april 14, 2016

vol 4 Issue 1 | FRIDAY, ApRIl 22, 2016 Dhaka Tribune

12 InteRvIew ARchItectuRe 15 MusIngs

RelAtIonshIps 20 the Bong MoMMA

WEEKEN D TRI BU N E | FRI DAY, APRI L 22, 2016

Volume 4 | Issue 1 | April 22, 2016

EditorZafar Sobhan

Features EditorSabrina Fatma Ahmad

Asst Magazine EditorFarina Noireet

Weekend Tribune TeamSaudia Afrin

Moumita AhmedN Anita AmreenSakib MridhaSaqib Sarker

Syeda Samira SadequeMahmood Sadi

Shuprova Tasneem

ContributorsG M Shoeb Ahmed

Minu AhmedJennifer AshrafAmer A HabibJyoti RahmanDina Sobhan

CartoonsSyed Rashad Imam Tanmoy

Priyo

GraphicsMd Mahbub AlamAlamgir HossainTahsin Momin

Colour SpecialistShekhar Mondal

AdvertisementShahin Ahsan

ProductionMasum Billah

CirculationMasud Kabir Pavel

Websitedhakatribune.com/weekendfacebook.com/WeekendTrib

Email your letters to:[email protected]

Editor’s noteAbout the cover

Dear readers,There’s a time for reflection, and then there’s a time for looking ahead. This week, we bring you a good mix of moods to give you a well-rounded weekend.

Meet a hot new stylist, and pick a hairstyle for the summer in our fashion and grooming sections. Foodies have both a new Chinese joint in town to discover and a coffee place to chase down the meal with in our expanded food section.

An interview takes us into the fascinating world of bamboo architecture, and a discussion on the future of sustainable constructions. And speaking of the future, we’re discussing on the best way to harness the power of youth to promote peace.

The earthquakes of the past

week have left us all unsettled, particularly in the wake of predictions of stronger tremors to come. We bring you a lovely photo story to show you how people bounce back from even the worst disasters.

As the world around us changes, so do relationships, and taking a long hard look at courtship and marriage is perhaps in order. We have Jyoti Rahman’s gentle musings and Dina Sobhan’s Tough Love taking two different approaches to the matters of the heart.

Finally, the Bong Momma discusses how the Jellybean prepares for school.

Here’s wishing you stability in the ground beneath your feet this week

- Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

News 2 News 3 Meanwhile

Features 4 Tailored

Men’s grooming5 Trending

Styling by Marium Mir12 Interview

Architecture14 Musings

Youth15 Musings

Relationships regulars16 Legalese17 Tough Love18 Stay In19 Go Out20 The Bong Momma

RevIewReStAuRAnt 6

Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

CONTeNTS 1

PhOTO STORy ReSilience9


In a victory for Moscow, a Dutch court on Wednesday, last week overturned an order that Russia pay $50 billion (35 billion pounds) to shareholders in defunct oil company Yukos, saying that the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration had no jurisdiction.

Former Yukos shareholders said they would appeal the surprise decision, which could impact earlier rulings in Belgium and France that four former shareholders were

entitled to seize Russian state assets to compensate them for the loss of the oil giant.

Once controlled by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, then one of Russia’s richest men, Yukos was bankrupted after Khodorkovsky fell out with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the government began demanding payment of huge sums in back taxes. State oil company Rosneft got most of its assets.

In July 2014, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that the four plaintiffs – not including Khodorkovsky – were entitled to compensation for the loss of the company, entitling them to seize Russian state assets.

But in Wednesday’s ruling, the district court in The Hague said Russia had never ratified the treaty under which the PCA had claimed jurisdiction in the affair.Photo: Reuters

2 NewS | This week

Earthquake kills 272 in Ecuador

Front-runners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton swept to resounding victories in Tuesday’s New York primary, with Trump bouncing back convincingly from a difficult stretch in his Republican campaign and Clinton pushing tantalisingly close to locking up the Democratic nomination.

Trump captured more than 50 percent of the vote in New York

and was headed toward a big delegate haul in his home

state, a commanding showing that

keeps him on a path to the GOP nomination if he continues to win. He claimed at

least 89 of the 95 delegates at stake

Tuesday, with Ohio Gov. John Kasich winning at least three and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in danger of getting shut out.

A confident Trump insisted it was impossible for his rivals to catch him. Indeed, Cruz’s poor showing in New York left him without any mathematical chance of clinching the nomination

before the Republican convention in July, though Trump could still end up short of the 1,237 needed to seal victory before the gathering.

Clinton’s triumph padded her delegate lead over rival Bernie Sanders and put her 80 percent of the way to clinching the Democratic nomination that eluded her eight years ago. In a shift toward the general election, she made a direct appeal to Sanders’ loyal supporters, telling them she believes “there is more that unites us than divides us.”

Exit polls suggested Democrats were ready to rally around whoever the party nominates. Nearly 7 in 10 Sanders supporters in New York said that they would definitely or probably vote for Clinton if she is the party’s pick.Photo: Reuters

An earthquake of magnitude-7.8 struck coastal Ecuador, killing 507 people last week on Saturday. That number is expected to rise as rescue teams are still digging through the rubble.

The cities of Manta, Portoviejo and Pedernales, a tourist destination, saw the most devastation but damage was widespread throughout the country.

While the human tragedy of Ecuador’s most-powerful earthquake in decades is still sinking in, the government is just beginning to evaluate the monumental task of rebuilding.

President Rafael Correa says it could cost as much as $3 billion to rebuild. That’s about 3 percent of Ecuador’s gross domestic product.

The problem is Ecuador doesn’t have the extra money. Prices for its commodities have been falling of late on lower demand from China.

Ecuador’s growth last year was stagnant. And even before the earthquake, the International Monetary Fund was forecasting its economy would shrink by around 4.5 percent in 2016. Oil is Ecuador’s largest export and cover 35 percent of the government budget but the global oil price is falling.

President Rafael Correa told reporters on Tuesday that “It’s going to be a long battle.”Photo: AP

Detectives picked up Shafik Rehman, an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, from his Eskaton residence in Dhaka on Saturday morning last week.

An eminent journalist, Rehman has been taken to the Detective Branch headquarters on Minto Road, Maruf Hossain Sardar, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

A team of plain-clothes policemen detained Rehman, 80, from his residence around 8:15am in

Trump, Clinton win big in NY, push closer to nominations

a case filed with Paltan Police Station, BNP Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed told reporters.

The law enforcers entered the house identifying themselves as Boishakhi television reporters but before leaving with Rehman they informed the family members that they were detectives, Rizvi claimed.

BNP condemned Rehman’s detention and demanded his immediate release.

Shafik’s wife Taleya Rahman said the people came to their home and took away Shafik at around 8:00am.

Later detective branch’s Dhaka south division deputy commissioner Mashrukur Rahman Khaled said Shafik has been arrested in a case filed with Paltan police station over conspiracies to abduct the prime minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.Source: Dhaka Tribune

DB picks up Shafik Rehman

Dutch court overturns $50 billion Yukos award against Russia

The world at a glanceWeekend Tribune

Desk


. . . MeaNwhILe 3

Photo of the week

10 year old Rizvi, who works with his family in making handfans, may be unable to speak, but his enchanting eyes express it all.Photo: Mehedi Hasan

China is marking National Security Education Day with a poster warning young female government workers about dating handsome foreigners, who could turn out to have secret agendas.

Titled ‘Dangerous Love,’ the 16-panel, comic book-like poster tells the story of an attractive young Chinese civil servant nicknamed Xiao Li, or Little Li, who meets a red-headed foreign man at a dinner party and starts a relationship.

