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| Home | Issues | The Daily Star Home | Volume 4, Issue 11, Tuesday March 20 , 2007 |
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Check It Out
The spirit of Bangal It is interesting to note that during the war, the Bangladeshi government printed national stamps and posters. This was to promote Bangladesh as an individual country on the global platform. In total, there were nine posters and eight stamps that were set to circulation. To honour this landmark event, Bangal is whipping out reproductions of these stamps and posters imprinted on T-shirts. So make a point to drop by their store: Bangal, 65 Aziz Super Market, Shahbag, Dhaka.
Shopnobaj celebrates Independence -LS Desk Chronicles Of Sam Q Dearest Diary,
We all woke up that night to the continuous cannonade of gunfire. Even today, the smell of a lit match is evocative of my memories of that particular night. Looking into the pale and frightened faces of our parents did not help either. We were quickly covered with thick hassocks and somehow got through the night. Thus, began our unstable, uncertain and nomadic life for the next nine months. We moved from house to house every couple of weeks. Sometimes we stayed with relatives, sometimes with family friends and sometimes in remote villages. I remember being fed mashed potato and rice for the longest period of time at a stretch. No wonder I have such close affinity with the wonderful vegetable that we call "aloo". But diary, now in hindsight, I can rightly say, we were the extremely lucky ones. Now when I compare notes with my husband, I think it is a miracle that he is alive today. On the night of 25th March 1971, he along with all the other male members of his family, the youngest being five years old were turned out onto the streets to die. And their house was right next to the Rajarbagh Police line, where the biggest massacre took place. Sometimes being young and not comprehending the gravity of certain situations actually helps. Ignorance is truly bliss at times. To me, it just seemed like a never-ending holiday. No school, playing with cousins; and while in the villages, leaves serving as toilet paper was such a hoot. But diary, now that I am in my phlegmatic years, and when I read, hear and see the contributions of our brave freedom fighters along with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and later, son of the soil, Ziaur Rahman's dream of making a glorious Bangladesh, I feel humbled and at the same time proud to be a part of the great victory. Proud to be the daughter of a man, who shouted,” Joy Bangla" in front of Hotel Intercontinental on 26th March 1971 and was shot at and mercifully spared. So today, on the eve of our 36th independence day, let us cleanse ourselves truly from the inside and be honest and selfless patriots. Let "Joy Bangla" be our mantra from now on. I remember one of my aunts making a similar curry while we had taken refuge in her house during the war. It had tasted like ambrosia to me. So now I have made up my own version of that particular dish. So, fish lovers, give it a shot. Pomfret Fish Curry 1 big pomfret cut into 4 pieces Method 1.) Mix dhania, cumin, turmeric and dry (cut) red chillies. 2.) Keep aside. 3.) Pour oil in a suitable sized pot and keep on low flame. 4.) Add onions, tomato, ginger and garlic paste and sauté on slow flame. 5.) Add the mixed dry masala to the preparation and sauté for another 3-4 minutes. 6.) Now add tamarind sauce and let it simmer. 7.) Add some water and let it simmer for another 3-4 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. 8.) Now add the fish pieces and let it cook. 9.) Serve hot with steamed rice. I sometimes fry the fish pieces with just a little salt at the very beginning of the cooking. It makes the fish firm and prevents it from breaking and adds to the taste. So, happy cooking the Sam Q. Way. |
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Tips When to replace common household items
Computers
Replace after: Four years Why: Unless you're using your computer for very basic functions (i.e., word processing), technology will have likely advanced enough that you need a significant upgrade. Rather than trying to put a new processor into an old computer, you're typically better off buying a new one. Upgrading your desktop is possible, but unless you're a technology whiz, that process can be as expensive as buying a new computer (and infinitely more complicated). Fire extinguishers Replace after: 10 to 12 years Why: The pressurised contents of a fire extinguisher de-pressurie over time. Extinguishers can deteriorate faster if left in a high-humidity environment. Check your extinguisher on a monthly basis for corrosion, a sure sign air is leaking out. Running (and walking) shoes Replace after: 300 to 500 miles run Why: Foam-like material in the mid-sole of the shoe stops bouncing back. And that can lead to heel and arch pain, or even stress fractures. Judge how much life is left in your shoes by the way they feel. When a running shoe becomes uncomfortable, it's time to toss it. (You can lengthen the life of your running shoes by alternating between two pairs. That gives the foam mid-sole time to decompress between runs.) Smoke alarms Replace after: 10 years Why: Constant stress on a smoke detector's sensors from particles in the air everything from cigarette smoke to pet dander to pollen render it unreliable. The result will be one of two extremes: either the smoke detector will sound the alarm for just about anything, or it won't go off at all. Spices Replace after: One year Why: Dried herbs and spices lose their flavour over time. Whole spices, such as star anise or coriander, may last slightly longer if less of the spice is exposed to the air. To tell if your spices are past their prime, open the bag or jar and take a whiff. Toothbrushes Replace after: Three months Why: Toothbrush bristles frayed from use remove plaque less effectively than those of a new brush. Swapping out your brush will also limit exposure to bacteria that build up on the bristles. -LS Desk |
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If you happen to be all hyped up about Independence Day, and are looking for something to project just that, Shadakalo may be just the place for you. To display your patriotic zeal, the Bangladeshi map has been printed on their T-shirts and their fatuas have been adorned with segments of the map. They have also been scrawled in screen print with lines from the famous poem “Shadhinota Tumi”. Price: T-shirts- Tk. 150-280 and fatuas- Tk. 420- 550.
1971. The year that we, as Bangladeshis, proudly hail as the birth of our independence. This is a primary mode of expressing our patriotism, our zest as a nation. 
Nostalgia. A word that is attached with feelings such as sadness, mixed with affection. Today while looking at the calendar, I was suddenly transported back to that fateful month of March in 1971. We all cherish and treasure good memories, but sadly, the onerous ones are there to stay as well. So diary, here I am today, trying to put down on paper (with the help of my nearly-Alzheimer-ed brain) little bits and pieces of those traumatic months which altered so many lives and the fate of our country.