জনপ্রিয় পোস্টসমূহ
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If anyone observes the streets of Dhaka, they would notice the tangled electric and telephone wires hanging overhead. In recent years the...
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Making sandcastles by the children is a common habit, however, building sand sculptures needs special training. The technique was devel...
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B aul guru fakir Lalon Shah(1774-1890) has made Baul songs a household name. Now a days not only the urban audience in Bangladesh, foreig...
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I n Dhaka, eating outside is a great way to spend one's free time in a city where options for entertainment are limited. Whether to...
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THE OTHER DAY I WENT TO NILKHET TO BUY SOME BOOKS I WANTED TO SPEND SOME TIME USING THE INTERNET TO CHECK AND SPEND MAILS AS I HAD SOME FREE...
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I t is matter of great concern that the population of Dhaka city is increasing very rapidly day by day. A large number of people are comi...
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The Spellbinding natural beauty of Rangamati, in spite of having plenty of features to be a prime tourist destination, is losing out due...
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W e know that Dhaka Medical College Hospital is one of the largest medical hospitals in Bangladesh. People from the villages come to Dhak...
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THERE WAS A TIME WHEN HUMANS LIVED SIDE WITH WILD CREATURES. NOW, THANKS TO THE GROWING POPULATION AND CITIES SPRAWLING INTO THE COUNTRYSID...
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Li fe in Dhaka city has now become intolerable in the summer. It has crossed all the limits and people have clearly lost their patience. ...
বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৬ মে, ২০১১
URBAN WILD LIFE.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN HUMANS LIVED SIDE WITH WILD CREATURES. NOW, THANKS TO THE GROWING POPULATION AND CITIES SPRAWLING INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE NATURAL WILD LIFE HABITAT HAS SHRUNK. THE HABITAT THAT REMAINS, SCARCELY BEARS ANY RESEMBLANCE TO THE AREAS THAT EXISTED IN THE PAST. HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY ENOUGH, YOU WILL FIND A FEW OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES SPRINGING UP NOW AND THEN, BLENDING INTO THE URBAN EXISTENCE- EXOTIC PARAKEETS, STRANGE VARIETIES OF FROGS, BRIGHT- COLORED PARROTS HIDDEN AMONGST THE KRISHNNCHURA LEAVES AND DESHI CHORUI.
ANSWERS, ANYONE?
WE DHAKAITES ARE EXPERIENCING THE WORTS POSSIBLE POWER AND WATER CRISIS. FREQUENT AND HAPHAZARD LOAD SHEDDING, ALONG WITH FOUL SMELLING WATER HAS MADE OUR LIVES UNBEARABLE. BUT THIS IS NO REAL SUPRISE. THE REAL BAD NEWS IS THAT IT IS OUR OWN FAULT IN MANY WAYS. TOGETHER WITH OUR SHEER CALLOUSNESS AND THE SHAMELESS EXCUSE MONGERING OF THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED, WE HAVE MADE OUR OWN LIVES A LIVING HELL. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WASA AND HIS CRONIES, IT HAS BEEN REPORTED, ENJOYED ALL KINDS OF LUXURIES WHILE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO PEOPLE'S MISERIES. THE POWER MINISTRY IS NOT TO BE OUTDONE. A FILE CONCERNING A FOREIGN- FUNDED POWER PLANT PROJECT, SCHEDULED TO BE SENT BACK WITHIN 40 DAYS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHEREFROM IT CAME, WAS NOT SENT BACK EVEN AFTER 140 DAYS OUT OF SHEER NEGLIGENCE. BUT WE, THE LONG- SUFFERING PEOPLE, ARE SO NAIVE THAT WE PROMPTLY BELIEVE WHAT EVER CONCOCTION THOSE IN AUTHORITY FEED US WITH. THEY TELL US THE CRISIS IS EVERYBODY'S FAULT BUT THEIR OWN. WE ARE GULLIBLE ENOUGH TIN BELIEVE THEM.
Stranger danger.
