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 267: Kantha

 In Bangla, we call it Kantha. It is a thick homemade cloth made by adding several used and soft cloths and sewing them together to make something like a blanket. It is long and big for older people and used like a blanket. For kids, it is small so that whenever it gets wet, they can change it. It's very common in Bangladesh.

Before Sifat was born, my mom made some kantha. But those were not enough. So, we all sisters get the job to make kantha. I think my older sister made the most. I did some, too. Once, Lisi Apa came to visit Sifat, and she brought a kantha too. The most useful thing after a baby is born.

Biography 230: Visiting Bandorban

I have visited Bandorban twice: once with my youngest uncle, Abu Mama (maternal), and again with my brother and youngest sister.

When I was in grade 10, my uncle took me and my cousin Ranku to visit Cox's Bazaar. At the time, my uncle worked as a manager at a rubber garden. It was in Naikhonchhori, Bandarban.

Later, when I was working, I took some leave every year to visit some places. Once, I decided to visit Bandarban. I didn't want to go alone, so I took my brother and sister. All expenses were on me.

We stayed at Milonchhori cottage and visited Shoilo Propat and Naaf River. I wanted to go to Ramu bazaar by boat, but my siblings didn't have the patience to wait for the boat. So, I had to come back. Then we visited the Golden Buddhist Temple and went to the top of a big hill. For the tour, we booked a zip. A group of students from Buet also asked us to share the zip with them, which saved some money. They also stop at some beautiful spots and take pictures.

This was an amazing journey during the monsoon season. When I showed pictures to my office, some colleagues expressed interest in visiting Bandarban, too.

Biography 227: Rangamati tour

 I have decided to visit Rangamati. It's a hilly district beside Chittagong. Many tribes live here with the plainland people.

Generally, people go there as a side destination, like they visit Chittagong, Cox's Bazaar, Bandorban, and Rangamati. I don't like rushing while travelling, so I decided to see Rangamati only. My friend Tuheen (an ex-colleague) joined me. I mean, I asked her, and she agreed.

I have always informed my parents about my movements, like where I am going and which places I will go next, one after another. So, I shared my travel plan with my family, too. Whoever heard this, family and friends, said to me, "You two girls will travel alone? How come?"

Well, why not? But deep inside, I was feeling discouraged. My cousin Litu was working with his own travel agency. So, I asked him about the tour plan. Like where we should stay, which places we can visit, etc. He gave me information as much as he could remember at that moment. He also booked a motel for us. I told him everybody was saying how we two girls would travel alone, is it ok for us to go there? He replied, "How did two girls become alone?" That sentence really gave me the courage to have this tour.

Now, our country's situation is different. So, girls, please always have some protection.

Our motel was a government-regulated old building just beside the lake's hanging bridge. Their furniture was old and elegant, and the food was good. In the morning, when we visited the Hanging Bridge, we saw lots of fog coming up from the lake water. Fish were near the surface water. The bridge looked like it was hanging in the sky, surrounded by clouds. It was an amazing moment.

Later, we crossed the bridge and went up to the hill. We found many tribe families are living there. They have different ways of dressing up, their household items are different, their bungalows are made in different styles, they speak different languages, they look different, and they are adorable and welcoming. Felt like I had come to a different world.

We booked a speed boat and hopped around the lake all day. In the afternoon, we saw birds that had come from the cold and were returning to their country. They looked very beautiful. Near the lake, I saw small cottages, which are for rent, and anybody can have a private time.

Rangamati has different shops with the tribal people's handmade items. I bought a dress and other items for my family. The price was slightly higher than it should have been, but not too high.

Then we came back to Dhaka on a bus. Each time we passed any city, I texted my father, mentioning where we were at that moment. Because Rangamati didn't have a mobile network in those days, I started sending messages when we came to a big city or plain land.

My dad was very excited to get my message. He told everybody where I was. My nephew Tamim became very irritated. He said, "Why are they not in one place? Why do they say different cities' names after a while?" All laughed at him.

Biography 219: B(desh), Bangladesh.

The First World does its advertisement very well. People who are not from the First World think the First World is similar to heaven. Deep in their minds, they always want to live in the First World. In South Asia, people call this "Bidesh," which means some other country or abroad. Here, they meant the First World.

