Weekend Tribune Vol 1 Issue 16

Eid Transports 6

Rape in Dhaka

A Tea Stall Vendor

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FRIDAY AUGUST 2 2013

vo l 1 Issu e 16

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CONTENTS

A Wee kly Pro ducti o n o f

DhakaTribune Volume 1, Issu e 1 6 au gu st 2 , 2 0 13 Editor Zafar Sobhan

1 Editor’s Note 2 This Week in Pictures 4 Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Soul plane 5 Big Mouth Strikes Again Should I care what you think?

6 Pick of the Week Planes, trains and automobiles 10 Post-Riposte VIP road blockades 11 Top 10 Eid shopping destinations

12 Crime File Rape in Dhaka 13 Photo Story Eight-legged wonders 17 Realpolitik Rohingyas 18 Feature Unique eid celebrations 20 Interview GMB Akash 21 Stranger in a Strange Land Going eid-sane

22 Tough Love 23 WT | Leisure 24 Day in the Life of A tea stall vendor 25 The Way Dhaka Was Bangabandhu Avenue 26 Everyday Economist Ramadan Prices 27 Birthday Prince George 28 Last Word

Magazine Editor Faruq Hasan Weekend Tribune Team Fahim Razzaq Sumaiya Shams Faisal Mahmud Tamoha Binte Siddiqui Sheikh Mohammed Irfan Yusuf Banna Fuad M Hossain Art Director/Photography Syed Latif Hossain Cartoonist Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Contributors Naheed Kamal Adil Sakhawat Ikhtisad Ahmed Syed Samiul Basher Bassema Karaki Dina Sobhan Souvik Aswad Ibtisam Ahmed Shabab Akhter Design Mohammed Mahbub Alam Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad Web: www.dhakatribune.com Cover Illustration The eid evolution

by Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Send us your feedback at weekend@dhakatribune.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

It’s all economics, my dear Watson

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wise man once said that all problems have solutions within the realms of economics. Okay, I completely made that up, but it sounds like something a wise man should have said. Economics is no longer a crusty discipline filled with esoteric demand-and-supply curves and utility graphs. Starting from this week, Weekend Tribune has a new section named Everyday Economist, which tries to show the more practical side to the subject - where economic theories and everyday life merge. We go back to the roots of the subject and bring to our readers how concepts like opportunity cost, making decisions at the margin, and budget deficits affect what you choose to eat for breakfast, which tie you should wear to your first job interview, or even how to decipher your girlfriend’s body language. Well maybe not the latter, we can’t really promise you the moon. We hope you enjoy our latest column, and would appreciate feedback.

Elsewhere, Naheed Kamal discusses why we should chuck conventional definitions of body weight out of the window, Sheikh Mohammed Irfan and Faisal Mahmud analyses the difficulties of travelling during eid, Fuad M Hossain and Faisal Mahmud debate whether VIPs should get special treatment in Dhaka’s streets and Ibtisam Ahmed goes all goo goo over a new royal family member.

Meanwhile, please check out our Dhaka Tribune Eid Special 2013 which is out in the market right now, it’s bound to bring more colour and vibe to your holidays.

Eid Mubarak everyone! n

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THIS WEEK

INTERNATIONAL

RIght: Pakistani political parties have nominated their candidates for the upcoming presidential elections with the ruling party’s candidate seen as the front-runner. Mamnoon Hussain, centre right, a PML-N candidate, shakes hands with Raza Rabbani, a PPP candidate after submitting nomination papers

Above: A supporter of Morsi holds a mat where protesters have set up a camp near Cairo University. Nine died in Cairo violence, two in Sinai

Photos: AP

Above: Young Syrian refugees sit in an olive tree shade and wait for work at Zaatari refugee camp, near the Syrian border, in Mafraq, Jordan. More than 2,000 killed in Syria since the beginning of Ramadan

Above: People fill the Aparecida Basilica as Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Mass in Aparecida, Brazil on July 31

Right: Relatives of victims involved in the accident wait for news outside a victim information point in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. 78 died in Spanish train crash while more than 140 were injured in the worst rail accident in Spanish hitory since 1944

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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NATIONAL

Above: A landslide after the overnight heavy downpour took the lives of a mother and her daughter in Chittagong’s Akbar Colony at Lalkhan Bazar area on July 28. Spate of death from landslides continues Focus Bangla Above: Awami League lawmaker Golam Shabur Tulu, MP of Barguna-2 constituency who was killed in a road accident, was laid to eternal rest at the Banani Graveyard in the city on July 27 after namaz-e’-janaza on the Parliament premises PID

Above: A driver looks through the vandalised glass of a car attacked by activists of Chhatra Dal, BNP’s students wing, during their procession at Paltan area in the capital on Tuesday, July 30 protesting case against the party senior vice president Tarique Rahman Mahmud Hossain Opu

Above: With the aim to control and take rapid action against wildlife trafficking, the government on July 29 launched a hotline for receiving information on poaching. Several organisations took out a colourful procession in the capital on the same day to mark the World Tiger Day Dhaka Tribune

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WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?

Soul plane

Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Big Mouth strikes again

5

Naheed Kamal

Should I care what you think?

Eating disorders and weight concerns affect us all, and friends are often to blame for it

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Some of us don’t love our bodies and feel compelled to find easy solutions to lose weight. The fact is there is no easy solution. You need to work for it

ew studies have revealed that how our friends feel about their bodies is a major influence on how we feel about our own. In other words, peer pressure plays a role in the lives of grown women.

A new study by Dr Louise Wasylkiw and Molly Williamson from Mount Alison University in Canada shows friends influence how girls and women view and judge their own body weight, shape and size. The scary part of the study is how a woman’s body concerns are shaped by her “perceptions of peers’ concerns with their own body versus her peers’ actual body concerns.” in other words, they are perceived, not actual concerns.

That women talk about weight issues and weight loss, exercise, appearance and food/eating habits constantly among themselves is not news. Neither is it surprising to learn that most women assess their own body image and feel pressure they must adhere to their friends’ expectations of how they must look.

The study apparently “discovered” that “the more women felt under pressure to be thin, the more likely they were to have body image concerns, irrespective of their actual weight and shape.”

Girlfriends are great, but if they are not the nicest of people to begin with, with too many issues of their own that they project on to you, then, in my experience, it’s best not to have them around, or at best not to pay them attention.

Eating disorders are commonly seen as an issue for teenagers and young women, but a new study reveals that age is no barrier. Women 40 and over are equally susceptible to binge eating, purging and yo-yo dieting. In a study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, 62% of women said their weight or shape negatively impacted their lives. That is a lot of grown women suffering from perceived inadequacies.

Men are not exempted from it either. Back in 2011 in a Huffington Post article, “eating disorder activist” and blogger Matt Wetsel said: “It’s bad enough and hard enough for women to get help and be taken seriously, and men have to deal with an additional layer of stigma that supposedly

challenges the way people see their masculinity and sexuality.”

Online, on magazine covers, everywhere else, the fat shaming and fat acceptance brigade are fighting it out. They only confuse the matter, with contradictory messages about weight and body image in most blogs, opinion pieces and news articles that I read, asking should I lose/gain weight and look great, or should I love my body just the way it is.

While I tend to ignore these posts and publications, not everyone has the confidence to do the same.

I find them annoying. Because I do not appreciate being told how I should look, think or feel about myself by anyone, especially not women’s magazines. In case it slipped anyone’s minds, these magazines perpetuated the size zero issue, leading to models dying, and continue to project unrealistic images of women and men.

The fashion world thinks rape fantasy and misogyny are okay, where the likes of Karl Lagerfeld are revered despite their less-than-acceptable views on race, gender and life in general.

If you haven’t got a clue what I am on about, then you must check out Lagerfeld’s blog. Don’t get me wrong, I love a pretty dress and fancy shoes, a bit of make up and a nice bag, but I like to think my personal style has more worth than spending thousands (which I don’t have) on what is considered fashionable, but I digress.

