Hall, just two blocks from Washington, DC. Commuters poured off the bus, bleary-eyed and tired. Dazzling visions of red, pink, black, and white cloths blew around in the steamy summer air, filling their eyes, while unfamiliar sounds of a bleating goat, village children laughing and the distant voices of chattering women entered their ears. For the residents of Mt Rainier, this was not a normal day. June 20 marked the end of three public installation performances known as “Bus Stop Bangladesh,” presented by Bangladeshi-American artist and activist Monica Jahan Bose and sponsored by Art Lives Here. Multiple 18-foot collaboratively created block-printed and handpainted saris hung from the Mt Rainier City Hall and covered the adjacent plaza and bus stop. The saris stood as representations of the stories of a dozen women from the remote village of Katakhali, Bangladesh, an island community and the birthplace of Bose’s ancestors. Bose, dressed each day in a collaborative sari made and worn by one of the Katakhali women, embodied each woman’s personal story as she read from oral histories of their daily lives, recorded as part of Bose’s project “Her Words: Storytelling with Saris.” Personal histories about learning to read, growing food, surviving successive cyclones, and adapting to climate change were shared with local commuters, spectators and onlookers at the public site. Postcards featured images of each Katakhali woman that participated in the project, and her
Public reactions The event was received by the locals on several different levels; reactions ranged from local residents baffled by their surroundings while gaping at brightly-coloured and elegant reams of cloth, which hung from their normally banal transit shelter and government building, to routing for more details on these women’s way of life and their origins. Many people engaged Bose and her assistants in conversation, prompting them with questions, curiosities and comments. Others noticed the billowing saris as they drove by on Mt Rainier Circle, some stopping to linger or driving twice around the circle to get a better look. Mt Rainier City Hall
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Evan Wilder
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The event at a glance
personal accounts were translated in English; volunteers clad in saris distributed these cards to passers-by and engaged in dialogue about the project. Sounds of women singing, clapping and dancing emanated from the public space, juxtaposed with the urban noises of bus exhaust, constant cell phone chatter and rush-hour traffic. Wrapped in a sari, Bose’s 13-yearold daughter Tuli, who is fluent in both Spanish and Bangla, interacted with bus passengers during the final Hossain installation/performance. She was particularly moved by one Hispanic resident who proclaimed she too could not read or write, sharing a similar experience to the women of Katakhali prior to their recent education. Jerome, an African-American male in his early 20s, eagerly helped in hanging the saris on the bus shelter before the performance. High up on the ladder delicately pinning the saris to the shelter, he exclaimed: “What you’re doing here is beautiful. This is exactly what this community needs.” Similar sentiments were shared by others after they experienced their newly transformed surroundings. Residents began to crowd around the bus stop, fascinated by both the monumental presence of the saris and the delicate ethereal quality of the material, eager to touch the garments, bringing them closer to the lives of the Katakhali women. As the stories unfolded through each performance and the public fell deeper into the sounds of Katakhali and the visual sensation of flowing saris, the complex layers between place, culture and history began to unravel, revealing less of humanity’s differences and rather exposing its
Art Lives Here sponsored the event through the National Endowment for the Arts It was divided into three parts that took place on June 4, 12 and 20 Each segment featured four saris, telling stories of four different women who survived cyclones, illiteracy and other obstacles and came out on the winning side More information is available at http:// storytellingwithsaris. com A couple of the passengers
Neema Narayanan
common core. Since 2000, Bose has been an integral part of an eco-empowerment programme in Katakhali started by Samhati, a US-based non-profit group of Bangladeshi-American women founded by her mother Noorjahan. Bose recently decided to consciously integrate her art with her activism and directly involve the women from her ancestral village in her art making process; the result was “Storytelling with Saris.” Bose created Bus Stop Bangladesh for the local residents of Mt Rainier. She said, “I wanted to recreate the experience of making the saris outdoors in Katakhali – the whole length of the sari blowing in the wind to dry.” Bose’s intervention was not only educational but also actively engaged the community, demonstrating how art can have a positive impact. n
About the performances Part of “Her Words: Storytelling with Saris,” the performances call attention to the issues of global literacy, climate change, and the critical role of women bringing about social change. Through her art, Bose draws out these women’s stories in a progressive way, allowing these issues to emerge directly from the women themselves. Primarily known as “social practice,” artists since the 1960s have been creating projects that blur the lines between the art object, contemporary art, performance, political activism, and community engagement. Social practice emphasises participatory processes. An antithesis to the contemporary art market, social practice art aims to establish real change.
At the bus stop
Evan Wilder
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CRIME FILE Adil Sakhawat is an intern at Dhaka Tribune, currently assigned for crime reporting
Murder in savar
When hate hath no bounds Adil Sakhawat investigates Md Sohel Rana’s murder from the crime scene
O
n Saturday, July 6, at around 7:30am, Sohel Rana, a student of Savar Cantonment Public School and College, was allegedly murdered by a bus helper of Hanif Paribahan Company, over a trifle matter of paying the fare. Earlier that day, at 7:15am, Rana and his fellow classmate Murad started their journey from Jirani Bazar to their college and opted to catch a bus of Hanif Paribahan. As the bus crossed Chakrabarty bus stop in Gazipur, Ismail, a bus helper, allegedly killed the young student in front of passengers onboard, without provocation.
Witness “Ismail the helper, boarded the bus along with Sohel and I. When Sohel saw him, with whom he had scuffle last Thursday, he told me about it. Sohel never imagined that the helper would attack him on the bus. Soon after, Ismail stabbed Sohel with a knife in the chest and his face and fled from the bus.” Murad, classmate and friend
The bus seat (R) in which Sohel Rana was murdered has been marked with an X by the police
Civilian on site
“Last Saturday, I saw a young boy in his early 20s, seated in the last row of the bus. Just when the bus was crossing Chakrabarty bus stop, he walked up from the back, drew out a knife and without any warning, brutally assaulted a passenger. When the driver heard the commotion, he slowed down to find out what was happening and as the bus came to a stop, the murderer fled the scene.” Pavel, a passenger on the bus
First police on site
“After we reached the crime scene, we had a talk with the witness in order to extract information that may help in the investigation, and informed the Chakrabarty police sub-station under Joydebpur police station in Gazipur. We have sent the body to Dhaka Medical College Hospital to get the autopsy done.” Mohammad Rasel Sheikh Senior assistant superintendent (SAS) Savar Circle, Dhaka zilla police
Prime suspect
Adil Shakhawat/Dhaka Tribune
ISMAIL, A HELPER OF HANIF PARIBAHAN, FROM FARIDPUR
“We sacked Ismail, after his first scuffle on Thursday, July 4 with Sohel Rana. After killing Sohel on July 6, the helper escaped and has since been missing. We have also given all his residence documents to Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-4). We demand the highest punishment according to the law.” Selim Ahmed Manager, Hanif Metro Service
Crime timeline JULY 4
Sohel has a scuffle with Ismail,
JULY 6
Ismail gets on the bus, on which Sohel is already boarded, and allegedly murders him with a knife and escapes from the scene
JULY 6-8
Profile Sohel Rana passed his SSC exams with GPA 4.69 from Lions School and College, Nilphamari. He had big ambitions and dreamt of enrolling at Dhaka University. He was the eldest amongst his siblings, with one younger brother and sister. He spent his afternoons playing cricket with friends. According to people from his locality, Sohel was polite and well-behaved for a 17-year-old.