In my job some trainers came from India. I knew India is a very strong country comparatively other countries in South Asia. One day, I heard those trainers talking to themselves about going abroad (Bidesh). They were laughing at their poor luck. They wanted to go abroad, and their luck brought them to B(Bangl)Desh. Like they asked God to take them to Bidesh (Abroad) and God put them in Bangladesh.

I didn't feel good. Just wanted to say that Bangladesh has very good travel spots. They are of very good quality, very low cost, very good service, have very good sight views, anybody will love them.

You can try. I recommend.

Biography 190: Rosher Pitha (Bangladeshi Dessert)

Source: https://youtu.be/1Ruu-dZCpoM?si=PQ0CQTUiUvspMz4D

 Rosher Pitha (খেজুরের রসের পুলি পিঠা) is a Bangladeshi dessert. After the fall, in winter, women used to make this dessert. Because in the fall, all crops, especially rice, had been taken out from the field. So, at home, plenty of rice is available in winter. Women used to make rice dumplings with fried sweet coconut and put it in a sweet soup. Which consists of date syrup, milk, coconut, etc. They keep the dumplings inside the soup for a night, and in the morning, it tastes like heaven.

Let's come to the main story. When I was visiting my youngest uncle's home in Cox's Bazaar, one night, my aunt decided to make rosher pitha. At night I also helped her to make a huge amount of dumplings, which she put in the sweet sauce for the night.

The next day, we went to Bandorban (that's another story), and after one night's stay, when we returned, we found all pitha had finished. My aunt couldn't understand how 2 people my cousin and his friend, finished all in one day. Later she got to know that they invited more people to join them to finish the pitha. So, my bad luck that I couldn't taste that pitha. After that, no one made me anything like that, nor did I try to make it. Just never had that dessert anymore.

Biography 174: Ratna's home

We were at Ratna's house. From left, I, Ratna, Shumi, Ratna's sister and Fahmida.

 Our friend Ratna was fortunate. We stayed in Mymensingh during our 2nd-year tour, and Ratna's home was in Mymensingh. So, Shumi and I also became fortunate too. Because when we reached the hotel. A big food carrier came from Ratna's home with homemade food. It was a lot. So, we could share with our other friends too. They were happy to have homemade mashed dry fish (in Bangla, Shutki Bhorta), lentils etc. As far as I remember, Pratul was very happy to have that Bangladeshi food.

One day, we made some time and went to Ratna's home. We mean I, Ratna, Shumi and Fahmida.

It took about 30 minutes in Rickshaw. It was a lovely little one-storied home. They have a garden inside their home (In an open space).

Here, we met with Ratna's older sister. Such a sweet, very good-looking, soft-spoken and always smiling when she was talking. I became a fan of her. We took a picture with her too. Where ever she goes, she makes everyone happy.

Then we went to Mymensingh Medical College to visit. Our friend Saleh invited us. Maybe Shumi told me that Saleh asked to visit there as he is also visiting some of his friends there. So, we (4 of us) went and viewed the beauty of the medical college and met some future doctors with Saleh. Then returned to our hotel.

Biography 171: Bangladeshi trains

 In Bangladesh, we had 3 seating arrangements on our trains. 1st class, 2nd class and 3rd class. You will get small cabins for 4 to 6 people in the first class. There you will get AC, beds to sit in and sleep in, a small table, and a window. No hockers (people who sell items to the travellers) will come. You can order food from the train's food compartment/canteen, which they will bring to your cabin.

I didn't like this situation. It's true it will give you some private time. But I like to be offered tea, snacks, and items every few seconds by the hockers! I don't want to go somewhere to order from the limited food items. That's the choice of a foodie person.

Second-class seating arrangements mean you will have chairs/sofa the same and organized like a plane, except for the food and magazine trays.

The 3rd class sitting arrangments are long sofa, no partition from in 3 person's seat. This will be the best solution if you plan to book a whole compartment for a group tour. And of course, every second, someone will come and try to sell something like tea, toothbrush, medicine, etc.

"Daal Puri" is my favorite tea snack.

"Daal Puri" is my favourite tea snack.

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Daal Puri is a Bangladeshi snack. First, we boil the lentil with onion, salt, garlic, turmeric, and chilli. Coriander leaf is optional. You have to give less water, so it soaks almost all the water and leaves the boiled, soft wet lentil. Then, we make tortillas with flour, a pinch of salt, and oil. Then make a small tortilla or roti. Put a teaspoon of lentil paste in the middle and cover it with the rooti like momo. Then again, with the roller make small rooti. In the end, fry it in the oil. Your puri is ready.

