tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201211752024-03-19T00:16:12.546-07:00Back to BangladeshOur experiences upon return to Bangladesh after 30 years abroad.ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-80076845449549438252012-11-25T03:35:00.006-08:002012-11-25T04:13:25.647-08:00Lifelines<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I recently bought a copy of <i>Lifelines</i>, an anthology of short stories in English by Bangladeshi women. It is edited by Farah Ghuznavi and published by Zubaan, New Delhi.<br />
<br />
<i>Lifelines</i> contains fifteen short stories of varied topic and length by Shabnam Nadiya, Sabrina Ahmad, Srabanti Ali, Sharbari Ahmed, Farah Ghuznavi, Abeer Hoque, Tisa Muhaddes, S. Bari, Munize Manzur, Lori S. Khan, Shazia Omar, Iffat Nawaz, Rubaiyat Khan, Sadaf Siddiqi and Alizeh Ahmed.<br />
<br />
The book surprises, delights, provokes or saddens in every page. The protagonists - whether living here or overseas as non-resident Bangladeshis - inhabit a world with love and longing and loss and fulfillment, arranged marriages, coming of age, household maids and their wayward masters, spousal abuse, and male-female double standards.<br />
<br />
I found all the stories, which have a uniquely Bangladeshi flavor and character, to be excellent. Here are a few that stayed in my mind: <br />
<br />
The well-paced epistolary story "Bookends," by Munize Manzur has an older man looking for the lost love of his youth, while in "Mehendi Dreams," Lori Khan takes an unblinking look at the standards of beauty in this society with its fascination for fairness.<br />
<br />
Sadaf Siddiqi's life-affirming "Daydreams" deals with premarital love in the village and its consequences and in "Wax Doll," Abeer Hoque examines the clash of traditional and modern mores among the well-to-do.<br />
<br />
"Teacher Shortage," Shabnam Nadiya's story is a searing condemnation of physical abuse, while Ghuznavi's "Getting There" examines the tugs of family responsibilities on a successful single woman. Shazia Omar's "Table for Three" is a satisfying short story in the classical mold.<br />
<br />
If you believe, as I do, that Bangladesh stands on the cusp of big change, then these stories form a deft characterization of the lives of her people as they face this change.<br />
<br />
The book is available in Dhaka at Aranya, Bookworm and other bookstores carrying English books. My warm congratulations to the editor, authors for this significant accomplishment. Zubaan has done well to publish this selection.</div>
ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com99tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-72850400487858666552012-06-08T10:08:00.000-07:002012-11-25T04:18:19.081-08:00My Book on Sundarban<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GY2jVMJX49lKzP38vH-VbMI-DRE55ePBZ75ZOOtTe6JUzKuhpcQ_UfafaR1MuNsPs_1I0qRoGdUe3Ng4cpL7qad2fC0SKxL5x7Ga6jrgmiPUeHzwszj-hTJlUmEBzEdUUq_7xQ/s1600/cover1lores.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GY2jVMJX49lKzP38vH-VbMI-DRE55ePBZ75ZOOtTe6JUzKuhpcQ_UfafaR1MuNsPs_1I0qRoGdUe3Ng4cpL7qad2fC0SKxL5x7Ga6jrgmiPUeHzwszj-hTJlUmEBzEdUUq_7xQ/s320/cover1lores.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
My photo book on Sundarban is now <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3302079%22%3E%3C/a%3E">available from Blurb</a>. The book is called Sundarban - A Photographic Journey. It shows some of the things you might see on a tour of Sundarban (Bangladesh) with a commercial tour company. Please check it out and let me know any comments and questions.<br />
<br />
UPDATE Nov 2012: An expanded form of this book is now available in Dhaka. It can be purchased at Bookworm, Aranya and the Omni bookstore in the airport. </div>
ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com146tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-64156686370308216422012-04-11T19:33:00.001-07:002012-04-11T19:33:47.605-07:00Shubho NoboBorsho! Happy New Year!
<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxz1EL3XA4WYxB6HyXw0kmniiUuIZ6twBJs0YEZgy_eU8hcx6E1rH3fWzBl_44ry1Urq10na4xn8VVQYv0BusjTbeZWPJweneq9X1983kp8k_CWs6oL5EicGLWbSnYQXZ9F64skg/s1600/nobo800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="394" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxz1EL3XA4WYxB6HyXw0kmniiUuIZ6twBJs0YEZgy_eU8hcx6E1rH3fWzBl_44ry1Urq10na4xn8VVQYv0BusjTbeZWPJweneq9X1983kp8k_CWs6oL5EicGLWbSnYQXZ9F64skg/s400/nobo800.jpg" /></a></div>ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-25687248920801188162012-03-07T21:07:00.000-08:002012-03-07T21:07:18.406-08:00BagerhatBagerhat, a small town, is less than an hour's drive from Khulna, about two hours from Jessore. It was founded by the great sufi mystic and warrior Khan Jahan Ali. There are several old mosques in the area, the most famous being the Shait Gombuj Mosque (Mosque of Sixty Domes.) That is a misnomer - it actually has 77 domes, supported by 60 columns inside. There are several other mosques (9-dome mosque, 10-dome mosque, Shingair mosque, and Ronbijoypur mosque which has the largest dome of any mosque in Bangladesh.) The shrine of Khan Jahan Ali is also in this town. Definitely worth a visit. <p>
I loved the inside of the Shait Gombuj which dates from 1450ish. Here are three photos. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAPqlj3Tr_5NLq36CqSxRIyYqpiIoaKcCuK5MZBQnWknekDiemteMrj_LEipD3dZ-dXfJnngtERSc4KY0zvCwHjULlOdutvCPSmiqxm_L_YtoRmNGg0Kzsq1aoVcUfDnI-omaxQ/s1600/shait3final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAPqlj3Tr_5NLq36CqSxRIyYqpiIoaKcCuK5MZBQnWknekDiemteMrj_LEipD3dZ-dXfJnngtERSc4KY0zvCwHjULlOdutvCPSmiqxm_L_YtoRmNGg0Kzsq1aoVcUfDnI-omaxQ/s400/shait3final.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDK2K2ur0-hlX8greFcqGq9xcHV1PkNuKOS8APSB_Zc73mDENUHeR8CltyJHmS2gjvTKPr-uVo5ojw69_5crtRJ_DUJH12Y5un4fks9D_TM7FsRdeA9u3v_lnWwCX3svATYoROA/s1600/shait4final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="269" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDK2K2ur0-hlX8greFcqGq9xcHV1PkNuKOS8APSB_Zc73mDENUHeR8CltyJHmS2gjvTKPr-uVo5ojw69_5crtRJ_DUJH12Y5un4fks9D_TM7FsRdeA9u3v_lnWwCX3svATYoROA/s400/shait4final.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBf8v4-EtxzzdBm8XvVVLQImB3qxSbhVFHaWb0o9AIsIMMOvlQTjN6Oi7HlouIX9P9eC0XQMIfumj0pfsYTB80vbukdVAhBZnYHMgw915YIy0r2RZex3yQ7AZil6gUQb98VE6mA/s1600/shaitgombuj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBf8v4-EtxzzdBm8XvVVLQImB3qxSbhVFHaWb0o9AIsIMMOvlQTjN6Oi7HlouIX9P9eC0XQMIfumj0pfsYTB80vbukdVAhBZnYHMgw915YIy0r2RZex3yQ7AZil6gUQb98VE6mA/s400/shaitgombuj.jpg" /></a></div>ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-60454711664505832412012-02-29T03:26:00.000-08:002012-02-29T03:26:55.957-08:00RIP Eleanor CallahanThis has nothing to do with Bangladesh, but...
