Weekend Tribune Vol 3 Issue 38

vol 3 Issue 38 | FRIDAY, JAnuARY 15, 2016 Dhaka Tribune

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WEEKEN D TRI BU N E | FRI DAY, JAN UARY 15, 2016

1CONTENTS

Volume 3 | Issue 38 | January 15, 2016

EditorZafar Sobhan

Features EditorSabrina Fatma Ahmad

Asst Magazine EditorFarina Noireet

Weekend Tribune TeamSaudia Afrin

Moumita AhmedN Anita AmreenFaisal MahmudSakib MridhaSaqib Sarker

Syeda Samira SadequeShuprova Tasneem

ContributorsMinu Ahmed

Jennifer AshrafSyed Rashad Imam Tanmoy

Syed Zakir HossainShahid Hussain Shamim

Dina Sobhan

CartoonsSyed Rashad Imam Tanmoy

Priyo

GraphicsMd Mahbub AlamAlamgir HossainTahsin Momin

Colour SpecialistShekhar Mondal

AdvertisementShahin Ahsan

ProductionMasum Billah

CirculationMasud Kabir Pavel

Websitedhakatribune.com/weekendfacebook.com/WeekendTrib

Email your letters to:[email protected]

Editor’s note About the coverDear Readers,January has got off to a fine start, with plenty of people talking about making the world a better place, and boy do they have ideas.

The second annual Gobeshona Climate Conference wrapped up with notes on what needs to be done vis-a-vis Bangladesh and its particular vulnerabilities.

2016 being Tourism year for Bangladesh, Ajiyer talks about eco tourism and its applications and implications.

DNC is talking about drug abuse and finding new ways to push the conversation to ways

in which to cope, mitigate and prevent the problem.

The final leg of this year’s Biswa Ijtema is already underway, and this week’s photostory captures the crowds that arrived during the first instalment, to discuss scripture and matters of faith.

The Bong Momma talks about cows, Dina talks about angry wives, and Tanmoy waxes lyrical about his travels abroad.

It’s been fun bringing you all these conversations, and we hope that this is the year that the words are made into action.

-Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

News

2 News

3 Meanwhile

FeatuRes 4 Men’s Fashion

Cold weather trends

5 Beauty Glam

8 Focus Discovery

12 Event Climate conference

13 Event Climate conference

14 Focus WiFi buses

15 Focus DNC Anti Drugs Campaign

RegulaRs16 Tough Love

17 Legalese

18 Stay In

19 Go Out

20 The Bong Momma

TravELOGuETANmoy CArTooNs

PhOTO STOry BishWA ijTemA

6

9

Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain


2 NEwS | This week

Iranian official says US sailor issue ‘is being resolved

S Korea fires warning shots after seeing North Korean drone

South Korea last week, fired 20 machine gun warning shots after a North Korean drone briefly crossed the rivals’ border, officials said, the first shots fired in a Cold War-style standoff between Korea in the wake of the North’s nuclear test last week.

The North Korean drone was flying dozens of meters (yards) south of the border and turned back to the North after the South fired shots, South Korean defense and military officials said, requesting anonymity because

of office rules. The shots did not hit the drone.

North Korean drone flights across the world’s most heavily armed border are rare, but have happened before.

North Korea has in recent years touted its drone program, a relatively new addition to its arsenal. In 2013, state media said North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un had watched a drone attack drill on a simulated South Korean target.Photo: AP

Vietnam last week had accused China of threatening safety of civilian flights over the disputed South China Sea by failing to properly inform its aviation authorities of recent test flights to a man-made island claimed by both Beijing and Hanoi.

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said that although a Chinese Embassy representative did inform the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry about the flights last month, prompting a protest from Hanoi, that did not extend to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam and threatened the safety of civil aviation.

“The notification from the Chinese Embassy cannot substitute China’s notification to the appropriate air traffic services

units of Vietnam in order to

ensure the safety and regularity of flight operations,” the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said in a statement.

China Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei told the media that China’s three test flights to Fiery Cross Reef — one of seven South China Sea features where China had carried out extensive land reclamation — were state aviation activities and had no restrictions under international law.

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh disputed Hong and said that at the meeting with the Chinese Embassy representative, Vietnam protested and demanded that China cancels the flights.Photo: AP

The detention of 10 US Navy sailors taken into custody by Tehran after their two boats drifted into Iranian waters, is being resolved. A leading Iranian official informed, indicating they could be set free as early as Wednesday.

“Investigation shows that entry of American sailors into Iran’s territorial waters was due to mechanical problems in their navigation system,” Gen Ali Fadavi, Navy chief of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard, was quoted as saying on Iran’s state TV.

US officials had said that Tehran assured them the crew and vessels

would be returned safely and promptly.

Earlier Fadavi said the American boats had shown ‘unprofessional acts’ for 40 minutes before being picked up by Iranian forces after entering the country’s territorial waters.

The US detainees included nine men and one woman, who were being held overnight at an Iranian base on Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf. They were expected to be transferred Wednesday to a US ship in the region.Photo: Reuters

Lieutenant General JFR Jacob (retd), who negotiated the surrender of Pakistani troops in Dhaka following the 1971 Liberation War, has passed away.

The Indian general, 92, breathed his last at Delhi’s R&R Military Hospital on Wednesday morning after prolonged illness, reported PTI.

Born in 1923, Jacob is best known for his role in the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

His family was Baghdadi Jews originally from Iraq who settled in Kolkata in the middle of the 18th century.

Jacob, motivated by reports of the Holocaust of European Jews during

World War II, enlisted in the British Indian Army in 1942.

Bangladesh government in 2012 honoured him for his contributions to the 1971 Liberation War.

Jacob, then a Major General, served as the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command during the war.

Born in the Bengal Presidency under British India, Jacob joined the Indian army at the age of 19 and also fought in World War II before he retired in 1978.

Post retirement, he also served as the Governor of Indian states of Goa and Punjab.Source: Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh Liberation War hero general Jacob dies

Vietnam accuses China of threatening civilian air traffic

The world at a glanceWeekend Tribune

Desk


. . . MEaNwhILE 3

Photo of the week

say what?

Passing ferries over Padma riverPhoto: Tahsin Momin

Girl dumped for being ‘fat’ gets revenge by sending her ex a bar of soap made from her liposuctioned flab

A girl dumped by her boyfriend for being overweight has had her revenge – by sending him a

cake of soap made from her fat.The young woman, known only by

her online nickname Xiaoxiao, had liposuction after being dropped by the shallow fellow.

In an unusual step, she used the matter that was extracted from her to

mould her own payback cosmetics.Xiaoxiao then posted a picture of

herself holding the soap to the Chinese social networking site Sina Weibo, according to the Shanghaist.

