First post from smart phone

Well, we know smart phone is nothing new. It's already several years Apple has invented this awesome product. But still it's a new thing in Bangladesh. So it's a good feeling for me to own a smart phone like Samsung Galaxy S3. Now I shall be able to access internet more frequently which in turn means that now I can blog anytime, I can access Facebook anywhere, I can share photos instantly and more importantly I can check email so often.
Anyhow, this is my first blog post from my smart phone.
Best wishes for my readers.

Legal yet deceptive

Have you ever used Grameen Phone's internet packages? If so perhaps you have noticed how Grameen Phone steal your money in a deceptive way. Right now P5 and P6 module is very popular to people where broad band is not available or who need mobility. See following notes regarding these two internet packages of Grameen Phone (taken directly from their webpage http://www.grameenphone.com/index.php?id=470):

• Subscribers will be able to perform multiple requests, even when using the same package, with multiple charges.
• After crossing the usage limit (1GB or 30 days whichever finishes first for P6 & 3GB or 30 days whichever finishes first for P5), P1 (BDT 0.02/KB) charges will be applicable
• The validity of the package will be 30 days (1 month) from the date of purchase
• Subscribers will not be notified after expiration of usage limit. But only prepaid subscribers will be able to check balance through USSD balance check (just dial *566*10#) or sending SMS (type info and send it to 5000.) Postpaid subscribers will be able to check balance by sending SMS (type info and send it to 5000.)
• SMS charge+VAT will be applicable for balance checking.

Wow! may I ask the Grameen Phone authority why you don't feel any responsibility to inform your valued customer before auto switching to P1 module? You have all the instruments available in your hand to inform and/or take permission from your customers before switching to a highly costly option. Charge for P5 is BDT 0.233/MB, for P6 BDT 0.30/MB while it is TK 20 per MB for P1 module. Which means P1 is 85 times costlier than P5 and 66 times costlier than P6.

Imposing a 66-87 times higher cost system to any customer without giving him any kind of notice is a solid deception in all consideration. The user may be easily notified by SMS or may be prompted on computer screen before switching to P1, or simply the connection may be discontinued so that the user can subscribe again manually.

While this action may not be illegal but it fails to fulfill any kind of moral obligation. Is just profit the motto of GP? Don't they have any moral obligation to their customers?

Update (14 Feb, 2011):
Grameen Phone has now set a daily spending limit for the P1 package. Now maximum bill for any particular day is Tk 20 but after 10 MB of usage your speed will be half (their support team informed me this when I talked with them). It seems like an acceptable solution.
Still a lot of policies of the company are not fair or well disclosed to the customers. They advertise keep a lot of rules hidden which costs the customers a lot.

International Mother Language Day 2009

Today is International Mother Language Day. Here we call it as "Shahid Dibas". I visited central Shahid Minar with my whole family. My little boy, nephew and niece have been excited getting the opportunity to pay homage with banquote to our language martyrs. They each were holding two flags of Bangladesh in their hands. We all hold black batches.

Central Shahid Minar in front of Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh

In 1952, the Bangalis organised a movement demanding to give Bangla as status of official language of the state along with Urdu. Finally the demand was established for the shake of some lives. We are proud of those martyrs. I don't know where there is any other mass movement in the world for mother language. UNESCO has declared the day (21st February) as International Mother Language Day.

Dhaka International Trade Fair 2009

Yesterday (16 February 2009, Friday), I visited Dhaka International Trade Fair 2009 with my family members. We stayed there for about 3 hours and shopped few items including a toy and a cap for my little son.

This year's arrangement is a bit better than last year. Introduction of a Child Care Center is a adorable step. Although there was no sitting arrangement inside the Child Care center and the floor was so dirty. Still it's a step worth praise. We always need to think about our children and mothers.

There was arrangement to watch Bangladesh-Sri Lanka cricket match inside the fair compound which is amazing. Unfortunately Bangladesh lost the match.

On last year I objection regarding sound volume of advertisements inside the fair (see Dhaka International Trade Fair 2008). This year it's a bit soothing. Sound volume still should be lowered. Broadcasting annoying advertisements is not purpose of the fair.

On last year, my another disappointment was with quality of food. This year it's a little better though. Thanks to the Star Kebab (although I have heard that they aren't genuine Star Kebab of Dhanmondi).

Nobody shows respect to National Anthem

I along with some family members went to watch a movie in the Modhumita Cinema Hall located at Motijheel, Dhaka. It was 3rd day of Eid festival i.e. 4th October 2008. The hall was almost houseful. Before starting the cinema show the hall authority played National Anthem as usual.  But not a single person stood to show respect to national anthem except me and my fellow team mates. Although before starting to play the national anthem,  it was requested on the large screen to show respect to national anthem.