Dhaka can be a complex city navigate -and I don't mean just when you experience it as a hapless pedestrian, passenger preparing to spend the rest of your natural life amidst the snarled-up traffic or its snarling victims. There are far more subtle and equally hazardous undidatspents shifting restlessly below the surface of via city’s social hundrabuions. I tried to explain this to a friend a few years ago. My pal many is a really nice guy. Gregarious and helpful, he is from south india but it was at that time working in bangladesh as a physiotherapist. One day, when we were having coffe. He said "you know, Farah,I'm so glad I met you and got to know you as a friend. If I had just seen you out and about somewhere, I don't think I would have ever tried to talk to you. You look very unfriendly when you are most smiling" when I asked him to explain this outrageous statement, he mentioned that he had seen of walking along the pavement outside his workplaca one day.
COSTLY FREE SAMPLES.
A FRIEND OF MIND, WHO DESPITE BELONGING TO AN ELITE FAMILY, LOVES TO EAT LOCAL, JUNC FOOD LIKE ROADSIDE MUFFINS, SWEETS, PICKLES AND FRENCH FRIES. ALTHOUGH HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY KEEP WARNING HIY NOT TO DEVOUR IN THOSE UNHEALTHY THINGS, HE NEVER LISTENS. THE OTHER DAY WHILE HE WAS RETURNING HOME FORM HIS UNIVERSITY, A SALESPERSON AND TO HIM AND OFFERED HIM SOME FREE PEOPLES OF MANGO PICKLES, WITHOUT THINKING, HE ATE THOSE AND SAT IT HIS CAR. AFTER AROUND HALF AN HOUR WHEN HE WAS NOT RESPONDING TO HIS CHAUFFEUR, HE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR, CHECKED ON HIM, UNCONSCIOUS. HIS CHAUFFEUR CALLED THE PARENTS AND TOOK08:14AM, FRI 27-05-2011 HIM TO THE HOSPITAL AND ADMITTED TO EMERGENCY. AT FIRST THEE DOCTOR COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT BUT TAVER IT WAS FOUND THAT, IT WAS THE PICKLE! IT HAD SOME SHORT OF ADDICTIVE DRUGS IN IT AND THIS HIGHLY DOSED SEDATIVE DRUG HAD MADE MY FRIEND FAINT. NOTHING FATAL HAD HAPPENED TO HIM BUT IT COULD HAVE GONE MUCH WORSE. ALTHOUGH THE PICKLES WAS FREE OF COST BUT HIS HOSPITAL CHARGES AND OUT TO BE FIFTY THOUSAND TAKA. IT IS APTLY SAID THAT NOTHING'S FREE IN THIS WORLD, OVEN THE FREE SAMPLES.
Changing my thoughts
One day I was walking though our local market, I was passing a fruits shop. There I saw poor woman bargaining with a fruits seller. The Fruit seller uttered some insulting words and behave this way with the woman. This displeased me a lot. Why should he behave this way with an elderly woman? With great effort, I went my way and tried to ignore what I witnessed . The next morning, I read the news paper about a certain shopkeeper misplaced around 50 thousand taka’s absentmindedly, the previous night, while closing his shop. After reaching home he realized his mistake and run back to the shop only to find the money gone. At that time someone handed him the lost money. It seems the man had kept the away the money, waiting for the shopkeeper to return and take it. The shopkeeper was very pleased with the man. I was surprised to see the photograph of the honest man beside the news-the fruit seller from the previous day! I cold not help wondering but actions actually to define a better than words.
A River In Distress
It was once a river where strong currents flowed giving it life and vibrancy . Over the last few years, however, the shitalalkya river is now on the verge of untimely dead. Environmental degradation in the river water from untreated domestic and industrial effluent has reached such an alarming level that it poses a significant threat to public health, ecosystem and economic growth of surrounding areas. The water is so polluted that no aquatic life can service during the six month dry season, which has drastically changed the socio-economic structure of the localities adjacent to the river. Residents nearby have no choice but to do their washing in the pitch back malodorous water. Moreover a huge number of Dhaka city dwllers are directly affected by water pollution of shitalalkya river, since water supply and sewerage Authority (wasa) supplies water for the Dhaka residents treating such contaminated water at the saidabad water treatment plant. Everyday wasa supplies 22.5 core liters of water to Dhaka households and plans to supply altogether 90 core liters In the future. All this water come from the shitalalkya and is treated at the saidabad water treatment plant.