In an accompanying message to her ex-boyfriend, she said, “Since I cannot go home with you this year, I’ve made a piece of soap from my own fat to give to your mum for washing up.”Source: Daily Mirror


4 MEN’S FaShION | Cold weaTher Trends

Take a shot at these signature looks for this seasonMahmood Hossain

Okay, maybe we’ll never get close to frostbite in this country. We are well into January, which is arguably

the coldest month of our very brief affair with winter. But it’s cold enough to layer up and still look your best.

Show-stopperKey items: Sunglasses, leather jacket, turtleneck, wristwatch

Whether you’re off to a weekend shindig or an evening out, there will be certain items on display that will separate you from the rest. You’ll be giving out the chic, rebel without a

cause vibe with this outfit. To heighten the look even more, try pairing the key items with dark, distressed jeans. In a wintry backdrop, dark contrasts will pop out even more.

9 to 5Key items: patterned dress-shirt, briefcase and obviously, the suit

Gone are the days of minimalistic, playing it safe suits. Well, you wouldn’t be in the wrong by sticking to that style of office-wear, but it’s always good to shake things up a bit from time to time. The patterned dress-shirt is the eye-catcher for this look so match things up

accordingly. A solid coloured, knitted wool or cotton tie and a pocket square of no patterns, with a similar shade in colour, will make your suit game look sharper than ever.

Let’s also start getting into the habit of carrying a chic, unconventional styled briefcase. We’re talking about leather patterned briefcases or bags that can serve as your daily carry-all.

Denim on denimKey items: denim shirt, denim jeans, leather bag, bracelet

Getting in touch with your inner cowboy may be a little difficult. Not

too many men have looked at an old Western movie and said they wanted to dress the part. In reality, this look isn’t for everyone, but still a standout move for the season. A denim shirt with jeans, in similar shades of blue, layered by a light-brown suede jacket can turn plenty of heads. Roll up those sleeves to expose a quality bracelet, while you caress your leather bag like Blofeld does his cat and your set. Just skip the cheesy one-liners.

Honourable mentionThe outfits aren’t always about the occasion, it’s also down to the grinding off-hours at the gym. It doesn’t matter if you’re taking a run around the neighbourhood, hitting up the gym, or if you’ve got all the equipment at home. Nowadays, items that prioritise function have plenty of style. You have your workout staples such as, a windbreaker, shorts, sneakers, quality tank top and headphones.

You could circle this portion with an asterisks because this is more of a style tip than anything else. While fit is the number one priority, matching the top with the bottom, along with your fly sneakers, all need to be one brand. The thing about sportswear is that it’s not as flexible as your everyday wear. If your tang top is Nike, your shorts or trousers and sneakers must be Nike. Professional teams wear uniforms for a reason, and getting your exercise in on a regular basis is no exception.

Wearing Nike shoes with Adidas shorts is in poor taste, gentlemen. However, you need not worry, there are plenty of non-branded tops and shorts to find in various places. n

Too cool for winterIllustration: Priyo/Dhaka Tribune


Glam | BEauTy 5

Skinsightmax out your beauty quotient this yearSabrina Fatma Ahmad

Standing at the cusp of a new season,

it’s time to take

stock of one’s beauty

regime and give it an update for Spring 2016.

Selfie powerNow you can put all those selfies of last year to good use. Sift through them to spot when you looked your best. Hair up, or down? Red lipstick, or pink? Contouring, or strobing? The pictures should give you a roadmap towards looking “on fleek” all year round.

Glam gadgetsIf you want to take your beauty game to the next level, you’ve got to give your beauty tools an upgrade. Splurge a little on the right brushes, and a good hair straightener/curling iron, and invest in a good makeup removal system.

Ban those raysEvery beauty expert/ skincare professional and their mother will

have told you this, and it’s for a good reason; load up on that sunscreen if you want to protect your skin from turning into leather. And no, the SPF factor in your foundation is not enough. Rain or shine, slap on that SPF and save your hide.

Bring home the spaWe’d all love to be able to treat ourselves to a full on spa treatment every week, but let’s face it, not everyone has the time or means to do it. That shouldn’t stop you from giving your skin some much-needed TLC. Let exfoliation be a regular part of your regimen. Set time aside for a home mani-pedi, and while you’re at it, treat yourself to a DIY face-pack, or grab one of the drugstore peels. Your skin will definitely thank you. n

Photo: Bistock

Photo: Nisha Haque


6 TravELOGuE | Tanmoy CarToons

Sketching AmericaSyed Rashad Imam Tanmoy

Things that you don’t need to knowLast year I was selected among 10 professional journalists from all over the world to participate in the world press institute fellowship program 2015. It was a great opportunity for me to travel throughout USA, meeting different communities and experience different places and people.

A back pack, a laptop and a sketchbook – this is the story of my 2 months long trip!

Minnesota I was enrolled under the University of State Thomas, Minnesota.We were flown to Minnesota and were settled under the University of State Thomas for a week before we started our main journey throughout the country. After a week of enrolment, getting to know each other and all the introductory classes – it felt like we were ready to begin!

However, for me, the trip really began when I was in the middle of the Minnesota state fair. Filled with fat people and fried food, the largest state fair of the country revolves around meals. It was something that I had never seen before. Hot dogs, cotton candy, milk shakes, cheese carts, corn dogs – their size starts from large to larger and largest – the list continues.

After a wonderful week in Minnesota, we were taken to Washington DC. From the Jefferson Memorial to the Washington Monument, all of it was great, but visiting the White House was the most remarkable of all.

Unfortunately, the joy of going inside of the White House significantly decreased after learning that they don’t allow you to take photos. However they had no rules against live sketching! I was lucky enough to be visiting the inside the White House. Even when I was in the building, I could not make myself believe it. We were taken to

the Roosevelt room. Right when I was thinking about pulling out my phone and taking a legendary selfie, all cameras and phones were asked to be put inside a locker. I am visiting the White House and there will be no photograph of it? How can that be?

As our hearts broke in to a million pieces, I remembered my sketchbook. They forbade me to take a photo, so what? I’ll sketch everything that is happening in front of me! Soon, the pen ran on the pages of my sketchbook and created a priceless memento of our group in the Whitehouse!

Washington DC


77

Los Angeles Apart from getting to see amazing places and sketch whatever I wish, the fellowship program required me to attend classes and long tiresome meetings.

A perk of being a sketch artist is that the meeting hours can be passed fairly easily. All one has to do is keep a straight face, grab a pen, paper and simply sketch away!

