New York

Book, Bangla and Bangladeshi community in New York

Book, Bangla and Bangladeshi community in New York

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Bangladeshi community abroad indeed like to celebrate cultural events as long as it has the native vibe of Bangladesh. Organized by Muktadhara Foundation, the International Bangla Festival and Book Fair was such an event for Bangladeshi community living in New York City. Held in Jackson Heights from May 20 to 22, 2016, the three-day event was lively, colorful, festive and attended by thousands of people. Bangla Book Fair, started in 1992, was a tiny and modest event but as the Bangladeshi community has grown, the celebration has transformed into a bigger event with kind of festival flavor. This year it was the 25th anniversary of the fair. Authors and book publishers participated from Bangladesh and India, therefore, it was international in essence.

Writers, publishers, cultural personalities related with Bangla language and literature attended the festival. Mayor of NYC and other elected officials sent their welcome messages. The festival started with a colorful parade from Diversity Plaza at 7 pm on Friday. The parade, participated by over hundreds of people, ended at the PS 69 – the venue for rest of the event. The festival was opened with ribbon, balloons, candlelights and Bangla literary celebrities present at the stage.

Program Schedule of Bangla Book Fair

Day 1: FridayDay 2: SaturdayDay 3: Sunday
  1. Parade from Diversity Plaza
  2. Formal opening of the fair
  3. Speeches of the invited guests
  4. Opening dance
  5. Honorary reception of Dr. David Nalin
  6. Event for new generation
  7. 25 years 0f Muktadhara: a retrospective
  8. Music of Ferdous Ara
  1. Child and youth competition
  2. Writer, reader, and publisher: face to face
  3. Book of the year: discuss on new books
  4. Self-written poem reading
  5. For would-be writers: tips from editors and publishers
  6. Face of Bangladesh in the USA: a discussion
  7. Folk tradition of Bangladesh: discussion and songs
  8. Cultural program
  9. Books of the new generation
  10. Why do I write?
  11. Social responsibility of writers
  12. Sitar playing
  13. Woman as a writer: uneven playing field
  14. Poetry is my worship
  15. Raft of music: songs by invited singers
  16. Guest singer of the evening
  17. Magic of rhyme: reading and discussion
  18. Book fair: Dhaka, Kolkata, New York and Berlin
  19. Our Rabindranath
  20. Genocide 1971: discussion
  1. Children’s competition
  2. Best child artist: prize distribution
  3. Self-written poetry
  4. Poetry recitation
  5. Is television a hinder to spread Bangla culture? – a discussion
  6. New books
  7. Channel I/Muktadhara book fair literature prize
  8. Abar asibo fire: poetry of Jibanananda Das
  9. Hirodoye Rabindtanath
  10. Raag and raginee: use of raag in Rabindranath’s song
  11. Democracy and development: open discussion
  12. Folk song
  13. Raft of music: songs by invited singers
  14. Face to face: discussion
  15. Songs of Nazrul
  16. Reception of Selina Hossain
  17. Thanksgiving
  18. Guest singer
  19. Breakfast and meeting of writers
  20. Workshop on Nazrul’s songs
  21. Book introduction
  22. Little magazine: an evaluation
  23. Remembering Khasruzzaman Chowdhury

What the Bangladeshi community got?

A lot of fun, utility and sense of belonging. Thousands of Bangladeshi community members converged at the book fair in three days. There were book, food, cloth, jewelry, art, not-for-profit business vendors at the event. The most crowded places were women’s clothing booth. Then food stalls. Cloth and food sellers were busy almost all the time. People browsed and bought books from 17 participating booksellers. Got autographs from authors, received samples from Bangladeshi food importer, talked about course and career with the tech company, stopped by at art vendor’s and non-profit organization’s booth. People also talked to authors, took pictures, enjoyed music and dance, listened to discussions, met friends and families, exchanged greetings. The most popular attraction – the cultural event in the evening – was full of audience. It was a great festival atmosphere.

Children’s program was elaborate and a good source of inspiration for Bangladeshi parents. Bangladeshi children, from 5 to 16 years, competed in five categories and won prizes.

Tight Schedule

Although most of the Bangladeshi community members attended in the evening to enjoy cultural programs, the organizers have filled two days with lots of events. On Saturday, 20 events were packed into 13 hours in two rooms – the main auditorium and ‘Deepon’ room (a room named after Faisal Arefin Deepon). Sunday was even more tightly filled, 23 events were scheduled from 11:00 am to 11:30 pm. To finish all the events the organizers had to keep a tight grip on timing. In some segments, moderators literally pressed speakers to finish their talk in seconds – which is an utterly impossible task for Bangladeshi people.

  • 32 participants were given 60 minutes for the ‘Book of the year: discussion on new books’ to read and talk about their books
  • 30 poets got 75 minutes to read their own poems, including moderator’s introduction
  • 33 poets were given 75 minutes to read their self-written poetry
  • 12 writers were given 30 minutes to introduce their new books

Perhaps these tight scheduling and high-pressure segments were designed to exercise brevity and precision talking as well as just to introduce writers and showcase their works only!

