Topics

1

Appreciation, Patience, Tolerance & Ethics / Returning to Allah

« on: September 17, 2018, 04:03:56 PM »

There is no escape from Almighty Allah. When final call comes, looking at the deceased, we utter "innalillahe wa inna ilaihe rajeun."

"Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return."
{Surah Baqarah, verse 156}

"Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection" {Surah Al Imran, Verse 3}

But What about the lived ones? We presume like we can escape from unwanting by avoiding and shielding us. We amass wealth/ power/ opportunities and every possibility we are cognizant of, assuming they would give us protection. Do they give protection? YES| Protection comes, definitely, only to the extent He wants to.

"Not a leaf falls but that He knows it." {Surah Al Anam verse 59}

"Who is there that can intercede with Him, except by His permission?" { Surah Baqarah, verse 255}

To Him lies the supremacy and success lies on how prompt we identify the calls whether it is a minor problem or major calamity and act on it with utmost submission before the final call comes.

"He is the Most High, the Most Great." { Surah Baqarah, verse 255}

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Appreciation, Patience, Tolerance & Ethics / be submissive

« on: September 17, 2018, 04:02:02 PM »

A bird nestled at my balcony, brought it's generation into existence, raised it and flown away with its adolescent, leaving behind its architectural beauty. I was wondering where did it learn to make its adobe whereas they were not trained to do such marvel by any man made facility with which we brag and boast for? This took me entering a step ahead into their creation and my creation and understanding to these;  making me submissive and nodded to my creator.

3

Be a Leader / dont live for just picking selfee

« on: September 17, 2018, 04:00:49 PM »

Was the best of you just for your self-eeee? Had the faculty been given just for arraying?
Wouldn't there be any questioning what  purpose it had been spent on?

In a materialized society, we are transforming into #showpiece

4

Be a Leader / know thyself

« on: September 17, 2018, 04:00:06 PM »

The one you are today, wouldn't be tomorrow; the selfie, the very best of you wouldn't last forever as it will endure downfall, if not today then tomorrow, definitely!

5

Be a Leader / carry on essence of ramadan

« on: September 17, 2018, 03:59:40 PM »

Essence of Ramadan lies in controlling desires and drives. Just physically, we fast and don't eat or drink no matter how hungry or thirsty we became just for the fear of Allah. Deep down, this fasting margin up our looking, talking, thinking and enters into controlling mental desires. In essence, we surrender to Almighty by surrendering our heart to him by abiding by him which leads us not to follow our urges recklessly. And it is a month long practice. If it is applied, later words, we will only be doing things which are permitted by our creator and abhor and refrain from those are prohibited for us and if commit sin would repent constantly. Therefore, those who believe hereafter, those who submitted themselves to their creator, it is a privilege for them to have Ramadan. May Allah help us realize the value of Ramadan and help us perform it how it is  demanded and pursue its aroma after Ramadan in daily life.

6

Be a Leader / be true on judgement

« on: September 17, 2018, 03:59:05 PM »

Becoming a gentleman, living a legend, fizzle motivation and moral compass is much easier than becoming a man who is judgemental  at any cost. And probably that's why we will be judged on the basis of our judgement on us and others on judgement day by the best judge with zero mistake.

7

Be a Leader / Go On

« on: September 17, 2018, 03:58:25 PM »

Evening is shaping, just started darkening, the dusk is going or arriving. Even whose nose is partial functional, can fathom there is grass somewhere near, although it is not as he may have nose but without having it been well connected to the brain how would he know like a  learned mind who would catch it up that it is a latched ground ready to slip him down! But the wiser soul who is forcasting his eyes of certainty are blindfolded.  Yes and  across the way, not surprisingly, as expected, there is  a yellow filament lamp, the emergence of it being viewed coming from a nearby hut. I don't know whether it is giving him goosebumps or hope or if it is justified for him to get the lamp off as if  he may have taken it as just a lamp. If I meet him, I would suggest him to go on lest the vicious circle engulf him from himself like myself.

8

Allah: My belief / Returning to Allah

« on: April 20, 2017, 11:28:07 AM »

When our boss is directing us something, some task, some to do list, some reminder...is it possible to avoid his concern, and if avoid, is it possible to avoid his anger and wrath and continuation with the job?