This is the typical recipe. You can make it in many different ways.

I like to take it with salad/salsa and tea.

Biography 152: Very similar road

 In Bangladesh, Baily road is famous for its cultural activities. In the beginning, the roadside shops were Sharees and books. Then it started changing to food courts. The last time I saw it, there was only one bookstore left. The road begins from the Shantinagar four roads node. In the end, it has two prominent colleges and schools. One is Viqarunnina noon college, and another is Siddeshshory girls college. Both are girls' colleges. They called these institutions high schools in Canada until grade 12. After that, we have a Drama theatre.

I found a similar road when I started living in Saskatoon, Canada. It's called Broadway. It started from the 8th Street and Broadway intersection and finished at an overbridge on the river. The road is decorated with beautiful lights. Most of the city's cultural activities happen here by closing the road. In the end, they have a school. Then a Theater. Sometimes, many organizations rent this to show many functions. I have been there to see movies, circuses, school functions, etc.

Sometimes, by mistake, I used to call Broadway road; Baily road.

Biography 144: "It's a different world"

As far as I remember It was a 6-day year-ending function. At the end of the 6th day, cultural programs were arranged. In Bangladesh, a cultural program means some songs, dance, and reciting poems. and dramas. I think a minister or MP joined that ceremony.

Viqarunnisa noon college when arranges any ceremony they make it luxurious with lovely decorations, good arrangments and very good management. But mostly by the girls. They wear sharees, beautiful makeup and flowers. You will feel you are in a different world. Like heaven. That's exactly what the MP also said, " I felt like I am in a different world, it doesn't look like Bangladesh, but surely it's great. And you guys will help to make this Bangladesh better"

Biography 120: Roaches 1

In Bangladesh, cockroaches are a little bigger in size. About 2 inches long. In summer when we keep all windows open sometimes at night they fly into our houses. If people can kill it, hit by a sandel mainly. It dies, and no more cockroaches. I mean if you keep your house clean there won't be any cockroaches.

There is some other kind of cockroaches too. These are small, brownish, about half-inch long in size. Someone told me these are Russian cockroaches. If it comes once, never left.

Again, these are not very common in our country. And if you can clean it properly, somehow can get rid of it.

Among our 4 sisters, I am the only one who is brave enough to kill cockroaches. It's not that I like it or don't scared of it, especially when they try to sit on you, but I know if I want to get rid of it, I have to kill it. Otherwise, it will keep flying in the house and sit on food.

My other sisters scare too much. They scream and run away. My older sister jumps first to get out of it from her body then run. One day she was eating her meal on her bed, suddenly someone told, " Boropa, Tela poka (big sis, a cockroach)!". It wasn't on her body but my sister didn't take any risk. She jumped, all her rice fall on the bed and then she run. Finally, she looked back if there were any cockroaches or not. Anyway, the cockroach was somewhere else. She is still like that.

Biography 109: Hair

 From my childhood, I have always heard that my hair is black, silky, gorgeous.

This is what a Bangladeshi girl wished to have. Then the beauty parlour era came. Then girls started trying different colours in their hair.

I never tried any colour on my hair. I like my hair colour. Even now when it is started becoming white/gray. Sometimes I put henna on my hair (The last time I did, about a year ago). This is for the health of the hair and also makes my hair colour more elegant.

When I was in Saudi Arabia, people use to touch my hair whenever they get the chance. They use to tell my mom, "All Bangladeshi girls have this type of nice hair?". Because they have seen my mom and her friend. Both have nice black long hair.

When I was in school one day one of my classmates started rating who has the most black hair. She started her counting from 1. Some other girls also join her. I kept listening. I thought maybe my number will come from 2 to 4. But they went to rank 7 but didn't say my name. I couldn't hold myself anymore. I said, "Maybe my hair is burning in the sun too much. That's why I'm not getting good colour." She looked at me with a big surprise. "You have the best and most black colour. That's why we are not even considering counting your one."

Oh, that was a relief.

Airplane service

 In Islam, this has been told that people should stand shoulder to shoulder in line when they say a prayer together. I assume to increase brotherhood and to decrease differences between everybody this system has been established.

Airplane authorities or builders liked it very much. The way they have put seats inside an airplane that you don't have any other choice but to sit shoulder to shoulder. I mean your shoulder will touch the other person's shoulder when you take a seat. If it is a family member then you will tolerate or enjoy it. But when this happens with strangers then I'm sure everybody won't like it. especially for women, it is very uncomfortable.