The man, David, claims to be a visiting scholar, but is actually a foreign spy who butters Xiao Li up with compliments on her beauty, bouquets of roses, fancy dinners, and romantic walks in the park.

After Xiao Li provides David with secret internal documents from her job at a government propaganda office, the two are arrested. In one of the poster’s final panels, Xiao Li is shown sitting handcuffed before two policemen, who tell her that she has a “shallow understanding of secrecy for a state employee.”

The poster has appeared on local governments’ public bulletin boards, targeting mainly rank-and-file state employees. nNews and Photo: AP

say what?China warns of foreign spies with ‘Dangerous Love’


Hair care with a choice 4 TaILORed | Men’s grooMing

Not everyone is created equal, different face shapes mean a different hairstyleMahmood Hossain

Many men will follow trends or completely disregard their hair, believing there is no

significance behind a perfect cut. Seasons change, you get older, but the shape of your face determines the best hairstyle. And even when you like to believe we are all the same, brown and short (how dare you?!), our faces tell it all. We take a look at which haircuts are best for a given face shape.

The shapes• Square– The width of your face is

almost the same as your length. Your face has a very defined, angular jaw-line and the sides of your face are straight.

• Round– This is pretty much the same as the square, except without the angular features. Here, the sides of your face are rounded off and your cheekbones seem to be the widest points of your face.

• Oval– Your jawline looks soft, they curve and happen to look smaller than your forehead. Hard to picture? Think of an upside-down egg.

• Oblong– Sometimes this is referred to as a rectangular shape. Your forehead, cheekbones and jaw are all a similar size but your face is longer than it is wide.

• Diamond– The cheekbones are the widest part of your face, as your forehead and jawline follow.

However, it has a long face shape and angular features, along with a defined chin.

• Triangular– A bit more straight-forward, the angular features and jaw line are wider than your cheekbones, which makes it wider than your forehead. Picture the face as an upside-down triangle.

Now that you’ve gotten down the basics, now for the best haircuts for your face shape:

SquareThe square shape orders for a clean and close cut, keeping things classic on all sides. You’re going to want to highlight that beautiful and strong jawline.

• Straighthair– With some length up top, the back and sides of your hair should be short. You want to keep the top long enough so that there’s visible weight up top. More volume up top, while the sides are cut close.

• Wavyhair– There should be clean lines around your hairline, leaving a few inches up top to play around with. There’s an advantage of styling it various ways; you’ll never get bored.

• Curlyhair– A tight fade at the back and sides, keep it simple. You can crop the top down a little too but don’t go too far.

RoundMain focus for this shape is to elongate the face and take away the overall width. Keep the back and sides short and a quick quiff up top and front. And whatever you do, stay away from fringes. Cringe.

• Straighthair– With short back and sides, keep around three to five inches in length flowing to the front. Some height is needed so ask your barber for a neat quiff, and use a hairdryer to give it a little more if you want.

• Wavyhair– This is more about style than an actual cut. Consider yourself fortunate, as your natural waves can give you the proper length that can easily take you to five to six inches long. Get yourself some sea salt spray to inject some more volume and texture up front.

• Curlyhair–If you have tight, curly hair, ask your barber for an easy clean fade on the sides and keep the top as long as possible.

OvalFortunate is one thing, being blessed is another. An oval face shape means all sides seem to be evenly balanced and you can rock any hairstyle. Really, you’ve got it that good. However, mind your steps, that doesn’t excuse you from a horrible haircut that will haunt you for ages.

• Straighthair– Pay attention to where your hair naturally grows and in which direction. You can go for a safer shorter crop all around or leave some length up top and sweep it back.

• Wavyhair– There’s no need to trim the sides down too much, just let your natural waves grow out and have fun with it.

• Curlyhair– Sharp details around your hairline, shorter crop up top and a near skin fade.

TriangularMore volume on the top and sides are needed because of your wide jawline and narrow forehead. You don’t want to make it look too soft either because this will accentuate the jawline.

• Straighthair– Remember to keep everything balanced. If you need a haircut, get three inches all over, keeping room for a lot of texture. Going too short will look unflattering.

• Wavyhair– Keep the back and sides soft, and let the rest grow out. Again, texturise the hair all over.

• Curlyhair– Clean sides and a little length up top, keep things simple with no hassle whatsoever.

OblongThis shape is almost as same as the oval, but don’t go too short on the sides. Why you ask? It will simply make an already elongated shape more, well, elongated.

• Straighthair– Let it grow out up top to about an inch and sides. Then, ask the barber to add some texture to it.

• Wavyhair– Give those natural waves some shine and let it grow to about four to five inches all over. Let your hair fall naturally, there’s no need to add texture because it’ll end up being difficult to control.

• Curlyhair– Keep things close to the head, the length should be really short.

DiamondYou’ll have to go plenty up top to create a more balanced look. Diamond faces have strong cheekbones and narrow heads, which means something longer on the top will do just fine.

• Straighthair– Five to six inches will be best up top, and add some texture for that higher volume.

• Wavyhair– Here is where you lose some weight in your hair and create some texture with curls. You’ll have to grow out plenty of hair in order to pull this off. The sides should also be grown out, while the back should be at least an inch or so.

• Curly– Grow your hair all around, but not too short on the sides. You want to achieve a softer look and let the facial features highlight your overall look. n

Illustration: Priyo/Dhaka Tribune


sTyling by MariuM Mir | TReNdING 5

A quick chat with a bright, upcoming stylist in Dhaka’s fashion sceneN Anita Amreen

10 questions with Marium Mir

“By using my talent, skills and education I will assist and inspire my guests to realise

and enhance their own beauty and walk a little taller,” says Marium Mir, fashion stylist and LA based designer who is currently based in Dhaka.

Marium is one of Dhaka’s budding new stylists, a go-to expert for all things fashion related. As someone who’s always been passionate about fashion, she grew up in a household where her parents too were very “fashion forward.”

“I grew up watching my parents always dressed in the best designer-wear and branded products,” she shares. Her first venture into the world of fashion began right after she finished her O levels. With the help of her father, she launched her very own boutique called Muslin. Although the boutique was well-received, she was was not satisfied merely being someone who was interested in fashion. “I wanted to be good at it also from a technical point-of-view,” she explained. Soon after, she went to the American Intercontinental University in Los Angeles to further her fashion education and gain the technical know-how required to excel as a stylist.

Many years down the line, she has returned to Bangladesh, holding her first exhibition on March 19. Her goal, as a stylist, is simple: “I want to be someone who can help women bring out the best in themselves, and yet I want to be able to do this without changing who they are as human beings,” she says.

From a design perspective, usually, Marium doesn’t have any particular fashion icon in mind. Instead, she makes what she personally finds “beautiful.”

“I believe my work speaks for itself. I’m confident that they will appeal to the right audience – women who don’t dress-up just to please others, but women who are driven, fashion-conscious individuals who like to wear beautiful clothing because they feel naturally beautiful when they do.”

The Weekend Tribune had a quick chat with Marium Mir to find out the scope for stylists in Bangladesh, her take

on the hottest summer trends and much more.

What’sthebestthingaboutLA’sfashionscene?The best thing is how environmentally friendly the city is. The trends and styles are inspired by the city and what’s around you. I love how vibrant the city is, and how anything is possible. As a city, it’s very receptive to new ideas and trends and I love that.

Whatinspiresyourdesignsandstyles?I think mainly, when it comes to styling a person, I’m inspired by them. I look at their attitude, career, their personality. Then I come up with a style that I think will go with their tastes and physique. Something that’s also weather and occasion-friendly. I try to bring together my fashion education, the skills I’ve gained and style the person according to their liking.