Bangla book fair sign in other languages
Bangla language needs other languages to spread its root

Room for Improvement

Bangladeshi community in New York truly enjoys the Bangla book fair a great deal. It is especially popular among the first generation Bangladeshis and their families. It brings back memory and nostalgia of Ekushey Book Fair in crowded Dhaka city. Muktadhara Foundation has worked tirelessly to organize the annual showcase of Bangla literary works from Bangladesh, India and beyond. The fair has also enhanced the cultural vitality of Bangladeshi community at the backdrop of New York City’s rich and vibrant multicultural environment. However, the Bangla book fair can be improved substantially in content and management. Aside from previous suggestions, here are some more recommendations:

  • The Bangla book fair was organized in Jackson Heights, one of the most diversified neighborhoods of New York City. Other ethnic communities were curious about the event but had no clue what was going on? Displaying signs in Spanish, Arabic, Korean, Chinese language could have been a great idea!
    Displaying signs in Spanish, Arabic, Korean, Chinese language could have been a great idea.
  • Book fair can be more diversified by adding more interesting and modern ideas. The event was filled with too many items related to song, dance, Rabindranath and Nazrul. Some discussion on blogging, filmmaking, spreading science, making a podcast, utilizing technology, using social media, reading e-books could have been added. There was even no discussion about blogging or bloggers!
  • Young second generation Bangladeshi writer participation was almost none. In recent years, some non-resident Bangladeshi writers are actively writing: Tahmima Anam, Zia Haider Rahman, Abeer Yusria Hoque, Tanwi Nandini Islam, Javed Jahangir, and others. On Saturday, only two people briefly talked about Books Of The New Generation – both are from old generation!
  • Organizers can give more attention to floor plan for booths, better signs and directions, better audio/sound system, typo-less or correctly spelled program guide, etc.
  • The website of the foundation has no information about how many publishers/writers attended the fair, how many books were sold, what was the most popular book, who sold the most books, who own the children’s competition, program details of the event. Actually, only a few photos were posted online after the event, nothing else!
  • Organizers can improve the image and management of Bangla book fair by collecting comments, suggestions, recommendations from the visitors (suggestion box)! There was no way to give any feedback on the event onsite! Bangladeshi community in New York can help improve the image, the quality and the direction of Bangla book festival by engaging more into the process in future.
Bangladeshis abroad expressing solidarity with Bangladeshi Bloggers in Brooklyn NY

Solidarity with Bangladeshi Bloggers

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A new generation of Bangladeshis living in USA took stage to express their solidarity with Bangladeshi bloggers in New York City. Many civil rights issues, including freedom of expression in Bangladesh have been severely curtailed by means of killing, mutilating, threatening, kidnapping, etc. The event ‘Unslain Words: Solidarity for Bangladeshi Bloggers‘ was organized to protest against these trends and rise of religious fundamentalism there.

Picture of Bangladeshi Bloggers killed in 2015
Avijit Roy, Oyasiqur Rahman Babu, Ananta Bijoy Das and Niloy Neel

Four Bangladeshi bloggers were brutally killed this year in different parts of Bangladesh. Avijit Roy on February 26th, Oyasiqur Rahman Babu on March 30th, Ananta Bijoy Das on May 12th, and Niloy Neel on August 7th. Threat is still looming over more than 70 other Bangladeshi bloggers in Bangladesh, many of whom are in hiding. Bangladeshi bloggers living abroad are also threaten. Many have stopped writing out of fear, others continue, knowing that they do so at immense threat to their own lives. Those who have the means have fled the country. Others are desperately seeking an exit strategy. These successive killings and threats towards the writers have drawn a negative image of Bangladesh around the world again after Rana Plaza disaster in 2013.

Mindless killing of bloggers have brought wide condemnation everywhere. Many asked the Bangladeshi authority to provide security for the bloggers, urged to keep them safe, demanded justice. Bangladesh Government attested some perpetrators but also advised the bloggers to tone down their rhetoric against Islam. Bangladesh Police advised them not to cross the line or to leave the country or hide!

The reaction of Bangladeshi community living abroad varies. Some said it was bloggers who are at fault by disrespecting the religious value of Muslim people of Bangladesh through their writings. Others said the bloggers have the right to express their views in a civil democratic society without fear. Whatever the view, majority of Bangladeshi community in USA condemned the killing of bloggers. Religious fanatics committed hideous crimes. Some Bangladeshi organizations protested against the brutal killing. Some gave statements in local Bangla community newspapers.

Bangladeshi new generation living abroad, especially in USA, was perhaps not sure what to do and how to react to this kind of incident! Yet, a solidarity event was held in Brooklyn, New York on September 16th by some non-resident Bangladeshis in collaboration with PEN America, Roulette Intermedium and Center for Inquiry. They expressed their solidarity for Bangladeshi bloggers by words – by reading from their own literary works, from slain bloggers last writing and through live music.

A good number of audience attended the event and it was well presented. The event also provided opportunity for attendees to support Bangladeshi authors who are at risk. Fund collected are specifically earmarked for Bangladeshi authors in need of emergency help due to extreme threats and legal, medical, or security expenses.