Testimonial
“They are trying to negotiate with me through powerful persons of this area. But I don’t want to make any negotiations with them. I want justice regarding my son’s killing.” Sohel Rana
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Courtesy
Ansar Ali Sohel Rana's father
Following his murder, the police files a general diary in order to conduct the autopsy. No case is filed yet
JULY 9
Ansar Ali, father of the victim, files a case against Ismail with Joydebpur police station at 7:30pm
“Even when no case is lodged by the victim’s relatives, it is the police’s responsibility to lodge a case near the police station where the incident took place.” SM Kamruzzaman Office in-charge (OC) Joydebpur police station
PHOTO STORY
BOAT RACE
A photo story by
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Boat race
Shaikh Mohir Uddin
A nouka baich, or boat race, in the River Madhumati in Gopalganj takes place during the festival of Lakshmi Puja. The race is part of a tradition that has been there for more than 200 years. Around 90,000 people take part at the three-day festival, during which the biggest village fair is held as well.
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PHOTO STORY BOAT RACE
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PHOTO STORY BOAT RACE
Shaikh Mohir Uddin is a freelance photographer and contributes to Drik News and Majority World. His main interests are people, nature and environment, culture, landscapes, sports, photojournalism and documentaries, among others. He can be reached at shaikhmohiruddin@ gmail.com
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REALPOLITIK
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Bangladesh Foreign Policy
Of foreign hats and dependencies
Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer. He is bound by absurdity, and exists, therefore he is
Ikhtisad Ahmed discusses Bangladesh and its policies when addressing the world
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At a glance
East Germany was the third country, and first in the West, to recognise Bangladesh as an independent nation, after India and Bhutan
Bangladeshi policy changes 1972 A strong supporter of the Mukti Bahini, the USSR establishes diplomatic relations with Bangladesh on January 25
1972 Britain recognises Bangladesh as a free state February 4. This leads to recognition from other European and Commonwealth countries
AFP/Paul J Richards
n January of this year, the opposition leader saw it fit to plead assistance from the US, not the citizens of her own country, to save democracy in Bangladesh. Her tarnished reputation notwithstanding, her attempt to wash the country’s dirty laundry in full view of the world highlighted Bangladesh’s desperate dependency on its foreign relations, one that seems to outweigh its reliance on goodwill within the country and sound domestic policy for good governance. Former American Vice-President Hubert Humphrey said: “Foreign policy is really domestic policy with its hat on.” The perennial dearth of thinking caps in the country dismissed by former US Secretary of State and Nobel Laureate Henry Kissinger as “a basket case” has seen Bangladesh don a hat of necessity to decipher its foreign policy. The beta test of this strategy saw an obvious alliance develop with India leading up to and beyond the Liberation War. Coupled with America’s association with Pakistan to prevent the “domino effect” of Communism, this saw East Pakistan and the fledgling independent nation of Bangladesh align itself with the USSR. The former Soviet Union provided the new country with aid and logistical support, such as clearing Pakistani mines in the Bay of Bengal, following the end of the war that they had supported. Socialism was the beating heart of the principles of independence, and was the prevailing political theory in Bangladesh at the time. This was appreciated by the superpower. Relations, thus, predictably became frosty when the regimes following the assassination of Bangabandhu all but outlawed socialist thinking. Efforts to thaw this have been made by the current government, most notably in the shape of agreeing to make military purchases and seeking help with harnessing nuclear energy. A direct consequence of Bangladesh distancing itself from India and the USSR was China establishing diplomatic relations with it in January 1976. During the 1980s, strong
Members of the Bangladesh Honour Guard escort US President Bill Clinton (C) down the red carpet at Zia International Airport in Dhaka to review the troops on March 20, 2000
commercial ties were forged between the two countries that saw China supply military aid and equipment, among other forms of assistance. Though the bilateral trade agreements remain favourable to Beijing, there was an increase in trade of 28.5% between 2006 and 2007. The relationship affirmed by General Ziaur Rahman’s visit to China in 1977 has been nurtured by successive governments. Bangabandhu’s release from Pakistani prison saw him arrive in Dhaka via London. The need for foreign donations has seen the development of strong ties with the UK, which is also home to the largest Bangladeshi diaspora in the West. The former colony was inducted into the Commonwealth on April 18, 1972,
and has maintained the very best of relations with its imperial rulers. The US, too, came around, and went as far as to pledge monetary support to the tune of $300m (Tk23bn) in the same year, despite its apprehensions about socialism. However, the continuous search for aid and assistance to govern in prose following the impassioned, poetic campaign for liberation did not end there. It saw Bangabandhu lead Bangladesh into what was at the time the Organisation of Islamic Conference in 1974. These links were happily strengthened by his conservative successors. Amid this helter-skelter approach to foreign policy of dashing madly towards anyone with deep pockets and a will to dispense some generous
The US and Germany are the largest and second largest export markets, while the UK and Japan are the two largest country-donors of aid respectively
Bangladesh is one of the 93 countries to recognise Palestine as a state and does not have diplomatic relations with Israel
change, new ground was broken by President HM Ershad in 1985. Bangladesh led the charge to formally adopt a charter to promote economic, social and cultural development in the South Asian region. This was a rare instance of the country banding together with other developing nations in friendship and cooperation to achieve collective self-reliance. It has, however, always been easier to seek and receive assistance, often unilateral – the unequivocal mandate of foreign relations. If it really is an extension of domestic policy, then it should come as no surprise that the whims of money hold sway over the foreign policy of Bangladesh. Perhaps there will come a time when the strengths of the nation – recognised by its leaders and realised through good governance – will dictate it. Until then, the country can be expected to be at the mercy of its international overlords, and politicians can be expected to plead with them rather than be responsible to its own people. n