That is another column for another day.

T

he conversation about our bodies is polarising and patronising, with little room for anyone to have their own feelings, independent of what other women (and men) insist is the “correct” way to think. If you are judging other people based on their weight and/or any physical trait, then it is simply inexcusable, because as Dustin Hoffman discovered while being “Tootsie,” there is more to all of us then how we look at first sight.

I am one of those lucky few who are naturally thin. That did not stop people from body shaming me or trying to. At one stage in my life, I was constantly told, “You are soooooo thin!” and now that I have put on what my mother

refers to as middle-age weight, there are “well-intentioned” queries if I have gained some, to which I always respond with delight: “Yes, I have.

Thank you!” Needless to say, it is not the response they expect.

Now, I don’t have body issues, my friends being one of the reasons, thankfully. But the number of people I know who do is shocking, and this goes for men as well. An ex-boyfriend was forever obsessing over his weight; it got boring at one point with him constantly going on about how I managed to stay thin, asking if he’d lost weight or not. Another guy was so obsessed with his thin form that he tried to tell me I needed to lose a little to look good next to him. He was out of my life before he could say much else.

In an ideal scenario, we should be able to discuss these issues with friends and lovers openly and empathetically, without sidestepping the topic with “You’re fine.”

We tend to confuse healthy with good, or thin with healthy. We take images we see on screen, magazines and films for reality when we know they are airbrushed, Photoshopped, tucked and stapled into shape by surgical means, costing more than anyone can ever afford. It is plastic, not real.

Naheed Kamal is an irreverent and irreligious feminist.

An old soul of indeterminate age, with one too many opinions and a very loud voice (for a little person), she laughs a lot, mostly at herself.

She lives in Dhaka, against her best judgement. Mostly, Ms Kamal rants, a lot!

Remove the judgement, and suddenly conversations about weight are healthier. We do need to talk about weight, but not obsess over it. The key question is: are you healthy?

So when I read how Kate Middleton would change the way women viewed themselves by stepping out with her baby and post pregnancy bump, I nearly fell of my chair. Way to go, Kate!

As for those who are gullible or stupid enough to think a woman will have a flat stomach after nine months of pregnancy, all I can say to them is to get a life! n

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PICK OF THE WEEK Eid Transports

Planes, trains and automobiles

Sheikh Mohammed Irfan and Faisal Mahmud discuss the difficulties of travelling during Eid

National flight carrier Bangladesh Biman does not have any domestic flights due to a shortage of small aircrafts necessary for domestic grounds. According to officials, it isn’t costeffective for them to fly domestically, as Biman has had a very few number of passengers for the last five years

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

Wikimedia Commons

W

ith Eid around the corner, people are getting ready to pack up and travel back to their hometowns to spend the holiday with family and friends. Others are travelling outside Dhaka to spend their vacation away from the congested and noisy city. With such a large bulk of people on the go and only limited transportation, travelling during Eid becomes a major hassle for most. From buses and trains to boats and aeroplanes, scarcity of transport options leaves many frustrated with a system lacking the ability to meet the needs of the public, and some of us end up turning to the black market for a solution.

Airways

During eid, no special domestic flights are planned in an effort to meet the increased demand for plane tickets at this time, nor is the option of plane chartering available. In fact, only 25% of people attempting to buy plane tickets to tourist destinations like Cox’s Bazar will end up getting tickets. For other destinations, an average of 65% of those looking for a plane ticket will get one.

To make matters worse, local travel agencies dealing with domestic flights are not allocated with a certain quota of tickets to sell to people during eid.

As a result, these agencies are unable to meet the high demand of tickets, leaving people both frustrated and frantic to obtain an alternative means of transportation.

Domestic flights during eid

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

United Airways

NOVO AIR

Regent Airways

Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar Fare: Tk4,875-7,300 (one-way) Flight available every day

Dhaka-Chittagong Flight available five times a day

Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar Flight available once a day

Dhaka-Sylhet Fare: Tk3,000-Tk5,450 (one-way) Flight available every day

Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar Fare: Tk6,850-7,850 (one-way) Flight available once a day

Dhaka-Barisal Fare: Tk3,000-5,500 (one-way) Flight available four days a week

Dhaka-Jessore Fare: Tk3,800-5,000 (one-way) Flight available once a day

Dhaka-Chittagong Fare: Tk3,825-5,800 (one-way) Flight available every day

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Dhaka-Sylhet Fare: Tk4,000-5,300 (one-way) Flight available once a day

Dhaka-Jessore Flight available twice a day Dhaka-Sylhet Flight available once a day Dhaka-Chittagong Flight available five times a day

7 RAILWAY

Reza Shahriar Rahman

The government has allocated 250 additional coaches and two extra trains to the Bangladesh Railway on the occasion of Eid. A strategic ticket distribution process has also been established before the holidays to prevent disorder. From July 25-30, tickets for travel right before eid were sold a week in advance. A certain number of tickets were allocated during eid itself.

The government also provided security backup in order to ensure safe and uncorrupted distribution of train tickets. Despite its efforts to control the demand for tickets, many are left in desperate need of transportation and so turn to the black market.

The black market sells more tickets towards particular destinations than the actual amount of tickets allocated by the government. From railway employees looking to make profit off of people’s desperation, to porters, railway policemen, ticket masters and distributors – all of them are involved in the black market business and are unwilling to hand out tickets for less than at least double the regular rate.

AFP/Munir Uz Zaman

I was charged Tk650 for a ticket of Tk500, and for the luxurious AC buses, the ticket rate boosts from Tk950 to Tk1,250 A passenger of AK Travels

Road transport

Sale of district-bound bus tickets in advance started on July 27 to ease the suffering of people going home for eid. At first, it was announced one person would not be able to purchase more than three tickets, but the rule was gradually relaxed in several bus terminals in the city.

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) also introduced an additional 200 buses on different routes across the country to ensure an easy and safe journey for homebound people.

Meanwhile, city dwellers were seen in long queues afore ticket counters at Gabtoli, Shyamoli, Syedabad, Mohakhali and some roadside

counters within different areas in Dhaka. People queue up right after sehri in front of the ticket counters in Gabtoli bus terminal, even though the counters don’t open till 8:30am.

There have been allegations against bus counters Shyamoli that the staff were misdirecting the ticket seekers.

Hemaytul Islam, who was standing in queue in front of SR Travel’s counter, said: “After waiting for an hour and a half, we were told to collect tickets from the Kalyanpur counters. The staff at the counter didn’t inform us about anything in the morning.

“If we rush there now, we won’t be able to get tickets, since there would

already be a long queue,” he added.

A Rajshahi-bound passenger claimed he was charged an extra Tk50 for a ticket worth Tk480.

Scrapping all allegations, Mizan, an employee at Sapnil Paribahan’s counter, claimed that, during off-peak times, tickets are sold at lower prices than that affixed by the government and, apparently, only during eid the correct prices are charged.

He also said: “The return trips from various districts come back without passengers for the majority of time.

Hence,,we cannot afford to offer tickets at rates cheaper than that of the government.”

O

n the other hand, the picture at Syedabad bus terminal is slightly different, as most counters have not been selling tickets in advance. They claimed the passenger turnout was still low and they would start selling tickets three to four days ahead of eid.

According to them, passengers usually prefer the train service as their first choice and only come to purchase bus tickets if train tickets are unavailable.

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AFP/Munir Uz Zaman

PICK OF THE WEEK Eid Transports

Like every year, cabin fare at the launches have hiked, as a single cabin costs Tk1,000 (up from Tk900). The price for a double cabin markedly rose from Tk1,800 to Tk2,000, while VIP cabins now cost Tk4,000, taking Tk600 jump over the previous rate

AFP/Deshakalyan Chowdhury

Waterways People heading towards the southern districts of the country for eid celebrations were left in shock after all advance tickets for launches were sold out within a day.

According to sources at the Sadarghat launch terminal, those tickets were up for sale between July 24 and 25. All the tickets were “sold out” within the opening hours of the W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

second day.