Eleanor Callahan, wife, model and muse of the great photographer Harry Callahan, passed away today.<p>
Callahan was an amazing photographer, up there among the best of the best. And Eleanor provided him inspiration and a subject.<p>
Slide show of photos by Harry of Eleanor <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/02/29/obituaries/eleanor-callahan-photos.html">here</a>.ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-79767043293345539532012-02-27T01:06:00.001-08:002012-03-07T21:07:41.915-08:00SoftExpo PhotosSoftExpo, the annual trade fair of BASIS (Bangladesh Assoc. of Software and Information Services), took place last week. It was a comprehensive affair, with software developers, inventors, freelancers, hardware vendors, and of course customers - all meeting up for five tech-heavy days.<p>
Here are some photos. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ7cMAonFLbSf2n_lDJIZhgCavogeKp7_P1DQke5ri2SNqoEuCofSZSVGduPDLOr-7qAoZ6Oq3UJ3HLRgkV9iXnnd6fZpuAJ3AP7fG3A5_ScorMmnpCMr8XIEX9iDp4mzdrFeAA/s1600/basis-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ7cMAonFLbSf2n_lDJIZhgCavogeKp7_P1DQke5ri2SNqoEuCofSZSVGduPDLOr-7qAoZ6Oq3UJ3HLRgkV9iXnnd6fZpuAJ3AP7fG3A5_ScorMmnpCMr8XIEX9iDp4mzdrFeAA/s400/basis-2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0_aznbq-hRc_DiW9GWZHXWE30HCGuWEbYXqgxj8oDx4J7dNiEFVXXyevNkwpxxsQomkTP8B70Lvxde5iAIr6U4I2EKFnWQ090pzricwXe1BHqZuTVsv2oufP4ZMEv3n_9JA__A/s1600/basis-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0_aznbq-hRc_DiW9GWZHXWE30HCGuWEbYXqgxj8oDx4J7dNiEFVXXyevNkwpxxsQomkTP8B70Lvxde5iAIr6U4I2EKFnWQ090pzricwXe1BHqZuTVsv2oufP4ZMEv3n_9JA__A/s400/basis-6.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuvu7U8-YGALs0HEh4Uz0xCr-G6pTRMYSGcl36psIQ1mcp00pAuEzbv-VZJIqllTKzcA5O0JYcDYB8kcquhSWLxktJlnV5huYCMJmtaWn-bY-hiXI3YfxeWk3xS_WqRhegvfTqQ/s1600/basis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuvu7U8-YGALs0HEh4Uz0xCr-G6pTRMYSGcl36psIQ1mcp00pAuEzbv-VZJIqllTKzcA5O0JYcDYB8kcquhSWLxktJlnV5huYCMJmtaWn-bY-hiXI3YfxeWk3xS_WqRhegvfTqQ/s400/basis.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD8LSFKKd0_qBDup1uUe9X_QamU7hrVdUhMJVBycOxQ0GHCokuvzqd4lb-_wZu3x2KUrO58inkVXU2VnEJXYB3ejPCB5waMRcWiW3mGUNVHCl7LXskacRJHesuCMepMzS2VSqqw/s1600/basis-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD8LSFKKd0_qBDup1uUe9X_QamU7hrVdUhMJVBycOxQ0GHCokuvzqd4lb-_wZu3x2KUrO58inkVXU2VnEJXYB3ejPCB5waMRcWiW3mGUNVHCl7LXskacRJHesuCMepMzS2VSqqw/s400/basis-3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgeWjvNemRuzbG5RL051yVqp2J4-MJjUtLbXk1p1oD0FY3CV1FTkE73qq635lBNSWZe0GhtLuoYr9bwRr_kLywWFWYSIIF-e461i0zzLi5y6jMBd46nY_Nfm-6ULzfzPrajqK7g/s1600/basis-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgeWjvNemRuzbG5RL051yVqp2J4-MJjUtLbXk1p1oD0FY3CV1FTkE73qq635lBNSWZe0GhtLuoYr9bwRr_kLywWFWYSIIF-e461i0zzLi5y6jMBd46nY_Nfm-6ULzfzPrajqK7g/s400/basis-4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCbZ8-ps4EYtxqGkGyADrJG_vQmptLkK59z9ZmUqMDrtH1Gw-I3Gr9VIFZqZV5mOM1T1DCN3pMJ0-JRiZC913CDJhfD1M9Il4Xnv1M-6NRyZx82nCDc_S4SlEdWUArYm3ajUOhA/s1600/basis-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCbZ8-ps4EYtxqGkGyADrJG_vQmptLkK59z9ZmUqMDrtH1Gw-I3Gr9VIFZqZV5mOM1T1DCN3pMJ0-JRiZC913CDJhfD1M9Il4Xnv1M-6NRyZx82nCDc_S4SlEdWUArYm3ajUOhA/s400/basis-5.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZMJCWhqVMxmrdoqe2vahsziEtv3wwQd6EqeA-cAiu69AI7nlNNe8s5YLzNXCHlaFDXsG7N49NBxRs2PG2neqq5Crr6nzGW5HIQagnNZ41uwkbtfWSEWs9h5P0REXdfdpILbU9Q/s1600/basis-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZMJCWhqVMxmrdoqe2vahsziEtv3wwQd6EqeA-cAiu69AI7nlNNe8s5YLzNXCHlaFDXsG7N49NBxRs2PG2neqq5Crr6nzGW5HIQagnNZ41uwkbtfWSEWs9h5P0REXdfdpILbU9Q/s400/basis-7.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUjKMbZc6HjjNqlxTMttATJDvOJbGewp5b-5XthBtTy7MkfH14RpozN9HT80_S6lONfGnJqIKvx7zRQtc7h39Qc-hSHVQlYGImUS8tGG61H4155dKyng13kygJ7qZdzPt4DoxMg/s1600/basis-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="306" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUjKMbZc6HjjNqlxTMttATJDvOJbGewp5b-5XthBtTy7MkfH14RpozN9HT80_S6lONfGnJqIKvx7zRQtc7h39Qc-hSHVQlYGImUS8tGG61H4155dKyng13kygJ7qZdzPt4DoxMg/s400/basis-8.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FKdXCZjIQecnYNqyXlVwz17xqYNgQVp8KID2wTLPpmVckx-m-l1lJF7RslWwlqze-TsBSciKQsVgsB3onAGEijX1bDOe-hnhLYMWkb-PAaO_1dhhY0c5tJXhFDigCqPlvnzuCQ/s1600/basis-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FKdXCZjIQecnYNqyXlVwz17xqYNgQVp8KID2wTLPpmVckx-m-l1lJF7RslWwlqze-TsBSciKQsVgsB3onAGEijX1bDOe-hnhLYMWkb-PAaO_1dhhY0c5tJXhFDigCqPlvnzuCQ/s400/basis-9.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OQX5fdty5ibLs8LKqLasjnHTawIyaUsuM3d2g-DIkdSxBAL7j3yF9Idk9p4zwRUvbVGqYKSWiSkJ9swu1Q8hddgIS-kHuz8JLQZGjKkkQika28U7Kva7zcyhJDbhJ-N1IGh86Q/s1600/basis-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OQX5fdty5ibLs8LKqLasjnHTawIyaUsuM3d2g-DIkdSxBAL7j3yF9Idk9p4zwRUvbVGqYKSWiSkJ9swu1Q8hddgIS-kHuz8JLQZGjKkkQika28U7Kva7zcyhJDbhJ-N1IGh86Q/s400/basis-11.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPNPXrQoI4aQfQxzarQYSYa0ZfiidW_gnmynYpS3pVOK58LkTpDlSO25L2Ol4LIF9Izvl94xE2jwBdcOKiPjEKEE0MGEQPrOiQgyk23-Cs2SSKvoYMmdCoH5S6b054vEqRGzW-w/s1600/basis-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPNPXrQoI4aQfQxzarQYSYa0ZfiidW_gnmynYpS3pVOK58LkTpDlSO25L2Ol4LIF9Izvl94xE2jwBdcOKiPjEKEE0MGEQPrOiQgyk23-Cs2SSKvoYMmdCoH5S6b054vEqRGzW-w/s400/basis-10.jpg" /></a></div>ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-17791375753843567962012-02-25T20:00:00.000-08:002012-02-25T20:00:20.414-08:00Sundarban Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkan31TqndQWHQ_xa_IqRL1prkdZSM2QFzDF7VYSDA_cJkMFpBgg_UQn95dmj1EGa9tqDHfz05AKDfRgBi1a90TVQNuAbVdojW9qpGKBUM9-alXRu36kbDsJCIGFoToLdi_O-8w/s1600/golpata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkan31TqndQWHQ_xa_IqRL1prkdZSM2QFzDF7VYSDA_cJkMFpBgg_UQn95dmj1EGa9tqDHfz05AKDfRgBi1a90TVQNuAbVdojW9qpGKBUM9-alXRu36kbDsJCIGFoToLdi_O-8w/s400/golpata.jpg" /></a></div>
Nypa palm (golpata) trees in Sundarban.<p>
Not only is it a beautiful tree, but it provides livelihood for thousands of people who collect its leaf for making roof thatching.<p>
