Pictures on flood affected area in Dhaka city

Pictures taken by Mohtarimun Nahar [Bipa]


Some days ago it was a field. Children used to play here football, cricket etc. Now this field is filling by flood water. The water is increasing day by day.


Now this field is under water. Children are swimming and playing here by making ferryboat.

The 21st February (remarkable events of Bangladesh)

Written by Shahana Akter Munia
Source: Oxford learners Communicative English

There are many important and remarkable events, years and dates in the history of Bangladesh. The 21^st February is one of those. It is a very significant moment for the Bangladeshis. In 1948 the rulers of Pakistan declared the language “Urdu” to be only state language, but the people of East Pakistan didn’t agree with this declaration. Cause their mother tongue was Bengali. They raised their voice and protested against the declaration. So the movement for making Bengali as a state language spread all over the country. All the people of Bangladesh particularly the students’ communities were firmly determined to carry on the struggle until the Pak Government yielded to their demand. The students declared the 21^st February in 1952 as the “Language Day”. The situation became tensed. The government imposed section 144 and banned all meetings and processions. But the students defied the order and brought out processions. The Pak Armi shot at the processing indiscriminately. As a result, many brave sons of Bengal like Rafiq, Shafiq, Salam, Barkat and Jabbar died. But the Bengalese did not step back. Rather movement was forced to recognize Bengali as one of the two state languages. This is why; the 21^st February is a “Red Letter Day” in our national history. It is certainly a glorious achievement that the immortal 21^st February of the Bengalese is now being observed world wide as the “International Mother Language Day”. We have got a supreme respect from all over the world for our mother tongue. So we are very much proud because of this immortal language.

In South East Asia Bangladesh is one of the few countries that remain to be explored-2

written by Mohtarimun Nahar [Bipa]

Hello readers. I hope you all knew about our Bangladeshi beauties. If you would like to visit in Bangladesh, the following few facts and fingers about Bangladesh might be some use to you...

History:
Bangladesh lies on the Eastern fringe of the Indian sub-continent and its people have always been great lovers of freedom; As a result, the area has almost always enjoyed a fair degree of sovereignty during its entire history, sometimes as one state and sometimes as several, with only perfunctory allegiance to the central ruling powers. It became a part of the British Empire in the 18th century. In 1947, when the sub-continent was divided into Pakistan and India, It became apart of Pakistan , When the Bengali Nation separated from Pakistan through an armed struggle in 1971, Bangladesh Became an independent and sovereign country.

Location:
Bangladesh lies in the North Eastern part of south Asia and is surrounded by India on the West, North and East. To the South it has the Bay of Bengal and Myanmar to the South- East.

Ethnic Heritage:
The population of Bangladesh is a mixture of Dravidians, Aryans and Mongolians, belonging to the black-haired, dark-skinned and short featured Austro / Mongoloid group. Hill tribes have their own distinctive racial features.

Culture:
Our culture is rich and intermingling; Aryans, Hindu, Mughals, Iranians and colonial Europeans have left their marks in the cultural identify of the people.

Climate:
The climate of Bangladesh is subtropical and tropical with temperatures ranging from an average daytime low of 15 º C in the cold season to a top of 35 º C in the hot season. Annual rainfall varies from 1000 mm in the west to 2500 mm in the South–East and up to 5000 mm in the North - East where tea is grown.

There quarters of the annual rainfall occurs between June and September. The 90% to 95% humidity during this season is almost unbearable for some travelers. The humidity remains high all year round producing thick logs in winter and making chilly nights in the North feel much colder then they are.

Seasons:
Bangladesh has three main seasons: the monsoon or wet season from late May to early October; The cold season from mid October to the end of February; and hot season from mid-March to mid-May. There are two cyclone seasons – May to June and October to November.

Best season for a visit:
October to March, when the sun is mild and pleasant, is the best season for a visit. The ‘Monsoon’ season (June to August) also has its own charms.

Missed Calls and Other Mobile Moja

Written by Kathryn B. Ward
Email: pagol.nari@gmail.com

I’d like to talk about good behaviour when using a mobile phone, especially missed calls and talking with boys. Since 2000-1, one of the most interesting things from my travels to Bangladesh has been that ownership of mobile phones has grown quickly! Even inhabitants of the remotest village can own a phone. At first, international media reported that ‘village’ women could take Microcredit loans for mobile phones and make calls. In 2000-1, they had no one really to call because of the small network coverage: missed calls meant no network available calls. Now village women and men are getting micro-loan phones, making international calls, and even setting up internet networks via their mobile links!