However, according to sources, most of the tickets were bought by a syndicate – in collaboration with several Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) officials – to sell them later at double price.

Meanwhile, sources and several individuals seeking tickets at the launch terminal claimed that only

people with “connections” to senior BIWTA officials are getting advance tickets.

Supervisors of several vessels like Sundarban, Surobhi, Kirtonkhola and Parabat, travelling on the DhakaBarisal water routes, said all advance tickets and cabins for eid were sold out on Wednesday and Thursday.

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Ticket prices for this eid Regular price

Black market price

Single boat cabin:

Tk1,000

Tk1,400

Double boat cabin:

Tk2,000

Tk2,500

VIP boat cabin:

Tk4,000

Tk6,000+

Non-AC bus:

Tk500

Tk650

AC bus:

Tk950

Tk1,250

Non-AC Train:

Tk550

Tk1,000

AC Train:

Tk1,200

Tk2,000

When contacted, Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carriers) Association (BIWA), said: “We started selling advance tickets on the scheduled date on a first-come-first-serve basis. This year, the fare did not increase as much either, just by Tk100.”

In support of the high cabin prices, Debundra Roy, supervisor of Sundarban-8, said: “The fare is still below actual rates. That is because we subsidise all year round to keep the fares low in order to attract more passengers.”

BIWTA Senior Assistant Director (Traffic) Saiful Haque Khan also claimed launch owners are not charging additional fares for Eid. “They are charging the fare affixed by the government,” he said.

When asked about the alleged involvement of BIWTA officials in buying out advance tickets, he said: “I don’t know anything about it. Launch owners will be able to give a more accurate assessment.” He claimed ticket sales in the black market are rather negligible this year.

On tickets being sold in the black market, Shahab Uddin Milan, vicechairman of BIWA, said: “Selling cabin tickets in the black market is rather difficult, as we have only 2,500 cabins in launches, whereas the demand is for 10,000 cabins during eid rush.”

He added that a majority of the cabins usually get booked at least two months in advance and the names are officially entered into the register after announcing the date for selling advance tickets. “This practice has been going on for the past 10 years,”

he said.

However, despite repeated claims from the launch owners and authorities that no advance tickets were left, when they were approached for tickets, some launch officials said it could be arranged at double the price. Harun-ur-Rashid, crew of MV Surobhi-7, said that a ticket for a single cabin can be arranged at Tk1,400, while a ticket for double cabins would require Tk2,500.

There are no plane tickets available in the black market, as the government has encouraged an online ticketing system, which requires usage of proper identification to buy tickets. The only chance of finding a ticket at the last minute is if someone decides to sell their own. n

According to sources at launch owner’s association, more than 30,000 passengers travel the southern routes every day, and additional vessels are to be introduced from August 5 to tackle the eid rush

Navila Kabir/Dhaka Tribune

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POST-RIPOSTE

VIP road blockades

Is the special treatment justified?

B

efore arguing about whether the VIPs should be given special treatment in the streets (ie traffic free roads by blocking them), let’s take a look at some facts. About 69% of the roads in Dhaka have a width of 8.7m (as per the data on roads and highways), even though the standard width of a big city’s roads should be at least 14m, set by the global standard of urban planning. According to Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB), a mere 6-8% space of Dhaka are used as roads, whereas according to global standard at least 25% of a city’s area should strictly be used for the vehicular movement.

Dhaka has all the important government offices located at different parts of the city. Given the already limited area for vehicular movement, high government officials can avail state protocol for their motorcade while using the roads, especially in the cases of state emergency. However, ours is not transparent to its people with regards to “why?” they are blocking the roads with their motorcade. Hence, we have to assume that they are doing so for state purposes and are not violating any rules. n

No violation of rules Faisal Mahmud

Cartoons: Rio Shuvo

Definitely not Fuad M Hossain

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iven the already terrible state of the roads in Dhaka, paired with an overly dense populace, traffic jams tend to be a bane for an everyday Dhakaite. The last thing we need is VIPs blocking the streets while people are trying to get to places, either to earn a living or to make ends meet. It may have been acceptable if these did not take ridiculously long, or access to major roads, junctions and sections of the city were not restricted.

Picture this: someone is in need of urgent medical assistance and is in an ambulance battling between life and death. The road blocked by the so-called VIP could result in the death of this individual, which in turn would have major implications on his/her family.

If you really are that important, please get someone competent to plan out your travel schedule and spare us the trouble. Because we all know most VIPs have access to resources that we, the common people, don’t. n

TOP 10

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Eid Shopping Destinations

Confessions of shopaholics

Eid is just around the corner and we Bangladeshis seem to be experiencing a shopping frenzy. To make this year’s shopping experience pleasant and memorable, shopaholics Muneeba Fakhrul and Sama E Deen list the best places to buy eid clothes and accessories in Dhaka. The list has been compiled from polls conducted on social media

10 9 8 7 6 5 4

Banani Market

If you’re looking to add extra laces or accessories to your dress, this is the right mart for you. Aside from trendy outfits and dresses, it also has tailor shops for both men and women.

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Chadni Chawk

Flanking New Market and encircled by hawkers and roadside shops, Chadni Chawk becomes jam-packed during Ramadan, as it hosts the most extensive variety of unstitched Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani salwar-kameez fabrics.

Gulshan 1 DCC Market

This market has many jewellery and fabric stores to cater to your eid shopping. With that, they also have tailoring shops.

Mouchak Market Mouchak market sells almost everything, from saris and kameezes to fashionable garment pieces and cosmetics, all at reasonable prices.

Rifles Square

From great ready-made wear like trousers, shirts, saris and kameezes, to children’s wear, cosmetics, shoes and jewelleries, Rifle Square has them all.

Pink City Pink City is home to exclusive saris and kameezes in notable outlets, some of which are much sought-after.

Banga Bazar

If you’re looking for export-quality, locally made western clothes at minimum prices, then you’ll strike a jackpot at Banga Bazar with its wide array of jeans, shirts and shoe collection.

Aarong Aarong sports some of the most intricate hand-woven kameezes and saris for ladies, groovy panjabis for men charmingly cute eid wear for children, as well as accessories.

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New Market

New market has been catering to the needs of Dhaka dwellers since time immemorial. Mainly a hub for the middle class, it has buyers straying freely in its spacious grounds, seeking all sorts of merchandise, from reasonably priced saris to gilded gold ornaments.

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Photos: Quamrel Abedin/Dhaka Tribune

Bashundhara City

Hailed as one of the largest shopping malls in the world, Bashundhara City towers proudly over other buildings in Panthapath.

From footwear to shimmering jewelleries, you can purchase everything your heart may desire in this mall, which is home to a bewildering assortment of distinguished outlets.

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CRIME FILE

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

Rape in Dhaka

Seven stitches from hell Adil Sakhawat investigates the rape of a minor in the capital

O

n July 25, a nine-year-old girl named Asma (pseudonym) was allegedly raped by an unidentified man at East Rampura.

As per reports, a man lured her inside a four-storey building close to her home, raped her and set her loose in the streets. As Asma reached home, she told her mother about what had happened and eventually fainted from the trauma she had experienced.

Currently, Asma is fighting for her life at One-Stop Crisis Centre (OCC) in Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

The victim has been given a pseudonym and the name of her family members have been omitted to protect their privacy.

Witness “My daughter had to get seven stitches and is fighting for her life at the hospital. That day, she told me about what had happened when she came back home, bleeding and crying. She told that on her way back, a man standing at the main gate called her, gave her some money and asked her to take it to his mother living in the building. When Asma reached the first floor, he asked her to go to the second, and when she reached there, he frightened her, making her flee to the roof, where the staircase ended. Asma is too young to realise what was waiting for her. And soon after, he raped my daughter while pressing down on her throat so that she could not scream.”

Asma’s mother Asma’s mother claims her daughter told her the attacker had dark complexion and a small moustache.

