New Beginnings, New Life
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Posted:Mar 18, 2024 9:34 am
Last Updated:May 21, 2024 5:41 am 7933 Views
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Ah! Today in spring many a flower blooms Many a flute plays, and many a bird sings A tender flower, her heart Withers away unattended
Why come near? Smile for no reason? The one who did come close Wishes not to approach any more
Joyful who are, in joy remain Joyous spring, in joy may it end A woebegone woman’s tears May they not espy
In seeing, they see not In knowing, they know not They do not even look back
Tagore Song: Translated by Romela Sengupta Photos: Collected.
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The Cute Tiny Birds
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Posted:Feb 20, 2024 8:17 am
Last Updated:Apr 22, 2024 9:50 pm 9893 Views
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In my childhood days, I spent a year and a half at my ancestral village home, where I was able to develop a strong connection with nature. During this time, I learned to swim in one of our ponds and the fishing technique of angling. One of our household helpers, who had a passion for nature and bird watching, was the one who taught me these valuable skills. He introduced to me, every tree, especially the fruit-bearing ones, that were grown in our wide garden. He tried his best to familiarize me with the small birds that lived in nests built by them on the branches of the trees. He told me about three species of small birds which he liked most. The weaver bird was one of them. He showed me the nests of the weaver birds hanging on the branches of our tall palm trees. Those who are interested to learn more about weaver birds may read my blog titled, “A Bird Called Babui”. The next one he familiarized me with was the smaller one called Tuntuni in Bangla language. Some of us call it “Dorji Phaki” (in English, it is known as Tailor Bird), the name it gets from the way it builds its nest by stitching leaves together. These tiny Tailor birds are a species of songbirds found in our part of the world. These birds are brightly coloured (green or grey upperparts and chestnut on the head), 10-14 centimetres long and weigh around 6- 10 grams. Insect eaters Tuntuni birds are mostly found in open spaces or gardens. The third bird about which my childhood teacher told me was ‘Metethot Fuljhuri’ (Pale-billed Flowerpecker). Unfortunately, he could not familiarize me with this one physically during the days I stayed in our village home. Because, at that time, this particular bird was a rare visitor in our garden. He did however tell me that this bird is the smallest in our country. It is smaller than the Tuntuni and the sparrow found in open spaces. He also told me that I may find this bird in a forest or garden having tall trees with parasitic plants grown on them. Even then I may not see it because it is not only tiny (eight centimetres) but also prefers to stay high and move around constantly. I can’t tell if I had ever seen this tiny bird physically even when I visited many times Madhupur forest near the city of Dhaka where I live now. Even if I had seen it, I could not 't recognize it from the ground though I saw pictures of this bird and read about it in ’s books and newspapers in the past. The photo of this bird posted below has been collected by me from the Internet (Photo#4). The photo was taken by Ihtisam Kabir, who I believe is a bird watcher. Those who are interested in reading more about this fearless tiny bird may please Google the Daily Star/Flowerpecker.
Photo #1: Weaver Bird, Male Photo #2: Weaver Bird, Female Photo #3: Tuntuni (Tailor Bird) Photo #4: Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker. Screenshot. Original Photo: Ihtisham Kabir. Taken at Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary a protected forest and wildlife sanctuary in Bangladesh. It is a dry and evergreen forest located in Sylhet Division.
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The Day of Romance and Love
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Posted:Feb 14, 2024 2:49 am
Last Updated:Mar 5, 2024 12:41 am 9765 Views
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Let us experience the true essence of love on this special day of romance. Let the gesture of offering a bouquet of red roses to the beloved speak volumes of our affection, regardless of whether today is the first day of spring or not.
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A pristine landscape and a scenic travel paradise
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Posted:Jan 28, 2024 10:14 am
Last Updated:Feb 25, 2024 8:04 am 10651 Views
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How many of us can name a sea beach from where one can see the full view of sunrise and sunset standing in the same place on a cloudless day? There is only one such sea beach in the world which is located in the southern part of my home country, Bangladesh. Perhaps most of us know that the world’s longest natural sea beach (120 kilometres long) is also located in Cox’s Bazar of this country.