Or some Nari Jibon staff members have been known to get a phone card and make international calls to me and others in USA!

Anyway, as mobile phones became more popular, some lessons were needed in better mobile phone manners or etiquette. During my visits, I would get many mobile calls because I would give out my number in person and on my business card. Then I would get calls where the caller would ring once and hang up, e.g. the ‘missed call.’ I guess that they thought I was a rich foreigner, and I could afford to call people back on my own taka! This was very irritating because often I didn't have time to call people back, or I would call them back, but their mobile was busy-busy, because they kept missed calling me! So instead of just calling, having a brief chat, and hanging up, I would have to redial them repeatedly. Finally, I told nearly everyone that I would not return missed calls.

Beyond missed calls, some men engage in what we call ‘phishing’, where they would start calling random numbers until they got a foreigner (man but especially woman), or local woman on the mobile. This affects women’s security especially when we do not know the caller. They would repeatedly call back and disturb me.

This is very important security issue because often times you don't know who's calling, unless their name is in your mobile phone book. Many people start their call with ‘apni koi?’ (where are you?) instead saying their name, hello, etc. Or as a foreigner, if I reply in my baby Bangla, then I have to understand the rapid stream of Bangla that often follows, hence my frequent ‘aste kotha bolben’ (please speak slower).

Since many mobile carriers provide free phone calls after midnight 12pm, all night long, many bad men or dusto women who want to show that they know a foreigner will call-call. Over time, I closed my mobile or put it on silent mode so that I would get some sleep.

Some times this led to some interesting phone calls including one man who kept calling around 4:30am, but only spoke Bangla. Eventually, he called back during the day, I gave the mobile to my driver. He told my driver that he met me in a bar, and I promised to give him 20,000 taka! I had never gone to a bar in Bangladesh, but I was able to get him to stop because my driver said some bad Bangla words to him, and threatened complaints to his mobile carrier and police.

I’ve noticed that missed calls are a problem in other countries, as Fouzia Mohamed reports from Libya on her 20 July blog.

About the missed calls made to her and her young son’s phone and they used up his cards. Eventually, she stopped returning any such calls and they stopped.

So as we both have found, if you don't call people back, they usually stop calling. Unless they find out that you are a foreigner. For some reason that really interests young and older men—especially if they get a young female foreigner on the phone and think she will take them to the USA.

For another blog entry, I will address the dating through mobiles discussion: how young women and men are using their mobiles for late night free calls to get around their parents’ restrictions on talking with persons of the opposite sex and/or neglecting their all important home works! Last year in Bangladesh, some “people” proposed banning the late night free phone calls especially for young people. Or even earlier at another research office, I have seen a former unmarried male staff member disappear for some mobile bhalobashi kotha and ignore his work. Or even more troubling is when young female students skip their classes to gossip on their mobiles. We are starting a zero tolerance policy for students who skip their classes to do mobile gossip with boys(!): they will be dropped from Nari Jibon classes and office.

So in general, stop wasting my phone cards with missed calls! Pay attention to your home work, classes, and office work! I would love to hear from the rest of you via text message and/or email. Take care and remember safe mobile calling is good calling.

The Flood of Bangladesh and My Experiences

by Animesh

BBC has arranged ‘Bangladesh Sanglapa’ on 5 August 2007 at Bangladesh Cina Friendship Conference. In that discussion the first question was about Bangladeshi flood. All the audiences discussed more than 15 minuets. The authority invited the guests who were from the different political parties, cultural person and climatologist. The first question was from an audience, ‘Why the political leaders are not going to help the flood affected peoples.’ The guests answered according to their capability and were try to show their bindings to help flood affected peoples. Anyway, I have question on their opinions.

Dear readers, I keen to inform you about my experiences on flood which was 1987, 1988 and 1998.

In 1987, I was the student of class five a 10 years old boy. It was the first flood. In that time we lived in stage which was made by bamboo. We had to move one places to another by boat. We had no problem because the villagers had a good habit to move by boat. Both male and female knows how to swim and how to drive boat. I can remember clear that our tube-well went under water and we had go to collect water everyday 2km away form our home.

