EBangladesh » Bangladesh

Bangladesh Twinkles

Maskwaith Ahsan — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 10:49:54 +0000

As a host every Bengali is warm and passionate, a guest is treated like an envoy from God. Even if you travel towards the heart of darkness you will be amused by the mystic side of Bengal and quite possibly as impressed as Joseph Conrad was when he asked if the flow of civilization was from Thames to Jamuna or vise versa.

Dhaka may appear slightly decked up, but the moment you move out of the capital you will be indulged by the beautiful minds of Bengalis while the other ethnic natives will welcome you with an extra flair of color and music. This is the way of Bangladesh, one of the host countries of World Cup Cricket 2011 ready to celebrate cricket-star-dust. You can feel the multicultural, secular heart of Bengal by randomly making friends on the streets or with rickshaw or taxi drivers. Bangladeshis are great believers of mutual respect even though we have been badly hurt by colonial elitism and had to fight back over and again to thwart intruders who almost destroyed our secular social fabric.

Old Dhaka will bewilder you with food entertainment, relics of classic buildings and forts, while the humor of arty craftsmen and laborers will trickle your senses. In this land Mosques, Temples, and Churches co-exist with bonds of truth, beauty and goodness. Bangladesh celebrates peaceful mysticism, we have river-lands and enough harvest to afford being philosophical. Bengali cricket tiger Sakib, too, looks at the sky when he hits a captain’s knock, as do Bengali peasants when they get bumper harvests. Those who have come across Bengali waiters or bar tenders around the globe must have surely felt their passion to make guests happy. It’s because we are taught at home to be friendly to strangers and travelers.

We look for occasions to celebrate, in 12 months we have 13 festivals. We gather at Eid, Puja, Christmas, water and color festivals etc, thus effectively marginalizing colonial attempts at religious divisions.

Dhaka is over populated, no doubt. But I hope visitors to the World Cup will not get rattled by slow traffic. The silver lining is to feel that the moment you reach the threshold of the busy capital city, your mind’s clock adjusts itself to the slow rhythm of the environs. The variety of greens, the generosity of our hills, the enchanting sounds of rivers and the feel of a timeless land all step forward to engulf you in their warmth of friendship. Bangladeshis are simple if they find simplicity in you.

You can travel around Chittagong, Cox’s Bazaar, Rangamati, Khagrachori and Bandarban. The Bay of Bengal kisses the harbor that holds the undiscovered suffering and beauty of Chittagong Hill Tracts in its arms. Aboriginals there lead a colorful life which is clearly absent in plain lands.

In Ishwardi, Pakshey and Kushtia, you can enjoy the cinematic beauty of old British towns, the generosity of Padma River, the memoirs of Nobel laureate Tagore and the shrine of mystic singer Lalon, while Rajshahi, Bogra and Rangpur are known as green cities.

Along this route you will also come across the heritage sites and museums which will give you an idea of ancient civilizations that existed in this Barendra Valley.

Khulna should be another destination where you step into the wilds of Mangrove forest Sundarban.

Nearby Barisal, a city of canals is popularly known as oriental Venice. After that you can push down towards another beach at Kuakata.

Kumilla is next to Dhaka and there the heritage site takes you into the world of another ancient civilization, and Mymen Singh towards the north is full of the allures of eco-parks, where you can confidently go for a Safari and if you are lucky you can enjoy a starry night in a green forest bungalow.

The echoes of another mystic singer Hason Raja can be heard in and around Sylhet, while Jaflong in the north provides a vantage point for fountains and the old mountainous city of Shilong. In fact every inch of river delta Bangladesh is worth celebrating.

And finally if you have visited Karl Marx’s Trier in Germany you must visit Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib’s Tungipara, the man who liberated the minds of Bengalis so that they could live without fear as envisioned by Tagore.

Soft Talk with Maskwaith – Militancy Spiderhole Episode 1.

Sushanta Das Gupta — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:48:33 +0000

Interview with Anu Mostafa, Senior Journalist, Rajshahi

Soft Talk with Maskwaith – Militancy Spiderhole Episode 1.

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:48:33 +0000

Interview with Anu Mostafa, Senior Journalist, Rajshahi

Soft Talk with Maskwaith – Militancy Spiderhole Episode 1.

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:48:33 +0000

Interview with Anu Mostafa, Senior Journalist, Rajshahi

Soft Talk with Maskwaith – Encounter at Jessore Road Ep 1.

Sushanta Das Gupta — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:00:21 +0000

Interview with Abu Bakr, Editor, Shomoyerkagoj.com, Kushtia

Soft Talk with Maskwaith – Encounter at Jessore Road Ep 1.

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:00:21 +0000

Interview with Abu Bakr, Editor, Shomoyerkagoj.com, Kushtia

Soft Talk with Maskwaith – Encounter at Jessore Road Ep 1.

