There's a Good Chance Your World Cup Jersey Was Made in Bangladesh

80% of the workforce in readymade garments sector are women.
 Image by Shafiqul Alam. Copyright Demotix (22/6/2014)

Bangladesh ranks low among the world's football teams and didn't qualify to play in the FIFA World Cup this year, but the populous country is still an important player in Brazil -- much of the apparel worn by fans and some of the players' jerseys bear the "Made in Bangladesh" label.

Garment manufacturers, already the country's largest export earners, have earned at least 500 million US dollars in export orders to sew fan World Cup jerseys of most of the players of the 16 participating teams, including Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Iran, France, England, Switzerland, Belgium, Chili and Germany. The sales are expected to boost the industry's growth.

Bangladesh has also manufactured the Brazilian national team's jerseys. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) decided that "Made in Bangladesh" would be written at the lower part of the jersey to pay tribute to the victims of 2013 Rana Plaza collapse that killed more than 1,100 people and Tazreen Garments fire which killed more than a 100 people, according to media reports.

Karima Haque at football news site Side Tackle congratulated Bangladesh for its work:

We [...] commend and salute the thousands of pairs of hands that has made this praiseworthy feat possible. They have, and they will, make Bangladesh proud in the foreseeable future.

Tanvir Ahmed, a Liverpool Football Club fan in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, tweeted:

I really feel proud when I realize all Brazil jersey are made in #Bangladesh this year. Really proud!!!

— Tanvir Rahman (@pritomtanvir) June 12, 2014

The World Cup apparel is not only popular in countries participating in the tournament, but also at home in Bangladesh, a country of about 160 million people. Football is a favorite sport here. Official team jerseys from Nike, Adidas and Puma are available but costly, so many fans prefer to buy unofficial jerseys from roadside stands or shops.

Football fans in Dhaka seen wearing their favorite team jerseys.
 Images by Reaz Sumon. Copyright Demotix (05/06/2014)

Football fans on the Dhaka University campus.
Image by Firoz Ahmed. Copyright Demotix (12/06/2014)

Bangladeshi football fans are buying flags and jerseys of the countries
they support. Image by Firoz Ahmed. Copyright Demotix (10/06/2014).

Football fans buy jerseys of their favorite teams
Image by Md. Asaduzzaman Pramanik. Copyright Demotix (19/5/2014)

The gear is proving to be a boon for business. A Bangladeshi garments manufacturer and popular actor M. A. Jalil Ananta explained in an interview in a local newspaper about the economics of the export:

We are exporting Polo brand football shirts at 9 US dollars a piece. Usually the price of this merchandise is 6.30-7.00 US dollars. But due to high demand for the jerseys, the manufacturers supplying them are getting an extra 2 dollars. So our foreign currency income has increased. We are profiting both ways: 1) we can be involved in the World Cup and 2) earn increased profit margins. This also boosts Bangladesh's reputation.

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This Street in Bangladesh Has a Colorful World Cup Celebration to Rival Brazil

Image by S. M. Mobasser Hussain. Used with permission.

What was before an ordinary lane in the Bangladeshi capital's historic neighborhood Old Dhaka is now a vibrant strip of street art celebrating the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

A group of about 200 volunteers transformed the street in less than 24 hours as part of The World Cup Goal-E, a collaboration by youth organization One Degree Initiative and advertising agency Zanala Bangladesh, to spread enthusiasm for the World Cup. Goal-E sounds like goli (lane), which is a common feature in Old Dhaka.

Bangladesh didn't qualify to play in the 2014 tournament, but the country's football fans have caught World Cup fever nonetheless. Many are cheering for either Argentina or Brazil.

World Cup Goal-E documented the effort, which included a flashmob dance, in a YouTube video:



The project's Facebook page has several photos of the transformation as well:

Flashmob at KoltaBazar. Image by Dipu Malakar.
The World Cup Goal-E. Used with permission.

Image by Sabhanaz Rashid Diya. Used with permission.

Painting the walls. Image by Simu Naser. Used with permission

The painting drew a crowd. Image by S. M. Mobasser Hussain.
The World Cup Goal-E. Used with permission

Image by S. M. Mobasser Hussain. Used with permission.

Image by S. M. Mobasser Hussain. Used with permission.

Global Voices spoke with Sabhanaz Rashid Diya, one of the organizers and a blogger, writer, photographer and youth activist:

Global Voices (GV): What inspired World Cup Goal-E?

