Dragonfly

Image by Rezwan

Overcrowded passenger ferry capsized in the Padma River in Munshiganj, Bangladesh

The World Cup Goal-E Project

This street in Bangladesh has a colorful world cup celebration

New Chum Hill Ruins

Remnants of Kiandra gold mine at New Chum Hill, #nsw #australia

June 30, 2004

QUOTE....UNQUOTE

"A three-year old baby does not need warm clothes; mother's warmth is enough"

--Abdul Bari Khan
District Commissioner of Nilphamari, Bangladesh
while distributing warm clothes among the poor.

"And the mother does not need warm clothes either because her baby will keep her warm."

--Zahir's comment

I wish the three-year old be Mr. Abdul Bari Khan's child.

Source: Rifat
"My Life" by Bill Clinton

A brief synopsis of the 957 pages book in Powerpoint format.

June 29, 2004

BE WITH FAMILY

Recently my father had a cataract operation. I was tremendously busy with my work facing few deadlines, but managed a leave and stayed with him in the hospital. He was not expecting me and I could have appointed another kin to be beside him, but I felt like staying with him and I managed. I believe in cohesiveness of family members and will be with my parents as long as I can. I do not wish that one day Bangladeshis should behave with the parents as the western world does, where sending a card on a few occasions are the only signs of love. The parents become no-existent in their lives when they are grown up. The love of parents and cohesiveness is embedded in our culture as well as protected by religions.

I could manage my office over phone and could be with my father in time of his need. When I explained my position everybody co-operated. Where there is a will there is a way. For those who still value work more than family ties, I would like to tell; if you try you can manage both. I believe that. And it feels great.
BANGLADESHI IT STUDENTS IN DESPAIR

More & more news like this will continue to emerge as there is little development happening in the IT industry of Bangladesh. The fact is that IT students of Bangladesh have already shown great skills abroad are failing to get a decent job in the industry as no single significant software industry has been established here. The generally available job for the IT graduates are lecturing mediocre curriculums, database keeping or petty operator like jobs. Another trend which is taking away their jobs is that persons with little IT background are appointed in key positions like System Administrator or Database Administrator as the employer does not have a fair idea about the IT education degrees.

I hope more and more entrepreneurs should come up with ventures like software industry so that there is a demand for skilled IT graduates. And you know, where there is demand, there is competition and quality gets improved. Demanding the same from the govt. is a tough ask, but doesn't anybody care?
Falu's background

Did you ever wonder what Mr. M Mosaddeq Ali Falu's background is? He is now campaigning heavily as the four-party coalition candidate for the Dhaka-10 by-election scheduled day after tomorrow. Each day you can watch him campaigning in NTV (he owns its majority share) whereas there is little or no mention of his rival candidates. But you hardly know him. Even The Daily Star tried in vain to gather the information about his background.

Mr. Falu first came into the political limelight in 1991, when he was appointed personal secretary to then prime minister Khaleda Zia. He was reappointed in the same position in 2001. The version general people know about him is that he was an ex non-commissioned soldier of Bangladesh Army (education qualification required: Class Eight). Reportedly Mr. Falu started his political career as a petty office assistant of the BNP Bangladesh Nationalist Party (est. In 1978) head office. He worked closely with Begum Khaleda Zia during her street campaigns against the then Ershad regime during 1987-1990 and saved her from police brutality in a number of occasions. Thus he gained the trust of Begum Khaleda Zia. Nobody knows how he has become wealthy enough to be a majority shareholder of a private TV channel and the owner of a number of undisclosed businesses.

Bangladesh Constitution regrettably does not require any educational qualification, or declaration of source of income for being a member of parliament. But my question is why should a candidate hide his/her past when the voters will be putting their trust on him/her for a term?

Here is his rival's profile.

June 27, 2004

POETRY TIME

If we fly

So we are right

On target?

Pinpoint and surface assurance fling
mortar at night visions. Laser and satellite
satisfy our curious justifications.

So we are right

Handed; sorry softy lefties.

We pound their positions and
pound our chests with nuclear fission.
curious our fire-for-fire penetration that
excuses excess and negates meditation.

Is instinct our only recourse? Are
dog collars and leashes the releases we
approve to vent our boiling rage?