DoyouthinkBangladeshhasamarketforstylists?I believe we really do have a market for stylists. Currently there are a few

wardrobe designers, but they are more popularly or colloquially known as “choreographers” in the media scene. When it comes to TV shows or dramas or even talk shows, actors and sometimes guests at talk shows don’t have personal wardrobe designers. Actors and stars complain about spending too much on grooming themselves prior to a shoot or an acting gig, spending a lot on hair and make-up.

Yourfavouritesummerfashiontrends?Flares, flowers, fruits and pastels.

What’sthebestpartofbeingastylist?I love the fact that it’s a profession that is versatile and independent. I love how I can work with people and style them according to their taste. And I love how I can cater to such a large audience – I can style anyone before a big event, I can style actors, I can even help style designers for trips – if the designer is busy, I can go abroad and shop for her. I can design for a product line. As a stylist, the options are endless. I have no competition and I feel like I can work well with other people’s tastes and

preferences.

Namethreedesignersyou’dlovetohavedinnerwith.I’m inspired by so many designers but if I had to choose, I’d say Aneela Hoque, Humaira Khan and Reena Latif. I’ve known Humaira for a very long time and she’s been my wardrobe designer for years now – I’ve grown up wearing her designs. As for Reena Latif, I’ve always been inspired by her. She’s someone who’s had original design sense that is timeless.

Yourfavouritemake-uptrends?Sheer make-up is my favourite. Personally, when it comes to hair and make-up I like to tie up my hair on regular days and for night time I like to keep it loose. I don’t really like over-the-top looks that look artificial.

Favouritecoloursthisseason?I love pastel shades. I particularly love Tiffany blue and dirty pink, but if I had to choose timeless favourites that’d be navy, black and grey.

Yourfavouritedesigners?Donatella Versace, YSL and Dolce & Gabbana.

Anyadviceforyoungfashionstyliststhatwanttomakeitbig?It is a vast industry with many different genres and it is extremely subjective to each individual’s personal taste in fashion. However, I would like to say this much: one should be prepared with as much skills and knowledge that could possibly be needed in the fashion industry, in terms of not just clothes, but also shoes, accessories, and all other components in fashion, including at least a slight knowledge about the history of the fashion industry. One of my best research papers in university was based on: “Fashion & Jewellery from the Stone Age to recent industry.” My basic advice is to educate oneself as much as possible regarding the industry.

Marium Mir can be reached at +8801756424303 for business inquiries n

Photos: courtesy


6 RevIew | resTauranT

You can’t deny it. We love our Chinese food – be it the sauce-rich “Bangla-Chinese” or the habit of popping

dim-sum after dim-sum from any one of the new authentic Chinese joints that have sprouted around the capital, our love affair with Chinese food is never ending. Flavors, a lesser known haunt that’s commonly confused with Flavors of China (another Chinese restaurant located in Banani) recently opened its door, promising to offer authentic Chinese at it’s finest.

Flavors is inside the premises of Platinum Grand, nestled on the third floor. A quick walk through the restaurant itself and the marble floors, long buffet table and upholstered brown leather seats remind you of just about any other average hotel restaurant. Nothing too over-the-top, nor is it too underdone. Brightly lit

and sparsely decorated, you’ll find a smattering of large red Chinese lanterns and bright red napkins that line the tables, giving the restaurant a bright, oriental touch.

What’s interesting to note are the tiny bowls that take the place of your dinner plates. Following the authentic Chinese dining tradition of

using small bowls, this little touch is appreciated, until you actually begin to go for the main course and realise that not only is this uncomfortable, it’s also an inconvenience. To really be able to enjoy your meal, request a larger dinner plate at the get go.

With the menu consisting of Chinese, Sichuan and Hunan cuisine,

they’ve got a hearty spread of dishes – not too many that you struggle to choose your order, and not too little to leave you spoilt for choice. Mostly consisting of light appetisers and main course dishes, interestingly, they don’t have any dim-sums on the menu but they do have a handful of great dishes worthy of at least one try.

Flavorsthe verdict is inAmreen Rahman

Devour itA few favourites that deserve to be devoured time and again

JambeefTk500(Rating:4/5)Tender slices of beef braised in a sweet sauce, making it an easy, safe option to try. Easily one of the better items on the menu, this one will surely not disappoint. It can be treated as a standalone dish or you may pair it with white rice to really allow the flavours of the beef to shine through. It’s such a light dish, you can easily chow down one plate on your own.

FriedshrimpwithshreddedpotatoTk700(Rating:3.5/5)This appetiser is an absolute sight to behold. Plated beautifully, fluffy, delicate balls of fried shredded potato is carefully placed on a large white dish. One bite and you’ve got a multitude of flavours and textures – there’s the crispy coating of shredded potato one minute and next there’s a soft inner ball of shrimp melting in your mouth. Add to that a slight wasabi like flavour and you’ve got an interesting dish at hand. It’s crispy, slightly sweet and packs quite a punch.

BoiledbeefinchillisauceTk700(Rating:5/5)The real star of the restaurant is easily, without a doubt, the boiled beef in chilli sauce. Served in a large bowl of oil drenched in chilli sauce, if there’s any dish that packs an intense, slow burning punch, it’s definitely this. Beef strips soaked in an oily, hot sauce, laid on a bed of cabbage. The beauty of this lies in the secret heat – it’s not the kind of heat that hits you instantly on the first bite, rather, it builds and grows, softly surprising you. A must try.


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Photos: Mahmud Hossain Opu

Try itThe ultimate middle ground for all things worthy of at least one tasting session

Brave itDishes that often hit the spot and then sometimes don’t

BiFengTangFriedPrawnTk650(Rating:2.5/5)Another gorgeous dish, the Bi Feng Tang Fried Prawn, on first glance, looks like a fancier version of prawn Balachau. A vibrant dish, bright orange prawns are fried and then mixed with fried carrot shavings. Taste wise, it’s not as fulfilling as it looks but if you have mediocre expectations, the dish will suffice as a no-nonsense fried prawn dish, because it really is just that – fried prawns.

PineapplefriedricewithprawnTk580(Rating:2.5/5)Another delight to look at, their pineapple fried rice is served on a large dish, with the fluffy rice streaming down the plate. Definitely not for those of you who don’t like mixing savoury and sweet, the rice is slightly on the chewy side, with bits of pineapple, cashews and raisins in each bite. If you’re not a fan of raisins, perhaps, this isn’t the dish for you. But if you are brave enough to try an unconventional tasting rice dish, you may just enjoy it.

SauteddicedlambwithredchiliTk700(Rating:3.5/5)The diced lamb is served on a bed of chopped onions, mixed with peanuts and dried red chilli. The lamb itself is cooked very well and is more flavourful than any other meat dish on their menu. This can easily be the perfect accompaniment to white rice.

SteamedfishinsoysauceTk1,300(Rating:3/5)It’s very hard to go wrong with a steamed fish, and that’s what’s proved with this dish. Be warned, the dish is meant to be very light, airy and easy on the palette so don’t expect a lot of flavour. For Tk1,300, we’d definitely love a bit more flavour, but if you’re looking for something extremely light, this can be your go-to dish.

PapayamilkTk370(Rating:3/5)If you want the perfect finish to your meal, look no further than the Papaya milk. Sliced papaya is covered in a jello concoction that is milky but so light you can’t help but go for seconds, and perhaps even thirds.

Visit at:FlavorsPlatinum Grande H# 52, R# 11, Block- F, Banani Model TownOpen from 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 12am


8 RevIew | Cafe

From Ethiopia with loveRad Sharar Bin Kamal

No signs, banners or boards were hung for us to recognise the place when we got there. From the

outside, it seemed like just a regular building, till we spotted a fancy door leading into a small, squishy apartment. Dhaka Dough, somehow, gave off an immediate impression of home. The strong, sweet scent of coffee, fresh cookies and honey caught us off guard, and what came after was even more surprising.

