2 Teaspoons olive oil

1 Cup chopped onions

2 Tablespoons pine nuts

1 Cup Basmati rice

1/2 Teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon

14.5 oz Reduced sodium chicken broth

1/2 Cup raisins

1/8 Teaspoon ground black pepper

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.

2. Add onion and pine nuts; cook until light golden brown ~ 3-5 minutes.

3. Stir in rice, cumin, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted and fragrant ~ 3 minutes.

4. Stir in 1/2 cup water, broth, raisins, and pepper.

5. Increase heat and bring to a boil.

6. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook 20 minutes.

7. Remove from heat; let stand covered for 5 minutes.

Serves: 5 – 3/4 cups

Calories: 240 Fat: 4g Saturated Fat: 0.5g Carbohydrates: 46g Fiber: 2g Sodium: 230mg Protein: 5g

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DAHAKA,Bangladesh, Nov 11 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government has taken initiatives to set up a special `Economic Zone’ in Sylhet region for further expanding the country’s economy.

She urged the Bangladeshi expatriates for investing more in
different sectors here as a congenial atmosphere for foreign
investment is prevailing in the country.

Describing the expatriates as ambassadors of Bangladesh,
Sheikh Hasina called upon them to project the positive image of
the country abroad.

She made this call while an 11-member delegation of British
Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce (BBCC) headed by its chairman
Shahagir Bakth called on her at her official residence here
today.

Prime Minister’s deputy press secretary Nazrul Islam briefed
the reporters after the meeting.

The Prime Minister urged the foreign investors to invest
more in the sectors of fish processing, food processing, tea
industry, IT and other production-oriented fields in Sylhet area.

A `Road Shaw’ scheduled to be held in London on December
next would build a positive image of Bangladesh abroad, she
informed the delegation.

Mentioning her government’s plan to modernize the Sylhet Air
Port, Sheikh Hasina said a refueling system would be introduced
there so that International flights can fly and land in this air
port directly.

British High Commissioner in Dhaka Stephen Evans, Prime
Minister’s Principal Secretary MA Karim and Ambassador Zia Uddin,
among others, were present at the meeting. (source)

by Sumaya Mahmud

250 words…only? I already lost 3. No 5. Let’s not count.. Let’s not limit my writing with such magical number restrictions…I am an amateur and I’ve always written for myself only. My first thought was, Difference…Change..i always wanted to make one.. No matter how small.. Don’t remember since when.. I wanted to reach out.. I wanted to touch lives. And ironically I did that n I suffered. I am young,20 is young. Still I feel I have experiences worth sharing.. which can help someone who is lost. Why? Because I was lost once.. I searched for my identity. I saw problems..all around me, within my family-friends, neighbors,in the streets, Back-biting and hypocrisy all around. I imbibed all of them.. To the last drop. I became a part of the problem. I learnt it the hard way. No regrets because it worked.

And then I found myself. I am no longer a lost soul. I know why I am here; at least I believe I know. My belief and my faith in my creator, me, my loved ones and well-wishers is all that matters. Let everyone laugh. They are laughing at their own weaknesses, maybe they are jealous they are not me; maybe afraid.. But who really cares?? Who has the time?? I DON’T.. I’ve wasted enough time on them. Now I want to do something good..to give something back to the place I was born in.. which is my identity. I am not ashamed of my background, skin tone or accent.

I am ME.I am a Bangladeshi, a Dhakaite, a familygirl, a Viqi, an IBAITE…I am PROUD of everything I am and have.. Would have been.. No matter where I belonged… Because I know there is a reason behind d master-planner’s actions. I am a homo sapien.The best creation on earth. Why won’t I be proud??

I’m not a hypocrite. Maybe I was once..I smiled and laughed for others. No longer.I’ve finally started acting like me.. “Love me..Love me not  …” your choice; but why will you hate me???

