As we’ve stated on this blog before, Mahmud is one of the most established photographers that Bangladesh has to offer, and with a long trail of successful publications behind him, supported by a dozen of international development agencies, his work is one you want to know and watch.

He’s launching a new book, entitled “Every Day is Another Day”, which according to its cover, is a historical look back at some of his best black and white work. Mahmud normally has these events at his home, if you’re interested in coming please RSVP by phone or e-mail first. The details:

Flat 4B; House 2D;
Road 73G; Gulshan 2; Dhaka.

Feb 06, 2010, Saturday
3 pm – 6 pm

phone: 01715 75 94 63
mahmudmap@yahoo.co.uk

We always heard about this mysterious, but hard to find yoga workshops held in Dhaka — we might have even joined some if I’d heard about it ahead of time. But finally we’re able to offer some information a little bit ahead of time here to you, the Joybangla.info readers.

The Art Of Living “Healing Breath” workshop is going to be held over the evenings and Friday of next week, and an orientation session held Friday 8 Jan from 5-7pm. We’ve heard the instructors come from India.

Full flyer available at this link.

Basic details here:
Date & Time: 10th Jan to 15th Jan
10th to 14th Jan.- 6 pm to 9.30 pm
15th Jan.—10 am to 6 pm

Orientation & Registration: 8th Jan Friday 5 to 7 pm
Venue: Pearl Fashion Institute, House 11, Road 6, Baridhara

For more details contact: Sajeev: 01713083639, Rafi: 01841070707

Enjoy the peace and energy of yoga!

Mosque today
Photography – Architecture – History
04-18.January2010 – Sun – Thur. 10.00-19.00
Inauguration on Monday 04.01.20010 at 17.00

PHOTO EXHIBITION: Mosques in Germany by Wilfried Dechau, Stuttgart/Germany

Approximately 3.5 million Muslims are currently living in Germany and since the 70s almost 2600 Islamic sacral buildings have been created all over the country. German mosques today are symbolizing a decades-long history of immigration but also it’s omissions. They demonstrate the presence and self-confidence of Muslim immigrants in Germany: We are building because we want to stay! This unsettles the way the majority of Germans sees itself and the way it is seen by the Islamic minority, stimulation debate on the position of Muslims within Germany society and the importance accorded them by the majority. The Stuttgart based photographer Wilfried Dechau has travelled through Germany, not only to take pictures of mosques buildings and their interior architecture but also of their socio-political context

PHOTO EXHIBITION: Contemporary Mosques of Bangladesh by Hasan Saifuddin Chandan/Bangladesh

The most famous mosques of Dhaka are the ones from the Mughal and pre-Mughal period but who takes attention on the beautiful new sacral buildings influenced by the architecture of the 50s, 60s and later modern architectural trends. Renowned photographer Hasan Saifuddin Chandan not only captured the structure and interior design of these buildings in his photographic lenses but also the different spheres of life which is linked with mosques today.

PHOTO DOCUMENTATION: Historical Mosques of Bangladesh by Babu Ahmed/Bangladesh

Bangladesh has a rich heritage of Mosque architecture. Erection of Mosque started in Bengal just after the arrival of the Muslims in 1204 CE .The Historical Mosques of Bangladesh could be divided in three major part, on the basis of their architectural style. They are – 1.Mosques of Sultani Period (1204 CE-1576 CE) 2. Mosques of Mughal Period (1576 CE – 1757 CE) 3. Mosques of Colonial Period (1757 CE- 1947 CE). The TRADITIONAL PHOTO GALLERY (TPG) gathered examples of each style in this exhibition. Most of these monuments are nowadays in a quite poor and neglected condition and need urgently preservation and restoration. Babu Ahmed founder of the TRADITIONAL PHOTO GALLERY (TPG) aims to uphold and present these mosques to the world through his photo documentation on historical mosques of Dhaka

VIRTUAL PHOTO EXHIBITION: Architecture and mosques in Bangladesh by Saif Ul Haque/Bangladesh

This will be a digital presentation of few selected contemporary mosques in Bangladesh designed by architects. Prominent architect Saif Ul Haque will present the different aspects of mosques from his architectural perspective which will contain plans, designs, photographs and more information on mosques in the context of planning and realization. Digital presentation will run Sun-Thur 10.00-19.00.

click poster for full size..Join us on Friday 18 December for the Sundown River Cruise.  We will leave from the BAGHA Club on road 44 in Gulshan at 11:00 in private transport and enjoy an hour’s drive through Dhaka to Demra.  There, we will board the boat and begin a relaxing journey down the Shitalakhaya River.  After that:  food, drink, sunset and the company of good people.

This fully-furnished experience – transport, a memorable day on the water, lunch and cold beers – is offered at a minimal cost of 3,600 taka.  All you need are your camera and flipflops.  For bookings of four or more persons, we will deliver the tickets to your house or office.  For more information, call/SMS 01918 931 803 or email info@bigblue.com.bd.