For Days on the Nile.
BEING STUDENTS OF HISTORY, MY HUSBAND AND I HAD ALWAYS CHERISHED A DESIRE TO VISIT HISTORICAL PLACES. EGYPT HAD CAUGHT OUR FASCINATION. WE HAD READ MUCH ABOUT THE EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION, ABOUT THE GREAT PHARAOHS THE EGYPTION CULTURE AND HERITAGE. OUR KNOWLEDGE WAS LIMITED ONLY. THE OPPORTUNITY CAME WHEN MY FRIEND, NASIMA HAIDER BECOME OUR AMBASSADOR TO EGYPT IN LATE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I IMMEDIATELY EMAILED HER SAYING THAT WE WOULD BE FIRST HOUSE GUESTS IN NEWLY ASSIGNED COUNTRY. EGYPT BECOMES VERY HOT IN APRIL, AND TO AVOID THE DESERT HEART, WE PLANED THE TRIP AROUND THE FOURTH WEEK OF MARCH WHEN IT IS STILL COOL. SAJJAD AND I FLEW TO CAIRO ON 21 MARCH. ON NASIMA'S SUGGESTION, WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE NILE CRUISE, A CRUISE FOR WHICH WE SHALL ALWAYS REMAIN THANKFUL TO HER. HER SOCIAL SECRETARY, NANCY HAD ALREADY MADE THE ARRANGEMENTS AND BOOKED US ON MS STEPHANIE FOR A THREE NIGHT CRUISE .
Wonder Architect
We tend to see a lot of daring structures nowadays titled modern structures. Architects and engineers are always striving to take the building to the next step, one brick at a time. Italian architect David Fisher is building the first skyscraper, the Dynamic Tower, and it happens to be one of the most ambitious construction planes every laid. Each and ever floor of the 80-story self powered building rotates according to voice command. Castling nearly§700 million to build, he driving inspiration behind the building is that the architect "loves the idea of seeing the sun rise and set in the same room. Time is always changing the shape of the building."The rotation takes up to 3 hours and uses solar cells and wind turbines to generate the building's energy requirements. The system is meant to create enough energy to power the same entire tower and still have juice to spare for some surrounding buildings.
The Cyber Cafe
THE OTHER DAY I WENT TO NILKHET TO BUY SOME BOOKS I WANTED TO SPEND SOME TIME USING THE INTERNET TO CHECK AND SPEND MAILS AS I HAD SOME FREE TIME. HENCE,I WENT TO A CYBER CAFE WHICH IS SUITED AT NILKHET AND ASKED THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE ABOUT THE CHARGES. HE, IN TURN, ASKED ME IF I NEEDED DOUBLE OR SIGNAL ROOM. I DIDN’T UNDERSTOOD FIRST. AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED, TURNS LIKE SIGNAL OR A DOUBLE CABIN WERE ONLY USED AT HOTELS. THEN I HAD A GLANCE AT INSIDE THE CAFE. I FOUND THAT EVERY DOUBLE CABIN , A COUPLE SPENT TIME , AS IF THEY WERE IN A PARK. I COULD GO ON, BUT WHAT I SAW IS NOT SIMPLY NOT DESCRIBABLE. I WAS SHOCKED AS MANY OF THEM WERE SCHOOL GOING STUDENTS. THE CYBER CAFES AUTHORITIES MUST MONITOR WHAT IS GOING IN THE CAFE.
It can happen to you.
For all the informative workshops on HIV/AIDS, the pamphlets about prevention and the sing-song commercials discouraging ignorance it is unfourtune that the majority Bangladesh's population remains in the dark when it comes to knowing the proper facts of HIV/AIDS. In reality the slogans of" Baste hole Jante hobe." and swanky men in movie threats talking about having the protection knowledgeable enough to be able to successfully compact this disease. Although the turns of HIV/AIDS usually come in hand to hand, it is important to note that the two are not exactly the same HIV or human immunodefiency virus is a retro virus that causes AIDS which is basically a disease where the body's immune system completely shuts down there by making it fully suscriptiable and vulnerable to any kind of illness. People do not died in AIDS, they die of other aliments however harmless they may be to a person with normally functioning immune system such as pneumonia, infections even something as simple as common cold, because their body’s are unable to fight these aliments. ERESH 42
The bleak future of old town.