1972 After opposing the independence of Bangladesh, the US recognises it in April 1974 Bangladesh joins what is now the OIC after attending its second summit in Lahore between February 2224. Pakistan recognises it as the People’s Republic of Bangladesh under the pretext of the summit 1974 China recognises Bangladesh and, after over two years of blocking the move, allows it to finally become a UN member in September 1985 SAARC is founded on the December 8
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DIGITAL BANGLADESH
Digital TV
Another step towards digitisation Faisal Mahmud is a staff reporter at Weekend Tribune who specialises in writing IT and telecom articles with depth and analysis
Faisal Mahmud discusses the government’s new initiative
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f you’ve been watching Indian TV channels lately, you would know that digital terrestrial TV, or DTTV, is a big deal. The big shots of Bollywood are promising wholeheartedly that life is not complete without DTTV, which has been functional in the western world since 2009. The good news is, the Bangladesh government is likely to introduce DTTV by 2014. An expert team from International Telecommunication Union (ITU) who recently visited Bangladesh said the ITU would assist Bangladesh in introducing the technology. Sunil Kanti Bose, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), said the ITU’s deputy secretary general Houlin Zhao had made a visit to Bangladesh and promised to help BTRC introduce the DTTV service. The BTRC chairman suggested that, with the introduction of DTTV, broadcasting systems of the country would enter a new era. “DTTV ensures a faster and clearer transmission. After the initial infrastructural development, the transmission cost will be lower than that under the analogue system,” he said. According to experts at the BTRC, DTTV technology makes aerial broadcasts that can be picked up by a conventional television antenna (or aerial), making satellite dishes or cable TV links redundant. “The purpose of introducing the DTTV is
to reduce the use of spectrum and provide greater capacity and sharper pictures at lower operating costs, although there are initial upgrade expenses,” a BTRC expert explained. He also said the country currently has an analogue terrestrial system, because of which about 175Mhz of bandwidth, worth Tk250bn, is unused. “With the implementation of DTTV, this huge amount of bandwidth can be utilised effectively and the subscribers will get better transmission with higher resolutions,” he said. Explaining further about the DTTV system, Dr Saiful Islam, a professor of telecommunication engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) said DTTV is the technological evolution of broadcast television and an advancement of analogue systems. “DTTV broadcasts land-based (terrestrial) signals,” he said. “It broadcasts entirely over earthbound circuits. A satellite is not used for any part of the link between the broadcaster and the end user.” The DTTV signals are broadcasted over essentially the same media as the analogue terrestrial TV signals. “The most common circuits use coaxial cable (commonly known as disher line in Bangladesh) at the subscriber end to connect the network to the TV receiver. The high speed fibre optic or microwave link could also be used
between the studio and broadcast station and local community station, instead of coaxial cable. “DTTV offers far more channels, thus providing the viewer with a greater variety of programmes to choose from. DTTV can be viewed on personal computers. Using a splitscreen format, a computer user can browse the web while watching TV,” Dr Islam said. “Weaker signals make little perceptible difference in the quality of digital broadcasting. It’s also easier to obtain the optimum digital picture than the optimum analogue picture,” he added. With DTTV, viewers owning high-resolution LED and LCD TVs will receive quality picture. “Although the sale of such TVs has increased in the past couple of years, people have not yet received the full benefits of
owning these hi-tech TVs because of the analogue broadcasting system,” Dr Islam said. “India has already successfully implemented the DTTV system across the entire country, even in treacherous terrains,” he pointed out. However, the DTTV system consumes more electricity than the analogue system. “The government first needs to solve the issue of power consumption by a DTTV system. Otherwise, it will become a luxurious commodity and nothing else,” Dr Islam concluded. n
DTTV provides a clearer picture and superior sound quality when compared to analogue TV, with less interference
Bigstock
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INTERVIEW
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MARIAH FARIH UPAMA
Digging the dancing queen Tamoha Binte Siddiqui talks to the actress and dancer
Tamoha Binte Siddiqui is a staff correspondent for Weekend Tribune, because weekends are the highlights of her life. True story!
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all and graceful, with flowing waist-length hair, Mariah Farih Upama is a female character from a Tagore novel come to life. Despite having achieved great heights at such a young age, Upama remains bubbly, talkative and refreshingly simple. Without pride or arrogance, she swirls and twirls in classrooms and corridors at the slightest request from friends, just to make them smile. Similarly, she was all warmth and enthusiasm when approached for a chat. When did you first start dancing? I started learning to dance from my aunt Anisa Sultana when I was only three and half years old. She mostly taught me creative or compositional dancing. I later received training from Anik Basu for a few months. In 1996, I started training under Kabirul Islam Ratan, who taught me both traditional folk and semi-classical forms of dancing. When did you get your first big break in terms of acting? I appeared in many advertisements from an early age. I starred in several ads, such as those of Mr Cookie, Bata and Liberty. I also gave background vocals for a number of ads. However, my first real break came at the age of seven, when I was cast in the movie “Ami Ek Manush,” beside Dolly Zahur. She liked my work and recommended
Fateheen Murad
me to many directors working in television, and this led to my working in different TV dramas and series, like “Ochena Tara,” “Bachha Bhoyonkor Kachha Bhoyonkor,” “Bondhon,” “Tahader Kotha,” etc. Which do you enjoy more, dancing or acting? I always have and will continue to have unparalleled love and passion for dancing. I believe that before God sends us into this world, He creates a special bond for everyone with one particular entity. For me, it is dancing. It has always felt effortless for me; all I have to do is go with my heart and be playful. In case of acting, on the other hand, I have to give more effort. However, I enjoy it because it enhances my thinking and broadens my mind. It’s also good experience. Which role did you find the most challenging in your career? Definitely the role I played in the movie “Pita,” directed and scripted by Masud Akhand. In the movie, I play Sharmily, an 18-year-old Hindu widow from 1971 living with her parents. To get into Sharmily’s character, I had to dig deep and try to imagine the pain and suffering of a young Hindu widow, the loss of her dreams and problems she faced in society. The role was also very challenging because Sharmily is mature for her age, whereas I myself am a little childish in real life. So, I had