Big Blue wants to create entertainment that excites guests and improves their quality of life in Bangladesh.  Help us and the community by spreading word of our efforts to your friends, family and colleagues.  If you’re on Facebook, visit our group page, which is the easiest way to find out about what’s coming up in the near future.  Alternatively, find us on Twitter (BigBlueInDhaka).

Since its inception only a few months ago, Big Blue has teamed up with the Bangladesh chapter of Future Shorts, the world’s largest short film network, the JAAGO Foundation children’s charity, the authors of the Bangladesh: Bradt Travel Guide, and Multimode Bangladesh, the parent company of Lal Teer, the largest seed distributor in Bangladesh.  It has enjoyed the support of event sponsors such as Etihad Airways, Dragonair, the Westin Dhaka, the Radisson Water Garden, Le Saigon, Contic Tours, and Olympic Industries Limited.  If you would like to work with Big Blue – whether you’ve got an idea, a need for event management assistance, or a desire to support one of our events – get in touch with us any time, any day.

Are you one of those poor souls who has yet to see and breathe the clean air of the countryside just outside of Dhaka??? Then this Friday daytrip is for you.

Hosted by Big Blue Entertainment, this is one of those rare opportunities to get you out of the city and relaxing with some road pops at a beautiful countryside house. From the hosts themselves:

“We’re planning a fun, enlightening, unique and incredibly-affordable day trip to Gazipur, only an hour’s drive from Gulshan. Private buses will depart at around 10:30 on Friday 20 November and stop first at the Lal Teer (Red Arrow) Seed Factory, which is the most renowned seed distributor in Bangladesh. We’ll take a fascinating tour of its premises, enjoy a traditional Bangladeshi lunch and then jump back in the buses for a ten-minute journey to a private, stunning rest spot, the Awal Farmhouse, that includes picnic areas, a massive garden comprising plantlife from around the world, and opportunities to fish, enjoy a nature walk and take in the fresh air and open space.

For those who are interested, we’re organizing a very informal football tournament, while everyone else can sunbathe, tour the garden, take advantage of amazing photographic opportunities, and experience the finest of Bangladesh’s nature and climate. Towards the late afternoon: high tea, followed by a relaxing trip back to Gulshan.

For lovers of the outdoors, photographers, families, football enthusiasts, those who are interested in learning about agriculture and industry in Bangladesh, and people who wish to meet some new friends, this is a great tour package.”

Details:
~10:30 departure in private buses from the BAGHA Club on road 44
~tour of the Lal Teer Seed Factory
~traditional Bangladeshi lunch
~several hours at the Awal Farmhouse
~informal football tournament for anyone who’s interested
~high tea
~early evening arrival at the BAGHA Club
~only 2,000 taka (1,500 for children under 12)
~beers included
~50 places available

To get more details, please contact 01918 931 803 or e-mail info@bigblue.com.bd.

Click on image for full size version.

Elisabeth Fahrni Mansur & Rubaiyat Mansur are normally a modest pair. But if you ask them anything about the Sundarbans, that quickly changes.

When it comes to promoting cetacean conservation, under the banner of the Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project, you’ll quickly find they are staunch advocates of the whales and dolphins of Bangladesh. Having long worked as tour guides and researchers, their work has gone largely unnoticed, until recently, when they announced they had discovered that Bangladesh’s estuarine areas, especially around the Sundarbans, held massive populations of whales and dolphins.

Today we are proud to help them promote their new photography book on the Sundarban mangrove forest. The coffee table book is a joint production between the pair and German photographers Dr. Gertrud Neumann-Denzau and Dr. Helmut Denzau, who have been shooting inside this pristine forest for over 20 years. Entitled Living with Tides and Tigers – The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, the book will help promote worldwide awareness of this unique nature sanctuary and home to the Royal Bengal Tiger.

A message from Elisabeth & Rubaiyat:

Dear Friends,

We are pleased to announce the launching of our new book ‘Living with Tides and Tigers – The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest’.

The stunning collection of photographs documents the wildlife, various ecological aspects and the people of this unique jungle. Interspersed with personal accounts about our experiences over the past nearly twenty years in the forest and insightful back-ground information, the attractive coffee-table book aims to increase awareness about this fragile ecosystem.

It is available from www.mowgliz.com, www.amazon.de from November 10th 2009, and will be available in Bangladesh from December 8th 2009 – making it an ideal Christmas present or Company Year-End gift!

Thank you for your interest and support,
Rubaiyat Mansur Mowgli & Elisabeth Fahrni Mansur

Click here for full size poster..

We’re at it again with some upcoming tours surrounding the book launch.

Saturday Sailing Expedition

Fancy a relaxing day out of Dhaka on a restored Bangladeshi sailing boat? Then join us for an unforgettable day cruise on the B613, a luxurious sailing boat created and maintained by Contic Tours. The boat will depart from Narayanganj, just south of Dhaka and travel to Mawa launch ghat for the return journey to Dhaka by road.

BOOKING REQUIRED
Capacity is limited so book now by calling 01918 931 803. A 50% deposit is required to complete your booking.