From grains to oils, with biodegradable and refillable packaging, Dhaka Dough is as transparent with their authenticity of sources as it can get. In simple words, everything they sell is fresh. The cosy environment demands a cup of the freshly roasted and ground famous Ethiopian Guji Zone Akrabi Coffee, made to your liking. The cherry on top? It’s pretty affordable as well.

Few actually recognise Ethiopia as the true birthplace of coffee, and Dhaka Dough’s cuppa boasts more than just a label.

The joint was created from the collective minds and passion of four friends, whose bond and amity are just as true as the products they offer, which includes:

HoneyandbeeswaxThe honey sold here is collected straight from the Sundarbans. Honey hunting takes place once a year in the largest mangrove forest in the world, from April to June, which is the most lucrative of all the forest’s products, and the most dangerous to gather. Sundarban’s honey is renowned as being purely organic.

SingleflowerA second type of honey is also available, and is carefully collected just after the blooming period during the month of April each year from Black Mangrove, River Mangrove or Khalsi flower. That’s why this honey is only available once in a year when the honey hunting session officially starts in the Sundarbans.

PackagingThe honey is stored in beeswax coated jars made out of solid mahogany wood, which is a leftover and sold as firewood.

PeanutbutterAmong oil crops grown in Bangladesh, peanuts (groundnut) rank third position both in area and production and volume. Sourced fresh from known lands, these nuts are as good as they get.

CoffeeTheir hot mugs of coffee are freshly roasted and ground in small batches for only five servings each. The shots are pulled manually from an espresso machine and pressed, poured, dripped and vacuumed into a pot to brew. The mix is kept intentionally clean without milk and sugar to let out the floral aroma and showcase the near sparkling acidity.

In order to show how beautiful and original the process is, which is kept similar to the true process followed in

Ethiopia, Dhaka Dough even held “The Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony” where they showed visitors how they did things.

TheceremonyThe Ethiopian coffee ceremony was meant to recreate this age old tradition of the Ethiopians where they all sit together (families, friends etc) and as a ritual, enjoy coffee in three stages: Abol, Tona and Baraqa. The first cup is made the strongest (Abol), leading up to the third cup as the weakest brew (Baraqa). Traditionally, popcorn and bread is consumed with the coffee as well.

In the ceremony, the guests arrived and were given a small introduction on the process of the ceremony itself. In Ethiopia these are the steps that ensue in a typical ceremony:• Roasting the coffee beans• Letting the guests inhale the smell

of the roasting beans• Pounding the beans in a mortar and

pestle• Adding coffee with hot water and

letting it sit for 4 to 5 minutes.• Pouring coffee and drinking it,

repeating the three stagesThe guests watched the beans being

roasted in the Dhaka Dough kitchen then they were all given a chance to crush the beans in the mortar and pestle, and finally drank the coffee in mason jars (conventional cups were not provided as the store likes to use easily available, eco-friendly products and reuse or upcycle things).

The guests waited for their second serving of coffee as they munched on the food, and the most exciting part was adding salt to their coffee. Salt has a special significance in this ceremony and they all added their part to get a different taste.

The result? Try it for yourself. From our side, we only saw smiles. n

Visitat:Dhaka Dough Ground Floor House 1/A, Road 2/A, Block J, Baridhara, Dhaka

Photo: Dhaka Dough


resilienCe | PhOTO STORy 9

Almost an entire year after the devastating earthquake in Nepal, life goes on in this picturesque country nestled among the mountains of the Himalayas. The destruction that occurred during and following the fateful calamity that struck on April 25 last year, left thousands of people dead, injured and missing. The entire nation had come to a halt.

However, with time, as is the norm with everything, the gaping wound that the earthquake left at its wake has also healed, somewhat. Life in the capital, as well as the rest of the nation, has managed to clamber out of the debris and resume its course.

Remnants of the earthquake’s destruction can be seen everywhere throughout country, alongside which, a more or less regularity of life has come out – alongside the praying and lamenting over countless loved ones lost. But the resolve of the Nepalese people is as indomitable as the mountains they live among.

Kathmandu, Nepal: life after earthquakePhotos: Fahad Bin Sakhawat


10 PhOTO STORy | resilienCe


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12 INTeRvIew | arChiTeCTure

Often referred to as ‘the bamboo architect,’ Vo Trong Nghia is a Vietnamese architect and a champion of

sustainability. Having founded his firm not long ago in 2006, Vo Trong Nghia Architects is the recipient of several awards such as that of the World Architecture Festival (2014), ARCASIA Building of the Year (2012) and many others.

I had a chance to chat with him while he was in Dhaka recently for Bengal Institute’s ‘Now! Next’ symposiums. Despite his renown, I found him extremely down-to-earth, passionately discussing his philosophy while maintaining a continuous smile.

WhatdoyouthinkaboutDhaka?Really high density like in Vietnam, and a lot of people in the city. Also it has the same problems, like lack of greenery and overpopulation. With the development of the economy, you will be facing urbanism problems, architecture problems, and also societal

problems like mentality illness or inactive children.

WhatwasitlikegrowingupinVietnam?WhataretheinfluencesofVietnaminyourarchitecture?I was in a small village in the centre of Vietnam with a lot of nature around. I like that life, surrounded by nature, with a lot of greenery, farms, cows, and forests. Then you feel happy. Even though we didn’t have electricity back then, it was more relaxed. In more developed places, people have to work hard, and deal with a lot of stressful things.

Howdidyoudecidetobecomeanarchitect?I thought, if I become an architect, I will be rich. But I was wrong. To be an architect, you have to love architecture, then work unlimited hours, but the payment is not very big.

Wasthereanythingmorethanthewantingtobecomerich?

Now, I find that architecture and an architect can make human beings more connected to nature, like when I was a child.

Youhavecalledbamboothegreensteelforthe21stcentury.Couldyou

elaborateonthat?Yes, I think it is. For example, in Bangladesh you have a lot of bamboo. A bamboo structure is light, so it is really good for the soft foundation you have in Bangladesh. You can make restaurants, cafés, and schools with bamboo, I think it’s the best material for Bangladesh, especially for rural areas.

Wedohavealotofbamboo,butinBangladesh,peopledon’tconsideritalongtermmaterial.It depends on the treatment. If you give it good treatment, it can have a long life. For example, if you submerge it into the river three to four months then smoke it to black, then it can be used like timber. It lasts 30 to 50 years, like timber.

Howdoyousmokethebambooblack?With the outer cover of the rice, the husk. We burn that, and then use that smoke for the process.

Ifwewanttochangepeople’smindsaboutbamboo,howcanweconvincethemthatitcanbecost-effectiveorbeautiful?You don’t have to convince them too much. You just start to build some small things, and they start to like that

Green steel: An interview with architect Vo Trong NghiaOn creating structures that endureAmer A Habib


13

very quickly. For example, you have a lot of clients for restaurants or cafes, you just build it with bamboo and later they will like that.

Sinceyou’veworkedwithbambooinVietnamforalongtime,hasthepricechangedbecauseit’sbecomingmorepopular?No, not like that, but one time they cut down all bamboo forests for rubber plantations, which led to a fall in the number of available bamboo. But now the rubber plantations have been taken down and they have started to plant bamboo again.

IreadthatyourthesisattheUniversityofTokyowasonpassiveventilation.Howimportantisthatinyourdesignapproach?That’s the most important thing to deal with in tropical climates. Because we use the shadow system of the trees, and play with the sunlight and air ventilation for cooling, we can create really perfect natural air-conditioning.

InBangladesh,manyclientswantmechanicalventilationandair-conditioning.HowdoyouconvinceyourclientsinVietnamtoacceptpassivecooling?They can turn on the air-conditioning, and can also open the windows for natural ventilation. Once they get used to the natural ventilation, they become more comfortable with it and then never turn on the air-conditioning.