It is very much unfortunate than few guys even showed audacity to criticize us when we (the only few) stood up to vow respect to our national anthem. This is a clear indication of how we disregard patriotism. 

It seems there should be some law enforcement to show proper respect to national anthem although it is true that patriotism can't be ensured with law. There is no scope to take the issue lightly. If we don't have minimum amount of love for our country to show respect to our national anthem how we shall achieve economic progress. A nation can't progress unless they are patriot.

Mild Earthquake in Dhaka city

A mild earthquake jolts Dhaka city about 20 minutes ago (it's now 1:09 am, Sunday, July 27, 2008 Banladesh time).
So far there is no report of any casualties. It's also felt from the surrounding districts of Dhaka.

We need to get prepared for earthquake disaster. There are a lot of old buildings in Dhaka city which are highly vulnerable to earthquake attack. Those are mostly brick built structures.

Excessive use of glossy floor tiles

All the market and shop owners of Dhaka city are now on the race of placing tiles on their floors. All the expensive supermarkets already have tiles in their floors. Now even the ordinary markets mostly used by middle class people which are very much ordinary in their look and decor are also now placing tiles on floors. The main reasons are reduction of price of tiles in recent years and competition among the shop owners to attract shoppers.
There is no harm of using floor tiles. But the problem is that the owners are invariably using very much glossy floor tiles which are attractive and reflects light but dangerously slippery at the same time. Such floor tiles shouldn't be used in public places like markets. Specially where the children will go frequently, floor tiles used must not be slippery.
I regularly go to the 'Noorjahan Shopping Centre' of 'Anarkoli Super Market'. When I went there with my little boy he always enjoyed a lot since the shop has a lot of free space inside. So he enjoyed running to and fro inside the shop and even outside the shop. My experience of last visit few days ago was terrible. Now the floor of the shop is covered with glossy floor tiles. My little boy was stumbling while trying to walk and even fell down on the floor. Then I had to refrain him from walking inside the shop. I fear whether I shall enjoy shopping at 'Noorjahan Shopping Centre' like before.
This is only a case-study. But it's not a exceptional evidence. The shop and market owners are on severe competition to cover their floors with tiles (and obviously slippery & glossy tiles). May in the near future our markets will not be safe for our children.

Potato fair

On last Thursday (8th May 2008), I visited potato fair a Bangladesh China Friendship Centre. It's a good initiative to change our food habit. We are so much depended on rice. We need to diversify our foods: both for heath concern and for avoid food crisis. We are habituated of eating potato. But we eat potato as an alternate of vegetables while potato is actually an alternate of rice or wheat. Potato shouldn't be considered a alternate of vegetables. We must eat vegetables along with potato.

A lot of food varsities made of potato amazed me. I bought potato chicken roll. Everyone of my family liked it.

I hope potato will be a good substitute of rice in our country.

Got National ID Card

On last Monday (24th March, 2008) I got my National ID Card. National ID Card project is one of the historical job done by current caretaker government. Thanks to the government for taking this enormous job which is already 60% finished.
Getting the National ID Card is obviously a thrilling event. But it made me anxious at the same time. Spelling of name on my card as well as my wife's card is wrong. I don't know how to make the correction. I am anxious that I have to face difficulties with these faulty ID cards in the future. Address on my mother's ID card is wrong. I wonder how so many errors occurred. Another frustration is quality of the photo. Image used to prepare the ID card is very low resolution.

I hope the National ID Card project of Bangladesh government will be successfully completed and a trust-worthy, error free voter list will be prepared.

Sound pollution by Faizur Rahman Ideal Institute

"Faizur Rahman Ideal Institute" is a school located at Khilgaon B block, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is founded by the veteran ex-principal of Motijheel Ideal School.
The school has gained good success and earned credential among the people. It's now operating on three buildings. I wish every success of this school.

But they are creating unnecessary sound pollution in every morning while doing physical exercises for the students. They use microphone to give commands to the students in parade ground which is totally unnecessary. Perhaps they do so as part of publicity of their school. But we don't except such annoyed unwanted activities from a educational institute who suppose to teach their students how to be a good citizen. Aren't they conveying the message to their students indirectly that you may music in high volume whenever you like and make your neighbors annoyed since they are doing so early in the morning everyday?

I hope they will realize their mistake soon. May the almighty bless us all!

Call Center in Bangladesh very soon

Finally Bangladesh Government has taken step to set up call centers in the country. Congratulations to the care taker government to take the decision which the political government couldn't. Also thanks to the BTRC authority.

I hope our country will compete with India and earn good amount of foreign currency using the call centers.