Solidarity with Bangladeshi Bloggers in Brooklyn NY
Unslain Words: Solidarity for Bangladeshi Bloggers

Among the Bangladeshi participants, Abeer Yusria Hoque, a Nigerian born Bangladeshi American writer and photographer recalled her experience with religion in her family. As she was growing up, she remembered, her sister and classmates who were learning Islamic education was not happy with the system. With time she was losing her faith in Islamic teaching. Islam’s inheritance and witness law, Islam’s view on girl’s romantic relationship, imposing religion to mend behavior, etc. forced her to seek refuse in the verses of Sura Al Kafirun where it states “For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.”

Aladdin Ullah, a comedian, playwright, and actor of Bangladeshi origin, recalled his struggle to fit into his parent’s Bangladeshi value versus his own American identity, his experience of visiting Bangladesh for the first time and find out a lot of cultural and religious practices that made no sense – secular Bangladesh turned into non-secular country, loud call for prayers, exploitation of children, throwing acid to women, color discrimination in American Club in Dhaka…etc. made him think is this why Bangladesh was born in 1971?

Farah Mehreen Ahmad, a Brooklyn-based Bangladeshi writer, researcher and translator, read about a short story in three parts about coercion, domestic violence, and rape.

Javed Jahangir, a writer, essayist and novelist, wondered about George Orwell’s answers to the question  ‘Why I Write’, where Orwell told the readers that he writes because of sheer egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse and political purpose. Javed finds new insights in Orwell’s reason for writing in political purpose. Political writing is an art form of highest purpose. The political purpose of writing may not always be appreciated but when needed, the writing can give a boost to overcome the apprehension to achieve something great.

Tanwi Nandini Islam, a writer, multimedia artist, and business entrepreneur, read a travelogue about visiting Bangladesh. She recalled her trip to Sylhet, its indigenous people, lush green, rock, river, flora and fauna etc. that contributed to her recently published book.

Bangladeshi hip-hop singer Anik Khan
Bangladeshi hip-hop singer Anik Khan

Anik Khan, a Brooklyn based Bangladeshi hip-hop singer, energized the audience with his great music.

Bangladesh’s culture of violence has been a constant problem in its development. Bangladeshi community living abroad, especially new and second generation of Bangladeshis can help to curb that culture by showing better alternatives. This event was one example. An important aspect of the event was that it was organized jointly with non-Bangladeshi organizations. This kind of endeavor could bring more attention to a wider audience about Bangladesh.

Hope the participating Bangladeshis will not stop there. They will continue writing about Bangladesh on blogs, newspapers, magazines, social medias, etc. Words, music, drama, painting, photo, video – all can be instruments for a powerful dialog to promote a civil society in Bangladesh from abroad.

Is it possible to organize such event by any Bangladeshi organization where the new generation of Bangladeshis will speak their minds freely!

Second Generation Bangladeshis holding vigil for Rajon in Brooklyn, New York.

Second Generation Bangladeshi

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It was a small but an important event. There were only 30-35 people – some second generation Bangladeshi young, some first generation adults, some men, some women – all living in New York City. They get together to remember a boy who was not known to them even few weeks ago. The boy, 13-year-old  Samiul Alam Rajon, was killed brutally by a group of men in Bangladesh on July 8, 2015.

These second generation of Bangladeshis – some are as young as Rajon, met in Brooklyn to hold a vigil, demanded justice and asked to stop nonsensical death of so many innocent kids in Bangladesh and across the world.

They said what others have already said. But what was new is their presence as a second generation Bangladeshi community. They poised as a voice of the community. They did not make huge banner, bought newspaper and TV ad but the effort itself was a good and right step toward.

Violence in Bangladesh is common. As mythical as it may sound, as a tolerant country, Bangladesh also condone tremendous amount of violence. Mixed with despair and disability, fate and faith, history and heritage, police and politics, life of Bangladeshi people just go on with varieties of violence. On the other hand, people routinely protest of violence, demand justice, government make task force, sometimes take action, few are punished but most of them are forgotten from the public mind as this routine never changes.

The first generation Bangladeshi immigrants abroad know all these too well. For them Rajon’s are killed, protests are done, promises are made, steps are taken – right or wrong. Time passes by and life goes on. The second  generation Bangladeshis, some know about this trend, most not. Some can make sense, most not. Some understand, most not. But none wants to be part of their prior generation’s mundane cyclical state of mind that goes on and on and on like an endless bad dream.

Not bad but as part of a bold dream, they organized a ‘Vigil for Rajon’ in Brooklyn.

Again, what they did was more important than what they said. They created an event on Facebook, invited others, communicated with their peers, asked non-Bangladeshi friends to join in and brought few first generation Bangladeshis who care. Not much was said, indeed. Everyone decently took their turn to say something – short, sharp and to the point – a rarity among Bangladeshi society.

They circled the Church-McDonald Avenue crossing – where many of the Bangladeshis meet, mingle, gossip, chitchat, live and work in Brooklyn – with vigil and slogan. It was not just to say that they gathered only for Rajon’s in Bangladesh – indeed, they were there to tell that they care for the community they belong to and the country their parents came from. That they want to act with resilience and responsibility.