Ofthemanybuildingsyouhaveseenaroundtheworld,whichisyourfavourite?I like the Prada building in Tokyo by Herzog De Meuron, and also the library building by Louis Kahn in the US.

Arethereareanysimilaritiesbetweenhislibraryprojectandournationalparliament?Yes. That’s what brought me here to Dhaka, to see the Louis Khan building.

Ofallyourprojects,whichisyourfavourite?My team and I spend a lot of energy on each project, so it’s hard to say which one is the best of us. Every one of them is very close to me.

Whofundsyourlow-costhousingproject,S1,whichcostapproximately$4000?We do it by ourselves. I think this really fits with Bangladesh because of your soft foundation. The S1 house will be really good for low-income people. It’s a

really high standard quality and design, but it is also low cost. I think architects usually focus on rich people and tend to forget like 60% of the population. That’s why we wish to offer them good things, good products, but at a low cost. I think the market in Bangladesh is big for that. People can buy the frame for around $1500, and can have the base structure for an entire house without any maintenance for 50 years.

InAljazeera’sseries‘RebelArchitecture,’theyshowedyourwork,andinittherewasascenewhereyoupresentadesignforagreenhousingproject.Itlookedlikeyouwerehavingaverystressfulmeetingtoconvincetheclient.Luckily its successful now. They sold all 2,550 of the houses within 6 months.

WhatwouldyouliketoseeinBangladeshintermsofarchitecture?I think this place is facing the same problem as Vietnam, with a big population in a small area. We need to do the same thing to bring back greenery to the city. I work with the government in Vietnam, but it’s very hard to convince them to change the law. But here, if you work with the government and convince them about ensuring that every house or building has a green roof, then the situation can change for the better in just 3 to 5 years.

Sincegovernmentsarehardtoconvince,isthissomethingyouthinkshouldcomefromtheprivatesector?

To change the law is very difficult. We aim our projects with the intention of increasing the greenery of the city, but what’s more important is that the government release the regulation to push everybody to do it.

Thereisaconcernaboutglobalisation,anddesignsarenowoftenstartingtolookallthesame.ThesamebuildingfromDubaiisbeingputupinTokyoandthereisnoconnectiontothecontextortheculture.Whatshouldyoungarchitectsdotoprotectthemselvesfromthat,orhowcantheychangeit?They need to clean up their minds. For example, Dhaka has the context of high density, the weather, and the materials here. If they know that very well, they will know how to deal with it.

Doyouthinkglobalisationisaproblem?No. That is the trend. We either follow it or we don’t. It depends on you. With globalisation you can learn things very fast. We can look up anything on the internet, but we also need to learn to be at the place, to know the weather, to know the culture, to know relevant details, and then you translate it all in the work you do.

Whatadvicewouldyougivetoayoungarchitectlikeme?[Laughs] I think you should work with your heart, body and soul.n

Photos: Courtesy


14 MuSINGS | youTh

Youth in peacebuilding

The youth of this country are and will be key actors in Bangladeshi development and peacebuilding. They

have had an important role in the history of Bangladesh, contributing at key points and extending their hands to build and keep peace.

For example, during the fall of the military dictatorship in 1990, students roared against the military powers so that democratic practice could be re-established, a prerequisite for an effective peacebuilding environment.

Indeed, young people are deeply concerned with and support local development, and over the decades they have engaged in various types of peacebuilding activities, with the knowledge that quality leadership, organised efforts and the implementation of effective strategies can contribute to peacebuilding and development.

Key contributionsAccording to the National Youth Policy of Bangladesh, youth are those aged 15 to 35, or a third of the total population in Bangladesh. They are willing to volunteer and donate their time and expertise without expecting profit, but they lack a key platform to give them the chance.

However, the youth of today are now rising up and facing these obstacles, with the help of established organisations or through their own

initiatives.For example, the British Council’s

Active Citizens programme works with participants who discuss and engage with several social issues, including sexual harassment.

Action Aid Bangladesh also runs an integrated programme for adolescents, enabling them to contribute their services to the slum areas of Dhaka and Chittagong. This has supported tremendous work in diminishing conflicts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts between indigenous populations and Bengalis.

These adolescents have also taken part in a number of other programmes to help resolve conflict issues around combatting violence against women. For example, they developed a key

newsletter with appropriate training, which in turn helped weave harmony between indigenous people and Bengalis by allowing them to showcase their respective literary cultures through the newsletter.

Education for the futureHowever, it is not only through direct efforts at peacebuilding that young people can engage in such issues. Mojar School, or ‘School of Fun’, is a social media based organisation that supports education for street children. Education efforts like these clear the way for ensuring public rights. The children who are provided with the chance to study are able to learn about their rights, and they in turn can grow to be the youth who contribute to the

A storehouse of unfulfilled potential?G M Shoeb Ahmed

G M Shoeb Ahmed is currently working in safety, security and peacebuilding issues in the Bangladesh development sector. Email: [email protected]

advancement of peace building.Similarly, the Lighter Foundation,

a youth based platform, started its journey in 2014. Formed out of a social media campaign, it currently has 210 members. Each member donates Tk101 per month to facilitate various programmes that aim to link peacebuilding with social welfare. Their activities help marginalised people, provide financial aid to those in need and help the victims of natural disasters. They believe that societal welfare can support peacebuilding and ultimately a serene society.

Prejudice towards the young?Youth engagement in peacebuilding is a powerful tool, but there are two sides to every coin. Young people are not well integrated into the NGO scene in Bangladesh. They are looked down on by sponsors and sometimes by political leaders, who traditionally see them as being inferior to their elders. Despite many achievements, this social perspective remains unchanged.

Another downside is the mindset of the youth. My personal perspective is that young people are filled with vigour, but they need to use this properly, which is difficult with the present lack of guidance. Sometimes they pick the wrong road to establish peacebuilding and eventually end up with failure. Therefore, initiatives that aim to support the youth in getting the best out of them will be key. The government does have a National Youth Policy, but the implementation of that policy needs to take place in a more pragmatic way. This includes providing clear opportunities for young people to explain their demands and expectations.

Along with this, a coalition of youth-based NGOs should be developed to provide a base and support youth peacebuilding. Local groups should actively engage young people in all their research and activities. They are a source of motivation, and we should help fuel their aspirations to build a peaceful society in Bangladesh.n


Theirs was the stuff of fairy tale romance. The son of a Supreme Court judge and a charismatic English

professor, he was brought up to be a proper gentleman. She came from the wrong side of the poorest of backwater towns, first in the family to make it to university, relying on nothing but her grit. They were white collar professionals, colleagues who fell in love in their late 20s. I was there – it happened in my living room actually. They moved in, and then moved overseas together for greater opportunities, for both. Careers progressed, and love deepened. About ten years ago, they got married in a picturesque island. Couple of years later they returned to a large wooden house with a big backyard to raise a little girl, and then a boy. Financially secure – they benefited from the asset booms of that decade – it was a time for career change, to follow their hearts. She joined politics. He decided to pursue his passion for writing.

Then the fairy tale ended. While turning 40, she finds that politics is hard work, and merely willing isn’t enough. He is in deep blue funk, with writing going nowhere. Kids are alright, I guess. But the parents most definitely aren’t.

How about a more conventional couple? Both from straight forward middle class families. Met in their 20s through friends, and started seeing each other frequently, and then exclusively. He had an opportunity to move overseas for work. Marriage was the only way for them to be together, even though this meant an end to her career. A decade and three daughters later, she is mostly tired and bitter. Meanwhile, he wonders what might have been had they never met.