This week my Tangents <a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=223786">column</a> is on the beauty of Sundarban.ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-80057951672106107362012-02-21T22:51:00.000-08:002012-02-21T22:51:35.528-08:00February 21st<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbKUUg0RMUEao3_xy_1osbVnmmpO9puL3tILyjLVH1H24ywzKmd7A-y64AbYcfSH7cMcIiHIEb5c3EzljrxAfRTbV0F1Dlx-Nm3E8Cb5xXYkMe-eys9cqfO1z5Y9PmEM0DlRj2A/s1600/ekushey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbKUUg0RMUEao3_xy_1osbVnmmpO9puL3tILyjLVH1H24ywzKmd7A-y64AbYcfSH7cMcIiHIEb5c3EzljrxAfRTbV0F1Dlx-Nm3E8Cb5xXYkMe-eys9cqfO1z5Y9PmEM0DlRj2A/s400/ekushey2.jpg" /></a></div>
Taken at Shaheed Minar on Feb 21, 2012. <p>
February 21, known as Ekushey February, is a special day in the history of this country. On this day in 1952, students at Dhaka University rose up against an edict (by West Pakistan) to impose Urdu as the national language on us, Bengali-speaking people. The rest, as they say, is history. <p>
Ekushey has turned into a massive observance. Everyone brings flowers to remember the martyrs. I try to come here on this day, not the least because my father was among those who demonstrated - and was wounded - in 1952 when he was a student at Dhaka University. <p>
As I was wandering there, I kept on thinking, is this the nation they would have liked to see? To be proud of?ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-87322901331546717042012-01-28T06:58:00.000-08:002012-01-28T19:51:57.298-08:00Sundarban 2012Here are photos from a trip to Sundarban I took last week. Sundarban in southwestern Bangladesh (and a smaller fraction in India) is the largest contiguous mangrove forest and ecosystem in the world. It is the home of the Royal Bengal Tiger as well as countless varieties of flaura and fauna.
<p>
Sundarban can only be visited by boat. Several companies offer tours there. Boats start from Khulna, and you have to get there from Dhaka by train, bus or plane (or private car of course.) I have used Guide Tours twice. They are excellent. By the time you add up everything, a trip can run you between 20000 and 40000 Taka, depending on length, luxury of boat and whether you fly.
<p>
Osprey with fish. The Osprey is a legendary fish-eater bird.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-zzbJBQ168o2jZtXIdUldkhGLBmR7bO7Q0fJr-j0s2R6IXznz9BswbdyAM2V9JGjqz5tUbAl5Pse7kWMS1fk92AiPmpwGxUaxAYLYRhoflc0RmtKqaXXlXnA8uxPngIp-nyISg/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="263" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-zzbJBQ168o2jZtXIdUldkhGLBmR7bO7Q0fJr-j0s2R6IXznz9BswbdyAM2V9JGjqz5tUbAl5Pse7kWMS1fk92AiPmpwGxUaxAYLYRhoflc0RmtKqaXXlXnA8uxPngIp-nyISg/s400/1.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Our boat, Guide Tours' MV Aboshar.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAC0xK9cCldrKIqBsySeZX4tGvsQIysK-WuWJvpt7vM6Rc-ENvu87w6dVW4vLwEauTmRQkHE7pbjVhba3nRkWASuAhHjRgE3zO2WJ8QmMvs44AxcWVapL5b7T8wNZvZUtwbDENig/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAC0xK9cCldrKIqBsySeZX4tGvsQIysK-WuWJvpt7vM6Rc-ENvu87w6dVW4vLwEauTmRQkHE7pbjVhba3nRkWASuAhHjRgE3zO2WJ8QmMvs44AxcWVapL5b7T8wNZvZUtwbDENig/s400/2.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Flock of ducks near Mongla.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwoJaxa9pkIhO_aSb33zmxq_FplDPm3UnHthQjY1H_KGSw88Oq0x474qurCpMyq4n1FfOm400y4NCX9YaZv4vk48iUJcw0V69zBYlq4KmexXJJ8K0zp61MCQrCq-UsvFcBaxqsg/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="343" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwoJaxa9pkIhO_aSb33zmxq_FplDPm3UnHthQjY1H_KGSw88Oq0x474qurCpMyq4n1FfOm400y4NCX9YaZv4vk48iUJcw0V69zBYlq4KmexXJJ8K0zp61MCQrCq-UsvFcBaxqsg/s400/3.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Common kingfisher.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqy0ZMaa1WwXrGu_BveWDS5eU-rP7WIQyoN7tcsLGDoU5kibOHjp7Awbve_kfq8_J9gHHJTnyxfmbDaa4sjQHkvd2ACHodCHK_irV4wWsHZgQZKHixbHF2i3t1pSlEp7kj98nFw/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="275" width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqy0ZMaa1WwXrGu_BveWDS5eU-rP7WIQyoN7tcsLGDoU5kibOHjp7Awbve_kfq8_J9gHHJTnyxfmbDaa4sjQHkvd2ACHodCHK_irV4wWsHZgQZKHixbHF2i3t1pSlEp7kj98nFw/s400/4.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
We saw two crocodiles. This was the first.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrdtJaIycXCC8Finr5X5MzpDgU-23a8BkkQqTGUy5cFOi-gLZmem7KQYZvwo6Y6_BQtb9J0xVcE31RbBd4k8hHcJ5wvhQdj6VothVZH7b7GweK0QNYol9fFgXjx_pjm4sO-sCrg/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrdtJaIycXCC8Finr5X5MzpDgU-23a8BkkQqTGUy5cFOi-gLZmem7KQYZvwo6Y6_BQtb9J0xVcE31RbBd4k8hHcJ5wvhQdj6VothVZH7b7GweK0QNYol9fFgXjx_pjm4sO-sCrg/s400/5.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Nypa palm (golpata), used for making thatched roofs.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfPc_omuK9cJc1sM0VLIaYk5Ffdv96-f_rq6v-nLmON8nbbgBv_7rNzdHcGpKL7FjsmuzvPk18vBIhCI4rhZMinTFXOU8NwXZBvbr49mHk0mFeMlg0awcZkZyI2QRBGnid1fZwg/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfPc_omuK9cJc1sM0VLIaYk5Ffdv96-f_rq6v-nLmON8nbbgBv_7rNzdHcGpKL7FjsmuzvPk18vBIhCI4rhZMinTFXOU8NwXZBvbr49mHk0mFeMlg0awcZkZyI2QRBGnid1fZwg/s400/6.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Gewa trees on Kotka beach. Gewa is called Blinding Mangrove because its latex can blind.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCZu2st9yV33DKWjOKDSPEJK4f7kVATgEMQSiRT52hVb5J2E5BvpiExrdeGrQsR7cHt66EY8cv4Uuh1h57AFLnWg4oMjEmWBlxeHAlPE6XXzZATDlYMYVHZKRWmHWAJcxJcbHmA/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="165" width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCZu2st9yV33DKWjOKDSPEJK4f7kVATgEMQSiRT52hVb5J2E5BvpiExrdeGrQsR7cHt66EY8cv4Uuh1h57AFLnWg4oMjEmWBlxeHAlPE6XXzZATDlYMYVHZKRWmHWAJcxJcbHmA/s400/7.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Boroi tree whose bottom is "pruned" at the height the deer can reach.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qvJniD1kxCYGHutuj0ZcFOXo8uDqadjH-fQI4Q_vXb3xTvHzkubdypEtr-AqfpMgN9Pva3J6zTuxQOLOMSWkUBzYOlItENh_-BeuwgzdX9cU4nbaoYMgXwwAQ6GpaxDhl5uvOA/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qvJniD1kxCYGHutuj0ZcFOXo8uDqadjH-fQI4Q_vXb3xTvHzkubdypEtr-AqfpMgN9Pva3J6zTuxQOLOMSWkUBzYOlItENh_-BeuwgzdX9cU4nbaoYMgXwwAQ6GpaxDhl5uvOA/s400/8.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Dome-shaped spider web in a canal.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw84yNNTdSuULotCwhtvDawibm4gTdyo2jHcA1yWZRCg3f4D-Zkf3bYiykoA8ZxMNalfm8qlLatZ2JT1QfV-strlXfYZtNgXgGakIOvSy_nBO9ixRF-lRq5Jo5xuoErAaU_oa5g/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw84yNNTdSuULotCwhtvDawibm4gTdyo2jHcA1yWZRCg3f4D-Zkf3bYiykoA8ZxMNalfm8qlLatZ2JT1QfV-strlXfYZtNgXgGakIOvSy_nBO9ixRF-lRq5Jo5xuoErAaU_oa5g/s400/9.