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:00:21 +0000

Interview with Abu Bakr, Editor, Shomoyerkagoj.com, Kushtia

Soft Talk with Maskwaith – Encounter at Jessore Road Ep 1.

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:00:21 +0000

Interview with Abu Bakr, Editor, Shomoyerkagoj.com, Kushtia

Congratulation Tigers!

Kh.A.Saleque. — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 05:21:47 +0000

Congratulation Tigers

Bangladeshis have very rare occasion of celebrating national victories. But we had one yesterday which people irrespective of political belief, cast and creed celebrated. An occasion which brought Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition close together. Our cricketers gave us the moment of joy and glory.

Bengal tigers white washing full strength black caps in ODI is by any count the greatest sporting achievement of cricket loving sporting nation. The manner in which Saquib influenced tiger cabs hunted Kiwis deserves unqualified praise. Wining four matches in a row and some matches going down to the wire evidence the growing maturity and never say die attitude. The entire team gelled together in great commitment and determination. Tigers have now developed the habit of winning and will definitely act as a team to reckon with in the ensuing World Cup for all its opposition . Bangladesh won 1st, 4th and 5^th ODI after keen contest and second was a roller coaster. SaquibulHasan , the top ranked ODI all-rounder amply demonstrated his superiority with both willow and leaher scoring 211 runs with century and a fity and grabbing 11 wickets in four matches. He was man of the series. Two other youngsters SurawardyShuva and RubelHussain won man of the match accolade in two other ODI with Saquib winning the other two .

Kiwis were originally due to play a full series of test matches oDI and twenty twenty in Bangladesh. But BCB thought it wise to turn the series into 5 match ODI with an eye to the ensuing ICC World Cup preparation. Bangladesh preparation got a blow before even the series started as the flamboyant Bangladesh opener TamimIqbals delayed operation in his hands forced him out of the series. Captain and ace strike bowler Mashrafee also got injured in the very first match . We all know another key player Mohammad Ashraful was not in tune. So Bangladesh had to encounter strong Kiwis without three key players . But Saquib just returning from a successful English county stinct and Bangladesh unit after extensive preparation and hard work looked determined from the start.

For Kiwis adjusting to heat and humidity was a great challenge. Moreover rain and inclement weather at the end of the season also restricted their preparation. But a team having world class players like BredenMcCullam, Ross Taylor and Daniel Vittori can afdjust to any condition. Inspired by Saquib all round performance Bangladesh stunned Kiwis in the first ODI by 9 runs. Tigers started dreaming of winning the first ever oDI against a fdull strength major majoropposition . The second ODI was washed out without a ball being bowled. Bangladesh did not allow Kiwis to regroup in the third ODI and had a roller coaster 7 wickets victory when Young Suharawardy Shuvo bowled exceedingly well . Fourth ODI was Saquibs solo and the 5^th was a nail bitter.

No one expected in the wildest of drteams that Bangladesh will succesfuly defend a moderate target of 174 in the last ODI.But the changed Tigers were not willing to loose. In the first few overs they broke the backbone of Kwi batting grabbing 5 wickets forcing them to perspire for life. Vittori and Elliot were giving them life saving drugs and lamost pulled them out of danger zone. But determined tigers bowling and fielding like champions hit them back in time. When young Rubel knocked out Mills leg stump in the third ball of the last over Kiwis were only 4 runs away from target. Rubel got 4 wickets. Bangladesh erupted with tears of joy.

In the history of Bangladesh cricket the just concluded oDI series victory will remain as a significant milestone and future inspiration. Well dione Bangladesh. Tiger cabs are really maturing. In the past there were isolated victories. But now the team has grown in confidence and does not throw the towel .

With series against Zoimababwe in December and World Cup next year Bangladesh need to further iron its efforts. Batting will be definitely bolstered with the return of TamimIqubal. Middlre order batting still remains in a spot of bother. We will love to see a rejuvenated Ashraful back into action soon. Junaid and Roquibul did not bat well in the series. ShariarNafees is getting back his tune. He can bat at number three when Tamim gets back and opens with ImrulKayes> Bangladesh needs some late order stroke maker to make best use of batting p[ower play. Return of fully fit Mashrafee will be useful. Bangladesh also needs to improve bowling at the batting power play in death overs. Much improved Rubel and Shafiul give hope . India and South Africa are in Bangladesh Group in ICC Woreld Cup. Bangladesh beat both in 1997 World Cup. We must make specific plans against both.

The Tiger White Washing Black Caps will make Bangladeshis around the world start dreaming for greater glories. Tigers must gear up to match that.

Congratulations tigers – a job well done.

Songs of the Soil 1.wmv

Sushanta Das Gupta — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:36:28 +0000

SONGS OF THE SOIL SINGER MOHAN ISHWARDI PRODUCER UMAR K CHANNA CONCEPT MASKWAITH AHSAN