This second generation Bangladeshi initiative seemed like kind of isolated as there was less enthusiasm among the local Bangladeshi people. They reacted with cautious curiosity, passed by as evasive onlookers. From a nearby mosque, more Bangladeshis Muslims came out after prayer – none stopped by to ask about the event or to attend the Vigil for Rajon!

In a sense, outside of Bangladesh, first and second generation Bangladeshis have a cultural gap. They are connected but understand each other less. How come when Rajon’s are dying in Bangladesh, first generation Bangladeshis gave wordy statements, but none came out to support this event of young Bangladeshis! On the contrary, any establishment coming from Bangladesh got kind of ‘mini-humongous’ reception at airports, hotels, houses, restaurants, streets and even in picnics. Seems like for the first generation, the first event has little clear goal, the second events have specific ‘aim’.

Again, it is what it is. Child violence happen, people protest, leaders give statements, committees are formed, investigations are ordered, recommendations are submitted, and outcome remains obscure! Violence happens, people protest, leaders…the cycle goes on and on until it [does not end]. This is what most Bangladeshis living abroad saw and take it for granted. These are part of the payment for being a Bangladeshi. For the first generation of Bangladeshis abroad, it is still that reality here.

They can show that a better alternative is possible.
What the second generation Bangladeshis can do? Nothing much or very little, perhaps. They can show that a better alternative is possible. Less talk, more work; less division, more unity; less shout, more think, less newspaper, more book; less drama, more diversity; less popularity, more responsibility. To do this little, second generation of Bangladeshis do not need any confrontation or even conversation with the prior generation. Remember Nike?

Bangladesh will not get back Rajon and many others, but if the sad demise of Rajon can give birth some spark among the new generation of Bangladeshis to be deeply dedicated, highly motivated and create a new breed of Bangladeshis in distant lands, then the nation might not have to ask for endless forgiveness from the Rajons who are facing violence and being killed everyday.

Hope those tiny little lights of vigil were meant not to remember Rajon only but also to welcome a new generations of young Bangladeshis activists who are living abroad – across the world.

Sabina Yasmin Concert – New York

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Sabina Yasmin Concert in New York

Join Sabina Yasmin, Bangladeshi icon and internationally acclaimed singer, for a special performance in support of DCI’s efforts for child rights and blindness prevention. All proceeds of Sabina Yasmin Concert will be used to help underprivileged children and families in Bangladesh.

Concert Tickets:

$25 (General), $50 (Reserved Priority Seating), $100 (VIP)

Limited Seats.

Buy Ticket

Contact for more info: 203-376-6351

Venue:

Milton G. Bassin Performing Arts Center
York College CUNY
94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11451

2nd International Film Festival audience

2nd International Film Festival in New York

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New York Film Center organized their 2nd International Film Festival in Jackson Heights from June 19 to 21, 2014. The event was held in the afternoons. Fourteen films – three feature-length and eleven shorts – were screened at the event. Out of them, eleven from Bangladesh, one from India, one from Sri Lanka, and one from USA. Nine non-fictions, five fictions. There was a panel discussion at the closing day. A small English souvenir was published with program details. The event was entirely free.

This festival is simply a great initiative as this may showcase Bangladeshi films as well as films from other countries, encourage independent filmmakers to make responsible films, build curious audiences, make a platform to compare and compete for other film festivals.

The festival seemed like a success! Plenty of audience showed up which was encouraging. The location – Jackson Height – was convenient for people to attend. The organizers advertised the festival in local Bangladeshi newspapers, distributed postcards, arranged press conference, donors, sponsors and advertisers provided financial contribution, local Bangladeshi media outlets reported the event. There was some collaboration from Bangladesh and Sri Lankan consulate too. Even with hectic efforts, the festival was a success.

2nd International Film Festival

There are three major observations about the festival:

  • First day, the festival opened with ‘Not a Penny Not a Gun’ – a short doc by Makbul Chowdhury and ended with ‘The Drummer’ – a film by Tanvir Mokammel. The organizers asked some notable personalities to express their thoughts on the film – The Drummer – just after the screening. However, for one of  them, it was too quick to say something, he needed more time to reflect. For another it was too emotional to say anything! However, they talked few words about the film at the end. If a discussion was necessary then it could have been better if general audiences were included. Most of the time these kinds of one-sided, staged, discussion are not so interesting. The experts unintentionally make the audience bored with their ‘expert’ opinion (which was visible from the panel discussion on 2nd day). Let’s keep ‘banjona’ ‘dotona’ ‘nondon thotho’ related issues for lecture room event. The festival can be light, entertaining, inclusive, intuitive and innovative without this lecture-style discussions.
  • Next time the organizers can make sure that enough and up-to-date event information is available online. It was hard to find any information about this festival online. Even the festival’s Facebook event page did not give sufficient and timely information.
  • Cell phone, cell phone, cell phone! It is extremely rude and mega-obnoxious to let your cell phone ring loudly in the middle of a film. This happened ever day. Please audience, put your ‘ego-ring’ into silence or keep vibrating in style!

Even hectic, restless and need some effective organization, the festival was a great start. It can only go better with better planning. Cheers to all who were part of this festival. A wholehearted big congratulation to the organizers.