The flood of 1988 was terrible. The water level was so high that we had not opportunity to live in our house because the water level was nearly hour house roof. So we had to take shelter near the dam which was completed recent year. Not only we but also all of our villagers took their shelter on that dam.

At that time the miserable experiences was that people who were inside the dam. I am saying the miserable experiences because their house went under water when they all slept. The area we live is beside the river and outside the dam. So, in the area we lived the water level raised slowly and it took more than 5days. The poor people basically who are day labor had no work. They lead their life by the help of relief. Our father helped two families whole month by giving food.

For the dam, the water level was more than 600cm differences between the two sides. We took our shelter on the dam and the peoples who was inside laughed at us. I can remember clear that the water raised more than 200cm in a day. At that night, the dam was broken by the force of water and they did not get time to take themselves shelter. For this many people and cattle died. It took nearly one month to reduce the water from our areas.

In 1998, whole Bangladesh was affected by flood. I just have finished my higher education and lived on our local town. I had some experience about flood. But the town people had no experiences how to save themselves from flood. Many people took shelter on different schools and colleges who came form the different villages. My village homes went under water too. That time we had to take shelter on that dam too.

I think, it is not time to quarrel and not to show the excuse. Just help the flood affected people according to one’s capabilities. I had no desire to express my experiences. But the ‘Bangladesh Sanglapa’ bound me to describe it.

A sample video of flood affected area of Dhaka City

by taslima and animesh

In every Bangladeshi newspapers are forecasting the new of the flood affecting areas of Bangladesh. The low level area around of Dhaka city also affected by flood also. We know a little bit of them because we did not see the every area. By our shot visit we took some video of it. This area is not far from our working place. People are trying to protect themselves as they can.

Please see the youtube video;

A Tale of a Migrant Women in Bangladesh

Written By: Taslima Akter & M.G. Rabbany

Sheikh Rumana is a name of a woman who works hard who organized five thousand of migrant women but she is not aged, she is only about 31 years old. Now she is an Executive Director of “Bangladeshi Ovibasi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA)”. She is also Founder General Secretary of that Organization. We have taken her interview dated 25th July at her house at 8 pm at night. She replied every of our question gladly and gave description of her struggling life.


Sheikh Rumana was born at Nobabgonj thana under Dhaka district in 1976. Nobabgonj is situated very near to north Dhaka. She passed her child hood with her birth family. She has two elder sisters and one younger brother. Her father worked in the ship companies as a labor and mother was mere a housewife. But they are no more today. At her childhood their financial condition was not so good. After completing study up to class-10 she stopped her academic study.

Then she started her working life. In 1992, she joined in a garment factory as an operator. But she could work there only five months. After joining in that garment factory she observed that workers did not get their salary timely and they did not get their overtime money properly. Many garment workers (including her) did not receive their salary for several months. Garment workers started to agitate for their salary and overtime money. With some garment workers Sheikh Rumana also started to lead them. As a result Sheikh Rumana and some garment workers lost their job from that garment factories. In the meantime Sheikh Rumana became a member of BIGUF.


Then Sheikh Rumana thought she would not work in any garment factory in Bangladesh. She would go another country. One of her sister (cousin) worked in a garment factory in Malaysia. She herself communicated with a manpower broker agency which used to send garment workers to the Malaysia. She got visa for two years and she was contracted with a garment factory at Malaysia. She had to pay to that agency 45000 taka for her visa and to migrate there and she somehow collected that money by the help of her birth family. Before going to the Malaysia she and other garment workers were informed that they would receive 450 Rt (Malaysia’s Money) per month but after starting work she and other garment workers used to not receive any fixed money. They used to receive money on the basis of productions. Thus she could earn 250 to 300 Rt (Malaysian money) per month. She used to get food and accommodation facilities where she and other garment workers felt security at Malaysia. She and other garment workers were trained before starting work in Malaysia because machines and other equipments were not same. Their working hours were hold 8.30 am in the morning to 5.00 pm. She worked there for about six years four months. She returned in Bangladesh in 1998.

In the reply of differences of working environment between two countries as a woman worker she told that

Income: Bangladesh garment players pay very low salary to the garment workers. Garment workers receive so less salary that they can not go their life with their hard working income. But garment workers of Malaysia receive much salary. They can go on their life well with their income.