Sabhanaz Rashid Diya (SRD): The whole world is celebrating football World Cup in many ways. We've grown up seeing flags of Brazil and Argentina at rooftops during the World Cups, we've heard of brawls and fights over who's a more deserving champion. But why not do something different? The beautiful graffiti in many parts of the world inspired us to paint a lane in old Dhaka.

We also wanted this street to be a tourist destination, a new way of identifying with Dhaka. As one of the fastest growing metropolitan cities in the world, it had enough potential to become a tourist spot as well. We are lauded as some of the happiest, most hospitable people in the world, so why not make our streets as welcoming, as exotic as well?

We want to recreate the concept of tourism and make people realise it isn't limited to natural havens, but can also be discovered and created by the common people. World Cup Goal-E stands proudly as an example of that.

GV: Why was this particular Old Dhaka goli chosen?

SRD: We chose the goli in Old Dhaka because it resonates the social culture common to South Asian countries. Everyone knows everyone, the younger populations, in spite of having their own independent families, still greet the elders with lowered heads, and children grow up as everyone's kids in the community.

When we were pitching the idea, the community at Kolta Bazar embraced it the most and participated very enthusiastically.

The streets of Old Dhaka also have architectural value, so it only made more sense to do it there, given the World Cup Goal-E is also somewhat an art and design initiative as well.

GV: How can this celebration of football be replicated on other lesser known golis in Bangladesh?

SRD: Anyone, anywhere can recreate this. There are neighbourhoods and local markets (bazaar) in rural Bangladesh that proudly repaint their stores and houses to represent the football team they support.

So, if you were to ask me of a particular street, I'd say every street in Bangladesh is somewhat a smaller, yet equally integral and inspiring part of what happened at World Cup Goal-E. In fact, this particular Goal-E is inspired by the millions of football lovers in Bangladesh who go to great extents to show their passion.

Please do share the video so even if WE can't paint everything, someone else is inspired enough to do it themselves.

Image by Md. Mostafizur Rahman. Used with permission.

The post was first published in Global Voices.

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Germany slams Argentina 4:0 in Worldcup football quarterfinal

A picture tells a thousand words:



The result means literally:



And this make the team close to God to some fans:

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My desperate attempt to remove shadows from terrestrial broadcast of #worldcup received via indoor antenna.

Brazil Vs. Netherlands match.

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World Cup Craze In Dhaka

Flags of Worldcup football playing nations proudly displayed.

Spanish flag on a car bonnet. I have seen Argentinian and Brazilian flags being displayed like this.

Argentinian flag on top of car.

This time around I saw huge projection screens put up in public places for viewing Worldcup matches.

Jerseys on Sale

Huge graffiti on the wall by Argentinian fans. The Brazilian flag is overshadowed.

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Euro 2008 football matches - watching online - free streaming videos

The Euro 2008 is the new fever in Europe. I am feeling it here in Berlin everywhere. Almost all shops are offering goods with Euro 2008 memorabilia and competitions. Some people are carrying their country's flags in cars. The pubs and restaurants have placed big screens for fans who flock there during the match. The streets become empty during a match. It is a festive environment.

And nothing more joyous can be for the Turkish fans who yesterday pulled out a thrilling last minute victory against Czech Republic (3:2) after being 0:2 down. The millions of Turkish immigrants in Germany celebrated in style. In Berlin Kurfurstendamm the party went on till dawn.

Today is an important match for Germany. They must win against host Austria to go to the next round. The other match will be between Croatia and Poland. Their match will also make a difference on who will qualify for the quarter final.

The tournament is taking place in Switzerland and Austria from 7-29 June 2008 and being aired live in many countries throughout the world. We were able to watch the tournament in German state TV so far. But since yesterday both the matches of the day are at the same time so only one match is being shown.

That prompted me to find some online links to watch the play online.

* Tournament schedule

* Official Euro 2008 website.

# Free video streaming links:

* Live Video at UEFA site

* Live Footy

* UEFA Euro 2008

* Watch Live Online TV Channels for free

* Free TV streaming: ThaiTV7 & ThaiTV9

* Euro2008sa.com

* Live Football Streaming

* LiveSats.com

# P2P clients

* Sopcast: Please download Sopcast from here. Then find live video cricket broadcasts from the channels list and click on any one of them. Wait a few moments and you can watch clear free live video of the match in full screen mode.

Here is a list of free TV channels around the world who are broadcasting the match.

* TVU Player - another peer-to-peer apps stream (check your usage instructions if you are using internet in a dorm or an institute)

* Here is a tutorial to install and use p2p clients

# Online Audio and commentary

* BBC Sports

* ITV (Video for UK viewers only)

# Highlights:

* Euro 2008 highlights in YouTube

* LiveSoccerTV

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