Looking at our indignation we must not
spoil our grief upon naked piles of
mere humanity. Our rage leaves them
quivering, leaves us fascinated with
revenge.

If the pot boils, it must simmer upon the
hopes of greater fire power
more exacting than our buckshot.

So we are right

wing. If we fly to Peace�s Prince
for our refuge, defend our defenseless,
rebuild our hearts into temples not our
rubble into towers
we may find we have not traded
atrocity for boorish superiority.

- Mark Phillips

June 26, 2004

QUOTES OF THE DAY


"It is pretty obvious that the debasement of the human mind caused by a constant flow of fraudulent advertising is no trivial thing. There is more than one way to conquer a country."

- Raymond Chandler 1888-1959, American Author

"Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it."

- Stephen B. Leacock 1869-1944, Canadian Humorist, Economist
Influence of satellite TV Channels

Bangladesh's air is free to all the satellite broadcasters. There are a few Bangladeshi Private TV channels, which usually broadcasts good programs in Bangla. Viewers prefer these channels to the state owned BTV(accused of being a mouthpiece of government) because of variety in programs and authenticity of news programs they provide.

We can also watch other Asian channels which are generally broadcasted in this region. Due to the language similarities and attractive programs Indian channels (Hindi, Bengali & English) are the most popular here. Now a days many can understand Hindi (if not read and speak). Even the persons who have a tendency to oppose anything Indian, are fond of these Indian programs. They listen to Hindi songs, indoor and outdoor. Among the middle class and upper middleclass women, Indian TV serials are very popular. They watch every episode of the popular Hindi serials. They prefer Hindi programs to English ones because of their weakness in English.

Now what all these are affecting our society? The Bangladeshi channels are not prospering as they should as they are not getting enough local viewers who are being distracted by the Indian channels. The Bangladeshi viewers are more exposed to Indian consumer goods augmenting the market of Indian consumer goods in Bangladesh. And they have this advantage without expending for advertisement in Bangladesh media. The portraying of the faster society and openness of Indian society in these programs has provided an outrage in the Muslim conservative society of Bangladesh. They accuse that the Bangladeshi youth are more interested in Indian obscene music videos and adult contents of other programs. There is another fact that Bangladesh's free TV channels are not shown in India specially in Kolkata. Actually there is more economics involved into that than politics. It is said that the Indian business conglomerates do not want airing of Bangladeshi TV channels as it will advertise Bangladeshi products to the huge consumer base in India. It will drop their market share. So the Bangladeshi channels are losing in all senses, viewers as well as advertisement earnings.

I find this very irritating. If Bangladesh is showing Indian channels, then why Bangladeshi channels (which are free) are not shown in Indian homes. As far as I know, the people of West-Bengal are interested to watch Bangladeshi programs because they speak the same language and have cultural similarities.

And the Bangladeshi channels now have to be helped by all quarters to provide more entertaining programs, which represent Bengali culture and uphold our interest.

The problem is that our political parties always have many things to brag about Indian influence but these types of important issues never are included in their agenda. I do not support banning of media. But the viewers can always pressurize the broadcaster for what kind of program they would like to see. The Star TV (owned by Rupert Murdoch) had to change its style of programs because of a legal suit in Indian courts claiming that an aired program had offended viewers in India.

So I think government of Bangladesh should take this issue seriously with India and let Bangladeshi channels air in West-Bengal and other parts of India. They should also pressurize the broadcasters that the programs aired in Bangladesh should not damage the interests of Bangladeshi viewers. This is necessary for the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh and the development of Bangladesh's economy. This will expose Indians to advertisements of Bangladeshi products & programs too. This is expected of a true free media and economy.
Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh

There are about 238,000 Pakistanis, who opted for going back to Pakistan after Bangladesh became independent in 1971, are now being sheltered in 66 camps in 13 districts across Bangladesh. Many of them are supported by local NGOs and the Bangladesh Government. As far I know that almost all of them are working in the society as they are free to move and do not need an work permit as such. Many of the top-class Barbers in Dhaka are biharis-people from these camps (including my barber). Yet they want to go back to their opted country when Pakistani government is reluctant to listen to them. Only the MQM Party has an agenda to repatriate them. As MQM are supporting the Musharrof government, things should move a bit in their favor, but nothing is happening and the refugees are carrying on their usual protests in vain. So what the Bangladesh government should do with them? They are free to work and maintain their lives and only short of Bangladesh citizenship. And Pakistanis are turning their back on them as if they are not bothered. So much for being patriotic.
The post MFA challenge of Bangladesh RMG Sector