Transportation problem of Dhaka city

Transportation is a big problem of Dhaka city. Traffic jam, scarcity of motorized vehicles, excessive number of non-motorized vehicles (mostly rickshaws) are some prominent problem of Dhaka city.
Government's policy controls number of motorized vehicles as permission is required to import motorized vehicles like CNG baby taxi. But there is no mechanism in force to control the number of non-motorized vehicles. Since number of motorized vehicles are controlled and there is demand, the number of non-motorized vehicles is increasing day by day to fill up the increasing transport demand. This increased number of non-motorized vehicles is creating further traffic jam on the roads.
Without controlling the number of non-motorized vehicles it is useless to control the number of motorized vehicles. If we have more motorized vehicles plying on the road then demand for rickshaws will be less. Which will help to reduce traffic congestion in the Dhaka city.

Jamuna Bridge cracked: so sad news

Jamuna Bridge is the largest bridge of Bangladesh and one of the long bridges of the world.
Unfortunately unwanted cracks were developed on the bridge surface just after putting the bridge on service. Then the consulting firm termed those as micro cracks and mentioned those were not harmful for the bridge.
But within a decade the cracks propagated further and the expansion joints are also now creating problems.
The bridge needs immediate repair to stop propagation of the cracks and it's faulty expansion joints. Otherwise it may loose it's serviceable life span.

International Mother Language Day

Today (21st February) we are observing International Mother Language Day. In 1952 our people sacrificed their lives to establish Bangla, our mother tongue as official state language.
Now the day is celebrated as International Mother Language Day. We are proud for our martyrs.

Visit to Moinamoti Salbon Vihara

On last 19th February, I visited Moinamoti Salbon Vihara at Comilla. It's one of the oldest archaeological spot of Bangladesh.
The site is 500 ft square. There is a main temple in the middle and a lot of small rooms in the boundaries.

I also visited BARD (Bangladesh Academy of Rural Development) on the occasion.

Bird Flu - Latest threat for Bangladesh

Bird Flue has come as a serious problem for Bangladesh. Just on last November we suffered from strong cyclone SIDR. Now bird flu is threatening to destroy fast growing poultry industry of Bangladesh.
We need to be careful and serious to face the problem.

May Allah save Bangladesh and its poultry industry!

Bangladesh is using only 10% of available bandwidth

According to reports published in local news papers, Bangladesh is using only 10% of available bandwidth for internet. Last year Bangladesh got connected with sub-marine optical fiber line spending about 5000 million local currency (Taka).
But we the Bangladeshis are stupid enough to use only 10% of available bandwidth. Bout government policy and the ISPs are responsible for the situation. Government has reduced fee for bandwidth from this month (February 2007) by 40%. But it is still to high. Price for bandwidth should be further lower by at least 75% so that at least 60% of band width are used.
Although the government is reducing the fee I doubt whether general people will get any significant benefit of it. The ISPs are not interested to buy more bandwidth as they are doing good business buying very limited bandwidth.
We must remember that a lot of renowned ISPs were involved in illegal VoIP business in the past. They just want their profit. They don't have any commitment to the society.
Bangladeshi internet users are victim of out dated government policy and evil motives of the ISPs. In fact ISPs are also controlling the government policy.

Anonymous person donated about one billion for SIDR affected people

I have just hear the news over our local TV channels that one anonymous person has donated about one billion for SIDR affected people in the coastal belt of Bangladesh. The exact amount donated is 9000 million in local currency (Bangladeshi Taka).
The person is willing to be anonymous. So no identification (even nationality) is not disclosed. It's the biggest amount donation so far for the SIDR affected people.

I did a google search few minutes ago. But couldn't find out the news on the net yet. Hopefully the news medias will disclose more details soon.

May Allah bless him.

Dhaka International Trade Fair

On last Saturday I visited Dhaka International Trade Fair 2008 with my family members. This is the first time I visited the fair.

It's a nice fair. The stalls are well decorated.

But volume of the microphones broadcasting announcements and advertisements was a bit loud.

Price of food items in the restaurant where we took lunch was very high while quality was very poor. They told the price is approved by the authority. I think it's quite high as compared to its quality.

I hope Dhaka International Trade Fair will help promoting exporting good or Bangladesh.

Dream for a speedy net connection

A speedy net connection is only a dream to me. I normally get only 2-6 KBps speed which is very poor in all consideration. Following image shows my internet speed when tested:

Now Bangladesh is connected with fiber optics cable line. Then why internet line is still so slow? Who are responsible: the ISPs or the government? Perhaps both. High price set by the government to purchase bandwidth bars the ISPs to purchase sufficient bandwidth. On the other hand there is not enough competition among the ISPs. Our ISPs have very poor infrastructural facilities. None (or may be a few) of them provide 24hr customer support although internet is an emergency service. They just want to make as much profit as possible with little investment. So they aren't purchasing enough bandwidth. In most of the cases they don't have expert manpower in their team. So when a technical fault happens it takes long time to fix the problem.