COLORS MAGAZINE January 2020 Issue

JANUARY 2020
On
The
Cover
12
Cover story
Surging to the Summit with Power
20
Icon
Discovering Art and Hilsha
24
Interview
The Journey of a Pioneer
30
Business
The Single Digit Ripples
32
People
A Waiz One in The Game
37
Review
Expanded Hotel Luxuries
42
Lifestyle
* Dhaka’s Coffee Culture
* Passion and Fusion
Ayesha Aziz Khan & Sarah Karim
Wardrobe: Sarah Karim Couture
Hair & Makeup: AURA Beauty Lounge
Direction: Faisal Tushar
Photographer: Kazi Mukul
GENTLEMAN’S
RIDE, FOR
A CAUSE
73
30
The
Single
Digit
Ripples
COLORS | JANUARY, 2020 | WWW.COLORSMAGAZINE.NET

Your
trusted
Healthcare
partner.

49
Portfolio
New Year- New Wardrobe
73
Feature
Gentleman’s Ride, For A Cause
78
Health
Rethinking Lifestyle, An
Answer to Cancer
80
Shopping
Bringing on Winter with Orion
84
Books & Arts
Top 5 Books of 2019
88
Trending
Cut to Perfection
91
Events
Ossum Launched on Shajgoj
NSU Hosts Colors, At
Storytelling Workshop
City Bank and American
Express Celebrates 10 Years in
Bangladesh
Portfolio
49
New Year-
New
Wardrobe
contents
on Winter
Bringing
with Orion
RETHINKING
LIFESTYLE,
AN ANSWER
TO CANCER
DHAKA’S
CULTURE
80 78
42
COLORS | JANUARY, 2020 | WWW.COLORSMAGAZINE.NET

8:30
COLORS
Editor In-chief & Publisher
Zakaria Masud
Advisor
Ziaul Karim
Managing Editor
Mila Hossain
Advisor to the Editor
Adil Hossain Noble
Fashion Editor
Faisal Tushar
Staff Writer
Tunajina Islam
Feature Writers
Anisha Hassan
Arka Dev Biswas
Tamima Islam
Elora Majumder
Nazifa Tasnim
Creative and Graphic Design
Four Steps Communications
Photographer
Kazi Mukul
Head of Marketing and Operations
Lucky Begum
Marketing Manager
Farjana Yesmin Asha
Sales & Distrubition
Kamrul Islam
www.colorsmagazine.net
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House # CES(E) 12, Road # 126,
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Phone: + 8801711339587
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Web: www.colorsmagazine.net
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Web: www.colorsmagazine.net
International Fashion & Lifestyle Magazine
An Publication
Published By
Zakaria Masud On Behalf Of
Digital One Media Ltd.

FROM THE EDITOR
Taking
on the New
Decade
with Joy,
Resilience
www.colorsmagazine.net
As we have embarked on a new decade, we want to
try to make amends, set new goals, or simply reshape
ourselves. We believe 2020 calls for greater prospects.
Colors welcomes this decade with the January issue
that encompasses inspiring stories.
We take pride in knowing that over the years,
Bangladesh has achieved greatness in many areas.
Our very own people represent our nation
internationally, venturing into new industries and
utilizing their creativity in societal and material
development. Summit is one of those great
influences. Arka Dev Biswas writes about “Surging to
the Summit with Power”, in conversation with
Ayesha Aziz Khan. Now the face of her family
business, she shares with us her journey.
Colors’ Advisory Editor Ziaul Karim interviews
the European Union’s Head of Delegation in
Bangladesh, Rensje Teerink, whose focus is now on
rebranding the country and its people. The
ambassador answers questions about development of
Bangladesh and exports to Europe. Furthermore, we
peek into Bangladesh’s real estate sector as we see
BTI as the lead real estate developer company. The
Managing Director, Faizur Rahman Khan, tells
Nazifa Tasnim about how BTI came to be where it
stands today.
Colors appreciates amazing initiatives taken by our
own community. Elora Majumder visits the annual
motorcycle charity event “Gentleman’s Ride” that
helps raise funds for the global Movember
Foundation which supports men with severe health
crises like cancer. The topic of health is one that must
be given due importance. Dr. Ferdous Shahriar Sayed
explains the realities of cancer to Colors’ Tamima
Islam, hoping to bring more awareness of this deadly
disease.
On a more joyful note, 2019 was a great year for
literature. Some of you may have missed out on some
wonderful books, so Colors’ Tamima Islam shares with
you five must-read books that have been a hit last year.
You may have a look at ‘Dhaka’s Coffee Culture’ as
increasing number of people are visiting coffee shops
for meetings, hangouts, dates and more. Also, Arka
Dev Biswas chats with Chef Reynaldo S. Dulatre, the
head chef of Amber Room restaurant, Dhaka
InterContinental. To end off the wonderful year, on
December 17, 2019, Colors was invited to conduct a
workshop on journalism at North South University.
Ziaul Karim and The Financial Express Content
Specialist Khawaza Main Uddin spoke there as the
guest speakers. With that said, we wish good luck to all
in their endeavors, and we hope to take on 2020 with
joy and resilience.
Zakaria Masud
Editor

Cover Story
Surging to
the Summit
with Power
Electricity generation in Bangladesh is now synonymous with Summit Power International.
Committed to providing electricity to all for a country that is fast growing and hungry for
power, the CEO and Managing Director and the face of the company Ayesha Aziz Khan
narrates her journey and shares her vision with Arka Dev Biswas of Colors.
A CHIP OF THE
OLD BLOCK
Being brought up in an extended
family that found greater unity
through speaking about business and
entrepreneurship at the dinner table,
Ayesha was always surrounded by
Summit and wanted to play a part in
the future of Summit at some point in
time. Summit became a part of her
plans and ambition, where she knew
that she would be leading the business
conglomerate as soon as she completes
her education. “We were always told
that education should be our main
priority, and that we can pursue
whatever we desire after completing
our studies. I knew that I would be
coming back and taking up the
responsibility of Summit, and I was
completely on board with the idea,”
Ayesha says. Having all family
members working together, it became
evident with time that she would be a
part of the family business since 2003.
SHATTERING
NOTIONS
Summit Power International is the
largest independent power producer
(IPP) in Bangladesh, and it takes a
strong personality to make it a market
giant. Ayesha Aziz Khan has been
shattering notions in a society that
assumed that power positions were
reserved for men, due to patriarchal
thought that has been indoctrinated.
She takes this notion and breaks the
glass ceiling of how power positions
are perceived. Holding multiple
positions across multiple institutes in
Summit Group of Companies using
her acumen to the fullest of extent,
shows how positions are merely a
meritocratic measure of how good an
individual is in their work. The
embodiment of how far hard work
and perseverance can women do is
fully enshrined in the work Ayesha
has been doing. Ensuring that the
infrastructures exist for everyone and
that opportunities are always
available for all is something that she
resonates with. Having to experience
the turbulent cycles of how meeting
and businesses have a set perception,
Ayesha has become more
conscientious about how the first
impression and impact are
important to set the tone of the
environment.
January 2020 | 12