Kuakata is the name of the unique sea beach mentioned above. It is a sandy one but is not long like Cox’s Bazar sea beach. It is only about 30 kilometres long and six kilometres wide. A tourist can enjoy the sunrise early in the morning and see the attractive sunset in the evening the same day standing in the same location.
We also call the place in Bengali “Sagar Kannya”, meaning, “ of Sea”. Its natural scenic beauty is breathtaking. It is also one of the reservations of migratory winter birds in my country. Kuakata has something to offer every tourist.
Two photos of sunrise and sunset respectively are posted below for you to view. These photos were not shot by me. I am not sure about the photographers of these two photos.
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19
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The legendary fabric that no one knows how to make
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Posted:Jan 15, 2024 5:36 am
Last Updated:Feb 6, 2024 4:58 pm 14990 Views
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Dhaka Muslin, a fabric that was so fine that it could pass through a ring, was once one of the most valuable fabrics in the world. However, this fabric went extinct almost two centuries ago.
After six years of effort, researchers in Bangladesh succeeded in bringing the forgotten and enigmatic Dhaka Muslin fabric back to life. Some readers may ask what Dhaka Muslin is and why it went extinct.
Dhaka Muslin is a cotton fabric made using the plain weave technique, where a single weft thread alternates over and under a single warp thread.
This fabric was lost due to the systematic destruction of the Indian textile industry by the British in the late 18th century. Historical accounts say that the British rulers did not hesitate to cut the thumbs of the Dhaka Muslin weavers to stop the production of this fabric. The extent of the brutality was also described by William Bolts, an employee of the East India Company, in his book, “Considerations on India Affairs”, in 1772. These weavers lived in and around Dhaka City where I live now.
This article is a continuation of my blog titled “The Lost Fabric,” which was uploaded on this site’s blog page on 11/13/2016. If readers want to know more about this legendary fabric and how it has been resurrected, they may search for the following article on the internet:
“The ancient fabric that no one knows how to make - BBC Future.”
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210316-the-legendary-fabric-that-no-one-knows-how-to-make
Meanwhile, readers may view the pictures of the resurrected and lost Dhaka Muslin fabrics below.
Photo Credits: Drik/Bengal Muslin Photo # 6: Phuti Karpas cotton
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Photo Friday- The Place I call home.
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Posted:Jan 5, 2024 9:43 am
Last Updated:Jan 19, 2024 9:42 pm 17840 Views
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"It's just a place we call paradise Each of us has his own It has no name, no, it has no price It's just a place we call home"
An extract from the song, "Conquest of Paradise" - Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou
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16
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The fallen leaf
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Posted:Dec 27, 2023 9:24 am
Last Updated:Mar 9, 2024 12:05 am 24370 Views
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The last leaf has fallen While falling, it said, I shall not come again this year. Wait for me in the spring, Standing by the window.
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To the unseen dweller
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Posted:Nov 29, 2023 6:35 am
Last Updated:Apr 2, 2024 3:40 am 41969 Views
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Come home to me you who dwell in my heart Reveal yourself into the crimson light From the abode of my dream To take your place in my tears and laughter. Come out from your momentary shelter To live with me forever. Come home to me you who dwell in my heart.
Translated from the Bengali song Esho Amar Ghare Esho by Tagore.
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Best time to trekking Kanchenjunga from far away
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Posted:Nov 13, 2023 10:02 am
Last Updated:Dec 9, 2023 3:36 am 45814 Views
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We don't need to travel to Darjeeling, India, to catch a glimpse of the majestic Kanchenjunga, one of the three highest mountains in the world. We can view it from our homeland, usually from mid-October to January.
Currently, it is visible from Panchagarh and Thakurgaon in Bangladesh.
In November, the view of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga is breathtaking because the air in this region of Bangladesh is clearer than in other areas, and the weather is pleasant.
If you want to learn more about this beautiful mountain, you can search the internet and read about it.
Photo Credits: : Md Nowshad Alam Nowaj
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