COST INCLUDES:
• return transport to/from the boat
• delicious mixed Western/Bengali lunch
• soft drinks (BYO permitted)

Chittagong Hill Tracts Treks

4-7 October & 16-19 October
US$250 ex Chittagong
Chittagong – Ruma (1N) – Boga Lake (2N) – Kewkradang – Bandarban (1N)

BOOKING REQUIRED
Only TWO spaces are available for each trip. Have more questions? Contact Mikey
at joybangla.info@gmail.com.

COST INCLUDES:
• private transport to/from Chittagong
• all meals, porters, professional guides
• all permission requirements
• 4N accommodation

Bangladesh: The Bradt Travel Guide Book Launch party, 1 Oct, Dhaka, click poster to see full size

After many months of research, photography, writing and editing, Bangladesh: The Bradt Travel Guide is finally ready to be released! Books are now on their way to Dhaka for a big launch bash, held on 1 Oct at the Australian High Commission Recreation Centre, otherwise known as the Aussie club.

We hope you can join us for this special launch event, which will also double as the normal Aussie BBQ and fundraising evening. Authors Mikey Leung and Belinda Meggitt will both be present at the event: this is your chance to meet the authors and take home a signed copy of the new guide.

We are also raising funds for our friends at Jaago, who operate a school for disadvantaged children in Dhaka and also run a hospitality training course for young adults.

Finally, we are much indebted to the Australian High Commission for allowing us to host this event using their facility.

Details
The event is open to all expat club card holders and members of the general public.

Non-club card holders MUST e-mail the Australian High Commission to register their attendance in advance at ahc.dhaka [at] dfat.gov.au.

Costs
BBQ: Tk900 (you don’t have to eat to attend); Children Tk400; Tk100 will be donated to JAAGO from adult cost.
Book Cost: Tk1,800

Questions?
mobile: 01711 591 211 // 01918 931 803
e-mail: joybangla.info [at] gmail.com

Nazimgarh Resort and Joybangla.info are happy to present a very special opportunity for two (or maybe three) lucky couples or a small group of friends — a free weekend stay from May 14-16th at what is currently Bangladesh’s best luxury resort.

We are looking for two bideshi couples (or a group of four friends) whose job it will be to eat some good meals, tour the local area and enjoy the new facilities at Nazimgarh Resort for the weekend of May 14-16th. The only catch is that you will have to do this on camera, and that’s why we’re looking for two bideshi couples to play the role of happy tourists, and who won’t be camera shy.

Transport to/from the resort you’ll have to take care of your own, but we can help you make the arrangements whether by flight or by bus. Once you’ve arrived in Sylhet we’ll take care of the rest. If you have your own vehicle already, great, the highway to Sylhet is excellent.

You’ll enjoy a tour of the local Khadimnagar Tea Garden, best explored by bicycle or on foot. You’ll also have a private boat tour to Lalakhal, where beautiful blue water spills out from the nearby hills of Meghalaya. We’re pretty sure that by Saturday you won’t want to return back to Dhaka.

This is a very rare chance to enjoy the hospitality of Nazimgarh. Because they are seeking willing models they’re willing to extend the hospitality for this special trip. Ideally we are looking for younger, energetic couples or a small group of friends.

To express your interest in this special trip please inform Mikey Leung by e-mail: joybangla.info@gmail.com. It would be good if you think of it like a bit of a contest — previous acting experience isn’t required but would definitely help out your cause. Please also let us know a bit about yourself — nationality and ages would be a good start — and attach a photograph too. Please send us your materials BEFORE noon on Sunday May 10.

Nazimgarh Resort has the final decision as this is their advertising initiative, and they’ll be footing the bill. But for a few lucky travellers this could be a lot of fun.

Thanks for your interest!

Best,
-Mikey Leung

—–
Joybangla.info
Events, Travel and Photography of Bangladesh
joybangla.info@gmail.com

~courtesy Moshiur R. Khandaker, Chief Executive, SAFE~

International Coastal Cleanup 2006: Bangladesh, originally uploaded by coastalcleanup.

SAFE has undertaken Cleanup Bangladesh Campaign in close cooperation with Clean Up The World campaign & Project AWARE. As part of this campaign Cleanup for Earth day will be held on April 22, 2009. Volunteers from different organization will be participating in this year’s beach and underwater Cleanup as part of an earth day activity at Cox’s bazar, St.Martin and Kuakata. It’s a great way for volunteers of all ages to learn about how to reduce the impact of waste and make a real difference in conserving the environment.

As a member of the ‘Clean Up The World’ campaign, our national efforts will be recognized internationally. Supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Clean Up The World is a global environmental initiative that attracts an estimated 35 million participants in more than 110 countries each year. To learn more about Clean up the World visit their website or the SAFE website.

Thousands of people across the globe will be having fun and getting wet to celebrate cleanup for Earth Day. A special SAFE team consists of doctors, first aiders & rescue personnel will be formed to ensure the health, safety and medical emergency of all the participants.

The main attractions of this event are following:

• Beach rubbish collection
• Separate recyclable rubbish
• Remove harmful marine debris
• Collect rubbish survey information
• Provide volunteers with a project AWARE Certificate of Recognition and more…

Thanks in advance for your co-operation. Your support in the Earth day activity will be highly appreciated.