Lead investigator

Crime timeline

July 25

9am Asma’s mother sends her to buy lemons 9:10am While Asma heads home, a man calls her from the gate of a fourstorey building 9:15am Asma is raped on the rooftop staircase 9:30am Asma goes back home while bleeding and eventually faints from the trauma 10am Asma is taken to DMCH 3:15pm The duty doctor operates on Asma in an effort to prevent the bleeding 3:30pm Police arrives at the crime scene 11:30pm Asma’s mother files a case with the police

That rooftop staircase where Asma was raped by an unidentified assailant Photos: Adil Shakhawat/Dhaka Tribune

“A case was lodged in Rampura police station by Asma’s mother that night. Following that, I went to see Asma and showed her photos of the persons living in that house, in hopes that she would recognise the culprit. Sadly, Asma failed to identify anyone as she was still unwell. However, she has confirmed that she can identify the culprit if she sees him. I am waiting for her return from the hospital and keeping a close watch over the house, so that no one can escape.”

Sub-Inspector Mohammad Bazlur Rahman, Rampura Police Station

Prime suspect

THE CULPRIT IS CURRENTLY MISSING.

“The main gate of my house is open all day and all the young men who live here are good people. We did not hear any screaming when that girl was raped. Maybe an outsider committed this crime.”

Kamruzzaman Imam, one of the owners of the building, living on the fourth floor The building where Asma was raped. The culprit was standing at the main gates where he lured Asma inside

Profile

Asma, studying in class II at a local government primary school in Barisal, lives with her grandparents. Her father pulls a rickshaw in Dhaka and her mother is a housewife. Their two sons and the second daughter live with them. Asma came to Dhaka in the beginning of Ramadan to celebrate Eid with her family.

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

“The house belongs to Rahijuddin and everyone in this area seems to be afraid of him. No outsider is ever allowed to enter that house.

The building has three students’ mess on different floors and many boys live there with their families.

Someone living in that house must have done this.”

Asma’s aunt

First police on site

“When I visited the site, I took photos and biodata of every single man living in the building. After reaching the staircase to the roof, I found blood-spattered clothing that Asma was wearing before she was raped. I have ordered everyone in the building to not leave the premises until Asma gets better.”

Sub-Inspector Mohammad Bazlur Rahman, Rampura police station

Civilian on site

“Asma came to a shop in front of the building to buy lemons, but headed back home when she couldn’t find the shopkeeper. As she knew me, she stopped when she saw me and we chatted for approximately five minutes, following which she left.

Later, I heard someone was raped in the building and was saddened to find out it was Asma. All I could think when I saw her bloody clothing on the staircase and the blood trail in the stairs was: ‘How could a man rape a sweet small girl like Asma?’”

A security guard working in the adjacent building

Adolescent girls raped in 2013

June 8 A student of Rajdiya Abhoy Pilot High School was allegedly raped by SubInspector Zahidul Islam of Sirajdikhan police station in Munshiganj. A case was filed. Zahidul Islam has been suspended and arrested.

January 13 A student of class V was allegedly raped by Roich Sheikh in Gopalpur, Rajbari district. Last year, he was arrested on June 15, on the charge of raping the same girl, however, was released on bail in December 2012.

July 24 Two school girls from different schools in Dhaka, were allegedly raped by two garments workers Rasel and Abdullah.

The police have apprehended the culprits.

January 20 A girl living in Rangpur was allegedly raped by Lebu Mia. Following the incident, she tried to commit suicide, was admitted in a hospital, where she died 11 days later.

13

PHOTO STORY

EIGHT-LEGGED WONDERS

A photo story by

Raiyan Ahmed

Spider-like arachnids that could produce silk appeared during the Devonian period 386 million years ago. However, they apparently lacked spinnerets. True spiders were found in Carboniferous rocks around 299-318 million years ago. Main groups of modern-day spiders, Mygalomorphae and Araneomorphae (scientific names), first made an appearance during the Triassic period, nearly 200 million years ago.

Spider venom is being widely researched by scientists for medicinal purposes, while spider silk seems to provide superior attributes when compared to synthetic materials.

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PHOTO STORY eight-legged wonders

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PHOTO STORY eight-legged wonders

Raiyan Ahmed is a wildlife photographer based in Bangladesh.

He has spotted more than 100 different specimens of jumping spiders in the country, which is still a work in progress. He has also contributed to two major articles in “Nature Quest,” a Daily Star publication, and “Jole Jongole,” an ATN News programme. Raiyan hopes his work will contribute to a healthy ecosystem

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REALPOLITIK

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Rohingyas

People without a country

Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer. He is bound by absurdity, and exists, therefore he is

Ikhtisad Ahmed analyses Bangladesh’s stance concerning refugees

B

Revival of the insurgence May 2012 A young Buddhist woman is raped and murdered allegedly by Rohingya Muslims June 2012 As retribution, Buddhists attacks a Muslim community

AFP/ Soe Than WIN

angladeshis are no strangers to the concept of refugees. An estimated 10 million displaced sought refuge in India during the 1971 Liberation War. Four decades later, the now independent nation finds itself at the receiving end of a complex refugee crisis that is being dealt with poorly.

The Rohingyas are described by the UN as a persecuted religious and linguistic minority from Western Myanmar. However, the Myanmar government claims they are relatively recent migrants from the Indian subcontinent.

The conflict between the Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists that had ended a decade ago resurfaced during the Liberation War. One of the main aims of the former group during the initial uprising that began in 1947 was to become autonomous and gain independence for the region. The religious undertones of Bangladesh’s war – particularly the brutality of the so-called Islamic groups – and the demand for self-determination during it meant the ill-timed resurgence in the neighbouring Myanmar intertwined the fates of the Bangalis and Rohingyas.

Independence was not the objective of the 2012 insurgency.

Nonetheless, the legacy of a demand for sovereignty has added a political dimension to what is otherwise an ethnic conflict. An ambiguous alleged criminal matter has thus become a full-blown foreign relations calamity.

A situation that was kept under wraps by the Myanmar army spiralled out of control in October, as the military began to lose its handle on it. Violence had begun in the towns of Min Bya and Mrauk U, but spread throughout the Rakhine state resulting in scores of deaths and large-scale displacement.

Fearing the government would not be able to protect them, Rohingya Muslims started fleeing to Bangladesh then. It soon became apparent that the flow of refugees to the Muslim majority country would not be slowing

Rohingyas walk around the Bawdupha Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp on the outskirts of Sittwe, the capital of Myanmar’s western Rakhine state on November 2, 2012.

down. In light of this, the Bangladeshi government ordered its border forces to tighten security. The heightened defence led to many refugees, particularly those arriving by boat, to be turned away; some of them were left stranded in the Bay of Bengal.

Those who had successfully fled were begrudgingly accommodated in camps in the Chittagong division. However, since the increase in border security, no more Rohingya refugees have been accepted into the country. The foreign minister of Bangladesh has repeatedly urged the Myanmar government to repatriate the refugees, who are presently stuck in stateless limbo.

Asian countries have criticised the Myanmar government’s response from the outset. The US and the EU praised the initial response. However,

violence flaring up again in October caused them to express concerns. Both former and current US Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry and British Foreign Minister Jeremy Browne have called on the Myanmar government to restore order. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have accused the government of intentionally inciting the violence in order to take the focus away from democratic issues.

The current situation of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh is one mired in confusion and controversy. In the absence of being able to return to their homeland, they would require a new home, but neither Myanmar nor Bangladesh wants them. Both the governments have issued various strongly worded statements to this

Islamist groups in South Asia have called for jihad as a reaction against the crisis facing the Rohingya Muslims

As of 2012, there are approximately 300,000 Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh out of an estimated total global population of 1,424,000

At a glance The first recorded conflicts between Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists took place during the Mujahideen movement in Myanmar that started in 1947 and went on till 1961

effect, but in spite of their rejection of the Rohingyas, no one from either side has entered into a dialogue with them with a view to finding a solution. Antonio Guterres, the UN high commissioner for refugees, said: “While every refugee’s story is different and their anguish personal, they all share a common thread of uncommon courage – the courage not only to survive, but to persevere and rebuild their shattered lives.” Perhaps the country that has a legacy of blood will step up to the plate and present these unwanted people with the chance to survive and rebuild. n

June 2012 A state of emergency is declared, allowing the military to run the administration of the Rakhine region August 2012 The government reveals that 57 Muslims and 31 Buddhists have died.