If you are wondering, what RMG (ready made garments) industry means for Bangladesh then you should know:

1. It accounts for more than 70% of the countries export earnings
2. Bangladesh is among the Top 5 largest garment exporter to the European Union & the US.
3. More than 10000 apparel manufacturers in the country which employ more than 3 million workers of which almost 80% are women.

Bangladesh garment industry was developed primarily because of the MFA (Multi-fiber Agreement) and other trade agreements. Multi fiber Arrangement introduced in 1974 provided the basis on which industrialized countries have been able to restrict imports from developing countries. Every year countries agree quotas - the quantities of specified items which can be traded between them. The exporting country then allocates licenses to firms to export a certain proportion of each quota. Bangladesh took advantage of this quotas and because of its competitive price and quality, it could secure a place in the world market.

Industrialist countries first drew up the MFA to protect their own garment producers. Then most clothing was produced by local manufacturers and they needed something to protect them from cheap imported goods. Now the industry operates in a very different way. It is mainly controlled by US and European based multinational companies which own no production facilities themselves but manage an international network of suppliers. Big companies like Walmart & Nike control the industry on a global scale without government protection and have no interest in maintaining quota restrictions.

With the phasing out of MFA, multinational companies will benefit from an increasingly open market where countries like Bangladesh & China will compete amongst themselves to give the lowest possible rate. Because of better infrastructure and inhumane wage rates, China will have advantage over countries like Bangladesh and Bangladesh will lose its export earnings leading to shutting down of many apparel manufacturing companies and unemploying many affecting the total economy.

Bangladesh Government has taken initiatives to tackle these challenges. It is taking measures to:
1. Promote establishing more textile manufacturing companies
2. Setting up a central-bonded warehouse, so that the lead-time for export can be reduced.
3. Establish linkage industries with priority on dying
4. Diplomatic efforts to boost export

The consumers of the industrialist nations also need to know that how they are contributing to the development of a country by buying certain products. They should know:

1. Bangladesh Garments industry have almost eradicated the use of child labor.
2. It has set up schools for the children of the garments workers.
3. The garments workers have standard wages to maintain their families. Their living standards will increase alongwith the growth and sustainability of this industry.
4. The fact that almost 80% of the workers are women, is making an impact in the establishment of empowerment of women in the society and equal rights.

So in fact Bangladesh will be fighting against those multinational companies who's main agenda is to earn more profit by outsourcing from a cheaper country. They do not follow the ethics that the competitors also have a right to their share of market. The business community should try to increase the market not taking away competitors share and causing a lot of misery to many people.

As a consumer do you care for these?

June 20, 2004

QUOTES OF THE DAY


"We cannot discuss the state of our minorities until we first have some sense of what we are, who we are, what our goals are, and what we take life to be. The question is not what we can do now for the hypothetical Mexican, the hypothetical Negro. The question is what we really want out of life, for ourselves, what we think is real."

- James Baldwin 1924-1987, American Author

"Shall we judge a country by the majority, or by the minority? By the minority, surely."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882, American Poet, Essayist

"A dissenting minority feels free only when it can impose its will on the majority: what it abominates most is the dissent of the majority."

- Eric Hoffer 1902-1983, American Author, Philosopher

"Beware the tyranny of the minority."

- Latin Proverb Sayings of Latin Origin

"No democracy can long survive which does not accept as fundamental to its very existence the recognition of the rights of minorities."

- Franklin D. Roosevelt 1882-1945, Thirty-second President of the USA
BUSINESS

I will be extremely busy this week. So blogging will be light.
Illegal migration from Bangladesh to India

Indian government is claiming the fact whereas Bangladesh government is denying. There are also claims of insurgents in the northeastern territory of Bangladesh to carry on their operations in India from the soil of Bangladesh. The foreign minister of Bangladesh accpeted the fact recently that there are reports of some camps existing.