Ayesha Aziz Khan
sports a flawless red
carpet look
January 2020 | 13

PROVIDING
ELECTRICITY TO ALL
For a country like Bangladesh,
development has been
multi-faceted, in terms of quality of
life, providing improved healthcare
at almost every level, maintaining
economic growth rates of expected
levels, if not more, and being
declared a lower middle income
country. All these achievements and
more always tend to overshadow the
more nuanced problems Bangladesh
still may face at the root levels.
There are still rural areas in the
country that are deprived of
electricity and in the midst of such
innovation and development, the
country still needs time to come to
grips with the niche troubles that
rural Bangladesh faces.
The subsidiaries of Summit Power
International have taken up
responsibility of playing its part in
ensuring that development of
Bangladesh is not hindered by being
in the dark. Summit Power
International envisions of providing
cost effective electricity to the people
where tier-based pricing levels
would help all segments of society to
have access to electricity through the
government.
Effectively Summit Power
International to produce electricity
for the government, which the
government distributes among the
general population through national
power grid and also regasifies
imported Liquefied Natural Gas
(LNG) that is supplied to businesses
and households through the
national gas grid. Summit Group of
Companies include the largest
private fibre optics transmission
network – Summit
Communications, largest private
off-dock – Summit Alliance Port,
largest private fuel importer,
distributor and storage service
provider – Summit Oil & Shipping,
hi-tech park – Summit Technopolis,
and upcoming projects are
telecommunications towers and
hospitality infrastructure
development. The process is an
overly simplified version of what
pragmatically happens, but the
essence of the process is exactly that.
What Summit regularly has to
Ayesha graceful and
stylish in a sari
maintain is being price competitive
in a market that is frequently
updating itself in terms of
technology, as well as incremental
cost. Summit innovates itself on a
regular basis to keep itself both
updated and maintain prices that
are applicable for rural areas.
SUSTAINABLE
PRODUCERS FOR
THE FUTURE
Summit Power International utilizes
Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO)/High Speed
Diesel (HSD) and Re-gasified
Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG)
which are innovative in different
aspects. The benefits of using
HSD-and-RLNG-powered turbines to
produce electricity are that they do not
harm the environment to the extent
that other inputs have done. In the
ongoing project in Meghnaghat,
Summit will be using GE’s 9HA gas
turbine engine which is the world’s
largest and tested to be the most
efficient gas turbine.
Maintaining a modernized approach to
energy production as well as being
aware of the harms that inputs have on
environment is a behemoth task.
Summit Power International tries to
ensure that the tier-based pricing model
does not force consumers to opt out of
consuming electricity, but rather
consumption patterns dictate the cost.
Additionally, sustainable energy
production and green technology has
January 2020 | 14

been a bigger highlight with global
warming threatening the well-being,
The power production industry plays
the most significant role in the world in
terms of maintaining temperatures
–something, which has been recognized
by the founder and chairperson of
Summit Muhammed Aziz Khan and
his daughter Ayesha Aziz Khan. They
maintain that life has to be made
sustainable and not merely for the sake
of making profits like most businesses
tend to do. It takes a great amount of
understanding and affection towards
one’s own identity to genuinely want to
ensure that improvement in quality of
life for everyone, does not have to be
made at the cost of environment where
all live in. For that, Summit Power
International’s and the group’s
corporate social responsibility shows
moral and ethical principles that are
indoctrinated into their system
throughout.
Ayesha always
exudes sartorial
elegance
ACCOLADES, GROWTH
AND VISION
Subsidiaries of Summit Power
International have been awarded locally
and internationally i.e. – Best Private
Power Generation Company in the
country five times in a row, Best Fast
Track Power Project Award by Asian
Power Awards, Silver Award at Asian
Power Awards 2018 in Indonesia,
International Star for Leadership in
Quality Award by Business Initiative
Directions (BID).
Summit’s leadership views the future of
Bangladesh in the highest of regards. A
nation with a population of 165 million
shows vast potential in economic
growth that can be achieved in the
future where Summit envisions
Bangladesh to have access to reliable,
affordable and efficient electricity
provision, which would be available
everywhere in the country, through use
of strategic promotion and
establishment of LNG import
infrastructure that would help
minimise gas shortages. These small
building blocks would lead to the boom
of growth and development that would
result in greater opportunities for the
entire power production industry. All
these together create the vision for
Summit, through the eyes of a leader
who has grown from within the family
that has understanding of how to
elevate the standard of quality.
January 2020 | 15

Ayesha Aziz Khan & Sarah Karim
Wardrobe: Sarah Karim Couture
Hair & Makeup: AURA Beauty Lounge
Direction: Faisal Tushar
Photographer: Kazi Mukul
Sarah Karim has
brilliantly interpreted
the personality traits
of Ayesha while
designing the
wardrobe for the
young and spirited
business icon

Dazzling in her own
design in this
vibrant lehenga.
Signature
Style with
Sarah Karim
Taking the fashion world by storm,
Sarah Karim is a growing brand that’s
leaving a mark in high-end bridal wear
and party gowns. Tunajina Islam has a
chat with the designer and learns about
her process and what’s in store.
January 2020 | 17

This season Sarah Karim and her team
are making a concerted effort to work
and promote the local jamdani fabric.
‘In April 2020 we will take a bridal
collection to New Delhi for a prestigious
show there. Needless to say the
jamdani is very popular as well as
sought after in India and since I’m
representing the country I want my
line to have a distinctly Bangladeshi
flavour to it,’ she adds. The collection
will have heavily embellished ensembles
on jamdani fabric. However, at the
same time, taking pains to make sure
that the inherent intricacy of the
jamdani weave is not lost. Some
stunning sample pieces are already
done and the response is, as she says,
overwhelming.
In Bangladesh, Sarah Karim will be
participating in the Tresemme Fashion
Week at the end of the month which is
coordinated by the Fashion Design
Council of Bangladesh. There will be a
display of a very versatile collection
ranging from casual chic to heavier
couture pieces. A fashion show is also
scheduled for February where the
emphasis will be entirely on their
wedding and trousseau collection.
Sarah Karim, talking about her
achievements throughout her career,
says, ‘The magic of creating something
from scratch is a powerful moment. To
visualize someone stunning in your
mind and then to see it come to life is
very special to me.’ Moments like
when brides adorn their custom-made
outfits and it looks more spectacular
than they had imagined are what she
holds close to her heart. She adds, ‘The
love and gratitude I’ve received at these
moments make all the hard work and
stress worth it.’
The designer has been in the industry
for almost a decade and a half now,
although the organization with its
artisans and craftsmen is more than 35
years old. Over the years there’s been a
vast change in the fashion scene in
Bangladesh. The customer for one is a
lot more knowledgeable and demanding.
Exposure to top end international
designers and stores has meant that
expectations are quite high now. You
have to deliver high quality products
and workmanship at a price that makes
them worth it. Another change has
been in the designs of outfits. She
states, ‘Clothes have become more
fusion with the influences from the
subcontinent and the West. No one
wants just a regular kameez anymore. So
we’re constantly innovating with
different cuts and drapes. In fact, that is
our strength I feel.’
So what’s in this season? According to
her, what’s been very popular this
wedding season has been the age-old
traditional gharara! This was a popular
garment worn by Muslim women of the
Indian subcontinent during the
1950s/’60s. Back then it was considered
everyday wear but now they are mostly
used as wedding attires. ‘We mostly use
rich silks and the work is gold zardozi
and embroidery in different colors. It’s
such a graceful ensemble that I’m
delighted it’s made a comeback. We
stock some of the lighter sets at the store
and do the heavier ghararas on orders.
As for ethnic party wear, it’s all about
innovative drapes both for kameez as
well as for sarees. But one must be
careful to see what style suits a certain
body type before making a choice.’
Fashion is a form of expression, Sarah
Karim’s team believe and that is why
every designer tends to have their own
Sarah Karim
bringing
minimalism
to life.
signature looks. ‘People can tell a Sarah
Karim outfit from random Facebook
pictures, which frankly surprises even
me. It means you have distinct style! It’s
also my personal taste and preference
which gets translated into the work I do.
For example we introduced the pastel
shades in wedding wear which has now
become so popular. Or the intricate
zardozi patterns and designs which were
inspired by our family heirlooms. So, yes
my clothes do reflect my personal tastes
and preferences and that should be the
case with all designers,’ she tells Colors.
With more and more women being
professionals these days, being a
working mom is a universal challenge.
‘But I have been lucky, Mash Allah, as
my children are quite independent and I
really leave them to sort out their own
school work, exams etc. My eldest was
the one I’d spoilt by mothering him too
much, but even he’s left for University
last year. I have to say that my biggest
pleasure is coming back from work and
spending time with my kids. My
husband too has been very supportive of
my career,’ says Sarah Karim.
January 2020 | 18

