QUOTES OF THE DAY "The American Dream has run out of gas. The car has stopped. It no longer supplies the world with its images, its dreams, its fantasies. No more. It's over. It supplies the world with its nightmares now: the Kennedy assassination, Watergate, Vietnam...."- J. G. Ballard 1930-, British Author"America makes prodigious mistakes, America has colossal faults, but one thing cannot be denied: America is always on the move. She may be going to Hell, of course, but at least she isn't standing still."- E.E. (Edward. E.) Cummings 1894-1962,...
June 30, 2005
NIXON AND THE TWO FACE OF AMERICASome 40,000 Americans attended in "The concert for Bangladesh" (The first kind of Liveaid effort) and Allen Ginsberg wrote and recited the poem "September on Jessore Road" in a poetry recital program arranged by the forum "Americans for Bangladesh" to raise funds for the refugees of the Bangladesh's war of Independence against Pakistan and protest the genocide of the Pakistani Army.On the other hand Richard Nixon,...
June 29, 2005
TODAY'S LINKS* A letter to the Indian people by a Pakistani blogger.* Chana'd discusses the alleged threat of immigrant cultures to the Bahraini culture.* A recently unveiled US state department report focuses on the views of US during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.* Why the West must engage Islamists.* Minority report - a bold article depicting the Bangladesh government's failure in protecting the human rights of the minorities.* The internet has crash...
A TYPICAL BANGLADESH BASHINGOut of an assorted image gallery of 30 odd pictures of Rickshaw art, Israel pundit finds one, which has a picture of bin Laden and depicts it as an image of "Islamism in Bangladesh". I am wondering how many more ignorant remarks are out there. How many fools does it take to make up a public?"The reason there's so much ignorance is that those who have it are so eager to share ...
SEEKER OF THE TRUTHSadiq M. Alam is a Bangladeshi studying in Singapore. He declares himself as simple, easy going and humble. His blog "Inspirations & creative thoughts" has become a regular read of mine where he searches the truth and reality concentrating on Sufism and Mysticism. He writes "I'm a Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Taoist ..." and he explains why. It is a must read for everyone. Some excerpts:"We are all seeking the same goal only at different path. We are all on a journey, knowingly or unknowingly we are trying to...
June 28, 2005
June 27, 2005
WHY BANGLADESH IS STRUGGLING TO LURE TOURISTSImtiaz Muqbil writes an article in the Bangkok post analyzing the obstacles in attracting tourists in Bangladesh discussed at a seminar in Thailand arranged by UN & World Tourism Organization."Boasting major attractions like the world's longest beach at Cox's Bazaar and the ecological magnificence of the Sunderbans, the world's largest littoral mangrove belt, and one of the world's biggest Buddhist monasteries at Paharpur, Bangladesh feels it deserves more visitors."But there are some appalling facts:*...
June 26, 2005
June 25, 2005
INDO-BANGLA MEET ENDS WITH ISSUES REMAINING UNRESOLVEDThe two day long foreign secretary level meeting between Bangladesh and India could not resolve the following:* The Indian side did not consider Bangladesh’s argument to prohibit construction of any installation within 150 yards of the border, and emphasised the unilateral need for border fencing within and up to 150 yards of the international border.* The way to reduce the wide trade gap because of differences in removal of para-tariff and non-tariff barriers to Bangladesh’s exports to India.*...
THE FUTURE OF BANGLADESH POLITICSFuturebangla Network lists seven clues, which will be catalysts for the future events in Bangladesh politics. They are worth checking. This article published in the economist tells the sorry tale of the state of affairs in Bangladesh politics. Analysts fear that Awami League, the main opposition, will boycott the election alleging government attempts to rig the poll - merely in fear of defeat.I am wondering about the prospect of a effective coalition of the major opposition parties and perhaps a "national government"...
June 23, 2005
TODAY'S LINKS* Cookies or no cookies (in your hard disk) that is the question.* The controversial Saira Bronson interviewed on Bangla TV in UK.* "Kill 3 million of them (Bangladeshi's) and the rest will eat out of our hands. -- Pakitani General Yahya Khan"This and other interesting quotes compiled by Kamesh* Exploitation in Northeastern India* Love the women in you - a tribute to womanhood by Lavannya.* You can download and watch the highlights of the Bangladesh-Australia match of the NatWest tournament in which Bangladesh beat Australia by 5 wickets....
BE POSITIVESameen has a brilliant post blasting all deshis who show disgust and disregard towards life in Bangladesh. She advises the teens of Bangladesh:Its really easy to be frustrated...but isnt life all about making the best of what you have? ...yes, the country doesnt generate enough power to last 48 continuous hours without a loadshedding, yes the govt is messed up and yes the weather is really bad. But why does that make people assume life in 'America' is so much better?Actually come to think of it...why are we even comparing bdlife to western...