Following films were shown at the 2nd International Film Festival:

June 19, 2014 Screening:

Not a Penny Not a Gun by Mokbul Chowdhury, Bangladesh, 39 mins
The effort of Bangladesh in Britain during 1971 Liberation war is explored through the journey of a son searching for his father’s footsteps. His father Azizul Haque Bhuia was the convener of the Action Committee of the Liberation of Bangladesh who left England in 1972 just after a week’s of the freedom of Bangladesh. In 2006 when Azizuf Haque Bhuia passed away he was denied the recognition a of ‘Freedom Fighter’ and a state funeral which is given to freedom fighters. The local district office inform his family that they did not consider him as a ‘Freedom Fighter’ as he was abroad in 1971 and he did not fight with a Gun. A documentary for the first time captured the stories and emotions of real people that remain missing from the glorious history of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
Narmeen by Dipti Gupta, India, 18 mins
Narmeen is about the loss of identity and association in the trying times of partition of India. Noor, a young woman grieving the death of her daughter, is torn between moving to a new country and holding on the last vestiges of memory that she has. Unable to come to terms with reality, she exists in a dreamlike state. When a Sikh refugee comes in the neighborhood from the ‘other side’, Noor takes a liking for his young son. But her attempts at befriending him are blatantly thwarted by the embittered father. 
Aiaao by Jaami Abdullah Farooq, Bangladesh, 13 mins
Mandi is an ethnic minority who lives in the heart of Saalban of Gazipur. Through their primitive religion was sangsarek, almost all of them migrated into Christian Religion festival, rituals – all their history and heritage are demolishing today. In 2004, Mandi people started protesting when Saalban was announced to be an echo park. In 3rd January, 2004, police attacked at their procession which resulted death of Piren and 100 more injury. The documentary tends to portray their life and struggle. 
The Drummer by Tanvir Mokammel, Bangladesh, 90 mins
During the war in 1971 when Pakistan army occupied Jibon’s village, Jobon along with other villagers, tried to flee to India. On the way, the Pakistani soldiers massacred his family members. Jibon survived, and after roaming around the war-ravaged countryside, finally returned to his native village which was then being brutally ruled by the Razakars, an Islamic auxiliary force collaborating with the Pakistan army. The commander of the Razakars spared Jibon’s life on the condition that he had to play drum for his marauding force. Jibon’s situation became very ironic but his humanity and artistic instincts thrived at the end.

June 20, 2014 Screening:

Mechanism by Abid Hossain Khan, Bangladesh, 15 mins
Mechanism is an experimental documentary film about worker, nature and transformation plot, no spoken dialog, no voice over and have to be experienced viscerally first, and first analyzed because everyone sees different in them. It’s kind of exploration of technological journey in Bangladesh and the effect of transition to western style modernization has had on them. 
The Strike by Farid Ahmed, Bangladesh, 20 mins
General strike, popularly known as hortal, was first demonstrated in the Indian sub continent by Gandhi as mean of protesting British colonial rule in India, but that was non-violent. From then, hortal is known as a recognized way of articulating political demand wherein the forms of demonstrating hortal have undergone a huge transformation over years. It played as a strong instrument of protest in our language movement of 1952, mass uprising of 1969, 1971 and student movement of 1990. Now a days, hortals come with violent movements, bloodshed and some time death. Hortal costs loss of $15 million each day. The film tends to compare between glorious history of hortal and its present scenario. 
The Story Never Be End by Fauzia Khan, Bangladesh, 20 mins
The documentary is a social expression of women about marriage, sexuality  and childbirth. Four decades have passed after the liberation war and women advanced a lot during this time. Even now they cannot take their own  decision in case of marriage, develop career as their own, take challenging profession; earn fame both in country and abroad. But within a family, within a married life – woman still posses the same position. The story of Shukla, Shikoya, Nasrin, Ridita and Ritu in their married life not more than a wife or mother, not more than what was in their moms and grandmas life. Generation to generation, women’s position and roles are remaining same, their freedom in married life is a bird within a cage. This story is a story of other people whom are considered as second sex by Simone de Beauvoir. 
Mrittika Maya (Earthen Love) by Gazi Rakaye, Bangladesh, 90 mins
Nimai Chandra Pal – best known as Khirmohan was a potter once. Presently he owns a potter homestead and a piece of  land with a banyan tree. He walks leaning on a stick – the very stick that was once used to turn his potter’s wheel. One of his hands is paralyzed now. Though he doesn’t do pottery anymore because of his old age and failing health, pottery happens to be his very life-support just the way the stick scaffolds him to walk. Khirmohan has two sons – Shatyan and Nikhil. Both stay in Dhaka. One of them works as an office support staff and the other runs a shop. They have no regard for their father’s profession – they are more willing to sell the ancestral potter homestead. For this Khirmohan doesn’t like his sons. He had a daughter who passed away. 