Razib at Gene Expression has a deeper insight into this illegal migration crisis. He thinks that "The flight of the Hindus has resulted in more poverty for the people of Bangladesh", because traditionally the hindus had upperhand on the muslims in trade and education.

According to Razib, there are two primary causes for hindus to migrate:

1) External: Hindu family are fleeing to the more congenial lands of India, particularly West Bangal when given the chance.

2) Internal: Though Bangaldesh is not an Islamic fundamentalist nation, Bangladesh is a nation of Muslims, and it is clear that any non-Muslims have to deal with the reality that nods to Islam will soak their daily life.

The terrible economic situation in Bangladesh results in migration to India of Muslims. They go not for liberty, but for economic opportunity that is lacking in their homeland. So, the flight of the Hindus to India, which is a partial cause of the deprived economic situation in Bangladesh, results in Muslims fleeing to India!


This study by the South Asia Analysis Group also says:

The immigrants cross over to this country mainly on economic reasons and due to religious oppression of minorities (Hindus) from this Islamic country.

But we need to look at another aspect of the Problem:

The history of the world is of migration. All of us and our ancestors and fore-bearers had come from somewhere and are now placed somewhere else and people, like water, tend to find their own levels.

And there is another fact to consider:

18-20 million people every year are displaced internally by floods in Bangaldesh. There are floods and riverbank erosion. Now all of them are not coming to India, but it would be not implausible to believe that some of them would be. The inherent law of migration, is that people move not necessarily long distances, they move to areas close to themselves which are compatible, geographically and culturally. Over a period of time this outflow can cross international borders.

So to summarize:

* In Bangldesh Hindus have an apprehension/insecurity in living with the Muslims. I have seen some of the Bengali Hindus making savings or investments in West Bengal, India whereas most of their kins are here in Bangladesh. So They need to mitigate the insecurity with the help and assurance of their muslim neighbors and some governmnet protection. And those who want to really leave Bangladesh be given the option by India for migration.

* Temporary work permits to be given to the Bangladeshi migrants in India on humanitarian grounds. Push in or push back excercises by India & Bangladesh will only add to their misery and cross-border tension.

* Regional cooperation with Bangladesh and India is important to have a mutual economic growth, because without improving the infrastructure and creating job opportunities inside Bangladesh, this outflow will continue to occur. Both countries need to get out of the vicious circle of poverty, the fact is that only India making a breakthrough will not resolve the crisis.

* More and more flood control startegies should be implemented in Bangladesh so that a large portion of the population is not forced out of their land repeatedly even if temporarily.

* Fencing is a temporary solution to protect India from the illegal migrations and illegal trade, however this would not solve the real problem. But I think fencing would be profitable for Bangladesh as the illegal inflow of imported goods from India to Bangladesh is a couple of times more than the legal trade. So Bangladesh will earn more revenues from import and local industries would be protected. And Bangladesh government needs to plug the hole of migration and take more measures to prevent traficking of women and children.

* Some of these problems are irreversible and cannot be prevented outright. So patience is needed by both Bangladesh & India.

June 17, 2004

LINKS OF THE DAY

* If you care for some Novelty Toilet Papers.

* If you think that your singing ability (tested only in bathrooms) is not up to the mark then try to listen these; you might change your mind (Warning: Some material on this link has been known to disturb household pets and some reptiles).

* I was browsing this site while taking a quick lunch. It made me throw up.

* If you are contemplating about death then check these out and be sure not to end up like them.

* When doodling is an art it produces these.

* Which office moron are you? (Not by Quizilla)

* If you are really pissed by your family, you need this.

* This is a great way to tell everyone your dead and to give a few last words.

Source: Coolios.

June 16, 2004

DEFEAT OF BANGLADESH IN THE BID FOR OIC TOP POST

The move for Bangladesh's candidature for the post of Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) was a brave one. But the government did the initial mistake by nominating an alleged Mafia don, murderer and war criminal probably on the merit that he is the political adviser of the prime minister.

Bangladesh lobbied well but had difficulties in obtaining support from Malaysia & Turkey. The choice of secretary general was never decided through an election, but rather through consensus. But this time, the voting was the last resort to settle the battle for the top OIC job after none of the three contenders Malaysia, Turkey and Bangladesh pulled out of the race.