Safety Assistance For Emergencies (SAFE); a leading voluntary organization born in Bangladesh protecting human lives, providing emergency medical aid to victims of any disaster and helping people avoid, prepare for, and cope with emergencies. Also strives to improve basic health, safety and environment issues in Bangladesh.

Click here for full size poster..

It’s time to escape the heat and head for the hills!

This April, join Bangladesh travel guru Mikey Leung for an unforgettable
Chittagong Hill Tracts Trek, co-organised with Bangladesh Eco-tours,
the hill tracts’ leading trek operator. The trek departs on April 14 from Chittagong and ends on April 18th, also in Chittagong.

Summary
An interesting tour focusing on the most interesting and least visited part of the country, the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Here you will experience the culture and lifestyle of the hidden indigenous people living there.

ACTIVITIES & HIGHLIGHTS
You’ll stay at quaint eco-cottages, enjoy a river cruise, the CHT’s New Year festival (Sangrai for Marma people), treks, handicraft shopping (or perhaps learning), bird watching, sightseeing & photography and most of all — absorbing the pristine atmosphere. Highlights include indigenous cultures, village-based education projects, tribal crafts, music, Buddhist Khyang and more.

DAY 01: Tue 14 Apr Arrive Chittagong
We greet you at Chittagong airport or train station. After a brief sightseeing tour of port city Chittagong we drive to south along the Arakan Highway and into the hills to a small tribal market town of Bandarban. After hotel check-in, you’ll enjoy the Sangrai, the new year festival of Marma tribe, then explore Buddhist temples and Stupas, wander through and photograph the indigenous bazaar or take a walk in the hills. Overnight at the Hillside Eco-lodge with great views of the Sangu river. Bandarban. (L/D)

DAY 02: Wed 15 Apr Bandarban to Ruma
This morning you’ll visit the local weekly market and able to see different tribal peoples arriving to trade for essentials, then drive to Ruma on a smaller hilly road. After a 2 hour drive, you’ll arrive at Ruma Ghat to board a small traditional wooden boat that will take us down the Sangu river to Ruma Bazar. At this time of year there will be little water in the river. This is a very small interesting and ‘relatively’ important riverside market inhabited by Bawm tribal people. In Ruma we’ll stay at the small local guesthouse (B/L/D)

DAY 03: Thu 16 Apr Ruma to Boga Lake, trekking
After breakfast, you’ll take a 5-6 hour trek up a creek valley. You’ll halt for bananas and tea at half-way point. On reaching the last section, the valley will narrow and you’ll have a short climb up the foothill and have some very nice views. The rest of the afternoon is free to rest and mingle in this small and friendly Bawm village. Overnight at a community-built guesthouse. (B/L/D)

DAY 04: Fri 17 Apr Boga Lake & Kewkradang
Today you spend all day at Boga lake village observing and perhaps helping out a bit in the daily life of these hill people. Optionally, you can take a shorter trek up to Darjeeling Para and see the peak of Keokeradang (highest point in Bangladesh). Or you can visit a nearby Marma Buddhist village below the lake. Overnight at a community-built guesthouse. (B/L/D)

DAY 05: Sat 18 Apr Boga Lake to Bandarban via Ruma
You take leave village hosts this morning and gradually trek down the small river valley to Ruma Bazaar. You then take a small wooden country boat to Bandarban and drive back to Chittagong. It was home to the largest population of British in Bengal next to Kolkata (Calcutta) during the colonial times.

We will also include an optional visit to the ship breaking yards where large ships are scrapped by hundreds of men by hand (lots of them), the recycling of gigantic ships by hand, a truly awesome sight! and also visit some recycling shop.

We drop you at airport to fly back to Dhaka or transfer to train station for the overnight journey. (B/L).

Note:
Please note that this tour plan is just a guide to what is planned. We remain open to your input and plans be adjusted to make your tour more interesting, relevant and exciting. It may also be modified due to unforeseen circumstances.

Deposit:
Trip deposit (US$100) will be required in order to book reservation for this trip. The maximum number of passengers is four.

Malaria Notes:
We will be trekking through malaria prone areas on this trip. While we don’t expect any problems, it is best to be prepared. Mosquito nets will be provided at all accommodation. It is highly recommended that you bring long-sleeved tops and bottoms for the evenings and wear mosquito repellent at all times. Guests must also begin the malaria prophylaxis before departure. Malaria testing facilities are widely available in the CHT.

While Bangladesh Ecotours and Joybangla.info are happy to offer advice and suggestions on anti-malarial measures, we cannot take any responsibility for the misconduct of guests who do not follow our advice. Passengers will be required to sign a waiver form to this effect before departure or they will not be allowed to participate on this trip.

Cost:
The trip cost is $425 USD, or 29,000BDT.