Graduation Day By the time I spent a week in Los Angeles, my fellowship was almost over. We had left LA and came back to Minnesota again. The end of my trip was knocking on the door. Soon after completing the graduation and at the same time finishing my travelogue, I returned back to Dhaka – the most magical city of all. n

On the way to New YorkAs a cartoonist who always carries a sketchbook, I have my best times during long commutes. The long hours of a journey allow me to observe, befriend and sketch my surroundings with ease. Meet Hillariy – a stranger I met on the train from Washington DC to New York. There is a certain delight in meeting strangers in a train. The inevitability of the farewell somehow makes their presence much, much more precious.

New YorkBig cities can take away the sense of compassion from people. Unsurprisingly New York was no different. However, there was one place in New York where empathy could not be robbed. The Red Stairs of Times Square. Here, people still smile at each other.

We had taken the subway to reach Manhattan from Brooklyn. It’s fascinating to see the spark of diversity that ignites at the subway every day. With each passing station and every hours of the clock – whole new worlds unfold inside the mighty machines.

Perhaps it is because of such diversity, that I feel the underground metro to be among the best places for a sketchbook artist to be.

MiamiAfter a few splendid days in New York, we headed for the famous sea shores of Miami – where the sun meets the sea (along with Botox, calf shaping and breast implants!)

ChicagoOur next stop was Chicago. Out of all the cities of USA, this one made a special place in my heart. With futuristic skyscrapers, old metal bridges and beneath all that – a calm blue river – it offers a perfect blend of nature and concrete.

40 second sketch of life at San Fransico - (View from pedestrian bridge)

San FranciscoSan Francisco was very different than all the other cities that I sketched so far. To be able to visit the place and draw the city for the first time in front of my eyes was truly amazing.


8 FOCuS | disCovery

Craft and eco-tourism have always gone hand in hand. Tourists come to not only see our magnificent

landscapes, but to immerse themselves in the cultural environment and appreciate our ways of life. We are blessed with incredible arts, crafts and cultures in the Asia Pacific Region, which influences people from around the globe to visit us.

While tourism is a good source of income for the country, it also leads to greater income generation for many layers of society which are directly or indirectly involved in the tourism industry. On the other hand, it can bring undesired outcomes to local areas if the country is not well prepared beforehand. It is, therefore, time for us to look into these matters and share knowledge on the tourism plans and policies of other countries like ours, who have achieved a fair measure of success in the marketing of crafts to domestic and foreign tourists. At the same time, the strategies that are being used to achieve sustainable eco-tourism will also have to involve handling natural resources with care and sensitivity.

First of all, there must be a political will to provide the funding for various eco-tourism projects and programmes, as well as to oversee the management until the required outcomes are achieved. Though it sounds easy, it is very difficult to get all the concerned sectors to coordinate and work as a team.

Secondly, you would need to have the people’s cooperation at every level of society - from rural communities to businesses, as well as government officials at the provinces and ministerial levels.

The tourism authorities in Bangladesh are very active and new projects and programmes are created

continuously. At the moment, we are promoting beautiful places in Bangladesh for both the tourists and locals in a big way. For example, the participating hotels are providing very attractive room rates for visitors.

These unseen and often remote places are mostly involved in promoting eco-tourism. The locals themselves are investing in making new resorts, which are quite popular for both local and foreign tourists.

For the past four years, we have had the support of the government in prioritising and promoting ‘community owned tourism’ all over Bangladesh. However, we need to coordinate more with various government departments and agencies, and should work closely together more often. Committees should also be set up to initiate and activate these eco-tourism programmes. The government has been providing funds for the selection of products and subsequent training programmes, which include product development for the target markets. Exhibitions have been organised as well.

However, we should also focus on other policies that allow us to promote local crafts as well. For example, there could be a government policy where all the government personnel should wear an outfit made of Bangladesh’s hand-woven materials, at least once a week. This is a very good strategy because it make sense to wear more hand-woven materials produced in the country as

the people in the villages work hard to make them. And soon it can become a fashion norm. Men would be wearing deshi shirts instead of western jackets, and women would wear traditional sarees in innovative ways. Those who do not like to wear sarees could create their own styles, but also use the hand-woven silk or cotton material for other attires.

Most governments expect immediate results for political reasons - this is quite understandable because at the end of the day, results get the votes. The locals also require immediate results for their own livelihoods, that is, they want their products to reach the markets as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it is not that simple to promote craft products to target markets, and be able to sustain the markets’ demand and requirements at the same time. It is a long term process which needs to continuously be in motion, almost like walking - we need both our feet to move. At least now we have started in a systematic way, and even if the progress is slow at the beginning, but once the momentum is established, things can accelerate from there in no time.

Eco-tourism is perhaps the answer to both expectations. Promotion of eco-tourism encourages tourists to stay and spend their money on their accommodations, food and beverages, and buying crafts for their own use and as gifts to take home.

Data collection is very important

in these cases. We need to know when, where, why and what tourists like to buy, so that action plans could be made for the future. At the same time, in order for us to be sensitive to what resources we have and where, another set of data needs to be made to guide the locals and make them realise the importance of maintaining their resources. If they need to use the raw materials, then they would have to plan the planting and alternate the harvesting at correct intervals.

The government also needs to have a macro overview of what and where everything is so that productions of various products can be planned and monitored beforehand. There should not be too much repetition of the same product. Otherwise, the supply will exceed demand and suffer the consequences in a price drop.

With regard to the craft products, each area should produce what is typical or well known from that particular region. Moreover, product innovations can stem from traditional designs with high quality raw material, excellent workmanship, and respect towards the environment. This is a good time for us all to think about the possibility or feasibility of establishing market linkages of existing outlets for ‘quality craft products’ through our concerted efforts and experiences. In order to have a successful enterprise, it has to be run in a businesslike manner by a professional. We need to identify ourselves and understand our goals and strength in order to take the next step. n

Craft and ecotourismTalking of the rise in community-based ecotourism in the countryShahid Hussain Shamim

Shahid Hussain Shamim is CEO of AJIYER Community Based Tourism


Bishwa ijTema | PhOTO STOry 9

Photos: Syed Zakir Hussain

Prayer meet

The Biswa ijtema – the third largest muslim congregation after hajj – was held last week in Tongi. This was the fourth year of ijtema, and this week, our photo story features the banks of the Turag river where tens of thousands of devotees from home and abroad gathered to pray for spiritual adulation and discuss the true meaning of the holy Quran.


10 PhOTO STOry | Bishwa ijTema


11


How do you think the Paris talks have influenced the climate change debate in Bangladesh? Are you hopeful? There was a lot of hype leading to Paris as well as trepidation – because if there was no agreement, what would we come back with? When the draft agreement was settled on, there was a sense of relief. But the devil is in the details, and there are gaps in the detail in terms of expectations and requirements. The positive is that they have agreed to keep the global temperature rise to below two degrees Celsius, but there is no clear timeline or responsibilities. So what does that

translate to? For these reasons, there is a bit of apprehension. With global warming, every day counts and the issue of finance is critical. The finances that have been proposed are based on facts and figures from yesterday, and things are happening at a pace that we cannot keep up with in terms of impact, loss and changes.

