weekend tribune vol 3 issue 34

vol 3 Issue 34 | FRIDAY, DeCeMBeR 18, 2015 Dhaka Tribune

6 TReseMMe KhADI FesTIvAl 8 InTeRnATIonAl

MIgRAnTs DAY 20 The Bong MoMMA

WEEKEN D TRI BU N E | FRI DAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

1CONTENTS

Volume 3 | Issue 34 | Dec 18, 2015

EditorZafar Sobhan

Features EditorSabrina Fatma Ahmad

Asst Magazine EditorFarina Noireet

Weekend Tribune TeamSaudia Afrin

Moumita AhmedN Anita AmreenFaisal MahmudSakib MridhaSaqib Sarker

Syeda Samira SadequeShuprova Tasneem

ContributorsImtiaz AhmedMinu Ahmed

Jennifer Ashraf KashmiSifat Mosaddek Bhuiyan

Dina Sobhan

GraphicsMd Mahbub AlamAlamgir HossainTahsin Momin

Colour SpecialistShekhar Mondal

AdvertisementShahin Ahsan

ProductionMasum Billah

CirculationMasud Kabir Pavel

Websitedhakatribune.com/weekendfacebook.com/WeekendTrib

Email your letters to:[email protected]

Editor’s note About the coverDear Readers,This week we bring you a goodie bag of readable lifestyle treats, and there’s something for everyone.

For the fashionistas, we have our regular men’s fashion column, a colourful wrap up of last week’s Khadi Festival, and, keeping in mind that we’re smack in the middle of wedding season, a trend report on the season’s finest jewellery.

With Christmas right around the corner, we bring you some mouthwatering dessert recipes for the foodies.

Winter brings a sense of

nostalgia, and our photo story on the winter harvest is all about that back to the earth feeling.

Travel to Kathmandu with us for a teatime chat with a social worker who turned a personal mishap into a mission of change. Or, stay at home to unlock a day in the life of a chabiwallah.

Finally, the Bong Momma offers great gift tips for anyone buying for new parents.

Here’s wishing you a cozy, relaxed week

-Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

News 2 News

3 Meanwhile

FeatuRes 4 Men’s Fashion

Dress shirts

5 Women’s Fashion Wedding Jewellery

6 Event

TRESemme Khadi Festival

8 Tea With DT

International Migrants Day

14 A Day In The Life Of

A Locksmith

RegulaRs16 Legalese

17 Drama Mama

18 Stay In

19 Go Out

20 The Bong Momma

PhOTO STOry WInTER’S HARvEST

12

9

On the coverPhoto: Rajib Dhar

Outfit: Emdad Hoque Model: Jannatul Ferdoush Peya

FOOD CHRISTMAS SpECIAL


2 NEWS | This week

India’s top court slaps ban on new diesel cars in capital

India’s top court last week imposed a temporary ban on new diesel-guzzling SUVs and other luxury cars in New Delhi in an attempt to clean up the world’s most polluted capital.

The Supreme Court also barred diesel trucks older than 10 years from entering the city, one of a string of orders handed down to tackle smog-shrouded Delhi.

Chief Justice T S Thakur ordered the ban on registration of new diesel vehicles with engines over 2000cc,

typical of SUVs, jeeps and large cars made by BMW, Toyota and others.

The courts are pushing authorities to act over Delhi’s toxic air, ranked as the worst in the world in a World Health Organization survey last year of more than 1,600 cities.

The ban on new diesel car registration would last until March 31.Photo: AP

Russia, US clear way for Syria meeting after Kerry Moscow talksRussia and the United States see enough common ground on Syria for world powers to meet on the troubled country’s peace process in New York on Friday, but views on the future of President Bashar-al Assad still diverge.

Secretary of State John Kerry went into meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week not knowing whether Moscow would veto a third round of international talks on Syria last Friday after the Kremlin spoke of preconditions needing to be met.

But speaking afterwards, he said the talks would definitely take

place after the two countries agreed to try to accelerate the peace process and a potential political transition.

“We will meet this Friday, December 18th, in New York with the International Syrian Support Group and then we will pass a UN resolution regarding the next steps with respect to negotiations and hopefully a ceasefire,” said Kerry.

He said the two sides had found some common ground, while agreeing to put their differences to one side for now.

Lavrov confirmed Russia now backed the meeting. Photo: AFP

North Korea’s Supreme Court sentenced a Canadian pastor to life in prison with hard labor on Wednesday for what it called crimes against the state.

Hyeon Soo Lim, who pastors the Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Toronto, was given the sentence after a 90-minute trial. He had been in detention since February.

Lim entered and left the court in handcuffs flanked by two public security officers in uniform. The handcuffs were removed in court during the trial. He kept his head bowed most of the time and answered questions in a subdued tone.

The crimes he was charged with included harming the dignity of the supreme leadership, trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system, disseminating negative propaganda about the North to the overseas Koreans, and helping the US and the South Korean authorities

lure and abduct North Korean citizens, along with aiding their programs to assist defectors from the North.

State prosecutors sought the death penalty.

Lim’s lawyer asked the court to take into account the fact that Lim is a fellow Korean and that he had frankly confessed to everything the prosecution had brought up. Lim pleaded to be given a chance and said if the court gave him a chance he would not do anything bad again.Photo: Reuters

The government has started the biometric

SIM registration process, having overcome difficulties through trial and errors during piloting.

Tarana Halim, state minister for Post and Telecommunications, inaugurated the new SIM registration process around 11am Wednesday, one-and-a-half months after Sajeeb Wazed Joy, ICT adviser to the prime minister, inaugurated its trial run in October.

The pilot project, however, kicked off across the country on November 1 despite the mobile operators faced difficulties during the trial and run of the project.

After meeting with all mobile operator CEOs on September 10, Tarana Halim issued directives to all mobile phone operators to start the process of SIM re-registration from September 13.

The state minister added that users would get three months time to re-register their SIM cards, after which all unregistered SIMs would be blocked.

She said the Telecommunications Division is monitoring the update of the SIM registration process every day.

Being the second country, Bangladesh has initiated to introduce the human body-based identifying system to curb crimes using mobile phone.

All biometric SIM registration processes must be completed by March next year, or else, mobile operators have to face a US$50 penalty against each unverified SIM, an official of BTRC told the Dhaka Tribune.

According to the latest BTRC statistics, there are 13.14 crore active mobile phone subscribers in Bangladesh.Source: Dhaka Tribune

Biometric SIM registration begins

N Korea sentences Canadian pastor to life in prison

The world at a glanceWeekend Tribune

Desk


. . . MEANWhILE 3

Photo of the week

Say what?

