February 06, 2007

South Asia Blog Buzz

South Asia is one of the poorest regions in the world. Unemployment is one of the major problems for all the countries in this region. South Asia Biz writes a series on the employment situation in South Asia. The biz blog reviews online job portals from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Now we have more South Asian blogs in review:

Bangladesh:

Blogger News Network writes an article on the Biswa Ijtema, an annual global Islamic meet, on the banks of river Turag on the outskirts of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka. Around three million devotees attended the closing prayers this Sunday, many walking miles as traffic was suspended to give way. This is the second biggest Muslim congregation after hajj.

People returning from Ijtema
In less then a month of the state of emergency the traffic jams and chaos in Bangladesh had diminished. There are no demonstrations in the streets, traffic jams are more regulated, people have space to walk on the curbs as illegal encroachments were demolished. The government is cracking on corrupted ‘big fish’ political leaders and feudal political activities are suspended. Chhayalin comments that people thought these changes would be impossible some days ago. The caretaker government with the support of army could achieve it in days what an elected democratic government could not do in five years. Meanwhile Drishtipat Group Blog is vocal for rights of the thousands of detainees arrested without charge sheet. Bangladesh Watchdog posts a roadmap to achieve good governance in Bangladesh.

Bhutan:

Cricket is very popular in South Asia. Although its tough to play cricket in a high altitude, the mountainous Bhutan has no short of enthusiasm for this game. Ugyen Dorji of Bhutan cricket weblog compiles a two part history of Bhutan cricket (1,2).

The phallus is the integral part of Bhutanese paintings. For those who did not know this Ugeent of Kuzu Bhutan Weblog provides a Bhutanese perspective of Phallus.

India:

Imagine a world full of bloggers and you offer your extra bed to a fellow blogger who visits your city. And in return, when you travel to his/her city, you have a place to stay.

Sounds like fiction? No, its happening in India. Kiruba Shankar features Extra Bed, a unique expansion of social networking service which should be a milestone for the world to follow.

Desh of Drishtikone features the richest beggar in Mumbai, India.

Nepal:

Fact or Fiction? Rakta Kunda, a new book on the 2001 Nepal Royal Palace Massacre has surfaced after the expulsion of King Gyanendra. The book describes the events through the eyes of one of the surviving witnesses, Queen Mother Ratna’s personal maid, identified in the book as Shanta. She says 2 man masked as Crown Prince Dipendra had fired the shots that led to the massacre. The Acorn suspects the new dispensation may not necessarily want the truth to be revealed.

On the wake of the Madhesi nationalism Counterpoint Blog contemplates what will happen if Nepal is divided.

Pakistan:

Aawab Alvi of All Things Pakistan cites an example how blogs (or citizen journalists) are becoming source for mainstream media in Pakistan.

Light Within feats 10th of Moharram or Ashura, a Muslim festival.

(cross-posted in the Global Voices Online)

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