bangladesh4u

Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh, and his fans carry a floral wreath to a memorial to show respect to those who died in Bangladesh's Language Movement, in Dhaka October 14, 2006. Yunus said on Saturday his selection for the award gives fresh impetus against the war on poverty around the world and new responsibilities for him.

A woman cries after her son, who was part of a protest by garment workers, went missing in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, May 23, 2006. Angry garment workers set fire to at least seven textile factories in and around the Bangladesh capital Tuesday, after news that a worker shot in the back during recent protests over better pay and working conditions had died, officials and witnesses said.

Opposition parties brought Bangladesh to a near-standstill as they enforced a one-day national shutdown to press demands for electoral reforms, police said.



Cars were off the streets and schools, colleges and private offices were closed in the capital Dhaka and other main cities, district police chiefs told on Thursday.


A 14-party alliance of opposition parties including the main opposition Awami League wants the removal of the chief election commissioner and his two deputies whom it accuses of being pro-government.

In Dhaka, police and picketers clashed in several parts of the city and four people were arrested although no injuries were reported, said Dhaka police commissioner Mizanur Rahman.


On Wednesday police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse opposition party activists trying to stage a mass rally outside Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's office.


The alliance also wants the head of any future caretaker government to be appointed with the agreement of both main political parties -- the Awami League and Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).


Under the Bangladeshi electoral system a caretaker governemnt, selected by the outgoing administration, takes over three months before parliamentary elections which it oversees. The next caretaker government is due to begin work in October with elections scheduled for January 2007.



Zia heads a four-party Islamic-allied coalition government with a large parliamentary majority. It has held power since 2001 when it ousted an Awami League administration led by Sheikh Hasina Wajed.


The strike is the fifth this year. Last year the opposition called 18 strikes despite pleas from business leaders and aid donors who say the stoppages cost the impoverished country tens of millions of dollars each year.

Scoreboard at close of play on the fifth and final day in the second and final Test between Bangladesh and Australia on Thursday in Chittagong, Bangladesh Bangladesh 1st innings 197 (R. Saleh 71) Australia 1st innings 581 for 4 decl (J. Gillespie 201no, M. Hussey 182,

P. Jaques 66, R. Ponting 52)

Bangladesh 2nd innings (Overnight: 195-4) J. Omar lbw b Lee 19 S. Nafees c Gilchrist b Warne 79 H. Bashar c Hayden b Warne 49 R. Saleh c Ponting b Warne 5 M. Ashraful b Warne 29 A. Ahmed c Gilchrist b MacGill 18 K. Mashud lbw b MacGill 11 M. Rafique c Warne b MacGill 65 M. Mortaza c Gillespie b Warne 1 A. Razzak c Ponting b MacGill 0 S. Hossain not out 3 Extras (b-7 lb-11 nb-5 w-2) 25 Total (all out, 80.2 overs) 304

Fall of wickets: 1-25 2-127 3-137 4-187 5-201 6-229 7-230 8-233 9-235

10-304

Bowling B. Lee 11 - 3 - 35 - 1 (nb-4 w-2) J. Gillespie 4 - 0 - 14 - 0 S. Warne 36 - 4 - 113 - 5 S. MacGill 22.2 - 3 - 95 - 4 (nb-1) D. Cullen 7 - 0 - 29 - 0

Result: Australia won by an innings and 80 runs

Bangladesh police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse thousands of opposition supporters trying to march towards the prime minister's office in the capital Dhaka, police said.

Police erected barricades covered in barbed wire to prevent several mass processions from different parts of the city from converging outside the premier's office Wednesday.


Violence, however, broke out at several points when opposition supporters broke through the barriers and pelted police with stones and bricks, deputy commissioner of Dhaka police Mazharul Haq told AFP.

"They became unruly. We fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse them. Things are now under control," Haq added.

Hospital emergency department staff said they had not treated any injured protesters.


Some 12,000 soldiers and police have been drafted in to the capital to thwart the mass demonstration by a 14-party opposition alliance including the main opposition Awami League.

Police earlier slapped a ban on the holding of all rallies, demonstrations and processions within a large area of the city.

The opposition alliance is demanding reform of the electoral system.



At a rally on Tuesday, the opposition leaders vowed to break the ban to press their "legitimate" demands for election reforms, including removal of the chief election commissioner and his two deputies whom they accuse of being pro-government.

The alliance also wants the head of any future caretaker government to be appointed with the agreement of both main political parties -- the Awami League and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Under the current system the government hands over to a caretaker government, which it has selected, at the end of its term. The next caretaker government is due to take over in October with elections scheduled for January 2007.


Zia heads a four-party Islamic-allied coalition government with a large parliamentary majority. It has held power since 2001 when it ousted an Awami League administration led by Sheikh Hasina Wajed.

Despite the praise of the impressive local IT talents and young successful software outsourcing organizations, nation's software development market is quite small. At present scenario, the nation has only a 12 million American dollar of stake in offshore software outsourcing. The total international market size for software outsourcing in year 2005 was estimated at 40 billion dollar and it is being expected to multiply by triple up to year 2009. After the much-waited arrival of submarine cable, it should expand nation’s present market size of Offshore Outsourcing development with market of cell phone being boosted.


Software Outsourcing Development

As per the Danish Information Technology experts, who visited Bangladesh, as far as the software outsourcing is concerned it’s a sleeping giant. The sleeping giant could wake up with the launch of the submarine cable. At present time, software outsourcing development industry can not take off on big scale, simply due to bandwidth is quite expensive. So the submarine cable is perfect answer for problem like this.

However, with the big bang investments in IT development that ran high in Bangladesh follows the visit. Many of international organizations are now showing interest for investing multi-million of money into nascent high technical sector of Bangladesh'. The world's biggest software company, Microsoft is getting annual sales revenues around 40 billion dollar. With already handed over of proposal by Intel to the Science and Information & Communications Technology Ministry in last year as affiliated government partner. The real thing was the Gates' visit; it paved the way of outsourcing as Bill Gates wanted for exploiting the potential of local Information Technology professionals. The Microsoft had unveiled big plan for imparting the training for 10,000 Bangladeshi teachers & nearly 0.2 million students in IT over the next 3 years. With this announcement a local non-government company has been given one million American dollars as Gates- Melinda Award for the training purpose.

Last year for a small period of time, Bill Gates accompanied by Melinda, her wife visited Bangladesh. The visit by chief of worlds biggest Software Development Company gave a positive signal to the other nations that Bangladesh was becoming an emerging destination for software outsourcing investment. During that visit, Bill Gates signed numerous agreements with the Bangladesh government and some of the private sector organizations. He assured the local leaders of business to reducing the price on original software so it would help to stop pirated copy uses in Bangladesh.

Gates was very optimistic about the software outsourcing development and human resources by skilled people for the Bangladesh IT industry. He added in one of speech that India has been creating such a big number of Information Technology talents due to establishing a lot of institutes for the training and teaching for IT subject, so he thinks that Bangladesh should do the same things. For setting up such institutes Microsoft might not be able to help Bangladesh, but its organization can absorb the IT-professionals of Bangladesh to be trained in such Software Outsourcing institutes.

Tajikistan clinically disposed of Sri Lanka 4-0 to clinch the AFC Challenge Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Sunday. The Central Asians used their pace, control and skills to lay claim to their first international title since emerging as a sovereign nation.

The Tajiks needed just 50 seconds to go in front after Sri Lankan defender Sanjay Amarsingha lost possession very easily to Ibraguim Rabimov whose grounder was blocked by Lankan keeper Tilakaratne but Zdomikhoin Muhidinov pounded the rebound into the net.

Muhidinov and Yusuf Rabiev both missed a defence-splitting through from Numodzhon Hakiomov in the 29th minute with no one except the open net in front of them.

The islanders got their only scoring chance just on the stroke of half-time when Mudiyansilage’s header off Dudley Steinwall’s free-kick missed the crosspiece by a few inches.

But from the resulting counter-attack when the fourth referee had just indicated two minutes of extra-time, Khurshed Makhmudov blasted the ball home with cracker from the top of the box.

Numodzhon Hakiomov scored the third off an Odil Irgashev free-kick after the rampant Tajiks gave Tilakratne no time to react. Zdomikhoin Muhidinov scored his second in the 70th minute as he was set free by a superb solo effort of Yusuf Rabiev.

Sri Lanka twice should have scored on 72nd minute and in the injury time but Siyaguna Koskodade and Jayasuriya squandered their efforts shooting wide.

Sharif Nazarov, the Tajikistan coach, was ecstatic afterwards. ‘I think this title will help us develop our game in the country and we have proved that Tajikistan is capable to play in the higher level,’ he said.

His Lankan counterpart Sampath Perera however wanted to focus upon the future. ‘We have played a final after 11 years and we are happy with the runners-up trophy. The youngsters have gained valuable experience from the tourney.’

Cricket took a back seat on the opening day of the second Test between Bangladesh and Australia as police swung into an uncalled for action against the on-duty journalists, injuring at least 20 media-men of different national dailies and satellite televisions at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium yesterday.
Of the injured, Anurup Titu of Dainik Purbokon was admitted with a serious head injury to the Royal Hospital and underwent a surgery after CT scan in the afternoon. His condition was learned to be critical.


