Passenger Ferry Accidents, Bangladesh

As a result of the collapse of river passenger ferry in southern Bangladesh, killing at least 62 people, most of them women and children. Account missing are hundreds. Most of the passengers were directed to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. 

The accident occurred on the river near the town of Tetulia Lalmohan, 300 km from the capital of Bangladesh. 

At the shore the vessel suddenly heeled over and the decks were partially flooded. Many people remain locked in the holds. Currently, the site of the accident rescue work. 

According to one version, the cause of the disaster could be the overloading of the vessel. All on board were about fifteen thousand people 
more than double the allowable. 

When approaching the coast the bulk of the passengers moved to one side, resulting in centering of the vessel was broken and it turned upside down.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan - the time when Muslims around the world hold office during the day by refraining from eating, drinking and intimate relations, focusing on serving the Creator. Doing their daily business, they try to serve God with great zeal, than it does in ordinary days.

Let's look at life as a Muslim month of Ramadan. Suppose its name is Najib. The eve of Ramadan, Najib and his wife engaged in preparations for this holy month. Purchasing products and all things should be done one week before Ramadan. In Ramadan Najib wakes up before daybreak to prepare and take their morning meal - suhur, and waiting for morning prayers Azanaw - Fajr, read the Holy Qur'an.

In order to have time to finish reading the Quran by the end of Ramadan, each day Najib reads one part of scripture. He rereads the text of the Koran carefully, reflecting on Read. During the day, he continues to do their day-to-day affairs, but throughout the day, he tries in the name of God, think of the good and to make only good. In this sense, the month of Ramadan is considered the physical and spiritual purification.

At any time and in any situation a Muslim should always be mindful of God (Holy He is great), and on His power. Sincerely believer every day of their lives to avoid evil and wicked deeds. Ramadan - the possibility of improvements in spiritual terms, and Najib is trying to be faithful, in the true sense of the word.

Despite the fact that Ramadan is considered holy month, when a believer must concentrate on the prayers, it does not mean that Najib put aside all their affairs and concerns. Ordinary life goes on, he walks to work, striving to perfect in their duties, and it does not hinder his prayers. On his way, he stops at a supermarket and buys their home sweets for Iftar. Houses, he helps his wife prepare the meal, and once distributed Azania, they are eating dates and drinking milk, to interrupt his post.

Then they, along with his wife perform evening prayers. After their prayers and waiting for a delicious hot meal - dinner simple as eating too much can distract people from thinking about God and bring drowsiness. Then they read and study the Holy Qur'an. With the first sounds Azanaw Isha prayer, they gather in the mosque so that, together with other Muslims to Isha and tarauih. Their schedule does not change and the next day.

For Muslims living in the holy Ramadan. In various Muslim countries there are some differences in the meeting and the conduct of this month. But all Muslims aspire to one: in their own affairs and thoughts please Creator, Almighty God (Holy He is great).

History of Father's Day

The history of Father's Day is very interesting. The thought for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. The idea of having the Father's Day came to the mind of Sonora Smart while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.

After the death of her mother, she along with her siblings was raised by her father, William Jackson Smart. Sonora wanted to tell her father how special he was. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19 th of June, 1910.

The National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City in 1926. A Joint Resolution of Congress recognized the Father's day in 1956 and in 1966 President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. Thus, the Father's Day was born in memory and appreciation by a daughter who believed that her father and all other fathers should be honored with a special day.

110 Nazrul's Birth anniversary

The 110th birth anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam yesterday.

Different political and cultural organizations held programmers including discussions and cultural functions on the occasion.Many social, educational, political and cultural institutions placed floral wreaths at the mazar of rebel poet beside the Dhaka University central mosque and paid tributes. On this day in 1899, Nazrul, who was called Dukhu Mia, was born at Churulia in Burdwan district of West Bengal. Marking the birth anniversary of the national poet, Jatiya Kobi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU) at Darirampur, Trishal started a three-day celebration on campus yesterday.BTV, Bangladesh Betar and private televisions put up special programmers on Nazrul's works including his plays, poetry and songs marking the national poet's birthday.Nazrul had come up with a strong voice against the British colonial rulers of India. His songs and poems were also a major source of inspiration for the freedom fighters during the Liberation War in 1971.

