Sensible Supporters

The supporters of Bangladesh cricket are no wonder having a good time after Tigers’ sensational defeat over India and South Africa. Just a word of reminder in these merry-making times, that cricket is after all a game and our players are mere humans. Its natural for supporters to expect a win or ‘good performance’ in every match that follows. But let us be loyal supporters to the Tigers, so that we don’t abandon them when they play bad and can’t meet the expectations. Let us take lessons from the burning neighborhood and refrain from burning effigies, destroying houses of our cricketers. Let us not allow the companies to commercialize the cricketers in every product endorsements. That way I hope we can keep the feet of our cricketers and our own expectations, both firmly on the ground.

Lost Camera, Lost Memories

I am still suffering from the loss occured in the Phi Phi Island, Thailand. I lost my digital camera there, along with many beautiful memories, the device is lost under the white sands of the beautiful island. The lost gadget can surely be replaced with a new one, but what about the moments? Especially the four snaps taken on the plane along with none other than Dr. Yunus, the first Bangladeshi and the third Bengali Nobel laureate! He was kind enough to accommodate me next to his seat and pose...I even gave him my visiting card and asked his whereabouts....I wished him luck and he sought 'our' support in his future endeavours. Well, it was like a trophy to me...the photos....alas it was so short-lived. Everytime I see him now in the newspapers, TV...and people taking photos with him, it pinches me real bad. I wish I had kept the camera with me that day...and not had given it to a friend, who misplaced it. I wish I had not got lost in the island on my way back to the ship, so that I could atleast search for the device....I wish...I get another chance to be next to the most coveted Bangladeshi of recent times.

Bengal Tigers in the Caribbeans

For a long time, some mouths needed to be shut, some critiques needed to be silenced, some insults needed to be retorted and the time has come to keep our heads high and start believing in our claws and jaws.

Hoping to witness the Tigers' forward and upward trails now and always.

Bangladeshi TV Channels in West Bengal

The rise of the electronic media in Bangladesh in the form of NTV, Channel i, RTV, Channel 1, Boishakhi, BanglaVision etc. had been phenomenal, impressive and gives the audience wider access to information, news and entertainment. US based STV and UK based Channel S are also catering to the Bangladeshi audience worldwide. My frustration lies in the fact that Bangladesh-based television channels are not broadcasted in West Bengal. It goes without saying that Bangladeshi TV channels are superior in presentation and content, informal sources also claim from time to time that there is demand from Bangla-speaking West Bengali audience for greater exposure to Bangladeshi entertainment programs, news, music etc.

Linguistic and cultural similarity between ‘Punjabi Indians’ and ‘Punjabi Pakistanis’ have prompted them to open their electronic media spaces to each other, encouraging exchange of cine personalities, performers, singers etc. resulting in synergy and cooperation among the Hindi/Urdu speaking audience. Bangladeshi TV channels also keep on inviting celebrities from West Bengal but the gesture is rarely reciprocated.

It seems that the satellite TV operators of West Bengal are united to resist broadcasting of Bangladeshi TV channels. I wonder what our TV channels are doing in policy level to cure this unfair restriction to a commendable Bangla-speaking audience in West Bengal. Cultural invasion is inevitable. I believe its payback time.