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Shikre, a bird of prey.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBxzaxGbjd-LM_nt2g-A-iBMME7pW9Z5pF3eUUr__caewI2F7KBYpyB41WF16m3i0GEaOlBQbe_xqhQoQhvW_bvqZvqQO-MJ_HdrgPgV6tA7s27tC_rfXs0NFRknZgQHeakz0xA/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="304" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBxzaxGbjd-LM_nt2g-A-iBMME7pW9Z5pF3eUUr__caewI2F7KBYpyB41WF16m3i0GEaOlBQbe_xqhQoQhvW_bvqZvqQO-MJ_HdrgPgV6tA7s27tC_rfXs0NFRknZgQHeakz0xA/s400/10.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Otters crossing the canal. They were extremely shy.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1qiMhvI_-iG4jk9-FJqiaxQzz1hZDRCM8tFIniPuL7TOQs8z96R8nltl_J-fE6jZ5l7Hi9ZiL80LSRqXP9J5UaeY7E09f-_Kf0IZ4jPOg3yi2qUvfQvYx5e4dPMSGvM6PA-JUw/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1qiMhvI_-iG4jk9-FJqiaxQzz1hZDRCM8tFIniPuL7TOQs8z96R8nltl_J-fE6jZ5l7Hi9ZiL80LSRqXP9J5UaeY7E09f-_Kf0IZ4jPOg3yi2qUvfQvYx5e4dPMSGvM6PA-JUw/s400/11.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Great Egret (Boro Bok.)
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWTnyA5PDZm0nv5oNXdVkJpcKhWTiUjBzRAaWKQoLzyUCo7s3kh2jGP2ucYU_iTCMJ85GZtOCZPmYzHi0d60rZpAD6fekS2svR4rf7HpEcEwpFRWp45uqxXmHSNqoarVZzYTZSw/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWTnyA5PDZm0nv5oNXdVkJpcKhWTiUjBzRAaWKQoLzyUCo7s3kh2jGP2ucYU_iTCMJ85GZtOCZPmYzHi0d60rZpAD6fekS2svR4rf7HpEcEwpFRWp45uqxXmHSNqoarVZzYTZSw/s400/12.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Water monitor, also known as Kalo Gui Shap.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTO-5GfC2TBir2AE-Q3IHid6lSfE-n8-Cl9YoaPU6B6ZYQEJJ1TZEXZ3iDwb7jAYYNoDzJ8wOsnLtqUX0Z4Fet7UTSXN3btXhWl4txdieNMXGoNpez9mdw8BpLVG0YOgr7uDcoA/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTO-5GfC2TBir2AE-Q3IHid6lSfE-n8-Cl9YoaPU6B6ZYQEJJ1TZEXZ3iDwb7jAYYNoDzJ8wOsnLtqUX0Z4Fet7UTSXN3btXhWl4txdieNMXGoNpez9mdw8BpLVG0YOgr7uDcoA/s400/13.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Brahminy kite (shonkho chil.)
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyVQMVrcw46B_oBhrvYX4pmpeI1wVs1xtYPlXNWlj9uuWu6BAWqJfKjH7fbQf63SgiHS_ijgNjbjcBKaoK0IwFr7iMnTWfAcdaHnryxMEe2n5DA2donwXvR-xjuezXHr9OEajjw/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="393" width="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyVQMVrcw46B_oBhrvYX4pmpeI1wVs1xtYPlXNWlj9uuWu6BAWqJfKjH7fbQf63SgiHS_ijgNjbjcBKaoK0IwFr7iMnTWfAcdaHnryxMEe2n5DA2donwXvR-xjuezXHr9OEajjw/s400/14.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
The road less traveled.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSQhPhg93SJId7wiKbTzei27JJLkHGikb_paDaOZeJqDJeEqyZW2dbrn1NCIsN8qRaBRCDNbjAj6G00XfoTvfgLjUIWCDvz7T2kIPgh7x-YKhYVx_u8XoaFbP2jSR2_xtsllHow/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSQhPhg93SJId7wiKbTzei27JJLkHGikb_paDaOZeJqDJeEqyZW2dbrn1NCIsN8qRaBRCDNbjAj6G00XfoTvfgLjUIWCDvz7T2kIPgh7x-YKhYVx_u8XoaFbP2jSR2_xtsllHow/s400/15.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Boardwalk at Harbaria Visitor center.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb5YEOPyVCdjwUgk2kjgrj6jHqDGsDxzc7G7lAIRIPlFGWLe3DkMqi-Mam_yJxcVLHVJlrsv62WiBaUHBe0xy3Ju4TNJfAuWTw9OaVxCP-b7ozomEeJJ5jYEpJzKaOIRwAaWXJw/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="251" width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb5YEOPyVCdjwUgk2kjgrj6jHqDGsDxzc7G7lAIRIPlFGWLe3DkMqi-Mam_yJxcVLHVJlrsv62WiBaUHBe0xy3Ju4TNJfAuWTw9OaVxCP-b7ozomEeJJ5jYEpJzKaOIRwAaWXJw/s400/16.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Fiddler crab.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu980-T382-b-Ni2xK61yTt9XZbgMNrcL5VGMpkN_EQsc8jyWCn1gyngT2EcPKyu-K8JhoigJtvr1F0VYSogb5BZvFpZMZ76ybdTHs44a99FnX7nlCAwXJDF40SXHw7lKumg-Hw/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="349" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu980-T382-b-Ni2xK61yTt9XZbgMNrcL5VGMpkN_EQsc8jyWCn1gyngT2EcPKyu-K8JhoigJtvr1F0VYSogb5BZvFpZMZ76ybdTHs44a99FnX7nlCAwXJDF40SXHw7lKumg-Hw/s400/17.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Fresh tiger pugmark on wet mud. Off the boardwalk at Harbaria.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2eMpUH87MSBBoc6dCaQVO20VLS90dQPGyehECU-Vv4yZR5Ff_Ov9HOrfX0y7rCfvIfs42RNFAEfSDzm58bZLcC5aTEeY3xqWpG_BCP444z9X7xq9OCTRbXP8pmYxrM1sxxfG7A/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="378" width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2eMpUH87MSBBoc6dCaQVO20VLS90dQPGyehECU-Vv4yZR5Ff_Ov9HOrfX0y7rCfvIfs42RNFAEfSDzm58bZLcC5aTEeY3xqWpG_BCP444z9X7xq9OCTRbXP8pmYxrM1sxxfG7A/s400/18.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Great Egrets.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgParO7tf003RP12pULdNxx3jKDCuXwHTobRaySs0tbPMsaMFkrdQKwrg-Zu2AjKpTuJP_GIGr65qI0UWNLG9z0N_qn_2O0nnsSHAF-mz2xUrYKmZxJyylw8wGJHadVXtTRQUc_Fg/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="259" width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgParO7tf003RP12pULdNxx3jKDCuXwHTobRaySs0tbPMsaMFkrdQKwrg-Zu2AjKpTuJP_GIGr65qI0UWNLG9z0N_qn_2O0nnsSHAF-mz2xUrYKmZxJyylw8wGJHadVXtTRQUc_Fg/s400/19.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
Goodbye beautiful Sundarban.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8yFBNICsFARQ3HgNaPwRb4qm74DZDencIFCx2uNaNAPlrI-ia1iX_DG4S1euyXzpueg950Fm8Rj4qsthi-t4FWHxr3uDdNzGCL4IXxVhUhty9FII0sksHZ0ljEnIrHVIj7erAg/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8yFBNICsFARQ3HgNaPwRb4qm74DZDencIFCx2uNaNAPlrI-ia1iX_DG4S1euyXzpueg950Fm8Rj4qsthi-t4FWHxr3uDdNzGCL4IXxVhUhty9FII0sksHZ0ljEnIrHVIj7erAg/s400/20.jpg" /></a></div>ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-70028853344200937552012-01-22T00:15:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:15:51.822-08:00Great EgretGreat Egret, known as Boro Bok in Bangla. In Sundarban.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBuscaA88SGp5EdxHlktid7hMNGjwN55glEV_n3EsVxoCNA_EoJ2jneAuqymQ5VYT-rDZPHFtGpxe1ZPr2HssHkVLRhaaxpN8PQXZbQsvq42phr7uqa_-GIgo6pStGDvK_nmG2A/s1600/onelegged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="234" width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBuscaA88SGp5EdxHlktid7hMNGjwN55glEV_n3EsVxoCNA_EoJ2jneAuqymQ5VYT-rDZPHFtGpxe1ZPr2HssHkVLRhaaxpN8PQXZbQsvq42phr7uqa_-GIgo6pStGDvK_nmG2A/s400/onelegged.jpg" /></a></div>ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-41620038357694611672012-01-10T19:05:00.001-08:002012-01-10T19:05:25.326-08:00Temporary Setup for a Religious GatheringThis is in Ashuganj, taken on January 8th.