Two more journalists, Ruhul Amin Rana of Jai Jai Din and Rabi Shankar of Ajker Kagoj were also wounded and were taken to the hospital for treatment.


Trouble brewed in the morning when in an unprecedented incident in international cricket the start of play was delayed by ten minutes due to a sit-in protest by on-duty journalists in the middle of the ground for merciless beating of fellow photojournalist Shamsul Haq Tanku of Bengali daily Prothom Alo.


However, that incident at the entrance of the stadium in the morning was only the tip of the iceberg.


Scenes of pandemonium enveloped the field of play during the lunch break as the police led by DC (Port) Ali Akbar set themselves upon journalists, who were demanding unconditional apology from Sergeant Anwar -- the man in uniform responsible for beating up Tanku in the morning.



The assault for a second time started as Akbar suddenly punched veteran photojournalist Jahirul Haque on his face and kicked him continually. As Jahirul fell down on the ground, the cops became more furious and launched a full-scale attack on the reporters and photographers present there.


The situation turned so scary that the journalists ran into the Bangladesh dressing room for safety where the members of the cricket team provided them with first aid and tried to console them in any way possible. Australian captain Ricky Ponting also expressed his sympathy while video-taping the injured journalist in what was for him a unique incident.



Interestingly during the ugly episode no Bangladesh Cricket Board high officials including the media committee chairman Riazuddin-al Mamun or general secretary Mahbubul Anam were present. BCB president Ali Asghar claimed that he only heard about the incident in the afternoon and assured that the culprits would be brought to justice.



Meanwhile, protesting the police attack, the journalists at a meeting at the Chittagong Press Club decided to boycott the coverage of the cricket match today (Monday). The boycott will continue until the perpetrators are punished accordingly.



Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association, Bangladesh Sports Writers Association, Bangladesh Sports Journalists and Writers Community, Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association, former national cricket captains, Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh and former Cricket Board directors condemned the incident.


The full fury of the law enforcers during the lunch break not only embarrassed the whole nation but also cast a gloomy prospect for the port city to hold any future international matches.

Pahela Baishakh is a momentous occasion. To every Bangalee, irrespective of age, social strata and education, it is a time for joyous celebration. As in previous years, the colourful festival was celebrated in Dhaka with fervor through fairs, cultural programmes and concerts.
Here's a run down of the major events in the city to mark Pahela Baishakh:




Ramna Park
The 'Botomul' at Ramna Park is a popular venue for the celebration of Bangla New Year. Every year, Chhayanaut holds a cultural function here. This year too, the dawn of the first day of the Bangla New Year was ushered in with young students of Chhayanaut rendering the Tagore song that has become the "anthem of Pahela Baishakh" -- Esho hey Baishakh esho esho. Choral renditions of other songs followed. Men and women of all ages were clad in bright coloured attire, many were getting their faces painted with enthusiasm and singing along.


Dhaka University campus
Students of Dhaka University (DU) celebrated Pahela Baishakh, 1413 in style with a massive turnout. Students of the Institute of Fine Arts (IFA) brought out their rally from the IFA premises. The highlight of the rally was huge replicas of birds, horses, masks and more. Numerous other organisations went around Ramna Park and the DU area in a rally, holding banners and festoons. Programmes also included Baul songs, merry-go-round, puppet show and jatra among others. To mark the first day of the Bangla New Year Channel 1 organised a concert titled Borsho Boron Concert with leading bands, Souls, Feedback, Jonmobhumi, Miles and popular artiste Habib at DU gymnasium.

BUET campus
The students of Bangladesh University and Engineering Tecnology (BUET) celebrated Pahela Baishakh with zeal. The campus roads were intricately designed with Alpana. Groups of students, teachers and other people gathered at the BUET campus and brought out a rally. People had a feast of delicacies for breakfast and lunch free of cost that ranged from Panta Bhaat (rice soaked overnight in water), fried Hilsha fish, singara, bakorkhani and sugarcane juice. The food was provided by the students of the Department of Architecture. The cultural programme went on till the wee hours.

Dhaka Sheraton Hotel
To welcome the Bangla New Year Rupkotha Production organised a Baishakhi Fair at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. The fair kicked off at Sheraton in the morning. The programme featured daylong performances of traditional Baul songs and puppet show.


Wonderland, Gulshan
Wonderland, a well-known amusement park celebrated the day with gaiety. To commemorate this day, a special concert titled Virgin-Arshee Baishakhi Matom Dola was held. The musical show included performances by Bappa Mazumder, Fahmida Nabi and musical bands, Face-to-Face, Obscure, Parthibo and Prohor.

AGENCIES, ANKARA

Apr 13: Bangladesh and Turkey agreed to take concrete steps for expanding bilateral trade, commerce and investment as Prime Minister Khaleda Zia held formal talks with her Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday.

Before the talks at the delegation level, the two Prime Ministers had about a 20-minute tete-a-tete at the host Prime Minister’s office. " The talks were very constructive and fruitful," Khaleda told reporters after the official meeting with Erdogan.

At a joint meet-the-press function Prime Minister Khaleda and Prime Minister Erdogan stressed increasing cooperation in the field of commerce and economy through enhancing two-way trade and investment in joint ventures.

Khaleda pleaded for the import of more Bangladeshi goods, including pharmaceuticals, apparels, jute and jute goods and leather items. She also sought Turkish investment in big construction projects in Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister called for enhancing cooperation in education, science and technology and cultural fields.

Khaleda suggested convening meeting of the Joint Economic Commission.

The JEC is likely to meet in October.

Prime Minister Erdogan expressed his country’s desire to invest in joint-venture projects, including in textile and food-processing sectors. He said the economic relations between the two countries should grow continuously.

Current volume of bilateral trade stood at USD 114 million in 2004-05, of which Bangladesh exported goods worth around US$76 million to Turkey.

Erdogan said Turkey considers Bangladesh as a close friend, and both the countries being the members of OIC possess common views on various international issues, including Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan. Both the leaders underscored the need for strengthening OIC.

He said Turkey and Bangladesh also have common views on combating international terrorism.

The official talks that lasted over an hour also discussed regional and international issues of common concern.

Earlier, Khaleda Zia in her opening remarks to the press said, "The just-concluded bilateral meeting led by two of us was very constructive and fruitful."

"I am very glad that during the discussion many new areas of cooperation have been identified as well as mutual cordiality has been deepened," she said, adding that she had an exclusive meeting with her Turkish counterpart.

"We have agreed to take effective steps regarding increasing the trade and commerce between the two countries," Khaleda told the newsmen.

Besides, the PM said, stress has been given on holding joint economic commission meeting as well as regular Foreign Ministry consultations every two years.

"I am hopeful that a new horizon of bigger cooperation between the two friendly countries would be opened up."

She said the two sides reached consensus on enhancing mutual cooperation between business leaders to accelerate trade and commerce.

The PM said Bangladesh is determined to work closely with Turkey to continuously expand and strengthen the prevailing atmosphere of improving bilateral relations and mutual welfare- oriented cooperation.

She noted that remarkable success has been achieved in the field of bilateral relations after establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Bangladesh always gives much importance to brotherly relations with Turkey, Khaleda said, adding that friendly relations between Bangladesh and Turkey have stood the test of time.

Khaleda informed that she invited the Turkish Prime Minister to visit Bangladesh and he cordially accepted her invitation and expressed his desire to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time.

The PM said due to geographical reasons Turkey has emerged as a regional power. "We are interested to further strengthen the bilateral relations for the welfare of peoples of the two countries."

"I believe that my current visit will further intensify, expedite and expand the existing relations of the two countries," she told the press.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia formally inaugurated Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Avenue in Ankara Thursday. The Prime Minister, flanked by Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan and Mayor in charge of Ankara City unveiled the plaque of the avenue, named after Shaheed Ziaur Rahman, in the afternoon.

The Presidential Palace of Turkey is located on Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Avenue.

Later, a munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for late President Zia and the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Bangladesh and Turkey.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, now on a state visit to Turkey, said next general election in Bangladesh is due in about eight months time when people would exercise their franchise under the constitutional provision.

"We’ve been able to put our democratic institutions on firm settings. We’ve a vibrant parliament, an independent judiciary, an accountable executive and a free press. The people remain at the centre of power," she said in her speech at a banquet hosted in her honour by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the PM’s residence.

Khaleda said Bangladesh and Turkey are among the largest democracies in the world having majority Muslim populations. " Our common aspiration is to pursue a path of moderation, tolerance and liberalism. Our common goals are peace, stability and development," she told the Turkish leaders and elite.

On terrorism, the Prime Minister said her government is opposed to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Recently, she told the function, Bangladesh came under attack of a small group of misled militants who wanted to destabilise the country by abusing the good name of Islam. " My government has dealt with the issue in a firm and resolute manner."