She also said that she observed from her several surveys that garment players of Bangladesh did not want to follow of govt. minimum salary rules which acquired garment workers with their long agitation.

Overtime money: Garment players of Bangladesh make the workers long time overtime work and it has no fixed hours and fixed money. Sometimes garment workers don’t get overtime money or receive less money. But in Malaysia garment workers receive double payment of overtime money and generally they can do two hours overtime work. In Bangladesh garment workers have to work at night shift but there is no night shift work in the garment factories at Malaysia.

Salary receiving: Garment workers in Malaysia receive their salaries in fixed time but Bangladesh garment workers don’t receive their salaries in time. Often we can see in The Daily Newspaper that garment workers are agitating for their due salaries.

She also said that the environment of garment factories in Malaysia and Bangladesh have much difference. Usually she did not find any difference between male and female garment workers at Malaysia but in Bangladesh women garment workers face many problems than male garment workers.

In the reply of when a woman worker faces problem/harass in the abroad or Malaysia, she told that the employer authority keeps passport and some other documents to them. It is a great problem to the worker as if a worker wants to work another where to earn more she/he can not go. Sometimes worker leaves his/her workplace but he/she can not take her passport and other documents, then she/ he faces serious problem. She or he harasses by the police and other people.

Sheikh Rumana returned in Bangladesh in 1998 after working there six years four months long. After coming in Bangladesh she started to meet with her old friend who worked with her in the garment factory of Bangladesh. She also kept communication with BIGUF where she involved when she worked in the factory of Bangladesh. In the meantime she took three months training at ALSC on workers right, relation with employers. After completing her training she also worked as a trainer in this organization. Then she and Lily Sheikh Rumana one of her friend organized migrant women and founded “Bangladeshi Ovibasi Mohila Sramik Association, (BOMSA)”. It was then 1999. She also worked in Bangladesh Legal Aid as part time. She also worked in several organizations’ research projects on garment workers and migrant women as research assistant. Like as, she worked (2003 to 2005) two years follow up longitudinal research project on garment workers under SIU-IUB research project as a field research project. Besides she works as an executive director of her organization.

She has vast knowledge on women’s life, women workers’ life, their violence etc. At the beginning time she faced many problems to collect members of her organization. She gave an example of her experience.

She expressed one of her salty experiences when she went to collect a member for her migrant association. One day she heard that a woman returned in Bangladesh who was harassed much in abroad. After reaching there she saw that she (migrant woman) was living in a hut with her mother in law. She faced problem when she wanted to meet with them. They thought that she (Sheikh Rumana) and Lily Sheikh Rumana were the members of brokers. In the meantime some more neighboring people came to see them. She and Lily were blockaded by them. Then she showed her identity card and introduced her. She also told them that she came to them to help them. Then they became calm quite. She informed that that woman was sent to the Jordan and she worked as a house maid. She worked 19th months to the 19th employers’ houses. But she did not receive any money in this long period. Besides she was harassed brutally and at last she was sent to the country cutting her hair. Sheikh Rumana wanted her passport but she told that she burnt her passport. Sheikh Rumana wanted to file a case but that woman was interested to file any case. Sheikh Rumana gave her some money and Sheikh Rumana also arranged a press conference.

In the reply of her future plan she told that she wants secure migration of all the women. She also told that at present 4 million Bangladeshi are working in abroad and among them only 6% people are women. Day by day the numbers of women workers are increasing. At the beginning time of her organization it was only 1% but now 6%. She wants everyone secure migration. She also told that she already visited more than 10 countries to participate in various seminars and met with migrant women.

At the end she was asked whether she will get married or not and experience of married life, she replied that she has enough experience of married life, conjugal conflict in our society and so she is care to get married. After all her relatives and guardians to get her married but still to date she did not find out such kind of person whom she likes. Probably she will get married if she finds out a suitable person whom she can trust.