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRvphLVd90L4ox2VF4nyYCY2fxQHr5DI_HYct-VSslyfFCNK6TypMmoDUeXXPvYiBetmBJR3mebtVlSLvQU3esZBGVKIht4sReqTVKGvtRKJ-UAsdh_9XIQpYt2te2H3oYNcD1A/s1600/wow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRvphLVd90L4ox2VF4nyYCY2fxQHr5DI_HYct-VSslyfFCNK6TypMmoDUeXXPvYiBetmBJR3mebtVlSLvQU3esZBGVKIht4sReqTVKGvtRKJ-UAsdh_9XIQpYt2te2H3oYNcD1A/s400/wow.jpg" /></a></div>ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-78605814780172672322012-01-08T17:28:00.001-08:002012-01-08T17:54:56.293-08:00My Father's TreeJanuary 7 was my father's fourth death anniversary.<br /><br />He is buried at the graveyard at Dargah near the mausoleum of Hajrat Shah Jalal, a Muslim saint from the thirteenth century.<br /><br />My father spent many of his last days in Sylhet, his birthplace. He had an office up on a hill in Rainagar where he spent several hours a day. He was specially kind to the poor children around that neighborhood and often gave them food and gifts and took them around in his microbus.<br /><br />On this day I go to Sylhet. Buying two goats, rice and other cooking material, I get the cooks at the Dargah to make a large pot of <span style="font-style:italic;">akhni polao,</span> a Sylhet-style biriyani.<br /><br />Then I divide the polao into packets and them distribute among the children of Rainagar. This is probably what would have made my father happy.<br /><br />Forty years ago, my father's office was in Dhaka's Dilkusha, near the President House, which was closed to the public. Inside President House were these graceful, tall trees called Buddha Narikel (Pterygota Alata.)<br /><br />One day my father paid a guard at President House ten taka to bring him some seeds that had dropped from the trees. He then planted them.<br /><br />This is one of the trees he planted. The photo was taken on a stormy night. The tree is 6-7 stories tall now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboPOTI_rEEC-25sHd9RmvSb40v1YAp3QtShuD_4c62-kE_n28-Wgv7tRNuu7WB4ATNBSRyMAr_DgK0e2JAoO3R-t1TUvvDlvBnDSZAZ-j5Yw2nLdHs2LrlwbV3E_ExQ7G81IS8Q/s1600/buddha.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboPOTI_rEEC-25sHd9RmvSb40v1YAp3QtShuD_4c62-kE_n28-Wgv7tRNuu7WB4ATNBSRyMAr_DgK0e2JAoO3R-t1TUvvDlvBnDSZAZ-j5Yw2nLdHs2LrlwbV3E_ExQ7G81IS8Q/s400/buddha.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695443884792107746" /></a><br /><br />May you rest in peace, Mr. Ahmed Kabir Choudhury.ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-8258965917320315132012-01-06T07:04:00.000-08:002012-01-06T07:08:00.106-08:00FriendsAt Lalbagh Kella this afternoon. Although it was a grey day, the temperature was just right.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVC1zRVuZlQRkJPizvYpdUmCfnYda8_vrtT_hU2cBLbcCglW_gQ09LJ9GjSYnHD6AJEaBU7asJxxXKsZE1ddftT-2drBSmzKZ8FtBa_AhUF7PwY9vCZaFdQB1A2yV1WQba1vtlg/s1600/friends.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVC1zRVuZlQRkJPizvYpdUmCfnYda8_vrtT_hU2cBLbcCglW_gQ09LJ9GjSYnHD6AJEaBU7asJxxXKsZE1ddftT-2drBSmzKZ8FtBa_AhUF7PwY9vCZaFdQB1A2yV1WQba1vtlg/s400/friends.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694535720539980754" /></a>ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-72567253854026842572012-01-02T02:52:00.000-08:002012-01-02T02:55:15.218-08:00Happy New YearHappy new year! Hope that 2012 is a great year for you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasHC294rmVdXUiAqCKJ-oB8d1cxyUC3DXa2xY_IWPvKFd0rXfy_LEBUROAK9F6gwKjycgVrjde8mSvhR99nzP7OS0shbEWqe5FDD86hcsADtPWT5LAhOTump16t-F46G8KMB2dw/s1600/newyear2012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasHC294rmVdXUiAqCKJ-oB8d1cxyUC3DXa2xY_IWPvKFd0rXfy_LEBUROAK9F6gwKjycgVrjde8mSvhR99nzP7OS0shbEWqe5FDD86hcsADtPWT5LAhOTump16t-F46G8KMB2dw/s400/newyear2012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692986139555918322" /></a>ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-22286489952546815622011-12-19T05:26:00.000-08:002011-12-19T05:31:58.215-08:00BalloonI was at Suhrawardy Udyan on Victory day, 16th December, with thousands of other people. It was great fun.<br /><br />At one point they brought out this hot-air balloon (with the requisite equipment - a pretty expensive setup) and inflated it. <br /><br />But they never released it. People were waiting... and waiting... but eventually they deflated it.<br /><br />Does anyone know the story on this? The weather seemed ok for a balloon flight. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityVgl-Pi2SmcjiEfLYzXHEwPjzetVwli_DlB6jvxwAsvd_OpmD0iwkGbOIRxWqSeZ_e1JX7nefxre6deWEcP7iYt0Mt91YWTq8MwbtgkNHfQr1eD3_c-_9WgnfMbX9x4bAyuaBw/s1600/balloon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityVgl-Pi2SmcjiEfLYzXHEwPjzetVwli_DlB6jvxwAsvd_OpmD0iwkGbOIRxWqSeZ_e1JX7nefxre6deWEcP7iYt0Mt91YWTq8MwbtgkNHfQr1eD3_c-_9WgnfMbX9x4bAyuaBw/s400/balloon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687831097815093522" /></a>ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-13461388216421395442011-12-15T19:06:00.001-08:002011-12-15T19:08:08.032-08:00Happy Victory DayFlag Seller in Old Dhaka.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yHp0Ng31jqfHhfjkFCaxtnkOGxLDaeMpyAyewSIheHf0cBjibKnJ-awbFi184nf5isUIMP8YlvFLlbhJQGSarMaRg1zcURmQ0BZs8aqa3WoLUa8Coro-a2oKSbIDWDtyNhzT8g/s1600/777_flagseller.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yHp0Ng31jqfHhfjkFCaxtnkOGxLDaeMpyAyewSIheHf0cBjibKnJ-awbFi184nf5isUIMP8YlvFLlbhJQGSarMaRg1zcURmQ0BZs8aqa3WoLUa8Coro-a2oKSbIDWDtyNhzT8g/s400/777_flagseller.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686557352204533538" /></a>ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-83455263580389521292011-12-10T20:49:00.000-08:002011-12-10T20:59:25.766-08:00ebooks, Amazon, AppleI wrote about the emergence of ebooks in this week's <a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=213505">Tangents</a> but there are some things I left out for various reasons.<br /><br />One is the EU (and now US govt) investigation of whether Apple colluded with some top publishers on the ebooks front (price-fixing).