The result: Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu was elected in the first tour by receiving 32 votes, while candidates of Bangladesh and Malaysia received 12 votes each.

Bangladesh's biggest disadvantage was that Saudi Arabia did not back it well in the last moment.

I hope Bangladesh government learns from this mistake and in future it chooses a competent person (I am sure there are plenty), with whom they can give a fighting effort to make a mark in international arena.
INCREASE IN PER CAPITA INCOME

Bnagldesh's per capita income is now Taka 25,944 ($440) achieving 20% growth in two years.

However, this does not reflect the huge disparity between the rich and poor even if we are on the right track. And I hope the political parties will not create a situation which will hinder this progress, which is a bit slow, but steady.

We need more efforts like this and have to stop this. Sanity, where do you live?

June 15, 2004

QUOTE OF THE DAY


"When one door of happiness closes,
another one opens;
but often we look so long
at the closed door
that we do not see
the one which has been
opened for us."


- Hellen Keller

June 14, 2004

Debating the Ahmadiyya book ban

Let the debate go on. Because I think people need to understand the fallacy the right-wing fundamentalist parties are imposing on ignorant people. Let people come to their senses.
THE SIDE-EFFECTS OF ASSISTING IN THE WAR AGAINST TERROR

Jivha has an interesting analogy dissecting the news that an Indian intelligence officer allegedly sold Indian national secrets to US intelligence agencies in the hood of assisting in the war against terror.

Jivha concludes:

All credit to Bush & Co. for this brilliantly crafted fake war though. In one stroke they have managed to:
* Secure oil sources for themselves
* Install a puppet government bang in the middle of the middle east
* Abandon all rules, laws and guidelines and round up and torture their enemies in prisons around the world
* Lull foreign intelligence agencies into a false sense of security and cooperation all the while spying on them.


Very interesting indeed.
EURO 2004: England 1: France 2

The England-France football match had all the ingredients to be a exciting one. I was pretty pumped up to be able to watch this meet of all the big stars, many of them are famous for their world cup performance. The game started here at 00:45 AM and I thought I would go to sleep as soon as I find it boring. But I could not go to sleep even if I was pretty bored with the start of second half. The first half the battle was elegantly poised and the england goal was worth watching. It was initiated by a brilliant freekick of Beckham and Lampard's fine header. The game was loosing its attraction in the second half. Scholes and Owen were lacklustre in their performance. Trezeguet & Vieira had some near misses. Then Beckham missed the penalty at 72 minutes. Nobody likes to see mistakes from stars. Thats the time all were getting into my nerves and I was preparing to sleep. But something made me stay awake till the last. And surely Zidan stole the show. In the 91st minute he scored from a brilliant free-cick. Was the shock too much for England? Because the backpass to the goalkeeper from a defender (Gerrard) in the dying moments looked and proved to be suicidal. And I wonder whether Henry could score even if he was not fouled by James. The stadium was full of surprised French supporters and awe-struck English fans. Many like me went to sleep with a refreshing memory of a brilliant Football game between two of the worlds best teams.

June 12, 2004

QUOTES OF THE DAY


* The ultimate tendency of civilization is towards barbarism.

- David Hare 1947-, British Playwright, Director

* A civilized man is one who will give a serious answer to a serious question. Civilization itself is a certain sane balance of values.

- Ezra Pound 1885-1972, American Poet, Critic

* The civilized savage is the worst of all savages.

- C. J. Weber

* Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins.

- American Indian Proverb Sayings of American Indian Origin

June 09, 2004

Why the journalists have to be assaulted by Police?

It seems that the sense of discipline is all time low in the police force and among the political leaders. Instead of directives by the Prime Minister, the police department fails to ensure security of public lives. They could not apprehend the notorious extremist communal leader Bangla Bhai (named during his training in Afghanistan) thanks to influence of certain quarters, to whom Prime ministers order is negligible. The police have made the image of the ruling party worse by beating journalists and political activists time and time. The police department should know that by assaulting journalists, they are damaging all the achievements. They are humiliating the government, encouraging oppositions to exploit more such failure of government and making a bad image for the country. And why to blame them totally? They are busy with more important things than curbing crimes.