The trip cost includes:
-All meals as listed in the itinerary
-Private hire transport from Chittagong to Chittagong
-Accommodation at local guesthouses and villages
-Boat Ride on the Sangu River (Ruma to Bandarban)
-Obtaining government permits
-Local Tour Guide
-Foreign Professional Tour Leader

Trip cost does not include:
-Transport to/from Chittagong
-Gratuities
-Souvenirs
-Antimalarial medicines (available locally in CHT)

~story by Mikey Leung~

Have you got a book/movie recommendation for Bangladesh? Have a look at this list and let us know if you have something to add. The following is by no means an exhaustive list, just some of our favourites we’ve seen over the years from Bangladesh.

FICTION

• Shame by Taslima Nasreen. Published 1997 by Penguin Books. As a fictional account with a factual underpinning, this novel depicts the history surrounding the destruction of Babri Masjid in Uttar Pradesh through the eyes of a Hindu family in Bangladesh. The event had repercussions around South Asia, including the targeting of Hindus inside Bangladesh. The book garnered Nasreen a religious fatwah declaring she should be murdered and she very nearly was on several occasions during speaking engagements. She currently lives in exile in Paris.
• The Golden Age by Thamima Anam. Published 2007 by Harper Collins. Anam’s debut novel takes readers directly into a personal story of the Liberation War, told from view of Rehana Haque. The novel reveals the young widow’s attempts at a normal domestic life amidst the chaos and murder of the Liberation War.
• Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie. Published 1981 by Jonathan Cape. In his typical frenetic voice, Rushdie describes the tumultuous periods following partition through the eyes of the its protagonist, Saleem Sinai. The book has a component covering the Liberation War.
• Shantaram by David Gregory Roberts. Published 2003 by Scribe Publications. A hefty chronicle of ‘fictional’ criminal Lindsay Ford, a heroin addict turned bank robber who escapes from an Australian prison to Mumbai. While no part of the novel takes place in Bangladesh, Ford spends a portion of the novel living in a slum and serving as its doctor, mirroring Roberts’ own experiences in India’s commercial capital.
• The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh. Published A fictional novel depicting the natural and human hazards inhabiting the Sundarbans, told through the eyes of a passionate dolphin researcher. An excellent read to take before and during a Sundarbans journey.
• Selected Short Stories by Rabindranath Tagore. Published 2005 by Penguin Classics. An excellent grouping of Tagore’s most profound and humanistic short stories, forming part of the work that helped earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 (he won it primarily for Gitanjali, a book of his most famous poems).
• Selected Poems by Rabindranath Tagore. Published 2005 by Penguin Classics. The great majority of Tagore’s work has yet to be translated to English but thanks to the tireless efforts of William Radice, this book of Tagore’s poetry can be enjoyed by the English-speaking world.
• Jibananda Das, Selected Poems with an Introduction, Chronology, and Glossary. translated by Fakrul Alam. Published 1999 by University Press Limited. Largely acknowledged to be one of the best Bengali poets of the late 20th century, well after his death. Das’ poems received more attention due to its post-modernistic qualities, making him a scribe well ahead of his time.

NON-FICTION
Most of the below titles, save for Dr. Mohammad Yunus’ books, are hard to find although most are available on Amazon. Folk International and Words and Pages maintains the best collection of relevant titles in Gulshan, although the Bookworm, near the old airport, does yield a few gems. If you want to dig deeper, visit the collection of the University Press Limited in Motijheel or the bookstores at New Market.

• Reflections on the Water by James Novak. Published 1993 by University Press Limited and Indiana Press Limited. One of the most passionate accounts written on the history, birth and childhood of Bengal and Bangladesh. Novak was a correspondent based in Dhaka for several years during the 1980s. A must read for any visitor to Bangladesh.
• Postcards from Bangladesh by Sudeep Sen, Tanvir and Kelley Lynch. Published 2002 by University Press Limited. A lovingly crafted photography book and one of the best available on Bangladesh.
• Banker to the Poor by Mohammad Yunus. Published 2003 by the Grameen Bank. Dr. Yunus’ autobiography, including the history behind the founding of Grameen Bank. Available for purchase at Grameen Bank from their library.
• Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism by Mohammad Yunus. Published 2008 by the Grameen Bank. Dr. Yunus’ inspirational post-Nobel Prize book, where he details the potential of a new economic model that supports community development.
• A Quiet Violence: View from a Bangladesh Village by Betsy Hartmann and James K. Boyce. Published 1985 by Food First. Distinctly hard to find in Bangladesh, but a worthwhile read for its direct insights into village culture in post-war Bangladesh.
• Songs from the River’s Edge by Katy Gardner. Published 1997 by Pluto Press.
• Bangladesh: From a Nation to State by Craig Baxter. Published 1998 by Westview Press.
• The Bengal Borderland: Beyond State and Nation in South Asia by William van Schendel. Published 2005 by Anthem Press.