June 21, 2014 Screening:

A Tale of the Hilsha by Polash Rosul, Bangladesh, 22 mins
In the river Meghna, the Hilsa roams freely. The fishermen’s lives rotate around this river and this fish; they cast their nets in the depths of the river and seek the meaning• of life. The river once used to yield a huge amount of Hilsa. The life-cycle of this fish was intractably tied with the lives of the fishermen, for the Hilsa was the staple source of their income. Each fisherman used to have large fishing boats and fishing nets. But conditions have changed. Today the lives of these fishermen are ensnared in the moneylender’s hands. The Hilsa fish, too, are in short supply. As the fishermen reminisce over the olden days, they are overwhelmed with emotion, and often they turn defiant in anger. A Tale of the Hilsa is a documentary that depicts the frail lives of the Hilsa fish and the Hilsa fishermen. 
Bangladesher Ridoy by Saiful Wadud Helal, Bangladesh, 30 mins
Sahabag’s ganajagarana is the biggest documented peoples upraising in Bangladesh history. I took a part in this movement from my middle-class background. Looking through the Camera’s viewfinder, I tried to understand a country as old as me. Perhaps, trying to look for the dream of Bangladesh through the eyes of thousands of who came to Shahbag with a hope. Can it be possible to find that dream Bangladesh standing on the footpath of Shahbag?
Untitled by Peal Chowdhury, USA, 10 mins
‘Untitled’ is a short firm about an ordinary boy whose life was filled With happiness at first. But with the company  of bad friends he got addicted to drugs and his life took an U-turn…He lost his loved ones and involved in crimes. Thus he saw his life crumbling in front of his eyes. 
The Last Rites by Yasmin Kabir, Bangladesh, 20 mins
‘The Last Rites’, a silent film by Yasmine Kabir, depicts the ship breaking yards of Chittagong, Bangladesh – a final destination for ships that are too old to ply the oceans any longer. Every year, hundreds of ships are sent to yards in Bangladesh. And every year, thousands of people come to these yards in search of jobs. Risking their lives to save themselves from hunger, they breathe in asbestos dust and toxic waste. The elemental struggle between man and metal figures throughout the film, as men carry the weight of steel ropes over their shoulders, pull huge parts of the vessels inland, and bear great metal plates. ‘The Last Rites’ is an allegorical portrayal of the agony of hard labor. 
Artist of a Changing World by Anindo Atik, Bangladesh, 30 mins
The film tells the story of a freedom fighter and a committed war photographer Abdul Hamid Raihan. He and his camera captured and preserved the memories of the glorious war of independence in 1971. Abdul Hamid Raihan, a freelance photographer from Kushtia, begun his historical photographic journey when Bangladesh was going through its political transformation. His love for photography started purely out of curiosity at a very young age. His hobby turned him into a serious photographer during the liberation of Bangladesh. His camera became a weapon of great significance – documenting Bengali life, atrocities committed by occupation army and aftermath of a bloody war. 
With you Without you by Mansee Kong, Sri Lanka, 90 mins
When lonely wife, tortured pawnbroker Sarathsiri meets and marries the beautiful, enigmatic Selvi, he thinks he has finally found a way to put his past behind him. But a chance visit from an old friend opens up wounds that threaten to tear open the barely healing fabric of a mutilated nation coming to grips with the unspeakable cost of a third year civil war. Will love help them cross the bridge? Or will the past continue to color the present? 
International Bangla Festival & Book Fair, NYC

Bangla Festival & Book Fair in NYC

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Bangla Utshob and Boimela
Bangla Utshob & Boimela

Muktadhara Foundation organized a 3-day long International Bangla Festival & Book Fair at the William Cullen Bryant High School of Long Island City from June 13 to 15, 2014. According to the organizer, it was their 23rd Bangla Book Fair. The fair was attended by many people, mostly of Bangladeshi origin. Some attendees were from West Bengal part of India and some from Europe. Hence, it was international in nature.  The objectives of the fair 2014 was “to project the cultural heritage of Bengali to expatriate Bangladesh and West Bengal and other communities living in the North America. And to build a sustainable link between the expatriate Bengalis and the land where they or their ancestors were born in field of information exchange, literature, culture & business.”

The festival brought together plenty of Bangla writers, readers, poets, artists, reciters, musicians, book publishers and spectators. The event was full of programs – general discussion, literary discussion, QA session with writers, song, dance, drama, recitation, children’s essay competition, youth forum, photo exhibitions, writer’s corner, short film, etc. Different programs were held in various parts of the venue – some event space were given names like Ali Anowar Room, Salman Khan Room, Aminul Haque Room, etc. There were also book stalls, cloth and jewelry stalls, food stalls, NGO stalls, and other kinds. A nice souvenir was published and a program leaflet was always available to pick up.

It was a festive, hectic and inspiring event. I went there last two days to enjoy and observe the festival. The list of guests and programs can tell that it was quite a big event. Organizing such an event successfully was certainly not an easy job! A big congratulation to organizers, sponsors, attendees, participants and all interested parties. It was better than a great festival.

Some discussion on technology, sports and more spotlight on youth forum could have been given!