These are not isolated incidences. Whether in desh or in the west, I see couples of my age and socioeconomic background, regardless of ethnicity or culture, in stale, unexciting marriages where no one is really at fault, where the fire of passion is buried in repressed memories and forced indifference. And these are the marriages that survive.

Scarily, I joked recently with a friend that I am more likely now to attend a social shindig marking the end of someone’s marriage than a wedding!

What happens? In short, life. It’s hard to navigate the demands of modern life – finances needed for the standard of living we aspire to, but also the expectations of personal achievements we set ourselves, and then there is the social rat race that none of us are really immune from. All that before we throw in the curve ball of raising kids and the emotional and physical tolls that entail.

Of course, there are local variations. But whether in Dhaka or London, for the globalised modern folks, the standard life trajectory is to spend our 20s and early 30s establishing ourselves professionally. In the younger years, this is interspersed with experiences and experimentations – travel, hobbies, intoxicants, and of course, coupling. As we end our 20s, we look for a mate. The conventional wisdom is to experience and experiment before settling with someone – FOMO leads to resentment, after all. Then we spend our 30s into the 40s consolidating career, taking on debt, and making baby – you know, the stuff of life. And when life happens, love ends.

That seems to be the dominant story of people like me. Sure, there is a rare few who have not chosen that

path, and rarer ones who seem to have a happy conjugal life – but then again, who knows the truth behind a closed door! In any case, we are likely to live a reasonably healthy and active life for another two or three decades, so the current blue will likely pass. We see a few older ones picking up their lives already. Even the complications around kids aren’t insurmountable.

But one has to wonder whether we have an efficient life trajectory? Is this the standard path the best one for life satisfaction or personal fulfilment? Can we do better?

Imagine an alternative trajectory where we focus our 20s on child rearing. After all, evolution has made us ready for baby making well before that age. We are certainly better prepared for the grueling acts of baby raising in our 20s than 30s, at least as far as the physical aspects of the tasks are concerned.

Of course, there are also emotional and financial dimensions. Raising a kid solo would be pretty hard I’d imagine at any age. But who is proposing solo?

Imagine you have a mate – not soul, but one who is compatible for all the baby stuff, surrounded by a social network that is more real than virtual. A young couple with ample support, might that not be better than a middle aged one on their own?

But how do these young people find

each other?Well, isn’t courting and choosing

your own mate a relatively recent phenomenon? Might we learn something from the older generations? What if parents and family networks played a bigger role in setting these kids up for the baby-venture? On balance, arranged marriages like this might be quite good at matching people with compatible and complimentary needs. I’d contend that this would actually be much more efficient than the alternative of liquid or haze induced evenings that lead to usual couplings.

Let me pause here and stress that I do not by any means call for a return to patriarchy. If anything, I’d have thought that if arranged marriages were to become norm, it would have to involve a great deal of gender equity. And why not? The institution itself doesn’t lead to patriarchy. Nothing stops a girl’s family to seek a guy who will do his share of chores, and at the right age stay at home and look after the baby.

If babies are out of the way in our 20s, we can start career or self-fulfilment in our 30s or later. For one thing, this would be better for gender equity as women won’t be falling behind because of child bearing. For either gender, parenthood would make us more resilient and mature for career or similar challenges in life.

And what about those experiences and experiments? Well, why not have some fun in our 40s?

If you should be so lucky, your baby-venture partner might be the one you would be having such fun with. But even if you arrive at a stagnant point as you turn 40, with kids well into their teens, pulling up the stumps and beginning afresh would be much easier. Particularly so, if there is a large pool of 40ish newly single people out there.

And therein lies the problem. Arguably the trajectory I describe is better for personal and social well-being. But how do we go from our sociocultural norms to that?

I haven’t a foggiest clue. Instead, let’s listen to some music. n

- Jyoti Rahman is an infrequent blogger

relaTionships | MuSINGS 15

Is there really a formula for making love last?Jyoti Rahman

The case for arranged marriage


16 LeGaLeSe | Jennifer ashraf

I own a factory in Tongi, and recently there have been quite a few raids in my office by the police. These raids have

happened in the past – sometimes the police officers have search warrants, sometimes they don’t. Once they claimed that I was hiring foreigners (expats) without valid work permits and that they needed to check the premises to verify it. I am getting a little concerned now. Can my premises really be invaded without a search warrant? On what basis is a search warrant granted?

DearReader,Wow. It really does feel like someone has it in for you and is determined to make your life a little

difficult. Maybe they could be calling in anonymously and giving false reports. Or perhaps, the local people have had their suspicions aroused by your factory’s activities. Human nature often makes us susceptible to wild theories, so it is worth investigating if that is the case here. Now, let me answer your queries and try to explain your legal position in this instance.

The legal authorities in Bangladesh have powers to conduct raids and spot inspections on grounds of industrial factories and offices, if they suspect illegal activities or generally to ensure that the appropriate laws and regulations are being followed in the proper manner. However, for this purpose, the authorities are required to obtain a search warrant to conduct such raids. With regard to the spot checks/inspections pertaining to immigration, the authorities are empowered to conduct regular inspections and deport any foreigner who is not holding a valid visa. Therefore, it is the company’s duty to ensure that any employed foreigners or expatriates hold a valid Bangladeshi working visa while being employed by the company

There are no such provisions in Bangladesh law which would allow leverage of local laws and regulations in order to avoid or postpone spot checks

Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi is a barrister and solicitor of England and Wales. She is currently Senior Partner at Legacy Legal Corporate

Q

A

and inspections. If the authorities are in possession of a valid search warrant, and they are either prevented from entering the premises or the staff would behave uncooperatively, it may be viewed as an ‘obstruction of justice,’ and is therefore inadvisable.

If suspicion exists about whether a place is being use for the deposit or sale of stolen property, a District Magistrate or a Government empowered Executive Magistrate may authorise search and inspection of such a place by issuing a warrant, which can be executed by any police-officer above the rank of constable. Such a warrant can also be issued upon suspicion of a place being used for deposit or sale of any forged documents, false seals, counterfeit stamps and coins, or for any instruments or materials for

counterfeiting coins or stamps. The same applies for the deposit, sale, manufacture or production of any obscene objects.

Warrants are also granted for the seizure of any publication which is grossly indecent, scurrilous or obscene; or may contain defamatory content against the President of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister of the Government, the Speaker of Parliament or the Chief Justice of Bangladesh; or which may contain any words or visible representations which incite, or which are likely to incite, any person or class of persons to commit any cognisable offence.

Warrants are also granted in the event that any Metropolitan or Executive Magistrate has reason to believe that a person or persons are

being wrongfully confined in any specific premises. Such warrants will give the bearer of the warrant the right to conduct they search for the person(s) allegedly confined. If the said person(s) is found during the event of the search, he/she should not be kept in detention but be immediately brought forward in front of a Magistrate who shall make the appropriate order as deemed proper by the circumstances of the case.

Such a warrant will enable the authorised Police Officer to enter the place specified in the warrant in or to search and inspect it in the manner specified in the warrant. The Officer will also be able to take possession or seize any property, documents, seals, stamps or any other materials which he believes to be stolen, forged, false or counterfeit, or obscene. Such documents will be inspected and placed by the Officer before a Magistrate. Alternatively, the Officer may also guard the same on the spot until the offender is taken before a Magistrate or dispose of the documents in some place of safety. Traditionally, the latter is more commonly followed, as the documents can be inspected leisurely to determine whether their presentation before a Magistrate will be justified.