Describing her visit to Turkey as truly historic, she said it commemorates 30 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between Dhaka and Ankara. She observed that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s visit to Turkey in 1976 and ’78 laid strong foundations of bilateral relations that have grown in strength and dimension over the years.

Khaleda said the naming of an avenue in Ankara, the plaque of which she unveiled today, would remain as a milestone marking the solidarity and goodwill of the two fraternal peoples.

" Bangladesh’s relationship with Turkey is special and unique," she said, adding that Bangladesh’s national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was greatly inspired by the richness of Turkey’s culture as many of his poems and songs are based on Turkish themes and tunes, including the immortal poem ‘Kemal Pasha’.

Focusing on international arena, the Prime Minister said as members of the UN, OIC and D-8 Bangladesh and Turkey closely cooperate in all international forums to promote development, peace and stability worldwide.

Khaleda hoped that the OIC would gain momentum under the leadership of Turkey in safeguarding the interests of its members.

About D-8 summit in Indonesia next month, she expressed her intention to attend the meet at Bali and hoped that the summit would be able to embark on a Plan of Action that will make the forum more focussed and action-oriented.

Another report adds: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said here Thursday that Bangladesh has successfully entered the global investment map and is eager to be a serious partner of the global economic community.

"We have already liberalised our economy. Most of our sectors have been opened to foreign direct investment. We offer very attractive incentives to foreign investors…" she said urging the Turkish companies to invest in promising and potential sectors of Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing a business meeting organised by Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchange of Turkey at TOBB Headquarters.

Khaleda said her government attaches high priority to power generation and oil and gas exploration, besides developing port facilities and construction of roads and bridges.

Expressing happiness that some Turkish firms are already involved in infrastructure development projects in Bangladesh, she hoped that more leading Turkish investors would participate in developing telecommunications, civil constructions, railways, roads etc.

About foreign investment, she mentioned that the net annual FDI inflow to Bangladesh has increased by 34 percent and said large TNCs like Orascom of Egypt, Tata Group of India, Dhabi Group of UAE, Lafarge of France and TMI of Malaysia have already started investing in Bangladesh.

The total investment outlay of these five companies are expected to exceed US five billion in next three years, she said, adding that the recent increase in interest among foreign investors from various countries indicates that Bangladesh has successfully entered the global investment map.

Referring to Bangladesh’s natural resources, Khaleda said Bangladesh is endowed with a large reserve of both natural gas and high quality coal that makes the country suitable for establishing energy-intensive manufacturing industries.

On Dhaka-Ankara bilateral trade, the Prime Minister said since the two-way trade is not up to its potentials, "We need to work together to identify the areas of cooperation to harness the existing potentials."

Khaleda said Bangladesh offers competitive prices as well as quality pharmaceuticals, footwear, ceramic, handicrafts, jute goods, leather goods, frozen food and agricultural products.

She said Turkey might consider importing these products from Bangladesh and benefit by introducing Bangladeshi products to meet the demands of CIS countries.

The PM hoped that businessmen from both the sides would be able to identify opportunities for industrial investment and trade for mutual benefit.

She said the emergence of global production systems has now created new opportunities for compatible economies. Private sectors of Turkey and Bangladesh can coordinate among themselves to develop a competitive supply-chain for global consumption.

Khaleda said Bangladeshi products enjoy GSP privileges in the EU and duty- and quota-free access to most markets of the developed countries, including Canada, Australia and Japan. "Such preferential treatment gives us unique market access and comparative cost advantage over other competing countries.

Presidents of TOBB and FBCCI also spoke at the function.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin, Bangladesh business delegation and Turkish businessmen attended the function.

Earlier, the Prime Minister paid a rich tribute at the mausoleum of father of modern Turkey Kemal Ataturk and placed wreaths.

She stood in solemn silence and later signed a visitor’s book at the mausoleum.

After placing wreath at the mausoleum, the Prime Minister was accorded a ceremonial reception by the Turkish government where its Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received her.

She was also given a guard of honour by a contingent of Turkish Armed Forces.

Earlier, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was accorded a formal ceremonial reception by the Turkish government Thursday, the second day of her 4-day state visit to Turkey.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Prime Minister Khaleda and led her to the decorated podium at the ceremonial ground of Turkish PM Office.

A smartly turned out contingent of Turkish Armed Forces gave guard of honour to the Bangladesh Prime Minister when national anthems of the two countries were played.

Prime Minister Khaleda reviewed the parade and said "Marhaba Asker" (denoting well-done Armed Forces).

The delegation members of the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Turkish ministers and senior civil and military officials were present at the reception.

The sun rises every morning to greet me, but do I notice?
Along with the blue sky, the mountains, the rivers, the flowers and the birds. Every morning and evening my inmates and neighbours stand aside. Do I recognise and embrace them as my own? What then is my relation to each sunrise, to each human soul?

Barir Kache Arshi Nagar
Shetha Ek Porshi Boshot Kore
Ami Ekdino Na Dekhilam Tare
-- (Lalan Fakir of Kushtia)

Translation: I have not seen him even for a day
near my home there is a mirror-city
and my neighbour dwells in it.

All around the village is fathomless water
The water is boundless
And there is no boat to take me across
I yearn to see Him
But how shall I get to that hamlet? Trans: Bro James

Sufis like to hide. They hardly debate on their inward journeys. One of them says: We are the real people without boundaries: I always wanted to walk with friends in an earth without map. We are the real countries, not the boundaries drawn on a map by powerful men.

Bengal is the cradle of Sufism practiced by 500 saints. The mystic poets Lalan, Hasan, Shaikh Bhanu, Panju Shah, Pagla Kanai had the same message of love, which Sufis had. Today's Bangladesh is probably the best example of Hindu loving Muslims in the present world. Come to a Mela with me where Baul, Marfati, Murshidi and the Radha Krishna Bichchedi songs are sung from the same platform, enjoyed by one and all. One can easily detect the source of the very strength of plurality of this unique cultural pot.

The Khanqahs of Sufi saints came to be regarded as great centers of education during the Muslim period in Bengal. The pious self-effacing saints not only showed a higher model of idealistic service to humanity, but also a clear pluralistic approach to parallel spiritual accomplishments by practicing an austere life and protecting the subjugated and caring for the insulted and injured.

Sufism in Bengal reaped a rich harvest of thousand of humanistic songs in Marfati, Murshedi, Dehatatya. Bengali Academy, Dhaka has published 75 volumes of such invaluable documented music, which is the result of five hundred years of such moderate teaching of the Sufis. They achieved something more important than music. Peace between the Hindus and Muslim communities so that they could live together respecting each other's religion, culture, customs and traditions. The Khanqahs had medical outlets for the poor and rehabilitation posts where the poor and the sick got both shelter and medical help. The Khanqahs had adjoined Langarkhana where the have-nots of all religions were fed three times a day. The well-to-do jotdars or landed aristocracy persons both from Hindu and Muslim communities contributed generously to the Langarkhana. The foremost among there was the Khanqah of Shaikh Jalaluddin Tabrez's at Pandue, which became the meeting place of Hindus and Muslims alike. These Khanqahs, throughout Bengal became widely respected by both communities and contributed towards unity of the minds of them. The advent of "Satya Peer Puja" was a direct result of such interactions. It found its full release in the religion of Sree Chaiytana's Baisnava thoughts. Even today as the autumn scenarios brings the Durga Puja drums beats of Bangla Dhol in the remotest corner of lush green Bengal village, the idols of Durga brings joy to us. This is not because as Muslims we are wedded to idolatry in a very remote sense but simply because our Hindu neighbours feel happy and we simply share their happiness during these ten-day Vijaya Utsava (Dasera). The Hindus do share fully the festival of the two Eids, as seen nowhere probably. We are grateful to our Sufi masters.

Their saintly qualities of honesty and purity, humanity and service, fellow feeling and open-mindedness attracted the Hindu rajas and the educated and non-educated masses of the Hindus to them. Many others embraced Islam. Those who did not, became followers of them because of their acceptance of spirituality. The Hindu folk poets like Ramesh Sheel, Shadhu Monomohon Datta and Halayudh have shown their respects to the Sufis in their poetries and songs.

The Bauls of Bengal, the wandering singers bring us joy of unity and harmony even today. One of the main tenets of Baul cult is love for humanity irrespective of their caste and creed, faith, color and custom. Baul speaks of universal mysteries of life in simple understandable expressions as it touches the heart of the common man. A Baul singing and dancing in ecstasy with an Ektara represents the finest specimen of folk song of Bengal. They do not have conventional mode of worship, yet spiritualism is at the root of philosophy. What need, they say, have we of temples and churches when in this body of ours, the supreme spirit has his abode. The human body is for them the holy of holiest wherein the divine is intimately enshrined as the "Man of Heart".

"That is why, brother, I became a madcap Baul. No Master I obey nor injunctions, cannons or customs. Now no man made distinctions have any hold on me. And I revel only in the gladness of my own willing love. So I rejoice in song and dance with each and all."

