The ‘Porabari Chom Chom’ a famous and legendary Sweet

Written & Pictures by: M. G. Rabbany (Sujan)

Once, the Tangail Porabari chom chom was famous throughout the Indo Pak sub-continent. The very name of Porabari chom chom still bears the old glory of Tangail. It has an eternal appeal to all. The color of this sweet meat is as like as the color of a brick. The Porabari chom chom is one of the world famous sweet for its extreme sweetness, uncommon taste and flavor. It is of various designs and shapes. Tangail has got a special recognition in the world from the British domain for this uncontested sweetmeat.

Porabari is a village. It is situated about four kilometers west from Tangail town. Its sight is calm and quiet. The village was named Porabari because the house of a sweet maker businessman was burnt (Porabari means “burnt house”). Nobody can ascertain the name of the man who first made this sweet meat. It is known that a man named Dasarat was the first sweetmeat maker in this village. The Ghosh and Pal tribes were engaged in the sweet meat industry generation after generation.

From the old sweet makers and sweet traders it is known that once there was a launch ghat at Porabari. The bank of Dhaleshari is a branch river of the Jamuna. Steamers, launches and big cargoes anchored there. Men of different position and taste used to come to Porabari. Once, Porabari was a thriving business centre where men including luxurious living gathered all the time. The fame of the Porabari chom chom sweet is not a matter of recent years. It has been reigning for more than one and half centuries. The Porabari Chom Chom sweet was full of taste and juice as like as the honey of the bee hives. It is said that a man (Dasarat by name) or an unknown Thagore coming from Asam first started to make chom chom with the sweet water of Daleshary mixed with the thick milk of Porabari. It can be cited that the taste of chom chom is mainly dependent on the taste of the water of Porabari. The secrecy that lies behind the preparation of chom chom of Porabari is the water of Porabari.

This is why the same sweet makers of Porabari failed to make sweets as fine as that Porabari in other districts. It is the water of the Dhaleshary that is responsible for gaining reputation in making the famous sweetmeat chom chom.

The position that was occupied by the chom chom of Porabari from British dominion in India is going beyond the possession of Tangail due to various adverse reasons.

The sons and grandsons of Khuka Ghosh of Pach-Ali bazaar always supply with the fresh and pure chom chom. They supply with chom chom at the price of 100/120 taka kg. They send their sweet meat to 40 shops in Dhaka and Mymensingh regularly. Besides, in many shops of Dhaka and Mymensingh the Porabari chomchom are supplied from the real proprietors. On the other hand, about two hundred or more shops have business of Tangail Porabari chom chom only on the basis of sign board. They actually do not have the pure sweet meats of Porabri. They are supplied with adulterated and impure sweets and they sell them under the sign board of Tangial Porabari chom chom. Now it is the race of the government and the industries set up at Porabari to take immediate measures to protect the prestigious industry and the long tradition Tangail from failing.

Fisher Man

Written by Taufiqa Farzana

A fisherman is he who lives by catching and selling fishes. Generally a fisherman lives in a village near a river or a sea. He catches fish in the rivers, seas and ponds etc. Fisher men work by day and night. Many fishermen go to catch fish at night. Sometimes the night remains dark, cold and stormy. Fishermen are often seen making new nets. Most of the fishermen are poor. They can’t buy new net. They use old net by sewing. They have no boat. So they work in groups. Sometimes they take nets and boats on rent.

The life of a fisherman is very risky. They often go to fish at night in the big rivers and seas. During the stormy nights the members of their family remain anxious for safe return. Fishing is a challenging and interesting profession. When they catch a lot of fish they become very happy. Some times they cannot catch more fishes. Then they become very sad. They catch fish and sell to the market. In this way they earn money and buy their foods. They live a very simple life.

Ending Domestic Violence: local-global

by Dr. Kathryn Ward

Since 2005, I have hosted a website of resources on domestic violence in Bangladesh (in Bangla and English) as well state by state resources for South Asian women in USA.

Website address: www.siu.edu/~narijibon/DADV.htm

Many women and men in Bangladesh know little of available resources due to lack of information even though Bangladeshi women experience some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world (see Ruchira Naveed's [ICDDRB] and others' excellent work). Many women do not want to discuss their struggles and abuse outside of their families.