to go against the grain of my own personality in order to play the role. How do you prepare to get into a character after reading a script? Usually, the script provides details about the characters’ personalities or quirks. I study them and think about them. I also try and relate the characters to either myself or people I know. Sometimes, I borrow the way a friend laughs, or a cousin walks, and I integrate it into the character I’m playing. Costumes also help to get into the character a lot. For example, while playing Sharmily, I felt different as soon as I donned the white sari. Do you face any discrimination for being involved with the media, especially because you’re a woman? I’ve been lucky to be around supportive friends and family members who encourage the career path I have chosen, instead of condemning it. But sometimes when people find out that I’m an actress, they start giving me the cold shoulder because they think that all girls involved with the media are snobbish. However, once they interact with me, they realise it’s not so. Is the attitude towards women working in movies and TV dramas changing in Bangladesh? Definitely. Nowadays, most of the girls who come to work in dramas or movies also have a good educational
background. They’re not entering the industry because they have to, but because they are passionate about acting. For example, I myself am currently enrolled in the BA in English programme at North South University. So, people think twice before being condescending about the fact that I’m an actress. What advice would you give to aspiring actresses? I would advise them to stay true to their art and not run after stardom. I think it’s important to be sincere in your work and not be greedy about fame. Acting is not just a profession – it’s an art form. You have to be completely committed to it. What are your future plans? I’m currently working towards getting a five-year degree certificate in Bharatnayam from Chhayanaut. After completing my undergrad in English, I plan to get an MA in dance, preferably from the Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata. In terms of acting, I plan to work only on worthwhile projects or scripts. I also want to work in the theatre in order to hone my skills. For me, it isn’t about becoming a celebrity, but rather a good actress. n
More on Mariah Gold medallist for folk dance in the Jatiya Shikkha Shotya, 2000 First prize in folk dance from Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, 2008 Actress in a leading role for the upcoming movie “Pita” Renowned for her portrayal of Kumi in TV drama “Ochena Tara”
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WHAT’S THE PROBLEM
REAL ESTATE
Home bound or home away? Part II
Sheikh Mohammed Irfan sheds light on problems faced by developers in Bangladesh
Infrastructure has been the greatest reason for failure in the Bangladeshi business sector, and the housing sector is no exception
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he housing sector is one of the most chaotic and ill-managed public sectors in Bangladesh. Today, there are several real estate companies doing business with little to no profit. In other words, a huge amount of money is invested in the housing sector with minimal profit going towards the economy. This is surprising, considering the cost of housing is comparable and sometimes higher than that of developed countries. Many developed countries have suffered economic meltdowns due to the housing sector, and if we don’t manage this problem, we are looking at our own economic collapse. As the housing sector is a culmination of several parties and not just buyers, it’s important to include the developers’ point of view when dealing with the business. The minimum capital developers required to start a business is between Tk20m and Tk40m. With such huge investments being made, most of these businesses are barely making ends meet and are close to being shutdown. The question then arises: why is so much money being spent on an uncertain business when it can be invested in small businesses, like Small Medium Enterprises, or SMEs, that will benefit from investment and automatically boost the economy? The answer to that is, the slow progress and inconsistency of most businesses in Bangladesh encourage investors to take illogical risks and finance uncontrolled businesses, like the housing sector. Due to the lack of regulation and economic consultancy by bodies such as Rajuk or Joint Stock Company, businessmen have dived into the field of housing without fully understanding the business, hence resulting in an economic disaster. The most common outcry from developers is they don’t receive direct loans from the banks. By policy, banks do not provide unsecured loans (loans that aren’t secured against the borrower’s assets) to developers. Yet, developers continue to demand such loans while they run businesses with little accountability and control.
There are several reasons behind the lack of control in the housing sector. One of them is the constantly fluctuating price and inconsistent supply of raw materials. As most raw materials are imported, they are subject to heavy and unregulated taxation by the business syndicates who control the supply chain in Bangladesh. Another reason is the chaotic labour force. Due to an unmanageable manpower, it’s almost always impossible for developers to complete construction on time.
Navila Kabir
Sheikh Mohammed Irfan is a pragmatist, bringing spotlight to the persistent problems in Bangladesh
Did you know? l Developers face countless
challenges and so have created organisations, such as REHAB (Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh) that supervise the overall health of their companies l Only about 1,200 developers are registered with such organisations, leaving over 800 developers without formal assistance l Regulatory bodies, like Rajuk or Griha Unnayan, have been unable to set a standard pricing for property across the country l There’s not a single organisation that supplies developers with reliable manpower, and the labour force they hire has no code of conduct or work ethics
Apartments in an affluential area in Dhaka, ready for sale
To make matters worse, because most developers are at a break-even line, many workers aren’t paid adequately for their work. In addition, due to the lack of coordinated development across the country, the pricing of property has soared in certain areas. When masses fluctuated towards Dhaka city, the demand for property increased, and so developers focused their efforts on building within the city. With overpopulation, demand for accommodation became higher than supply, and so the prices of property soared. If five years ago a developer sold its property for a large sum, that sum would become the benchmark price of property for other developers. As buyers were and still are willing to pay such ridiculous sums of money for homes, developers continue to increase the prices. This situation not only created unaffordable housing for most people, but also encouraged abnormal growth of the housing sector.