Are you worried about the changing of ‘shall’ to ‘should’ in the clause about achieving a balance between mitigation and adaptation?‘Shall’ is more proactive whereas ‘should’ is in principle. Of course the

12 EvENT | ClimaTe ConferenCe

The future of climate with Farah Kabirin conversation with the Country Director of ActionAid, Bangladesh and Chair at GobeshonaShuprova Tasneem

whole agreement is based on countries and parties willing to take it forward – it’s a voluntary commitment for now, until it is signed and adopted. Even then, there are two schools of thought – one says that being a UN Convention gives it legality, whereas the other says it has to be adopted and so on for it to be enforced.

Do you think we still consider battling climate change a secondary issue, with economic development being the most important? From the Bangladesh perspective, climate change is still very important. But the approach is more development-based, specifically in terms of infrastructure development. There is a lot of discussion about the social costs of economic development and some initiatives as well, but it needs to be geared up. There is still a lot to be done and that is why we were so keen on the issue of loss and damage. Adaptation is critical for us, but we also understand that there is a limit to adaptation – what will be adapt to, if salinity keeps increasing and land keeps eroding? To deal with issues of displacement and migration, we need to focus on development as well.

Are we being able to properly tackle climate change related displacement?The communities find a coping mechanism and they have to adapt to it. They can’t wait for the international mechanisms to fall in place, because for them the displacement is a reality they must deal with. From that perspective, there are lots of things happening. There are also attempts to take up projects on urban poverty and link it up with climate induced migration, so these initiatives do exist. Many of them are short-term though, and what we need are short, medium and long-term policies. But the impacts of climate change are such that we can’t fully measure and predict everything, so this can be difficult.

Do you think the government is reaching out to the places most vulnerable to climate change, like the char areas?Even government will struggle to deal with emission cuts, come up with climate finances and provide improved technologies. All good intentions and efforts of government may not lead to the desired results, but we are moving in the right direction.

What are your views on the Rampal power plant?We are choosing the same energy model that has contributed to global warming. Today or tomorrow, we will have to acknowledge that this was not the right choice. But we also cannot deny our citizens the right to energy. However, I think this was an opportunity for the government to come up with alternative energy solutions and sustainable energy, instead of going for the old model, and they might have missed the train on this.

What is the future of renewable energy in Bangladesh?I am positive about it. It’s about orienting and creating awareness to shift perceptions, which we are doing. Bangladeshis have always been coping and adapting, and local processes of recycling and conservation are in place. Now we just need the technology to be made available, and successful piloting schemes and programmes to support it. We cannot stop development if we want to get people out of poverty, and from the rights perspective, people are entitled to access these opportunities – which also includes technology transfer, access to information etc.

Is there enough coordination between government and NGOs working with climate change?One of our successes is that we have been implementing pilot programmes and lobbying and the government has been taking up these projects – so there is a sense of return from being consistent and pursuing this. There is always need for greater coordination with the government and within the development sector itself. In the NGO level, we are already coordinating more than before – we now have the National Alliance for Risk Reduction and Response Initiatives (NARRI) Consortium, so I am positive about this as well.

Are we reaching out to the grassroots and involving them in formulating climate change related policies?

At the non-government level, consultation with locals and utilising indigenous knowledge is how we work. But this is an ongoing and continuous process, and we must listen to grassroot voices and learn from them. But we also need to be the catalyst and conduit for bringing in science and technology to the communities. n


ClimaTe ConferenCe | EvENT 13

Money for fighting climate change was in focus at the closing session of Gobeshona – an

annual Conference for Research on Climate Change in Bangladesh. The conference provided the opportunity for international and multi-stakeholder participants to engage with a wide range of Bangladesh-specific climate change research.

John Timmons Roberts, Ittleson Professor of Sociology and Environmental Studies at Brown University and an internationally renowned expert on climate finance, delivered the keynote speech, sharing his insights on the recently concluded 21st International Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris.

“There are two ways to look at the Paris outcome,” Roberts said. “If we think of what could have been, it’s a miracle. By comparison to what it should have been – it is a disaster.”

He recalled that in Bali (COP 13) and Copenhagen (COP 15) there was fear that the UNFCCC (The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) process will not survive, but Paris has proven that it will. “For countries like Bangladesh which do

not have huge amounts of geopolitical power, multilateral processes like these [Conference of Parties] are necessary,” he said.

Professor Roberts considers the national pledges of global emissions reduction (INDCs) that have been submitted during COP 21 to be an indicator of success. “Copenhagen’s outcome was very weak and inequitable. With the INDCs, we are getting closer to an equitable system,” he says. These pledges would decrease global warming down to around 2.7 degrees, which is not enough to prevent catastrophic climate change, “but it is almost one degree better than we were a year ago,” he added.

He credits a part of that success to the work of the Obama administration in its bilateral talks with China. “They broke the ice and other countries though we can’t not do anything,” he said.

According to Professor Roberts, the commitments made in Paris have to be ratcheted up with stronger pledges in the future and global stock take in order for mitigation and adaptation to be effective.

He said that according to some people, the Paris agreement could be termed as a failure as it has no

accountability mechanism. But he said that it is built on countries holding each other accountable and civil societies shaming and holding governments accountable.

In Copenhagen 30 billion USD was pledged in fast track finance, which has subsequently been increased to 100 billion USD. However, the Paris agreement lacks clarity regarding the nature and amount of the funds and is non-binding in nature. “In the negotiations, the inclusion of binding targets would have made it difficult to pass the agreement through the US senate,” he said, pointing out the political realities of climate finance.

“We still lack a definition of what counts as climate finance,” he expressed sadly, highlighting added difficulties in deciphering the finance segment of the agreement. “There needs to be some clarity regarding what qualifies as climate finance so that when countries make promises it is clear what they imply.”

He pointed out there is no reference to innovative finance in the agreement. In the context of increasing impacts of climate change, finding sources of funding that are stable, new and additional is vital.

On the topic of funding, Christian Tardiff, Charge d’ Affaires, High Commission of Canada to Bangladesh, said that Bangladesh is spending a significant amount of its GDP on climate change adaptation. “In order for Bangladesh to secure its just share of international funding, it is important for the financial and planning and monitoring systems to be put in place,” he said, adding that civil society organisations, NGOs, think tanks all have a role to play to ensure the follow through and accountability.

“There is a quiet revolution going on in Bangladesh,” said Anwar Hossain Manju, Minister of Environment and Forests, highlighting some of the efforts the government of Bangladesh is taking to adapt to climate change using local resources, such as building cyclone shelters.