Baul has teachings of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sufism, all combined in one; Shree Chaitanya Deva had a great influence on Bauls philosophy. Although street singers, Bauls were important teachers who taught people about human philosophy. Tagore was influenced by Bauls and considered himself a "Shakher Baul". The songs of Bauls greatly owe their origin to the mystic poets Nanak, Dadu and Kabir. All these saints were much under the influence of Sufism, Tagore in his article "Religion of man" wrote "...the simple song was alive with emotional sincerity. It spoke of an intense yearning of the heart for the divine who is in Man and not in the temple or scriptures, in images or the symbols."

The peace concept preserves the unjust 'status quo' of the powerful. This is greatest challenge of present day to affirm the right of a people dehumanised and oppressed to give resistances and do so non-violently. Mark the word non-violently. As His Holiness Dalai Lama says in his Nobel Peace Prize lecture: "Peace in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold, peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free."

In such a situation, Sufis spread their prayer rugs and remember their Prophet Noah who found his community suddenly surrounded by rapidly rising water. Noah's prayers are Sufis prayer too.

Wa Qul Rabbi Anzilni Munzalas Mubarakan
Wa anta Khairun Munzalin
And say: O my Lord! Lead me to a blessed landing for you are the best deliverer.

To heal the fractured world, the Sufis believe and act with the premise that: Every heart is a Kaba, an abode of the Lord, every single heart needs polishing, so that it does not breed contempt.

What should be the role of Sufism and religion in general in the Asia Pacific region in the twenty first century? This calls for a particular study, which was deemed at length by just, the International Christian Peace Movement. (Pax Christi, Australia and the United Church of Australia in Melbourne October 2000 *2, The theme: religion and culture in Asia Pacific, violence and healing of challenge confronting religion.

Moderate religious leaders opined that "Asia is obsessed with economic growth and material progress -- and world faces another ideology -- the ideology of moneytheism. It is the worship of wealth and power and prestige that wealth generates. Moneytheism is now a formidable challenge to monotheism. Moneytheism is the ideology, which legitimates the relentless pursuit of riches as an end in itself, is the driving force behind our global economy. Culture, politics, social life all reflect directly or indirectly this overwhelming power of this moneytheism. It contradicts the essence of faith in a variety of ways. The blind worship of money leads to the displacement of God in ones worldview. Accumulation of wealth fosters selfishness and is antithetical to the "other service" attitude and legitimates greed and acquisition.

Iqbal's "the mosque of Cordova" is a sufi poem. It is seen by some as what power a poem can generate. Iqbal calls of "Ishq" or dynamic love -- to use Professor Schimmel's definition -- a characteristic of a special man, the believer or the man of God. Ishq is equated in a series of cascading phrases with Gabriel's breath, the Prophet's heart, the envoy of God, God's word, the scholar, the noble. The scent of it is found in Ibn Ul Arabi: "The ultimate destiny of the entire world is to reach the dwelling place of pure pardon and superlative compassion. In Bengali, we call it "Bigolito Karuna Jahnnobi Jamuna".


-- Excerpts from a paper read at the First International Sufi Conference held in New Delhi in March 2006

The slapping of any brand or label always involves an inherent risk of over-simplification and arbitrariness. And as far as Postmodernism goes, some of the leading authorities on the subject are hard put to it to define this theme, trend or style and some others, like Ihab Hassan, even think that the term 'Postmodernism' is a misnomer since it signifies not a transcendence of the Modernist movement but a rejection of every element of Modernist literature. ('The word evokes what it wishes to surpass and suppress -- Modernism itself' -- Ihab Hassan). The Modernist elements are, to recapitulate, Pessimism, a sense of emptiness and Sisyphean futility of life, listlessness and ennui, erudite allusions, a negative attitude towards life, distrust and debunking of all heroism and the cult of the anti-hero, and the investing of literature with a recondite and elitist aura. On the other hand, what is known as Postmodernism represents, in fact, a reaction against all these propensities, a journey away from them. 'Anti-Modernism' would be a more apt terminology. 'Gothic castle' was the name given not to the castles built by the Goths but to those built to repel the Goths. The English word 'spendthrift' means just the opposite of thrifty; the most turbulent one of the oceans is the 'Pacific Ocean'.

Postmodern poetry strives to make itself accessible to common readers, it seeks to restore the pristine values, it concerns itself with present-day problems. Opposition to war and racism is a common theme of Postmodern literature while another dominant element is Feminism. Feminism in Postmodern literature has produced a new genre of criticism called Gynocriticism. The Bangladesh poets of the Nineties, however, differ from Western Postmodern poets and writers in one important respect. A renewed interest in indigenous tradition and culture and drawing inspiration from one's own native history, myths and folk tales and the characteristic richness and splendour of the native landscape is the leitmotif of the Bangladesh poets of the Nineties, and they boldly proclaim that. This is where they decisively part ways with postmodern literature as it is understood in the West. Nativity is not emphasised by the leading Western Postmodern poets and critics; on the contrary, their credo is Multiculturalism, plurality. An aversion to racism and war which characterised post-colonial writings might have contributed to the celebration of Multiculturalism but an impulse to it also flows from the literary theory of Structuralism which postulates that cultural elements -- words, meanings, experiences -- are constituted by relations to other elements. The Structuralist would say that there is no single, integral existence or concept; there is no single, fixed truth; truth exists in a plurality of relations, and hence is plural. And since there is no fixed truth it is futile to try to enquire into and recapture the origin, whether it be origin of a text (authorial meaning) or culture. The origin keeps changing. Therefore the Postmodern critics say 'Not origin but phenomenon'. A phenomenon is the shape of things in flux, which truth indeed is. The Bangladesh poets of the Nineties who represent many of the Postmodern elements are nevertheless obsessed with their nativity and origin and boldly proclaim their predilections in this regard. They have rejected what they call "borrowed" Modernism of the Bengali poets of the Thirties and call its intellection flashy and deceptive as it was divorced from the socio-economic condition of the circumambience in which the poets were reared. These poets, they say, instead of discovering their own country discovered Europe. However a qualifier has to be inserted here: Jibanananda they regard differently from the other Modernists, and very reverentially. This is understandable. Jibanananda captured the native spirit of Bengal more fully and authentically than perhaps any other Bengali poet. On this point no serious critic will possibly disagree. Their two lesser icons are Jasimuddin and Al Mahmud.

The poets of the Nineties have a strong point when they say that contemporary literature should not be Euro-centric. After colonialism has been dissolved, many more things stand in need of being dissolved. As Edward Said has said, knowledge was conditioned by state power and interest. The colonial interest of the past produced the myth that the West is the source of all knowledge while the East is a "career" (to enrich oneself by colonial exploitation). Deflected from Euro-centrism, contemporary Bangladesh literature turns towards folk tradition. At the present time Spanish literature occupies the centre-stage of world literature. Spanish literature, and many other contemporary literatures, distinguish themselves by forcing a new look at their respective folk traditions, instead of Western myths. The Bangladesh poets of the Nineties draw liberally on their folk tales and many half-forgotten fables. Let me quote a leading exponent of Postmodern poetry in Bangladesh, Ejaz Yusufi. He writes, "In today's Postmodern poetry myths, folk tales, proverbs and maxims and other cultural norms are being assimilated to create for us a geography which is distinct from modern poetry." Some poets (Isharaf Hossain, Joyti Poddar) have also depicted religion-based customs. These poets of the Nineties have preserved in poetry some of the folk elements of Bangladesh culture which were on the verge of extinction, thanks to the predatory advances of Satellite TV. In a poem titled "The Nineties Decade' the poet Shaminul Huq Shamim writes-

The flashes of the Sixties
let them lie abandoned
like debased coins.

It may be noted that the poets of the Sixties boldly represented Modernism the flashes of which have become debased coins for these poets.

As the poets of the Nineties are wont to look back to the pristine elements of their native culture and topography, a, haunting nostalgia sometimes animates their writings. Not all of them have given attention to the metrical orders and other technicalities of poetry. While some write in rhyme, some others even write poems in linear prose (Ahmed Nakib, Ahmad Swapan Mahumud, Mujib Mehdi, also sometimes Brattyo Raisu) while yet others lave fragmentary sentences. It should be noted that in Bengali poetry rhyme is not produced by alternating accented and unaccented syllables but by organising 'open' and 'closed' syllables into particular foot-patterns. There are three metrical orders in Bengali poetry.

Postmodern literature being particularly proactive and reactive as far as contemporary issues are concerned, one finds here a new treatment of what is called 'The Other' -- the sections, classes and ethnic groups traditionally relegated to the backstage of world literature and cast in lowly roles in novels, etc. The Postmodern poets are trying to compensate by bringing. The Other into focus. Rabindranath Tagore who seldom transcended much beyond the limitations of his Bhadralok (Bengali gentry) class or cared to do so, had in a way seemed to solidify class distinction by encouraging the reader of his popular long poem 'Dui Bigha Zomi' to think that the lowly occupation of a gardener must be filled not by an ethnic Bengali but by an 'Ooray' (contemptuous name of an inhabitant of Orissa). Here one dos not find any universal poet but a Bengali Zamindar looking at the tenancy question in patronising spirit. In a clear departure from this mould some Bangladesh poets of the Nineties have celebrated The Other. Poems have been written on the aboriginal tribes.