His courageous compositions were possible only for his unmatched brilliance. His magnificent poetry and songs opened up an avenue for the creation of modern poems and songs in the 1930s.
After independence, the poet and his family were brought to Dhaka on May 24, 1972. In a special convocation on Dec 9, 1974, Dhaka University honored him with honorary for his immense contributions to Bangle literature.

Glorious past of Arakan

The next morning I was in the monastery. I got there, of course, on the trishaw, which a great many of Cox's Bazar, and indeed throughout Bangladesh. Before we go on foot pier, first through the Arakan, and then the Muslim Quarter. In the first Sando Bata respectful welcome, and secondly to my skinhead escort in dark orange toge relate quite indifferent. Buddhist monk was not such a rarity in the Cox's Bazar.

We were lucky. There was a deep shade. From the pier to the boat had to jump on board and bridges, spread through the black mud. The boat was fast and domchal us to the island in less than an hour. Remember the felucca, which taschila a thick rope to a huge shark. On the surface was visible only to its huge head. Along the perimeter of the island surrounded by tidal or mangrove thickets.

On the pier, we immediately went to a Buddhist monastery. This is where my conversation with the rector interrupted cry "Allahu Akbar". Was a creek just above my ear. The mosque is built into the wall with the wall of the monastery. In fact, according to Islamic law, the chapel should be built at a respectful distance from the shrines of other religions. In real life everything happens in a different way. On a small island had to get on the Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus.

Brozhu of Arakan village lnuschey to the monastery. In the shade of palm trees sheltering huts of bamboo and cane. In some yards powdered tanakhoy women simplest machines to weave cloth to sew from the capes and skirts. A dense material that goes to traditional bag over his shoulder. At their zherdochke weighs an entire collection. Multicolored floral torbochki look stain.

Know that the life of peasants in the Buddhist-Islamic environment not so easy. Their land they have little or none. Industry helps. Rohingya involved and the specific businesses such as samogonovarenie. The demand for alcohol among Muslims there. Rohingya - born fishermen. Under the canopy sits very colorful old. In ugolochke lips clamped thick cigar and the deft hand of cut fish. Neither give nor take - the wife of an old pirate. That is because the Bengalis called Rohingya "might" or "magh," which, according to some researchers, is a pirate. Indeed, over the centuries Arakan kingdom known for its powerful fleet that controlled the mouth of the Ganges. One can only imagine the armada of sailing ships, vyplyvayuschih because of the island. And the sails were usually black.

Many hodilo and free pirate sudenyshek. Their riotous team found a suitable partner: Portuguese seafarers, adventurers. Together, they lead to the horror of merchant ships. Not brezgovali and the slave trade. Slaves were sold to the Dutch trading post, which was littered with Koromondelskoe coast of India.

All this is now in the past as a prosperous kingdom of Arakan. But under his rule at that time was a large part of modern Bangladesh. In Arakan chronicles referred to the 12 Bengali principalities, conquered armies and fleets of Arakan kings. In general, in the historical annals mention 314 Arakan monarchs who ruled for five centuries. They belonged to and a major port of Chittagong, in Arakan "Saytagaun" that is interpreted in two ways: "warlord" or "fortress". Special significance to Arakan reached in the middle of XV century, when the King of Ba For MDP, and having an Islamic title - Kalima Shah. No, it was not a Muslim, and zealously practiced Buddhism. Just to enforce the King of Arakan have been and magometane. In addition, Ba Co MDP wanted to be on an equal footing with the Mogul. Over time, Arakan kingdom weakened. In 1666, it lost Chittagong, and in 1784 lost its independence at all. Rohingya same - Buddhists have long lived in these places, a result of Muslim rule. According to preliminary estimates, currently Rohingya in Bangladesh has more than 200 thousand. They live in India, in the states of Tripura and Mizoram. In Myanmar the same Arakane them about 2 million. All of them - Buddhists.

