HAPPY NEW YEARWishing all a prosperous and peaceful 2006.I have been very busy lately in home and at work. Blogging had been a rare luxury I could afford lately. I have tons of ideas and events to share but just couldn't make it here (for lack of time).Just arrived from a family new year's party. This year's celebrations were subdued to some extent. The usual crackers and fire works were absent, at least in the locality I live. Probably what kept people inside home is the extra police protection due to threats of the extremists and bans on firecrackers....
December 27, 2005
A BOAT RIDE IN BURIGANGA Last sunday we went to BIWTA jetty in Pagla along the banks of the Buriganga river, some 20 kms away from Dhaka. My last visit to that place some 7-8 years ago was more memorable because the infrastructures and the surroundings have been degraded by now. There are no visible sign for easy direction in the road. The 'Mary Anderson' (Pic: on the left, click for a larger view) was initially a luxury cruise ship for the VIPs,...
December 26, 2005
THE WORD CHRISTMASAccording to Katy, there are much debate going on in the USA on about the separation of Church and State and using the word "Christmas" in public settings. Her sons' teachers have wished her "Happy Holidays", as they were careful not to let the X-word slip.She thinks Christmas is an important part of most Americans' traditions and it should not be censored. She also suggests that US can follow the Bangladesh model of observing the holidays of all the major religio...
BANGLADESH IDOLLast Thursday evening I was attending one cultural show. A local band was performing rocks and modern Bangla songs. The crowds were seemingly not happy with the performance. The acoustics were good, but the vocals were not matching them. Then came a girl, who started to sing popular Hindi movie songs. The crowds were on their feet and cheering like anything. I quietly alienated myself from that place. This is not the Bangladesh I want, lost to the superiority of another culture.The same night I caught a glimpse of the 'Close up 1...
December 24, 2005
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE"So this is Christmas And what have you done Another year over And a new one just begun And so this is Christmas I hope you have fun The near and the dear ones The old and the young A very merry Christmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear And so this is Christmas War is over For weak and for strong If you want it For rich and the poor ones War is over The world is so wrong Now And so Happy Christmas War is over For black and for white If you want it For yellow and red ones War is over Let's...
BANGLADESH ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP? According to Israeli Media following the warm-up in relations between Israel and Pakistan, two other Muslim countries which do not have diplomatic relations with Israel have made attempts to establish contacts with Israeli officials. And guess what one is Afghanistan and the other is Bangladesh. (Via Salam)Ynet News reports: "Bangladesh's ambassador in a Mediterranean basin country recently approached the Israeli ambassador with an offer to establish regular relations. The Israeli ambassador happily accepted the...
December 21, 2005
TODAY'S LINKS* Racism: Apartheid and South Asians.* Racism: Views on recent case of racism in Australia.* Violence: Protect women worldwide, stop violence against women by clicking a button!* Technology: v-girl.com offers a mobile girlfriend to download and date. This artificial lady can be your constant companion who shares her secrets, provides conversation, and comes with realistic 3D animation.* Economy: India is the next manufacturing giant.* Languages: Quick Bengali lesson 01 by an expat.* Ban: Pakistan Supreme Court has banned kite making,...
December 20, 2005
LESSONS FOR RECONCILIATION TOWARDS PEACE"We can not agree on everything, that’s normal, but we should not dehumanize each other."Dina Mehta recommends this post to anyone who lives in countries where there is ethnic strife and conflict. In her words:"I'd say that pretty much covers the whole world. Two bloggers I only recently met at the Global Voices Summit, one an Israeli and the other a Palestinian, both influential bloggers in their worlds, who went on a walk together to sort out some of the more bitter issues that had turned their blogs into...
TAXI DRIVERS IN NEW YORK DEMAND JUSTICE(Via Saurav) "Bangladeshi Taxi Drivers Shajedur Rahman & Humayun Kabir Laskar Are In a Coma After Being Victims On the Job. Daily, Over 100,000 NYC Taxi, Black Car and Livery Drivers Face Assaults, Harassment, Road Rage and Verbal Abuse While Working 12-Hour Shifts."* One out of four taxi drivers is a victim of crime.* 60% of Taxi Drivers Are From Bangladesh, India and Pakistan (Desis).* 90% Are Immigrants (Desis, Haitians, Africans, Latinos, Arabs, Europeans, etc.)Recently the Bangladeshi Community Organizations...