The journalists on the other hand are also urged to highlight national achievements in the media. Janet Steele, media critic and Associate Professor of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University recently visited Bangladesh and told about Bangladesh media:
"The reporters here are polarised along party lines. Often they will tell you something in private, but not in public forum. There are concerns from ruling party that by having open discussions on the problems might tarnish the image of Bangladesh. Looking in the dark side of the society is somehow damaging the national image. But it's the journalists' job to shine the light of publicity in that dark corner. That's how you will get a better future, build a better nation."
G8 Summit - the annual festivity of hypocracy

I have came across an interesting article of Fraser Nelson published in "The Scotsman". He slates the ineffectiveness of the G8 summit which has become a worthless annual gathering.

Fraser says:

Every year, the same formula applies. World leaders are invited from what are supposed to be the world's richest countries and declare they will end world poverty or hunger. They then make pledges which almost none of themhonorr.

Having dealt with hunger and disease last year, the G8 leaders now want to introduce democracy to the Middle East. Laughably, this will be done by means of a communique to be spat out of their luxury hotel at some point. The G8 has gone beyond being useless. It is now rubbing the faces of the poor in the wealth of their rivals and exacerbating the very international tensions which it sets out to relieve.


And the sheer truth:

the world's poverty problem is mainly due to unequal distribution of capitalism. China and India are not growing rich because the G8 has given them money. They have set up a market economy: their people are doing the rest. This - not handouts - is the route to prosperity.

World poverty is, right now, being reduced at the fastest rate in history, and its is because of globalization. Buying cheap imports - kid's toys from China to shirts from Bangladesh - is spreading the wealth of the West faster than any aid programme ever invented. World poverty has fallen more in the last 30 years than it has in the last 300.


So I think this summit should concentrate more on letting the market economy wagon wheels in the 3rd world countries rolling without any disturbance. Aids with condition is never a solution for tackling poverty. There is no need for this kind of help:

In the last meet, African leaders, who came asking for help tackling AIDS, were instead given a five-course meal and sent home with a communique. This shameful event encapsulates why the G8 must now be abolished.

June 07, 2004

STORIES THAT MATTERS MOST

Most of us are pretty bored with the same type of news of repetitive problems around the world. These occupy most of the newsspace and leaving many other urgent news unnoticed. The public relations department of UN has published "Ten Stories the World Should Hear More About." This list includes a number of humanitarian emergencies, as well as conflict or post-conflict situations. The stories are reported as less important issues but actually these need more thorough, balanced and regular attention. It's time we draw our attention to these.

Link via buzzmachine.

June 06, 2004

QUOTES OF THE DAY


* Sensitiveness is closely allied to egotism; and excessive sensibility is only another name for morbid self-consciousness. The cure for tender sensibilities is to make more of our objects and less of our selves.

- Christian Nevell Bovee 1820-1904, American Author, Lawyer

* The art of being a slave is to rule one's master.

- Diogenes of Sinope c.410-320 BC, Cynic Philosopher

* Enemies are so stimulating.

- Katharine Hepburn 1907-, American Actress, Writer

* Hatred -- The anger of the weak.

- Alphonse Daudet 1840-1897, French Writer

June 05, 2004

GUEST BLOGGING

I am guest blogging at Jivha.com.

Read my recent post "INDIA BANGLADESH RELATIONS."
MORE TERROR DISRUPTS CITY LIFE

I woke up with much shock and dismay reading this news. Who can do this inhuman thing? The opposition party Awami League activitists are blamed for this incident initially by the police. But to me this has another signature. Is it the acts of islami activists in protest of Donald Rumsfeld's visit? Innocent lives are being subjected to more threats and terror as there are some unknown scams going on by some quarters beyond our imagination.
RUMSFELD IN BANGLADESH AMIDST PROTEST

The US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is coming to Bangladesh today for a 14 hour visit presumably to discuss Bangladesh's possible interest in peacekeeping in Iraq. Yesterday, there were some protests in Dhaka city against Rumsfeld's visit by some right wing Islami parties and the leftwing communist parties. The coalition govt. (including nationalist BNP and the rightwing Jamaate Islami) and the main opposition (Awami League) have not commented anything. The opposition party has called a 24 hours hartal (general strike) today but the issue does not link to Rumsfeld's visit.