<br /><br />The issue here is, there is hardly any material cost involved, why do ebooks have to cost so much? <br /><br />Anyways, the battle between Amazon and Apple on this front promises to be an epic one. Amazon, to their credit, have tried to keep prices down - for a long time most Kindle books were selling for $10. But when Apple introduced iPad, things changed, I think, because the publishers now had a choice and Apple was more amenable to their pricing schemes. Amazon, otoh, was apparently quite tough with publishers.<br /><br />In the meantime, I understand that Barnes and Noble is betting their entire farm, so to speak, on the Nook.<br /><br />I have not seen the new Kindle Fire yet, so do not know how good their graphic display is, but it is Amazon's volley against Apple in the ebooks wars. But ipad has a leg up on the b/w Kindle when it comes to illustrated and photo books. OTOH, the Kindle is great for reading text. Really great.ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-22369404387630035692011-12-01T23:00:00.001-08:002011-12-02T07:10:53.110-08:00Narrative Non-fictionI just re-read a <a href="http://case.typepad.com/case_editors_forum_2009/2009/03/gerry-marzorati-on-the-future-of-longform-narrative.html">speech</a> on the long-form narrative that I find fascinating, because every time I read it I glean something new from it. Good stuff from the editor of the New York Times Magazine.<br /><br />For example, having recently acquired a Kindle and an iPad, I read his observations about reading substantive things on electronic devices with renewed appreciation.<br /><br />Incidentally, it is the New Yorker which excels (or maybe excelled) in this kind of journalism: in-depth and broad coverage of a particular issue by a journalist who spent several months digging in and writing about it. In the 90s, some of their reports of events in Africa, Balkans and parts of Asia, as well as those on health/medicine, innovation and technology, etc were astonishing. <br /><br />I am thinking, in particular, of the non-fiction of Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers), Richard Preston (The Hot Zone), Atul Gawande (from the frontlines of medicine and surgery) and others. Just amazing stuff.<br /><br />Speaking of which, there is plenty of raw material right here in Bangladesh for this kind of in-depth reporting (and it does not all have to be negative - there are many positive stories, too...) And while the NY Times Magazine spends over $40,000 for one of these stories, ours can be done on a much smaller budget.<br /><br />Would the reading public pay for anything like this? Or, perhaps more relevant, would the advertisers see value in it?<br /><br />(Thanks to Mahmud Rahman for pointing me to this article.)ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-80260740810733064052011-11-24T23:37:00.000-08:002011-11-25T00:31:38.932-08:00Critical Mass 3 Bicycle RideRiders of all sizes came, small ones...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHoA1CUyjMptmRwBIgW-cJcAWxz7Du48ggsJjDi-92Ho-rEivcOCytKLe3gb8K_MxG7g3GHP_XcmsI_de6Vh5Q23pNCCTJ4vSLRF-uVQ4CemCNFXvUlA7q7zwmcyawhRx_gZ_Lg/s1600/critical-26.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHoA1CUyjMptmRwBIgW-cJcAWxz7Du48ggsJjDi-92Ho-rEivcOCytKLe3gb8K_MxG7g3GHP_XcmsI_de6Vh5Q23pNCCTJ4vSLRF-uVQ4CemCNFXvUlA7q7zwmcyawhRx_gZ_Lg/s400/critical-26.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678847358051477970" /></a><br /><br />...and big ones...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH4NqhFpNwXEiJFjk12v9F_Nlc0uX1eYDwE3NTmkcaga5M2kuCYw13jikjgKhHOYtbGVTaINGcLUVlu3oMdO942bvJjGDEXjDMBioWfw1bUBhxprOD2n17qVeqhMB5GK3MeIyZQ/s1600/critical-6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH4NqhFpNwXEiJFjk12v9F_Nlc0uX1eYDwE3NTmkcaga5M2kuCYw13jikjgKhHOYtbGVTaINGcLUVlu3oMdO942bvJjGDEXjDMBioWfw1bUBhxprOD2n17qVeqhMB5GK3MeIyZQ/s400/critical-6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678835783872393522" /></a><br /><br />...some were excited...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvzmzg8IK3uBivS8JpVMVsnzIdxWEbCLstikMWI54sZ975QwmOMqhEHGgb6lCJSzaLhnKyTEH2QJ01cczdrp3O3X7X8-4z-WjoVIUycCxDnlCKcEtE1vCLR6caqsvl4ezcN6VeA/s1600/critical-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvzmzg8IK3uBivS8JpVMVsnzIdxWEbCLstikMWI54sZ975QwmOMqhEHGgb6lCJSzaLhnKyTEH2QJ01cczdrp3O3X7X8-4z-WjoVIUycCxDnlCKcEtE1vCLR6caqsvl4ezcN6VeA/s400/critical-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678835341010947250" /></a><br /><br />... while others enjoyed the winter sunshine...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5rHVdy2KidCsC3q9P29SFW0Q9iIWkBMYT7tpE_P0dKe2V-tqCoWPD2-RtXG8uL4GRfZ0a3SlXw11twEMqSLE__OkzaXYM76K3WoXpWR-jcOdtFVBSQW8LEV6Qo7QjLBFhWd7-Q/s1600/critical-14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 354px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5rHVdy2KidCsC3q9P29SFW0Q9iIWkBMYT7tpE_P0dKe2V-tqCoWPD2-RtXG8uL4GRfZ0a3SlXw11twEMqSLE__OkzaXYM76K3WoXpWR-jcOdtFVBSQW8LEV6Qo7QjLBFhWd7-Q/s400/critical-14.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678836263862827170" /></a><br /><br />There were athletic riders...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMonm2NeTfkzFvgzbHn-YpkJpFxZrs6liBG-L5MxaXBb0FT4akLZ9UZTp227SJhBUj70H6YJWDPh1oZWKdvYX_0k9sBFI8-NtPSIzsbEspPG5ewmhv0nmDLeyvY1xBt1e8kaTWzA/s1600/critical-25.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMonm2NeTfkzFvgzbHn-YpkJpFxZrs6liBG-L5MxaXBb0FT4akLZ9UZTp227SJhBUj70H6YJWDPh1oZWKdvYX_0k9sBFI8-NtPSIzsbEspPG5ewmhv0nmDLeyvY1xBt1e8kaTWzA/s400/critical-25.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678840829449510034" /></a><br /><br />... and relaxed ones...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qVduSpfsKoxXvUxxqChpNbeSxuivxRD1adk-agg_ZCDd33H1lGY19mOrWRTvddgDbfOuZJwp0Xu9rioSz-bZQi0quwpOq83xqi5id416qlZZpnV35rMApy43QhLkiSxOs6KM1g/s1600/critical-13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qVduSpfsKoxXvUxxqChpNbeSxuivxRD1adk-agg_ZCDd33H1lGY19mOrWRTvddgDbfOuZJwp0Xu9rioSz-bZQi0quwpOq83xqi5id416qlZZpnV35rMApy43QhLkiSxOs6KM1g/s400/critical-13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678836263061942626" /></a><br /><br />... and others who needed no hand!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0hk6BVpihbHq4t0VqBHVGEfBK5QRIeGFcsviRE2-CsEi26MQ8Pt1OP5Mh6oUW-a9dnKPhh2GEXFTszdAzfZY83eMfUzCl4EOpSTAxjyNzSnxHyTqofOlgOj-8KLTCTiT_QTcZA/s1600/critical-15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0hk6BVpihbHq4t0VqBHVGEfBK5QRIeGFcsviRE2-CsEi26MQ8Pt1OP5Mh6oUW-a9dnKPhh2GEXFTszdAzfZY83eMfUzCl4EOpSTAxjyNzSnxHyTqofOlgOj-8KLTCTiT_QTcZA/s400/critical-15.