A few young poets are also found to revive some old poetical devices. For example, Pattern Poetry. Giving poetry a visual shape is not a modern innovation. Letters, words or lines are so structured as to represent certain shapes. It is of ancient (perhaps Eastern) origin and some old Greek poems are extant which were shaped like axe, wings. Though justly regarded as frivolous, it found favour with a serious poet like the Frenchman Guillaume Apollinaire. Apollianaire who was also an artist wrote his 'Tears' with the letters trickling down the page like running tears on one's cheek. The following are two Pattern Poems by poets of the Nineties -- Ashik Rahman and Ripon Mahmud. Ashik Rahman's poem is titles 'I have no home' and Ripon Mahmud's, 'Abid's bicycle'.

It is obvious that little magazines will be the principal medium of Postmodern poetry. The little magazines are quite numerous, some are very well-produced and what is further significant is that some high-quality literary magazines are coming out from provincial towns. The little magazines are full of post-colonial writings (or 'discourses', to use a favourite term of academics). Even a casual visit to Shahbagh Aziz Market which is the authentic assembly of the young poets, will not fail to reveal the intellectual vibrancy of the group. Post-structuralism and deconstruction are hotly debated topics in the literary assemblies here. Saussure and Derrida and Levi-Strauss are household names among a sizeable section of poets and writers of the Nineties. Postmodern poets have inter-disciplinary approach to literature. The purpose of criticism, according to the Postmodern canon, is not only to appraise a work of literature but also to relate it to the imperatives of the prevailing doctrines of sociology, psychology, linguistics -- Intertextuality, as they call it. The Bangladesh poets of the Nineties posses less intellectual depth than those of the Sixties but they are noted for wide intellectual eclecticism.

The poets of the Nineties were perhaps right in moving away from Euro-centicism but by nativising their creativity too much they run the risk of confounding cultural rediscovery with regressive revivalism. Besides, by rejecting Modernism of the Western variety they have also rejected pessimism. But it is only the pessimist philosophy which can fathom the deeper layers of life and truth, and by raising doubt and uncertainty enrich the personality. The all-is-for-the-best-in-this-best-of-all-possible-words type of optimism of Dr Pangloss in Voltaire's Candid (a portraiture of the German philosopher Leibniz, perhaps) will dull thinking and creative verve. Besides, nativisation of literature should not be carried to the point where human knowledge is fragmented. If the geometry of the Greek Euclid or the Dialectical Materialism of the German Karl Marx can be part of a Bangladesh poet's intellectual arsenal then why must she or he assiduously shun the pursuit of European Modernism.


-- This article is taken from the writer's recent publication titled A Sheaf of Literary Essays.

Al Mahmud

The wind that drives asunder
the flock of wild ducks
twists and tosses to the ground
the wings of jet plane
pulls upwards and scatters the waters of the river
bends the telegraph poles ---
to this gale I make this humble submission:
O mighty wind, what good does it do
to snap the sail-cord of the poor boatman?
What joy is it, tell me,
to raze the farmer's homestead?
By tearing down the eggplant-leaf nest
of the warbling bird
overturning the rice pot of the care-worn mother
tell me, O Wind-god, what pleasure do you get?
What fun is it to blow away
the nest of the tailor-bird?
Are you father to the formidable hero Hanuman
of whose exploits I have read in the Ramayana?
If you are truly the companion of that benign cloud
mentioned in the Meghadutam of Kalidasa
then why did you have to be so merciless, wind?
You have uprooted the wooden posts
of the flattened humble dwellings
but you could not loosen a single brick
of those stately mansions
built at the cost of others' deprivation.
I have heard so many tales of even-handed justice.
You were supposed to be the carrier of King Solomon,
the one whose sword severed the heads of oppressors
and ground to the dust
the edifices of arrogance.
Rabindranath, the poet of poets,
stood before you with folded hands
beseeching you to blow away
with one gust of the Nor'wester
whatever is old and dead, putrefying and redundant.
If destroy you must, then listen, storm,
do obliterate
the factious parasites
do humble to the dust the pretences
of those who built castles
at the cost of others' toil.


Translated by: Zakeria Shirazi

The historical importance of Pahela Baishakh in Bangladesh dates back to the observance of the day by Chhayanat, a leading cultural organisation of the country, in 1967. In an attempt to suppress Bengali culture the Pakistani rulers had banned poems of Rabindranath Togore. Protesting the move, Chhayanat opened its Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Park with Tagore's song Esho Hey Baishakh, Esho, Esho...welcoming the month. People from all walks of life took part in the programme singing the song along with the artistes. Since then Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla calendar, is celebrated with traditional festivities across the country. In keeping with the age-old tradition, different socio-cultural organisations draw up colourful programmes to celebrate the day.

The day's first programme begins at Ramna Batamul, early in the morning, which is traditionally organised by Chhayanat. This organisation popularised the festival among the urban people. Subsequently, the history of Chhayanat and that of Pahela Baishakh celebration in Dhaka City have become interwoven. And it has a unique history of bold defiance and resistance that has immensely enriched our culture.

To nurture the cultural and musical heritage of Bengal, after the celebration of the birth centennial of Rabindranath Tagore, a group of cultural activists founded Chhayanat in 1961 in Dhaka. Poet Sufia Kamal was the founder president while Farida Hasan was the general secretary of the organisation. Mrs Mohiuddin, Saifuddin Ahmed Manik, Mokhlesur Rahman, Ahmedur Rahman, Wahidul Haq, Sanjida Khatun, Kamal Lohani were members.

Chhayanat's first public function, Purano Ganer Asar (Programme of old songs), was held in Dhaka under the direction of Abdul Ahad. It was highly appreciated by the audience. Later, Chhayanat formed its 'Sangit Vidyayatan' on Pahela Baishakh, 1963 to promote the Bengali culture. In those days they used to arrange indoor programmes. However, the endeavours to promote and popularise Bengali culture especially Tagore's song faced hurdles from the then Pakistan military regime. In defiance the organisation took the bold decision to arrange an open-air programme to take their activities closer to the masses.

In 1967, at the initiative of acclaimed Tagore song singer Sanjida Khatun, Pahela Baishakh was celebrated enthusiastically under the banyan tree inside the Ramna Park. Subsequently, Pahela Baishakh celebrations have become an annual programme of Chhayanat. Except in 1971, the year of liberation war of Bangladesh, the organisation has been regularly holding Pahela Baishakh celebration at the same venue.

In its long journey of celebration of Pahela Baishakh, Chhayanat has faced obstacles from the government and other organisations. Frequently it had to shift its school, Chhayanat Sangit Vidyayatan, from one place to another. Khairul Anam Shakil, the current general secretary of Chhayanat, said, “In 2000 during the bomb blasts by the fanatics in our Pahela Baishakh celebration, we became a little worried. And then we sat with the guardians of our students. We got enormous support from them and this encouraged us to continue the yearly celebration.”

Nowadays, Pahela Baishakh celebration has become part of our urban culture. A large number of people wearing traditional dresses attend the programme where the members of Chhyanat perform at the 'Ramna Batumul' to begin the festive occasion. It is not their own programme, rather a programme of the Bengalis. That is why when the sun sends its golden rays down on earth in the 'first morning' of Bangla Year, people enthusiastically go to Ramna Batomul. More than a cultural event, Pahela Baishakh has become an integral part of the traditional culture of the urban dwellers. Panta-ilish, khoi-moori and other traditional foods become the menu of the urban people who go there to participate in the celebration. Khairul Anam Shakil said, “Besides, students and teachers of Chhayanat, renowned guest artistes also perform in the Ramna Batomul programme. We invite two recitors and two/three singers to participate in the celebrations. As the programme is for only over two hours we can't invite many.”

Following Chhayanat, several organisations also arrange programmes on the day. Students and teachers of Institute of Fine Arts (IFA) of Dhaka University bring out a colourful procession from the Institute premises carrying festoons, placards, posters, banners and wearing masks to welcome the Bangla New Year. Moreover, Bangla Academy and Shilpakala Academy organise programmes at the respective premises. Jatiya Press club, Bulbul Lalita Kala Academy, Liberation War Museum, and Bangladesh National Museum also organise cultural functions on the occasion.

Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla year, is celebrated by the Bengalis all over the world. In Bangladesh the day usually falls on April 14 or 15. The history of observance of Pahela Baishakh is quite interesting as its history goes back to the time of the Mughals. It is said that the collection of agricultural taxes used to be done in that period according to the Hijri calendar. But the collectors faced some problems in collecting the taxes as the Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar and the agricultural year did not coincide with it. As a result, farmers often found it oppressing on them to pay taxes during the out of season period. This prompted the rulers to find a solution and soon they came up with the brilliant calculation table of the years on the basis of an order of the Mughal Emperor Akber. Accordingly, Fatehullah Shirazi, a renowned scholar and astronomer of the time formulated the Bangla year on the basis of the lunar Hijri and Bangla solar calendars. The new Fasli San (agricultural year) was introduced on 10/11 March 1584, but was dated from Akbar's ascension to the throne in 1556. The new year subsequently came to be known as Bangabda or Bengali year.