At this point, 90,000 people have been displaced, over 2,500 houses burned October 2012 Conflicts between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims escalate. Muslims of all ethnicities become targets. The president acknowledges the conflict for the first time April 2013 Myanmar inmates at an immigration detention centre in Indonesia riot along the lines of the Rohingya conflict. The riots start due to female Rohingya inmates being raped by Buddhist inmates

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18

FEATURE

Unique Eid Celebrations

Syed Samiul Basher is staff reporter covering the anti-corruption commission for Dhaka Tribune.

Besides reporting he is an avid traveller and loves organising events

M Tawsif Salam/Wikimedia Commons

Let the festivities begin!

Syed Samiul Basher sheds light on why some of us synchronise eid with Saudi Arabia

E

id-Ul-Fitr, one of the largest festivals celebrated by Muslims around the world, is around the corner, and like everywhere else, we city people are trying to haggle leave from our bosses and manage a ticket to get the heck out of Dhaka. For the majority, Eid is scheduled on August 9, or on August 10 if the Shawwal moon doesn’t come out on the night of August 8. However, in some parts of the country, some will celebrate a day earlier. Why? Because people in Saudi Arabia will celebrate eid a day before us, as has been the norm since the moon shows up a day early there. But why this affinity with the Middle East and not with our own people? Let’s find out!

The history In 1931 Maulana Ishaq, a pir (spiritual leader) at Sadra Darbar Sharif in Sadra, a small village in Hajiganj, Chandpur, decided that people in his neck of the woods should mark their religious festivities depending on when the moon appears, regardless of where it shows. Ishaq’s elder son and current pir of Sadra Darbar Shareef, Maulana Abu Jafar Muhammad Abdul Hai, W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

said they celebrated all the religious festivals including Eid in line with the Arabian calendar. The same will happen for Eid-ul-Azha as well.

Thus the tradition took root in Sadra, and now people from around 50 villages in Chandpur celebrate the Islamic festivities (not just Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, but Shab-e-Barat, Shab-e-Meraj and other events as well) following the moon sightings in Saudi Arabia in particular. Even though Maulana Ishaq passed away in 1985, his children and followers have upheld the tradition till date.

Eid this year Around 200,000 people residing in the aforementioned region, particularly in Hajiganj, Faridganj and Matlab upazilas, started observing Ramadan on July 10, whereas the rest of the country began on July 11. They started fasting a day ahead of us and are going to celebrate eid a day before us. All the preparation for the big celebration will be completed very soon. The first congregation for eid prayer is scheduled to be held at Sadra madrasa ground, at the village where the idea was initiated.

Different tides

Youngsters in the region are not too keen to hold on to the ancestral traditions these days. They are more inclined to be in line with rest of the country and celebrate eid with their own countrymen.

“It is really difficult for us to continue like this. I celebrate eid here a day before, but that does not cut me any favour at work; I don’t get to enjoy a day extra for eid vacation.

What am I supposed to do in such circumstances?” Mainuddin Abdullah, who hails from Sadra, said. Mainuddin, 29, works at a private firm in Dhaka.

As the young Muslims in Hajiganj, Faridganj and Matlab upazilas want to join the rest of the nation in the celebrations, it seems the only way to do so is to convince the elders to agree. “The dilemma of celebrating eid separately for the country could be easily resolved if our elders sat down with the religious leaders and had a thorough discussion to see whether there’s a real problem with celebrating eid following the moon sightings in Bangladesh,” some of the young people said.

Other places with the same tradition

There are other places in the country like Hajiganj, Faridganj and Matlab.

Muslims from around 150 villages under the districts of Chittagong, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Bhola, Patuakhali and Barguna also follow Saudi Arabia when it comes to Islamic events, and celebrate eid a day or two before the majority of the country.

Eid is supposed to bring everyone together, setting aside differences in class, status and race. It is indeed strange to see some Bangladeshis follow people from a far-off land during a national celebration, rather than stand together with their own people to commemorate such an important festival. Whether these communities will decide to stick with the tradition, or follow the young, remains to be seen. n

19

HAJIGANJ UPAZILA

Sadra, Sameshpur, Jakni, Manihar, Olipur, Balakhal, Bholacho, Sonaso, Protappur, Alipur and Basara

FARIDGANJ UPAZILA

Basara, Kaitapara, Aitpara, Munshir Haat, Surongachar, Ubharampur, Uttali, Baluthuba, Nurpur, Mulpara, Badarpur, Sholla, Sasanmegh, Gobindapur and Hasha, among others

MATLAB UPAZILA

Mohanpur, Pasani and Dashani, among others

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20

INTERVIEW

GMB Akash

Zooming in on humanity Tamoha Binte Siddiqui interviews the intrepid photographer

Tamoha Binte Siddiqui is staff correspondent for Weekend Tribune, because weekends are the highlights of her life. True story!

Favourite quote: “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something, and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do,”

by Helen Keller

A

kash in Bangla means the sky.

GMB Akash, in his boundless capacity for human compassion and vastness of talent in photography, surely lives up to his name. His name is also a misnomer, as he is the most grounded and down-to-earth person one could possibly meet. During the interview, his sensitivity towards human suffering and nature, paired with his charming smile, shone through in sharp focus.

When did you first take an interest in photography?

I started photography back in 1996, after completing my graduation.

We used to live in Narayanganj back then and my father gave me his old camera. I didn’t know anything about photography at the time, but the camera stirred my curiosity. There was a user manual accompanying the camera and, since my English was poor, I bought a dictionary and started studying the manual.

Consequently, I started going out and about with the camera to take photos.

People fascinated me, and I used to run after them to take their photos.

Photography became dangerously addictive, however since I was a student, I did not have enough money to buy films. Therefore, I used to tutor students or save up pocket money to buy black and white films, which were cheaper. I turned my bathroom into a dark room and used to spend entire nights developing films there.Later on, I received professional training from institutions such as Beg Arts and Paathshala in 1996 and 1988, respectively.

What kind of subjects attracts your attention?

In my work, I primarily focus on people. I try to tell stories of those who are discriminated, sex-workers or transgender people, for instance, or those living around us who are ignored, like labourers, sweepers, garment workers and so on. There are two main

goals behind my photography: a) I want to show the things that need a positive change, and b) I want to show things that need to be appreciated.

Tell us about your work process.

I usually work on issues that need to be exposed in order to clear misconceptions, or issues thatneed to be rediscovered in a new light. I prefer in-depthwork, and sometimes take years to finish a project. Sometimes I work with subjects without the camera in order to build a relationship with them first. I spend my time with them, gain their trust, tell them stories about my life and even bring them over to my house as guests. At one point, I no longer remain an outsider. It is then that I merge into the background with my camera and the subjects become the true stars of my photography.

Do you believe that photography can be used as a tool for humanitarian causes? How? Of course, and it’s already in practice.

Let me clarify further with an example: once I had an assignment on the Pashupati Old Age Home in Nepal.

At the time, three meals a day were unheard of in the state-run home due to scarcity of funds. However, after the publishing of my photos in a well-known German magazine, many from different countries came forward to help. Photography is a powerful language that can be used to tell stories that would otherwise go unnoticed.

What kind of a relationship do you maintain with your subjects after your project has been completed?