Bangladesh is currently funding the majority of its adaptation projects domestically, but the need for international funding for this resource-constrained country cannot be ignored. In this context the minister said it was important to demonstrate good quality work for accessing climate finance. “You need focus on the work, and the money will come in,” added Anwar Hossain. n

Gobeshona sheds light on climate finance

Sohara Mehroze ShachiPhoto: Syed Zakir Hossain


14 FOCuS | wifi Buses

In an era where wi-fi services are cropping up almost everywhere, it’s still not so easy to get wi-fi while on the go, especially on

the public transport system in the metropolitan cities.

With increasing amount of hours that people need to spend due to traffic clogs, public buses are probably the best spot to have wi-fi, but very few fruitful initiatives have so far been taken here.

Good news however might just be around the next bend. A private company has taken the initiative to install wi-fi service in its public buses to provide the commuters the much needed window to spend ‘quality’ time in the bus.

The impressive initiativeThe initiative of installing wi-fi services in the bus was taken by ‘Ayat Poribohon’. The transport company has started the service in its buses plying on the route from Dhaka Zoo to Kamalapur.

On Tuesday, while travelling in one of the buses of Ayat Poribahan, we found that there a sign for wi-fi service within the bus. There was a router by the side of the driver’s seat which used a SIM card of state owned mobile telephone operator Teletalk.

A person was aiding the commuters with passwords required to avail the

wi-fi service. That person, Chatak Chowdhury is one of the 11 owners of Ayat Poribahan. He informed, that the wi-fi service had been introduced from January 11.

“Initially we started the service in 20 of our buses. Very soon, we will launch the wi-fi service in 30 more buses of our company,” said Chowdhury.

Chatak Chowdhury has started commuting in the buses since the inauguration of its wi-fi service. “I will be doing that for a few more days to receive commuters’ feedback and to make sure that the commuters are getting the right services.”

The owner of Ayat Poribahan said that each of their buses is comprised of 40 seats. “Unlike many local buses, we are providing true sitting services. The drivers and the helpers are strictly instructed to take no more than 40 passengers.”

The ticket price for each seat is Tk30, and by spending that amount the commuters will be able to get sitting service as well as free wi-fi. “I think it’s very reasonable considering the services that you are going to get. Besides, this particular route from Dhaka Zoo-Kamalapur is a very busy route, and there are lots of people who are willing to spend an extra bit of money just to get a better service,” he added.

Happy commuters Commuters have welcomed the initiatives taken by Ayat Poribohon. Nahin Arman, a merchant bank employee who regularly takes that particular route said, “Usually it takes 1.5 to 2 hours to reach my work place in Paltan. During this time, I pretty much have nothing to do but to get irritated because of the unbearable traffic.”

Arman, who was in the bus on Tuesday however was happy as he could spend his time more “fruitfully”. “It’s amazing! Now I can browse websites and can see all the posts on facebook. I love it!”

Arafat, another commuter who is a student of Northern University said that speed is a bit slow but he was happy that he could avail the free wi-fi services on the go. “The internet package is still very costly to me since I don’t have any earnings. So for me, free wi-fi service on the bus is a welcome respite amidst the unbearable traffic jam in Dhaka,” expressed Arafat.

He hoped that other private services would take the same initiative in their transport lines.

Previous government attemptsThe wi-fi service in public buses by Ayat Poribahan however wasn’t the first initiative taken in Dhaka. State-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) first introduced the wi-fi services

in 10 of its public buses on Motijheel-Uttara route in April 10, 2014.

The buses are not equipped with only wi-fi internet services but also fitted with vehicles tracking technology. The vehicles tracking devices helps identify the place and distance of the buses.

In those buses, the passengers could use the free internet service by scanning the QR Code in the bus. To avail the service, QR code scanner of passengers’ devices needs to be enabled.

During the launching, it was said that the wi-fi facility would be installed to other buses in phases. But this correspondent found out that no such initiatives were taken by the state owned authority. Also, in most of those 10 buses, the wi-fi routers are either being disabled or not working.

On December 13th, 2015, State Minister for Post and Telecommunication Ministry

Tarana Halim however said that idle funds to the tune of Tk7.25 billion lying with the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will be used for IT and telecom services including wi-fi in buses, especially the ones used by students. She also said that the telecom ministry would work with transport companies to incorporate free wi-fi services in the public buses n

Net on the go

Wi-Fi respite for Dhaka commuters Faisal Mahmud

Illustration: Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune


Between the years 1990 to 1993 the amount of cannabis seized by the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC)

was over 6 thousand 5 hundred kilogrammes. From 2010 to 2014 the amount increased to over 18 thousand kilogrammes. Within those 4 years (2010 – 2014) over 48 kilogrammes of heroin was also seized by the DNC.

Needless to say, that the statistics provide imprecise insight into the reality of substance abuse in Bangladesh. According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) survey, most substance users in Bangladesh are young people ranging from 18 to 30 years in age. A Dhaka Tribune report revealed that there are approximately six million drug users in Bangladesh

who spend over Tk700m every day on illicit narcotics.

To fight the tough fight, the DNC has taken and continues to take actions. To combat the drug problem on a cultural front the DNC has distributed leaflets, posters over the years. Among the cultural programmes the DNC put out short films, including Grohoner Kal by popular playwright the late Humayun Ahmed.

This year the DNC decided to raise awareness not only by the conventional routes but with something different. This January the DNC’s annual awareness month has coincided with the Dhaka International Trade Fair. So, the DNC took a stall at the fair to reach out to the public.

“Arranged in collaboration with Go

Green Bangladesh (GGB) the stall was designed to be interactive and attract visitors,” said Mohammad Shahjalal, the CEO of the GGB and consultant behind the campaign.

The DNC has 12 tour guides to show the visitors around the booth. The visitors are first taken to infographics on the wall that shows the harmful effects of different drugs.

The visitors then go around the booth to write on a paper board where different questions are written. “What should you do if you suspect someone is taking drugs?” one question reads. Visitors are seen keenly writing away answers to these questions.

After that there is a ‘selfie’ corner. Visitors are encouraged to take photos and post on DNC’s facebook page. Visitors are handed out informative leaflets and pamphlets. There is also a fun dart throwing game with pictures of the different kinds of drugs printed on the dartboard. The participants are asked to try and target the drug they think is the most harmful.

There is also a counsellor present at all times if someone wishes to talk. An isolated booth inside the stall has been built for private counselling sessions. Members of the hospitable team within the stall also include two recovering addicts, who talk and share their experiences with anyone interested.

“I finally went into rehab because I could not take it anymore,” said Albert Dinesh Mollah, one of the recovering addicts who agreed to work at the booth and extend his help to anyone

who needs it. “I was about to destroy myself. My whole life was in complete disarray because of drugs,” Mollah said. He is determined to do anything he can to help drug users.