I ventured different parts of the event and enjoyed them. I, however, also expected a bit more futuristic flavor from the festival. Felt that the festival was kind of past oriented. Here is my two main observations (and suggestions):

  1. The festival was full of programs but there was no science/technology related discussion of any form! Why not, who knows! Today, our life, ‘liberty’, literature, language, likings inundated by so many technological innovations (facebook, twitter, sms, apps, robotics, vr, etc). When we are gradually moving from writing to typing, typing to touching, touching to gesturing, and gesturing to ‘thinking’ – hundreds of topics can be think of to discuss about related to science and technology. Let’s do a quick, fun exercise about possible topics: (Again, this is just for fun)
    • ‘The Face of Bangla e-books’,
    • ‘Internet and Bangla Language: Today’,
    • ‘Possibility of a Bangla Bing/Google’
    • ‘One and Unified Bangla Typewriter’,
    • ‘Publishing Top-notch Online Bangla Newspaper’,
    • ‘Bangla Language: Year 2100′,
    • ‘Self-publishing Technology and Bangla Book Publishing’,
    • ‘Moimonshingho Gitika and the Psychology of Bengali’,
    • ‘The Science of Charchapod‘,
    • ‘Neurology of Language: Bangladesh Perspective‘. (ok, time’s up)
  2. Out of the all the programs, I enjoyed youth forum the most. Ok, I would not say it extraordinarily fancy and fantastic but it was very dynamic, hopeful, energetic and in English. This 2-day youth program was “designed, coordinated, conducted and presented by second generation Bengalis“. Young Bangladeshi-Americans presented and discussed various topics about entrepreneurship, politics, importance of volunteering, first generation immigrant experience, history of Bangladesh, making film in USA, community connection through photography, response to domestic violence, etc. Even with poor audio system, and hard to show their slides (due to bright light in the room), the youth presenters tried their best to make it interesting, informative and engaging. The discussion was entirely in English, which was natural and a right thing to do. While adults were debating whether new generation Bangladeshi-Americans should learn Bangla to be a Bengali, in the next room, the young’s were busy presenting their ideas in English in full swing. Unfortunately, not enough first generation audiences were there to listen to them! A meaningful dialog/conversation between the first and the second generation immigrants about how to represent Bengali could have been arranged! What the new generation of Bangladeshi-Americans think of the Bengali culture remained unknown!

Other observations where things can be done differently:

  • Photo exhibition of Bangladesh Liberation War 1971 on the 2nd floor was an excellent inclusion. This should have been given more highlights. I almost missed it! Photo exhibition of Pavel Rahman was also interesting and maybe bit nostalgic for adult-enough Bangladeshis. It could have been displayed in a corner by creating a little more appropriate atmosphere.
  • Organizers can utilize internet to provide more information. Few simple spelling mistakes on the home page could be avoided where ‘New York’ became ‘Ney York’, ‘Bengali’ became ‘Benglai‘, etc. (Now, I am concerned about my mistakes!)
  • The event is over now. If someone need information about this festival (writings/pictures/videos) in coming years, how will they get them? Archiving the program of the event is an important work that can be done.
  • Next time, maybe a big prominent display at the venue entrance with clear directions of the room, programs, time etc. can be displayed; audio system can be improved, etc.

Lastly, looking beyond the limit is like loving the limitless – this occasion was a good practice of that. Thanks again, for organizing such a wonderful event.

Searching for the Bangladesh Society

Searching for the Bangladesh Society

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New York City Comptroller's Invitation
New York City Comptroller’s Invitation

The other day, as a member of a group, I received an email, stating that on the eve of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, New York City Comptroller’s office decided to honor the following honorees:

  • Dil Afroz “Nargis” Ahmed, President, Bangladesh Society
  • Tiloma Jayasinghe, Executive Director, Sakhi for South Asian Women
  • Grace Lyu-Volckhausen, Founding Board Member, Korean American League for Civic Action
  • Cao K. O, Former Executive Director, Asian American Federation, and
  • Liu Tee Shu, President, Flushing Chinese Business Association

The person who forwarded the email to us noticed that the President of the Bangladesh Society is one of the honorees and therefore, I assume, the sender felt that someone might be interested in this event. – And there I was! My interest was to know more about the Bangladesh Society and it’s honorable president as well as other honorees and their organizations. I tried to ‘google’ their names and names of their organizations. It was very easy to get information about following four honorees:

However, it was difficult to find any reliable information about other honoree – Dil Afroz “Nargis” Ahmed, and her organization, Bangladesh Society.

Searching online (using Google, Bing, Yahoo), “Dil Afroz “Nargis” Ahmed” and “Bangladesh Society” gave me some pictures of Ms. Dil Afroz and almost no information about Bangladesh Society. Searching with different variations (Bangladesh Society Inc, Bangladesh Society USA, etc.) was equally futile. However, the search for Bangladesh Society gave me names of few same/similar organizations but no information about the Society itself and its activities. A Facebook page with the same organization’s name has almost no information! There is no way to know whether this is indeed the Society’s Facebook page or not!

It seems like that the Bangladesh Society does not have any website, therefore, it is almost impossible to find any pertinent information about the Society, its activities or programs, its origin, its history, its staff etc.

Not finding information about the Bangladesh Society online certainly does not mean that the Society is not active or not beneficial to  the community. It simply raise a question – when many other ethnic communities (above honorees for example) have their online presence, why Bangladesh Society cannot maintain some kind of web presence?