This is what an amateur does.. I went off topic. Let’s end it with numbers and astrology. I believe in these stuffs.. There are signs everywhere… in every number..in every person..in every tree.. in every street, every place.. Do you get that? I think I do! If you don’t, then I’d better not write about numbers.. Of 11’s, 22’s and 23’s.. Of Taureans and Aquarians.

3…5…8 does not matter to you..WHAT SIGNIFANCE DOES 4 HAVE??? You never wonder why it is only I..II..III..IV..V? What’s next?? VI?? Or another I added to V? If you did, then maybe you will find this writing interesting.. Otherwise it was just another write-up.Why should you read it?? You hate change. Who doesn’t???

“Be the difference you want to see in this world” – our prophet first said that. The phrase was different. Mahatma Gandhi said it again. It’s his saying now. So what?? These quotations are for everyone, who understands their meanings, who are not selfish, who really wants to see a difference?

Numbers and astrology are ASKED not to be studied.

Why try to be GOD? Be human..be humane.. that is good enough for one life

AND THAT IS ALL WE HAVE GOT..ONE LIFE..ONE BELIEF..ONE LOVE…SEE, 1 IS D MOST MAGICAL NUMBER..IT IS D BEGINNING! IT LEADS TO INFINITY……

by Max Vergil

Different countries create different images in our head when we hear their name. For instance, ‘Iraq’ makes us visualize war, ‘China’ makes us think of communism and its Great Wall, etc. However, as Bangladesh is not yet a well known country, it does not trigger anything specific in the minds of foreigners who don’t know about it. Sadly, those who do know about it, think about poverty, flood, terrorism, crime and corruption when they hear the name ‘Bangladesh’. But Bangladesh is not all bad- it has so many good things that holds the country together that people do not value or recognize. These are the things that should come to our and other people’s mind around the world when they hear the word ‘Bangladesh’.

One of the main things that the world should recognize as ‘Bangladesh’ is the hope that every average Bangladeshi has in his/her heart of a better tomorrow. This hope is what drives us, keeps us going through this living nightmare of everyday life. We carry on with our life and struggle for a better one only because we have the hope that someday our lives will be better. It’s our driving force. That is why the world should recognize ‘Bangladesh’ as a symbol of hope.

Bangladesh Flag

However, the main thing that the world should recognize as ‘Bangladesh’ is

the tireless, never ending spirit that the people of this country harbor. This spirit won us our mother tongue, it won us our freedom, and it will win us our rights. This spirit is what that keeps us dreaming of a better future, this is the thing that keeps our culture alive in our hearts against all adversities; this is

the thing that makes us ‘Bangali’. Therefore, if the world should recognize ‘Bangladesh’ as anything, it should recognize it as the evergreen, always burning, never dimming spirit that we cherish.

Sheba’s been called a “hidden gem”, one of many curry houses lining the infamous Brick Lane in East London. The restaurant has been around for about 30 years and has been picked out for a number of awards like Chef of the Year in the Brick Lane Curry Festival a few years ago and recently recommended by View and Toptable. I have yet to check out any of the curry houses in this massive Bangladeshi community, but it’s on my to do list.

The editor of VoucherCodes.co.uk was thoughtful enough to email me a link to a 50% off voucher at Sheba which he’s invited me to share with all of you. So I may take my boyfriend and his Bengali taste buds down there one night before the offer expires at the end of the month. If you want to follow suit, check out the links below and enjoy.

50% off voucher: http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/shebarestaurant.co.uk
Website: http://www.shebabricklane.com/menu.html
Menu: http://www.shebabricklane.com/pdf_menu/Sheba%20Full%20Menu.pdf

Why do Singaporeans think that I’m south asian and dark-skinned that i’m supposed to be hindu and speak Tamil?

Why is it that “Bangla” is spoken like a derogatory term here in this island? I for one don’t hear you saying “honky” to a Hong Konger face to face so why do you say such a term in front of our faces ?