A tale of struggled women of Bangladesh - 5

There are many residence based sex working spots in Dhaka city. Usually she knows many sex working spots and she has connection with many women brokers who run these spots. She looks beautiful than some other sex workers. She also wears nice and valuable dresses. She also has some permanent clients who are rich. So, she has much demand in this sector. Usually she collects clients through her cell phone. Almost everyday she receives much phone call from the clients. But she can not give time everyone and she also does not work too much in a day. In last 14th July she had sex with only three clients. There is not fixed amount in residence based sex working. It depends on sex worker, clients and brokers. Usually she works two ways. Sometimes she collects clients and she fixed money talking with clients. Sometimes brokers phone to her but her brokers knows that she does not take less than 1000 taka per program per clients. If she takes clients to any broker’s house she gives broker at least 500 taka. She also said that there are many sex workers who receive less than 500 taka per program. It depends on sex worker’s demands. She said that 13th July she passed with a client whole night at his house and next day she received 5000 taka.

At the end of her interview she said that after starting sex working profession she worked (2001) in a HIV/AIDS research survey project where was she was trained on HIV/Aids. After that she did not have sex with any client with out condom. She spoiled huge money earning from sex working profession but after returning from Dubai she started to save money and now she already saved more than 20 mission taka.

End

Beggars problem in Bangladesh

by Golam Rabbany

Beggars are found in the villages, in towns and cities. In a word, beggars are found begging every where in Bangladesh. Mainly they gather on Friday near the mosques in the towns, bus stand, railway stations, in front of markets, and in the traffic signals. Most of the beggars are unable bodied. Some are blind, and some are lame. Some boys and girls are also found begging in the streets. Those who are very poor, landless or helpless may beg but some able bodied beg being averse to work. During the rainy season poor people of rural areas come to Dhaka for begging alms. They lead very miserable life. At the bus stand, market place and in the traffic signals old beggars and beggar children stretch their hands for taka (money). They cause troubles.

Sometimes they cause accident. It is a great problem in Dhaka or in the Bangladesh.
Now a days they play many tricks to draw the attention of the people. Many falsehoods are being played by them. Many of them recite verses from the holy “The Quran” and some are found singing Islamic Gazal (song). While begging in the street some of them utter peculiar sound to draw the attention of the passers-by. Some of them carry testimonial of the local chairman or from any important person, or from the physicians to help them for the time being. Some beg for the treatment, some for the help of his daughter’s marriage. There are countless false tricks they apply. Children also take some tricks to beg. Sometimes they sell used/stale flowers during traffic signal, sometimes they beg in the park saying false story like as I have not take any food whole day, my step mother does not give me food etc. then they try to cry but few minutes later they laugh.

In some places some beggars are proved cheaters. Some able bodied are found pretending lame, blind or dump. Some healthy beggars pretend to be patients. Women beggars are mostly divorced or widow or bereaved of their husbands or parents.


A mosque, two gates near Nari Jibon office where were thirty six beggars Photo: One blind beggar going to beg to door to door by the help of his wife. They live in Khilgoan Railgate slum From a research on three husband beggars living at Modhupur thana in the district of Tangail it is known that all three hundred beggars are landless. Some of them may have the minimum land only for living or shelter but most of them live in other people’s home. Some of them live in the hut built by the road side. Some of them have their son or sons who are day laborers. Their sons’ also have a needy family. Their daughters generally work as maid servants from the childhood. Their daughters somehow get married by the help of employers or others with landless day laborers. The rural beggars are mostly above sixty. There is some interesting information in the beggars’ society which many of us don’t know. There are some rules to be involved in the beggars’ society or to be a professional beggar. Though there is no organized association of the beggars, they form unauthorized unity. Usually in the thana level or big bazaar area they have a fixed place where they meet hat day. There they can discuss their problem. They select one leader among them and they also select leaders (group leader) in the rural area. These leaders have religious knowledge than others. Under this leadership beggars must oblige some rules such as they beg alms in an area or in a village on the fixed day. None can beg after lunch time or Zohar namaz. None of them can violet the rule. Before starting begging beggar one must seek permission from the villagers. Having permission one has to take oath from the group leader. Group leader give him a stick of bamboo or wood and a begging bag. If a person involve in begging profession he could not quit the begging profession ever. Whole life he will continue begging and most of the time he will pray and obey the religious rules. He will pass his whole life in the way of religion. New beggar will invite some old beggars at the starting time. Beggars can not engage in any profitable business or income generating activities. They have a proverb that if any person fall in serious sick and then if he sacrifice his life in begging profession, Allah will recover him. We found some able bodied beggars who sacrificed his life in begging profession. One may beg alone or many in a group. But we have found some beggars who violet their rules. In the rural area have some beggars who are not professional they come seasonally facing serious problem for a while. In the village if you need some more beggars for a big function you need to inform only one beggar or rural beggars’ leader then they will collect how much you need.