Visitors appeared to be pleasantly intrigued by the arrangements in the booth. “I’ve never seen such efforts by a government department,” said Ahsan Ara, who was visiting the stall.

“This will inspire people I think,” said Rajkumar Baruri Rajib, also a visitor.

DNC has also published a directory listing all the licensed rehabilitation centres and medical facilities in Bangladesh. To inaugurate the publication, Home Secretary Dr Md Mozammel Haque Khan paid a visit to the booth on Monday.

After visiting the booth, listening to the guides, writing on the paper board, playing the dartboard game and speaking with the counsellor the secretary launched the directory.

Impressed by the efforts of GGB and DNC (DNC is under the Home Ministry) the Secretary said in his speech that “this unique effort will open new opportunities for Bangladesh.” He commended the fact that the DNC has taken up such an initiative and praised the interactive platform in the booth.

Additional Home Secretary R.C. Barman, Director General of DNC Khandakar Rakibur Rahman, Additional Director General Md Amir Hossain, and Chief Consultant Dr Syed Emamul Hussain were also present at the directory launching. n

DNC’s war on drugsSaqib Sarker

dnC anTi druGs CampaiGn | FOCuS15

Photos: Saqib Sarker


16 TOuGh LOvE | dina soBhan

Command and demand Dear Dina,

I am the lucky man who married a woman with real boss

status. She’s got a successful career, and is highly respected at work, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. However, things have recently been stressful at work for her, and it’s spilling over into our personal lives. She’s always on edge, and will snap at me, our maids, the postman, etc at the smallest thing, and then feel guilty about it afterwards. I think it’s becoming a bona fide anger management problem. How do I help her beat the blues?

Dear No Pants Man,I don’t think what your boss lady is experiencing are the blues, they’re the

reds. As in, she sees red when forced to deal with fools. It’s not easy being the boss; you’re surrounded by ineptitude on all sides and have to give instructions on everything, from how to make a decent cup of coffee to delivering presentations without putting your audience to sleep. And if that’s not bad enough, she has to come home to lackadaisical staff, lazy children and a mealy-mouthed husband. In order to help her feel less guilty for doing what is obviously in her nature to do – pointing out others’ general inadequacy in life – just be better. Get up before her in the morning, make sure the table is set and breakfast made and served to her satisfaction, and the children and staff standing at attention. Usher her out the door with briefcase in hand and gourmet lunch packed. In the evening, have dinner ready and a hot bath waiting and, for the love of all things holy, make sure the house is spotless. Do you see where I’m going with this? If you give her nothing to be angry at, it’s no longer a problem, is it?

Dear Dina, I’ve been married for four years to what my parents call a “good” man. He’s

dependable, reliable, and not too demanding. However, I have come to realise that he’s extremely low on empathy and completely lacks any initiative whatsoever. Birthdays, Eid, or even dawats, you name it, I have to be the one to plan everything if I want something. Is it too much to ask for the blessed man to maybe surprise me with flowers on our anniversary? How do I appeal to his romantic nature?

Dear Demandino,Why don’t you just ask for the moon, maybe the stars…? In other words, yes, you’re

asking too much. You’ve got a man who doesn’t drink, gamble and generally run around town embarrassing you with his lewd behavior. He’s as wholesome as he is dull, and that’s pretty much the MO. If you want romance and excitement, you’re betting on the wrong horse, lady. With flowers and initiative, you might also get surprises of an unwelcome nature. What if in the course of developing empathy, he also realises that being

a ‘good man’ has led to having a completely uneventful life and decided to sow his oats in his advanced years? Now you’ve got a perfectly boring man on the loose, taking all kinds of initiative with all sorts of things that have nothing to do with you. Why? Because in the course of discovering himself, he’s also discovered that there’s more to life than you and your demands and he wants to be free of all of it! I say let this sleeping dog lie and accept him for what it is. Buy your own flowers and plan Eid dinner. It’s not the end of the world. But it could be if you rock the boat, lady.n

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

Illustration: Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy/Dhaka Tribune


jennifer ashraf | LEGaLESE 17

My family owns a plot of land at Bashundhara and we had given it to a developer, based

on the understanding that the apartment building they were planning to construct would be completed within three years. This was in early 2011. It is now early 2016, almost five years have elapsed and they have not completed the building. Furthermore, they seem very relaxed about the entire thing and have been avoiding our attempts to get in touch. We gave them an irrevocable Power of Attorney with respect to the land and that also specifies that for every month delayed, we would receive two lacs per month. They paid us for a few months, but stopped payment from the end of 2014. Kindly advise of whether we have a legal remedy in this instance.

Dear Reader,Thank you for writing in and I truly empathise with your situation. Such registered irrevocable PoA

can be revoked only on very limited grounds. As per section 11 (b) of the Power of Attorney Act 2012 (although this Act came into effect in 2013, relevant provisions are applicable to any PoA which was entered into prior to this Act), irrevocable PoA can be revoked once the duration for which the PoA was granted expires. However, since the Builder failed to fulfill their obligations under the terms of the PoA, there may be a cause of action available under section 4(3) of the Power of Attorney Act 2012 for revoking the said PoA.

A notice of revocation needs to be served to the Builder and after the expiry of the notice period, the PoA shall be deemed to be revoked. The notice also needs to be served and enrolled at the relevant sub-registry office where the executed PoA was registered. It is your obligation to notify the Builder, since under the section 29

of the Real Estate Development and Management Act 2010 it is a punishable offence to revoke PoA without serving due notice. It should also be noted that if any dispute arises in connection to or out of PoA then the dispute must be taken to arbitration. This is also a legal obligation under the Powers of Attorney Act 2012.

It is finally the relevant land registry who shall enroll the revocation of PoA. According to law, if there is a dispute regarding the PoA, the dispute should be resolved by mediation. If such attempt of mediation fails due to non-co-operation of one of the parties to the PoA, the aggrieved party should send a notice for arbitration through an arbitrator. The notice receiver should appoint an arbitrator in consultation with the notice sender within 30 days of receipt of notice. However, if the parties fail to appoint an arbitrator, the aggrieved party may go to any relevant court.

Revocation of PoA is a procedural issue. It appears that PoA is irrevocable and is valid till date. However, it is very likely that the Builder will

raise objection if any such notice of revocation is served and in that case it may end up to be decided by adjudication (ie the arbitral tribunal or the court, as the case may be).

Pursuant to the Power of Attorney Act 2012, all the acts done by the donee of the power (power holder) shall be regarded to be donor’s own act. You may thus be held liable by third parties ie contractors, flat purchasers, etc. for the acts of the Builder. Although you will be entitled to bring proceeding against the Builder as per the law of restitution, or in other words you will be entitled to chase the undue advantages the Builder has gained in connection to or arising out of the project, eg advance payment, made by the purchasers of the flats.

