You can't take the land with you

 

‘You are not going to take any treaty land,’ says AFN national chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak on Alberta’s separation from Canada.

Stay good, even on social media

 When social media first started, I actually found it good. We can connect with our friends, families, and other people too if we like their thoughts. Then a huge population joined social media. They found that they could reach anyone they couldn't in real life. Their mindset is that they can abuse anyone they like because some people laugh at them and give them support. These kinds of people have no civic sense, no humanity in mind. They might not do this much in the physical world because they might face consequences, but on social media they can hide behind a fake ID or a virtual image. 

So, the social media platform that was very strong became very dirty. Some good things are still going on, and some good groups and people are still there. But it has lost its safety and goodness.

Preparation for the birthday

 I used to prepare a complete meal on my birthday. Every time, I tried to make something new on my menu. Then I enjoyed the food with my family members. These days, I don't have that strength, but I still try to make something. I just don't invite anyone because I never know whether I will be able to make something or not, or whether that food will turn out tasty.

Biography 325: Because I am following the rule.

 My father has given me a ride many times on his bike or motorcycle. I always felt he drove very carefully and smoothly. He started driving a car in Saudi Arabia. Again, I have noticed he drives carefully. I think he has had only 2 accidents in his life, and in both, he was not at fault.

I have started driving in Canada. From the very beginning, I drive carefully and smoothly. In this country, when it is written Max 50k, people drive at 60k. Police consider up to 10k/20k. I always drive 50k in that situation. I feel the rules are made for safety, and everybody should maintain them. So I always see other drivers get angry. They pass my car, giving me an angry look. Not because I am breaking any rule, but because I am following the rule.

Winter Storm

 My phone is giving me big alerts about the upcoming winter storm. I was wondering what I can do about it. My main concern is hydro power. If we have electricity, hopefully we will survive well, because our house might be warm then. But if we don't have power, we will be in an extremely cold situation within a few minutes. We can't stay like that. We have to go to a shelter. Here is another issue: if we get 30-50 cm of snow, no vehicle can rescue us. All will get stuck in the snow. So how can we go out, or can anything come to rescue us? If the storm wipes out the house, the situation will be much worse. I hope we won't fall into that situation.

May Allah protect us, always.

Local Temporary Shaheed Minar

 In Bangladesh, people build many local temporary Shaheed Minars to honour those who gave their lives to keep Bangla as the national language. I was watching one of our local Shaheed Minars. Photo credit goes to my brother-in-law, Ashique.

Biography 324: My father was cooking in the kitchen.

 I was studying at our local school. Our school was very close to our house. One day, during the lunch break (we used to call it tiffin break), I came home with some of my classmates. On that day, my mom wasn't at home. She went to Faridpur to her parents' house.

Generally, when my mom isn't available, my father used to cook. He used to cook very basic Bangladeshi food, like rice, chicken/beef/mutton curry, and daal (maybe). No vegetables, because he didn't like them. His curry was great. We used to say it was better than our mom's. Mom never felt happy about that.

When we came to the house, my dad was cooking in the kitchen. He was wearing a white lungi. He felt a little awkward in front of our classmates. Later, he told me, "When your mom wasn't present at the house, why did you bring your friends home?"

Our classmates were very surprised. On those days, even now, Bangladeshi fathers don't cook. It was all mom's duty. My dad helped my mom cook in Saudi Arabia first. He used to say, "Now I've learned how to cook. When we go back to Bangladesh, I will help you cook. You will never feel alone." That didn't happen, actually. My father only cooked when no one else could. When my older sister grew up, she took responsibility for cooking if my mom wasn't around.

One of my classmates also said she felt my father was Hindu because he was wearing a white lungi.

Not intentionally

 I was very irritated with someone. I told them, "You can write a book called 'How to Irritate Shahana in 101 Ways.'" It seems my words hurt them. They replied, "I don't do it intentionally." But things didn't improve much.

"Shaheed Minar"

At the University of Dhaka, our department was on the opposite side of the "Shaheed Minar". "Shaheed Minar" is a sculpture in remembrance of those who died to keep the Bangla language alive in this world. We call it the language of our mother. The larger sculpture represents the mother, and the smaller ones are her children. The incident occurred on 21st February 1952 in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Every year, the Banglade Academy arranges a book fair throughout the month of February to celebrate this month. People show their respect on February 21st and gather at this "Shaheed Minar".

While we were students at the University of Dhaka, one day I thought we should take some pictures on campus so we could remember this beautiful place. Shumi had a camera, and we took pictures at different places in the University. I think this was one of them. 

Biography 323: Life teaches us to lose

 So many things I thought I could never have, but life turned out in a way that I have them. These situations made me think that maybe I can achieve anything I try.

But life has more to teach me. Now I know, whether I like it or not, whether I want it or not, whatever is meant to happen will happen.