Income source of beggars: I
n the Muslim society, there are some Islamic or religious values that encourage the people to give alms to the beggars. Those are as follows; “if a beggar comes to beg on horse back he should not be avoided.” The Muslims offer their food grains to the beggars at first before eating the new food of the new seasons. The Muslims offer money or rice to the beggars for the purpose of gaining good benefit of his business. The Muslims also offer new fruits of new trees to the beggars. After the death of any relative the Muslims entertain beggars to get blessings from Allah. The Muslims try to get the good wishes of Allah by helping the beggar. They give away sadga, fitra and jakat to the beggars.
(Sadga means one man one day food where are 1kg rice, slight salt and something like curry, many families in the villages offer sadga every week).
Some time people in the village or towns promise in mind to give money to the beggars if he/she faces any serious problem or diseases or danger to be recovered. On the basis of the religious faith the Muslims feed the beggars to their heart’s content in any Islamic festival. For the purpose of any bigger function they invite them through the group leader. The beggars of rural areas gather in the market day. In towns they are mostly found in the bus stand, railway station, or in the launch ghat where there is crowd of people.

There is no unity in the beggar women. They do not get Sadga or any kind of beg offering. Usually they don’t follow beggars’ rules. They can go far from their dwelling place. But they attend the bigger festival or function with the help of the women of that house. Besides, beggar women work as messengers of the village women to carry massage to their relatives. They don’t receive as much beg as the male beggars receive.


The male beggars are called Fakir and the female beggars are called Fakirnee. This is the real picture of the beggars of Bangladesh.

The Crow: A Familiar Bird of Bangladesh

By Tahmina Akter
ID - 552

I am Tahmina Akter. We know about many birds. Among these birds I have tried to write something about the crow. The crow is a familiar and common bird of Bangladesh. It is very black and ugly to look at. The crow has two wings and a small head with two bright eyes. Its’ nails are very sharp. Its’ body is covered with black feathers. There are many kinds of crows. The Reaven is the biggest of all. We can see the white crows in Australia. Crows are found to all over the world. Crows live on fish and flesh. It eats almost every thing. The crow is a very nasty bird. It is always restless. It disturbs us all time and all day. It is a very clever bird. It steals eggs; fish, food from our house. It builds its’ nest on a tall tree and strong pipe to lay its eggs. The crow has strong fellow feelings. But its voice is very harsh. They scream all the time. That’s why people do not like crows. The crows live near the house of people.
Crows do some good things for us also. It eats dead animals and dirty things. They help us to keep our environment clean.

A Village, Besides the River Meghna

by Taufiqa Farzana

ID # 617

Hello, I am a student of Honors. I would like to share about my village to all the readers. May be it is not a well-known village to all. But I think my village is the best village in the world. I was born in my village. That’s why I will write something about my village.

My Village name is Baloakandii. Thana – Gojaria, District-- Munshigonj. It is situated at the side of Meghna River. Our village is very beautiful. About ten thousand people live here. Most of them are Muslim. There are many kinds of people live in my village. Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christians and other religious people live here. They are very simple and honest. They want to live in peace and harmony. They share others sorrows and sufferings. The main occupation of the villagers is agriculture. There are also some people of other occupation. Some people are educated. Some people are teacher, officers and some people whisk in the filed. There are three primary schools, three mosques, and two madrashas, three muktabs and two colleges in our village. There is also a park in our village. There is much tabulation in our village. Our communication is very good. There is a post office and market place in the village. There is also a hospital. Every house has a garden. All house wives are active in their work and careful for their children. All children go to primary school, high school and college. They can also play in the school field. There are many trees, ponds in our Village. There are many tub-wells in every house. There is also sanitary latrine in every house. We have electricity in every house. Our village is an ideal Village. I love my village very much. I am proud to born here. I love my Village very much.