Comilla Victorians celebrating their big win at the BPL finals.Photo: Mainoor Islam Manik

US town rejects solar panels amid fears they ‘suck up all the energy from the sun’A US town has rejected a proposal for a solar farm following public concerns.

Members of the public in Woodland, North Carolina, expressed their fear and mistrust at the proposal to allow Strata Solar Company to build a solar farm off Highway 258.

During the Woodland Town Council meeting, one local man, Bobby Mann, said solar farms would suck up all the energy from the sun and businesses would not go to Woodland, the Roanoke-Chowan News Herald reported.

Jane Mann, a retired science teacher, said she was concerned the panels would prevent plants in the area from photosynthesising, stopping them from growing. Ms Mann said she had seen areas near solar panels where plants are brown and dead because they did not get enough sunlight.

She also questioned the high number of cancer deaths in the area, saying no one could tell her solar panels didn’t cause cancer. The area around Woodland is a popular choice because it has an electrical substation allowing the panels to be hooked up to the national grid.

A spokesperson for Strata told the meeting: “There are no negative impacts. A solar farm is a wonderful use for a property like this.”

They added: “The panels don’t draw additional sunlight.”The council voted three to one against rezoning the land and later voted for a moratorium on future solar farms.Source: The Independent


4 MEN’S FAShION | Dress shirTs

There should never be any confusion to how many white dress shirts a man should have. It’s a staple,

your wardrobe should have several white dress shirts in different collars and cuffs. On the other hand, we have ourselves a more sophisticated, classy, and even mysterious black dress shirt. The other end of the spectrum will give you a completely different vibe.

Schuester vestMany of you might not know the signature look of one Will Schuester on the hit TV show Glee. For those who don’t, a sweater vest is a subtle testing ground for the black dress shirt. You can always go the safe route in the traditional shirt and tie combo, but it’s the season to be jolly, and stylish. To make a statement, aim for an argyle sweater vest or anything in a similar pattern.

Black on blackYou will never fail in an all black outfit. There’s no secret as one black item goes wonderfully with another black number. And since it’s winter, we’re taking about a dress shirt, tie, sweater, jeans and even a leather jacket all in black. Layering shouldn’t be a problem, and having an all black casual to semi-formal outfit takes your sophistication quotient to another level. In order to avoid the uniform look however, you highlight certain details. For example, your black denim should look a little washed out or sport different textures in your clothing to not look one dimensional.

Men in blackAn all black suit should be the obvious of the lot. But we’re not talking about just the suit or the black dress shirt itself. There’s the tie, maybe the tie bar, the belt, socks, shoes, you get the idea. Don’t forget the underwear. This is where you get the thumbs up for the uniform look. There is no room for mistakes in an all black suit. Your suit should be tailored to hug your body like the way it is meant to be. The idea here is to look sharp and classy. The same can go for the slim lapels and slim tie. Although, if you fancy wider lapels and ties, there is no crime in that. You’ll just miss out on the sexy, sharp edgiest and silhouettes.

Black soloEven without the suit, tie, or any other added layer, the black dress shirt is fine all by itself. Combine that with tailored black trousers and you are good to go. But just like the all-black suit, it is crucial that the shirt is a perfect fit. As we have always recommended, get your shirts and trousers made by trusted and established tailors of fine quality. We all know that black can give you a slimming effect, so get yourself a vintage (or something in similar effect) wristwatch and an understated dress belt to complete the look.There are advantages and even disadvantages to a black dress shirt. If you keep things fitted like you’re supposed to, and tuck your shirt in once in a while, a black dress shirt can be your new best friend. And just like its white sibling, stack up on black dress shirts while you’re at it. n

Blacker the betterHere are a few stylish ways to wear a black dress shirtMahmood Hossain

Photo: Bigstock


weDDing jewellery | WOMEN’S FAShION 5

The wedding season is currently in full swing. Couples across town who’ll be tying the knot

this season are gearing up to look their best on their special day. This is one occasion where they are the centre of all the attention. Nowadays, almost an entire year can go by in the planning of a typical urban wedding. The outfit is a major concern of the bride and groom to-be. In the highly stylish urban culture of today’s Bangladesh, remaining on top of your game in this particular department can be a daunting task, demanding precision in planning.

Avi Roy, Sales Director at Jarwa House, shares a few insights into the world of wedding jewellery and talks about what’s in style this season.

If you are a bride to-be, you must make sure that you have polki chokers and matching sitahars

readied so that on the day, the guests have eyes set only on you. Accompanying these, dazzle them with navratna sets or gold necklaces that would give you a commanding presence. For a traditional bridal look, the shitipati is a timeless classic.

Make sure you have stocked the right rings to decorate your fingers, bangles and ratanchurs to delight your hands, and tikli to add flare to your face. Did we forget jhapta? Add that to your list, and you have the complete look of a bride ready to set the stage on fire.

Now if you are a groom to-be, don’t get bored. If you have read this far, you’ll surely impress your better half with the wisdom you’ve gained so far. Show her how much you care by sharing your know how. Accompany her to the jewellers, and why not give her a surprise by buying her one of these?

Of course, with your lady by your side, we know you want to be at your very best as well to show the world that she indeed belongs with you. Roy suggests some essentials that will help you look your best. To start, buy the right turban that suits your facial structure. Add the right kalgi to it and you are the prince that she knows she wants by her side. For your sherwani, don’t miss a good pair of cufflinks. You should also add complimentary diamond or polki buttons to your sherwani to give it a grandness it deserves. Finally, make sure to carry a wristlet for a suave finish.

Jarwa House, one of the leading jewellery houses in the country, offers customised design options and provides extensive advice from an experienced league of jewellers to help you select the perfect design for you. n

Photos: Courtesy

The Bling ThingJewellery trends for the wedding seasonSifat Mosaddek Bhuiyan


6 EvENT | Tresemme khaDi fesTival

Khadi in a new lightKhan N Moushumi

Eighteen local designers and six from India descended on the catwalks last

Friday, to display just how far the handspun revolution of the 1920’s has come. Organised by the Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB), the two day-long TRESemme Khadi Festival inaugurated on December 11 at Radisson Blu Water Garden, concluded on December 12.

