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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