Knowledge of Bangladeshi and USA resources is very important because Domestic violence (and other forms of violence) travel with migrants and back and forth. Given the transnational locations of many family members, the survivors may be in one country while the abusers move back and forth; and abusers’ families threaten the survivors’ families (esp in Bangladesh).

Recently the Daily Star reported on a Bangladeshi woman (Nadine) who is fighting for her life in New York city after her new husband, blogger-writer, and Columbia university lecturer (Sajid Huq) allegedly beat and raped her. She called the police who arrested Sajid on rape and abuse charges. Her abusive husband's elite family is threatening her family with false cases. More recently many prominent Bangladeshi women's organizations and leaders have protested the continued harassment of Nadine and her family and called for justice in Bangladesh and USA. Another blog provides insights and pictures from survivor Nadine. Some have organized on Facebook a group to provide Justice for Nadine! while others are speaking up and writing to challenge the victim-blaming anti-Nadine activities of the abuser's, family, and friends who have posted misinformation on these websites!

These adamant denials, reprisals, and harassment against an educated woman from an elite family show the continued need for more education and activism against violence against women in all contexts and classes. Many women know when they speak up and refuse to be abused or file charges, that others will step up their abuse of the woman and her family to keep them silent and/or in their place or drop charges. Or com/promises to behave are made and the cycle of abuse continues some times even to the woman's severe injuries or death. If this can happen to an elite women, what is a poor woman to do?

At least, the USA has laws against domestic violence and rape that an immigrant woman can use if she knows of them and/or trusts the police, while Bangladesh still has no specific laws against domestic violence despite many meetings, networks, and donor dollars. Meanwhile, the results from USA immigration laws-policy on migrants seeking asylum in USA from abusive partners who hold their spousal visas have been so-so, even though abused women can seek a visa in their own right (please contact a shelter program near you in USA for more information). At the same time, the abused woman was supposed to report promptly her abuse to the local police in USA, but many women do not trust the USA police and/or do not know of any options. Further, in 2005 and onwards, I have learned that many USA and Bangladeshi organizations did not have one another’s contact information to share information about laws and programmes. I have continued to share these resources over time, for example, the excellent links on Adhunika's domestic violence post.

I hope to update the article resources soon. I would appreciate any comments, updates, as well. These resources were developed as part of my research-work in Bangladesh with Dr. Rifat Akhter (who developed USA resource list), Dr. Mahmuda Islam (who visited many USA locations and informed my Bangladesh work), and Mr. Saiful Islam (who has visited many NGOS working to end domestic violence in Bangladesh and co-wrote and translated the English-Bangla brochure).

Bhalo thakben to all the brave women and men who are working to end violence against women, children, and men!

(also cross-posted on Bideshi Blue)

Afsana Pervin- a Successful student of Nari Jibon organization

Written by: M. G. Rabbany Sujan

I am Afsana Pervin and I am about 30 years old. I studied up to class-12. I am married and I have two sons. My elder son is 9 years old and younger son is 7 years old. Now they are reading in the school. I was working as mere a housewife before coming at Nari Jibon organization. I came at Nari Jibon organization to see its sign board. I was interested to learn English and Computer course when I took admission at Nari Jibon.

I took admission at Nari Jibon dated 24th March 2005. After taking admission at Nari Jibon I started to learn English and computer. I completed English-1.0, English-1.5 and English-2.0 (Spoken English). I was very weak in English from my student life. But after taking admission at Nari Jibon, I became much develop in English.

After completing English-1.5, I started to learn computer Ms. Office program (Ms Word, Ms Excel, Access and Power Point). Later I also took knowledge on computer hardware and graphic design courses.

After completing graduation, Afsana Parveen was receiving certificate from
Nari Jibon Project Director Kazi Rafiqul Islam

Nari Jibon gave me a scope to take skills for long time. As I was weak in English and I had to do house hold works, I needed enough time to learn English and computer. I participated for about two years at Nari Jibon English and computer classes. So, I got enough time to do more exercise which helped me to learn everything well.

Last March, 07 I joined in an established private school and college named Genius school & college as accountant & admin officer. There I operate a computer to prepare many documents. My salary is held 4000 taka. Now I am going to my workplace regularly beside my household works. I am happy in this sense that now I am able to contribute financially in my family. I am very pleased to Nari Jibon organization as it helped me to change my life.