Celebrations of Pahela Baishakh started from Akbar's reign. It was customary to clear up all dues on the last day of Chaitra. On the next day, or the first day of the new year, landlords would entertain their tenants with sweets. On this occasion there used to be fairs and other festivities. In due course the occasion became part of domestic and social life and turned into a day of merriment.

The main event of the day was to open a halkhata or new book of accounts. This was wholly a financial affair. In villages, towns and cities, traders and businessmen closed their old account books and opened new ones. They used to invite their customers to share sweets and renew their business relationship with them.

New year's festivities are closely linked with rural life in Bengal. Usually on the day everything is scrubbed and cleaned. People bathe early in the morning and dress in fine clothes and then go to visit relatives, friends and neighbours. Special foods are prepared to entertain guests. Baishakhi fairs are arranged in many parts of the country. Various agricultural products, traditional handicrafts, toys, cosmetics as well as various kinds of food and sweets are sold at these fairs. The fairs also provide entertainment, with singers and dancers staging jatra, Palagaan, Kavigaan, Jatra, Gambhira, Gazir gaan etc. They present folk songs as well as baul, marfati, Murshidi and Bhatiali songs.

Observance of Pahela Baishakh has become popular in the cities. Early in the morning people gather under a big tree or on the bank of a lake to witness the sunrise. Artistes present songs to welcome the new year. People from all walks of life wear traditional Bengali dresses: young women wear white saris with red borders and adorn themselves with bangles, flowers, and tips. Men wear white pyjamas or dhoti and kurta. Many townspeople, start the day with the traditional breakfast of panta bhat (cooked rice soaked with water), green chillies, onion, and fried hilsha fish.

The most colourful new year's day festival takes place in Dhaka. Large numbers of people gather early in the morning under the Banyan tree at Ramna Park where Chayanat artistes open the day with Tagore's famous song, Eso he Baishakh eso eso (Come O Baishakh, come), welcoming Baishakh. A similar ceremony welcoming the new year is also held at the Institute of Fine Arts. Students and teachers of the institute take out a colourful procession and parade round the campus.

Baishakh in other communities
The Hindu communities in India, where the holiday is called Baisakhi, also celebrate the beginning of Spring and the end of the harvest seasion on Pahela Baishakh. The Sikh communities celbrate Vaisakhi because it is the birth of the Sikh order of the Khasla. Vaisakhi is also called Rongali Bihu in Assam, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and Pooram Vishu in Kerala.

In Buddhist communities, the month of Baishakh is associated with Vesak, known as Visakah Puja or Buddha Purnima in India, Visakha Bucha in Thailand, Waisak in Indonesia and Wesak in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. It commemorates the birth, Enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha on the one historical day, the first full moon day in May, except in a leap year when the festival is held in June. Although this festival is not held on the same day as Pahela Baishakh, the holidays typically fall in the same month (Baishakh) of the Bengali, Hindu, and Theravada Buddhist calendars, and are related historically through the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism in South Asia.


-- Based on information given in Banglapedia and Internet.

Every year on the 14th of April we celebrate Pahela Baishakh, Bangla New year's day. Pahela Boishakh is an occasion for joy and merrymaking for Bengalis. The celebration of Bangla Naba Barsha is a unique one and it touches the lives of all, the rich, the poor, the young and the old.

Although the English New Year and the Bangla Naba Barsha are regularly celebrated all over the country each year, they are indeed different in their qualitative and quantitative aspects. While the Bangla Naba Barsha is celebrated through the length and breadth of the country, the New Year's celebrations are city based, restricted to the urban areas. On the other hand, the Bangla Naba Barsha celebrations begin with simple folks living in our villages spread all over the country.

Bangla Naba Barsha celebrations are multifaceted and represent in a simplistic way our lives and living. The celebrations depict the richness of our culture from food to music to literature. Dancing, singing, holding poetry sessions, street theaters and jatras happen to be some of the regular features of the celebrations adding to the overall colour and diversity of the festivities. Unique also is the tradition of opening of the Hal Khatas, ushering in new business hopes and giving a fresh impetus to honest earning for a living.

One of the main features of the Bangle Naba Barsha celebrations is holding of the Baishakhi Melas (mini fairs of indigenous merchandise including homemade handicrafts) held over the country which often begin well ahead of the New Years day and often lasts days after. These fairs are unique, the merchandise in display are often traditional food items, rural handicrafts made in individual households. The displays in these melas are veritable representations of our rich culture through the ages.

So intense is the appeal of these melas that Brick Lane “Bangla Town”, one of London's most vibrant quarters, has taken the tradition outside of Bangladesh this year and has already set up the Brick Lane Mela 2006 as part of the Bangla Naba Barsha celebrations . This mela has turned out to be an window to exposing and bringing the multicultural aspects and essence of Bangla culture to the people of UK and beyond.

Bangla Naba Barsha celebrations also include events like the Nauka Baich (rowing), Lathi Khela (stick fight), Kite flying so on and so forth. There is simply more to Bangla Naba Barsha than the eye can meet. One of the most significant aspects of the celebrations of the day has been its “secular characteristics”. The celebrations has the tradition of taking into its fold people of all religious faiths, the Hindus, the Christians and others who are a part and parcel of our nation. Bangla Naba Barsha over the years has acted as the bridge between our rural and the urban population.

In recent years however the Boishakhi celebrations have come under threat of vested groups linking them to the religious traditions of the Hindus. Culture and religion may on occasions be interlinked but essentially have their independent and separate identities. In many countries of the world, for example Indonesia, that has the largest Muslim population of the world, some of its most popular traditions of culture are drawn from the old Vedic period. For the record it may be said that the Muslims of the Sub-continent first introduced Naba Barsha celebrations. Emperor Akbar introduced the Bangla New year in 1556 based on the lunar Hijri and Bangla solar calendars that subsequently came to be known as Bangabdo - the Bengali year. It is thus interesting to note that the Pahela Baishakh we so warmly celebrate all over the country was introduced not by any Bengali but by a non-Bengali.

Pahela Baishakh is an integral and inseparable part of our lives. We simply must uphold its traditions at all costs. Let no individual or group of people driven by extreme religious zeal and jealousy take all that away from us. Today, the very secular nature of our society is under serious threat. Pahela Baishakh is also about our social moral and ethical values. How sad and unfortunate can it be when we see that Naba Barsha celebrations in this country for the last few years continue to be observed in an environment of insecurity under police guard as though these were some secret meetings in progress under tight security measures.

Thus, let us commence the day this year with the renewed pledge that Pahela Baishakh celebration will prevail.

TIME's April 10th cover issue on rebuilding Bangladesh should be applauded to a great extent. I praise TIME for at least putting Bangladesh in the global spectrum and showcasing various successes in terms of attracting foreign investment, developing social welfare and some economic prosperity. But the praises of such accomplishments are to be sung to the general population of Bangladesh not to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia or even to the Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina.
However TIME has failed to project a much more visible image of the economic deprivation still haunting the majority of the population. Millions in both urban and rural Bangladesh face the daily dilemma of black outs (including in Gulshan, which is described by TIME as Dhaka's most posh neighbourhood), shortages of water, shortages of fertiliser for farmers, political persecution by the ruling party against any sort of opposition and of course the corruption and inefficiency of public firms and institutions. As for the rise of militancy, well then how can the prime minister state that she didn't know about it until August 17, 2005 when all the newspapers and private television channels were running interviews and images of Bangla Bhai and his accomplice Abdur Rahman months before? Abdur Rahman happened to be a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami's student wing (Jamaat is also the BNP's coalition partner). To my view the fight against militancy is simply a stage managed drama by the ruling party to get ground in the upcoming election. They helped create the militants and nurtured them (the ruling party MPs even allied publicly with Bangla Bhai as reported by TIME).

Now they are destroying them to win votes through this staged managed drama. What a wonderful play!

The day is looked upon as the harbinger of all that is pure and clean for the people of the land, hence it is called Shuva Nababarsha or happy New Year. Traditionally, it is considered that the rain and accompanying wind in the month of Baishakh would wash away the blemishes of the past year and usher in a new chapter in the lives of the people that would turn out to be happy and prosperous. No wonder, the day becomes an occasion of joy and merrymaking for Bengalees all over the world.
But Pahela Baishakh is much more than simply a day of merrymaking. We observe the day more as an occasion to uphold the Bengali culture, tradition and heritage so that the innate ethos can be carried down to our next generations. Through getting immersed in the traditional celebrations we look back at our roots and discover anew our pristine identity as Bengalees. And one of the most significant aspects of the day has been its secular character, as people belonging to different religious faiths and denominations take part in the celebrations with greater spontaneity than they do on any other occasion.

But lately, the essence of our culture that Baishakh embodies has come under threat from some religious bigots who are bent on destroying the history of tolerance and religious harmony in the country. These obscurantist elements are preaching their own brand of skewed philosophy to reap political benefits through creating anarchy in society. Therefore, on Pahela Baishakh it remains our solemn responsibility to stand up as a wall to thwart the machination of these elements.