At this stage I recommend making a formal complaint to REHAB, the governing body for real estate builders. Most of the time, issues like these can be mediated successfully to the advantage and satisfaction of both parties. I wish you all the best, and please keep us updated on your progress. n

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

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18 STay IN

S u d o k uUse the numbers 1-9 to complete each of the 3x3 square grids such that each horizontal and vertical line also contains all of the digits from 1-9

Last week’s sudoku solutions

ACROSS1 Sprite deed has influence (6)6 Flattens golf equipment (5)7 Escape egg from that chicken (5) 8 Criticise attempt at food store (6)

DOWN2 Add water and change no times (7)3 A different woman, one more (7)4 Mouthful of mised treats (6)5 Store under bit short chess piece (6)

Last

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aCROss5 Out of bed and not left of piano (7)6 Bitter card I shuffled (5)9 Half of family holds many shipwreck bits (7)

DOwN1 Friend of young flower (3)2 Farm machinery lifts rubbish cart (7)3 Win in a street in competition (7)4 Animal enclosure in East Yemen (3)7 First of old farm folk are not on (3)8 One member of parliament is a sprite (3)

Clues

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

Mini crypticsho

rosc

opes

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19): This week is all about prosperity as far as relationships and work prospects are concerned. Any kind of communication you invest in will prove to be valuable in the long run. The social calender too, maybe full too. Taurus (Apr 20-May20): You’ll be feeling really in tune with your intuition – make the best of this feeling by exploring your thoughts, feelings and your desires, especially for the opposite sex. Some revelations will be coming your way, so brace yourself.

Gemini (May 21-June 20): There will be an inflow of positivity into your life this week. Not only from friends and family, but also from your extended circle. Hurdles you may have had in the past will move towards smoother terrain. Engage in social events as they will contribute to your growth.

Cancer (June 21-Jul22): While you have been riding the joys of

prosperity for the past couple of days, you may have not had the time to reflect. This is when you should treat yourself for the hard work you’ve been putting in lately. If you come across creative projects, this is the time to take part.

Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22): If the to-do list is full of tasks you can’t quite get around to completing, don’t beat yourself for it. Allow yourself some leeway and breathing space. Steer clear of setting unrealistic expectations and ask for extensions when required.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22): While this isn’t one of the best weeks for you, you can still make the best of it anyway. The current state of affairs may continue so it’s time you review your plans to see why there has been a hold up. Patience is key this week.

Libra (Sep 23-Oct22): This week will be a life-affirming one for you. Not only will you be connecting with old loved ones, but you may also be looking into old flames you haven’t been in touch with. Nurture your connections this week.

Scorpio (Oct23-Nov21): As much as you’d like to make commitments and important decisions this week, it’s advisable to hold it off this week. Don’t worry about delayed projects because you will be given

a golden opportunity to look into your affairs and spot any flaws.

Sagittarius (Nov22-Dec 21): This week you might just have a very unexpected, but exciting encounter. How you deal with the interesting news you’ll receive, is upto you. Keep an open mind and make sure you control your finances as they may be strained.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan19): As impatient as you will be to set things right and get things moving in the direction of your choice, it may not go as you’ve planned. Take a step back and focus on tackling flaws to find out what’s making your best laid plans gather dust.

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18): This will be a fun-filled week with you even getting a few interesting messages out of the blue. If you find opportunities to venture outside your comfort zone, this is the time to do it. If you’ve been considering taking a break, this is the right time to as it will help clear emotional baggage.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20): Any social gatherings you go to will prove to be quite intersting as you meet people with new, creative ideas. You will enjoy intense discussions as you take an enthusiastic approach to life. Relations with the opposite sex, too, will be ripe.


GO OuT 19

Weekly Planner Jan 15Culture | Red Shift Coffee Lounge presents Disney Friday When 3pmWhere Red Shift Coffee Lounge, Bays Galleria 5th floor, 57 Gulshan AvenueWhat Relive the magic of Walt Disney with Disney Fridays, a brand new event at Red Shift Coffee Lounge. Enjoy with your family, friends, or just by yourself and take a much-needed trip down memory lane with these classic Disney films.

This week, the event will feature the films that started it all – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Pinocchio back to back. So join the event and lose yourself in the magic of Disney!

Jan 16Culture | FASCINATING TALES: TRAVEL BOOK LAUNCH AND MOVIEWhen 5pmWhere Red Shift Coffee Lounge, Bays Galleria 5th floor, 57 Gulshan AvenueWhat Red Shift Coffee Lounge announces a double-barrelled evening presented by two of Dhaka’s most well-known and likeable personalities.

The first half of the program will be the launch of an illustrated travel book called Footprints Left Behind written by Akhter Matin Bobby describing in vivid and colorful detail his journeys in far-flung corners of the globe, ranging from South East Asia to the Baltic States. In his presentation Bobby will talk about his motivations, his style of travel and tell us some of the many stories about things that have happened to him when he has been on the road. There will also be a Q&A and book signing.

This will be followed by the second part of the program, the showing of a short documentary called Harnessing Green Gold made by Razia Quadir. The film relates the history of the Tea Gardens of Bangladesh and the mysterious life of the people who make their livelihood from tea, from the labour force to the Managers and staff. Razia Quadir is a seasoned development communicator who has made many highly regarded movies, among them In quest of the Sundarban Bengal Tiger. She will bring the Tea Industry to life in this finely drawn documentary and will be available for a Q&A.

Jan 18Cinema | TAANDRO screening at DHAKA Film FestivalWhen 1amWhere Central Public Library, Shahbag What Taandro is an upcoming Nepali film directed by Samten Bhutia and produced by Satish Kumar Gautam that is selected for showing at 19th International Film Festival Dhaka. The movie is based on the book Smriti ka dobharu written by Ganga Bahadur Lama. The story line of the movie is based on the confrontation between the Government and the Maoist Party followed by the civil right movement came to an end overthrowing the Nepalese Monarchy and establishing a People’s Republic.

Jan 17-21Arts | Science Inspired PaintingsWhen 11am-5pmWhere Drik, House 58, Road 15A (New), Dhanmondi R/AWhat Arif Ahmed, student of applied physics has a special interest in the niceties of the

universe. He is also a genius when it comes to 3D animations. With his breathtaking work, the country’s popular satire magazine Unmad is organising a five day long ‘’Science Inspired Paintings’’ at Drik gallery.