Icon
Discovering
Art and
Hilsha
Ambassador Rensje Teerink came to Bangladesh two years ago with a luggage of perception mostly
negative about the country. But in the course of two years she discovered a place different from the
picture she had in mind–full of hospitable people, seeing the empowerment of women, tasting a snack
like fuchka and fish like hilsha, and viewing rich art works. In an exclusive interview with Colors Advisory
Editor Ziaul Karim, the European Union’s Head of Delegation to Bangladesh talks about rebranding
Bangladesh to the world as a resilient country, a country making good use of global opportunities
coming its way, and a country with a vibrant art scene.
As a young officer of the European
Commission headquartered in Brussels,
Belgium, Rensje Teerink first came to
Bangladesh in the late 1990s. She had
visited a European Union-supported
project site in Mymensingh and
witnessed the beauty of Bangladeshi
villages then. Before joining her current
position, she had been posted in Nepal.
Already familiar with South Asia and
Bangladesh by this time, Ambassador
Teerink was amazed at the
transformation of Dhaka and some
other parts of the country. ‘When I
came back to the city, I found Gulshan
unrecognizable ... at one time, it was
mainly bungalows... it was easy to live –
everything was green, but the changes
are very dramatic,’ she observes.
Ambassador Teerink is fond of
Bangladeshi foods; she takes fuchka
often and savors hilsha even when they
are cooked with a lot of spices.
During the interview, the ambassador
expressed her views on Bangladesh’s
development candidly; commenting
freely on what she thinks is suitable for
Bangladesh and its people. Issues such
as traffic congestion, air pollution and
river pollution can have homegrown
solution, she stresses, noting how
everyone needs to make some efforts to
bring changes instead of waiting only
for the government to streamline
everything. She cites the example of the
rise in the use of bikes in Brussels and
points out that Dhakaites can do
something to help in their own
development. ‘If more people do take
up cycling, for instance, infrastructure
will follow. If it can be done in Brussels,
why not in Dhaka?’
‘What’s development all about? A poor
person buying a car and a rich person
volunteering to travel by public
transport! It’s two-way process. For me,
real development is changes we initiate
ourselves,’ she says spelling out her
thoughts. ‘Personal changes are
important.’
Although appreciating Bangladesh’s
high economic growth and noting that
it has been 7-8 per cent over a long
period, the EU Ambassador wonders
out loud how long such a growth rate
will be sustainable. She points towards
the struggle of the country’s main
January 2020 | 20

Rensje Teerink:
Falling head
over heels for
Bangladesh

exportable readymade garments
sector following the Rana Plaza
tragedy in 2013. She notes how
some factories are now completely
compliant while others have been
closing in recent times. In Europe,
the largest destination of
Bangladeshi apparel products, she
points out, the dominant concern:
‘whatever is sourced from
Bangladesh, should be produced in a
safe environment.’
The diplomat feels that Bangladesh
has good prospects of exporting
food items as well, if food safety and
hygiene issues are addressed
properly. She also emphasizes
diversification of exports, observing
that the process has started already.
Dwelling on Bangladesh’s capacity,
she explains that out of 45 least
developed countries, Bangladesh
alone has captured two-thirds of
trade concessions under the EU’s
Everything But Arms (EBA) facility.
Bangladesh exported garments
worth 18 billion Euros a year and
saved 2 billion Euros of tariff
thereby recently. ‘Bangladesh is a
textbook case of grabbing this
advantage,’ she declares.
On possible loss of such privilege,
once Bangladesh attains the status of
a middle income country by 2024,
she points out that the country will
have a three year grace period and a
couple of years for EBA. ‘We will be
reviewing the instrument.
Bangladesh can apply for the GSP
plus (Generalized System of
Preference) facility… We need to
see certain criteria being met. GSP
plus conditions will be stricter in
terms of human rights and
environmental protection,’ she
notes.
Asked if Bangladesh will fall into
middle income trap, the European
diplomat mentions about skilling of
people as the panacea for moving to
higher stage of development,
making use of the demographic
dividend and exporting more adept
manpower abroad for earning
better.
She comes up with a host of
recommendations such as
addressing air pollution as a
national emergency concern, saving
the Meghna river from pollution
caused by indiscriminate
With a disarming smile
and a mane of black
hair, ambassador
Teerink seems to pop
up from the pages of
the Vogue
Ambassador
Teerink is fond
of Bangladeshi
foods; she takes
fuchka often
and savors
hilsha even
when they are
cooked with a
lot of spices.
industrialization on its banks, and
protecting the Sundarbans from the
coal-fired power plant being set up in its
immediate vicinity.
The diplomat also informs Colors that
the EU is working with the government
of Bangladesh on a number of projects
focusing on improving governance,
public financial management and
enabling people’s access to justice easily.
‘Village courts are fantastic for justice of
local people. Women can now have
access to justice and this helps
reduce backlog in courts.’ About
the investment climate in
Bangladesh, she says, many
companies from Europe will be
interested in investing in
Bangladesh if the government can
improve ease of doing business.
The EU Ambassador feels that
Bangladesh needs to rebrand itself
in the international arena. ‘People
from outside see Bangladesh only
in the light of the Rohingya crisis,
floods and endemic poverty. But
once they are familiar with this
country they say, ‘No, it is different
kind of picture altogether from up
close’,’ she observes, citing the
example of a local football club that
has a female coach training male
footballers.
She refers to the music and poetry
she found everywhere and
appreciates efforts like the LitFest
for introducing Bangladesh to the
outside world with a different set of
images. An aesthete, she is soon
going have the walls of her office
decorated with rickshaw painting.
‘Also, art is something I have
discovered here. That too I feel can
help rebrand Bangladesh.’
January 2020 | 22

Interview
January 2019 | 00

The
Journey
of a
Pioneer
Faizur Rahman Khan is the
mastermind behind the success
story of bti, one of the pioneering
and largest real estate companies in
Bangladesh. Nazifa Tasnim of Colors
has interviewed Khan, a scion of
famous architect FR (Fazlur
Rahman) Khan, who has contributed
to setting rules of the game in the
housing sector.
The corporate office of bti (building
technology and ideas limited) located in
Dhaka’s Gulshan area showcases models
of their projects at the front entrance.
That shows the contribution and vision of
Managing Director Faizur Rahman Khan
in making bti what it is today. As asked
what drew him to this sector, he says, ‘I
went to Japan for my Post Master’s
(program) where I worked for a real estate
company. I then developed my interest in
this industry.’ After he returned home, he
adds, he along with a few friends started a
construction company, which didn’t click.
‘We wanted to do something where we
had more control over our service. A real
estate company seemed like the way to do
just that.’
January 2020 | 25