Chief guest of the festival Cultural Minister Asaduzzaman Noor applauded the council at the inauguration, saying, “Khadi was needed to be revived, it was long due. It stands for freedom and FDCB deserves praise for taking this

Haute and handspun

A high-low hemline and wrap and belted features makes this minimalist dress anything but boring

The lettered tunic has a sleek cutaway to reveal a simple and elegant evening dress on this high-low number

Traditional shokh er hari is bursting with colour, and this bright and detailed outfit captures the art form perfectly

Sheer fabrics in the colours of the horizon, a long shrug with swing-coat inspired collar, this ensemble is an easy transition from work to play

Cutwork details inspired by traditional “kagoj kata” (paper cutting) lend a local touch to this evening dress


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With printed layers and a cascading hemline, this short kameez is perfect for work and parties alike

A crop-top in the front, a long kameez at the back, this haute number is a conversation opener for sure

Ruffles on the sleeveless blouse and along the anchal of this sari makes it perfect for parties

Heavy gold work on this black long kameez proves that khadi can hold its own at formal events

The Middle Eastern aesthetics and the stunning black and gold theme make this modest ensemble an elegant formal evening option

A simple belted shift is given a visual pop with the peekaboo printed hemline. A cascading short-sleeved kimono completes the outfit

initiative to bring khadi back to life.”The designers experimented

with colour blocks, layers, pleats and frills, all on khadi, to put together a fashion representation that was nothing short of spectacular. There was a lot of three dimensional representation in cuts and designs, adding a very contemporary, chic twist to this age-old, homegrown fabric just to remind us how something as simple as khadi can be transitioned into something so beautiful and elegant.

Designs of shondesh, shokher hari, haath pakha, shitol pati and alpona amongst other traditional elements were used as motif inspiration by the participating designers.

In her inaugural speech, emphasising on the importance to revive and stick to the long lost heritage, designer and FDCB president Maheen Khan clarifies that “Khadi fabric for daily use could be one way to counter the homogenising culture of globalisation.” She promises that FDCB will continue to support and fight for communities of creative

skilled artisans.The exhibition which was open

for all, had an array of exclusive masterpieces on display, created by the participating designers.

Describing the usefulness of this handspun fabric, designer and executive member of the council Maria Sultana Mumu told the Dhaka Tribune that it is a common misconception that khadi is a heavy material, there are varieties of the material and depending on the count, lighter ones aren’t hard to find.

Designer Riffat Reza Raka urges everyone to use local material in order to revive tantshilpo, modernise the industry and provide a platform for local fabrics such as khadi to represent our culture globally.

The title sponsor of the festival was TRESemme – the premium hair care brand of Unilever Bangladesh Limited, and co-sponsors included the City Bank Limited, Green Delta Insurance, Bengal Group Limited, Square Toiletries Limited and Sailor. Media Partner of the event was Maasranga Television.


8 TEA WITh WT | inTernaTional migranTs Day

Two years after quitting her job as a schoolteacher, Bijaya Sreshtha sat in handcuffs in a land where she didn’t

speak the language, didn’t know too many people – a land she didn’t consider home.

This was in 1998. Bijaya, who hails from the Sunsari District in eastern Nepal, was a migrant worker in western Japan before being deported for being an undocumented worker.

Her journey began in 1996 when she quit her teaching job to assist her husband in Japan, where he had already been working for four years.

“I went to visit my husband who was working there as an undocumented worker,” she tells me as we sit down at a café overlooking the rest of Kathmandu.

“But after going there, I realised that you could make 100x more money there, so I stayed back to assist him.”

Bijaya’s story is not an isolated one – neither in Nepal, nor in South Asia as a whole. Every year, thousands of migrant workers from South Asia migrate, mainly to the Gulf region, to work in squalid conditions and long hours – for earnings that their home countries cannot provide. Moreover, there has been a rise of female migrant workers from this region. Between 2012 and 2014, number of Bangladeshi female migrants had almost doubled from 37,304 to 76,007 in 2014.

While migrant work has its threats and challenges – especially in the informal sector, female migrant workers face graver harm due to gender-discrimination.

“Migrant women workers are in danger of getting exposed to confiscation of travel documents, withholding and nonpayment of salary or salary reduction, harsh working conditions, lack of freedom of movement and communication, etc. in certain countries,” reads a report by International Labour Organization (ILO) from 2014.

As we sit down for a chat at a café

uphill in Kathmandu, Bijaya casts a glance over the city. Today, close to two decades since she returned home, Bijaya’s life turned around. Today, she is one of the seven founding members of Pourakhi, a non-profit that works for the rights of migrant women’s workers in Nepal. Today, she stands as a beacon of hope for many other migrant workers.

But it’s been a long journey.

Bijaya’s trail When they were living in Nepal, Bijaya, who had a Bachelors in Science degree, was a schoolteacher and her husband had his own business. But it wasn’t enough.

“We had big dreams to educate our children in good schools and the money we were earning wasn’t enough to do that,” she tells me. “Of course everybody has a dream of their own home and education etc, but the money we earned was too little.”

But when she eventually decided to move to Japan to work as an undocumented worker, despite the risks it involved, she felt that her life fell apart.

“It was so hard, I was torn between two worlds,” she says, adding that she had to admit her two sons – then six and eight years old – to a boarding school in India before she moved.

It was also a difficult transition to go from being a science teacher to an undocumented factory worker.

“I had never done factory work as a laborer. As a teacher I had never had that kind of experience,” she says. “Even when my boss there asked me if I have

Dreams in transitHow one nepali schoolteacher went on to become an undocumented worker – and then an activist for female migrant workersSyeda Samira Sadeque

experience with machine, I said I would just try.”

Bijaya got lucky because her husband had already made contacts there. But many other migrant workers aren’t as lucky – either with their job or with their personal lives there.

Bijaya recalls stories of other migrant workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Iran who settle down with Japanese women in exchange for citizenship. There are also stories of many who have transient partners while living there.

“The men said it was for companionship; the women said it was for security. So there’s nothing you could say to them,” Bijaya says.

In her two years there, Bijaya built a home around the community of Nepali migrants.

“The Nepali people missed their food, so I’d cook for them every Sunday,” says Bijaya, recalling the good times.

“They’d come with groceries and gifts, and they would wash the dishes and clean my kitchen for me – so it was done in sharing as an exchange of services. We enjoyed a lot.”

Returning homeBut that didn’t last too long. Two years after she moved to Japan to begin working as a factory worker for Yamaha, her house was raided by the police.

Bijaya, along with her husband and a few other workers, were taken to the police station.

“I had never experienced something like this. I cried so much,” she says. “We were not criminals. We were undocumented workers but we were still contributing to the economy, that too for cheap labour.”

Part of this grievance stems from the latent support that host countries provide to migrant workers. These workers – undocumented or not – migrate to these countries because there is a demand for the cheap labour. Migrant work exists on an imbalanced plane wherein host countries reap benefits of cheap labour, while it is the migrant workers who face the challenges, threats, and handcuffs.