Every aspect of the developer’s business is stressed and haphazard, but it isn’t difficult to achieve a system and order. We, as the people of Bangladesh, must emphasise the need for control of the housing sector and demand that the government controls it through one regulating body to avoid lack of cohesion. We must also demand that our government work to decrease import duty, regulate the pricing of raw materials, and encourage the local manufacturing of raw materials. If the government emphasises on the regulation of the housing sector, then developers, buyers, and the government itself will benefit vastly. The cost of construction will become consistent, and developers will be able to provide more affordable housing to the public. The government will then be able to collect more tax revenue from the developers and the increased number of buyers, and the economy would inevitably strengthen. n
Real estate renting and business activities reached its peak at 8.1% of GDP in 2005
The growth rate of Bangladesh real estate sector is 3.5%
Real estate in Bangladesh REHAB had 11 members at the time of their initiation
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On average, REHAB members can supply 8,000 to 10,000 units of apartments per year
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STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND bangladeshi hero
Jalil, Ananta Jalil
Bassema Karaki discovers the invincible hero of Dhallywood
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f you’re looking for a movie production that will make you laugh your heart out, Monsoon Films is the way to go. Its director Ananta Jalil has developed some of the most unintentionally hilarious films ever created in Dhallywood. All the credit for these successes goes to Ananta, who was courageous enough to make a fool of himself on silver screen. I’m sure if he could read this, he would threaten me by saying: “Eeu don’t know my detail. Get lost!” But fortunately for me, Barsha broke up with him before she could make him “behabe like literate person,” so he can’t. Ananta Jalil is the James Bond/Mr Bean of Bangladesh. His ridiculous sense of style and awkward behaviour, mixed with his supernatural abilities and foolproof way with the ladies, make him an unparalleled phenomenon of the film industry. Of course, he would find this comparison offensive and ask in outrage: “Do eeu think, me and James Bond/Mr Bean same level? I am profeshonal. I hab come to this posishon with hard work and dedicashon.” This is no surprising response from a person who perfectly defines narcissism in every way. Nothing beats Ananta’s love for himself but his passion to make others admire him the same way. With everything from his bathroom walls to the inside of his factory lifts plastered with gigantic pictures of his face, it’s obvious that he’s convinced he is flawless, and that is the theme all of his movies aim to portray. Watching any of Monsoon “Filims” productions will have you realise in no time that Ananta Jalil is invincible. His superhuman abilities, combined with his green and white fur coat, make his character similar to that of Neo from “The Matrix.” His skills at jumping onto his white horse in mid air make him more wondrous than the magical Gandalf of “The Lord of the Rings.” Best of all, the tight shirts he wears that accentuate his body make him oddly similar to Xena the Warrior Princess when he runs. Whether it’s lifting himself out of his chair (which takes as much effort as kicking an offender across the room) or defying gravity with an everlasting somersault, the golden rule of Ananta’s movies is that each of his stunts are shown three consecutive times with the exact same clumsy sound effects ( just in case you missed the miraculous stunt the first two times). Fighting scenes are randomly interrupted by musical performances of terrible choreography and awkward
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
Mess with Ananta Jalil or his country, and face the consequences. As he would say: ‘Eeu wanna destroy my cantry, I gonna destroy eeur lipe.” Ananta Jalil’s super powers Cartoon: Rio Shuvo
romances between Ananta and one of his many lovers. No matter the movie, one of Ananta’s “lovers” gets shot to remove him from the dilemma of choosing one partner for life. As if his repetitive scenes of hiding and shooting bad guys combined with the uncoordinated interruption of songs aren’t enough to make you rip your hair out, Ananta’s absurd sense of fashion will do the trick. “I started my profession just after completed my BBA and Fashion Designing,” Ananta claims on his website. Whatever college he studied fashion designing in, there is only one of two explanations for how he can possibly hold a degree in fashion: either he failed his classes miserably and bribed the college into giving him a degree, or he made a conscious decision to dress in everything he was taught not to wear in college. Whichever the case, Ananta’s flashy cowboy belts and nylon vests, combined with his burgundy lipstick and Tweety Bird hair, make him the ultimate laughing stock of Dhallywood. Ananta’s posture, dumbfounded look and dreadful language skills make him disturbingly similar to the species Homo erectus. With threats
such as “Eshtop! Take out your glass!” to kind words such as “Bary gewd,” and “I lab eeu,” all of his scripts are written in “Banglish.” From “Maleusha” to “Mansister” to “Gana,” the insufferable accents combined with an amateur crew and nonexistent storyline make Ananta’s movies either extremely enjoyable or absolutely agonising to watch, depending on your personality. Personally, after watching 10 minutes of “The Speed,” I was literally contemplating suicide to relieve myself from the torture of his horrid acting. “I actually biznezman, but I also moobheez,” Ananta boasts proudly to the press. At least we know he’s good at one thing, since AJI Group is making enough profit for him to afford producing such self-centred films as he pleases. With his new movie “What is Love” just released, Ananta’s dedicated audience is lining up to watch their new idol for a good laugh, and I have to admit, so am I! n
• • • • • • • • • • •
Flies without wings Dodges bullets in the “real world,” as opposed to the Matrix Breathes under water Fixes irreparable machines with his bare hands Takes on 20 men singlehandedly Blows up cars with one bullet Catches grenades about to explode and throws them back at his enemy Breaks bulletproof glass with a talisman Survives gunshots to the chest without a bulletproof vest Defies friction by sliding nonstop Drives at full speed while blindly shooting bullets that somehow curve around the front of cars and puncture their tires
Ananta Jalil’s look • • • • • • • • • •
Luscious, baby brown lips Rosy blushed cheeks Blow-dried hair slicked back with his very own signature oil or a jar of gel Leather Moulin Rouge gloves Spanx Bling bling belt Black muscle t-shirt or romantic red, silk shirt Chest-bearing cowboy vest or leather jacket Flamboyant scarf Gun, lots of guns W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, J U LY 1 2, 20 1 3
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TOUGH LOVE
Dina Sobhan
Dina Sobhan is a freelance writer and cautions readers not to take her “advice” here too seriously
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My fiancee and I have been engaged for about a year now. I really love her and we agree on most things. However, we differ in one very important way: I love dogs and she doesn’t. We have been arguing about the fact that I want a golden retriever and she doesn’t want any pets at all. I really hate the fact that she’s making me choose between her and a dog.
The answer is quite clear to me. However, allow me to elucidate for your benefit. You want the dog. Dogs are sweet, friendly, affectionate and loyal. They love you unconditionally and expect little in return. They sleep in your bed but take up minimal space. They’re always happy to see you and they obey your every command. Aside from smelling a little funky on occasion and the somewhat off-putting propensity to
lick themselves in public, they’re the perfect companions. Wives, on the other hand, can be bossy, demanding, moody and, worst of all, expensive. You spend time grooming yourself to look pretty, wag your tail for a smile or a rub on the belly but somehow end up in the doghouse for something that you will invariably do to piss her off. Before you know it, you’re going around in circles trying to figure out what caused her to go from loving to
loathing in 60 seconds and how this became the status quo. Your pack has long since wandered off in search of a new leader and you’re left chewing on the stale bone of your marriage with a bitch you don’t even like anymore. Get the dog. n
Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune
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My mum and dad won’t let me go to the high school dance. It’s the biggest dance of the year and I’ve been saving up for months to buy the cutest dress, but what makes this ordeal a nightmare is that the guy I’ve had a crush on for ever finally decided to ask me out. This is the happiest moment of my life. I can’t turn him down; what if he never asks me out again? I’ve tried everything to convince my parents to let me go, but they won’t budge. Why do they have to be so strict?