The journey of bti started with three
projects for which the founders had
to purchase land. However, as they
moved forward, they were considering
ways to reduce their investment
while still have plots to carry out
projects. One way was to collaborate
with landowners where they would
give bti their land and in return, bti
will give them a certain portion of the
end product along with a signing
amount. Khan has mentioned, ‘It was
difficult at that time as there were
issues of documentation and trust.
The strategy we formulated was to
form limited companies for individual
projects where the landowner will
own a certain portion of shares and
we will own the rest. Once the project
was over, we transferred our shares to
the people who bought those
apartments.’
As the sector evolved, bti along with a
few other companies of that time
went to the government to resolve
legal issues pertaining to ownership
of land of apartment owners. ‘If an
apartment is on the sixth floor and
the land is at ground level, how do
you connect ownership of these two?
An apartment owner is also a
proportionate landowner without
any demarcation was the answer to
that.’ He recalls that the concept of
power of attorney was also
introduced for the sector, implying
that the landowners could sign a
contract and give power of attorney
to the developer to implement
projects and upon completion of the
project this power will automatically
be nullified.
When asked about influence of his
uncle late FR Khan on his works, he
says, ‘My uncle was a designer. His
designs include the Sears Tower, the
tallest building in the world from
1973 until 1998. His theory of tubular
designs is still used in designing any
high-rise building. It was during my
final year studying civil engineer at
BUET, I had a lot of interaction with
him which organically had an
influence on me at that time. But
unfortunately, he passed away in
1981.’
Dwelling on challenges and
milestones of bti, Khan mentions,
‘The first milestone was resolving
ownership dilemma and executing
projects without purchasing the land
We wanted to do
something where we had
more control over our
service. A real estate
company seemed like
the way to do just that.
itself. Secondly, bti has always been keen
at quality management and was the first
company to obtain ISO certification.’ He
explains that between 2005 and 2012, it
was difficult for everyone in this sector to
sustain as the price fell immensely and
many companies had to leave the market.
‘Bti always made calculative expenditure
even when the market was booming so
during this phase of difficulty, we didn’t
Mr. Faizur
Rahman
strikes a pose
next to bti's
project models
let our customers experience the
impact of this adverse market
condition and executed our projects
within due time. Passing this phase
with ease was an accomplishment
for us. It further strengthened
people’s trust in bti.’
‘We work to ensure that our
customers don’t face any kind of
discomfort. A strict schedule is
maintained, bti rather delivers ahead
of time.’
Asked about a stagnant real estate
market, he expresses his views that
‘The recent real estate market is not
stagnant. Previously, it experienced
a balloon effect but now it has been
corrected. You can own an
apartment within sixty lakh, of
course it won’t be that big but you
start somewhere. As you grow your
earning will increase and you shift
to a bigger house.’
January 2020 | 26

Advertorial
Furniture that
ties it together

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It’s the little things that create the setting you’ve
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Satori fosters certain chicness in its golden
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Paired with mirror frames and side tables with the
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A splash of hue is an eye-catching detail in one’s
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To add even more visual interest, Satori takes into
consideration every aspect and angle of an object
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Ph: 02 88 27707, Cell: +88 01841216677

Business
The
Single
Digit
Ripples
How
stakeholders
will readjust
with interest
rate cuts
Every stakeholder at home and abroad would agree that the Bangladesh
Bank’s decision to bring down lending rate to below 9.0 per cent and
deposit rate to 6.0 per cent would spur investment in the country.
However, while entrepreneurs want to see lower interest rates on loans,
small savers may lose incentive for depositing money with banks,
leaving financial institutions at the crossfire. Banks fear loss of profit
(or making loss in some cases), should they implement single digit rate,
for huge sums of default loans have raised their costs of funds.
So, the banks sought to the central bank certain ‘breathing space’ to
implement the decision to lower interest rates as it was earlier
scheduled to come into effect on the first day of 2020. When banks
would reduce interest rates beginning on April 01, 2020, industrial
January 2020 | 30

entrepreneurs and individual loan
recipients hope, they would benefit by
increasing their competitiveness in any
initiative. The banks will have to get
answers to questions on how they
would sustain their business and
depositors would seek ways to secure
maximum benefit from their savings.
Everyone concerned also agrees that
interest rates in Bangladesh were very
high and many of the market players
have now expressed their reservations
about blanket rate cuts that may affect
their business and at least comfort
zones. Sometimes it’s an issue of
dilemma – a businessman as entrepreneur
wants lowering of rates but s/he as
owner/director of bank is at the
receiving end of effects of change in
decades of interest rate regime and its
culture.
Thus every party will be required to
adjust with the situation and also
improve the level of efficiency in order
to sustain banking business, get proper
returns from savings and finally
increase productive investments for
creating jobs and attaining higher
growth. It is only natural that no change
is easy or possible without any price and
people need to take up challenges to
reap benefits from any political
initiative, banking rate cuts in this case.
Syed Mahmudur Rahman, Managing
Director of Mutual Trust Bank, in an
interview given to Dhaka Tribune’s
Mehedi Hasan, identifies that the
change will have significant impacts for
banks across the board. “To execute the
single digit loan cost on loaning, we,
above all else, should gather stores at
6% pace of intrigue, which may end up
being exceptionally troublesome
practically speaking.” He also identifies
how rates charged by retail and
commercial banks do not always tend to
be homogenous. “In the event that we
start offering contributors 6% loan cost,
they may pull back their cash from
banks. Rather than storing their cash in
the bank, they may lean toward other
venture alternatives, for example,
putting resources into gold or land.”
This would inevitably exacerbate the
liquidity problem that Bangladesh
already experiences. He also identifies
how non-Banking Financial Institutions
(NBFI) and new banks will confront
liquidity emergency, thus. Indeed, the
vast majority of the banks will confront
challenges to endure. “I think sway
Demand for loans may
jump creating certain
liquidity challenge for
banks due to fund
shortage that may
be created for
decline in deposits.
There may be challenges
of crowding out effect if
the public sector
borrows too much
money from banks.
about a solitary digit financing cost on
loaning on the productivity of banks
would be unfavorable, if the present
store circumstance proceeds.” There is
also a growing fear that the banks may
be disheartened, particularly in
dispensing small and medium
enterprise (SME) loans. Mainly because
the supervision expenses of these
ventures are higher when compared
with other areas of investment.
In fact, developed countries utilize the
single digit interest rates as tool to push
people towards making investment
decisions by discouraging idle money
and by creating scope for investing
money for much higher returns, be it in
the stock market or by means of
launching startups. Return on savings
has a direct correlation to investment as
simple understanding of economics
suggests. When interest rates are lower,
individuals save less. For less savings,
propensity to invest increases as the
cost of investment is relatively lower.
Therefore, investors take initiative for
setting up enterprises by borrowing
capital from banks, stock market and
other financial institutions.
So, economists, financial analysts,
businessmen and the leaders of
Bangladesh generally argue that in
order to overcome stagnation in the
private investment in recent years,
interest rates must be lowered. The
country has made significant progress
in the past three decades or so, banking
on apparel exports, remittances and
resilience of entrepreneurs and
common people of Bangladesh.
However, higher interest rates were
always blamed by business leaders for
creating barriers to further growth of
business. As the country is on the path
of becoming the middle income
country, it is essential to take the
economy to the next level by promoting
investment. The issue of lowering
interest rate has come to the fore in that
context and such a step, if implemented
properly, may set the tone for Bangladesh’s
economic journey in the coming
years.
Initially, there may be some unwanted
developments as well. Savers of fixed
income groups may turn their faces
from banks to buying national savings
certificates that offer double digit
interests. Demand for loans may jump
creating certain liquidity challenge for
banks due to fund shortage that may be
created for decline in deposits. There
may be challenges of crowding out
effect if the public sector borrows too
much money from banks.
In such a situation, the central bank
may have to inject funds into the
banking system for providing loans for
productive activities. One of the
objectives of the lowering of interest
rates is to reduce default loans, and at
least stop new cases of default. Old ones
may also benefit, revitalizing their
businesses and repaying bank loans
unless someone is a willful defaulter.
Banks will also need to come up with
innovative products to retain sustainable
profit despite a narrower spread,
3.0 per cent, from higher margin.
Increasing investment and vibrant
economy may make up for rate cuts by
increasing expanding business for
banks.
Still, the single digit interest rate will
definitely be a challenge for stakeholders
alongside opportunities it may
create. It will be a new reality for the
country, its entrepreneurs, banks and
financial institutions, small savers and
the people who would be part of the
financial inclusion.
January 2020 | 31