But the existence of this demand for labour in host countries indicates that the governments of these countries must comply and cooperate with migrant workers. Often, migrant work is deemed to be a necessity on the workers’ part – but it is important to acknowledge that if host countries, for decades, continue to employ migrant workers, then they, too, have an equal

role to play. Yet, Bijaya and her husband were

made to return to Nepal. They both remained unemployed for a while because the work – conditions and pay – offered at home were not up to the mark, compared to what they’d experienced in Japan.

And then, in 2002, she was approached to start Pourakhi.

The last transit A local activist, Sharu Joshi Srestha, who used to work for United Nations (UN) Women, knew of Bijaya’s story from a common friend.

When she approached Bijaya to start working for the rights of migrant workers, at first Bijaya refused.

“I didn’t like the tag and reputation of NGOs,” says Bijaya. “But then she invited me to set a different example. And I agreed.”

Once Bijaya started attending events and conferences on migrant workers’ rights, she noticed the tainted picture of migrant workers – especially females – that the government portrayed.

“This got me very angry. Something inside me started boiling. I realized we need to start working for the female migrant workers.

“If I, a returnee migrant worker, who’s been in the field, wasn’t going to speak up for their rights, then who would?” she says. “So I told myself I had to initiate this.”

Thirteen years on, Pourakhi has about 1,000 members and operates in more than 15 districts in Nepal.

They work to unite returnee female migrant workers under one umbrella. They also do advocacy – from the community, district, national and international level, attend global forums on migration development. They also hold orientation and information sessions to educate women before they leave.

“If a woman wants to migrate, then it’s her right,” says Bijaya. “It’s her choice. But we want them to be fully equipped to know the language, the skill, and to be educated enough so she can migrate. We want migrant workers to enjoy all her rights.”

As we wrap up our conversation, Bijaya stands up. She is headed to a conference on migrant workers being held in Kathmandu, where she is now a known face for her work in the field. Today, she stands as a wonderful collage – with bits of a teacher, a migrant worker, and a mentor – that other Nepali women look up to. And this time, it’s not in transit. This time, she’s here to stay. n

Bijaya Sreshtha in a talk at a Human Rights Council


winTer’s harvesT | PhOTO STOry 9

Photos: Imtiaz Ahmed

The smell of golden harvestThe season of harvest is a cause for celebration for many in rural Bangladesh, whose lives depend on agriculture.

This weeks photo story follows a day in the life of one such Bangladesh – Akkas Ali, an ultra-poor farmer from Shibpur of Mymensingh Fulbaria upazila. At the age of 70, Akkas still has to be up by first light and trudge to the field, where he labours all day under the sun, in the attempt to make a meagre sum to feed his family. It also captures moments from the lives of women like Rahima and Ramisa, who have started working in the fields alongside the men in the house, in order to earn some more money.


10 PhOTO STOry | winTer’s harvesT


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12 FOOD | ChrisTmas speCial

Apoorva Kunte

‘Tis the season to be jolly!

Photos: The Westin, Dhaka

December has rolled in, with the month quickly moving towards the holiday season. With winter chills coming in full swing, we can’t help but feel the need to fill our homes with the sweet smell of freshly baked cakes. Nothing drives in the Christmas feels as well as the tried and true Christmas favourite – fruit cake. You can halve it, share it or serve it every other evening with friends and family, but you can’t really skip this season without getting your fill. For those of you feeling particularly adventurous, I have lined up an easy strawberry crepe and nutella recipe. It combines the soft warmth of crepe and nutella with the slight tang of strawberries. Read on to find out two easy recipes you can whip up this season to make your Christmas meal extra merry!

Christmas Fruit CakeIngredientsBaking powder, 3gms Cake flour, 250gms Butter, 250gms Castor sugar(fine sugar), 250gms Custard powder, 25gms Vanilla powder/essence 5gms Macerated dry fruits, chopped, 250gms

For “maceration mix”Orange juice, 100mlGrape juice, 200mlStar anise, 5gmsCinnamon stick, 5gms

DirectionsFor maceration mix:1. Put all ingredients together in

a pan and bring to a boil.

2. Once the mix reaches a boil, turn the heat off.

3. Remove the star anise and cinnamon from the liquid.

4. Add the dry fruits to the liquid and allow it to soak overnight.

5. In the morning strain the dry fruits using a strainer, and allow them to stand in the strainer at least an hour before preparing the cake.

6. Don’t throw the maceration liquid away.

For cake:1. Cream the butter, castor sugar

and vanilla powder.2. Add egg one after another and

whip.3. In a mixing bowl bring

together all soaked and strained dry fruits.

4. Fold the egg and butter mixture, mix with the dry fruits and custard powder.

5. Line a cake tin and pour the batter into the cake mould.

6. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180c about 40 to 45 minutes, until a stick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

7. Cool and serve at room temperature.

8. You may want to warm the strained liquid and serve alongside the cake as a drink or may use it instead of hot water with some green tea bags in it, as an accompaniment to the cake.


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Serves: 10 people Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 2 minutes

IngredientsMilk 1500gmssugar, 180gmseggs, 12 zest of orange, 2 orangesorange juice, 50mlbutter, 270gmsflour, 900gmsNutella 100gmsStrawberry sauce, 50gms

Fresh strawberries, 10 piecesStrawberry ice ream, 10 scoops (any brand of your choice)

Directions• In a mixing bowl first bring

together all the dry ingredients and mix with a spoon.

• Add the wet ingredients and fold to form a batter, do not over whisk the batter.

• Allow the batter to rest for 15 minutes or overnight, as per your choice.

• Heat a non-stick pan, spoon the batter over the pan and swirl it around till the batter coats the entire base of the pan evenly.

• Place the pan back on to the stove on slow heat and cook for a minute, uncovered. Take off the pan onto a table top.

• Spoon the nutella in the centre of the crepe and then spread it around, to cover the diameter of the crepe.

• Roll the crepe like a spring roll, cut it into three pieces and serve

with a scoop of ice cream and strawberry halves, and drops of the strawberry puree.

Pro tip: You may use whipped cream on the base of the plate and then place the crepes on top, to give contrast to the presentation.