I'd better try to adjust and live with it. It doesn't mean I won't try to make things better. I won't give up. And then whatever I get, I try to live with it happily. In life, we need to learn to lose. If you win every time, you will forget the taste of winning.

Importance of cleanliness.

 Whoever comes to a leadership position should first focus on cleanliness. The position could be a mayor, premier, prime minister/president, house owner, house manager, counsellor, or school team leader.

If you can clean around you, many problems will solve themselves. Mostly, you will feel better, and whoever visits the place will, too. It could be your home, a neighbour's, a city, an airport, a bus station, a country, an office, a restaurant or anything else.

When I visited Halifax for the first time, the first thing I noticed was that the town was cleaner than Toronto. One of my co-passengers said they felt like they had come from Bangladesh to Canada.

Not only will it make you feel better, but it will also reduce illnesses, mental problems, and many other issues.

Bangla Academy Book Fair 2015

 Bangla Academy always arranges a book fair in February. I visited on the first day of spring to check out the Book Fair/Boi Mela.

The road was closed for the fair, and the fair gates were made to celebrate the book fair.

Little flower businessman.

The main gate of the fair/Bangla Academy

For the remembrance of the national poet Nazrul Islam.

Another gate of the Bangla Academy

Small businessmen are selling Pitha (Traditional winter desserts, the main ingredient is rice flour)

Professional photographer Piyar Bhai. Girls are waiting for their turn to take a picture.

Just the opposite side of the Book Fair there is a park Shohrowardy Uddyan

Bought a book for a kid

Biography 322: How to increase the amount of tea.

 I don't remember when I started taking tea. In Bangladesh, parents allow children to drink tea from a very early age. Maybe a 3-year-old child can be allowed to drink tea.

My youngest sister likes to drink tea, but she was very young. So my mom gave her tea in a small cup that wasn't full. She came up with a solid plan. First, she took one or two sips, then poured her tea into my mom's big mug. My mom was surprised. She asked what had happened. My sister said, "Okay, bring my tea back." Even though she had already taken some tea, she took it all back. But my mom didn't fill her cup 100%. So she said, "I don't drink half a cup of tea. It has to be full." My mom filled it, and she drank it. Then she said, "I don't drink just one cup of tea. I take 2 full cups of tea." So my mom had to fill her cup once again.

Toronto is the best city in Canada.

 As far as I have seen, Toronto has the best weather among all Canadian cities. It has all kinds of features, maybe in limited ways, but you won't miss them. For example, it has Lake Ontario, the Blue Mountains, the Badlands, forests, waterfalls, big cities, a green belt, small towns, rain, snow, wind, railways, subways, LRTs, streetcars, airports, jetties, ships, cruises, skyscraper buildings, cottage villages, a capital city, different cultures and living styles, malls, farmers' markets, best universities, best student grants, amusement parks, natural parks, museums, gondola, skiing, racing, different cultural programs, safari park, etc.

Now it has an official Bangla para too, where most Bangladeshi people live. You will see Bangla nameplates on the roadside shops.

That's why once people start living in Toronto, they don't want to go anywhere else. But the city is becoming increasingly expensive. Living costs are becoming unbearable, mostly in housing and groceries. For this reason alone, some people are moving out of the city. 

Now the job crisis has begun. This crisis is worsening.

1st day of Spring celebration in Bangladesh.

 Before I moved to Canada, one day Falguni asked me to join the celebration of the first day of spring. We went to Boi Mela (Book Fair) and then visited some areas of the University of Dhaka. We met some of our other friends, too.

We were at the Boi Mela (Book Fair).

As far as I remember, the stage was at the Charukala, University of Dhaka, 

Inside Boi Mela (Book Fair), which runs throughout the month of February.

Biography 321: Social media in my life

 I am a busy person. I am always busy. My father used to say about me, "busy for nothing." That wasn't true. I am really busy with many things. I have plenty of important things to complete. Blogging isn't important to me. I am not earning money by communicating with people through my blog. It's just something I like to do, to express my thoughts on different issues. The same goes for my Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram accounts.

I have started blogging as part of my office job. Our company introduced a blog and asked me to join. Then I started writing in my own way on my personal blog. A place where I can express myself without worrying about others' expressions.

Well, I am aware that I won't hurt anyone, that's why in many cases I avoid much information.

Now it's become difficult for me to spend time on social media. I should focus on my important issues in life, not social media. But you know, I should keep a little room for my mind's entertainment. Just to relax and speak (writing, sharing pictures).

Happy New Year 2026

Yesterday, on New Year's Eve, I made some food to celebrate. It was polao with potatoes, tomato salad, chicken kabab, and, for dessert, egg halua. The dessert didn't look good, so I didn't take any pictures of it. The food was very tasty. I added buter daal (lentils), olives, garlic pickle, and lime to taste it more.