In South East Asia Bangladesh is one of the few countries that remains to be explored

Written by: Mohtarimun Nahar [Bipa]

Hello readers, I would like to write something about our Bangladesh. Because all know that Bangladesh is a poor country and also known as a corrupted country. But Bangladesh has natural beauties too. So, I will try to write on some Bangladeshi places and their natural beauties. If I do any mistakes and can’t express my feelings then I hope and pray that you will consider me as a new writer. I will keep writing on many Bangladeshi places. Now I am trying to introduce Our Golden Bangladesh.

In South East Asia Bangladesh is one of the few countries that remains to be explored,. It has a delicate and distinctive attraction of its own to offer and it is definitively not a tourist haunt like Nepal or India, It is like a Painter’s dreg come true with a rich tapestry of colors and texture. The traditional emphasis of the tourist trade has arrayed been on the material facilities offered by a country rather than on its actual charms. This may be a reason. Why Bangladesh has seldom been highlighted in the world’s tourist maps.

In reality, Bangladesh made up not entirely made up reality, Bangladesh is not entirely made up of dirty slums and starving children, as the world has been taught to perceive. It has many unique features to offer. The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and the natural habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger. Lush green lands cope interspersed by a network of vast rivers, the longest natural beach in the world, the history and culture of the land, possibly the most complex ethnic mixture in history, hospital propel -------all these and many more will contribute richly to your experience as a tourist .

The facilities offered are really not as poor as often pictured by the media. We have five star hotels in big cities, clean and comfortable accommodation in practically all towns on tourist traffic routes. A wide Tran’s potation network of air, rail, road and waterways connects all places conveniently. Being of the crossroads of South East Asian Traffic, Dhaka the Capital is easily an accessible from any crones of the globe.

If you are planning a trip to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mayanmar, Thailand, or Singapore; then please come & visit this beautiful country with very little extra effort or means.

A tale of struggled women of Bangladesh - 4

written by Golam Rabbani Sujon

In 2002, she became very close with a police surgeon who wanted to get married her. They became very close and she trusted him very much but at the end he refused to get married her. She spent enough time and money. She shocked and suffered long days. On the other hand she was not satisfied with her present profession. The family members of her birth family and other relatives did not like her. At the beginning time her guardians tried to stop her way but then she did not obey their words. She tried to avoid her guardians and relatives but now family members don’t want to keep her with them. She was not feeling well to continue her present profession. Being much fasted she was thinking to any how she would stop her profession. In the meantime one of her relative offered her to go to the abroad and he also told her that he would help her to go to the abroad. Her relative wanted 12000 taka for sending Dubai. Beauty collected some money from her savings and she took some money from her mother. Her relative told that she would get two years free visa. So she could do any job in Dubai. Her relative also told that at Dubai he had a friend who would receive her and he might get married her if she would like him. Beauty went to Dubai in the middle of 2004. After going to Dubai Beauty started to live with that guy. She was unemployed few days and then she took a job in a beauty parlor. Once she also worked as a cleaner in the hope of earning some more money. But she was in problem with that guy as he did not want to get married but he was living with her without any marital tie. He did not harass her but he did not to leave her. Then Beauty thought that any how she would earn much money and she would run business in Bangladesh with that money. She also wanted to stay there several years to make cash. But day by day that guy became rude to her. He did not like her to work which time he stayed at home. He enjoyed her whole night and at the end he offered her to sex with some of her friends. Then Beauty tried to take shelter another where. At last she took decision that she would leave that country. After living only one year she returned to Bangladesh. In the meantime she sent 70,000 taka to her mother and she was able take 20,000 taka when she returned in Bangladesh. She said that at the end she thought that it would be better to continue sex work at native country as she had to sex randomly at foreign country.

After returning in Bangladesh several weeks she did not continue sex working profession. Then she started to live with her birth family. But few weeks later she again started to move to and fro again. Then again she started to continue her old profession which she could not continue living with her birth family. Then she took shelter to a woman who was her known before. She started to live with her as a paying guest. That woman was aware about her profession. She also got scope to work in an NGO as a field worker. She worked there for about five months. She used to continue her sex working profession. Now she is running her profession randomly.

