adhunika blog

From Our Archive:

The Days have changed, they say. Gone are the days when Bangladeshi girls were groomed from childhood to be able to impress their in laws in future. They were trained to be a versatile chef, an expert in stitching and sewing and sometimes a talented singer. Today Bangladeshi parents have become more open to their daughter’s prospects in life. Although a decent husband still tops the list, but parents these days are a little more flexible about their daughter’s education, their job prospects and most importantly their own choices and goals.

Maybe because of this change in perspectives and the strong will of Bangladeshi girls, women of Bangladesh have become a substantial part of the service sectors in the country. Not only that, different entrepreneurial loans towards women’s enterprises now encourage more and more women to come out of their households and participate in the economy of Bangladesh.

What is noticeable is that working environment in larger private sector offices are becoming more and more gender friendly these days. I was quite surprised to see facilities such as day care centers, women’s washrooms with special arrangements for Wazu, separate place for prayer, preference to women when it comes to using office transportation and policies which encourage a women employee’s appointment to be at a field office in her own home district or where her spouse is. Most private organizations also have separate gender policies which helps towards a sexual harassment free environment. (more…)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tigress Roar!

Player of the Tournament: Panna Ghosh (Bangladesh)
Wicket-keeper of the Tournament: Mina Khatun (Bangladesh)

Bangladesh overpowered Nepal by eight wickets to win the inaugural ACC Women’s Tournament in Johor Bahru. “It’s a victory for the whole nation and the cricket system,” said their captain Tajkia Akhtar. more

From Our Archive:

Since my little girl was born I made a pledge that I will make sure she can learn Bangla language and culture very well even though she will be growing up in the US. Now as a 3-yr old, she can speak fluent Bangla, enjoys bangla music and has even become a big fan of Close up 1 star Salma! 

I am still not too successful in keeping my promises though. Whenever I want to introduce her to some Bangla nursery rhymes I find it quite challenging to make my child interested in those. Let me explain why. 

The other day it was raining and I was reciting,
“Bisti pore tapur tupur noday elo baan, shib thakurer bie hobe tin konne daan”, wait a second, what is the significance of “tin konne daan” to a 3-yr old? 

Then I tried this one,
“baak bakum paira, mathay die taira, bou shajbe kalki, chorbe shonar palki”. Just imagine, why can’t they have some childlike fun without being a “bou”!  Listen to another one:
“Noton noton paira guli jhoton bedheche, oi parete chele meye naite nemeche, ke dekheche ke dekheche dada dekheche, dada-r hate kolom chilo chure mereche, ooh boddo legeche”. How did this one sound…that “Dada” couldn’t stand just a joyful moment where the children are enjoying their bath, so he throws a pen towards them and makes them hurt!

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The following post is written by our reader and participant Himadri Ahsan.

When Rabeya came out into the yard carrying tea for the guests, without lifting her eyes she could feel the eyes set on her creamy dark skin so prominent against the synthetic crème sari that had not lost its magnificent paleness in 12 years. After the guests had left Rabeya starts washing the dishes as she tries to ignore the continuous pouring of harsh comments from her mother with the sound of the running water from the tap.

Rabeya is 31 years old, well past society’s sell-by-date. The dinner was one of many dinners where yet another man had rejected her family’s marriage proposal. She was still wearing the crème synthetic sari her father bought her when she was 19 for her first marriage proposal. (more…)