However, it is worth noting that these powers are only applicable in instances where stolen property, forged documents, etc, is suspected to be involved. As per case law, if the Magistrate does not mention the place to be searched for stolen property, then the search warrant is illegal. I hope I have been able to give you a comprehensive view of the situation. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require further assistance in this matter.n

Unwarranted incursion

Illustration: Priyo/Dhaka Tribune


Dina sobhan | TOuGh LOve 17

Dear Dina,I don’t know what is wrong with me. I have a good life – a sweet, supportive husband

entirely devoted to me, a cute and comfortable house, a job pretty much made for me, and wonderful friends. I should be grateful – and I am, at least on a theoretical level. And yet, most days I feel...the opposite of feeling. When I’m in bed, it takes a tremendous amount of willpower to get out and face the day, even though I’m wide awake. When I’m at work, I find myself looking for excuses to put off going home. It’s not like I’m unhappy – in fact, just looking at me, or talking to me, one wouldn’t guess there’s anything wrong. And if you asked me what I want instead, I wouldn’t really have an answer. So why does everything feel like a drag? Sincerely, Blah

DearBlahblahblah,A more sensitive person might be concerned that you are suffering from

depression and are not responsible for your present feelings. I, however, am not that person and am compelled to tell you to snap out of your middle-class melancholia. This inability to appreciate the bounty that surrounds you is merely symptomatic of a spoiled princess who is used to the good things in life. Maybe what you need is a hefty hoof applied to your ample backside in the form of some hardship. Say, your husband cheating on you with your best friend. Or your boss to suddenly realise that you’re overpaid and under-skilled and relieve you of your duties. You’ll suddenly wake up one day, alone in your empty bed with unwashed hair and nowhere to go, and spend your days eating mishti on the sofa while watching reruns of Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi. Just visualize your life in the latter scenario, and then fall on the floor in gratitude for the life you do have. n

Dear Dina,I am a man in my 30’s, hailing from a fairly well-off background. Due

to certain exigent circumstances, I was never able to complete my formal education beyond high school. I educated myself through extensive reading, watching movies and television, and travel. I have a job that pays decent wages, which I got on my own, without needing references from my family. All in all, I am grateful at how well things have turned out, all things considering. Recently, my family has been trying to find a match for me, and somehow they always make a point of mentioning my lack of a degree. Should a piece of paper carry so much weight as to negate everything else that I have to bring to the table?

DearGED,While you are certainly eloquent in the description of your predicament, you

fail to mention what circumstances led to it. I mean, were you otherwise occupied – say, in prison – when you should have been finishing your college degree? Were you detained on a drug run from Amsterdam, or smuggling diamonds out of Sierra Leone? Or were you saving the Amazonian rainforest or rescuing beached whales off the coast of New Zealand? Your failure to elaborate what else you have to ‘bring to the table’ is what is worrisome. Your degree shouldn’t matter but only if you have something more impressive and remarkable to contribute to the world than yet another South Asian with an Economics degree vying for a plum position at the World Bank. Your role in all of this is to prove that your character isn’t defined by that third-rate degree you would have otherwise slogged to obtain at NSU. n

Dina Sobhan is a free-lance writer, a part-time counsellor and a full-time mom

Cartoon: Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune

All by my lonesome


18 STay IN

S u d o k u

use the numbers 1-9 to complete each of the 3x3 square grids such that each

horizontal and vertical line also contains all of the digits from 1-9

Last week’s sudoku solutions

Last

wee

k’s

solu

tion

s

Clues

Solved it? Email answers to [email protected] and win one free month of the Dhaka Tribune.

Mini crypticshoroscopes

Aries(Mar21-Apr19)- Ideas that are generally hard to find and hard to invent or design will be popping in your head this week.

Taurus(Apr20-May20)-Dreams are dreamt to make impossibilities a part of reality. So keep dreaming and keep going until you reach the point where you’ve realised you’ve reached your goal.

Gemini(May21-June20)-The balance that has taken over your dual life will bring you prosperity, good luck and confidence to move forward with things in life.

Cancer(June21-Jul22)-Put on some nice clothes and sexy perfume to greet the movers and shakers in your work life.

Leo(Jul23-Aug22)-It’s time to do some soul searching on your part and find out what makes you tick and what makes you roar.

Virgo(Aug23-Sep22)-All your secret desires and fantasies come pouring out of your never written novel or your daily journal.

Libra(Sep23-Oct22)-Relationships will be tricky this week, as it will depend on the stability of your mood. Try working on that and stay as cool as you possibly can be without getting into much conflict.

Scorpio(Oct23-Nov21)- Since it is spring we suggest you start by de-cluttering some people out of your life. Especially those that annoy the living bejesus out of you: keep in mind some of these people may be very close to you but may not always want what’s best for you.

Sagittarius(Nov22-Dec21)- As far as you are concerned this week you are eye candy to all and feel free to flirt carelessly.

Capricorn(Dec22-Jan19)-The question for you this week is whether or not your home is where your heart resides.

Aquarius(Jan20-Feb18)-Who’s a social butterfly with wings to spare this week? It’s you, it’s you and the praises are all for you!

Pisces(Feb19-Mar20)-A little bit of shopping never hurt anyone. Especially when you’ve been wearing clothes from the 16th century.

aCrOss1 He tans anew in

Greece (6)6 Phone software and

the French fruit (5)7 Profession of

confused Croat (5) 8 Country road first in

refusal (6)

DOwNDOWN2 Gadget ordered at store (7)3 Rope I am untangling for

shops (7)4 Observe the show of hidden

anger (6)5 Get boat refurbished at home

(6)

ACROSS1 Discover fat free contains raisin

first (5)5 One card (3) 6 Act unconcerned about quiet

carpet (5)8 Painful sound after final gift (5)10 It writes notes in blue initially (3)11 Turn left in mix together (5)

DOWN1 Takes heed of tangled tinsels (7)2 The appearance of ether (3)3 Badger horse (3)4 Revitalised Frenchman married (7)7 Uruguay’s first Royal Navy vessel (3)8 Go out with Emma’s big brother

initially (3)9 Deer act before end of June (3)


GO OuT 19

Weekly Planner

Movies|RedShiftClassicMovies:KramervKramerWhen7pm Where Red Shift Coffee Lounge, Radius Centre, 5th Floor, Bay’s Galleria, 57 Gulshan Avenue, Gulshan, Dhaka. WhatThis film is about the tangled aftermath of a divorce. It’s relevant to modern life because the issues it raises have never really gone away, which explains why it’s amazing to watch to this day. Kramer Vs Kramer has also become a textbook example of film technique so that anyone interested in the details of movie making, how to direct, act and write, will find it indispensable.

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Jane Alexander.

Entry and Popcorn: Tk200

Workshop|WaterColourWorkshopbyLiza’sBrushes2

When 10:30pmWhereLeela, 3rd Floor. 60E Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Banani, Dhaka 1213 Dhaka What LEELA is happy to bring you the second of the monthly workshops with Liza.

The schedule:April 22nd: 10:30am - 12:30pmApril 23rd: 7:00pm - 9:00pmApril 24th: 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Everything in this workshop is about water colour.

Liza will work on the techniques

and also cover the short history of water colour.

Age: 16+. The charge for the 3 day workshop is Tk5000. You are requested to pay on the 20th. Those who want to attend will have to register at

[email protected], and they will send you a confirmation mail. Send your name and phone number.

Liza will provide the colours, brushes, papers, boards and palettes for everyone. She will also teach the attendees about different kinds of paper and different kinds of brushes. She will be bringing tools for the technique with her to class.

Seats are limited, only 15 participants. So book your place by sending them an email.

Concert|JazzinCharukolaWhen 7pm Where Bokul Tola, Faculty Of Fine Arts, University Of Dhaka, 1205 Dhaka, BangladeshWhatNot too long ago, three individuals merged to jointly explore their common passion together, forming Mohai’s Trio - a trio dedicated to this genre known as Jazz.