MOVIES

• Tears of Karnaphuli. Directed by Tanvir Mokammel. A documentary account of the effects of the Chittagong Hill Tracts’ Kaptai Dam. Provides great insight into the guerrilla insurgency that plagued the region until the 1997 peace treaty.
• Ganges. Created by BBC Natural History Unit, originally aired 2007. A fantastically filmed documentary on the natural and cultural significance of the Ganges river system, whose third component features footage from the Bangladeshi Sundarban.
• The Clay Bird (Matir Moyna). Directed 2002 by Tareque Masud. A film capturing the director’s own experiences growing up in a madrassah during the turbulent pre-Liberation War period. Highly recommended viewing.
• The Journey (Ontarjatra). Directed 2006 by Tareque Masud. A simply-filmed homecoming journey taken by a divorced mother and her son to their native Sylhet home to pay their last respects to the husband and father.
• The Apu Trilogy. Directed by Satyajit Ray. The most prominent work of the legendary Bengali film director.
• My Architect, A Son’s Journey. Directed 2003 by Nathaniel Khan. Documentary detailing Nathaniel Khan’s search for the soul of his late father, legendary architect Louis Khan. Includes some very rare footage of the inside of Bangladesh’s stunning National Assembly building.
• Bostrobalikara: the Garment Girls of Bangladesh. Directed 2007 by Tanvir Mokammel. A compelling inside look at 2 million people – mostly women – powering Bangladeshi’s burgeoning garment industry.
• Concert for Bangladesh. Film released 1972. Footage from George Harrison’s 1 Aug 1971 benefit concerts that raised money for the refugees of the Liberation War.

Click here to see the flyer in full size.

• Do you want to improve your digital photography?
• Just bought a new DSLR and need to learn more about how to use it?
• Do you want the opportunity to travel and shoot Bangladesh’s rivers on a luxurious historic sailboat?
• Would you like to see your photos published internationally?

If so, this is a journey you can’t afford to miss.

Contic Tours and Joybangla.Info are proud to present an exclusive photography opportunity. On Feb. 6th and 7th (Fri & Sat), join travel journalist Mikey Leung as he conducts a unique photography workshop – from the boat. Experience the ambience of untouched countryside as you cruise in luxury along the land of a thousand pictures.

This luxurious journey and training includes all meals, soft drinks*, transfers, two intensive photography tutorials customised to group needs, plus a written critique of your resulting images. Please contact us for more details. (* – byob)

Mikey Leung has over 10 years experience in news and travel photography. He is currently writing a new guidebook to Bangladesh for UK-based Bradt Travel Guides.

Contact us for more details:

Contic Tours:
3/F Hse 23, Rd 121, Gulshan 1; tel: 881 4823, 881 4824, email: info@contic.com

Mikey Leung:
joybangla.info [AT] gmail.com; 01714 361 173

You’ve newly arrived in Bangladesh and you’re amazed at the colour and the energy that this country possesses. Each day is a flowing reel of potential images, bursting with human energy. So what should you try and capture in the camera?

Here are some composition tips for getting your viewers ‘into your frame.’ For the full session, you’ll need to come to the training session held on these topics at the Nordic Club next Monday 2 February, see end for more details.

STRONGER COMPOSITIONS MAKES FOR STRONGER PHOTOGRAPHY
Get closer, get intimate – wide angles versus telephotos
One of the biggest limitations of great photography is weak legs. To create a sense of place inside your images you need to be inside that place, and preferably as close as possible. Do not use a telephoto to compensate for getting close to a subject, unless there is some kind of compositional element you desire, or you’re trying to create a candid photograph while remaining unnoticed. You’ve got to move around when you shoot, use your legs, stand on things, bend down and get different angles. A camera, held only at eye level, will produces only eye-level pictures, but it’s best to mix things up as much as possible.

The Rule of Thirds
Imagine a tic-tac-toe box and try composing along those lines with vertical or horizontal lines. Images that have the horizon in the center or faces placed in the center of the photograph deflate the potential visual impact of a photograph that positions the elements on a rule-of-thirds.

Light, the essential ingredient
Good light will help you get that magic shot, so consider that before, during and after your shoot. The best times of day to shoot are for the few hours before dawn, and for the few hours before dusk. If you must shoot at mid-day, position your subjects in a way that the contrast is not too high.

WHAT TO SHOOT?
People and Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, there’s a fantastic opportunity for you to capture amazing photographs of people. If you’re not comfortable shooting people now, start with children. Women have an especially unique opportunity in Bangladesh to photograph other women.

Colour
Dhaka, one of the most frenetic cities on Earth, is actually quite a pleasurable place to go out and take photographs. Outside the city, Bangladesh is an overwhelmingly rural country beset with rivers and so rivers and fields are an integral part of the Bangladeshi existence. These provide good themes for the travel photographer and hence the challenge will be to be in the right places at the right times.

EDIT, EDIT AND EDIT SOME MORE
On Camera
I use two editing processes in my work. The first is ‘on camera’ editing, where I will go through what I’ve shot in a day and delete images that just don’t speak up as loudly as the others.

On Screen
The second edit comes ‘on screen.’ Take your photographs home and if you’re a Mac user like me, rate them so you can quickly discover what your best photographs are. Start getting objective about your photos by pretending that you’re another person viewing them.

For your audience
When showing your images, do remember that ‘less is more.’ I can think of nothing more boring than seeing 300 photos of my friend’s vacation in wherever, half of which were just a different angle on the same thing.