The capital Dhaka city Town of the city. Although the city heart is this part but now it's in a deplorable condition. The skims are increasing and footpaths are occupied by the poor who cannot be blamed with for migrating the city in the hope of a better future. This part is well enriched with old masterpiece architecture work like Lalbagh fort and Ahasan Manzil, etc. Still the road conditions are devastating with many open manholes and huge dustbins by road side. The city of mosque has now changed into the city of rickshaws and the tangled condition of wires from a dense spider net. The roads are so narrow that even a single car cannot move. many houses are occupying the roads area. The roads contain many holes that no vehicle can move smoothly even at the slowest speed. More importantly
, the old town has been denuded of trees and people show very little interest in roof top plants .the roads are patched up and buildings quick to each other and therefore the scorching heat increases and suffocation results. Owing to the fact most parts are related with business. Poor communication terrible country must rate our cities by refraining from illegal acts such as encroaching water bodies. FRESH 43
, the old town has been denuded of trees and people show very little interest in roof top plants .the roads are patched up and buildings quick to each other and therefore the scorching heat increases and suffocation results. Owing to the fact most parts are related with business. Poor communication terrible country must rate our cities by refraining from illegal acts such as encroaching water bodies. FRESH 43
বৃহস্পতিবার, ১৯ মে, ২০১১
A River Runs Dry
The Jamuna Multi-Purpose Bridge has been considered a dream come true, linking the capital with the northern part of Bangladesh. The river that this magnificent structure bridges is one of the three main rivers of the country that is the main channel of the Brahmaputra that flows south to merge with the great Padma and then meets the Meghana in Chandpur, eventually reaching its destination into the Bay of Bengal. But what has happened to the mighty Jamuna, the waters of which seemed to have no beginning and no end? It is a shocking sight, the drying up of the Jamuna. A long walk down the miles of sandy char areas that have risen out of the riverbed indicates the Jamuna's gradual decline as continuous human interference with the water's flow has resulted in her present humiliationi. Can the gorgeous the livelihood of thousands of people and countless aquatic species, be saved?
Education in Bangladesh.
They say Education is the backbone of a nation. But what if Education becames a high priced commodity in a developing nation like Bangladesh where the need for educated people is the most to sustain the development of the country? It is quite a know factor that education is one of the major components, contributing to widen the difference between rich and poor. To add more on that, recently it's become an unaffordable need even for middle class people as the cost for proper education is increasing every day. This situation exists in every single level of education from primary school to university, and most evidently in private universities.
After the introduction of Private University Act, 1992 such universities were first established in Bangladesh. This act legalised the formation and operation of private universities in Bangladesh which led to an establishment of 52 new universities in the country within a few years. To safeguard the autonomous character of the universities, University Grant Commission was appointed to monitor the private universities, besides already monitoring public universites after its formation under section 4(1) of the President's Order No. 10 of 1973.
Need for Open Spaces.
A few days ago I was going to take my tuition classes. After getting off the bus, I had to walk for a few minutes to cross a lane to reach my destination. It was not a very busy road and a group of children were playing cricket on the narrow lane. There were plenty of multi-storied residential buildings all around. The children were very lively, jumping around with joy and screaming every time the act touched the ball. Suddenly, the ball hit a nearby glass window and shattered it to pieces. Immediately, the children left their bats and balls and ran away for their lives. The landlord got out of the house and screamed at the children. He rebuked them and also took away all the bats and balls. Since then, the children stopped playing there. For a growing child, an open ground or a field is very much necessary. Playing outdoors is very different and also healthier than playing computer games the whole day. Technology has kept us imprisoned inside our homes. To make everything worse, building developers do not think about building an open space alongside their regular structures. Our children should be encouraged, not only to study well and secure good marks but also grow up to be healthy citizens of the country.
Sound Pollution.