Here is the airplane policy, if you don't like this kind of journey, then pay extra and you will get a first-class seat.

In Canada, air tickets are already very high. And service is pretty low. If you travel to other countries with other airplanes you will see, with less money how high quality service has been maintained. Even if you travel through Bangladeshi internal flights, those give much better service than Canadian airplanes.

One option I like is Canadian airplane booking. You can choose which seat you want to sit from online. So, you can have a less expensive seat if you choose to sit near wings or take no food. But again, even the less expensive seat price is too high.

Biography 77: I got punished

 I had got punished several times in this school in grade 2. In those days (Maybe now a day also), teachers used long, thin sticks to hit kids to punish (In Bangla "Bet"). You can say "Caning or Strokes". Parents know about it and they also think this is necessary for the kids. Now a day also many parents do this at home to manage their kids in Bangladesh.

NO, I never had this punishment. I wasn't that bad. After getting admitted to this school I found study is very hard and boring work. And I have so many interesting things to do on this earth. They always give me so much homework, that if I had tried I wouldn't be able to complete those. But for some other kids, it was easy. Soon teachers found that I don't study at all. But in the class, I was very gentle and a good girl. So, they have given me punishment to hold my ear and stand up on the bench. I should feel ashamed. I did kind of. But there were a bunch of other kids with me on the bench, so it wasn't that bad for me. You can assume that this punishment couldn't make me study. My teachers understood this is not working with me. So, they brought another way to make me study at home.

My older sister was in the same school. She was such a good girl, both in her behaviour and study. All people always asked me to follow her. I never listened. So, one day my teacher called her from her class. I was standing up on the bench. My teacher said to my sister, "Look at your sister, she is always like this, never memorize anything (That is the main study in Bangladesh, you have to memorize all the textbooks. To pass the exam some people memorize the math too), always keep standing up on the bench." I saw my sister's face, she didn't say anything but felt ashamed and became angry. Now I became afraid. If she told this to my mom, my mom may beat me up. Though, that was very common in my everyday life. But I didn't want it more.

At home my sister came to me and asked me to concentrate on study, otherwise, she will tell this to mom. I said I will study. I did some for a couple of days. Now a day think, actually she told my mom and my mom probably suggested my sister for telling me this way. I know my older sister, she never misses an opportunity to put me down.

 At the end of the year, I scored 2nd best. Everybody was surprised, especially my teachers. And they stopped giving me punishment. I felt they started liking me. Not because of punishment, but I stopped study again because I couldn't make enough energy and time for it. Though in the class I was always given full attention to the teacher. I still have that quality. I am a very good listener.

When my son started school, he didn't want to do classwork or homework. Other Bangladeshi moms told me to beat him up. No, I didn't, I tried to make him do things with love and care. Still, I try that way. If failed I use my cards (Like no computer game, no TV, no mobile phone etc), and these works like magic.

Bangladeshi mom

 I have seen moms love their children. In Bangladesh, moms will do everything for their boys. They will wake them up, prepare their dresses like cleaning, pressing etc, will make food for them if possible will feed them. They will try to know everything happening with them and will try to guide them to prevent them to mix with any wrong person, especially with girls. Their love has no boundary, no limit. But it is not without any selfishness. Moms don't want anybody who can take attention from their boys. She can tolerate their friends. But not his wife. Few moms don't want their boys to get married. Most of them agree to see them married because they need the next generation. But it doesn't mean the wife can take any money from their son. Mom wants everything. Boys heart, money and attention, everything. That's why moms raise their sons in a way that they will always depend on their mom. Moms Will keep doing emotional blackmails so that their attention won't go anywhere. The mom gives born so it's their property. These moms don't want or feel hesitant to take help from girls. No matter how rich their girls become, she likes to have everything from the boys. Girls are not her property, girls are for someone else.

Why is this situation? Mostly from tradition. Moms have seen their mom and mom-in-law, do the same. Why are they all doing so? In Bangladeshi culture, boys are responsible for their parents, moms. A girl gets born and raised in a family as some other family's property. After marriage, girls' parents have no right on their girls. The in-law family will take the girl's earnings and help. She can't help their own parents, that doesn't look good, or only when their in-laws give her permission to do so. She will be treated in the in-law as an outsider, so no love or care for her. But the girl's duty is to do everything and give all her earnings. Even her husband won't love and listen to her. He can't do or give anything to her if his mother doesn't like it. So, this girl has no one, neither parents nor in-laws to love. After giving birth she will get a son who can be her emotionally if she could make him be like that. Her girls will marry and go to another family. Now if somehow this boy doesn't look after her, not only by giving money but also by support emotionally, she has no one. In old age, she needs enough money to survive, and someone who will love her. So, how can she let her boys go? This way, this cycle is continuing.