On this day the nation takes a renewed pledge to march forward to build a happy and prosperous future for the people.

Shuvo Nababarsha to our readers.

Amid enthusiasm and fanfare the people will welcome the Bangla New Year 1413 both at home and abroad today(Friday) celebrating Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the year.In the day, people from different walks of life will come out at daybreak with a festive mood to welcome the New Year.

Different political, socio-cultural organizations have chalked out elaborate programmes to welcome the Bangla New Year.

Like every year, the main function will be held at the 'Ramna Batamul' with the first ray of the new Bangla year. Artistes of Chhayanaut will perform there

Like other year, the main function will be held at Ramna Batamul with the day dawning to the tune of classic Baishakhi song: Esho hey Baishakh, esho, esho…….. The artists of Chhayanaut will welcome Bangla year 1413.

In keeping with the tradition, traders and shopkeepers open halkhata(fresh accounts book) and offer sweets to the customers and visitors.

The government has taken stringent security measures in and around the city to avoid any untoward incident.

As part of the measures three -tier fool-proof security measures have been taken at Ramna Batomul and its surrounding areas to ensure safety and security of the people.

Around 8,000 members of different law enforcing agencies including the RAB will be kept to ensure the security.

At the Ramna Batamul, RAB will provide medical services, fresh water and telephonic services besides setting up a lost and found booth, said its media director commander Col Masuq Ahmed.

A good number of CC cameras have been set up at different strategic points of the Ramna Batamul while the RAB has already taken over the control of the venue.

Sources said at least 40 spots in the city would come under the direct vigilance of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages felicitating the people and wishing a very happy and prosperous Bangla New Year to the people of the country.

The main opposition Awami League will bring out a colourful rally from Bahadur Shah Park at 7am. The march will terminate at Suhrawardy

Udyan.

A colourful procession will be brought out at 8:30 am from Central Shaheed Minar to Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi.

Besides, different organisations including Alliance Française de Dacca, Proshika, Oitijhya, Nagar Samajik O Sangskritik Kendra will organise separate programmes to mark the day.

Alliance Française de Dacca has organised a discussion on the occasion at its auditorium at 5 pm on the day.

The Daily Amader Shomoy has organised a poetry recitation programme on April 15 at 4 pm with the presence of eminent poets of the country at its auditorium.

Oitijhya, a publishing house, has organised daylong 'New Year Book Festival 1413' on the occasion of Bangla New Year. Oitijhya will provide the buyers 35 per cent discount on 500 titles of books at its Bangla Bazar sales centre.

Nagar Samajik O Sangskritik Kendra has organised an open painting competition for kids under 12 and Mehedi (henna) festival for girls over 12.

Besides, Proshika has also organised a cultural programme and Baishakhi fair at Dhanmondi to celebrate the Bangla New Year.

Other organisations including Bangladesh Samaj Unnayan, Rajshahi University Former Students' Association and Pahela Bishakh 1413 Celebration Committee have taken up programmes to celebrate the day.

Anti-smoking and narcotics organisation SASK-86, voluntary blood donation organisation Bandhan and Alliance Against AIDS of Bangladesh yesterday organised a discussion and anti-smoking poetry recitation programme at Elephant Road to bid adieu to Bangla Year 1412 and welcome the Bangla New Year.

According to available statistics, about 500 traditional fairs are being organised across the country each year. Most fairs, including the Baishakhi Mela, also known as Chaitra

Sangkrantir Mela, are organised in the dry season.

Besides, city fairs are held to mark Pahela Baishakh. At the fairs, industrial, traditional and cottage goods are sold, said a folk cultural expert.

New Year brings new inspiration to mind. Panta with hilsha fish and green chili is the main food for Bangla New Year. Pahela baishakh of 1413 will come closer to us. Explore Baishakhi tradition, heritage and culture by visiting different fairs. These fair will showcase the rich diversity of local handicraft items of our country. If you like diversity, this celebration should make you happy. It aims to build increased awareness of the arts and crafts of Bangladesh, develop stronger understanding among the whole Bangladeshis. Ramna batamul at Ramna park is the leading place to celebrate the Bangla New Year. Besides, one can visit at Shishu Park, Shahbagh for cultural programme, conducted by Wrishijo Shilpo Goshthi, fair and cultural programme at bulbul Lalitkala academy, Baishakhi Handloom Fair at Shilpakala Academy and Baishakhi Fair of BISIC at Dhanmondi field and other following fairs in and outside of the city.


New Year celebration is never fulfilled if you will not visit Charukala Institute at Shahbagh. Three days long programme includes baul song, mary go round, puppet show, jatra, etc. Mangal shovajatra(procession) will start on 14th April at 6.30am.

Bengal Baishakhi Fest

Handicraft fair starts from 13 April and lasts till 15th April from 8.30am to 10 pm at Gulshan field. It will be organized by Bengal Foundation. Programme includes, lathi khela, kite flying, dhak-dhol, dance, drama, recitation, folk song, gambhira, drawing, etc.

Hilsha Festival at Mantra

Mantra Fashion Café will arrange a different type of festival-hilsha festival at their Gulshan outlet. As hilsha is our national fish, everyone loves to savor this fish. An array of stunning items of hilsha like hilsha polau, mustard hilsha, hilsha korma, sour hilsha, fry hilsha, vegetable hilsha, hilsha smash, varities of chutneys, and 25 types of smashes will available at the café on 14th April.

Baishakhi Fair at Women’s Complex

On 14th April, a day long fair and other cultural programmes will held at Women’s Complex at Dhanmondi.

Handicraft Fair at Fantasy Kingdom

Concord Entertainment Company Limited will arrange a handicraft fair, concert to celebrate the Bangla New year from 13 to 15th April from10pm-10pm at Fantasy Kingdom and Heritage Park. Music lovers will also enjoy concert.

Jamuna Resort’s Baishakhi and Purnima Package

Don’t you feel better in urban crowd? You can visit Jamuna Resort for rural charm and indulgence. Enjoy famous clown jatra of Tangail, scrumptious dinner, night staying, celebration of year at dawn, rural games, followed by pure Bangalee dishes.

New Year Celebration at Wonderland

Three days long Baishakhi fair will be held at Wonderland park, Gulshan. Handicrafts, household accessories, dresses, terracotta, pottery, rural and traditional food of Bangla like, muri, murki, binni khai, batasha. Moreover, there will be baul song, magic show, cultural programme will bedeck the fair.

Bangladeshi Food & Cultural presentation at Pan Pacific Sonargaon

Pan Pacific Sonargaon will celebrate Bangla New Year with Bangladeshi Food and Cultural presentation on Pohela Boishakh 14 April 2006 at its Cafe Bazar restaurant.

Focusing on Food and Culture of different countries has become a regular phenomenon at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon. So the Food and Culture of Bangladesh will be the focus of the hotel on the occasion of Pohela Boishakh.

An array of mouth-watering food of different regions of Bangladesh will be on display during the BangIa New Year at Cafe Bazar restaurant. There will be Bengali inspired Salad along with Seafood trolley and assorted Bhorta and Chutney.

Other features will be a whole baked fish - a seafish from Bay of Bengal during lunch and dinner.

The splendid Bangladeshi delicacies are - Bhuna Khichuri, Beef Pudina Kasha, Mutton Lau, Alu Curry, Chicken Shorisha, Pumpkin & Prawn Bhaja, Naan, Ata Roti, Steamed Rice, Shak Dal, Pan Fried Spicy fish, .Pan Fried Chicken Breast, Saute Spicy Fresh Vegetables, Pasta with tandoori chicken. The condiments are - fresh chilli, sliced onion, lemon wedges, mango pickles, oilive pickles and Raita.

The desserts will feature different types of Pithas, meaning indigenous cake, will be there for sweet lovers.

For the cultural presentation "Rheetaal" a group of young artists is hired for Bangladeshi traditional, folk and fusion dance performance during lunch and dinner. They will enthrall the guests with their astounding rhythms while the guests enjoy the tantalizing and splendid delicacies of different regions of Bangladesh.


Baisakhi Utsab at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel

Pahela Baishakh means ‘an early morning start’. So greet the day and welcome the Bangla New Year’ 1413 at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

The “Baisakhi Utsab” will kick off on Pohela Baisakh at Sheraton with first ray of sunlight. To introduce the taste of traditional Bangladeshi culture, this pageant will feature a daylong performance of Bangladeshi musical entertainment. Join in a traditional Baisakhi Mela at the Ball Room, where you can enjoy traditional Folk Song (Baul Gaan), and Puppet Show etc.

The Bithika Restaurant will mark the occasion with a themed buffet breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, featuring mouthwatering Bangladeshi dishes.