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678836279012248754" /></a><br /><br />Expats joined in, including Australians...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E4EF8qWPmyM2UhxYTfxA7a9JJGW8GT8MyycjChurRqcYxvzrjPEk956D67CedZFKlYlNOjAKrwoSxg0C4Of5juJ9kzJZL1PRWzFOfIoXylOo52BGjhQSTDFHUj3MHKakdquhng/s1600/critical-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E4EF8qWPmyM2UhxYTfxA7a9JJGW8GT8MyycjChurRqcYxvzrjPEk956D67CedZFKlYlNOjAKrwoSxg0C4Of5juJ9kzJZL1PRWzFOfIoXylOo52BGjhQSTDFHUj3MHKakdquhng/s400/critical-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678835348885745362" /></a><br /><br />... and this American girl who traveled in style...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeo6m7K29W5yjRhyphenhyphenHp1HV7yrPwRtsusvdmXMdJwAv0c9THx9EfMM0CMF99sAP670Yc2YkrnGGIqhAmM3FYT-M0L3PwPCJiNCuSEBX2yyuYsaDVOW4JaHRouff7dzGIQQMrR8XHtg/s1600/critical-19.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeo6m7K29W5yjRhyphenhyphenHp1HV7yrPwRtsusvdmXMdJwAv0c9THx9EfMM0CMF99sAP670Yc2YkrnGGIqhAmM3FYT-M0L3PwPCJiNCuSEBX2yyuYsaDVOW4JaHRouff7dzGIQQMrR8XHtg/s400/critical-19.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678836755341471826" /></a><br /><br />Of course the local girl had her own style...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nGzCAmqJrp325BZzft_XPfaYg3qFCdGAJi5bpdRmzgSyA345dc9078zup8x6OCxoTHGy-dKVxiVZT0HPrce02iwAwMkzo1IPeWx6I6lGwi7XTFozpAaKmvTHWljAnZaxuf_dCw/s1600/critical-16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nGzCAmqJrp325BZzft_XPfaYg3qFCdGAJi5bpdRmzgSyA345dc9078zup8x6OCxoTHGy-dKVxiVZT0HPrce02iwAwMkzo1IPeWx6I6lGwi7XTFozpAaKmvTHWljAnZaxuf_dCw/s400/critical-16.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678836279251355234" /></a><br /><br />...as the victory sign ruled the day...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJlZ-IsL-tYaavl0ustYAcL-PtomNPA0361GxcUrZt0PtUo4ESWuHAk4HGWtQmWgylEzmToWrkEgo_5BCWAAsooiKTxOMpLxYPCBUDdsymouEpI9kBorPrP98pm3a4PNav5gF-g/s1600/critical-12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJlZ-IsL-tYaavl0ustYAcL-PtomNPA0361GxcUrZt0PtUo4ESWuHAk4HGWtQmWgylEzmToWrkEgo_5BCWAAsooiKTxOMpLxYPCBUDdsymouEpI9kBorPrP98pm3a4PNav5gF-g/s400/critical-12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678836258237817890" /></a><br /><br />... and while Dhak and Dhol played...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbl50XF5PcP0VQ5jOrgGKy31IK5SDDmLLssgOYm1mdQZmGEt1VkHtJ6NOkf-awq_AjMIIUbe-6NAMfGycibpQwVtV7llWuMMxOkjziGQf9e6rV_RIpoC6z34LpIS6uL_3bvdDMQ/s1600/critical-9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbl50XF5PcP0VQ5jOrgGKy31IK5SDDmLLssgOYm1mdQZmGEt1VkHtJ6NOkf-awq_AjMIIUbe-6NAMfGycibpQwVtV7llWuMMxOkjziGQf9e6rV_RIpoC6z34LpIS6uL_3bvdDMQ/s400/critical-9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678835794267135634" /></a><br /><br />... the boys found time for dancing a quick jig...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOgsRo0Ipoe2Hk7bLacMTpSu_uNQF0_WALmkvsT_tUMs_MLLcuEoLNLwKUje63S4bxHiiiNu37ED_uSHikz4t-ZAWWyDdY_qsFpbNf7ZBmwy1PXh8iYv3ULaJJCv3QIUoqeRPug/s1600/critical-10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOgsRo0Ipoe2Hk7bLacMTpSu_uNQF0_WALmkvsT_tUMs_MLLcuEoLNLwKUje63S4bxHiiiNu37ED_uSHikz4t-ZAWWyDdY_qsFpbNf7ZBmwy1PXh8iYv3ULaJJCv3QIUoqeRPug/s400/critical-10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678835794964153602" /></a><br /><br />So with thanks to all the organizers ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNI4tbrpA8HX35n0mqO3N6czgK7alfIskOqHHoVhQIFLkDodhqJMgBsj17YzxvsalfaLrhcg5zADeB8zScnq_m8yvz3fb4LoVHq4jagtWxV4n-Dci5omxRr11nNz_28JbhrsVcnw/s1600/critical-5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNI4tbrpA8HX35n0mqO3N6czgK7alfIskOqHHoVhQIFLkDodhqJMgBsj17YzxvsalfaLrhcg5zADeB8zScnq_m8yvz3fb4LoVHq4jagtWxV4n-Dci5omxRr11nNz_28JbhrsVcnw/s400/critical-5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678835780262514130" /></a><br /><br />... I say to the the riders who joined in the fun...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cZkJb-TrY6uRvBJH_9DGW9wYdjhb8L_Qr38cwmIrCRqR0tM9N7tDf5JtGu_6amyA4JZ_UYnWleQ6qVlSYjtvw7fMZSOTA3mki2mD918ASC4Ttsq3OgkWScssOWoqy-MKMNnxNg/s1600/critical-21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cZkJb-TrY6uRvBJH_9DGW9wYdjhb8L_Qr38cwmIrCRqR0tM9N7tDf5JtGu_6amyA4JZ_UYnWleQ6qVlSYjtvw7fMZSOTA3mki2mD918ASC4Ttsq3OgkWScssOWoqy-MKMNnxNg/s400/critical-21.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678836753853769154" /></a><br /><br />... until the next time my friends, ride safely!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQ1358fNvvUuVh3LlvRC9CBsk4yUOEUq2jKmOY08lAWmhhk0tQOP1sY7EUz-RPPHNZiKoO6fZc6JhabHzw0GRbPJnNDhG1wPiBmAL6FymskvyItH7BpDiojQki9jg4XNoOdijYA/s1600/critical-22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQ1358fNvvUuVh3LlvRC9CBsk4yUOEUq2jKmOY08lAWmhhk0tQOP1sY7EUz-RPPHNZiKoO6fZc6JhabHzw0GRbPJnNDhG1wPiBmAL6FymskvyItH7BpDiojQki9jg4XNoOdijYA/s400/critical-22.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678836761964594786" /></a>ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-82908922267647890822011-11-23T23:50:00.000-08:002011-11-23T23:55:20.483-08:00Critical Mass #3The third critical mass bicycle ride is tomorrow (25 Nov). There is a meetup at 7am at Gulshan 2 circle and the actual ride is from Manik Mia Ave in front of Parliament at 8am.<br /><br />Should be fun and not too strenous!<br /><br />Just to set expectations about timing... For CM #2, I could not find the Gulshan group at 7am and so rode by myself to Manik Mia Avenue. The group there did not start until about 9:30 (even though it was scheduled for 8 am I think.)<br /><br />Lots of time to hang around and make friends. It was fun anyways.ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-77082065436011104982011-11-20T03:34:00.000-08:002013-05-01T09:00:23.451-07:00Hay You!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There, now that I have your attention...<br />
<br />
Two attractions for the Dhaka Hay festival tomorrow, Nov 21st:<br />
<br />
a) Commonwealth Prize winning writer Tahmima Anam's second novel <span style="font-style: italic;">A Good Muslim</span> will be launched in Bangladesh, published by Prothoma. She will be signing the books at 11:30 am tomorrow at British Council.<br />
<br />