Yes yes and yes , Bangladesh is a poor country and yes , living standards are far different from here.. so what ? pray yourself and your future generations never to suffer from government incompetence and desperate poverty… 

What would have caused me to leave in desperation from my own home and find new opportunities in far away places ? To do the jobs that you Singaporeans never wanted to do in the first place? Name the few high hazard low paying jobs here in this island .. My bet is 95% of people doing such jobs are south asians (my guess is lesser now since with the huge influx of chinese “immigrants” ) ..

And why do you detest us so when we crowd around orchard road and little india on every sunday ? Finally knew how many of us are working here in this tiny island ? We can finally dine some “home-cooked” meals , buy some cheap groceries , catch up with mates and most importantly purchase those phone top-up cards at bargain prices so that we can call our family in our countries in the first place ? Is that so much to ask? What’s up with those Aetos guys dressed up and acting as “policemen”?

And what’s wrong with us dating Filipino ladies here ? You see any Bangladeshi ladies around ? We have a need for friends and companionship as do they and it’s no secret that we somewhat faced the same discrimination and public attitudes in the first place….

I for one aint going to Geylang ever since it’s a ”yellow” haven now ..  and us going there would simply be a chicken and duck thing … we wouldn’t understand each ther since many P.R.C or P.Rs(note my punt) wouldn’t know jack about english in the first place better than we south asians in the first place  ..

I can continue ranting but i guess my countrymen are also facing the same problems and dilemmas in many countries all over the globe …

I can only say this ….. be kind to animals …….

……………………………..especially the human race …..

P.S

 the blogger here is only translating what was said in a friendly conversation between a Bangladeshi expatriate and an understanding local Singaporean.  

MELBOURNE, Nov 16, 2009 (AFP) – A team of Australian doctors began marathon and risky surgery on Monday to separate a pair of Bangladeshi twins who are joined at the head, giving only a one in four chance of both surviving.

The 16-strong team was on “tenterhooks” over the delicate bid to separate Trishna and Krishna, aged two, which will take about 16 hours, plastic surgeon Tony Holmes told reporters at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.

Plastic surgeon Tony Holmes (C) gives the gathered media an update as a team of Australian doctors begins risky and highly complex operation separate the pair of Bangladeshi twins on Nov. 16 (AFP photo)

“It is a stressful time for any group of surgeons with this sort of case, they only come along really once in a lifetime and I think everybody has been on tenterhooks,” he said.

Doctors had already started cutting through the bone which joins the girls via the top of the head and will then separate the connected section of brain and blood vessels, Holmes added.

“The unknown … is what actually happens when you separate finally the cerebral circulations, because that is a change in haemodynamics (blood movement) so the pressures will be different in each twin,” Holmes said.

“It’s over those few early minutes when the pressures equilibrate in the brain, they’re the things that we’re worried about.

“But the children are prepared as well as could possibly be and we’re cautiously optimistic that everything is going particularly well.”

Krishna was close to death when the twins arrived in Australia in January last year but both are now thriving and have undergone a series of preparatory operations.

The Children First Foundation (CFF) flew the girls to Australia in January 2008 because of poor separation survival rates in their native Bangladesh, where only two children have survived four operations in recent years.

Holmes said the children’s legal guardian, Moira Kelly, looked “relatively distressed” as Trishna and Krishna were wheeled into the operation.

“When the children went into the operating theatre … Moira was there giving them, you know, a farewell kiss and good luck,” he said.

“She was relatively distressed as one would be if it was your child. The kids were fine, OK, they looked as healthy and happy as anything but they were sedated.”

The girls should be apart by 6:00 pm (0700 GMT) and plastic surgeons will then replace the missing bone and skin. The whole procedure is expected to finish at around midnight.

Separating conjoined twins is a notoriously difficult procedure with attempts in Britain and Bangladesh both failing over the past year, although Saudi doctors successfully divided a pair of Egyptian brothers in February.