People
January 2020 | 32

Shaping the
e-commerce
scene
Bangladesh’s e-commerce scene has
been synonymous with a few sites;
however, with time, more shopping
sites have come up, and all those
entities try to chip into the online
shopping industry. Deligram’s CEO
Waiz Rahim speaks to Arka Dev Biswas
on how his college-day vision is
shaping the future of online shopping.
SMART MOVES OF A
BUDDING
ENTREPRENEUR
Being raised in a family of entrepreneurs, it
takes a lot of efforts to stand out different
from what the family business stood for.
Waiz Rahim has business acumen in the
blood. As a freshman student, he got the idea
to source a special athletes’ fabric from
Turkey which would be odorless in nature.
“We came up with the idea to provide these
fabrics to students at a cost that would be
reasonable for them. We offered them a
pre-order discount and we received
overwhelming response from people,” he
recalls. This laid the foundations for Mr.
Waiz’s plans to return home and initiate his
own institute, leading to creation of
Deligram in Bangladesh.
January 2020 | 33

WHAT MAKES
DELIGRAM
STANDOUT
E-commerce business has struggled
in Bangladesh due to a fear that
previous buyers had. The experience
has not been the most pleasant one
always, for which they prefer
quintessential brick and mortar
stores or mom and pop shops,
reliable, traditional and more
importantly, immediate transactions
through first hand viewing. This is
where Deligram presents a more fluid
dissemination of information to
customers. It effectively eradicates
the middleman problem that
customers face. Usually the system
involves online customer service
displaying photographs of goods that
customers may want, the orders are
recorded, and the customer hopes
that the goods are what they order.
And in many cases, the goods turn
out to be not the one they ordered.
This kind of experience results in a
bad image of e-commerce sites,
showing erosion of customers’ trust
in online shopping.
Deligram takes up responsibility to
ensure that quality of the goods is
exactly that they display on their site.
Mr. Waiz believe the providers need
to be responsible towards their
customers in terms of quality service
so that the number of customers
retained are always more. Deligram
champions such measures and tries
its best to keep the customer in the
loop about the transit state of the
good. It tries to make sure that the
goods are delivered within 3-5 days.
All these make Deligram different,
assuring the customers that they
receive the product they like, at the
time they would prefer.
An additional feature is where
Deligram agents and Deligram hubs
would enable customers to take the
goods easily if they are within the
perimeter of the customers. This
minimizes the cost for the customers.
OWN FASHION
PROVISION
Deligram adds more to being
different along with its service
provision. It has its own fashion
house as well, with in-house fashion
designers. It has three sets of unique
Deligram gives
customers to realize
the value for money
and are able to
buy quality clothing
directly from
their own fashion
house where
quality is never
secondary.
styles in the form of Jetstream, EQ and
Zinnia, where Jetstream comprises of
casual wear, Zinnia specializes in women
and EQ specializes in formal wear. These
are to cater to a wider segment of
customers who want quality fabrics and
clothing at reasonable prices and within
a range that would not hinder their
conspicuous consumption patterns.
Customers are more averse to investing
in clothing more than ever now due to
significant cost of purchasing quality
clothing. Therefore, they opt for
more cost effective alternatives.
Deligram gives customers to realize
the value for money and are able to
buy quality clothing directly from
their own fashion house where
quality is never secondary.
VISION AND
AMBITION
The consumers of Bangladesh are,
for lack of a better identification,
lack willingness to trust online
shopping, especially when it comes
to clothing. A surge in the number
of online shoppers and online
literacy with time, would definitely
saturate the market, but ensuring
customer satisfaction, and to a
larger extent spoiling customers
with privileges in the form of
ensuring quality every single time, is
the vision that Deligram is built on.
Rebuilding trust is a tectonic task
that Waiz Rahim and his Deligram
team are delighted to take up, as the
young sleek entrepreneurs of the
future look to build something
special.
January 2020 | 34

JOIN US IN OUR EFFORT TO
HONOR UNSUNG HEROES OF
BANGLADESH’S ECONOMIC
SUCCESS, THE BUSINESS
EXECUTIVES
Colors CEO of The Year 2020, the first of its kind, will
recognize the contributions of Chief Executive Officers
(CEOs) of Corporate Bangladesh in translating
entrepreneurial visions into reality. They are the ones,
among others, who have silently helped the country in
attaining development goals through hard work and
dedication. In our humble initiative to identify and award
the most successful CEOs, we will celebrate Bangladesh’s
business success. We shall thus present the role models for
the next generation of CEOs.
Please send in your nominations for Colors CEO of the year
2020 for the four following categories. Candidates
themselves can send in his/her nominations.
• CEO of The Year 2020 in Financial Sector
• CEO of The Year 2020 in FMCG Sector
• CEO of The Year 2020 in RMG Sector
• CEO of The Year 2020 in Large Manufacturing Sector
For nomination form and any queries, you can email us at …
colorsceooftheyear@gmail.com
www.colorsmagazine.net

Review
Expanded
Hotel
Luxuries
January 2020 | 37

The Renaissance Hotel has opened in Bangladesh,
expanding the hotel industry to newer areas. As a part of
Marriott International Inc., Renaissance Hotel brings in
the theatrical outline that is synonymous with all of
Marriott’s other brands. It also brings in its own twist to
be different. Consisting of five restaurants and bars in the
form of The Gulshan Bakery Company, it offers freshly
brewed coffee, fresh gelatos constructed from local
ingredients and refreshing tea. One called Bahar aims to
host live cooking stations with an upscale buffet dining
experience or an à-la-carte meal which includes local
flavours infused with international cuisines. Another
January 2020 | 38

January 2020 | 39

one,, SEAR, offers an
international fusion cuisine
setup, acting as the signature
restaurant. The Sear Bar acts
as the jazz bar for live music
paired with various blends of
cocktails and mocktails. The
R Bar presents a poolside bar
with an overlooking city view
and offers refreshing fresh
juices, teas and beer for all.
A new setup of Navigator to
introduce all to the local hubs
of interest and to familiarize
the visitors to the culture of
Bangladesh is something that
most international brands
love to patronize, and the
Renaissance Hotel introduces
such activities to make all its
visitors familiar with what a
new city and new place
embodies.
Renaissance
Hotel aims to
The R Bar
presents a
poolside bar
with an
overlooking
city view
and offers
refreshing
fresh juices,
teas and
beer for all.
give its visitors
and business
meetings
something
different to
remember and
to ensure that
they keep on
coming back to
both the country
and the same
hotel.
January 2020 | 40