b) Writer's Block, a group of talented Bangladeshi writers, will launch <span style="font-style: italic;">What The Ink?</span>, an anthology of shorts, extracts and poems. Writers are: Awrup Sanyal, Farah Ghuznavi, Saad Z Hussain, Munize Manzur, Masud Khan Shujon, Iffat Nawaz, Samir A Rahman, Lori Simpson, M K Aaref, Sabrina F Ahmad, Saadaf S Siddiqi, Srabonti N Ali, Sal Imam, Tisa Muhaddes and Shazia Omar.<br />
<br />
Congratulations to all for their accomplishments!</div>
ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-63194121988958585152011-11-15T17:31:00.000-08:002011-11-15T17:37:57.861-08:00Hay FestivalThe Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts is coming to Dhaka on 21 November. It is a one day program "bringing together writers and thinkers from Bangladesh and Britain to share stories and ideas in the spirit of Rabindranath Tagore in this his 150th anniversary year." Lots of luminaries will be taking part. More details at the festival <a href="http://www.hayfestival.com/portal/dhaka.aspx?skinid=1¤cysetting=GBP&localesetting=en-GB&resetfilters=true">website</a>.ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-2063162950631502652011-11-09T18:34:00.000-08:002011-11-12T07:15:48.347-08:00StorytellerHere is a Bangladeshi writer who is active in the international fiction scene. Farah Ghuznavi's short stories have appeared in two consecutive volumes of <span style="font-style:italic;">Curbside Splendor</span>, a literary magazine from Chicago.<br /><br />Digging deeper, I discover that Ms. Ghuznavi's stories have also appeared in several other anthologies including "Woman's Work: Short Stories" (USA), "The Rainbow Feast" (Singapore) and "Journeys"(UK). Another short <a href="http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/Howwedeliver/Prizes/CommonwealthShortStoryPrize/2010highlycommended">story</a> recently won a "Highly Commended" honor in the Commonwealth Short Story Competition.<br /><br />I think of Ms. Ghuznavi as the writer of "Food for Thought", the long-running column in the Star magazine (The Daily Star.) While she still writes that, Ms. Ghuznavi is now focused on writing fiction and thinks of herself primarily as a fiction writer.<br /><br />The transition came about in 2005, when she was enraged upon reading about the abuse of a maid in a well-off home. She thought about writing a column attacking such abuses but realized it would not be effective in reaching those she wanted to target. So, on the advice of her editor (the inimitable Aasha Ameen), she decided to write a story, her first. It was about a young girl who comes to work in a home in the city. The poignant, powerful story is <a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2005/07/05/food.htm">here</a>. <br /><br />This opened the floodgates of her story-writing, many based on her experiences as a development worker, and she has never looked back.<br /><br />Curbside Splendor is available from the <a href="www.curbsidesplendor.com">publisher</a> and also from Amazon, both in paper and Kindle form. The publisher has a special offer on the two volumes in which Ms. Ghuznavi's stories are featured. Go get them while they last!ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-78322296104588329002011-11-04T19:15:00.000-07:002011-11-04T19:20:29.215-07:00Touring Old DhakaDuring Eid, Dhaka's streets empty out as people head home to their village for Eid. So it is a good time to explore Dhaka without the traffic madness.<br /><br />I have a route that I often follow when friends and relatives ask me to take them on a tour of old Dhaka. This route takes 3-4 hours and covers several highlights. Note that you should call ahead to find the timing of gated places, such as Lalbagh or the Church.<br /><br />Anyways... the route is described in my Tangents <a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=209284">column</a> today.<br /><br />If you have a car, you can get dropped off in front of the Court and get picked up in front of Dhakeswari Temple at the end of your tour.ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20121175.post-3853083750987053392011-11-01T18:12:00.001-07:002011-11-01T19:15:50.208-07:00Critical Mass Bicycle RideI went for the second Critical Mass ride last Friday. There were over 200 bicyclists! The ride started from the Parliament Building and went towards Dhanmandi where a group photo was taken at the Amphitheatre near the Road 8 bridge. Then we rode towards Panthopath, in front of Sonargaon hotel, and towards Tejgaon Industrial area, all the way to Gulshan 1 and 2. At Gulshan 2, it turned left and headed back towards the Parliament building. <br /><br />It was great fun. Unfortunately I did not have a camera. But here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaGgPDp8XLU">video</a> that someone posted on YouTube (Hat Tip: Anwar)<br /><br />A few weeks ago, I was out bicycling during a hartal. I ran into a group of bicyclists in front of the National Museum and rode with them to Shahid Minar. Here are some photos from that day (this is much smaller than the Critical Mass ride):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQSqLFUrmHifw0M7JEoiCcP5FUnO5lsFZX4pGaO_wxoZ1NQ2dS-yPMM1VD8PFULph-qwuqQDoLlQyLp0U92etCN6cPA9zFh14Q6e6pz4dFmtzjdAUzO2xkCH_vZrYQ3bn4GvL2w/s1600/cyclists2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQSqLFUrmHifw0M7JEoiCcP5FUnO5lsFZX4pGaO_wxoZ1NQ2dS-yPMM1VD8PFULph-qwuqQDoLlQyLp0U92etCN6cPA9zFh14Q6e6pz4dFmtzjdAUzO2xkCH_vZrYQ3bn4GvL2w/s400/cyclists2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670203583494701154" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSzXLGJOQR6_o-qJkX1ux62lJG_5R7kTGdRXSx9urb1Wlj5puOmUi4Glh-WOiwDAkJokqySAvCrQaM-RVyO3GcAEEIUj8eFwVigQIoTB6x7JCxJVj1Bymuk9H4CFxNKk7A1chJA/s1600/cyclists1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSzXLGJOQR6_o-qJkX1ux62lJG_5R7kTGdRXSx9urb1Wlj5puOmUi4Glh-WOiwDAkJokqySAvCrQaM-RVyO3GcAEEIUj8eFwVigQIoTB6x7JCxJVj1Bymuk9H4CFxNKk7A1chJA/s400/cyclists1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670203575372949730" /></a><br /><br />There is an active and thriving recreational bicycling community in Dhaka. I know of at least two clubs, Royal Bengal Riders and BDCyclists, who organize rides on weekends. Some rides are short, others are longer and tougher. Both groups have Facebook pages where you can get more information.ulysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09700270233759256479noreply@blogger.com4