Sometimes I worry terribly about the level of sound pollution around us. Much has been said and thought about this before but is still requires a lot of concern from people are still trying to make this place worth living in. Thinkers and environment clean. The government took the initiative to clean and ensure the smooth flow of the Shyama Sundari canal in Dhaka and performed the task quite successfully. It was a vital necessity for the inhabitants of Dhaka City.
I would like to draw the attention of the present caretaker government and its concerned authorities to the above mentioned issue of sound pollution. We hydraulic horns from buses, trucks and the luxury night coaches. Even the horns of the taxi cabs and auto rickshaws are very harmful for children on the roads. The drivers of these vehicles are not at all careful about the school, college and hospital signs. Sometimes mikes ameloue speakers are unnecessarily used. I would like to request the present caretaker government and its concerned authorities to refresh and implement law and possible orders on sound pollution. We need a calm, quite, and healthy environment to do our work productively and effectively.
Smoking!
The other I went to Farmibte for some urgent work. I got down from the bus and was walking on the footpath to reach my destination when suddenly I pay a police sergeant openly smoking a cigarette on the road. I remember that a was implemented a few years ago about banning or discuraging smoking in public. In this regard, the government had also imposed a fine of TK 50. I guess the government was never really serious about it. Because when a law enforcing member is openly defying the law, why would anyone expect the common man to abide by it?
Revisiting The Ancient Kingdom of Samatata.
It would by six years since I had visited Mainamati, Comilla and I was brimming with excitement to be revisiting the ancient kingdom of Samatata. The archaeological museum of Mainamati displays a number of sculpture of Buddhist deities, artifacts, stunning terraconta plaques, coins, utensivr and ancient manuscripts from 6th to 13th century A.D. In addition are the 23 great archaeological spots of the region including those of Salban Vihara, Ananda Vihara, Mainamati mounds and Rupban Kanya's Palace. In the museum, I find the Assistant Custodian Sadepuzzaman, who became a guide to of six years ago in visiting all the sites of this archaeological ancient place. I had visited this area on a winter day in 2003 and this year it would be the middle of summer. I was already exhausted by the time I reached my destination. The sun was blazing brainst the extravaganza of red krishnachura all the way to the archaeological sites.
The museum has 42 show cases displaying royal cooper plate grants, 350 coins including three hoards of 227 coins, votive mounds and ceilings,bronze sculptures, stone sculptures, terracotta plaques and other terracotta objects, stone and metal objects, pottery.
Tangled Wires and Shaky Billboards.
If anyone observes the streets of Dhaka, they would notice the tangled electric and telephone wires hanging overhead. In recent years the amount of these wires has increased so much that they now form tangles and knots at places and are hanging very low endangering the lives of the dwellers. Our past and present governments had as usual ignored such dangerous problems but now it is time to pay attention, especially with cyclones constantly hitting Bangladesh. Another problem in Dhaka are the billboards that seen to be everywhere. For billboards, specific spaces should be allocated of specific time periods keeping in mind the critical issue of safety.
A River Runs Dry.
The Jamuna Multi-Purpose Bridge has been considered a dream come true, linking the capital with the northern part of Bangladesh. The river that this magnificent structure bridges is one of the three main rivers of the country that is the main channel of the Brahmaputra that flows south to merge with the great Padma and then meets the Meghana in Chandpur, eventually reaching its destination into the Bay of Bengal. But what has happened to the mighty Jamuna, the waters of which seemed to have no beginning and no end? It is a shocking sight, the drying up of the Jamuna. A long walk down the miles of sandy char areas that have risen out of the riverbed indicates the Jamuna's gradual decline as continuous human interference with the water's flow has resulted in her present humiliationi. Can the gorgeous the livelihood of thousands of people and countless aquatic species, be saved?
Up holding the Spirit.
Baul guru fakir Lalon Shah(1774-1890) has made Baul songs a household name. Now a days not only the urban audience in Bangladesh, foreigners are also interested in songs composed by Lalon because of the mysterious way he raises some of the compelling universal questions of life and soul. His verses, which the Lalon followers call Kalams, are the doctrines of the devotional rites of Ohedaniat, the belief that glorifies humanism. In fact, it is the devotional songs of a mendicant folk sect, which generally inhabits Southwestern Bangladesh.