Nutella and strawberry crepes, strawberry ice cream

Apoorva Kunte is the Executive Sous Chef at The Westin, Dhaka


14 A DAy IN ThE LIFE OF | a loCksmiTh

Keys, please

Making his way through Robindro Sarani, a congested main street in Uttara’s sector

7, Md Laal Mia swaggers down the littered sidewalk, going past a Jaatra

outlet, a two-storied saree shop and a laundry store to finally stop in front of Radhuni restora, warm from the heat of freshly grilled rotisserie chickens. What should have been the restaurant’s parking space has actually

been lent out to local stall owners – Lal Mia’s weathered, custom-built stall is stationed at the absolute edge, flagged by a roofless flower shop selling fresh rajanigandha’s. The only partition between the two, is a tall tree trunk

with numerous wires at the end of which dangles a light bulb.

The wooden stall or box is not an ordinary one. Weathered but sturdy, it’s balanced using odd pieces of brick stowed underneath in spaces around the box. Covered with banners nailed stiff on every side, “Lal Mia Chabi Ghor” - the box proudly reads. The banner depicts a picture of two giant keys, wedged between a picture of a fancy Mitsubishi Pajero and a shiny silver Toyota Corolla. Lal Mia ensures there is no confusion about his specialty: making and repairing “private car” keys. Below the photos of keys and cars, there’s crowded text that describes the rest of his services – repairing old keys, making new keys, helping you during lock outs and making “automatic” keys.

With traffic coming to a screeching halt near a roundabout across from his shop, Lal Mia begins to unlock his chabi ghar, unfazed. Propping up an old stool behind the stall, he reveals a tool box and several worn out brass and steel doorknobs. Setting them in a single line around the top of his stall-box, he explains how these are there to only add a decorative flourish to his stall, helping him set his stall apart from the seven others that line that street.

Casually clad in a blue shirt, his stomach, round as a globe, strains against his shirt. Looking at the comfortable ease with which he moves, you’d have never guessed he’s a man pushing towards his late 30s. “I have been in this trade for 22 years,” he says with a proud paan-stained smile, peeking from behind his heavy beard.

“As a child I grew up watching my family work in the key-making business. My father was in this business and so was my grandfather. It’s a skill that has been passed down and taught to us for generations and this is what I know best.” Hailing from Gazipur, Lal Mia has been making spare and duplicate keys from the young age of 12.

As he proceeds to set up shop, he takes out a rusting metal tray that holds all his main tools for daily operations. A sneak peek reveals an interesting set

N Anita Amreen


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of instruments, all, he proudly claims, were hand made or custom made for and sometimes by him. A warped looking screwdriver, a dull metal filer that looks like a life-sized nail file and an assortment of metal and plastic tools to touch-up, smooth edges and handle minor alterations for new keys. “If I’m making a manual key, I need to craft each key using my tools but if I make an automatic key, I just use my machine,” he explains with a broad smile.

His “automatic machine” is actually a small, battery powered plastic box that looks very far from being the marvel of mechanical engineering it is. Barely 10’ by 10’, the bright orange

box is weathered and bare, with a small curved steel roof. The metal roof isn’t a functional part of the machine, but rather, serves as an adornment with “Lal Mia Chabi Ghar” carved on it. It is clear that this is a man who takes great pride in his shop and leaves no opportunity to brand any surface, be it his stall walls or his machine, with his name.

As Lal Mia gets on with his first order of the day, a house key that needs to be duplicated, he quickly sifts through a set of blank keys and proceeds to place it inside the box, with two vices, one to hold the blank key that will be carved, and another to hold the original in place.

Lal Mia moves with effortless ease, aligning both keys inside the machine with one hand, turning on the motor with another, energising and spinning the cutting wheel. The screaming little

piece of equipment bursts into life, but Lal Mia looks on, unmoved, with the sound of metal being cut with a steel-rotating blade doing nothing to hinder his progress. Once done, he whips the key out, swiftly wipes it down with a rag and quickly proceeds to put his finishing touches: filing down one side, cutting out another edge, wiping again, until he sees his shiny reflection on the surface of the mirror. The whole process takes around 15 minutes and it’s nothing short of being a performance. He seemed like the modern day version of Munna Bhai, just from a different trade.

As the “Ustad” locksmith of the

shop, he has two younger boys who work as his apprentices. This includes training them to make manual keys, showing them the ropes and eventually shaping them to become master locksmiths or Ustads who can later set up their own shops. There’s something about his gait, so full of both swag and charm that you can’t help but feel how much he loves his trade. “Anyone can learn how to make keys, but you’ll have to have that will to find someone who’s already in the trade and only if he takes you under his wing, can you really learn. It takes time, patience and a lot of practice to learn all the tricks of the trade,” he added.

When asked if people lose enough keys to keep him in business, he says: “People are absentminded. More so than before. I make or duplicate anything from 6-25 keys a day.”Charging anything between Tk50

to Tk400 per key, Lal Mia earns around Tk500 to Tk1,000 per day and on slow days, he earns nothing at all. For him, there are no keys that are particularly hard to duplicate, other than Chinese lever handle locks.

Oddly enough, Lal Mia says there is “no way one can pick a lock.” You need to have a key to first ram the lock and figure out the dimensions before being able to “pick” it. With the niche skills he has, Lal Mia has often come across dodgy requests. “We can spot a dishonest man from the way in which he approaches us. They usually come with soap bars stamped with keys, and more recently, they come to us with papers with the design and dimensions of the keys sketched on,” he explains.

In cases like these, Lal Mia refuses to make duplicates and has often turned customers away. As for break-ins, he has one golden rule when called to open a main gate lock. “I never agree to work on a lock if I feel that the house is empty. I always make sure I can hear noise from inside the house. An empty home is always a bad sign.”

Lal Mia says that the most common keys that are misplaced are house keys. This includes padlocks for main gates of homes as well as level handle locks that are common household locks. If he’s not being approached for house keys, he’s asked to make car keys, and that’s his expertise, contributing to the greater part of his monthly income. On the trunk of the tree behind him is a large white box, similar to a jewellery display case, but only his has neatly aligned car keys, some boasting bright gold Toyota signs, while others are shiny blank silvers. When asked to pose for a picture, he readily agrees, running one quick hand through his hair, breaking into a shy smile. He even asked us for a copy of the article to display at his shop - a touching testament to a lifetime of craftsmanship, standing proud amongst the many tiny stalls on the busy streets of Dhaka. n

People are absentminded. More so than before. I make or duplicate anything from 6-25 keys a day

Photos: N Anita Amreen


A few friends and I decided that we were going to begin a business venture and, in anticipation of it, started up a private limited company a few years back. Initially it all went fantastic, until the beginning of this year. There have been quite a few

disagreements, tensions are running high and now we have all reached the point where it is just not feasible to continue with the business any more. There has been talk about shutting down the business and we would like some advice on the process and procedures involved.