Then, the Supreme on, Upon Him we are bound to answer the duties, the responsibilities given upon us and living on His bounty, is it possible to avoid Him? and if yes then what is it which makes us leave his path?

O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous, [ Sura Al Intifar, verse 6]

9

Travel / Visit / Tour / on the way to jaflong Sylhet: ravishing beauty of nature: how it begins

« on: October 19, 2016, 11:04:18 AM »

With night long journey, clement weather made us gloomy, requiring us to take a nap at least of few hours and at that instance the gigantic house of Bapy mama was nothing but a glass of juicy syrup to quench our thrust,left us few hour lag in time to commence a daylong journey (would have been better) in a reduced form just before lunch, after having breakfast.

By the way, it began with driver Nizam, the car we rented, the white one, from Uttor bagbari, after filling it up a nearby CNG station.

10

Travel / Visit / Tour / Tera cotta Warrior site

« on: October 19, 2016, 10:55:30 AM »

On the last day of our trip, we visited another great monument of ancient Chinese civilization - the famous terracotta warrior site. Earlier that day, we arrived at Xian from Yulin, taking a 45 minute flight. After keeping our luggage at the hotel, we all hurried to the bus with the excitement of little kids on an exciting field trip.

It took two hours of bus ride to reach the site. After reaching the site, we found hundreds of tourists from home and abroad roaming around the site. It was like a festival, celebrating the Chinese heritage.

Due to time constraints, we only managed to see The First Emperor's Terra-Cotta Army exhibition area. It is made up of three pits containing the Terra-Cotta Army and an exhibition hall that features the bronze chariots and horses.

As we entered the first pit, we were awed by the enormity of the site. This is the largest pit and also the most-photographed one. Instead of listening to the tour guide, we all started photographing the enigmatic warriors. There is a large viewing platform, offering a full view of the pit with nearly 1,600 life-sized pottery figures and chariots.

Besides the pits, there were two sets of large painted bronze chariots and horses displayed at the exhibition hall, which were intended for the First Emperor's soul to go on his inspection of the country in the afterlife. In a corner of the site, there were archaeologists who were working on their findings.

 Chariots and smaller objects of the unearthed pits are on display at the Chariot Exhibition Hall. Along with them, there's an elaborate introduction of the details and functions of the tomb complex. After visiting the site, we bought some souvenirs; magnets with various motifs of the terracotta warriors imprinted on them. It was a great way to end the trip.

Five days in Xi'an and Yulin rewarded me with everlasting memories of China's timeless charm. There's still much more to discover, such as the Mountain Huashan, Famen Temple, Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River, Cave Dwellings and so on. I was already planning my next trip here during my departure flight to Bangladesh!

 

11

Travel / Visit / Tour / stone city of China

« on: October 19, 2016, 10:54:14 AM »

After a one hour bus ride, we reached the Shimao Stone City. In the bus, I learnt from Johnny that the Chinese word shi stands for stone while mao means high land. At the entrance, we were handed a brochure of the archaeological site, which stated that this was the largest Neolithic stone walled settlement in China, dating from 2300-1800 BC.

The local guide and our translator led us to the main site through a wood-built path snaking around the main site. As we were moving up, the wind was getting wilder and I was feeling the chill to the bone. The main site is kept open for visitors. It was an imperial complex in the centre, surrounded by one or two city walls. Shaped like a pyramid, the bottom of the structure is wider than the top, and it is over ten stories in height. Such a grand place could only be the residence of the city rulers. From this high platform, one could have an extensive view of the surrounding areas. If you come down, you will get into an oval shaped inner city area, which is again encircled by a crescent-shaped extension of the inner city. The layout of the stone-walled settlement indicated the principles of urban planning in ancient China. It also reveals that the stratification of people according to their accommodation in relation to the centre of the city has been going on since the birth of the concept of cities. Archaeologists found a large number of human skulls, particularly of women aged around twenty, buried near the walls. It shows that like many civilisations around world, the ritual of human sacrifice to build wall foundations was prevalent in this area while also giving an indication of the inferior status of suffered by women here. Instead of hiding this truth, the tour guide brought our attention to it, and I highly appreciated this. She might have wanted to show us how the Chinese society has progressed over centuries and reiterate the fact that Chinese women now live in a better and freer world. After a lot of selfies and group pictures, we again boarded the bus. But our wonderment refused to leave us. It requires a lot of planning and smart engineering to build such a vast city structure. From the site, we could also glean that there was a well-organised government and probably a well-developed social life in the Neolithic period in this part of China.