The cult abides by a restricted lifestyle, following the advice of preceptors and the indoctrination of sahajasadhana. Perhaps that is why Lalon, in his verses suggests to search for a maner manush who will guide one to become a Shahjo Manush.
Like the other schools of Baul tradition, followers of Lalon believe that it is not possible to attain peace through physical love alone; divine love is also needed. Followers can have sexual intercourse but are not allowed to give birth to a child, as it is believed that by giving birth one takes on the burden of 'rebirth' on one's shoulder, which is something the Lalon followers prefers to avoid. Taking 'birth' in this materialistic world is considered painful. That is why the Lalon followers take Khelafat, the highest state of knowledge, thinking that at this stage one is prepared to absorb shain in her soul.
It's Always a Bumpy Ride.
One of the many obstacles that Dhaka dwellers have to go through everyday is the feeling of insecurity once they step outside their homes. According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, road accidents leading to death have greatly increased in last two years. In 2007, the number of fatal accidents crossed the 3000 mark. Other than road accidents, reports of nugging, theft and murder also flood in everyday.
Water Crisis Unabated.
The people of Dhaka city are facing a difficult problem regarding the supply of water. So much has been written about this. Yet there is no end in sight. We are suffering from the shortage of water. We are suffering from power failure. What is going on around us? We pay taxes but we are not getting basic amenities. What does WASA or PDB do to resolve it? During every dry season (from February to May) Dhaka city dwellers suffer from these problems. This year it seems more acute. In many parts of the city, people get sticky and straw colored water from the WASA supply line. Such contaminated water which causes many water borne diseases is a public health disaster. If this situation continues, what can expect from the government? The present ruling party has committee to something called 'change'. Are those empty word? Instead of making irresponsible comments, the government should work with some specific agenda.
The Death of Canals.
It is an all too familiar scene every rainy season. Even the most modest downpour leaves the city paralysed as clogged drains overflow downpour and flood the pothole roads. We don't often think about why this is so as the struggle of getting to our destination negotiating the flooded roads preoccupies us. But once upon a time even the heaviest rainfall would not become such a watery nightmare. This is because we had canals back then. Canals are not normally what Dhaka dwellers think about. But as the rainy season comes on with its usual vengeance, they are the most important water bodies we should be worried about.
The Hippo at my Door!
'A zoo in My Luggage", like that of Gerald Durrell's, would have been quite unnecessary here in the land of Masai Mara. One need only look out one's cabin window. I am surrounded by the dusty yellowness of the Kenyan grass lands, broken from the pale blue sky by the bluish green of distant hills. The area where my log cabin is situated is monkey territory by day, occasionally overrun by tiny electric blue birds and odd, colourful lizards. Things, however, are different at night.
All sort of things take place after dark. The dining hall of the safari resort, a grand affair with trophy heads and African wooden sculptures, is a two- minute walk from my beef, followed by chocolate pudding, when one of the Masai guards approaches us. Are we the occupants of cabin 72? It turns out we are. Apparently two Hippopotamuses have taken up dining on the grass in front of our way back?
The walk back to our cabin is a thrilling yet scary venture, but we take courage in the fact that our guard is a traditional Masai warrior who claims to have killed two lions with spears in his lifetime. Not that the Hippopotamuses would attack us. The only animals with potential danger are the rhino, with their horns and unpredictable temper, especially the strong, aggressive buffalo.
Commuters Taken For a Ride.
Commuting in Dhaka has never been easy. But these days it has become next to impossible. As the urban population rises public transport seems to have shrunk to an unbearable level. The long lines of commuters outside the bus stops and lining the streets hoping against hope for a CNG or Mishuk are telling. But it is not just the hardship of trying to get any mode of transport to take you to your destination. Commuting has also become quite unsafe.