Dear Reader,Thank you for writing in to me. It’s always a risky thing to be going into business with family and

friends, mainly because it can always go either extremely well or burn up like wild fire. In your case it would seem that the latter, unfortunately, applied. Well, the good news is that closing up (or winding up) your company should not be too difficult and I will be able to give you an overview of what to expect. However, please do bear in mind that it is always advisable to get this done by a reputable consultant, in order to ensure that all the necessary procedures are complied with and no loose ends remain.

According to Companies Act 1994, to dissolve or winding up of any existing company the activities of company is called dissolution of company. Winding up of a company is a process by which its life comes to end and the assets of company is utilised for the help of creditors and members. The 1994 Companies Act mentions three methods of dissolution of company. These are:

1. Mandatory dissolution by court.2. Dissolution by own will.3. Dissolution by court’s supervision.Mandatory dissolution by court:

There are some circumstances in which a company may be dissolved by the court even if some members disagree to that effect. The grounds on which a company may be wound up by the court are given below-

If the company has, by special resolution, resolved to be wounded up by the court.

If the company does not commence its business within a year from its incorporation or suspends its business for a whole year.

To close any company for one or

more year continuously without any legal reason.

Lacking of minimum members of a company according to law.

If the company is not able to pay its debts.

Any reason of followings:Inefficiency in directing.Related with illegal job.Facing loss continuously.Neglecting of shareholders or their

rights etc.Based on the above causes, court

can take the decision of winding up and recruit a liquidator who firstly distributed the asset between third parties and rest of between shareholders.

Dissolution by own will: Creditors or shareholders of any company can dissolve their business whenever they wish. In these circumstances, shareholders and creditors can wind up the business without taking any help of the court. Causes by which a company can be dissolved by own will:

Taking decision of dissolution in special meeting by creditors or shareholders.

Formed any company for pre-determined purpose or objective.

If any company is notable to pay their liabilities.

Direction of company is proved not profited.

Dissolution by court’s supervision: When a company has decided by special or extra ordinary resolution to wind up voluntarily, the court may give an order that the voluntary winding up shall continue under supervision of the court. Such voluntary winding up subject to supervision of court is known as winding up subject to supervision of court. Causes of dissolution by court’s supervision:

To take decision for mistreating with creditors or shareholders.

Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi is a barrister and solicitor of England and Wales. She is currently Senior Partner at Legacy Legal Corporate

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Illustration: Rio Shuvo/Dhaka Tribune

Collection and selling of company’s asset illegally.

If court takes responsibility of dissolution for any reason it recruits a liquidator to solve dissolution process.

I would say that it is currently up to you to decide which of these will apply

to your company and your situation. As mentioned earlier, it is advisable that you get in touch with a consultant who will be able to evaluate your situation and advise you accordingly. Please do keep me updated on what you do decide. n

A company of compatriots

16 LEGALESE | jennifer ashraf


Dina sobhan | DrAMA MAMA 17

Facepalm Friday

My 26-year-old daughter has always been a bit of a recluse. As a teenager, her

defense mechanism was to shut herself off and refuses to engage with anyone whenever she got upset. When she was younger I would try to comfort her but she would sit by herself in the room, refusing meals and ask to be left alone. It has only gotten worse as she has grown older. It sometimes goes on for days and she just wants us to ‘understand’ and let her be. How can I help her open up to us?

I think your daughter probably suffers from depression, or some sort of

mood disorder, and is unable or unwilling to share it with you. Chances are, she herself doesn’t know why she feels the way she does and instead of burdening you with her emotions, she hides out and waits for the feelings to pass. Oftentimes, those with depression and negative emotions are ashamed by their feelings and don’t want others to know that they are ‘different’ and abnormal in anyway. Perhaps her desire to be left alone is symptomatic of shame. Let her know that there is help for her and that if she does not want to open up to you, there are others she can talk to. Make an appointment for her with a counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist and let them get to the heart of the matter.

My 22-year-old daughter has developed a newfound independence, a defiance that I can’t bear to tolerate

anymore, ever since she finished her undergrads. As parents, we’ve never restricted her from anything. Hanging out with friends, staying out late, allowing both male and female friends over and even having relationships. We’d like to believe we’ve been more liberal than most Bengali parents but I think she takes this for granted. Recently I noticed that she has been hanging out with a new crowd of friends – they’re older and have habits I don’t appreciate. Some of them smoke, almost all of them drink and I know where this kind of crowd will lead her in the long run. I don’t want her to turn into a woman with no morals, a woman who drinks, smokes and gets into drugs and has no care or control over herself. I’ve warned her and told her she cannot speak to them. She misbehaved, saying she would not take orders from me and would rather

leave the house. This is not the girl I raised. This is the girl who has changed after meeting this new group of friends and indulging in habits I shudder to even mention here. How can I talk sense into her?

Your daughter is an adult and no longer obligated to obey you, especially with

regard to the company she keeps. I know Bengali parents tend to feel that their children must do as they say if they are living under their roof. But the implication there is that you don’t trust your daughter’s judgment and her ability to make the right decisions for herself. Even if that is the case, you must give her the freedom to learn from her own mistakes. In this instance, however, you are judging your daughter’s friends by their habits as opposed to their personalities. It sounds as though you don’t know them and have not spoken to them. These days, smoking and drinking is quite common and

very few people equate morality with ‘bad’ habits. It’s understandable that you disapprove of these habits, but be careful about forming opinions about someone based on these superficialities. It might be a good idea to have some of these friends of hers over for dinner and get to know them before you decide if they are, in fact, a bad influence. If after meeting them, your opinion stays the same, then discuss your concerns with your daughter. Be prepared, however, for her to disagree with you and remember that she’s entitled to have her own opinions. Don’t equate a desire for independence with defiance, or you may end up alienating your own daughter.n

Q

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Dina Sobhan is a free-lance writer, a part-time counsellor and a full-time mom

Illustration: Priyo/Dhaka Tribune


18 STAy IN

S u d o k uUse the numbers 1-9 to complete each of the 3x3 square grids such that each horizontal and vertical line also contains all of the digits from 1-9

Last week’s sudoku solutions

ACROSS1 1000 in clear confusion more relaxed (6)6 Gold coloured skin condition returns (5)7 God and Russian approval for animal (5) 8 My dole arranged for tune (6)

DOWN2 Roads ran short up London side (7)3 French sea and mother identify swimmer (7)4 In conflict on the water? (6)5 Cheerleader holds these cleaners up (6)

Last

wee

k’s

solu

tion

s

aCROss5 Achieve by will in their new way (7)6 Ladder missing first snake (5)9 Scientist and bird with gin cocktail (7)

DOwN1 Identical sibling loses head for victory (3)2 Flashy commercial in partial darkness (7)3 Poison assortment of carnies (7)4 Sounds like a number dined (3)7 Introverted throw (3)8 An attempt in the past (3)

Clues

Solved it? Email answers to [email protected] and win one free month of the Dhaka Tribune.