Lifestyle
DHAKA’S
CULTURE
The country’s food scene has grown dramatically over the
past few decades and Bangladesh, like many other
countries, has shifted more towards eating-out culture.
Accordingly, the coffee culture has become a dominant
part of Bangladeshi urban lifestyle. Colors’ Tamima Islam
explores Dhaka’s coffee culture, and tries to get the
perspective of the people.
January 2020 | 42

The country’s food scene has
grown dramatically over the past
few decades and Bangladesh, like
many other countries, has shifted
more towards eating-out culture.
Accordingly, the coffee culture has
become a dominant part of
Bangladeshi urban lifestyle. Colors’
Tamima Islam explores Dhaka’s
coffee culture, and tries to get the
perspective of the people.
Gone are the days when the
so-called Chinese restaurants were
booked out for the evening; now
what’s even harder is to find an
empty coffee shop in Dhaka city.
From families and couples, to
small groups of friends, or even
lone-wolfs working away on their
devices, a coffee place seems to be
ideal for all, no matter the time of
day or purpose.
It makes sense that coffee shops
are popping up at every corner;
some have quickly become the
customers’ favorite. One is
Northend, already famous for its
premium coffee beans, which is
one of the top preferred coffee
places in Dhaka, along with Gloria
Jeans, Tabaq, Second Cup, and
Beans ‘n Aroma. These shops not
only provide premium coffee but
also a comfortable and welcoming
atmosphere, and are often situated
strategically around office areas.
‘The first place that pops into my
head for a quick hangout
nowadays is Northend because it’s
so close to work,’ Maeesha Arefin,
25, Strategic Planner at Analyzen,
shares her experience.
Aftab Mahmud Khurshid, General
Manager, Business Development at
Apollo Hospitals Dhaka,
mentioned how convenient coffee
shops in general are, especially for
office goers, making it the ideal
place for a quick meeting.
‘Being on the run most of the day,
the ideal place to meet any
colleagues, friends or have a small
January 2020 | 43

client meeting would conveniently be a
coffee shop,’ he shares.
A management trainee officer at Eastern
Bank Limited, Sabir Ahmed, 24, is also
a regular customer of Northend and
Tabaq, He shared with Colors his own
thoughts on why the coffee culture is
growing by the day.
‘When I meet with a friend, I don’t
want to waste my money eating a feast
while trying to have a conversation, yet
I don’t want to end up talking on the
road side or some noisy eatery,’ he says.
‘This automatically makes a coffee place
the best option for me to not only bond
with my friends, but also unwind after a
long day at work.’
Eying a girl sitting alone at a coffee
place, headphones jacked in and
vigorously typing on her laptop, I
couldn’t help but ask her what made her
prefer to work at a coffee place rather
than the comfort of her own home.
‘I get a lot more done here than I would
have at home,’ says Sameeun Nahar
Prethoul, 23, a GT at Robi. ‘And I also
have good coffee and delicious snacks at
my disposal while doing so.’
As observed, arrangement and
atmosphere of coffee places are different
from eateries’. The tables in coffee shops
are much smaller, obviously owing to
smaller items they serve, making space
Gone are the days
when the so-called
Chinese
restaurants were
booked out for the
evening; now
what’s even harder
is to find an empty
coffee shop in
Dhaka city.
for more customers at a time. Still the
coffee places are much quieter than
eateries’ and they are almost always lit
with warm lights, calling for a
comfortable environment with a dash of
sophistication. The architecture and
attention adds even more elegance,
making these places picture perfect as
well.
The standards of the rising middle class
people have evolved by the decades, and
these coffee places seem to perfectly
meet them. It was only about time the
coffee culture would take over this
ever-growing Dhaka city.
January 2020 | 44

Lifestyle
Passion
and
Fusion
It takes experience and passion to combine
different styles and create different cuisines.
Chef Reynaldo S. Dulatre, the head chef for
Amber Room restaurant of InterContinental
Dhaka, explains to Colors’ Arka Dev Biswas how
various fusional cuisines stem from merely the
passion for cooking.
January 2020 | 46

The Amber Room Restaurant
family that makes your dining
fine as themselves
The Beginning
The concept of creating food
that people would reminisce
about and remember through
its special precision is what
led to the creation of Amber
Room restaurant. For Chef Reynaldo
and Chef Francis, it was an opportunity
and risk worth taking up. Having an
experience of 15 years since the age of
19, Chef Reynaldo honed his skills in
Chinese restaurants, where his art of
sizzle and flame for Asian cuisine
developed with time. His travel across
the world took him to learn continental,
Mediterranean and other skillsets.
Coming across various chefs and
working with them, enhanced and
enabled the diversification of chef
Reynaldo’s skills.
Going ahead with
drive & love
Food being a passion for chef Reynaldo
meant that he would speak, breathe and
live food. Learning and adapting various
skills led Executive Chef Francis to
asking Chef Reynaldo to join on a plan
to create a unique culinary experience
restaurant for InterContinental which is
called Amber Room, and Chef Reynaldo
joined the journey.
Amber Room restaurant specializes in
creating fusion cuisines where different
styles are used and infused together to
‘A chef and
restaurant are as
good as their team.
People eat and leave,
but ensuring that the
smile they leave with
is dependent on the
staff that we have.
They are the family
we work with day and
night, they stay away
from their families,
and made the kitchen
their family.
create something
new and different.
Combining Thai,
Filipino, Chinese,
Mediterranean,
French, German, and
Continental styles to those indigenous
villages to rural Bangladesh, is what the
chef duo create here. Chef Reynaldo
notes that, ‘We always provide our
customers with the most unique dishes
possible. We will never tell them NO.
Giving them what they like is what we
aim for. And for that, you need to know
what your customers would like and
what they would ask for.’ Passion and
precision is something that he highly
resonates with. Presenting the best
quality steak cut may seem like an
off-stretch for most, however, chef
Reynaldo makes ‘best quality’ into a daily
routine. Aging beef cuts is a hallmark
trait of Michelin star restaurants, with
the vision to elevate the dining
experience of a gastronome and to
ensure that quality is never second. From
having red meat straight from Australia
to having the freshest fish from salt water
or sweet water bodies, proteins ensure
the Michelin star standard. And chef
Reynaldo works to ensure that
everything is fresh and to their necessity.
Even if it means to not serve the dish due
to lack of their desired ingredients, chef
Reynaldo is willing to wait for his
ingredients, so that the essence of the
dish still remains the same.
Common ambition
for Quality
The most important component for
Chef Reynaldo is the team that creates
the menu and cuisines for the customers.
‘A chef and restaurant are as good
as their team. People eat and leave, but
ensuring that the smile they leave with
is dependent on the staff that we have.
They are the family we work with day
and night, they stay away from their
families, and made the kitchen their
family. Many have come from rural
areas and many have been in the chef
culture for many generations. It takes
passion to genuinely consider a group of
chefs and kitchen associates to be
considered as one’s own family. And
that is the trait we embody.’
Homely Smiles for all
Chef Reynaldo and his team dedicate a
whole month to build the menu, where
every menu has its own structure, theme
and uniqueness. Menus vary seasonally,
along with what should be the most
appropriate cuisines that would be fully
encompassing the character and passion
of the kitchen and chefs and considering
the availability of the ingredients as
various vegetation and livestock are not
always in abundance throughout the
year. From incorporating vegans,
vegetarians, pescetarians or even
flexitarians, the kitchen ensures that
everyone’s needs are met with a smile,
and that the customers feel that the food
reminds them of their own home
cooking.
January 2020 | 47