A tale of struggled women of Bangladesh - 3

After leaving her house she took shelter to her cousin’s husband’s family. There was a small river to go to her cousin’s husband’s house. But the financial condition was not well. Beauty used to help her cousin financially selling her ornaments and other things which she bought for her marriage. There was a garment worker who lived near her cousin’s house. That garment worker advised her to work in the garment factory. She also thought that she needs to pass and earning some money. Then she joined in a garment factory which was situated at Narayangonj. She joined there as a helper and her salary was held below 1000 taka per month. She had to use a boat as transportation to cross the river. She could not work in this garment factory one month too. One day she introduced with a girl who was passing the river in same boat. She also lived in same area where Beauty used to live. Beauty informed that she was doing a good job and she received a handsome salary. Beauty talked with that girl in the boat and they became close. Next day Beauty also met with her and made a good relation with her. Beauty also proposed her to give a job with handsome salary. The name of that girl was Sultana and she was about 25 years old. Beauty stopped going to the garment factory. Next day Beauty met with Sultana and they both went to the Narayangonj. Sultana took her several houses and office but Beauty could not understand her profession. Sometimes Sultana went to several houses alone for the time being and Beauty had to wait for her. Beauty understood that Sultana had good relation with many young men. Sometimes Sultana introduced her with some young men as her cousin. Sultana and her friends (young men) often offered her good food like snacks, cold drinks etc. they had also took lunch in restaurant which was costly. Whole day Beauty passed with her and enjoyed rickshaw journey. Beauty asked her about her job when they were returning home. Sultana replied that next day she would take her in an office. Next day Beauty also went to her and they both went to the Narayangonj. They passed most of the time in the district court area and Sultana met with some guys. In the meantime she introduced with her with a young pretty boy. Sultana went alone to some where keeping her with that boy. After office period they went to a house where they took rich evening breakfast. They also took bear (wine) and offered Beauty. Then Sultana told to Beauty about her profession, income and working process and she also told her she could do if she wishes. Beauty also took Bear (wine). After completing Sultana’s works and breakfast she wanted to return home but Beauty did not want to return from that house as she became agreed to pass that night with that pretty boy due to earning money. So, Sultana went to her house but Beauty passed night in that house. Whole night they enjoyed. In the morning that pretty boy gave her 5000 taka and Beauty returned her house. From that day Beauty started to work as a residence based sex worker. Beauty also started to work coming to Dhaka with Sultana. Beauty also started to pass night in the workplace. Though she was spending money at her cousin’s family, they did not behave with her well. They did not want to keep Beauty with them. They doubted Beauty as bad girl. In the meantime Beauty became introduced with many sex workers and clients. Then Beauty started to live with a woman at Mohammadpur, Dhaka. One of her client helped her to live here. That client was a Union Council Chairman (Public representative of local govt. elected) who lived at Pabna District. Sometimes he used to come at Dhaka and lived with Beauty. That chairman also used to give Beauty’s house rent and some extra money for her personal expenditure. He used to want Beauty to stop sex working profession. Beauty said that he spent a lot of money for her. But Beauty used to continue her profession when he did not stay in Dhaka. That chairman used to come in Dhaka in every one or two months and he lived in Dhaka one or two days.

A tale of struggled women of Bangladesh- 2

After previous >>

Beauty was passing her life happily with her study and dance program. Then an incident happened in her life which changed her life. A local young mastan (muscle man) was living same lane of their house who wanted to get marry her and he tried to make a relation with Beauty but Beauty used to avoid him and she refused to make relation with him. He was local terror and some police cases were filed against him. One day one of her friend (with whom she learned dancing) and her elder brother came to visit her house. When they were leaving Beauty’s house that mastan insulted them. But Beauty informed that her friend and her elder brother were beating and kept in a house. Hearing that news Beauty went that mastan and that man took Beauty in a house where was none. That man raped Beauty forcefully. Many people were informed that incident in her locality and some local alert persons proposed Beauty’s guardians and that mastan’s guardians to give them in marriage. At the beginning time Beauty was not agreed but later she became agreed to get married him. But Beauty’s maternal uncles were not agreed with that marriage and they wanted to give in marriage to another where. For this purpose Beauty was sent to Narayangonja to one of her maternal aunt’s house. There she was shown to many bridal parties due to give her in marriage. At last her guardians finally selected a boy her marriage. But she did not like that boy. Already her guardians and aunt started buying marriage equipments (sharee, ornaments and some other things). Before two days ago of her marriage she left away her aunt’s house with her purchasing things for her marriage. Then she went to one of her maternal cousin’s home who also lived in Narayangonja which was situated beside Narayangonj city.
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written by Golam Rabbani Sujon