Independent Arakan? Hardly

Unfortunately, life on the shores of Bay of Bengal is far from the idyll as on the other, and on this side of the Myanmar-Bangladesh border. Use at least the problem of so-called Rohingyas or rohindzha. This name serves a significant portion of Muslims living in Arakane. They claim to be the indigenous people of Arakan. In Myanmar, also do not agree with that, not without reason considering rohindzha Bengalis who moved to Myanmar with the adjacent territories of Bengal. From overpopulated Bangladesh in Arakan was a constant influx of illegal immigrants. The two border areas of the Muslims already make up the vast majority.

The massive influx of Bengali settlers began back in colonial times. Indeed, Burma is a member of the British colony of India. Most organizations rohidzha beginning to raise slogans of self-determination. Myanmar authorities in 1978 and in 1991-1992, attempted to drive out aliens from their territory, which led to the exodus of refugees who settled under the Cox's Bazaar. Some of them can be found here so far. In this environment, in Bangladesh threatened to Rohingya living in the country. Buddhists suffer during clashes between Hindus and Muslims in India. In reprisal Bangladeshi extremists begin to destroy the local Hindus, and the hot hand and get Rohingya-Buddhists. A lot I had to listen to this sad and even tragic stories about the oppression of Buddhists by Muslims. But there are examples of another kind. The monastery in Cox's Bazar praise for his faithfulness and Muslim guards. Bearded Mohammedan but looked strange against the background of fine statues of Buddha, but also protects them from any attack.

And Burmese, Rohingya and do not recognize the existence of a separate nation rohindzha. But the irony is that part of the Rohingya are not dreaming of the separation of Arakan of Myanmar and the re-establishment of an independent Arakan State. Fighters for independence of Arakan, the truth, more ideological, of the Rohingya emigrants, are in India and Thailand. Are they in Bangladesh. And there are some fragments of their time active Communist Party of Arakan. Her supporters can be found in Cox's Bazar. Familiar monk even offered to bring me to the right people. I refused. And then even think of any spy.

Watch journals Arakan nationalists in Thailand and India. In one of them - "The Power of Arakan", issued by the way, in the Burmese language, signs adversity, which is accompanied by the dominance of Myanmar in Arakan province. True, very hard and get so-called rohindzha.

In the cold we have to recognize that the independent Buddhist Arakan with two million people under the side of the overpopulated Bangladesh is impossible. And the majority of Rohingya is aware.

In Arakan village talk to one of its inhabitants. Neither the name of Maun. It turned out that it is not so long ago. Namely, fled from Arakan in 1988 after the military coup in Myanmar, fear of reprisals for participation in the democratic movement. Asked whether the emigrant ponevole satisfied with life in Bangladesh. Maun Neither responded smiling bitterly: "We are a minority here in the Islamic environment."

However, Bangladesh - a secular state with a multiparty democratic political system, which enables national and religious minorities to fight for their rights. In the Bangladesh Parliament was a representative, rather, representative of Rohingya, a famous professor of the medical college. Hopefully, that Hey Hey Khayn, powder-painted tanakhoy girl that I met in the convent, will succeed in life.

The empirical formula of the medicine of poverty

Little big man: Professor Muhammad Yunus


"Welcome to Bangladesh, mam!" -
"Our country is beautiful, please!" - He continued proudly. I read something that is poor. Professor Muhammad Yunus, known as the man to defeat poverty, economists, bankers, and national hero in Bangladesh. He is famous for the fact that he was the first in the world have successfully used a system of microcredit, giving small long-term loans. Such loans are granted to entrepreneurs who have insufficient funds for their own traditional bank loans. Yunus is also the founder of the bank Grameen. In 2006, Yunus and his bank awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

It starts, I think. Insufficient pomuchili me
In Bangladesh, Yunus - has long been known personality. After awarding the Nobel Peace Prize last year, he has become a national hero, and the entire world finally began to reckon with him, to his activities.

