LIFE AS IT IS

 I was at Panera Bread, waiting for my takeout sandwich and quietly observing the crowd. The place was full on a Friday evening. Except for one or two, all the tables were occupied.  My eyes fell on a lone elderly woman having her dinner over a salad and a sandwich at a nearby table. She watched something on her phone as she ate, and laughed quietly. She appeared to be around 75. Her hair and nails were done. She had delicate gold-rimmed glasses on, three bracelets and two rings on her right hand, and a watch on the other. She wore a full-sleeve white top with a thick gold chain and a pendant hanging just below the neckline. She was well put together.  The woman, in her autumn years, was all by herself on an October weekend eve. Yet, she looked happy and completely unbothered by the reality that she was eating alone in a bustling restaurant where most guests had come with friends or family. Some people don’t stop living until it’s truly time to say goodbye.  এদেশের ব...

আগে শুনতাম মেয়েরা নাকি "কুড়িতেই বুড়ি।" কিন্তু আমি বাস্তবে দেখতে পাচ্ছি উল্টোটা। সমবয়সী দম্পতিদের মধ্যে প্রায়ই দেখতে পাই মেয়েটাকে ছেলেটার চাইতে  বয়সে ছোট দেখায়। এইমাত্র এমন এক পরিচিত দম্পতির ছবি ইনস্টাগ্রামে দেখে এলাম।  একটি, দুটি অথবা তিনটি সন্তানের মা হবার পরেও অনেক চল্লিশোর্ধ মহিলাকে তরুণী বলে ভুল হয়। তারা সবাই যে Botox, fillers করে চামড়া টানটান করে রেখেছে এমন কিন্তু নয়। অবশ্য Botox, fillers ইত্যাদি না করলেও আমার বিশ্বাস skincare এখানে একটি বিষয়। পরিচিত প্রায় সব মেয়ে/মহিলা anti-aging cream, serums, face mask, sunscreen ইত্যাদি কমবেশি ব্যবহার করেন... পুরুষরা করেন না বলাই বাহুল্য।  এছাড়া চিকিৎসা বিজ্ঞানের উন্নতির কারণে মায়েদের গর্ভকালীন এবং গর্ভপরবর্তী জটিলতা আগের চাইতে কম হয়। পাশাপাশি অতীতের মতন নারীরা বর্তমানে আর পাঁচ, সাত অথবা দশটি সন্তানের মা হননা। ঘনঘন সন্তান ধারণ এবং সন্তান লালন-পালন মায়েদের তারুণ্যকে অল্প বয়সেই শুষে নিত।  শিক্ষার প্রসার, স্বাস্থ্য সচেতনতা এবং সময়ের সাথেসাথে পরিবারের আকার ছোট হয়ে যাওয়ার কারণে মেয়েরা আগের চাইতে অপুষ্টিতেও ...

  It is that time of the year when the Bangladeshi diaspora misses the tantalising aroma of masala chickpeas, mutton haleem, crispy eggplant fritters, and warm jilapi. They profoundly miss sitting around the dining table with family to break their fast as the melodious voice of the local muezzin recites the Maghrib prayer. The diaspora greatly misses the excitement of Eid shopping and the overall festive atmosphere that fills the holy month of Ramadan.  The Daily Star We spoke to some of our non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB) men and women to learn what they miss and how they observe Ramadan away from home. Mushfiqur R. Bhuiyan, Toronto, Canada Mushfiqur R. Bhuiyan is a Corporate Client Group director at Royal Bank of Canada. Bhuiyan, who moved to Canada in 2019, says that Ramadan days are just like any regular working day for him.  “Unlike in Bangladesh, where a revised office schedule is introduced during Ramadan, here, it is business as usual, which means that I am ex...

  What does patriotism or  deshprem  mean to you? To me, patriotism means love and devotion to my motherland. However, my love for my land is not blind or unconditional; it can question and point out flaws when necessary. I believe that patriotism does not mean unquestioningly supporting what one’s country does. Instead, it means taking a critical stance for national betterment. A nation that does not or cannot question is associated with authoritarianism or the suppression of dissent.  Patriotism manifests in various forms. We commonly associate patriotism with military service, as those who serve in the armed forces are ever-ready to sacrifice their lives for the nation. Patriotism is also closely linked to politics and politicians. However, ordinary people can be equally or almost equally patriotic, too; we witnessed ordinary people’s patriotic spirit during our nine-month-long Liberation War. Similarly, the nation witnessed ordinary people’s patriotic expressions...

 

The Daily Star   I tell my friends and family all the time that I may be physically present in the US, but in my heart and head, I live in Dhaka, most days and nights. Ask around, and you will see that I am not the only one who feels this way. It is quite a common emotion among us, non-resident Bangladeshis.  I get homesick in all seasons of the year. For instance, it is winter time now and friends and family who live in Bangladesh are posting photos of cold season festivities, from fairs to pitha utshob. The photos of winter foods and festivals on social media are pushing me deeper into nostalgia. No matter how much I wish, I cannot return home at this time to be part of all the merrymaking, so I find my own ways to comfort my homesick heart.  Two places in the US that feel closest to home are Jamaica and Jackson Heights in Queens, New York City (NYC). These are the two neighbourhoods where Bangladeshis from all over America come to experience the country they have left ...