Portfolio
New Year-
NewWardrobe
As the season brings chills, we look for new
additions to our wardrobe. Casual and
elegant can both make the pick with these
collections gathered this month. From
bombers to shawls, these are must-haves for
any next event. With the new year, comes new
trends and fashion choices and Sarah Karim’s
designer couture is always here to help. Sarah
Karim Couture encompasses embellished
pastels which are the hottest talk this month.
Taking bridal wear up a notch with fusion
twists and mono-tones to compliment the
subtlety.
January 2019 | 00

Red Origin
Concept & Fashion Direction : Faisal Tushar
In Frame : Mium Khould Hossain,
Mysha Sara, Salekin Shuvo, Zunain Husain
Makeover : Aura Beauty Lounge
Click & Retouch : Rony Rezaul
Location Courtesy : Pel Studio

Keeping warm
with
fashionable
wooly wraps
and frills

Camo print
bombers are
trending this
season for
casual winter
looks

AD
Orion

A more casual
pick with
blooming
colors

This hot pink
formal attire
stands out in
any crowd

This
complimenting
pair displays
elegance with
mono-tones

This low
toned blazer
screams
sophistication

This gorgeous
look comes
with a modern
twist
Sarah Karim's
Couture Festive
Collections in
Association with
Amishee
Designer: Sarah Karim
Jewelry: Amishee
Concept & Fashion Direction: Faisal Tushar
Assisted by: Somrat Sam
Click & Retouch: Rafiqul Islam Raf
In Frame: Peya Jannatul, Isha Yeasmin,
Sumaiya Nabila, Hritika Islam
Location Courtesy: Studio Evf

A classic black
and silver pair
up for any
occasion

All shades of
pink and beige
for the special
day

Details
adorned to the
max for a
stunning look

For a softer
looks, this
blush pink is
sure to satisfy

heavily
detailed
gharara calls
for grand
statement

This fusion
piece flows
beautifully
with subtle
altering shades

Attention to
patterns and
embroidery
make a
stunning wear

Feature
GENTLEMAN’S
RIDE, FOR
A CAUSE
The Vespa Club of Bangladesh, initiated by Rupok
Rahman, held a rally styled ‘Gentleman’s Ride’ which is
hosted internationally and is inspired by a true story,
with the aim to promote elegance and simplicity of using
a traditional ride like Vespa, a two-wheeler, without
causing any road hazards. It was hosted on December
27, 2019 and the ride started from Manik Mia Avenue
and made the final destination to Chef’s Table courtside.
January 2020 | 73

January 2020 | 74
THE
STORY
BEHIND
The Distinguished Gentleman's
Ride is an annual
motorcycle charity event that
raises funds for The Movember
Foundation which is a leading
global charity changing the
face of men's health, to
improve the lives of men
through prostate cancer
research and men's mental
health initiatives.
The initiative is made possible
by the tons of distinguished
gentlefolk who have been
impacted by some of the major
health crises faced by men
today that the Foundation
raises funds and awareness for.

Gentleman’s
ride is a
continuation of
an international
event.
January 2020 | 75

Photographs by: Ahbaar Muhammad & Akif Hamid/Shift DS.
ABOUT
THE CLUB
Farishta Jayas, one of the moderators
of Vespa Club of Bangladesh,
speaking about the event said that
they host over time and how they are
expanding their members in the
mixture of vintage and new Vespa.
They do a lot of charity events, too,
like hosting Iftar parties with less
fortunate children and looking
forward to doing a blanket distribution
event in the winter.
Convenient for city riding, Vespas are
designed for both men and women to
their timeless design, which makes
them even more appealing for users.
Regardless of its brands, it always
comes in stylish forms.
To be a part of these adventurous
events, one may join the ‘Vespa Club
of Bangladesh’ , wear a top hat,
monocle and a double breasted coat
to get accustomed to the club and feel
like s/he is a part of the Vespa life.
-- Elora Majumder
January 2020 | 76

Health
RETHINKING
LIFESTYLE,
AN ANSWER
TO CANCER
Today, one in every six deaths
is caused by cancer, a lifestyle
disease, which is the second
leading cause of death globally.
So, people are advised to rethink
their lifestyle and improve environment.
Colors’ Tamima Islam has
interviewed Dr. Ferdous Shahriar
Sayed, Consultant of Medical Oncology
at Apollo Hospitals, to learn more
about this deadly disease.
January 2020 | 78

‘Our childhood
was much
different,’ added
Dr. Ferdous.
‘We didn’t have
much, but we
had all things
good and
natural.’
Presenting a picture of what cancer
actually is, Dr. Ferdous explains how a
cell dies a natural death, and instead get
aggressive and multiply to form a solid
or liquid growth, otherwise known as a
tumor. It is this growth that feeds off
nutrition from nearby healthy cells,
thereby depriving that part of the body
of proper nutrition.
‘As a result, what occurs is Cancer
Cachexia or Paraneoplastic syndromes,’
he says. ‘At this point, our bodies react
by shutting off certain receptors of the
brain, so that we may not feel things
like hunger, leading to starvation,
malnutrition or other health deteriorating
symptoms.’
Oftentimes, during normal childbirths,
or experiencing constipation, our body
tissues tear and repair itself, explains.
When this tear-and-repair occurs
repeatedly in any place around our
body, he adds, the chance of cell
mutation, and apparent cancer,
becomes relatively high.
Dr. Ferdous has observed an increased
number of patients of cancer by the
years, but this may not all be a bad
thing. ‘Apart from the apparent
increase in cancer occurrence,’ he says,
‘Affordability of the mass and availability
of facilities has also increased, owing
to the rise in patients each year.’
Still, the truth of the matter is the
occurrence of cancer is increasing, and
we owe much of it to our unhealthy
lifestyle changes. Modern-day eating
habits, a lack of physical exercise and
the polluted air we breathe-in everyday
inevitably add up to chances of getting
cancer.
‘Our childhood was much different,’
added Dr. Ferdous. ‘We didn’t have
much, but we had all things good and
natural.’
Genetically modified food is no longer a
thing of the future, and the food
industry is highly dependent on
artificial fertilizers and pesticides. In
Dhaka city itself, there is barely any
place to go for a healthy walk, and the
air quality is so bad that we have time
and again been called one of the most
polluted cities in the world.
On account of this, Dr. Ferdous says,
head-neck cancers seem to be the most
common in Bangladesh. Smoking,
chewing tobacco and breathing-in
pollutants are also some of many
problems that add on to this.
On the other hand, cervical cancer has
gone down from being the number one
cancer in females to second highest
after breast cancer. ‘Women, especially
in rural areas, are becoming more aware
of personal hygiene,’ says Dr. Ferdous.
‘Before, sanitary napkins were only for
the wealthy, and thankfully, this has
changed.’
In males, prostate cancer has seen a
significant spike in recent years, and Dr.
Ferdous explains that this could be due
to increasing life expectancy in
Bangladesh as this only affects aged
male.
Although a future without cancer is
perhaps as good as impossible, the
physician emphasized the importance
of awareness and how far we still need
to go to achieve it.
‘Though cancer is increasing, there is
minimal research work being done in
Bangladesh,’ says Dr. Ferdous. ‘Without
research we have no statistics to work
with, and no way of measuring our
progress.’
Awareness can lead to early diagnosis,
and early diagnosis is the best chance
we have of low cancer mortality.
January 2020 | 79