A Solar Dream
Solar power is by far our must available energy source. To reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and to produce more electricity to drive our industries, we need to harness solar power. Your cover story (Our Solar Solution) deserves credit for highlighting this important issue. However, the writer calls Grameen Shakti's Discl Chandra Barua the " Father of solar energy in Bangladesh ". This is an exaggeration. While Mr. Barua has been a pioneer from an entrepreneurial and business standpoint, your article fails to acknowledge the important work done by others, including BUET scientists, in making this technology more viable and accessible
Making a Mark in Robotics
Whenever we talk about robotics, an advanced field of applied engineering, we think about Japan or the US. That Bangladeshis can make technically advanced robots, made of hundreds of sophisticated sensors is therefore quite a surprising achievement. Underguate students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) are developing such advanced robots and are participating in an international competition to show off their caliber in the field of robotics.
The Buet students have been participating in the annual robotic competition ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest since 2005 and have won the prestigious Panasonic Award in the Robot contest participating for the very first time. The competition has been organized by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) since 2002. The event is widely known as ABU Robocon ,which is an international educational event with a fresh and unique concept for university, college, and poly-technic students in the Asia Pacific region.
Commuting in Dhaka
Travelling in Dhaka has become a torture, especially for the middle class. There are some issues that it should have explored. The yellow cabs, run by Navana and a few other companies, are air conditioned and relatively safe because they have individual numbers, and they are connected to a central control centre by wireless. Nowadays, the number of yellow cabs seems much less. The black cabs on the other hand are very unsafe. The mostly Indian- made cars often break down stranding passengers in the middle of the road. The drivers are often involved with muggers. The government should take steps to ensure that enough of the yellow cabs are on the roads. The process of issuing road permits should be made smooth. Fitness of the cabs must also be checked carefully. The law enforcement agencies must make sure the companies have total control over their drivers
সোমবার, ৯ মে, ২০১১
Education in Bangladesh.
They say Education is the backbone of a nation. But what if Education becames a high priced commodity in a developing nation like Bangladesh where the need for educated people is the most to sustain the development of the country? It is quite a know factor that education is one of the major components, contributing to widen the difference between rich and poor. To add more on that, recently it's become an unaffordable need even for middle class people as the cost for proper education is increasing every day. This situation exists in every single level of education from primary school to university, and most evidently in private universities.
After the introduction of Private University Act, 1992 such universities were first established in Bangladesh. This act legalized the formation and operation of private universities in Bangladesh which led to an establishment of 52 new universities in the country within a few years. To safeguard the autonomous character of the universities, University Grant Commission was appointed to monitor the private universities, besides already monitoring public universities after its formation under section 4(1) of the President's Order No. 10 of 1973.
After the introduction of Private University Act, 1992 such universities were first established in Bangladesh. This act legalized the formation and operation of private universities in Bangladesh which led to an establishment of 52 new universities in the country within a few years. To safeguard the autonomous character of the universities, University Grant Commission was appointed to monitor the private universities, besides already monitoring public universities after its formation under section 4(1) of the President's Order No. 10 of 1973.
The Death of Canals.
Canals in Dhaka, the vital link between the existing water bodies in a densely populated area, have fallen victim to acute neglect which has hindered the free flow of rain and flood water during monsoon. The use of there watery channels as a place of waste disposal has eliminated the possibility of this water being used for drinking and irrigation.
Immediate attention must be paid to these dying water bodies to make the people of the city free from the imminent threat of water- logging in the rainy season. Though many factors are responsible for the near death of the canals of Dhaka city, relevant authorities with the active cooperation of the dwellers must come forward to initiate a raid, like the much discussed raid against adulteration, against all sort of encroachment, landfill etc. We must save the canals if we want to see a safe and healthy Dhaka.
Immediate attention must be paid to these dying water bodies to make the people of the city free from the imminent threat of water- logging in the rainy season. Though many factors are responsible for the near death of the canals of Dhaka city, relevant authorities with the active cooperation of the dwellers must come forward to initiate a raid, like the much discussed raid against adulteration, against all sort of encroachment, landfill etc. We must save the canals if we want to see a safe and healthy Dhaka.
Making a Mark in Robotics.
Whenever we talk about robotics, an advanced field of applied engineering, we think about Japan or the US. That Bangladeshis can make technically advanced robots, made of hundreds of sophisticated sensors is therefore quite a surprising achievement. Undergraduate students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) are developing such advanced robots and are participating in an international competition to show off their calibre in the field of robotics.