The band will be performing a set of originals and jazz standards. The trio will be leading the evening with Mohaimin Karim’s bass lines accompanied by Imran Ahmed’s crafty guitar works and Arjo Shrestho’s melodic drum playing.

It’s the perfect kind of night for anyone who knows that he/she is going to be feeling bored on a Saturday night. It’s free for all.

About the Trio - Mohaimin Karim picked up the

bass because of its unique sound and possibilities. He was able to grow as a musician by playing with some of the finest musicians in Dhaka, and is known as the bass player of the well-acclaimed jazz fusion band

in town - Imran Ahmed Quintet. Mohaimin started off with funk but is significantly influenced by jazz, fusion, blues, RnB, soul, hip-hop and progressive rock. His ambition is to explore and master these areas of music by evolving in a continuous process.

Imran Ahmed is a composer, guitar player from Bangladesh heavily influenced by jazz and Indian classical music. Having opened for the legendary John McLaughlin and Shai Maestro at last year’s premiere of Jazz and Blues Festival, Imran Ahmed has been mainly performing as part of the self-titled Imran Ahmed Quintet in Dhaka as well as collaborating with other artists.

Arjo Shrestho has been playing drums for a few years. He has been trying to understand the sound that his instrument produces to further enhance his understanding of music. Musicians such as Peter Erskine and Bill Evans have a significant influence in the way he approaches his kit.

Apr 22-23

Apr 22 Apr 25-30Apr 24

Apr 23

Education|MeetMQUAustraliaWhen3:30pmWhereExecutive Trade International Office, Concord Royal Court (3rd floor), House 40, Road 27(old), Dhanmondi, Dhaka.What Macquarie University in Sydney is a public University in Australia, with a diverse community of approximately 35,000 students including 12,000 international students from over 114 countries.

It is our great pleasure to announce Macquarie University’s representative is coming to visit Bangladesh during April 2016. This is a great opportunity to talk about your study opportunities and scholarship options at Macquarie University, and what it is like to live at Sydney, Australia.

Call us today and book your seat to meet Tanveeer Shaheed,

Senior Country Manager (South Asia) of Macquarie University at the following event:

Please call for appointment: 01715-441-113, 01711-385-455

Note: Please bring your relevant academic documents (including transcripts / certificates, IELTS results, etc) and a copy of your passport.

Other benefits:* One on one interaction with MQ representative* Application fee waiver* On spot application submission & assessment* Scholarship for qualified students* Application and Visa Process

Weblink: http://etibd.com/mqu-australia/

Food|TheGreatTasteofChinaWhen 2pmWhereThe Westin Dhaka, Main Gulshan Avenue, Plot-01, Road 45, 1212 Dhaka, BangladeshWhatCelebrate the Chinese Year of the Monkey at the Westin Dhaka, with culinary artists - Chef Mingjing Li from St Regis Chengdu, Chef Haiwei Wang, and Chef Qianjin Ding from Beijing. Sizzle your tastebuds for a week with exotic Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine from the northern, southern and western provinces of China at the Westin Dhaka!

Venue: Seasonal TastesDinner only.Buffet price: Tk4800 (Net) per person For reservations, call +880-1730374871 or +88-02-9891988.


So last time, I was talking about how Jellybean started at her new school. Before she did, she was home with me

for more than two years and since we lived in an apartment building and there weren’t that many little kids her age, she had become very lonely and antisocial. Her speech wasn’t fluent yet and she would mostly speak in gibberish. It had become essential that she meet other little kids her age and learn to interact.

So when we did find her new school and admitted her, we were very apprehensive as to how she would behave. Jellybean was very used to having me around most of the time and was quite clingy. When we did take her to school on the day of admission, we saw that she was at least curious to go out and explore the rooms with the attendant. Seeing this, we felt confident that the decision we made was positive.

On the official first day, The Husband and I were excited and nervous at the same time. We woke her up, fed and dressed her, and took her to school. The principal allowed kids to stay only a half to an hour maximum during the first week. This was to get the child oriented to the environment and people around her.

Jellybean saw the toys on the Playgroup table and was immediately transfixed. We stood outside the room’s door, just in view but not too close to disturb. She looked around for us from time to time, and sometimes she would run out. But she didn’t cry or create a fuss. The first few days went by, then a week and by the end of two weeks, she was saying bye to us and heading in on

her own. Of course I was a weepy mess as to

how my kolija was able to stay without me. That’s the things about kids. Sometimes they can be the biggest pain in the neck, and yet we can’t stay a single moment without them. When Jellybean isn’t jumping around and annoying the heck out of us, it feels unnatural and out of place.

Within a month, Jellybean was in love with her school and when there were days when she couldn’t go, she would get really annoyed and cranky. She had also made friends and we soon found out that despite her skinny frame, she was a big bully. She didn’t take crap from anyone and would give boka and shake her little finger at some poor little kid if they didn’t listen to her. As endearing as that was, I could foresee a not-too-distant-future where Jellybean was a dominating drama queen and had us quivering in fear.

Yes, I do exaggerate and over-emphasise everything, or else it’s no fun! Haha!

The best part was how fast Jellybean had learnt new things. We were amazed at the rhymes she would recite at home, and the small phrases of English she would surprise us with from time to time.

One day during lunch, she asked my mother-in-law if she had had lunch, and when she received a positive reply, she grinned and said, “Belly goot!”

The morsel of food I was taking up to my mouth paused in mid-air and almost fell out of my hand. I could feel tears of pride prickling at my eyes as my eyes slowly filled up. I decided to finish my lunch before smothering her in a

tidal wave of affection!All the improvements made us

realise as to how deprived she had been all these days. We had tried the best we could do and have fun but the joy she would have received from kids her own age was unmatched. We saw how much happier she was after starting school and knew it was all worth it.

By now I’m sure you’re wondering how we managed to ferry Jellybean to and fro from school, right? The funny thing is, Jellybean’s school timings were from 10.30 am till 12 pm – right in the middle of the morning! So unless someone was free all morning to take and bring her, there wasn’t any other way she could go.

For the first two months, I was home, so I used to take and bring her. But in the third month I started work and that was when the real crisis struck. The Husband offered to take her to school in the morning, and go a little take to work, but then who would bring her back?

Luckily, my father-in-law was retired and working in a consultancy firm. He spoke to the company and adjusted timings, so that he could go after 12 pm, and that’s how we managed the commute. However, since I was at work for most of the day, and my mother-in-law came home at 3 pm, so we needed someone to look after Jellybean from 12-3 pm. We already had an elderly

maid who was with us for a long time and used to come in the mornings. We decided to keep her longer until 3 pm. But I wasn’t too happy leaving Jellybean alone with the maid because firstly, she didn’t understand Jellybean and couldn’t communicate with her properly, and secondly, I wasn’t sure if she would put in that much effort as a family member would. Coincidentally The Husband’s grandma, our beloved Nani, was staying with us at that time and she decided to help us out. For a 70-something year old, she is still pretty fit and could communicate with Jellybean as well.

With everyone pitching in and helping, I was able to return to work in peace. I cannot describe how important that is for a new working mom.

More about that next week! n

20 The BONG MOMMa | Tales froM a firsT-TiMe MoM

Minu Ahmed is your not-so-average homemaker, norm-shirker and abomination of awesomeness, juggling a career in communication, mother- hood and a fatter half. Questions? Send to [email protected]

Too Cool For SchoolPhoto: Bigstock

Minu Ahmed

I could foresee a not-too-distant-future where Jellybean was a dominating drama queen and had us quivering in fear

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ChandinaComilla

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09.00 % 03 Months10.00 % 06 Months11.00 % 01 Year

11.50 % 02 Years13.00 % 05 YearsDouble 07 Years

april 14, 2016

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