Enjoy an array of Bangladeshi Breakfast delights from seasonal fresh fruits to assorted cold meat, Mutton Nehari, Chicken Halim, Potato Cake, Sautéed Mushroom, Pancake, Chicken Sausage, Chicken Roti Kebab, Palak Pure, fried Hilsha, fried Eggplant, Fish Kebab, Chana Begun, Beef Chap, Pakoora, Baguni, Piazo, Aloo Carrot Mathi Bhajiee, Chicken Masala Mughlai Paratha, and Bhuna Khichuri.

Dhaka Sheraton wants to make your lunch and dinner as pleasant as possible. Sheraton has the specialty of traditional taste and our Executive Saus Chef Linus Rozario and his team will treat you more personally with a very long menu of tempting dishes. You may start with Fresh Green Salad, Aloo Bharta, Begun Bharta, Carrot and Coriander, Potato with Chat Masala, Beetroot, Tomato, Tomato Chatney, Coriander Chatney, Mint Chatney, Dal and Begun Soup, Spicy Kodu and Dhania Soup,

Savor the chef’s exquisite main dishes featuring the six divisions of Bangladesh. From Sylhet - Mutton Satkora with Posdana; Chittagong – Ground Spicy Majbhan Beef; Khulna – Nancy Prawn Tomato Khatta Masala and Murgh Aloo Kata Masala; Barishal – Fish Kofta Dhania Aloo Begun Masala and Baishakhi Vegetable Dry Spicy; Rajshahi – Padma Shorisha Hilsha and Malony Beef with Garlic Bager; and from Dhaka division Muglai Murgh Bori, Nawabi Murgh, Shahjada Mutton Biriyani, and Plain Rice.

To excite the taste buds there will be also Amm Dal, Shajna Masala, Paat Aloo Jhool, and Lal Saag Bhaji in the vegetarian corner. No Bangladeshi meal is completed without sweets; so don’t miss the traditional treats.

The Lobby Cafe will celebrate the event with a weeklong Pitha Promotion, starts from Pohela Baishakh morning featuring traditional Bangladeshi Pithas such as Patishapta and Bhapa. You may refresh yourself with these wonderful treats at the Lobby Café or alternatively have the take away service.

So come, enjoy and celebrate the first day of the Bangla New Year at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel with your friends and family. To reserve a table or for more information, please call 865 3636, Ext 4221.

Mohammad Gani , USA


So we find our national Anthem, the basic identity and the spirits, as a sovereign nation has a nebulous root of origin. Visions in Tagore’s “Amar Sonar Bangla” was truly and only intended for the restoration of “United Bengal” in 1906 and never delivered for a separated wing of United Bengal, namely “Bangladesh” as we see today

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25 March 1971, if were a “Big bang” explosion that caused the creation of Bangladesh; then our glorious national Anthem, “Amar Sonar Bangla (desh)” was not any scattered or disintegrated element out of that explosion. This patriotic and beautiful poem of emotional love for our land of all memories, land of anything and everything with valiant spirits has stories behind the story as it became our sacred national Anthem in 1971.

I do not know exactly how and where it was processed to become officially as our national Anthem and whether there was any research or solicitation of public comments before being finalized, my speculation is that it was approved by the provisional “Mujibnagar” Government established in Calcutta few days after 17 April 1971.

We first listened to this patriotic song from the “Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra” that first proclaimed in a radio message broadcast from a captured station in Chittagong on March 26, 1971. Two days later, the “Voice of Independent Bangladesh” announced that a “Major Zia” would form a new government with himself occupying the “Presidency”. Zia’s self appointment as “President” was considered brash, quickly realized that his action was unpopular, Zia yielded his “office” to the incarcerated Sk. Mujibur Rahman.

Origin of Bangladesh national Anthem: The greatest and the most genius of our times in Bengali literatures and language, Kabi Guru Rabindranath Tagore wrote this beautiful piece, a dulcet wonder in late 1906 after he joined “Swadeshi movement” against Lord Curzon’s plan of two Bengal approach. It also expresses his patriotism, extraordinary love and loyalty to the United Bengal, especially the rural Bengal, the “Gram Bangla”. Tagore was born in 1861 at Jorasanko in Calcutta (West Bengal, India) and at the age of seventeen (1878) he was sent to England for studies. He enrolled at a public school in Brighton, England and later he studied at the University College London but returned to Bengal in 1880 without a degree.

In 1898, Tagore began managing his family’s estates in Shelidah, a region now in Bangladesh. Known as “Zamindar Babu” he traveled across his vast estate in “Gram Bangla” while living out in his family’s barge the “PADMA”. Uncommon natural beauty and everyday lives of common people of “Gram Bangla” attracted Tagore with true love of emotion those he felt deep in his heart and soul. Close touch with the common humanity made him “obsessive and compulsive” towards the natural beauty of the United Bengal and its ordinary people. He loved the splendor of “Gram Bangla”, perhaps for its poverty and imperfection. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature on December 10, 1913.

Early Background & Vision of this poem: British Governor General, Lord George Curzon divided United Bengal into Eastern and Western sectors in 1905 in order to improve administrative control of this huge and populous province. He established a new province called Eastern Bengal and Assam which had its capital at Dhaka.

The new province of West Bengal (Now an Indian Province) had its capital at Calcutta, which also was the capital of British India. Curzon’s decision was fiercely challenged by the educated and largely Hindu upper classes of Calcutta. The Indian National Congress, a Hindu-dominated political organization supported by the Calcutta elite initiated a well-planned campaign (Swadeshi movement) against Curzon; accusing him of trying to adopt a “divide and rule” policy.

Tagore joined them (Swadeshi movement) in 1906 and strongly voiced against the partition of United Bengal. He then also wrote this song (now Bangladesh National Anthem) “Amar Sonar Bangla (desh)” in late 1906 that reflected his true attraction and divine love towards the United Bengal. Later he withdrew himself from “Swadeshi campaign” when the movement turned violent. Thus Tagore was a proud and ardent patriot of “United Bengal” and his patriotic poems and songs have passed into the common heritage of India; like the song “Bharata Bhagya Vidata” is now sung all over India as their national anthem.

Muslim’s view on divided Bengal: In 1906, the Muslim League declared its support for the partition of Bengal and to proclaim its mission as a political association to protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims of India. They initially supported the British government and condemned the “Swadeshi movement”.

During the next few years, the long neglected and predominantly Muslim eastern region of Bengal made significant progress in education and communications. Many Muslims in East Bengal viewed the partition as initial recognition of their cultural and political separation from the Hindu majority population. Muslims generally favored the partition of Bengal but could not compete with the politically more established and financially powerful Hindus.

For strategic reasons the British voided the partition of Bengal in 1912, a decision that caused estrangement between the Muslims and Hindus. The reunited province was reconstituted and the capital of India was moved from Calcutta to the New Delhi. This reunion of divided Bengal was perceived by Muslims as a British accommodation to Hindu pressures. And therefore, Tagore’s dream “the United Bengal” survived until mid-August 1947.

Bangladesh; Vision of independence: Sk. Mujibur Rahman announced (1966) his controversial six-point political and economic program for East Pakistani provincial autonomy. President Ayub Khan interpreted Mujib’s demands as tantamount to a call for independence. After pro-Mujib supporters rioted in a general strike in Dhaka, the government arrested Mujib in January 1968. On March 25, 1969 Ayub resigned and handed over the administration to the commander in Chief General A.M Yahya Khan who awarded East Pakistan 162 seats out of the 300-member National Assembly.

Awami League won all but 2 of the 162 seats allotted for East Pakistan in the National Assembly. Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party came in a poor second nationally, winning 81 out of the 138 of West Pakistani seats in the National Assembly. The Awami League’s electoral victory promised it control of the Government, with Mujib as the country’s prime minister but the inaugural Assembly never met. Talks among Yahya, Muhib and Bhutto collapsed and Yahya decided to “solve” the problem of East Pakistan by repression. On the evening of March 25, 1971 he flew back to Islamabad.

The military crackdown in East Pakistan began the same night. Within hours a wholesale slaughter had commenced in Dhaka with the heaviest attacks concentrated on the Dhaka University and the Hindu area of the old town.. During the entire nine-month liberation struggle more than 1 million people died at the hands of the Pakistani Army.

Pakistani Army surrendered on 16, 1971 and the representatives of the Bangladeshi Government and the Mukti Bahini were absent from the ceremony of surrender. This new nation considered this ceremony insulting and caused consternation in Dacca (Dhaka) and in New Delhi. The birth of a new nation BANGLADESH, very different from Tagore’s dream of the “United Bengal” began.....

So we find our national Anthem, the basic identity and the spirits, as a sovereign nation has a nebulous root of origin. Visions in Tagore’s “Amar Sonar Bangla” was truly and only intended for the restoration of “United Bengal” in 1906 and never delivered for a separated wing of United Bengal, namely “Bangladesh” as we see today. With due affirmation of all respects, spirits and love for our founding fathers, this nation someday may need to re-evaluate the nexus of visions between the “United Bengal” and “Bangladesh” and find the true meaning, origin and appropriateness of adopting this archaic song as our national anthem!

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Mohammad Gani writes from USA , His e mail : mgani69@gmail.com
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(Ref: US Library of Congress and thanx to my friend Rezaul Karim).