Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, Today is a public holiday in Bangladesh; a commemoration of the birthday of Bangabandhu, the father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I hope my dear readers are amenable to a short history lesson on this great man, especially since there are international ramifications of his life and actions. partition …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, When you’re living amongst another culture, it’s a truism that the cultural rituals and practices stand out as obvious. And, it’s just as obvious that these manifestations of belief and attitude are rooted in a way of thinking. Some of these are self-evident. But some are not and become crystallised only …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, Some people laughingly complain that occupational health and safety requirements are too onerous for business or too restrictive. Some even say the rules are representative of the pendulum having swung too far in favour of the workers. I’ve never been in that camp. Here in Dhaka the construction industry is but …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, Ever since Neil Young recorded “A Man Needs a Maid”, I’ve tried to work out what he means. To give a love, you gotta live a love. To live a love, you gotta be “part of”. What’s he on about? Arriving here on the sub-continent ten months ago, there was some …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, It’s one of the enduring mysteries of capitalism that so many consumers appear to be unaware of the connection between cheap labour and cheap goods. So many make a beeline for the latter, rejoice ostentatiously in the acquisition and conveniently ignore the reasons for the cheapness. One doesn’t need to undertake …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of Dhaka. Let me introduce you to two non-fictional cases of humanity that have something in common with each other. There’s a young boy – perhaps 16, perhaps older – who has been placed on the pedestrian …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, There’s nothing like sport to boost a nation’s self-confidence. The cricket World Cup has provided Bangladesh with a chance to prove themselves worthy. It’s the talk of the town (at least amongst the blokes). Bangladesh’s fast bowler Rubel Hossain spent a night or two in gaol recently for reneging …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, “There’ll be higher education for the toilin’ starvin’ clown, An’ the rich and educated shall be educated down.”So said Henry Lawson in his poem “For’ard”. The message resonates here. I know that bringing a western education to Bangladesh has its doubters. After all, it’s a bit like imposing imperialist dogma on …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, Bangladesh the nation was born in bloodshed, in a nine-month war of liberation from Pakistan in 1971. Local folklore has it that the principal progenitor of the war was Pakistan’s determination that the national language would be Urdu. For East Pakistan (well over 1000 kms from the seat of power in …Read More
He hottun Saint Martin’s Island, It was the American band The Eagles who penned the aphorism, “Call some place Paradise: kiss it goodbye”. They were absolutely right about that. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has ever been in a beautiful place and been mystified by the propensity of some predecessor to leave …Read More