I worked with the transgender community in Narayanganj back in 2002. One of them remains my best friend till today. I try and keep in touch with the sex-workers I have photographed. It pleases me to know that they see me as their brother and bring me pitha and tea when I visit them. I try to help them by buying

Courtesy

FIRST LIGHT INSTITUTE OF PHOTOGRAPHY g

Founded by GMB Akash in 2013

Aims to make photography accessible to all, charging minimal fees from students

g

small businesses for them if they are willing. After my work with child labour, I set up popcorn businesses for many kids who worked in the harsh conditions of factories. Furthermore, with the help of a few friends, I bought the families I photographed for my book “Survivors” small businesses as gifts. n

GMB Akash: Accomplishments The first Bangladeshi to be selected for the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass, Netherlands

The first Bangladeshi to receive the Young Reporters Award from the Scope Photo Festival in Paris in 2004

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Received World Press Photo Award in 2006

One of the 30 Emerging Photographers (PDN 30) chosen

by Photo District News Magazine, the US in 2007

Won the International Travel Photographer of the Year competition in the UK in 2009

Winner of the 7th Vevey International Photography Grant from Switzerland in 2009

Represents Bangladesh and is chief photographer of Panos Pictures, London

Work featured in over 80 major international publications, including National Geographic, Vogue, Time, New York Times, Newsweek, etc

21

STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND Ramadan

Going eid-sane

Bassema Karaki describes her experience of the holy month in Bangladesh

T

he holy month of Ramadan is a special time of the year for over a billion Muslims worldwide. It’s a time for inner-reflection, devotion to God and self-control. Fasting teaches us to appreciate whatever food and amenities we’ve been blessed with and to be charitable to those less fortunate. Despite its global essence, Ramadan is spent in different ways from one place to another, and in Bangladesh, society visibly shifts its priorities based on its understanding of what this month is about.

I have never seen Dhaka more crowded and bustling than it is during Ramadan. Whether it’s people in a rush to get home in time for iftar, or people in frenzy to buy clothes before they’re sold out, I’ve learned the one factor that defines Ramadan in Bangladesh more than any others: TRAFFIC. During this time, every hour of the day is rush hour and driving is a recipe for suicidal thoughts. The traffic and congestion are enough to drive anyone up the wall and it’s highly likely that many break their fast swearing while stuck in these jams. Even if one opted to take a rickshaw or walk instead, this would be impossible, as the roads are so crammed there’s no space for even a single pedestrian.

What makes these traffic jams even more unbearable is the influx of beggars that suddenly appear on the streets during Ramadan. In an effort to manipulate the charitable spirit associated with this month, these professional beggars won’t just come up to your car and beg. They will tap relentlessly on your window, order you saying “Dan, dan (Give, give)” and stick their hands and faces on the glass to stare at you shamelessly.

This complete invasion of privacy and utter insolence is so frustrating that I once opened my car window to scold a boy who wouldn’t stop beating on my window and chanting nonsense.

My behaviour only backfired, as this ended up attracting even more beggars to my car, who were amused by my frustration and began teasingly begging me together.

Besides giving in to the pressure of professional begging, one would think that, during the month of Ramadan, people would be more prone towards giving charity and toning down on the extravagance. Unfortunately, in Bangladesh the exact opposite seems to be happening, probably because most Bangladeshis consider Ramadan synonymous with Eid. People become obsessed with shopping during this month and every mall in Dhaka is completely packed with people pushing and sweating in a craze to buy new clothes. While fasting, they are willing to spend ridiculous amounts of

From immortal traffic and organised crime to feverish shopping and radical feasting, Dhaka during Ramadan becomes even more topsy-turvy than usual. As if knowing it’s a time of tolerance, many will do everything in their power to test your patience and drive you towards insanity

the day are just some of the many cherished moments I’ve spent during this month. Bangladeshis become even more hospitable than usual (if possible) and, with endless invitations, there is not one iftar I’ve had so far that hasn’t been exceptionally memorable.

The craziest part of these invitations is that, after stuffing us with food during iftar, the host will always force us to stay for dinner. While it’s impossible for me to eat as much as they do, I love going into the night sharing laughter, stories and delicious food with such warm-hearted people.

Another perk of Ramadan here is the endless variety of buffet offers for

shopping around people anticipating the joy of Eid can be contagiously exciting and fun. Other shoppers will randomly give their opinion on what suits you best and will join in hassling the shopkeeper for you to get a good bargain.

Once again, the amicable and jovial nature of Bangladeshis compensates for the chaotic hypocrisy of their society to provide Ramadan with a unique cultural twist. I’m grateful for the opportunity to experience the bonding and harmony of people during this month, and I must admit, I’m anticipating Eid as much as the next Bangladeshi! n

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

Rajib

money, which could feed 50 families for a month, on a piece of clothing! In the heat of the competition for who gets what, the whole essence of Ramadan is lost in a superficial rampage.

Fortunately, Ramadan is not all about nuisance in Bangladesh and there is a lot to enjoy during this time as well. Gatherings and iftars with friends and family, praying in mosques filled with people for a change, and even shopping at certain times of

iftar. While I make sure to stay away from the tents under which they sell iftar items, I enjoy breaking fast with friends and family in restaurants regardless of whether the food ends up tasting good or bad.

As for shopping, after being forced to shop by my mother-in-law, who insisted I needed something new for Eid, I came to realise that being in a festive mood before it’s time to celebrate is not necessarily a bad thing; W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 2, 20 1 3

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

TOUGH LOVE 1

Recently, I went on a date with a colleague who had been pursuing me for quite a few months. I was told by a mutual friend he was a nice guy, so I agreed to the date and was pleasantly surprised at how well it went.

However, it’s been three weeks since our date and he hasn’t asked me out again. Should I just move on?

DINA SOBHAN How do you “move on” from just one date? Did you somehow manage to fall in love with this guy during the appetiser course and had planned the minutiae of your wedding ceremony by the time dessert was served? Get the hint, lady, he’s just not that into you! Maybe you were admired from afar, but as described in the teen classic “Clueless,” you’re a Monet – pretty from afar, but a big, old mess up close. It’s possible that you lack wit

and have the conversational ability of a marmoset. I don’t know what the problem is/was, but it’s safe to say there will be no second date. If I were you, I would strongly consider joining a convent and renouncing relationships altogether, because no one will ever love you and you will die alone. Or, you could just move on. n

Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

2

My girlfriend suffers from the misconception that I always have to be right. To try and prove her incorrect, I compiled a list of mistakes I’ve made starting from the first day we met, to which she replied: “You even have to be right about being wrong.” Is there some way I can show her that I can be wrong without reinforcing her opinion?

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No, Poindexter, you can’t. She obviously thinks you’re some uptight, know-it-all, type-A freak ball for a reason. Who compiles lists of their mistakes? How did you even remember them all? Unless, of course, there were SO FEW of them to remember that listing them was an easy task. The solution is simple: tell her that you are not capable of being wrong and that her human weaknesses make her an

incompatible partner for an alien such as yourself. Let her then travel to Earth and date normal human beings for a change. n

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WT LEISURE DILBERT

Across

5 English turn in after parking a bird (7) 6 Snug male and female in shy embrace (5) 9 Kept in vinegar in one’s cups (7)

Down 1 2 3 4 7 8

PEANUTS

Baths popularised first in South Africa (3) Bill, a singer on great form? (7) New York city mozzarella provider (7) Colour in, in black finally (3) A pint would be appropriate (3) Not even comic Ken loses his head (3)

Solution and clues for last week’s crossword

Across 1 2 6 8 10 11

Niçoise say the French are in blue (5) Changed menu without new bird (3) Main Indian, for example (5) Nothing for a musical art form (5) Right after first rate song (3) Curve around left and merge (5)

Down 1 2 3 4 7 8 9

Frosty Southern gent holds present (7) Invention for lounge (3) Outlaw Kelly up in hideout (3) Hot stuff celebrity found in mire (7) A record for Mont Blanc (3) Globe or ball initially (3) Stretch out the sound of a scream (3) W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 2, 20 1 3

24

DAY IN THE LIFE OF

A Tea Stall Vendor

Fancy a cuppa?