In one of the best known cases, Singapore doctors in 2003 failed in an attempt to separate adult twins — Iranian law graduates Laleh and Ladan Bijani, 29 — who died from severe blood loss after 52 hours of surgery.

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My all time favourite dinner  is steamed rice, aloo bharta ( our deshi version of mashed potato), ghono daal and egg omelette. If you can get a little bit of ghee to add to the rice, the whole thing becomes heavenly.

Cooking time: 30 minutes, serving: 2

Ingredients:

For the Daal:

Red Lentil- 1 1/2 cup

Thinly Sliced onion- 1/2 cup

Garlic- 4 cloves

Green chillies 3-4

Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp

Salt – to taste

Vegetable oil- 2 Tbsp

For tempering:

Ghee- 1 Tbsp

Dried red chillies -2

Paanch Phoron (mix of  equal amount of Fenugreek, Nigella, Mustard, Fennel and Cumin seeds)- 1 tsp

Directions:

1. Wash the lentil and add onions, garlic, green chillies, turmeric powder, oil, salt and  vegetable oil. Add 1 cup of water and bring to a boil.

2. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.

3. The lentils should be cooked and ready to eat.

4. For additional flavour, heat ghee in a frying pan. Add the paanch phoron to the ghee. When the seeds start to pop add the dried red chillies. fry them for 1 minutes. Add it to the lentil pot.

5. Enjoy this dish with steamed rice and omelette.

Verbal attack

Following Nick Griffins’ appearance on BBC Question Time this week. A national debate on racism was on everybody’s lips.

As it happens, I observed this myself at Boots the Chemist this weekend.

But I had no intention of writing a blog about the extent of racism being prominent in Stanmore.

A lady approached me at the counter asking for help – the moment I spoke she yelled:  “there are far too many ethnic minorities in this country. Why are you working here?”

The racist woman – was wearing make-up caked on and was expecting a response. But with my work’s policy in mind: ‘the customer is always right’, I decided to ignore her comments.

As one expected, another lady behind responded and said: “Did you watch BBC Question Time? I know who I’ll be supporting in the next general election.” She also added: “Stanmore is no longer the same, it’s turning into Asian Edgware.”

Of course you can see I was put into a sticky situation to either stand up for my ethnicity or be degraded by racists. Yet, there was one thing on my mind, how do you stop a customer from being racist, when it is against the law for an employer to discriminate you on grounds of race?

Racism in Stanmore

Funnily enough, there were other ethnic minorities working in the store – however they  were scared to defend themselves which led me to shield my race.

The only way to battle their racist words was not lowering myself to their standards, but stating my educational background. When I told them I’m a Broadcast Journalism student, their jaws dropped and the prejudice remarks stopped.

In my eyes, no matter if you’re Black Caribbean, Black African, Indian, Pakistani, White, Bangladeshi or Chinese, nobody has the right to lower another person due to the colour of their skin.

Racism is unacceptable. Anyone who endures prejudice needs to wake up and realise the world is changing and no matter what country you live in, diversity will be present. As Comedian, Lenny Henry said, “In the real world, there’s more diversity, we’re more multicultural…It’s a facts of life. We are [a] multi-ethnic society.”

Question:
What is the truest definition of Globalization?

Answer:
Princess Diana’s death.

Question:
How come?
Answer :

An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend crashes in a French tunnel, driving a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was drunk on Scottish whisky, (check the bottle before you change the spelling), followed closely by
Italian Paparazzi, on Japanese motorcycles; treated by an American doctor,
using Brazilian medicines.
This is sent to you by a South African using American Bill Gates’s technology, and
you’re probably reading this on your computer, that uses Taiwanese chips, and a
Korean monitor, assembled by Bangladeshi workers in a Singapore plant, transported
by Indian truck drivers, hijacked by Indonesians, unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen, and trucked to you by Mexican illegals….

That, my friends,
is Globalization