The Buet students have been participating in the annual robotic competition ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest since 2005 and have won the prestigious Panasonic Award in the Robot contest participating for the very first time. The competition has been organized by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) since 2002. The event is widely known as ABU Robocon,which is an international educational event with a fresh and unique concept for university, college, and poly-technical students in the Asia Pacific region.
Fresh 31
The Buet students have been participating in the annual robotic competition ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest since 2005 and have won the prestigious Panasonic Award in the Robot contest participating for the very first time. The competition has been organized by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) since 2002. The event is widely known as ABU Robocon,which is an international educational event with a fresh and unique concept for university, college, and poly-technical students in the Asia Pacific region.
Fresh 31
মঙ্গলবার, ৩ মে, ২০১১
Working Eight Days a Week.
These days even an honest day's work is hard to find. But the lucky few that actually trudge to work everyday have to put more than just their mind, body and soul into their efforts. Disconcertingly, they have nothing to fall back on. They can readily be replaced by thousands of other people who would probably work for less, and with little or no saving, their hand to mouth existence is freighting and fragile. The average day laborer does not get paid much and yet they toil for up to 12 hours a day for their nearly wages. From working in disgusting tanneries to the numerous construction sites around the city, to the death traps that lie in ship breaking yards, millions of our day laborers give everything they have for a few measly Takas a day. On May Day while the rest of the world is talking and arguing over worker's rights and unions, millions of Bangladeshi will wake up at crack of dawn and work well past sun down into the night. Those issues mean nothing to them: all they case about is surviving.
Spellbinding Rangamati.
The Spellbinding natural beauty of Rangamati, in spite of having plenty of features to be a prime tourist destination, is losing out due to the absence of modern tourism facilities.
In the last ten years, several small tourist spots have been sat th under private initiative in the district and thus helped to increase the tourism facility in the hills to some extent. However, the facilities in Rangamati are still very inadequate compared to similar places in other Asian countries.
The locations that draw most visitors are Kaptai Lake, Hanging Bridge, Peda Ting-Ting, Rajban Vihar, Chakma Palace, Suvalong Natural Waterfalls, Indigenous Museum, Tuk Tuk Eco Village, Chan Pang Restaurant, DC bungalow, monument of Birsrerhtah Munsi Abdur Rouf and indigenous handicraft and textile shops.
Hanging Bridge, Tuk Tuk Eco village, Pedal Ting Ting and Suva long waterfalls are the most attractive sight for the tourists as it takes now an hour and a half to recti these spots from the district town.
The Green Grass of Bangladesh.
Thorsten Outré has been a friend and companion to students, cultural activists and journalists during his tenure in Dhaka as the young director of the Goethe-Institute, Dhaka. His exposure to Chinese and Indonesian studies plus his stay in Japan, Malaysia and Nepal had him exposed to darted sensibilities before he came to Bangladesh in 2005. Neither the heat nor pain could diminish Thorsten Oriel’s enthusiasm for traveling to the far corners of Bangladesh to learn about the country, its people, lifestyle and culture. In his gentle and amicable manner, he tried his best to bring an understanding between Bangladeshi ways and German culture, specially music, photography and visual art.
Gentle and self-effacing Thorsten Outré leaves Bangladesh shortly after his work as the Director of Goethe-Institute, Dhaka for almost four years. He was so unassuming that sometimes newcomers took him to be just any other visitor at the cultural Centre. Like all his predecessors, he made himself at home here in Dhaka. He gives some of his impressions of the people and place he worked and mingled with.
What was your first impression of Bangladesh?
Green. It was a green country. You saw lots of rickshaws, few cars and skyscraper; this was back in 1994, when I visited Bangladesh for 10 days and them came back in 2005, when things had changed. The number of rickshaws has now gone down and number of cars has tripled. When I went to the countryside, once again in 2005 I relisted that the country was as green as before. I went to the Sunder bans, Bandar bans, Chittagong Hill Tracks, Cox's Bazar and Sylhet. I went both for work and holiday on weekend.
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