Selfies

 I don't like taking my own picture or a selfie because, in most cases, I look really bad. When I was in Bangladesh, my mom gave me some money on my birthday. I think my brother also asked me what I wanted as a birthday gift. I gave him my mom's money and asked him to use it to buy me a webcam for my desktop PC. I don't remember exactly, but it was my mom's money I used to buy my first webcam.

Previously, I have asked many times to open my webcam, but I didn't have one, so I wanted to buy one. After buying the webcam, I found I could take selfies with it too. So I have started taking selfies to see which way I look better.

Here are some of my old days selfies:

Without any makeup, just wearing my home dress.

Without any makeup, just wearing my home dress.

I got ready to go out. Just before I shut down my PC, I took this selfie.

A memorable moment.

 This picture was taken in our living room. In Bangladesh, our parents rented an apartment before moving to their own. Our landlord was the brother of the famous Bangladeshi comedian Saifuddin. The landlord was a lawyer. We had a very good relationship with them. When my brother was born, the couple came to our house (where we had moved) to congratulate our parents. They were very happy that our parents finally had a son after four daughters.

This picture was taken before our brother was born. From left to right: Boro Khalu (maternal uncle), holding his granddaughter Moumita; then Lizi Apa (cousin and Moumita's mother); then me (the happiest person in this picture); then our maternal grandfather; my younger sister Sonia; and older sister Sharmin. My mom (I had to cover her because she is now wearing a hijab/headscarf) is standing behind the sofa, holding our youngest sister, Shekha.

In this picture, two people are no longer here: my uncle and grandfather.

The wall picture was bought from Saudi Arabia. The curtain is also from Saudi Arabia. Someone gifted this cloth to my younger sister Sonia when she was born. The chair where my uncle is sitting was the first piece of furniture my parents bought when they started their new life.

It was one of our sisters' birthdays. I don't remember which one.

Biography 299: My passport-sized picture in Grade 10

I am in grade 10

 It is very difficult to take a good picture of me. I somehow manage to take a selfie, but others don't know how to make me look a little better. In most cases, they took very bad pictures of me. So, I told everyone, don't take my picture.

In Bangladesh, we need to register for the SSC exam (grade 10). I tried to give my picture, which I had taken in grade 8. On those days (at grade 10), I had just started wearing hijab. Our school headmistress asked me to take a new picture with a hijab. Later, I heard she asked my classmates and class teachers what happened to me. Why I suddenly started wearing hijab. Did my boy hurt me? Or anything else? She directly asked me too. I answered the truth, and I assumed she didn't believe me.

Then, I took a passport-size picture at Mugda Para photo studio. But that didn't look good. Then I went to a Bashabo photo studio. That didn't come well at all. All the time, my father was with me. Next, my dad took me to an Arambaag studio. They took a very good picture of me. I have used that picture even after the completion of my master's degree to get a job. In Bangladesh, people need to include a picture with their resume. In Canada, never add a picture with your job application.

The convocation picture

The University of Dhaka, during the convocation.

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This was the first convocation at the University of Dhaka after gaining independence. I was a little upset about some issues. Like, the organizer should have given us a hat. They had some hats, which were for the seniors. Then many of our friends didn't join because they asked for some fee for this celebration. They thought this was a waste of money, with little to achieve. Finally, they didn't arrange any food for the festival. I don't know about other universities, but I felt every celebration should include food and beverages.

This picture was taken by our traditional photographer Mr. Piyar. I have seen every University and College function to take pictures. Later, students buy from him.

তোমার ছবি (Your picture)

তোমার চোখে চোখ রেখে তাকানোর সাহস আমার নেই
ধরা পরে যাওয়ার ভয়ে
তাই ছবির দিকে তাকিয়ে থাকি
মাঝে মাঝে...


I don't have courage to look at your eyes
I fear to get caught
So I keep looking at your picture
sometimes

ক্যামেরায় আমার ছবি (My picture in camera)

Shafeen took my picture at KFC

ছোট বেলায় আব্বা-আম্মার কথা মতো ছবির জন্য পোজ দিতাম। ছবি কেমন আসলো, কি রকম হলে ভাল হতো এসব  ভাবার বয়স ছিলো না। এরপর একটু বড় হয়ে লক্ষ্য করলাম, আমার চেহারা ক্যামেরায় ভাল আসে না (এমনিতেও ভাল না)।
তাই ছবি তোলার সময় লক্ষ্য করতাম আসে পাসের দৃশ্য যেন ভাল হয়। কিছু তো ভাল থাকতে হবে ছবিতে। সবই ছিল এ্যানালগ ক্যামরার কাজ। মোবাইলে ক্যামেরা আসার পর শুরু হলো নিজের হাতে মন মতো ছবি তোলা। নিজের ছবি এবার প্রায় বন্ধ হয়ে গেল। কি দরকার আজে বাজে ছবি তোলার। এখন মাঝে মাঝে দু একটা ছবি আমার ছেলে তুলে দেয়। তোলার পর বলে, ছবি ভাল এসেছে, মাথা কাটা পরেনি (ও আমার বেশ কয়েকটা হাত পায়ের ছবি তুলে দিয়েছে)।

In my childhood my parents use to take my pictures. I had to give pose with their instruction. On those days I never care how I am looking, what can make the picture better. Then after grow up I noticed my camera picture isn't good (well, I am not a good looking person). So, I tried to give good background picture. At least something should come good, isn't it? Then mobile camera came and I started taking picture as much as I wish. Now it became very rare that I took any picture of mine. Sometimes my son took my picture and says, “Mom, this one came good, your head isn't missing here (he took some pictures with only my hands and legs)”.