Mini crypticsho

rosc

opes

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19): Steer left or steer right, please be sure to steer with ease. As you’re the captain this week of making all the decisions that will be piling up on you.

Taurus (Apr 20-May20): Keeping your fingers crossed for some exciting news? Well whatever it may or wherever it leads you in life, just know it in your heart that you chose the right path in the end.

Gemini (May 21-June 20): This is the perfect time to pick up that phone, search through your address book and get in touch with those people whom you haven’t seen in ages, because of pressures at work and spending too much time juggling real life.

After all it is the holidays and what would they be without bursting out in laughter with old friends and the warmth of family.

Cancer (June 21-Jul22): If that long Christmas list of your has finally come to an end for the kids, family and friends and you’ve just realised how every friend of yours refers to themselves as ‘we’. Well then turn up that all time Mariah Carey Christmas hit “All I want for Christmas is You’ sing that to Santa and perhaps you’ll find your ‘you’ before the thyme’s in the turkey.

Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22): Somebody just needs to be left alone this week to contemplate about certain things. Please make sure you’re given your own freedom, privacy and space.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22): “A little party never killed nobody”, so go out there have some fun and socialise like you’re the life of the party.

Libra (Sep 23-Oct22): Tension will keep on rising between you and a close personal friend of yours if you both don’t address a

particular situation like adults.

Scorpio (Oct23-Nov21): This is a great week to reach out to siblings and other members of the family and strengthen some family ties. So that during the holidays when you bump into other close relatives you aren’t particularly fond of; at least you have a shoulder to lean on.

Sagittarius (Nov22-Dec 21): Eating a proper meal and a well-followed and routine exercise regime will get you places. Stick to that and start thinking about expanding your horizons out into the world.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan19): Keep rolling and let your imagination lead you to what you want to do next.

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18): A little homesick are we? Don’t you worry just keep crossing off those days of the calendar and you’ll be home soon.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20): Watch out for those friends who are with you today and will kick you with gruesome force behind with the next.


GO OuT 19

Weekly Planner Dec 18Music | Sitar Recital by Alif Laila When 6-8pmWhere Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, GulshanWhat Alif Laila was trained in Indian classical music, using the sitar, in Dhaka, Bangladesh by Mir Qasem Khan, nephew of the legendary maestro, Allauddin Khan. During her final years of training, she attended the College of Fine Arts in Dhaka, where she graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree and received several awards for her watercolour paintings. In 1988, she moved to the United States. She continued her study of Indian classical music in sitar with teachers such as Partha Chatterjee, Krishna Bhatt and Kushal Das. She has performed internationally at venues, such as The Purcell Room, London; The Kerala Arts Society, Kerala; the National Museum of Bangladesh, Dhaka; SRA/Bengal Foundation Festival, Dhaka; the India International Center, New Delhi; and the Manav Sanghralaya, Bhopal.

Everyone is cordially invited to participate in the evening of Sitar Recital by Alif Laila. Entry is open

(There is no need to collect invitation pass). No bag is allowed within the IGCC premises during the programme.

Dec 16-19 Education | December meet-upWhen 3:30-7:30pmWhere Made in Bangladesh, House- 50, Road- 10/A, Dhanmondi R/AWhat December 16th, 1971- this date represents our saddest story and greatest glory; the war of freedom and the day of victory. In honour of this day, Made in Bangladesh will be arranging their 4th meet-up event of the year, and more importantly, will launch new product line #71series.

Like the previous meet-up events, this event will also bring the creative and business folks under one roof, so it will be perfect for a nice evening conversation.

By attending this event, one can visit the store and have an exclusive tour of the design studio as well. The cherry on top of all this will be the arrangements of complementary appetizers and bottomless tea.The event is open for all. No registration fee or tickets will be needed. Event will be open for all

from 5pm on December 16th, and will continue till December 19th.

Dec 18-19Fashion | Winter Showcase by UC EventsWhen 9am-10pmWhere Amari, 47, road 41, Gulshan 2What UC Events, for the fourth time this year, brings another exclusive fashion exhibition with the newest wedding and winter collection of kameez, casuals, heavy wear, jewellery, abaya, hijab, mehedi and many more under one roof.

Dec 19Culture | Red Shift Open Mic NightWhen 6pm Where Red Shift Coffee Lounge, Bays Galleria 5th floor, 57 Gulshan AvenueWhat All kinds of artists are invited to unleash the star in themselves and be a part of Red Shift’s first ever Open Mic Night! Whether one is a singer, musician, actor, comedian, poet or ventriloquist, they can perform on stage and show the world who they are.

Dec 22Culture | New York Cabaret -

Laila Plamondon Live at Red ShiftWhen 7-9pmWhere Red Shift Coffee Lounge, Bays Galleria 5th floor, 57 Gulshan AvenueWhat In what is now becoming a Red Shift tradition, there will be a concert by Laila Plamondon to coincide with the Christmas and New Year season’s festivities. Laila Plamondon graduated from Smith College with a specialisation in vocal music and has since been cultivating her artistic career both in the US and in Bangladesh. She has performed in the past with artists such as Arnob, Habib and Fahmida Nabi. For the last few years she has been based in New York City and has been singing to great acclaim at cabaret venues in the Tri-State Area.

Red Shift is thrilled to inform that Laila will be performing a concert of jazz and pop classics, holiday tunes and recent hits by artists such as Adele, Sam Smith and others. This concert by the glamorous and talented Laila Plamondon will be the perfect way to set off the end of the year celebrations.

Tickets are available at Red Shift and www.jetechao.com for Tk600, and at www.imdhaka.com for Tk660.

Dec 19Culture | Mythology 101

Dec 20-25Culture | Dhaka Comicon and Star Cineplex presents The Star Wars Exhibition

When 7-9pmWhere EMK Center, House 5, Road 16 (New) 27 (Old), 9th Floor, Midas Center, Dhanmondi R/A What EMK Center invites you to the play Mythology 101– a Dhallywood version of a Greek tragedy that tells the story of love, lust, hate, greed, vanity, and hypocrisy.

Inspired by Racine’s Phaedre, Dominic Gomes presents his first play in which all the characters seem to be heading towards their inevitable doom.