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I will start off my saying that while this may seem like the biggest deal ever, wait until you get to be 30 and you’ll look back and reminisce on the good old days when not going to a dance was the worst thing that could happen to you. However, for now, I’ll say that your parents are so mean. Why don’t they get it? You should totally just make up a lie and go to the dance anyway. I mean, how will they ever find out? Unless they follow you around and spy on you, or call up your friends’ parents and check up on you. That would be so lame, but whatever ... I have no solution for you but the good old stuff – take a page out of Ferris Bueller’s book
and set up an elaborate ruse to keep them from ever guessing you left the house: a kol balish under the covers, ambient noises or whatever sounds emanate from your room at night, a sad expression on your face as you decide to “go to bed early” but not so pathetic that they feel sorry for you and want to comfort you later. It’s a finely tuned instrument, deception. Plan carefully, hire consultants and do a trial run before the big night if necessary. But, whatever you do, do not miss the dance. n
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WT | LEISURE DILBERT
Across
PEANUT
1 5 6 8 10 11
From the sun, fly around Leatherhead (5) Ball, or beginning of bat (3) Grand plea about syrup supplier (5) 500 rows about weapon (5) Vote in hospital department to sack (3) Runner Sebastian grabs an Olympic boat (5)
Down 1 2 3 4 7 8 9
Warrior us and Maria confused (7) Where a cat sits and how it drinks (3) The eggs of heroes (3) Shorten river crossing (7) Behold, West is downhearted (3) Cheese course contains dry wine (3) Possess topless dress (3)
Solution and clues for last week’s crossword
WIZARD OF ID
Across 1 6 7 8
Wine for girl, first of three (6) Dirty without an aunt’s companion (5) Cowboys here had no mounts? (5) Street band for procession (6)
Down 2 3 4 5
US city submerged for wash (7) Car club sounds impressed by new beast (7) He sits madly producing essay (6) Carpenter’s mate unravels RU laws (6) W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, J U LY 1 2, 20 1 3
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CULTURE VULTURE
Change in language
Keep calm and take no ‘pera’!
Tamoha Binte Siddiqui writes about how language, like Frankenstein’s monster, is ALIVE!
Tamoha Binte Siddiqui is staff correspondent for Weekend Tribune, because weekends are the highlights of her life. True story!
For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. TS ELIOT
A
sk for feedback from a 19-year-old on any event, and the chances are you will be bombarded with a loaded machine gun’s worth of choroms, jotils, josses and fatafatis. Though linguistic fundamentalists may complain about the barrage of alien words infiltrating the language of youngsters today, the
Great poets and writers have always impacted language by coining different words and phrases that were later incorporated into the dictionary. William Shakespeare is one such example. If it weren’t for him, the world would have been bereft of words such as “madcap,” “cold-blooded,” “lacklustre,” “assassination,” “excitement,” “mimic,” and “radiance,” among many others fact remains that the narrative of the youth needs to be coloured with the charged excitement of their times. In other words, their narrative needs to be set apart by the singular and unique lingo of their generation. What is the purpose of diversity in languages if it cannot mirror the culture of different social groups? “Generation after generation, young people have inevitably created a new lingo to suit the era they are
living in. It is only natural,” says Abdus Selim, assistant professor at the Department of English in North South University. “Even back in our days, we used slangs such as “obostha purai kerosene” (I’m completely done for) and “fielding mara” (to flirt with),” he adds. According to Selim, these changes in the vernacular are usually temporary and short-lived, and therefore pose no serious threat of polluting the standard language. Linguistics professor Dr Deena P Forkan also reassures people who fear the invasion of new words and phrases in Bangla: “Language is a living thing, it needs to evolve and change. If it becomes stagnant, it becomes a dead language.” One of the key factors influencing the lingo of today’s youth is social networking sites such as Facebook. “Poking” is now virtual, “tagging” no longer a children’s game, and “like” is now a noun and a verb. Facebook memes have also revolutionised the lingo of today’s youth by introducing phrases such as “Keep calm and … ,” “True story bro!” and “Bhai thamen,” etc, which can be repeated and moulded to fit a number of situations, hence giving its users flexibility that the youth make full use of everyday. Moreover, snippets of catchy songs or lyrics also invade the vernacular of the youngsters. Annoying or not, I wouldn’t be surprised if the term “hunny bunny” were incorporated into the dictionary as a term of endearment. I think the best way to deal with that situation would be to sit back and wonder: “Why this kolaveri di?”
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elebrities can also influence language trends in both good or bad ways. A slip of the tongue or a slightly mispronounced word by a celebrity can incite a deluge of new words or phrases that follow you everywhere from Ghana to Manchester. “It’s not that we are being
Esha, a poet who often writes in broken English. “It just adds humour and flavour to the language. Also, many writers from the Indian subcontinent, such as Nissim Ezekiel and Kaiser Huq, often write in broken English for political reasons. For centuries, we have been made
Television and movies have always been a source of influencing speech in youngsters. A study in University of Toronto showed that the famous 90s TV sit-com “Friends” influenced the speech pattern of young Americans in a number of ways. For example, Americans started using more half-finished sarcastic sentences following Matthew Perry’s character Chandler Bing’s style of humour. Similarly, the youth of Bangladesh today use words such as “awesome” or “bro” more frequently after the TV series “How I Met Your Mother” became popular in the country smug and making fun of another person’s pronunciation. I mean, we’re not native English speakers, none of us have perfect accents,” says Lubaba Nusrat Khalil, a student from a private university. “It is just that some slips or mispronunciations are funny, and we automatically start mispronouncing those words to get a good laugh. We don’t mean any disrespect,” she explains. In fact, mispronouncing words and talking in broken English is another trend seen among the youth today, especially those who come from English medium backgrounds. Excessive use of “ – ing” or pronouncing “v” as “bh” are just some examples. Are they mocking people whose English is less than perfect? “No, it’s not about mocking anyone,” says Rifat Islam
to believe that ‘standard’ English is the English used by Westerners, the colonisers. It is time for us to show them that English is our language too, and we’ll use it in whatever way we see fit. Whether we add Bangla words to it or break away from conventional grammatical structure is up to us,” she stated. In the end, it was Professor Forkan who said it best: “The purists can rage and beat themselves up with heavy Wren and Martin books all they like, but that won’t stop the youth from playing around with language. In fact, I would advise them not to. I believe the most important thing about language is being adventurous and having fun with it.” n
SO MY FRIEND PUT UP A STATUS ON FACEBOOK SAYING THAT “SHE’S ON THE EDGE.” I “POKED” HER WHAT DID YOU DO?
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HA HA! BESHI JOSS!