In 70 years, returning to their homeland from the United States, where he defended doktorstvo on the economy, Muhammad Yunus has been a professor at the University of Chittagong, a poor province in southern Bangladesh. He loved his job, but it has not helped the country. Reasonable theory, and exact statistics are not found confirmation in the surrounding reality. Outside the university campus - a real life of Bangladesh. Millions of people in terrible poverty: homeless, jobless, the children die at the hands of their mothers, not even handfuls of rice. Men are not men, but roaming skeletons, shadows. Prospects for these young people - the so-called Yunus - no, especially in the villages. It was believed that a small increase, fearful leanness, sunken eyes and hollow cheeks are not just a consequence of hunger, but also a sign of mental retardation.

They were in awe, care moneylenders. The poor agree to a loan and fatally podsazhivalsya to hook generous lender. Interest is very high, the duty to return the money could not be accounted for to give labor.

For example, the beggar was taken on loan for the purchase of penny for the production of bamboo baskets. It is penny, we are talking about money, which sometimes hesitate to raise from the ground. It is time to repay the loan, but need to go to town on the market - to sell manufactured products to their own money and there. No time. Usurer does not forgive the delay, selects the finished basket, and is engaged in sale of goods with excess. Poor flows into slavery.

University of Chittagong is situated outside the city. On the way to work every day Yunus, a young American traveling Dzhobru diploma - the typical village of Little People of Bangladesh. "When I got back from the States in 1972 - says Yunus - Bangladesh only became an independent country. In 1971, he seceded from Pakistan. In 1974, the country began hunger. I was a young teacher. People are dying in my eyes, and I do did not do to help. I thought: maybe I can do something for them. To do this, go to the people, be with him, talk to him, find out what you need. This has been quite simple. Every day after school I went on Dzhobre, communicate with people. I saw how they were exhausted cruelty moneylenders, and asked one of his students compile a list of villagers who took the money. The list turned out 42 of a total loan was only 27 dollars, I was shocked. Are there so many people suffer because of so little money. I realized that the problem is serious, but her decision obvious. We need to give these 42 borrowers with 27 dollars, that they returned to their uncle. It did, and worked. People were just happy, thankful. I became thinking, why not try to do more. Again made. I went to the bank at the university campus and offered to give poor credit. I was sure that for such a small amount of the bank would have no objection. But the bank did not agree. lend money to poor - is nonsense . bickered months, I have to credit - the bank against it. In the end, I suggested itself as the guardian of: himself will sign all the papers, get the money and distribute them to poor.
Poverty varies

Nobel Peace Prize for Yunus received the world last year. Thirty years ago he established a unique bank with the only type of activity: lending to the rural poor of Bangladesh. Yunus therefore referred to as a banker and the poor, and Grameen Bank in translation means «Village Bank».

Yunus was teaching economics at the university of his native city of Chittagong. Every day on the way to work he passed Dzhobra village. Circle of poverty, illiteracy, powerlessness. In this small village Younus, one might say, and has been the practice. He put the books on the economy on the shelf and began to study the problem of poverty as it is. In search of an answer to the question who is the really poor, Yunus realized it before do not have guessed the best sociologists, economists and politicians around the world: it is divided into categories of poor and was the classification of poverty. In his view, it was necessary to deal with each category separately, otherwise the less poor will inevitably displace poorer. Another common problem was that all the focus is usually on the male population, bearing in mind that among the poor have more children and women.

Dzhobra became Yunus Laboratory, where he revealed the empirical formula of the medicine of poverty. This formula has been simple as all genius: to watch how the other banks, and to do the opposite.

Conventional banks do not lend to poor people, find them insolvent, require guarantees and contracts do not provide loans to women who are waiting for customers in their offices in the cities.

«Grameen Bank», according to Yunus conviction, must reach the poor directly in each of its doors to offer direct help here and now. Mikropomosch in the form of micro credit. «Grameen» does not require legal safeguards for their clients, working on confidence and mainly with women in spite of the laws of Shariah.