According to some 3rd party unverified sources [here] and [here], Bangladesh Society is more than 37 years old and has more than 10,000 active members. How Bangladesh Society keep in touch with their vast number of members? Perhaps they are using phone, emails, personal contacts etc. However, anyone interested in knowing about the Bangladesh Society’s history, programs, activities, reasearch, impact, contribution, events will be disappointed by the lack of information about this long-standing organization as there is no way to know if you are an outsider.

By creating quality online contents, the Bangladesh Society can promote Bangladeshi culture more widely and effectively.
The Bangladesh Society can increase their effectiveness to promote Bangladeshi culture abroad by being more visible online. By using internet technology widely, wisely, effectively and timely, the Society can provide essential information to all. Creating and maintaining quality contents on a regular interval will also help the Society to attract more curious audience.

Bangladesh Tomorrow: Rethinking Left Politics

Bangladesh Tomorrow: Rethinking Left Politics

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Professor Anu Muhammad, Nazrul Islam, Naeem Mohaiemen, Ahmed Shamim, Dina Siddiqi, and Nayma Qayum talked on various sides of the issue at a seminar on  ‘Bangladesh Tomorrow: Rethinking Left Politics’ at the Graduate Center, CUNY on Tuesday, January 28th.  It was moderated by Humayun Kabir. Most of the attendees were, naturally, of Bangladeshi origin. The event was free. It was sponsored by South Asia Solidarity Initiative (SASI), AlalODulal.org and Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN).

The speakers at ‘Bangladesh Tomorrow: Rethinking Left Politic’s mentioned what has been going on in Bangladesh politics and why hope for a democratic Bangladesh is still a far cry.  They explained the situation from leftist point of view. It was well presented. I agreed with many points but some issues were not clear to me and it seemed like clarification was avoided, not because they wanted to make it vague but they could not have a clear answer yet. The speakers mentioned about Bangladeshi People’s struggle for a free and fair democratic system but how they have been squeezed between ‘dui mohila’ (two women) system – what Prof. Anu Muhammad calls “two jamindar parties.” Professor Anu mentioned how ordinary people worked, in some situations, to overcome unjust oppressive situations and were able to win over some demands! They wanted more of these kind action and awareness from Bangladeshi people.

The speakers hoped more conversation among the Bangladeshis living home and abroad about political condition in Bangladesh. For me, the brightest side of the event was to see many young people who attended. I enjoyed listening to the speakers. However, I wanted to know what the left are doing in Bangladesh to change the current situation? Are the left capable of bringing people together as a whole? Who are the PEOPLE  in the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh? Who represent the people? Do Bangladeshis think themselves as a ‘we the people’ first and or more of a class of people? Is there any innovative solution suggested by any parties?  What is the left’s approach to socialist ideas now as the world has been changing so fast?

In a writing, Prof.  Anu Muhammad stated that the Bangladeshi left’s own historic weaknesses and internal divisions have also contributed to this crisis of perception. And yet, as Anu Muhammad points out, “if the left is so insignificant, why do the mainstream parties spend so much energy trying to verbally attack us?” Well, because most of the time the strong fight with the weak and insignificant parties, not with the strong. There are many examples of that in history. Mainstream parties spend energy to attack left – not because left is significant but – that is a strategy for the strong. In the case Bangladesh, two mainstream ‘jamindar parties’ spend so much energy trying to verbally attack the left to divert people’s attention from the real issue.

I think there are many analytical problems in left politics in Bangladesh. It may be deeply rich in critical intellectual analysis but it could be much more reality-based to overcome its shortcomings.

From my part, I should think deeper about the issue. Congratulation to the organizer for the event and hope they will do more.

Bangladeshis Build Careers in New York Traffic

Bangladeshis Build Careers in New York Traffic

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By JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN

Above a Korean fried chicken restaurant in Jackson Heights, Queens, Showkat Khan worked the room of mostly Bangladeshi men, speaking Bengali with a few English phrases mixed in, his enthusiastic message of opportunity broadcast through a crackling amp. At one point, he held aloft a copy of New York City’s Civil Service newspaper, The Chief.

“You are here to make money in this country, and to get a better life,” Mr. Khan said.

There was more than one way toward that American dream, he acknowledged, outlining a few options. But one path seemed to stand above the others, if only because Mr. Khan had already paved the way: He is a traffic enforcement agent.

Mr. Khan is part of an influx of Bangladeshi immigrants who earn a living by writing parking summonses for the city, a curious and growing presence navigating the choking traffic and bumper-to-bumper sea of parked cars.

Bangladeshi immigrants, who represent less than 1 percent of the city’s population, now make up between 10 percent and 15 percent of the 3,000 traffic agents, Robert Cassar, the president of the union representing the agents, said.

The Friday after Thanksgiving, which many New Yorkers mistakenly believe offers a holiday reprieve from usual parking restrictions, is in fact one of the busiest days of the year for traffic agents. Mohammed Chowdhury, who is from Bangladesh and supervises traffic operations for much of Queens, said his officers might write three times as many tickets on that day.

“The next morning, everyone is feeling lazy; and who is going to get up and move the car?” he said. “If there is street cleaning on Friday where you live, almost 80 percent of the cars won’t be moved. They’ll all get ticketed.”

…Read the rest of the article here