What’s the story?
Storytelling is an art as old as humankind. Ask yourself, what’s the story behind my photos? Ask yourself why somebody would be interested in these things, and what would they have to learn from what you have to show them. In this way, we start drawing out a series of images that communicate something.

The Perfect Frame Part 2: Composition Tips click the photo for full-size preview
Monday, February 2; Nordic Club Hse 18, Rd 55; 18.30 to 20.00; Tk1,500 each. Attendance will be limited to 15 students so register now. If you’re not an expat club card holder then give me a call at 01714 361 173, and we’ll get your name on the list at the gate.

To register, drop me an e-mail at joybangla.info AT gmail.com. Provide your name and phone number and I’ll send you a confirmation.

If you’d like to hear about events like this in future, click here to subscribe to the Joybangla.Info website. You will receive e-mails when a new entry, event, or any tidbit of interesting information is released via this website.

Do you want to create striking photos of Bangladesh with your newly purchased digital camera? If so, you must learn the basics of exposure first, or you’ll find it difficult to make your photography excel to a new level.

Here’s a quick guide to some of the most useful functions of your camera. Whether you own a compact digital or a digital SLR, these tips should prove useful. (A training session will be held on these topics at the Nordic Club next Monday 26 January, see end for more details.)

Let’s start the tutorial with a glossary of terms.

Lens Aperture: The aperture is the diaphragm of a lens. It can let in more or less light through the lens.

Shutter speed: The shutter of a camera is the gatekeeper of light. When the gate is open for a longer time (eg 1/15th of a second), more light hits the sensor, causing a ‘brighter’ exposure. Conversely, the gate can be open for a shorter time (1/500th of a second), causing a ‘darker’ exposure.

ISO: The ISO setting controls the amount of light needed to ‘properly expose’ a picture. With a high ISO (eg 1600) less light is required for good exposure, but the image fidelity decreases. With a low ISO (eg 200), more light is required but the image quality is higher.

So far so good? If not, don’t worry. The training session is definitely for you and I’ll make sure you understand before it’s over. Now let’s consider how the three concepts tie up.

Each of the three concepts are related mathematically. But since we’re not into math very much, here’s the easy way to understand it.

Let’s say we’ve got one potential image with a certain amount of light.

With that light, if you increase your shutter speed, you will also need to increase the aperture size to get a correct exposure.

Conversely, if you decrease your shutter speed, the aperture size must also decrease to get correct exposure. This is what’s happening in the above photo. The shutter speed is low, causing the people in the foreground to blur. But to compensate the shutter speed became faster.

If you increase your ISO, you can use a lower shutter speed and/or a smaller aperture. But then the image quality will decrease, because of colour ‘noise.’

At this point, if you’re confused by all this but still want to learn, you should come to the session at the Nordic Club next Monday, Jan 26, so I can explain it in person.

But if you’re following me so far, then I’m going to introduce two more concepts that will prove useful for your photography in the future.

Depth of Field
Lenses have a special property that is a result of physics known as ‘depth of field.’ This can have a dramatic effect on your resulting photographs.

When the aperture is wide open, the depth of field is very short. In other words, your foreground and background objects will be hard to focus at the same time. This is known as a ‘low depth of field.’

When the aperture is very small, the depth of field is very long. You can have background and foreground objects in focus at the same time.

Motion Blur
When it comes to shutter speed, there’s one ‘golden rule’ that you MUST remember — shutter speed must be HIGHER than the focal length of your lens, or else you could get motion blur, ruining the potential perfect frame.

This is particularly an issue in dark situations, like when you’re indoors or when it’s dusk.

If it’s too dark, you’ll need to switch the flash on in order to get enough light to expose the picture.

If the above is at all confusing, I highly recommend you attend my technical photography tutorial where I will explain all the above concepts in greater detail, and take the time to make sure you understand.

The Perfect Frame Part 1: Technical Training click the photo for full-size preview
Monday, January 26; Nordic Club Hse 18, Rd 55; 18.30 to 20.00; Tk1,500 each. Attendance will be limited to 15 students so register now. If you’re not an expat club card holder then give me a call at 01714 361 173, and we’ll get your name on the list at the gate.

To register, drop me an e-mail at joybangla.info AT gmail.com. Provide your name and phone number and I’ll send you a confirmation.

You’ve just arrived in Bangladesh, and quickly realise you’re in one of the world’s most photogenic countries. You’ve got a brand new camera but what now?

Here are five easy suggestions for taking better photos in this lovely country. (A FREE training session will be held on these topics at the Nordic Club next Monday 19 January.)

1. Don’t be shy. In Bangladesh, people absolutely love having their photograph taken. Unlike so many other countries where people are nervous being photographed by tourists, Bangladesh is the kind of country where you have to tell people NOT to jump into your frame! So don’t be shy, and snap away, especially photos of gorgeous Bangladeshi people.