December 18, 2005
BANGLADESH BLOG BUZZ(crossposted in the global voices online)1) The liberation war of Bangladesh: The blogosphere went alive on the occasion of the Victory Day of Bangladesh (former East Pakistan).On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to the joint command of Indian Army and Bangladeshi freedom fighters in Dhaka after a nine-month bloody war for independence of the country. Bangladesh boldly said no to Pakistan, which was formed on the basis of religion and still married to it. Bangladeshis gave their blood to the cause...
December 15, 2005
TODAY'S TIDBITS* Opinions: The best possible arguement for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.* Human rights: Bangladesh's feared elite police.* Living: Hightech flush gazzette.* Warning: Beware podcasters, podcast hijacking is here.* Changes: From Bangalore to Bengaluru, from Delhi to Hastinapur; whats in a name?* Stupidity: Iranian leader denies Holocaust.* Examples: Understanding HTTP.* Future: Hydrogen is the fuel of the future.* Technology: Mobiles for the next billi...
BLOG COVERS THE IRAQ ELECTION LIVEFor an exclusive live coverage of the Iraqi election please go to Pajamas Media. PJM & Iraq the model are hosting waves of election updates and photos from eight correspondents based in eight different Iraqi provinces. The superiority of the main stream media has end...
VICTORY DAY: 16th of December(from the archive)On this day in 1971 out of the crucible of blood and sacrifice, Bangladesh was born. This day is celebrated with glory and joy supplementary to the Independence Day, which is the 26th March. Actually Independence Day marks the declaration of our Independence and start of a bloody and glorious War of Liberation against the occupied forces of Pakistan. The govt. of Independent Bangladesh was formed in...
The history of Independence of Bangladesh(from the archive)I am not a historian. But I am trying to summarize here the history of Bangladesh's Independence for those who would like to have an idea about it. In 1947 Indian subcontinent got its independence from British rule and were divided into Pakistan & India. The division was on the notion of two-nation theory, separate religious states of Hindu & Muslim. Some say that the British invoked the Hindu Muslim riots, some say the shrewd politicians, but these grim incidents led people nodding...
MARTYRED INTELLECTUALS DAY: DECEMBER 14TH(From the archive)December 14 is the day of martyred intellectuals, who were brutally killed by the Pakistani occupation army and their cohorts in 1971. Sensing their imminent defeat in the Bangladesh's liberation war, the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators Rajakar, Al-Badr and Al-Sham kidnapped leading Bengali intellectuals and professionals on December 14, 1971 and killed them only...
December 13, 2005
PHONE TAPPING VS. HUMAN RIGHTSBangladesh's telecommunication act 2001, provides that phone tapping is an offence and punishable with either a six-month imprisonment or fine not exceeding Tk 50,000 or both.However, the government has amended the law in an presidential order with immediate effect, allowing intelligence and law enforcement agencies to tap telephone conversations of any individual (The Daily Star). According to the ordinance, telephones can be tapped only with the permission of the chief executive of the home ministry. The government...
BIMAN'S HAJJ FLIGHT SAGABiman has messed up big time with the hajj flights. The trouble started when the minister for civil aviation Mir Nasiruddin fixed airfare of the national carrier Biman at a higher rate to carry the 50,000 hajjis for the pilgrimage to Mecca. The travel agents protested and threatened to boycott Biman and after the Prime minister's intervention, Nasir resigned. To mend the scar, this had became a political issue of the new minister, who vowed to carry 59,000 hajjis with Biman. Two aircrafts were chartered for hajj flights...
December 12, 2005
TODAY'S LINKS* JMB got Guevara wrong.* The arrest of Burmese nationals increased recently in Bangladesh after a series of militants’ bomb attacks.* Why the connectivity is expensive in India.* Grameen Bank's help changes lives in Joymontop Village.* Keeping up with the Gateses - Bill & Melinda Gates' South Asia visit.* Bangladeshi ideas 'can help positively change Afric...
STUPID WAYS"Against stupidity; God Himself is helpless. -A Jewish proverb"The Times of London reports:"Israel's armed forces have been ordered by Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, to be ready by the end of March for possible strikes on secret uranium enrichment sites in Iran, military sources have revealed."No wonder this stupidity was encouraged by that stupidity.Tigerhawk analyses the news:"Obviously, Israel is sending a signal to Iran, but not to President Ahmadinejad. In all likelihood, Israel hopes to split the Iranian elites and weaken support...
TROUBLE IN CHINAThe truth is coming out thanks to the bloggers. Police fired on protesters in Dongzhou Village of Shanwei, China on December 6, 2005 killing an estimated 33 villagers. Nearly 20 are missing and relatives of the people who were killed are seen kneeling in front of the police asking them to return the bodies. China admits killing three people.The assault against innocent civilians is the deadliest since the killings around Tiananmen Square in 1989. The thousands of people gathered to protest against the amount of money offered by...