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

An average day 5am Sets up his stall and gets ready for business 11am-2pm Usual rush hour and the busiest time of his day 3.30pm Takes an hour-long break for lunch and a quick nap 5pm-9pm His regulars gather, chat along with him partaking in the gossip 12am Closes his stall and the cash box after counting profits 1am-4am He sleeps in his stall; residents nearby occasionally come to purchase cigarettes Bonus Score

Photos: Yusuf Banna/Dhaka Tribune

F

eeding three stray dogs with pieces of bread is a part of Mohammad Faruk’s daily routine, which he carries out of compassion.

Upon inquiring why he does this, he said: “I have experienced hunger and its ugly face, that’s why I can’t stand to witness suffering the same fate.”

This 50-year-old is a tea stall vendor in Dhaka. Hailing from the district of Faridpur, Faruk was victimised by the Padma River that flooded and swept away his farm lands. Struggling to survive, he decided to migrate to Dhaka in order to earn a living and make ends meet. He started working as a bus conductor, but eventually changed jobs and established a business of selling tea at his own tea stall 13 years ago.

The income from his business is too nominal to support his family, hence he lives separately. The stall has become an integral part of his life; most importantly, it has become his home. He opens up his stall at the break of dawn to scores in search of tea and nicotine. His day continues in such manner till midnight, and he serves his customers with a smile on his face. His job satisfaction is derived from quenching thirst and feeding the hungry. Fuelled by this, his dreams to head-start a restaurant where he could serve “daal and bhaat” in the near future.

Though his day can be mostly monotonous, according to him, it is also dynamic, in the sense that he is not just a tea stall vendor to some. He is the listener of countless stories regarding the daily lives of his customers’, even fulfilling the role of counsellor for a select few.

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TIDBITS ABOUT FARUK

He works an average of 16 hours every day g Most of his profits are generated by selling tobacco g Keeping track of money flow while making tea and conversing to customers is the most hectic part of his job g

Moving on, the process of running and maintaining the stall also hold an important – if not the most significant – place in his daily agenda. He expends around Tk400–500 on a daily basis for a kilogram of tea, four-five cans of condensed milk and half a kilogram of sugar. Additionally, he spends around Tk5,000 to buy cigarettes from retailers every alternating day of the week. After paying off the local goons and the police – in the form of money, free tea and free cigarettes – at the end of the day, he is left with an average profit of Tk800-1,000.

According to Faruk, he has around 40 regular customers who spend a significant amount of their day at his stall. As Faruk is famous for his good behaviour, his customer base is on the rise and so is the increasing amount of gossip he gets to hear. His stall is situated within the Tejgaon industrial area and he humbly invites you to his stall, near Tejgaon Registry office to be precise, for a cup of tea and some gossip. n

THE WAY DHAKA WAS

25

Bangabandhu Avenue Bangabandhu Avenue 1960

Bangladesh Old Photo Archive

Bangabandhu Avenue has always been busy. It was busy in the 60s, and it’s even busier now in 2013.

Before independence, the area was called Jinnah Avenue, so there has always been a great leader associated with the place. I used to live in Motijheel back then, and would go to Adamjee Cantonment Public School by bus. On the way to school, I would often pass by the National Stadium which was still under construction. We would fantasise about the kind of sports that would be played in it once it was finished. That was the biggest stadium in all of erstwhile East Pakistan. Nowadays, when I pass by the stadium with my kids, it’s hard for them to imagine that it was once a bowl of concrete with a solitary construction crane residing smack in the centre for months!

Abul Hayat, 47 An engineer living in Motijheel

Today Navila Kabir

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26

Everyday Economist

Ramadan Prices

Of cabbages, cabals and conspiracies Souvik Aswad sheds light on the trend of rising food prices during Ramadan

Souvik Aswad is an inquisitive observer who likes to fuse economic theories with human behaviour and watches the outcome with enthusiasm.

Anyone who thinks he is writing nonsense is welcome to shout at souvikaswad@gmail.com

E

very Ramadan, without fail, prices of essential food items go up and the media is up and arms about what they would call an “unusual” price hike. An editor of a popular daily recently proclaimed: “We speak for the everyday folks. The general people are in disarray, in dire economic constraints.”

Moreover, newspapers and bloggers are quick to point out a “hidden agenda” in such a sudden price flux. “There are hidden cartels and conspiracies that are behind the price hike. A cabal of businessmen and government ‘agents’ are trying to make a quick buck out of Ramadan, and the only victims here are us the poor consumers,” was the conclusion of a recent editorial.

Folks, take a chill pill (if you are not fasting) and calm down. The only hand that is at work in the spike in Ramadan prices is the invisible hand of economics. Let me take the opportunity to debunk and disabuse the huddled masses who have fallen prey to mass media hysteria and impart some common economic sense.

Businessmen seem to be the bogeymen during Ramadan. Price hike of basic food items seems to be their fault, as if they have a remote control over a market that includes 15 million people. They are painted with the same brush that is used to describe criminals: a bunch of greedy, needy, power-hungry persons, colluding together to make life miserable for the common folks. They are accused of voluntarily raising the prices, creating artificial shortages in the market, and simply extorting the general public.

But are the accusations really true? Are they even economically sound?

A basic principle of economics that we all should know is the principles behind the demand curve. The demand curve shows an inverse relation between price and demand: if prices go up, demand goes down, but if prices go down, demand will rise, ceteris paribus (which means “all else equal;” it’s an economic term used to describe that all other factors are unchanged when theorising the changes in the demand

Jun ’13

Sugar

Jun ’12

168%

Crude Edible Oil

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

68

51 2.6 0.56

Dates

364%

135%

Pulses

61

26

Orion

10

6

Ginger

1.8

67%

4.6

0

156% 10

20

30

Ginger

Onion

Pulses

Jun ’13

4.6

10

Jun ’12

1.8

6

40

50

70

60

Dates

Crude Edible Oil

Sugar

61

2.6

68

49.15

26

0.56

51

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This chart shows a marked increase in food imports from India, one of our largest sources for food items, in June 2013 against June 2012. It was late July when Ramadan started in 2012 however this year it started almost in the beginning of July. This increase in food imports during June 2013 was a result of the increased food consumption, demand, during Ramadan this year.

Source: Dhaka Tribune, July 22, 2013 curve). In addition, when the overall demand in the market increases, the price goes up as well, as Dominick Salvatore, distinguished professor of economics at Fordham University, the US, said in his book “Microeconomics: Theory and Applications.”

Now, let’s come to the reality of the food habits in Ramadan. Every food item generally consumed in the rest of the 11 months is consumed almost twice as much this month, at the very least. A great number of new food items are also consumed in this month.

So, in effect, not only the existing demand of commodities increase, but new demand for new commodities is created as well.

So, simply put, the overall market demand becomes higher. According to the demand curve principle, because the demand for cabbages, rice, etc (which have a fixed amount of supply)

rises, prices rise as well. After Ramadan, when demand for exactly the same basket of goods goes down again, the prices automatically go down again.

So, why do people and newspapermen complain and lament about hidden agendas and conspiracy theories? It seems this misconception in understanding why prices during Ramadan go up occurs because we find it difficult to notice the difference between the “change in quantity demanded and shift in the demand curve,” as pointed out in “Microeconomics: Theory and Applications.” Rather than explaining it through economic jargons, let’s look at it in a simpler way.

Suppose, your family consumes 5kg of cabbages in an average month. If the price of cabbages suddenly goes up, then you consume less cabbages – say, 3kg a month. If prices stay

Each of us consumes at least 1kg granulated sugar in just 30 days.

That might not sound much, but wait till you doctor hears this

If you wish to bypass this price mountain, start shopping for your food items a month before buying all those fancy dresses

Did you know?

We use a staggering 75,593,952 litres of cooking oil in Ramadan.