2. Get closer. You’re in one of the world’s most densely populated countries, and it certainly feels like it. Instead of photographing somebody with a zoom lens across the street, try interacting with your subject while snapping frames at the same time. The more intimate the picture feels, the you’ll take your viewer into your frame.
3. Work in pairs. As a foreigner, you will attract loads of attention as you try to take pictures. So by working with another photographer, one of you can take the attention of the crowd by speaking some battered Bengali, while the other can snap away. This is about the only way you can get candid photos in Bangladesh.
4. Shoot at the right time of day. If you’re serious about your pictures you’ll be serious about your light. Shooting early in the morning or late in the afternoon produces photographs of a much higher quality because of the light, this is especially the case in the hazy skies of winter in Bangladesh.
5. Edit, edit, and edit some more. Taking pictures is fun but in order to improve your photography you need to be self-critical. By deleting several of the lower impact frames you’ll quickly discover frames that have more meaning and, more importantly, visual impact. When you’re a better editor, you’ll become a better photographer.

Are you interested hear about these five suggestions in person? Then please come to a FREE one-hour tutorial at the Nordic Club (Hse 18, Rd 55, Gulshan 2; tel: 882 1331) at 18.30 on Monday, 19 January. You need to have an expat club card to join the session.

Mikey will also host two more tutorial sessions at the Nordic club over the next three weeks.

Session 2: Technical Training – What’s going on in my camera?
Monday 26 January; 1.5 hours
- up to 15 participants, sign up by e-mailing joybangla.info AT gmail.com; please give your name and mobile number.
- Tk1,500 each; includes snacks

Session 3: Composition Training – What looks good in a picture?
Monday 2 February; 1.5 hours
- up to 15 participants, sign up by e-mailng joybangla.info AT gmail.com; please give your name and mobile number.
- Tk1,500 each; includes snacks

Photography Trips
January 30-31, 2008 – Pubail Resort (TBC)
February 6-7, 2008 – River Tour with Contic (TBC)

Do you want to know when events like this are planned AHEAD of time? Then subscribe to Joy Bangla by Email using the box in the left sidebar.

Thinking about planning your 2009 holidays in Bangladesh? Then the following list might be useful:

21 Feb International Mother Language Day.
10 Mar Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
26 Mar Independence Day.
14 Apr Bangla New Year.
1 May Labour Day.
9 May Buddha Purnima.
7 Aug Shab-e Barat (Ascension of the Prophet).
13 Aug Sri Krishno Jônmashṭomi.
15 Aug Bangabandhu Assasination Day.
18 Sept Shab e-Qadr (Evening of Destiny).
21 Sep (3 days) Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
28 Sept Durga Puja (Vijaya Dasami).
28 Nov (3 days) Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
16 Dec Victory Day (Bijoy Dibosh).
25 Dec Christmas Day
7 Nov National Revolution Day.
28 Dec & 8 Jan Ashura

~story by Mikey Leung~

Poet Allen Ginsberg was an American activist who penned many criticisms of his country’s military decisions, especially the Vietnam War. During his travels in India he spent a period in Kolkata during the time of the Bangladesh’s Liberation War and later wrote a poem describing the intense misery of refugees that he personally witnessed on a visit to the camps. Several million fled for Kolkata during the Liberation War. While the poem’s cadence strikes as little more than a nursery rhyme, its imagery still has intended effect of inducing nausea and sadness. This probably what Ginsberg wanted, although what is lesser known is that he had planned to make the poem a song.

Plus a Bengali interpretation of the poem sung by Moushimi Boumik:

If not, maybe you should find out. “White Gold”, as Swedish NGO the Swallows NGO has termed shrimp from Bangladesh, is one of the nation’s most environmentally threatening products.

This is because the shrimp farms require saline water. In a bid to increase production for the lucrative product, producers have forcibly taken land from poor villagers, according to the ‘Voices from Paikgacha’ short film produced by Gazi Mahtab Hassan and Katrin Aidnell. The film was part of a photo exhibition held earlier this year in Sweden and several other countries. A PDF containing photos from the exhibition is available by clicking here.

Increased demand for shrimp could result in great potential for land destruction, especially with respect to Sundarban, the world’s largest mangrove forest and home of the Royal Bengal Tiger. Because the land is inundated with salt as a result of shrimp farming, the surrounding landscape becomes infertile in a matter of two decades.

The decision of what to eat remains squarely with travellers. But because of this destructive practice, we recommend that travellers avoid eating prawns or shrimps in the country and by doing so, decrease demand for this environmentally harmful product.

Homaira and Taimur at it again—this time they’re expanding their tours to include other destinations in Old Dhaka, starting with a walk on 16 December to the historic boro and choto Katras (caravansarai), some of Old Dhaka’s ancient mosques, the Armenian Church, and then the Lalbagh Fort.

Previously, they have featured tours of Shakhari Bazar (also known as Hindu Street) and the Sutrapur/Farashganj areas, where there are a number of old and decaying buildings that still somehow manage to demonstrate the majesty of Dhaka’s former glory.

Contact Taimur and Homaira directly for more info, and to get on their mailing list to be notified of future walks exploring Old Dhaka.

Urban Study Group
Hse 29 (2nd Floor), Road 1
Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1205
tel: 01819 248408
e-mail: usg.dhaka [AT] gmail.com