December 11, 2005
GLOBAL VOICES ONLINE 2005 LONDON SUMMITGlobal Voice is an international effort to diversify the conversation taking place online by involving speakers from around the world, and developing tools, institutions and relationships to help make these voices heard.Within one year of its birth, Global Voices Online has become successful to be a platform of communicating previously unheard voices around the world. With its regional editors' & contributors'...
TODAY'S LINKS
* 'Japan: The key to east Asian unity' - a speech by Mahathir Bin Mohamad.
* Forget That iPod for Christmas: Buy an Ox Instead
* More about the GMAT exam.
* The Great War For Civilization: - Robert Fisk's latest book.
* Women in Islam - veils of the mind.
* Feminism under the hijab.
* A Muslim in a Jewish Land.
* A tale of an American girl who prays a little different...
December 10, 2005
TERRORISM IN BANGLADESH, OUTCOME OF A CLASS STRUGGLE?Bangladeshi rockstar cum blogger Mac Haque has an interesting analysis of the recent bomb atatcks in Bangladesh in "Global Politician Magazine". He says:"The patterns of recent 'attacks' by JMB for instance are not only confusing but imminently laughable and does not in any way suggest involvement of a serious terrorist (if at all) group.......If what is unfolding in Bangladesh today is as an outcome of a hidden class struggle over the years, then certainly the Islamists and not the secular Maoists...
December 09, 2005
BICYCLE OF VIOLENCEThe suicide bombings in Bangladesh have turned more evil in nature. They are now targeting innocent people. Yesterday's blast occurred as hundreds of curious people had gathered on a narrow street in Netrokona shortly after the police safely detonated another bomb found abandoned in a building. A suicide bomber on a bicycle rode into the crowd and detonated the explosives tied to his body by pulling a cord according to eye-witnesses.Now the interesting twist is that of the two suspected suicide bombers, one, named Jadab was identified...
December 08, 2005
BREAKING NEWS: ANOTHER SUICIDE BOMBING IN NETROKONAAt least four people have been killed and approx. 50 injured in another wave of suicide bombing in Netrokona (northern Bangladesh) (BBC, CNN). According to local TV channels, the bombs were targeted at Udichee (a cultural organization) district office and its head along with two suicide bombers are dead. The police had defused another bomb in the area an hour before the incident.So it is evident that the JMB onslaughts are aimed to create panic among common people, not against specific targets...
December 07, 2005
TODAY'S LINKS* Wow, what an offer! Switch to Firefox and earn US$ 1.* Jeremy David Pope, founder of Tranparency International is a true anti-corruption crusader. Read more about him.* Prof. Juan Cole writes: "How Bush created a theocracy in Iraq"* Stephen Cohen's "The Idea of Pakistan" is a critical look at pakistan, the idea that shapped it,what has become to that country now and whether it can acheive that idea.* "The parked domain monetization" business is surprisingly profitable but unethical.* The maids of Singapore finally get world's at...
December 06, 2005
BILL GETS VVIP TREATMENTI was surprised to see that Bill Gates got unprecedented welcome from Bangladesh just like a head of state. His and Melinda's portraits were hung in front of the VVIP lounge of ZI Airport. Prime Minister personally greeted him in front of her room. All the major ministers were present at different discussion sessions. Bangladesh is a business potential for Microsoft as due to absence of strict intellectual property/piracy law a major portion of PCs in Bangladesh use pirated Microsoft software. Unlike other countries you...
December 04, 2005
MONICA YUNUS IN DHAKAMonica Yunus is quickly establishing herself as one of America’s most promising young sopranos. A 2003 Sullivan Foundation Award winner, Ms. Yunus has already performed with numerous opera companies throughout North America. If the family name is familiar to you then you have guessed it right. She is the daughter of Prof. Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank of Bangladesh and the pioneer of micro-credit. Monica was born...
December 01, 2005
QUOTE OF THE DAY"They want to destroy hope, therefore I shall preserve it by any possible means.They want to kill trust. Thus I will reach out to others, Africans, Asians, Arabs, Americans and Jews alike. They want to imprison people in labels and stereotypes. I will strive to maintain a dialogue, always focusing on the individuals rather than the symbol.They want to kill joy in me, thus I will laugh again.They want to paralyze me, therefore I will take action. They want to silence me--therefore I will speak out."- Mariane Pearl, wife of Danniel...