THE WAY DHAKA WAS
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MODHUR CANTEEN Nawab’s Shahbagh Garden, 1904
Being a student of the Dhaka University in the early 70s, I used to visit Nawab’s Shahbagh Garden, which by then had turned into Modhur Canteen almost every evening. It was a lot more cleaner back then. The canteen used to sell snacks and delightful tasting tea, which was worth only Tk1. People would visit the library everyday and spend hours hanging out, chatting or discussing student politics. Modhur Canteen holds good memories for me, and the same could definitely be said for my colleagues and friends. Md Humayun Kabir Advocate at Supreme Court, Dhaka
Bangladesh Old Photo Archive
Modhur Canteen today Navila Kabir
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TRAVELOGUE
bangkok
Sa-wut dee krup! Rifat Islam Esha describes her medical visit to Bangkok Rifat Islam Esha is staff correspondent at Dhaka Tribune, who throws words around at her whims. She is also social media editor at the newspaper.You can reach her on Twitter: @rifat_islam
Even if your mind is solely focused on medical needs, a trip to Bangkok will provide you with an unforgettable experience of a whole new culture and place that will keep you coming back for more
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hen you are travelling to Bangkok for health issues, always be alert and expect the unexpected, especially when you’re an attendee of a serious patient. Your patient is going to be hijacked the moment the plane lands – but don’t worry, it’s a safety measure – and transferred directly from the airport’s ambulance to the hospital’s. The hospitals in Bangkok provide what’s best for the patients, but they’re also very scrupulous and make sure the reports you take along match your condition. Honestly, that’s what you would want, to know every little detail about the patient and give him/ her the necessary attention. To get along in the capital, you must also be adept in Pidgin. If you try out your fluent English or any other language, you will fail miserably. What you need to do is employ Pidgin English and gestures most of the time. Say, if you want to know how far the hospital is from the airport, ask the ambulance nurse: “Hospital, go, when?” and then point at your wrist. Once you are there, buy a traveller’s phrase book. It’s wise to carry that travel phrase book when you are out and walking the narrow streets of Bangkok, but it isn’t essential when you’re at the hospital. Hospitals like Bumrungrad International (Sukhumvit Road; 25 minutes from the airport) and Bangkok Hospital (Soi Mu Ban Shong Thai; 23 minutes from the airport) have a huge staff. Even if a few of them don’t speak fluent English, they will be able to make out whatever you’re trying to say. Say your patient needs to use the bathroom, then call the nurse (the head nurse usually attends the phone and says: “How- may- help- you?”) and say: “Patient, pee pee,” or “Patient, poo poo.” You’re bound to meet people from
Bigstock
A few hospitals in Bangkok
Param 9 Hospital Bangkok International Hospital Phyathai Hospital Ramkhamhaeng Hospital
all over the world cluttered inside the hospitals. You’ll be surprised how the staff around there enjoy learning about you – your language, your customs, etc. You’ll notice that they will try their best to make you feel at home. At some point, you’re bound to go outside for food or a stroll while your patient is in the hospital. You’ll notice tiny makeshift kiosks and barrows
by the side of the streets. If you go to Bangkok – ill or well – try out the fruits. You will get fresh fruits, sliced and rinsed with clean water (yes, that should be the priority; you don’t want to get sick while attending a patient). Likewise, you will notice people selling fried fish, dragonflies, chicken balls, etc. If you go as far as strolling the sidewalks of the roads, you will definitely notice vendors and shop keepers selling shoes, souvenirs, bags, etc. Also, keep your eyes open for spas; a visit to Bangkok would be futile if you didn’t get a massage. Therefore, take a moment and look around, enjoy the cultural hub that’s Bangkok through music, food and conversations. You will be enthralled by the city: the lights, colours, music, food and people will make you want to go back there, hopefully for vacation. n
Did you know?
W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, J U LY 1 2, 2013
Wikimedia Commons
Typical Thai food available in the streets of Bangkok
If you’re a Muslim, don’t worry – you will be provided with Halal food if you ask for it in Bangkok There are ample prayer rooms and temples (for non-Muslims) so you won’t feel unwelcome when you need to go and pray Branded products can be found at the Siam Paragon. However, if you fancy looking for cheaper and local products, go to MBK, Central World and Platinum Fashion Mall Thailand is not all about Bangkok’s hospitals; there are many other things this rich country has to offer
OBITUARY
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Mita Noor
A light gone too soon Faruq Hasan remembers the model and actress
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I must admit that acting was my first love, and I hate to admit that my family life took a backseat initially after marriage. But for the last 10 years or so, I had become completely family oriented. I was very happy and comfortable to delegate my career as a distant second in my list of priorities. Mita Noor
ven in death, Mita Noor left her audience wanting more. Was it a simple case of suicide? If so, did someone push her off the edge? Or, as with so many in the Bangladeshi glamour world, was there some murky underworld figure who had orchestrated a suicide attempt to hide something more sinister? We may never know. What we will keep on speculating is why a glamorous actress who seemed to have it all — a flourishing career, a happy family, an unscathed reputation of integrity and professionalism that seems so hard to maintain in Dhallywood — would decide to bring down the curtains so abruptly. But did Mita really have it all together? From the outside, it seemed so. Mita made her acting debut in the mid 80s in the weekly BTV drama “Sagar Secha Shad.” It was not the most auspicious start, as the drama got poor ratings, and was cancelled midway through its first year. But that was merely an initial hiccup for the rising star. Two years later, she was literally a star. In an advertisement by creative guru Afzal Hossain, her leading role in the Olympic Batteries commercial was a milestone of sorts for the local ad industry. In an era where the local ad industry was still trying to find its feet, Mita Noor took television by storm with her (at that time) daring dance routine, her flashy garb and a catchy jingle that had everyone singing along. Her performance not only set a new benchmark for the ad industry, but launched her acting career from relative obscurity. Throughout the next decade, Mita made steady progress in both television and commercials. She appeared in several BTV drama series alongside established stars like Assaduzzaman Noor, Humayun Faridi and Tarana Halim. She did not abandon commercials either, as she was a mainstay in several leading advertisements for saris and home appliances. But acting seemed her first priority; though she did not land a seminal role, she was a regular on television for nearly a decade. Mita seemed to have hit a plateau in the last decade or so. Married at an early age to businessman Shahunur Rahman Majumdar, she had two boys by the time she was in her mid20s. But in the last few years, cracks appeared in her family life as well. The couple fought often, and her eldest son had told reporters that Mita never went to bed without taking sleeping pills. She had called the police often and had threatened to file charges
Faruq Hasan is the Magazine Editor of Weekend Tribune and the resident devil’s advocate
Mita Noor in brief
Courtesy