But the Bangladesh foreign minister Mr. Morhsed Khan told yesterday to the press:

"I would like to say clearly that we never send troops to shoot or get shot anywhere in the world. We never send troops to fight for somebody."

Its evident that Bangladesh won't do anything without a UN mandate. And the decision reflects the voice of the general Bangladeshis.
THE LARA QUOTE CREATES CONTROVERSY

After the resilient effort of Bangladesh cricket team in the first test, the West Indies was under pressure before the start of second test. Captain Brian Lara's quote "If we don't win against Bangladesh then I'll quit" has created much controversy in the WI cricket arena. I think he has said that to put pressure on his fellow teammates, whose performance was not intimidating as it should be against the test babe Bangladesh which has lost 26 times in their last 29 matches and never have own. His former coach says:

"Lara must shoulder some of the burden for the poor showing of the team but I don't think he should have spoken out at this time"

An editorial in the Trinidad & Tobago express added fuel into the fire "..And suppose Windies won?"

"If we do beat Bangladesh and Lara does remain as captain, does it mean that the problem of motivation has been solved, given all that has gone before?

In any case, Lara's place in the history of the game is assured. The West Indian future isn't."


Bangladesh has scraped 264/9 out of WI in the first day of the Test thanks to a defiant tailenders performance after the usual upper order collapse.

June 03, 2004

ITS RAINING

After some pretty hot days, here comes the rain pouring heavily in our part of the world. The weatherman said that heavy rainfall will continue in most of Bangladesh for a couple of days. I am planning to enjoy the weekend staying home and watching the rain. It would be fun if I could be playing in the rain, maybe I will try that.

There is another delight of rainfall. Specially if you are in a cottage with tin roof, the sound of raindrops falling in the corrugated sheets is really marvelous. But I won't be having the luxury of that which many Bangladeshis normally have, specially in the rural parts.

Let the rain wash away all our troubles, our shortcomings. Let the rain revitalize us by showing the rainbow of our dreams.


"Upon us all a little rain must fall." - Led Zeppelin

June 02, 2004

TIGERS RAISING THEIR LEVEL

The latest from the West Indies v Bangladesh 1st Test, 28 May- 1 June, 2004, St Lucia is that the match is drawn. But Bangladesh's achievements from this match are:

* They have scored 687 runs in both innings against the fierce (atleast on the books) bowling side of WI, their highest in 29 Test matches they have played including this.

* Bangladesh team has produced three centuries:

1st innings:
- Habibul Bashar 113
- Mohammad Rafique 111 (Batting at number 9)

2nd Innings:
- Khaled Mashud 103* (Batting at number 8)

* They have declared for the first time at 271/9 in 2nd innings challenging WI to reach a total of 336.

* They could recover a collapse (which is a weakness of Bangladesh team) from 72/2 to 79/6 in the 2nd innings.


At times Bangladesh really frustrated WI with their defiance. But its true that Bangladesh couldn't apply pressure to WI except from their first innings lead.

There is no doubt that we, Bangladeshis are happy with our boys performance. Actually after winning the test status, we expected them to perform like this (nobody did think that Bangladesh would win right from start). But they took a couple of years to come upto this standard, where they can be competitive in any match, against any opposition if they can maintain their performance and keep improving.

I would like to heartily thank Scott, Michael, Tim and Ambidextri for their encouragements and support for Bangladesh specially at Ubersprotingpundit blog. Please keep that in mind that these gentlemen do not write for money but for sheer love of the game.

Scott criticizes the Caribbean journalists about not reporting the indepth stories of this match & not giving Bangladesh the credit they deserved.

He says:

Sure, the Windies are not the force that they once were, but I still think that Bangladesh has come a long way.

June 01, 2004

QUOTES OF THE DAY


* The right to be alone -- the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by civilized man.

- Louis D. Brandeis 1856-1941, American Judge

* Get away from the crowd when you can. Keep yourself to yourself, if only for a few hours daily.

- Arthur Brisbane American Editor, Columnist

* Solitude shows us what should be; society shows us what we are.

- Robert Cecil 1830-1903, British Conservative Politician, Prime Minister

* The best thinking has been done in solitude

- Thomas A. Edison 1847-1931, American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Founder of GE