That’s almost 2.5 million litres of crude edible oil gobbled by Bangladeshis each day during this month

33%

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normal, then you keep up your current consumption habit. But in the month of Ramadan, you realise that you need 10kg cabbages. You have to buy that extra amount of cabbages to meet your Ramadan food demands. Now imagine this happening to all the families throughout the country. The result: a huge spike in total market demand. This unusually high demand in such a short amount of time is what raises the price of the commodity, as the supply of cabbages cannot keep up with this sudden spike in demand.

So when prices suddenly go up in Ramadan, we better understand that the market is following the rules it is bound to follow. If you are still not convinced about that, then wait for a few days; after Eid all the prices will become normal again. n

BIRTHDAY

27

Prince George

The new prince

Ibtisam Ahmed is a student of history and politics. He lives in a fantasy and writes about reality

Ibtisam Ahmed writes about the newest heir to the British throne

Did you know?

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A recent change enacted by all Commonwealth countries and the UK made Prince George’s sex irrelevant to his position for the throne. Prior to that, the oldest male child was first in line to the throne even if he had older sisters

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AFP/Leon Neal

When he becomes king, Prince George will be the seventh monarch to have the name “George.” The previous six included mad king George III, WWI hero George V and George VI, the current queen’s father, whose struggle with a speech impediment was made famous in the award-winning movie “The King’s Speech”

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The news of Prince George’s birth was announced as per tradition: his sex, time and place of birth were displayed on the gates of Buckingham Palace on an easel. His name was announced the next day, which was quicker than his father (whose name took four days to decide) and grandfather (whose name took one month)

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Prince William took paternity leave from his work as a helicopter pilot for the Royal Air Force to be with his wife during the birth

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The baby’s surname, though not commonly used, will be Mountbatten-Windsor, the family surname. It’s a combination of the family names of Queen Elizabeth II (Windsor) and her husband Prince Philip (Mountbatten).

Other possible surnames included Wales, the title given to his grandfather and heir to the throne, and Cambridge, the title given to his parents William and Catherine when they married

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, show their new-born baby boy to the world’s media outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London on July 23

O

n July 22, the world’s attention shifted away from all its unfolding tragedies. For an entire day, the imminent arrival of a single child captivated the masses, as they waited with bated breath until – lo and behold! Prince George Alexander Louis arrived, complete with adorable face and royal wave potential. The media, of course, had a field day, taking pictures of the baby, the parents and even the empty entrance of the hospital across the front, and splashing them on the back and middle pages. BBC Online reported the most website traffic in its entire existence while non-British press mistakenly greeted the “future king of England.” (For the record, when he ascends to the throne, the current His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge will inherit Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland too.)

Forget the royal wedding two years ago, or even the Olympics; this single – and arguably commonplace – event dominated the headlines like no other.

Government officials tripped over each other trying to be the first to get in their felicitations. After months of justifying taxation schemes, fighting for marriage rights (with their own party members no less) and making unpopular overhauls in the education

system, it must have been nice for David Cameron’s cabinet to be able to make comments that couldn’t be used against them by the opposition. But while politicians were united in their heartfelt congratulations, the same could not be said for the British people.

It’s true that many were elated by the news of the birth. Staunch royalists were ecstatic, of course, even more so because the new addition means there are now three generations of heirs to the throne for the first time in over a century. A large number of people who normally have no opinion about the monarchy also flooded the streets in jubilation, happy that something other than the economy and the heat was taking up their attention.

H

owever, for every jubilant cry, there was a voice of dissent. While no one begrudged the royal family their personal happiness, many wondered why a child’s birth was getting so much importance. Granted, he will one day become the king, making him the constitutional head of state of not just the UK, but of many Commonwealth nations, but this is a ceremonial role at most. Prince George’s birth may have been cause for merriment for some, but many others began to question the importance and, indeed, the need

for a royal family in the modern age.

Make no mistake – the same birth that caused renewed feelings of patriotism also caused renewed calls for change.

Change will come. It may not be as radical as the abolition of the monarchy, but by the time George becomes king, the world will be a different place. Social media and unlimited access to news means his will be a heavily scrutinised childhood, a reality made very clear by the lack of privacy afforded to his parents during their vacation last year. He will have to avoid scandals – ideally different from his uncle Harry’s childhood – while maintaining a positive image – ideally like his uncle Harry’s recent public exploits. He will have to balance being a good traditionalist like his great-grandmother, while bringing the monarchy into the modern era.

For now, however all he has to do is eat, sleep, poop, laugh, cry and worry about inheriting his father’s receding hairline. n

W E E K E N D TR IBUN E FR I DAY, AU G U ST 2, 20 1 3

28

LAST WORD Shabab Akhter

Shabab Akhter is a writer, tutor and a mentor for young people, though often times his students end up teaching him a thing or two

The eid remix

Trying to keep up with the ever-changing versions of eid will give you a headache

“M

y name is Sheila … Sheila ki jawani ... ” is the tune that echo on the streets of Dhaka city on Chand Raat, as the “polapain” of our generation street race in their expensive cars, instead of rickshaw pullers joyously singing: “Romjaner oi rojar sheshe elo khushir Eid … ” Eid mubarak! The warmth of “kola koli” seems to be the only remaining essence of the extravagant Muslim festival. The spirit of Eid has radically changed over the years – from indulging in the sweetness of firni and shemai, to the western cakes and pies.

Gone are the days of lunch at “nanar bari” and dinner at “dadar bari” on the precious day. Recession has poked the salami out of our elders’ pockets as well. The culture and heritage of this festival seems to be vanishing exponentially, as the generation seems to be heading towards a “Western” lifestyle.

Culture, like people, keeps on changing. The million-dollar question is: what are we gaining, and more importantly, what are we losing in that state of flux?

The last time I spent my eid in Dhaka was three years ago, and it was a different experience all together. All the hustle and bustle of excitement has been replaced with that of the hartals. Personally, I have always celebrated eid in Dhaka, yet I never failed to sense the joy among the

W E E K E N D TRIBUNE F R I DAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

people going to their “gramer bari” to celebrate eid with their loved ones, and it’s rather sad to see that gone as well. People now seem to be leading a much more mechanical life than they used to. Eid nowadays seems to be like a dress rehearsal of the eid I once experienced in Australia a few years ago. I remember my sister moaning about it not being the “Bangladeshi eid.” Funnily enough, as I write this article, she is sitting next to me and continuing to moan about the eid in Bangladesh not being “Bangladeshi” enough anymore. The irony here seems a bit too palpable.

Nonetheless, contemporary eid still continues to be one of the most unifying national festivals. Irrespective of your political beliefs, age, gender and socio-economic affinities, we all come together during eid kola koli. Amid all the busyness of our mechanical lifestyles, eid seems to be the only day when we can meet our closest relatives, while normally most youngsters spend their day with their “dostos” and “jaans” at lounges.

And it kills me to state that Fantasy Kingdom seems to be the new nanar bari and dadar bari of our generation, albeit with more visceral excitements involved (like roller coasters and choochoo trains).

A

s a very young country, we adopted Islamic norms from neighbouring nations such as Pakistan, and India to some extent. We as a nation lost these cultures somewhere along the path to development and embraced an evolution a la Western kind. This ended up in the loss of more indigenous eid motifs, such as wearing accessories

like kaacher churi or nagra. Instead, we see ladies in stilettos carrying a clutch. Similarly, the use of “ators” have become an alien concept; now it’s all about spraying yourself with

Bangladesh has always borrowed heavily from neighbouring Muslim countries. However, as the recent trend shows, we have been leaning a bit more towards the far-off shores of Europe and North America cheap body sprays that actually seem to repulse the opposite sex more than attract.

Is this the identity we want to give to our descendents? Do we even have our own cultural identity?

As a nation that started off with a promise to uphold its own heritage and culture, we are now mimicking foreign cultures. Is this what we want?

We seem to be losing the minute hope we had in developing our own identity, but then again, triumph always lies at the face of adversity. Somewhere down the track of our evolution, we may as well discover our own cultural identity: who we really are. n

AV EN UE T TH UR SD AY, JUNE 6 , 2013