INDONESIA QUAKE TRIGGERS TSUNAMI SCAREAn 8.7 earthquake with epicenter near Sumatra, Indonesia triggered a fresh Tsunami scare yesterday night along the coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Wikipedia has details. The quake was almost as strong as the Dec 26, 2004 quake which had triggered Tsunamis across the coastal regions creating mass devastation (273,000 confirmed dead). But thanks God that there was no Tsunami generated yesterday. Massive evacuations began in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India...
March 28, 2005
IN PURSUIT OF GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESSBhutan is on the way to become a constitutional monarchy. It has drafted a simple but comprehensive constitution which says:* There shall be separation of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary* There will be political parties, election and a national assembly * The Parliament can abdicate the King with two-third majority* There will be freedom of press and information* The political parties shall not allow party interests to prevail over the national interest* There will be an independent anti-corruption...
March 27, 2005
WHY THE BRITISH GAVE THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT THE WESTERN EDUCATIONExcerpts from Lord Macaulay's address to the British parliament on 2 February, 1835"I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace...
NEWS(?) SNIPPETS* Hakkani Ulema first proclaimer of independence by a "fatwa".* Saudi religious police have destroyed a clandestine makeshift Hindu temple in an old district of Riyadh and deported three worshippers found there. Report via Varnam.* Waiting for the Resurrection of Christ and the rise of the sun on a working day.* To finish fencing, BSF may get 'licence to kill'. Via Dak Bangla Intelligence Scan.* Women marries clay pot. via Sepia Mutiny* Camilla to be the King. Via Tigerha...
March 22, 2005
GOVT. PROPAGANDA SPARKS CONTROVERSYThe anti-Awami League and pro-islamist political parties of Bangladesh seems to be vocal at India bashing whenever they find a chance. The unilateral decisions taken by India without considering its neighbor and the subsequent miscommunications cannot be a better basis for the same feat. I have given my 2 cents about it here. The general intention of the malicious remarks are to implicate Awami League with India, so that the people take it for granted that Awami League is no good as a party, who will sell Bangladesh...
March 21, 2005
LINK-O-MATIC* No American visa if you blog - via Patrix* The devils (aka bigot people's revolutionary) have carried out their latest attack on a school Theatre in Doha killing innocent civilians. Natasha reports from the scene with lots of pictures. - via Chan'ad Bahraini* Welcome Waheed, the first known Afghanistani Blogger. - via Buzzmach...
NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION BLUESAmerica may have misled its allies into thinking that North Korea was actively helping build a new nuclear weapons state (Libya) instead of simply supplying an existing one (Pakistan). - via Sepia MutinyNitin says: America’s attempts to cover up Pakistan’s transgressions ironically make it appear complicit in the very crime that it is trying to puni...
March 20, 2005
GENDER INEQUALITY ACROSS THE GLOBEIn the mostly patriarchic societies across the world, women still do not get equal treatment. Arafat has posted a Kuwaiti bumper sticker which propagates not to allow women to vote in 2007 election. This is not new as the general assumption is that women are being treated equally in the Muslim parts of the world, specially in the Arab world. But in 19th century America, women, children and slaves had the same legal...
BLOG NEWS UPDATEElise Bauer gives an insight into the current scenario of weblogs tools used by the bloggers around the world.via Jeff OoiIn other news Pradyuman Maheshwari of Mediaah Weblog has decided to close his site after the Times of India served him with a seven-page legal threat for libel. More in Screensho...
NEW BANGLADESHI BLOG SHOWCASEIf you are a fan of Bangla band songs, you must know Mac aka Maqsood. He was the erstwhile vocalist of Feedback and president of Band music association (BAMBA) who created history in this country by arranging the first open air concert in Dhaka in 1990 celebrating the people's revolution against the then dictator Ershad. His songs are still hit classics among Bangladeshis. He is now going solo and mostly busy with his business.Now he has created another history by starting a new blog of his own "Mac's Blog". He also...
March 16, 2005
THE FEAR FACTORThere have been much controversy about the legitimacy of the rapid action battalion's (RAB) activities. Some say that they are eliminating (literally) the criminals and doing a better job as the police could not control them. Some say that killing without a trial is illegal as anybody is not guilty until proven in the eye of the law.Now what is the law according to the government? A long battle of the court and the government about separating the judiciary from government administration is still running on. In a recent speech, the...
THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPERSaudi Prince Waleed Bin Talal, the world's fifth richest person who have a personal fortune of $23 billion, came to Dhaka for a five hours visit by his personal jet. As his intention was to invest in Bangladesh, the government did all it could to greet him. In this brief period visits to the president, a couple of ministers, other dignitaries and a banquet were arranged. He insisted on bringing along his eight entourages (including his physician) in every places ignoring state protocol; after all he is a prince. He was...
March 14, 2005
QUOTES AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE* "To be a wonderful person you don't need any religion" - Sadiq at Inspirations and creative thoughts.* "You want a rabbit? Take a rabbit. You want a deer? Take a rabbit." -an old Iraqi saying by Riverbend while commenting on the shooting at the Italian journalist incident.* "I think it's so cool that the Bangladeshis are so big on their own local bands." -by Gwyneth in her post about a GIG in Dhaka.* "U.N. Personnel Landmine Treaty would not have happened if it weren't for Internet and email." - from Joi Ito's post...
March 12, 2005
PASSIONS OF INDIA> Cricket and Cinema <You have read or heard of the above passions. But I have felt it in my brief stay in Mumbai. Parimal, the caretaker has all the information:- which celebrities live in the vicinity. And he tells about an interesting phenomenon of their fans. People flock to see the celebrities outside their houses from 3-5 at the afternoon prompting them to come out of their palaces (sic.) at least once to wave towards them. The bus stands are filled with the posters of Jassi and creating suspense in her unfolding to...
MORE BLOGGING AT THE AIRPORTSometimes you can feel that the internet is a blessing for you. Take for instance the fact that I am at Mumbai airport since 00:00 hours and my flight is at 5:45 hours. I got here early because I thought it would be safer not to travel after midnight. But I was also looking forward to spending the time in the net. Before discovering this cyber cafe (literally), I was sitting in the waiting lounge surrounded by people of all sorts and I was having a tough time concentrating on "The Da Vinci Code". My neighbor on the right...
MUMBAI: A CITY OF ADVERSITIESI think when the indexes cross above average, anything becomes complicated to interpret. Because, then there are different versions and perspectives of one event. Mumbai contains one of the Asia's biggest slums. And being the host of Bollywood and other icons of India, it shelters some of the richest people of India. The house rents are high. There are expensive and branded shopping malls; good infrastructures like a good shuttle train network (the lifeline of Mumbai); many overpasses, the marine drives and increasing...
March 09, 2005
MUMBAI: DAY TWOThe previous night went well. When I arrived at the guesthouse my colleagues had already arrived. I haven't met the Sri Lankan counterpart last time in Colombo as she joined after that. N from Delhi called to say that his flight is delayed and he will be coming late at night. I had a long chat with P to get update on the Nepal situation. He said that the situation is apparently normal but the cell phone operation are still barred. His wife, who is an Indian will be having a baby this month, so he will be joining her in Hydrabad after...
March 08, 2005
NEAR A BEACH IN MUMBAIYes, I have safely arrived in Mumbai. No, not to became a Bollywood movie star; only for a training for 3 days. The flight took half an hour more than usual. The only incident at Kolkata domestic airport was that I was a bit carried away with purchasing books and watching the India Pakistan Test live. There were strict security measures like hand checking of all luggages and after all that I sat for sometimes near the three gates at the ground floor. I had no idea that there were more gates at the first floor (I could not...
AT KOLKATA AIRPORTArrived safely at the NSCBI Airport. Ten minutes late is nothing comparing to Biman's reputation of long delays. The F-28 flight (40 minutes FH) was OK because it was handeled well by the crews. It did not occur to me that it was the smallest plane I have ever flown with. I had some sandwitches and a drink at the plane. A little incident happened here. I had to check in at Kolkata airport because the transit flight is a domestic one. I did not have in mind that my VISA category was tourist, which was done by the travel agent....
OFF TO MUMBAIMarch 8, 2005 9: 00 AMHere I am sitting in the passenger lounge of ZIA International airport in Dhaka waiting for the a plane, which leaves after one and a half hour. It is really boring to wait for such a long time, when there is no internet and only one small duty-free shop to browse. The direct flight to Bombay takes only 2:40 hours flight time from Dhaka. Unfortunately it is available only twice a week. So I had to resort to this day-long endeavour involving two airlines and a 3:30 hours transit in Kolkata. Above all I am jitterish...
March 01, 2005
RIANNA'S DAYSAaaa..vruuu..Oow..Aaa...(Hello everyone). As a 5 month old I still can't talk in your language but don't think that I do not understand what people around me says. If the communications directed towards me seems favorable to me I always respond with a smile on my face. You can even make me giggle if you play with me a bit. Being a toddler is not always great. You would have understood the problem when you will spend the most of your...
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