BREAKING NEWS: ANOTHER SUICIDE BOMBING IN GAZIPURThis is freaking outrageous. Today at 11:45 AM another powerful bomb went off outside the main administrative office in Gazipur, where lawyers were marching as part of a daylong strike called by the lawyears in protest of the tuesday's bombings. About 25 people including police officers and journalists were injured. No reports of casualties yet but the condition of some of the wounded is serious and they have been moved to the capital Dhaka. (BBC, Reuters)A young man selling tea had hid the bomb...
BANGLADESHIS REACTThe rise of suicidal militancy and the current political situation have shaken the nation. People have started questioning. Ishtiaque writes a fascinating piece which reflects what many Bangladeshis are thinking. It's a must read. Some excerpts:"It’s high time something gets done.Is changing the government a solution? I don't think so. They are all the same. These politicians lack the creativity and dynamic nature that is required in order to solve critical problems. They can only solve some mundane problems, or allocate budget...
November 30, 2005
TODAY'S LINKS* Bangladesh bombs - blog buzz* Fear of Islamic state in Bangladesh grows after bombers target.* TV becomes new weapon in fight on terror.* Man gets 5000+ channels on 12 dishes.* Iran's war on weblogs - the new voice of dissidents.* Cattle can stop Bangladeshis!* Can the EU be a model for Indian subcontine...
November 29, 2005
LIFE WITHOUT MUSICIts Saudi blogger Alhamedi again having a critical look at the Saudi fundamentalist's view of music and their oppression towards Saudi musicians. Don't forget to read it.Mike C. comments:Most of my favorite music is by Islamic artists, from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's heavenly Qawwali to Youssou N'dour & Thione Seck blending Senegalese & Egyptian music.I'm not a Muslim & I don't live in the Middle East, but with all of the current crap, we forget the beauty Islam has brought the wor...
BIRD FLU ALERT!From the 'Bird Flu Alert in Bangladesh!!' blog: Bird flu is now the greatest health crisis both for humans and birds. It’s also the gravest epidemic crisis faced by mankind ever. This not a secret and international media has been saying this for a long time. We can’t behind the argument that it will not affect us, that it will cause panic or adversely affect the poultry industries. It’s too late for such arguments. Bangladesh is alarmingly unprepared to handle this crisis. Millions of people are at risk of dying. Dristhipat is working...
THE MILITANT MAYHEM CONTINUES IN BANGLADESHWake up! Suicide bombing has arrived in Bangladesh. The militants have done it recently killing two judges. Today three people, including two suicide bombers and a policeman died when a bomb exploded during a scuffle near a police checkpoint near the main court in the port city of Chittagong. Another three died when a bomb was thrown inside a court library in Gazipur, north of capital Dhaka. (Source BBC, AP)Really we are living in a wonderful situation. After the so called Islamic militants jihad against...
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INDIA ON TRIGGER HAPPY BSFIndian border security force (BSF) had become famous for 'killing one Bangladeshi every five days' on the charges of alleged intrusion into Indian territory including no-mans land. Now human rights watch India reports that BSF personnel did not spare their own countrymen as they had injured and killed villagers of Muradpur, West Bengal, India. According to the fact-finding team from MASUM, on 20 November 2005, like other days, the BSF personnel at the Muradpur border were allowing these villagers to...
November 27, 2005
UTOPIA OR REALITY?"The world we are fighting for — a world where an Imam teaches a Rabbi words from the Holy Koran to comfort a young Muslim boy, and that rabbi himself is comforted by a Christian, a Catholic priest."Read this touching story of a Jewish community chaplain's experience in Mosul, Ir...
PERILS OF TECHNOLOGYIranian blogger Hoder was refused re-entry to US from Canada after the US customs and border security officials read his blog in front of him at the border to build a case of non-compliance of visa regulations."these things are not quite appropriate to be on your blog when you are at the border." - The offic...
November 26, 2005
BANGLADESH BLOGOSPHERE ON ABU HENA'S EXPULSION FROM BNPThe hottest topic of the town was the expulsion of ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) lawmaker (Rajshahi-3 constituency) Abu Hena from the party. His outspoken comments blaming a section of his party and the qualition Jamaat-e-Islami party for patronising the militants aroused many controversies. Rajputro mocked that he received 'the truth award' from the prime minister for speaking against the party. Previously Awami League , current opposition party, awarded this prestigious award...
THE SWORD IS MIGHTIERSimon Denyer writes in Boston.com:"Outside Iraq, Bangladesh is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist, especially outside the relative safety of the capital, Dhaka, according to global press watchdogs. At least nine reporters have been killed since 2000, hundreds more beaten or intimidated into silence.The threats come from Maoist rebels, Islamic militants, organized crime and even the political establishment. What's worse, journalists say, they have almost no recourse to the law.Bangladesh's government...