against her husband for domestic abuse. There were even whispers of infidelity on his part, of their finances being squandered in dubious business decisions – accusations that were never completely denied by either partner. But her off-screen problems never affected her career. Even while shooting her last drama series, she was described as her usual vivacious self, joking with her colleagues and being a consummate professional. “I still can’t believe she is gone. She had called me just last night, and we were planning on how we should rehearse
our scene the next day,” said a stunned Shahidduzzaman Selim, her co-star in the last series. But Mita is gone, leaving behind questions, frustration and even anger. Like the chorus that brought her to life, she was indeed “Alo, alo beshi alo,” but a light extinguished too soon. n
1971 Born on May 7 1989 Debut TV drama “Sagor Secha Shad” on BTV 1992 Achieved stardom with the TVC of Olympic Batteries 1995 Appeared as guest star in famous TV show “Ityadi” with Hanif Sanket 2008 Appeared in her own culinary programme on My TV 2011 Produced her first drama series “Chowlangi” 2013 Her last drama series titled “Uttoradhikar,” produced by Kaiser Ahmed, was being filmed when she died
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Phil Humphreys is a British former journalist currently working as a development consultant in northern Bangladesh. As a committed Yorkshireman, he likes what he says, and says what he likes
LAST WORD Phil Humphreys
Two weddings and a hartal My observations on the implications of hartal in Bangladesh
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n Britain during the Blitz, a common sight on the shattered shop fronts of London, Coventry and elsewhere was a simple sign that read: “Business as usual.” It was a wonderfully understated note `of defiance, rich in subtext and stoicism. Another British government slogan from World War II, used on propaganda posters to maintain morale, was “KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.” Sadly, 60 years later, a Northumberland bookseller had the smart idea to reprint this on t-shirts, mugs, mouse mats and now there are seemingly as many abominations of that five-word phrase as there are the “Mona Lisa” or Edvard Munch’s “Scream.” The various incarnations include “KEEP CALM AND GO TO TESCOS,” “KEEP CALM AND TAKE
Like an overnight air raid, the frequent hartals, mass rallies and blockades being imposed across Bangladesh are an indiscriminate assault on a majority of people who want nothing more than to live in peace, harmony and, most importantly, freedom - freedom to move, associate and inform, and the freedom to practise their beliefs UP SMOKING” – that sort of thing. In Bangladesh, the mugs might read “KEEP CALM AND GO TO A WEDDING,” seeing that nothing can blockade these astonishing extravaganzas. Hartal or not, the show must go on and I am now invited to so many, I have to pick and choose which I attend, or, at least, which of the several days I attend. Last week, the biggest of the lot was held in Rangpur town hall. By a pleasing stroke of fortune, a hartal meant I arrived from Dhaka in time for the bridal day only. Therefore, I was able to feast my eyes on the beautiful Bangali women in all of their finery. Of course, this being Bangladesh, they were still heavily outgunned by the men, who came along anyway to eye up the fine feast. As far as I can tell, the convention here dictates that couples are married on the first day, host a huge meal for the groom’s side on the second, and then consequently for the ladies on the third. By a queer twist of fate, later that same evening my sister and her W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, J U LY 1 2, 2013
Argentinean fiance announced their own engagement during my nephew’s ninth birthday party in Cheshire, northwest England. They had hoped to break their matrimonial news as the whole family was gathered around my brother’s computer for our pre-arranged Skype call. Sadly, the connection on my side was so poor, she settled instead for scrawling a oneword message on a piece of A4 paper and holding it up to the webcam. “MARRIED,” it read. Married? I thought. Blimey, you have not mucked around there. “I thought you’d have invited me!” I typed back via instant message. On the bright side, this would take the heat off me for a while. “Sorry not marreid ENGAGED!” she replied, the excitement clearly overcoming her ability to think and spell. Receiving great news like that when stuck in Bangladesh evokes mixed emotions: the overwhelming joy that one side of the twin is being made a better half; and the racing certainty that while you must wash it all down with a glass of Frooto, your entire living blood line is being thinned by a magnum of Moet. Of course, in signing up to a life so far away from home, you are opting out of such seminal family moments. How wonderful was it, though, to even share in the occasion at all? I delight at being able to surf the World Wide Web in a place like this, regardless of how infrequently I can connect. That revelation has also got me thinking. One of my pet development projects in our union parisad is to join together the various youth clubs, citizen committees, health clinics and agricultural co-operatives through communal internet hubs, which could host training resources and better connect everyone to the outside world. But then I look around my village and wonder why they would want that window. Why would I open their eyes to an alternative, when they do not even have a choice? Making contact with an un-contacted tribe is the ultimate exercise in vanity. I am not here to show anyone what I have. I must help them acquire what they need. There are many good arguments, of course, for enabling the freedom of information. Currently, political announcements are tightly controlled by the party machines, and while
the post-2009 constitution subjects the mass media to only “reasonable restrictions,” in practice it can and is being constrained by national security legislation as well as sedition and criminal libel laws. Witness the recent shutdown of the opposition-oriented daily Amar Desh and the closure of the pro-opposition Diganta and Islamic Television stations. This is a dangerous game to play. Wiping papers from newsstands and forcing TV channels off air will only send their audiences online in search of information, into an environment that is not even self-policed, never mind regulated by the state. When “news” is proliferated free from all vetting and editing in this way, it becomes mere conjecture. For example, we have seen how Facebook, Twitter and even the “iReport” function of the CNN website have tossed up wildly contrasting and doubtlessly exaggerated figures for the numbers killed in May 6 morning’s operation to clear Motijheel of Hefazat activists by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Who are we to believe? The internet, then, is being used to foment unrest and orchestrate violence, in common with the Arab Spring uprisings. But those same channels of social media are being employed to discredit as well as to excite. So we have a tumultuous situation of claim and counter-claim, of propaganda and slander, as the country lurches from one hartal to the
Business leaders openly lament the tarnishing of the country’s image abroad. They know only too well that for investors, this is not the time and place to commit funds or resources in any significant quantities. Much more of the same, and some may even begin withdrawing what they already have next and polarises even further before parliamentary elections due in January next year. In my village, however, life continues as normal. The hartals are noted, but not observed, for the economy here is local, driven only by the changing of the seasons and the coming of the rains. It really is business as usual for the people I live and work with; they just keep calm and carry on going to weddings. n
av en ue t th uR sd ay, June 6 , 2013