June 22, 2005
June 20, 2005
THE SUBMARINE CABLE SAGAIntegrity International, an organization based in UK reveals corruption in mammoth proportion in the deal of linking Bangladesh to a submarine cable consortium. It says:"The corrupt Telecom Minister, Mr. Muhammad Aminul Hoque, allowed Singapore Telecom to pull off possibly the largest and most ruinous public procurement scam in the history of Bangladesh, violating the Constitution of Bangladesh on a grand scale, masterminding a blueprint, as evident from the trail of evidence of massive tampering of information and violation...
June 19, 2005
A MINISTER, A GIFTED CAR AND AN OIL COMPANYThe Daily Star reports:State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain yesterday resigned over the Tk 1 crore Lexus scam after the prime minister asked him to stand down.He claimed that he did not commit any crime in using the car which is a property of Bangladesh Petrolium Corporation (By default the assets of all the foreign company exploring oil/gas in Bangladesh under production sharing agreement are...
BIDISHA, BANGLADESH'S MUKHTARAN MAIMukhtaran Mai is a woman who was sentenced by a tribal council in Pakistan to be gang-raped because of an infraction supposedly committed by her brother. The human rights activists tried to send her abroad to escape the humiliation. But she was arrested later on order of the Pakistani president Parvez Musharraf and he defended the action as: Mai, whose rape was ordered to punish her family for her brother’s alleged affair with a woman from another family, was being taken to the United States by foreign nongovernment...
'BANGLADESH WIN' IN THE MEDIAI am collating here some of the interesting media coverages on the victory of Bangladesh over Australia.* The Scotsman - UK: "It is by far the best win in Bangladesh history, eclipsing the one-day defeats of India and Pakistan, the latter back in the 1999 World Cup."* The Independent -UK: "If anything stood out about Bangladesh's exhibition, it was the way they held their nerve, as though they sensed destiny was at hand. In the streets of Chittagong they were doubtless delirious last night; in Sydney they were wondering...
June 18, 2005
THANK YOU AUSTRALIAI am writing this shortly after Bangladesh’s historic win against Australia in a Natwest trophy one-dayer. According to BBC this is probably the biggest upset in the history of cricket where the top of the league got outplayed by the rock bottom. Read all about it here. We are of course elated by this win. It is the middle of the night and there are drumbeats and dances among the small procession of juveniles in the lane besides my house.This must be a shock to many but this victory of Bangladesh is a reply to all those who think...
June 16, 2005
SOME LINKS* Who can stop the rise of China?* Showcased sweetmeats are not what they seem - bad news for Bangladeshis* A letter to the Pakistani people from an Indian blogger* BSF beats up Bangladeshi to death - humane treatment for alleged trespasser?* Screenshots by Jeff Ooi of Malaysia wins the freedom bog awards in Asia category for defending freedom of expression in own way. * Cricket umpire Daryl Harper blogs on the England-Bangladesh 2nd test, which he umpired. He is the first umpire blogg...
June 15, 2005
THE RAINY SEASON COMES WITH ITS TRUE COLORSবাদল দিনের প্রথম কদম ফুল"Kodom flower" - only blooms in the rainy seasonAfter almost a month of sultry weather most places of Bangladesh were showered with moderate rainfalls in the last couple of days. It was a great relief from the heat wave that had put many peoples' lives in miseries. At least 35 people were killed and I was pretty much shocked about the news of death of one brilliant young boy just...
June 13, 2005
THE GRAPE OF FOREIGN EDUCATION TURNING SORE ON BANGLADESHISIt is really hard for the average Bangladeshis to afford higher education abroad. In homeland they get subsidized education from public universities. The numerous private universities are sprouting up all over the country to accommodate the growing number of students. Although they are a bit steep priced but in quality they are not far behind from world standard and the investment required is much less than foreign education.In my view, there are two types of Bangladeshi students going...
June 11, 2005
TODAY'S LINKS* The breast-bottle - a new sensation for the infants* Chinese blogs face restrictions.* See what happens when cats use fax as toilet.* Anti-rape device, a new invention, is deemed as a further violence stemmed from male-hating and not a solution to the problem.* The Root Cause of the Palestinian conflict with Israel is anti-semitism -an Israeli point of view* Fatwa at Sunniforum: Blogs - not permissible in Is...
June 09, 2005
QUOTES OF THE DAY "Government lasts as long as the under-taxed can defend themselves against the over-taxed."- Bernard Berenson 1865-1959, Lithuanian-born American Artist"Nothing is so well calculated to produce a death-like torpor in the country as an extended system of taxation and a great national debt."- William Cobbett 1762-1835, British Journalist, Refor...