12

Travel / Visit / Tour / yellow river in China

« on: October 19, 2016, 10:53:23 AM »

From the top, you will get a view of another wonder of China - the Yellow River, which passes by the wall. The tour guide shared that this is the only site where the Yellow River and the Great Wall meets. There is an old fable about how an old cow used the powers that it had been granted by the gods to furrow a magnificent deep river, which has been giving boons to generations of Chinese people. Little wonder then that they revere this as the mother river.

13

Travel / Visit / Tour / culture in China

« on: October 19, 2016, 10:52:46 AM »

On our arrival at the entrance gate, we were greeted with melodious music buzzing from a nearby shop. Our translator explained to us that this was a popular folk music of the area. I was eager to listen to the music for a while but the tour guide hurried us along to collect the ticket and cross the decorative entry gate that led to the fortress.

When we were approaching the main structure, we were left spellbound by the grandeur of the construction. Around a 100 feet tall, the structure is protected by a wide base of rammed wall which gives you the impression of a great fortress. Our tour guide started climbing up the stairs and we followed him, intently listening to historical tidbits about this marvelous monument. But it is always difficult to keep your attention to historical facts when the real thing stands before you with all its mystery and glory. After reaching the top of the fortress, we encountered a local group of tourists who were very warm and welcoming to us, once again exemplifying the warmth and cordiality of Chinese culture.

14

Travel / Visit / Tour / Ancient China

« on: October 19, 2016, 10:52:00 AM »

China is one of the birth places of human civilisation. With an exotic historical past, China has attracted travellers and tourists from around the world for hundreds of years. In a recent trip to China, Shamsuddoza Sajen of The Daily Star has tried to get a glimpse of the grandeur of Ancient China through his visits to the Great Wall, the Shimao Site and the Terracota Warrior Sites.

When we talk about China, the image that generally comes to our mind is that of an economic miracle. But during a recent trip to China, I had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the achievements of ancient China, which is a testament to the grandiose of this primieval civilisation.

The tour was arranged by China Daily, a leading English newspaper of China. They had invited 20 journalists from 12 countries of Asia for a five-day stay, from Sept 24- Sept 28, and we had the opportunity to visit three important landmarks of ancient Chinese civilization.

On the first day of the trip, we visited the Zhenbei Observation Deck, which is about five to six kilometres away from Yulin, the northern most part of Shaanxi province. The largest watch tower along the Great Wall, the deck was constructed in 1607 during the Ming Dynasty.

15

Commerce / World Bank Commitment over climate change

« on: October 19, 2016, 10:47:47 AM »

The World Bank (WB) yesterday committed to providing Bangladesh with $2 billion over the next three years in fresh funding to help the nation tackle and adapt the negative impacts of climate change.

“Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change and we must do all we can to support the government in its efforts to adapt to this growing threat,” said WB Group President Jim Yong Kim making the announcement at a press conference.

The WB, which provided Bangladesh more than $24 billion in financing in the last 45 years, organised the press meet to share Kim's experience during the two-day visit in Bangladesh, first by a WB president in nearly a decade.

During the visit, Kim marked the End Poverty Day in Dhaka on October 17 and met with top policymakers, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

In his first trip to Bangladesh, Kim also visited rural communities, schools cum cyclone shelters and some rural houses lighted by solar power in the southern region.

“I met with people today [yesterday] who talked about the threats of cyclones and flooding,” he said making the pledge of financing for tackling climate change.

The $2 billion pledge for climate change mitigation is in addition to $1 billion pledged by Kim on October 17 to end childhood stunting in Bangladesh.


Both amounts are contingent on a successful replenishment of the International Development Association, the World Bank's fund for the poorest countries, which should be agreed in December, said the WB.

At the press conference, Kim said he is very impressed to see Bangladesh's innovation in fighting poverty, empowering women and battling climate change.

He also praised the security measures provided to him and his colleagues during his visit and said every country faces the threats of terrorism.

“There is no single country in the world, no matter how wealthy it is, that is free from threats of terrorism,” he said.

“We see it in the United States, Belgium and France and of course there was a great tragedy that occurred here last summer in Bangladesh. I can just tell you that the security I received during my visit was extremely impressive,” said Kim, responding to a question from the media.