I am a mother of a son too. I do everything for my son. It doesn't mean I don't want him to be independent. But my son is very lazy. He wants his mom or anyone who will do every work for him. Everyday mother-son argument happens, mostly because I ask him to do his own work. I want him to get marry soon and live his own life. I don't want to control him. I will help if they need any. Otherwise, I want them to live in their own way and stay happy always.

Biography 71: Writing my name

 After returning to Bangladesh, my parents wanted me to admit to grade 2, because of my age. Though my education level wasn't good enough for even grade 1. I didn't know how to write my name.

My older sister taught me how to write "Shimul". That is my name. But in the admission form, my mom changed my full name to Shahana Shafiuddin.

In Bangladesh, if any kid wants to get admitted, they had to pass the admission exam. My dad talked with the class teacher. Dad convinced my teacher that I just came to Bangladesh,  I will catch up later. But at this age, I can't go to the junior class.

On the result day, my dad went to school and came back with a sad face. He couldn't find my name on the admission list. He talked with my teacher. He couldn't find anyone named Shahana. My mom asked me, what name did you write on the test paper? I told her, "Shimul". She said, why? Why not Shahana. I told her I don't know how to write Shahana. I only know, how to write "Shimul" which my older sister taught me.

Again they taught me how to write Shahana. Then again they asked me to sit for an admission test. I think the school didn't have enough students in the class. Otherwise, in Bangladesh, sits filled up very fast. Then no more students get a chance to admit to the class. The second time I get passed and was admitted to my neighbourhood school. In Bangladesh, there is no rule that you have to admit to your nearest school. If a student passes the admission test, they can join the school from anywhere in Bangladesh.

In school, to upgrade from one grade to another you have to pass the final year exam. And according to your result, you will get the number from 1. Number 1 will be the person who did the best or scored best. But If you get admitted newly, your number will start from the end of all students. So, in grade 2, my number was 33.

Next year at grade 3 I have got the number 2. Yeah, sometimes I surprise people with my quality ;) A boy got the number 1. He is now become my Facebook friend, living in the USA with his wife and kids. He is a genius and a very good person and has always been my good friend.

Biography 58: Kite

One day In Bangladesh, I had held the kite roller. That's my only experience with the Kite. We were visiting Bangladesh from Saudi Arabia. One noon I went to my next door to call my cousin brother to come to take the lunch. I saw he was standing on the roof, made of tin. In his hand, he had the kite roller and the kite was in the sky. He saw me and asked, would you like to fly a kite. I said, YES. He let me hold the small roller. I hold it, I felt the kite is trying to get away. The roller started moving and the kite is going up. I asked him, should I let it go like this? He replied it's your choice. 

Suddenly a few drops of water fall on us. We understood the rain is coming. My brother told me to fold the kite, we have to bring it down. I tried, but because of wind or I don't know how to do that, the kite was moving up. My brother took it from me, then I saw how he managed. He pulls the roller and keeps rolling inside. I don't know how to do it, but he managed within few minutes. Then we went home to take lunch.

This was the first and last time I have flown a kite, well kind of.

Became a fan

Became a fan of this Bangladeshi music group. "Jilapi".

Biography 22: Ice

 Bangladesh is a hot and humid country. When I was a kid, the refrigerator wasn't available to all homes. In Kamlapur, before iftar, some people brought huge chank of ices by big Semi (In Bangladesh we called it truck). A couple of people hold one of them and bring it down on a jute mat (Chhala). I have seen the big ice cube were covered with brown powder. Someone told me those are wood powder to prevent the ice from melting quickly. People from our the neighbour go that particular point where ice cube had been brought and buy according to their need. Some guys were dedicated to cut or break it into small pieces with hammers and other tools and sold them. Most people bring those ice cubes in a jug, then at home, they put it in water to drink cool water in Iftar. We liked that very much. We felt like heaven.

Now I'm living in a wooden cottage and it is covered with snow. I'm walking on snow, living in the snow. How life gets changes.