BANGLADESH NATIONAL BUDGET 2005-2006This site promises live webcasting of the national budget. But I am only getting a running text commentary of short notes. No pictures are coming. In the first hour I discovered:The good:* For encouraging higher education tax rebate on Books and Journals.The bad:* Fixed tax for a mobile phone SIM Card will be Taka 1200.And the ugly:* The period for whitening black money is extended up to June 2006.Scary. Saifur Rahman did not keep the promise and favored the persons who piled wealth through corruption, political...
THE PLIGHT OF THE STATELESS PEOPLE - CAUGHT IN THEIR OWN MESSIt was pretty disturbing to hear the news that due to an entanglement between the Power authorities and the ministry in charge of the refugees, power has been cut in Geneva camp in Dhaka, one of the sixty six camps all over Bangladesh which refuges some 250,000 Urdu-speaking Pakistani Muslims. According to this report:"Four camp inmates have died over past three days due to the suffocating heat that has made dozens of men, women and children sick."I cannot imagine how can people live...
A NEW PRODUCTIVE BLENDLast year I wrote about the decline of tea exports in Bangladesh. This has happened due to the fact that the internal consumption is going up 3.5 percent every year against 1 percent production growth. The country now produces nearly 60 million kilograms a year, but after domestic demand has been satisfied just 12 million is left over for export. There is a great demand for Bangladesh Tea in foreign countries. So the imperative was to increase the productivity.According to this report, Botanists at the Bangladesh Tea Research...
June 08, 2005
THE GOLDEN FIBER OF BENGAL Jute, nicknamed "Golden Fiber" is a 100% bio-degradable, recyclable, long, soft, shiny plant fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. These threads are woven into textile yarns to produce sacks, carpet base, mats, rope and twine and many other materials.Jute is a rainy season crop, growing best in warm, humid climates. India, Bangladesh, and China are the main producers of jute. Jute is being used for centuries...
June 06, 2005
WHAT'S HOT OR NOT* Return Darjeeling to Bangladesh, if no to Gorkhaland: Subash Ghising, GNLF leader * High Drama staged in Bangladesh’s political arena as ex-dictator H. M. Ershad's second wife was arrested. The events have become hot tabloid items. But she might be a victim of a political intrigue. * Salahuddin Shoaib Chowdhury hopes for an open and unbiased flow of news about Israel to Bangladesh, increased relations between Israel and Muslim nations, and the elimination of hate toward the Jewish people in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the non-Arab...
BOOK TAGOh no! The book tag meme has hit me too! I am a victim of Owukori, who was victim of another Blogger. Anyway after few hesitated moments I decided to carry on with this.My reading habit: I have started reading in the early days of my life. When I was in seventh or eighth grade, besides reading juvenile books and magazines, I became addicted to reading "Masud Rana" series espionage thrillers (with plots like James Bond etc. written in Bangla...
June 04, 2005
QUOTES OF THE DAY "To read the papers and to listen to the news... one would think the country is in terrible trouble. You do not get that impression when you travel the back roads and the small towns do care about their country and wish it well."- Charles Kuralt, American TV Commentator"It may be true that you can't fool all the people all the time, but you can fool enough of them to rule a large country."- William J. Durant 1885-1981, American Historian, Essay...
June 02, 2005
THE HILSHA BANThe Bengalis know how important Hilsha (Ilish in Bengali) fish is to them. Its unique taste and nutritional value have made it a popular fish not only in Bangladesh but in many parts of the world too. It is the national fish of Bangladesh. The Indian Bengalis and the Bengali expatriates all over the world would pay almost anything to have Hilsha in their plate. Hilsha is a deep sea fish and usually caught in the estuaries (where river...
June 01, 2005
QUOTES OF THE DAY "Eloquence, at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection, but addresses itself entirely to the desires and affections, captivating the willing hearers, and subduing their understanding."- David Hume 1711-1776, Scottish Philosopher, Historian"To acquire immunity to eloquence is of the utmost importance to the citizens of a democracy."- Bertrand Russell 1872-1970, British Philosopher, Mathematician, Essay...
GLOBAL UNITY BETWEEN ISLAMIC AND THE LEFT FORCESI have come across an exclusive interview of the British MP George Galloway. It was taken on 9 March this year in the Dhaka University campus in Bangladesh. The Iraq News Network, which published this interview reveals that he came to Bangladesh in last March to draw more support from the Bangladeshi origin voters in his constituency (almost 40%), the London Borough of Tower Hamlet seat. Galloway had been in Bangladesh before and had worked for sometimes in the early eighties.In this interview he...
ON UNDERSTANDING OTHER CULTURESThe world is full of diverse societies and cultures. With the free flow of information in the internet learning about other cultures has become very easy if one wills. And I think the learning is required for every inquisitive mind at their own pace so that one is never dumbfounded by a silly question and others' witty remarks.If you read some questions about Sri Lanka from potential visitors posted on a Sri Lankan Tourism Website and the actual responses by the witty website officials, you will understand what I...
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