Jan 13-16Exhibition | GARMENTECH Bangladesh 2016When 10am-6pmWhere International Convention City Bashundhara – ICCB, Kuril Bishwa RoadWhat Garmentech Bangladesh has been the most preferred technology and machinery sourcing forum in the country since the past 14 years. The 15th edition of GARMENTECH Bangladesh 2016 concurrent with the 7th edition of International Yarns & Fabrics Sourcing Fair and 7th edition of GAP Expo The Garment Accessories, Packaging and related Machinery Tradeshow is tailor-made to showcase to the decision makers, sourcing managers and technical managers from the RMG Industry in the country.

Everyone is cordially invited to the exhibition.

Jan 14-16Festival | Camera Fest

Jan 15Concert | Raaga & Rhythm

When 12-8pmWhere Drik, House 58, Road 15A (New), Dhanmondi R/AWhat Right Communication presents the first camera fest in Bangladesh, an event that will bring lovers if photography, renowned brands and members of photography clubs all under one roof.

The event will include stalls by renowned camera brands, promotion of brands, corporate clients, student gatherings, basic courses in photography, introduction to new products, talks by photography clubs, etc.

For further queries, please contact: 01722231615, 01816658684

When 05:30-9pmWhere Chhayanaute Songit Biddayaton, DhanmondiWhat Raaga & Rhythm is a classical concert for the soulful music lovers in Dhaka.

This event is organised by Peshkar Cultural Forum featuring vocal recital by Tamnia Islam, on tabla Mir Naqibul Islam and on harmonium Rajia Sultana; Eshraj recital by Ashok Kumar Sarker, on tabla Swarup Hossain; Sitar recital by Amzad Hossain (Sitar player from

Kolkata), on tabla Mir Naqibul Islam; Mohon Veena recital by Dolan Kanungo, on tabla Swarup Hossain

Tickets are available for Tk300 only and

can be purchased through bKash transaction or from any of the following locations: Gyankosh (Dhanmondi 4), Theater Corner (Bailey Road), Fahim Music (Gulshan and Banani), Surer Mela (Shahbagh Aziz Super Market)

To buy online tickets visit: http://jetechao.com/event/92/raaga-&-rhythm-:-4th-session For more information,contact: 01913950021, 01793699955 for payment details and other queries.


When Jellybean hit the four month mark, we decided to venture out of town on a trip.

This would be Jellybean’s first travel experience and as excited as I was, I was also worried as to what to do or not do.

My father-in-law had planned a trip to Kulaura in Sylhet, the land of tea estates and national parks towards the north east of Bangladesh. It was basically a field visit that my dad-in-law had to go on, so the rest of the family tagged along for an impromptu vacation. Several other families from the office also attended. So on a crisp spring morning, we packed ourselves into several cars and microbuses and head out.

We took Jellybean while she was still asleep, and since it was early morning, she slept for most of the journey. Since the car we were in was already cramped full of people, I had no option to install a car seat and had to carry her in my arms for most of the journey. This proved to be very cumbersome and my arms would ache after a while. So everyone would take turns carrying her to help.

Jellybean was only four months old so I breastfed her exclusively. Everyone would cooperate and look the other way as I hid Jellybean under a scarf and fed her. I didn’t have much of a choice here, and nor did anyone else – when the baby is hungry, then the baby is hungry! No questions asked!

We reached Kulaura mid-morning and the weather was quite pleasant. The lush greenery of accompanying tea estates simply added to the beauty of the day. We were going to stay at a guest house owned by the chairman of that area, and it was a fantastic property with sprawling lawns, modern amenities, an outside kitchen and a huge dining hall. It seemed that the chairman was quite adept at entertaining large numbers of people!

The Husband and I picked a room and settled in. The only lacking was that there was no provision for hot water in the attached bathroom and a houseboy would bring us buckets of water for our baths. I bathed Jellybean with the first bucket we got and it had to be quick, we were afraid she would catch a cold. Since we hadn’t taken her bath tub, we had to resort to giving her a sponge bath and then finishing off with baby wipes and moisturizer.

Lunch was nothing elaborate – rice, lentils, vegetables and fish – simple but very tasty. I’ve noticed that whenever

we travel, our appetite seems to grow and even the simplest of items suddenly hold great taste. That’s why we return from trips having gained several kilos. Every time!

The rest of the afternoon on that day was spent touring nearby areas and taking pictures. The guesthouse also had cows, goats and chickens roaming around freely on the lawns, which gave The Husband ample opportunity to take pictures of me with a cow or two in the background. And yes, he did snicker every time he did so. If you take a look at the photo album, you will find many pictures of yours truly, carrying Jellybean and looking exasperatedly at the camera, with a cow leering in the

background. Don’t worry, I did exact revenge on The Husband. In that photo album you will also find The Husband traipsing around with a couple of goats in tow. He couldn’t have looked more at home!

The next day after a sumptuous breakfast, we headed off to check out the Madhabkundo waterfall. The weather was surprisingly hot, and Jellybean became very uncomfortable in her baby carrier. We took her out of it and released her from her pants, dressing her in just the onesie she was wearing. Her face, as it always did in hot weather, had turned a vibrant peachy colour.

Upon reaching Madhabkundo

waterfall, we found it absolutely bustling with people. We elbowed our way through the crowd, only to find the great waterfall was a mere shadow of what it once was. The water flow had dwindled down to resemble what looked like a leaky tap. Disappointed, and equally annoyed, we resorted to taking pictures and then getting out of there.

After lunch we went to visit another tea estate and had afternoon tea and snacks with the manager and his family there. Back at the guesthouse, there was an elaborate dinner planned in my dad-in-law’s honour, with the chairman paying us a visit as well. My dad-in-law was made to sit at a throne-like chair at the head of the (very long) dining table, much to his embarrassment. The chairman was gushing over him and personally serving him food. My dad-in-law was smiling politely and blushing furiously; and seeing this, we quietly giggled and threw him smirks from across the table.

We couldn’t sit with Jellybean at the table, because she wouldn’t stop fidgeting. She wanted to be walked and so The Husband carried her while I ate and then I took over. This system of taking turns to eat carried on till Jellybean was old enough to sit at a table and eat on her own without throwing a fuss. It was very difficult to keep her still and she refused to sit in highchairs. So the day The Husband and I managed to go to a restaurant and sit through a meal without interruptions was like a “Hallelujah!” moment.

The next day we were off to visit Jaflong, a hill station and another popular tourist site. This is the first time I had been to Jaflong, and what I saw before me looked nothing like the pictures I had seen before. Where was the blue river, the scenic beauty? The river water was murky and all I could see were labourers mining stones. Before heading back to Dhaka, we went down to the river and took pictures, while my dad-in-law looked on, holding Jellybean. n

20 ThE BONG MOMMa | Tales from a firsT-Time mom

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

Photo: Bigstock

Travelling to tea-landMinu Ahmed

Weekend Tribune Vol 3 Issue 38

Documents

Transcript of Weekend Tribune Vol 3 Issue 38