November 23, 2005
TODAY'S LINKS* Blog etiquette for newspapers.* The Mongolian government wants to change the Mongolian language from the Cyrillic to the Roman alphabet.* How Islam got political.* The 15 enemies of the Internet and other countries to watch.* Top ten things you can do to get blogged.* Pakistan's top 10 test cricketers.* A bit of backstory on Pajamas Media/OSM.* A day in the life of bloggi...
SOUTH ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN NEW YORKThe South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting established and emerging artists from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. With a focus on dynamic, visionary independent cinema, SAIFF aims to bring communities together to support these artists and unite in celebration of a common spirit. (via Faruq Faisel)This year, the 2005 festival titled 'colors in fusion' will run from December 7 through December 11, 2005 in New York...
TOWARDS UNITY OR CHAOS? (Picture courtesy: The daily Star)Yesterday can be a turning point of Bangladesh politics, which is bound to shape up the 2006 election. As the Daily Star reports:Despite the government's last-ditch attempts to prevent people from joining the 14-party opposition grand rally, the city's Paltan Maidan yesterday turned into a human sea, where top opposition leaders pledged to establish a secular democratic government after dislodging...
GLOBAL VOICES WIN'Global voices online' has won the jury’s choice for the Best Journalistic Blog in English from Deutsche Welle, the German state broadcasting service. Many kudos to the co-founders Ethan Zuckerman and Rebecca MacKinnon and the GV editors and contributors for their outstanding efforts. I am proud to be one of the contributors.Lisa Stone writes about GV:"In my opinion, Global Voices is the most important blog in the English speaking world, bar none. This site is more than an up-to-the-minute guide and encyclopedia of the international...
HARRY POTTER'S BANGLADESH CONNECTIONThe latest film of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire casts two Bangladeshi actresses. According to this news:"The girls - Shefali Chowdhury and Afshan Azad are second-generation Bangladeshis currently based in London. They play the characters of the 'Patil twins' in the film slated for a worldwide release this November.Shefali and Afshan who play Harry and his best friend Ron's dates...
November 22, 2005
RACISM IN SAUDI ARABIASaudi blogger "The Religious Policemen" on racism:....up until now, we've been one of the most rabidly racist countries in the world, and totally unconcerned about it. Walk down any Saudi street and ask anybody who looks as though they come from points East, how do the Saudis regard and treat you? Ask the Pakistani taxi driver. Ask the Bangladeshi street-cleaner, in his orange jump-suit, sweeping up the tissues and fast-food boxes that we thoughtfully throw out of our car window as we pass. Best of all, if you get the chance,...
BLOG OF AN EXILED JOURNALISTI have discovered the blog of the exiled Bangladeshi journalist Saleem Samad, who was granted political asylum in Canada. Some excerpts:"The government framed me under sedition laws and for conspiracy to slander the country’s image abroad. It was heartbreaking that the coalition government dubbed me for destabilization of the state. I would have been glad, if the authority accused me under punishable offence acts for critiquing the government. With the present circumstance, I will never be able to return to my country...
TODAY'S LINKS* The partnership between Grameen & Nokia will expand the Village Phone network in Africa.* Music: On a ship to Bangladesh, Artist: Three Mile Pilot* HIV and Bangladesh.* The deadly kiss.* Images: Life in Bangladesh.* Save Pranti, a Seven and a half year old girl.* Losing my religion - Communalism in Mumb...
November 21, 2005
MY WAY OR HIGHWAYAdda posts some thoughts on the nature of the Bangladeshis. He says:As Bangladeshi, we faithfully practice, "Either it is my way or Highway". No one over here tolerates dissidence; no one wants reality check... So, if it’s not my way, you’re blamed. I wonder why we always think ourselves as some lord who want to dictate others in our own will. Why we want to have privileges we have not earned with hard work? Why do we feel ourselves superior to others? Why even the poors want to be rich only to be an oppressor and to have privileges...
November 19, 2005
WORK HARD, LIVE HAPPYI am writing from an Internet cafe in Changi airport, Singapore. The internet is free but the food is not. Well, what more would you expect? You have to earn the amenities you enjoy. There is no free lunch and it is foolish to expect that everything will be awarded to you automatically. Like the average taxi drivers I met in Singapore, were senior citizens and very very nice people. They are well behaved and will give back every penny that belongs to you. You would be urged to leave the odd changes to him, but not always they...
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