But who is really to be blamed?In Mythology 101, there is an

arrangement of several Greek mythological characters with tragic ending including Phaedra, Theseus,

Hippolytus, Eurydice, Diomedes and a few others. The play is set in a current world of cinema where Phaedra is a script writer; Theseus is a famous actor; and Hippolytus, a very handsome troubled kid with an ambition of becoming a hero of Phaedra’s new film, and Diomedes, a family friend and a seasoned politician who uses religion as a cover.

The play will be directed by Dominic Gomes of StageOne Dhaka. The Play will be from 7 to 9, and performers include Mita Chowdhury, Shamim Visti, Tarek Mahmud and others.

The event is open to public. Tickets will be available at the EMK Center before the event.

Tickets are Tk100 each. n

When 10am-8pmWhere STAR Ice Rink, level 8, Bashundhara City MallWhat A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, Anakin Skywalker fulfilled the prophecy of bringing balance to the force. However, there has been an awakening. The awakening of the Force.

In celebration of Star Wars: The Force Awakens releasing at Star Cineplex, Dhaka Comicon in collaboration with Star Cineplex will be celebrating the return of Star Wars to the silver screen. To give you the complete Star Wars experience, Dhaka Comicon and

Star Cineplex will be:• Exhibiting Star Wars Collectibles

dating to the 70s at the giant Star Ice Rink

• Giving away free passes to 3 lucky winners everyday leading to the premiere! Each day 3 lucky attendees at the exhibition will have the chance to win passes to the premiere and Watch the force awakens first

• Giving away Star Wars goodies at the exhibition daily!Star Wars Exhibition entry :

Tk100/- (Available at star Cineplex counter from the 20th)


Dealing with Jellybean the first few weeks was hard enough, and then I had to deal with people wanting to come over

and visit. I mean, I love my friends and family for being so sweet, but amidst the exhaustion and lack of sleep, playing host was a no-no. Thankfully I have very understanding friends, who gave me time to settle in, and not because I turn into the Kraken when I’m cranky!

The upside of visits is that you get gifts, and lots of them, and it’s mostly cakes and sweets. So you can’t blame us moms who gain weight after a baby! It’s your entire fault, for gifting us such yummy food! And if you’re like me, an advocate for the non-wastage of food, then…well, you get the picture.

Then there are the normal baby gifts – we were swamped in an abundance of baby toiletry gift hampers, baby clothes, towels of different shapes, sizes and colours, and last but not least, oilcloths. Throughout the first six months of Jellybean’s life, we were hoping someone would be wise enough to gift a potty, but no, there was only generic-gift-giving-due-to-social-misgivings for us. Sigh.

After the low-flow fiasco during the first week, my mom was obsessed with giving me food that increases milk flow. In that one month, I had so much bottle gourd, or the quintessential lau, that I’ve sworn off it for the rest of my life. If it wasn’t just regular lau curry, it was lau laced with kalojeera. Normally I absolutely love the strong, smoky flavour of nigella seeds, but having it day after day made it very blasé for me. I was also chugging mug after mug of milk and bowls of soup every day. I had read somewhere that whatever I ate would flavour the breast milk. Beef made me gassy so it was off the list, and I avoided onions, heavy spices and dried fish. That was a loss for me, because I absolutely adored shutki maach.

Speaking of fish, I had already boycotted sushi during pregnancy, and the ban continued while I was breastfeeding. This was an even bigger loss, because I am a sushi aficionado and the cravings almost made me

cry. I had breastfed for two years, so including the pregnancy period that was a total of three years without sushi! I had to make do with maki rolls and teriyaki dishes just to appease my “upset” stomach.

One day my friends had come over, and wanted to take me out, and since Jellybean was asleep and too little to take out, I left her home with my parents. We went out for dinner to a restaurant close to my home, just in case I had to head back. Predictably enough, and luckily towards the end of dinner, the call came. Jellybean was up and causing a fuss. We had never resorted to the bottle, so I had to go back home. I took my friends with me, and got home to find she was asleep again. Some of them plucked the courage to carry her, while others nervously shifted from one foot to the other and looked on. In the midst of the cradling, Jellybean woke up again and squawked for me. I smiled bashfully at my friends, who realised they had to skedaddle so that I could feed her. A few quick goodbyes later, Jellybean was at peace, finally receiving the attention of her mom.

Positioning arms during feeding became a painful task, and even more so as I hadn’t bought a feeding pillow, which is basically a C-shaped pillow you can rest your arms on. Another great gift idea there, folks! Anyway, so

I would place 2-3 pillows under arms and on my lap. It became easier when Jellybean got a little bigger, and I didn’t have to carefully watch her head and neck for discomfort.

Since I never got around to putting Jellybean on the bottle, it meant that I had to accustom myself to feeding her wherever, whenever – at home, in the car, at weddings (hiding in the loo), and even during a tram ride in Kolkata. Abroad, breastfeeding is a very normal and natural thing, and no one looks twice at you. But here in Bangladesh it is not forbidden, but looked at strangely. I find that odd because the homeless people on the streets are doing it all the time. Until this mindset changes, there should be more options for breastfeeding moms, in restaurants, shopping malls and the like. A well-known shopping mall boasts a diaper change and breastfeeding area – with no chairs for the moms to sit on and breastfeed. Utter blasphemy, I tell you!

During the first month, Jellybean would sleep soundly in her cot. We had to be careful while placing pillows, or kolbalish around her, so that there are no accidents. Babies that little can’t move much at that age, but their flailing might cause a pillow to cover their face, and so it’s always better to be careful.

Be wise when investing behind a cot or baby bed, as babies tend to

be very vocal about their likes and dislikes. Jellybean only used her cot for a month, after which she would cry to sleep with me in our bed. Co-sleeping has its demerits – no more personal time for the parents and sleeping becomes uncomfortable since you’re constantly worrying about squishing the baby. But on the plus side, babies love this connection with their parents, and the parents can act fast in case of an emergency. A deeper bond is also shared between parents and child, thus creating better harmony in the family.

Jellybean absolutely loves to sleep on me frog-like, and even though it’s getting harder and she’s getting heavier, I still don’t have the heart to move her away. One day she’ll grow up and throw teen tantrums and slam doors, so before that happens, I want her all to myself! n

20 ThE BONG MOMMA | Tales from a firsT-Time mom

Minu Ahmed

Minu Ahmed is your not-so-average homemaker, norm-shirker and abomination of awesomeness, juggling a career in communication, mother- hood and a fatter half. Questions? Send to [email protected]

Gifts, gawkers and the Kraken

Photo: Bigstock

weekend tribune vol 3 issue 34

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