Shopping
Bringing
on Winter
with Orion
Many say shoes
really tell a lot
about a person,
and any fashion
conscious person
would agree. Each
season brings its
own demands, and
with winter among
us, we yearn for new
looks that keep us
warm yet tasteful
this season. Tunajina
Islam looks at
Orion’s upcoming
winter campaign
for those looking
for a deal you
cannot refuse.
January 2020 | 80

With a wide variety to pick
from, Orion displays some of
the trendiest and quality
shoes that are fit for any
taste. Keeping up with the
likes of new ideas valuable to
our customers, Orion has
arrived with its new “Winter
is On” Campaign. Orion has
designed this campaign
targeting style-savvy
individuals who know much
about winter footwear
fashion and want to present
themselves trendy for every
winter occasion. During this
campaign winter specials for
their footwear collection will
be available in every Orion
outlet. Special segments of
corporate, sports and party
shoes are the main attraction
of this campaign. From kids
to adults everyone will
find their favorite
footwear during this
campaign.
Not only is Orion offering a
wonderful collection, but this
campaign will also include
amazing cashback offers. There
will be a chance of getting Tk
1,250 cashback on every Tk
2,500 or above purchase. This
time the Orion event will not be
limited to outlets only, all the
winter special collections and
offers will be available on Orion
online shop as well. Anyone can
go to www.orionfootwearbd.com
and enjoy the
“Winter is On” offer. Actress
Jaya Ahsan, as the Brand
Ambassador of Orion, will be
the face of this campaign as it
runs throughout the whole
season.
Classic blue
running
shoes
Stylish black
and red
sneakers
Girls' running
shoes
January 2020 | 82

TOP
Books & Arts
BOOKS
OF 2019
From politics and economics
to feminism and modernization,
2019 has been a year
filled with enriching literature
pieces that will not only get
you thinking, but also keep you
on your toes as you flip
through every page. It’s safe to
say that the year was indeed a
good one for literature, which
is why it was no easy task
picking out only five of them.
Lest you miss, here are some
of the must-read books 2019
gave us.
By Tamima Islam
‘GOOD ECONOMICS FOR
HARD TIMES’ BY ABHIJIT V.
BANERJEE AND ESTHER
DUFLO
MIT economists and winners of Nobel
Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences 2019
and authors of ‘Poor Economics’, Banerjee
and Duflo, have yet again put together a
cutting-edge book based on thorough
research, that will make you look at economics
from a different perspective. Rated as one
of the top books of 2019 by the economists,
this book explores the ordeals surrounding
today’s trivial economic problems that affect
every individual. The duo analyzes factors
such as globalization, inequality, climate
change and technological advancements as
the roots of many of the economic hardships
faced in the world today.
January 2020 | 84

‘THE MAN WHO SAW
EVERYTHING’ BY
DEBORAH LEVY
Beauty, envy and carelessness; these
three elements surround Levy’s latest
book ‘The Man who Saw Everything’. Set
in the 1980s, this novel is about the life of
a young historian named Saul Adler,
whose life takes a mystical turn after a car
accident on the famous ‘Abbey Road’.
Much as this book is about the love and
disappointments of one man, in
actuality, the story is a cunning piece that
tells the perspective of political enigmas
surrounding Europe throughout the
decades. For any historian out there, this
would be an interesting read indeed.
‘THE TESTAMENTS’ BY
MARGARET ATWOOD
Nearly 25 years later, Atwood has blessed us
with the sequel to her classic novel, ‘The
Handmaids Tale’. The number one New York
Times Bestseller, ‘The Testaments’, has been
described as a ‘modern masterpiece’, taking
place more than 15 years following the events of
‘The Handmaids Tale’. This time-befitting novel,
narrated by Aunt Lydia from the previous novel,
surrounds the lives of three women who are
about to find out what they really are capable of
and how far they are willing to go to protect
their beliefs. Through this masterpiece, Atwood
answers many questions that have been lurking
in fans’ minds for decades and has also clarified
that fans’ questions have influenced much of the
events that take place in this book.
‘GUN ISLAND’ BY
AMITAV GHOSH
This engrossing novel takes you on a
journey into the depth of the issues
surrounding migration. Ghosh writes
about a Bangladeshi book dealer,
Deen, who migrated to the US and
prefers to lead a quiet, introverted life,
until he decides to visit Kolkata where
his family relocated to during the
partition. It is here that Deen
rediscovers his youth and the tales that
make up his childhood, through which
he transports the reader on a journey
from the swamps of the Sundarbans to
a Los Angeles lit with forest fires, and a
slowly sinking Venice.
‘THE ANARCHY’ BY
WILLIAM
DALRYMPLE
Named ‘favorite book of the year’
by former US President Barack
Obama, this thrilling and mind
boggling novel brings back to life
the infamous ‘East India
Company’ that once was. William
Dalrymple writes very craftily
about the many injustices done by
the EIC while reigning over
India’s economy, and the political
influences that played their share,
from an in-depth and personal
perspective. William brings to
light interesting points such as the
looting done by the Brit’s of even
their language and colloquialisms.
WHAT TO LOOK
FORWARD TO IN 2020
‘Our House is on Fire’ by Malena and
Beata Ernman, Svante and Greta
Thunberg
In 2019, young Swedish activist, Greta
Thunberg, moved the world with her
heroic speech on climate change. This
eye-opening book, written by
Thunberg and her family members, is a
tragic adventure of a family, led to
confront a crisis; the crisis that is said
to be our future if things don’t change
soon.
Release date: March 5, 2020
January 2020 | 85

Trending
Cut to
Perfection
Men’s grooming has
seen resurgence in
terms of quality and
forms of grooming
styles that one can pick
from. Truefitt & Hill
introduces a new form
of style and luxury. Arka
Dev Biswas visits the
place to see this
international men’s
saloon in the works.
January 2020 | 88

Assortments of the luxurious cut
from Truefitt & Hill. From
grooming equipment to lather,
having it all is what matters
More than two centuries of experience
and functioning in more than 10
countries and several cities, Truefitt &
Hill has entered Bangladesh’s grooming
industry to revolutionize how grooming
is reciprocated by individuals, especially
when it comes to men. There has been
this unnerving apathy towards men’s
grooming, which has been shallow in
terms of variation of services that are
available. Even if services are available,
they tend to be merely hair and beard
based, with face wash application being
an additional component. The largest
extent to men’s grooming that goes into
work usually occurs when wedding
sessions tend to be in the offing. Grooms
go in for the peak of saloon work so that
they look their best for the moment they
will never forget. Truefitt & Hill comes in
to change this whole idea.
Grooming to perfection should not only
be a one off thing, rather something that
men should regularly be accustomed to.
Truefitt & Hill hails from the land of
royalty and where chivalry among
gentlemen is a norm. The British
franchise has seen generation of men
pass the halls of the barbershop that is set
in St. James Street, grooming various
influential figures in time, which includes
the royal family members, its clientele of
the highest of prestige. The wealth of
experience and brand recognition has
transcended both time and space, and
has resulted in Truefitt & Hill being
established in Bangladesh, bringing a
royal and majestic touch to all aspects
grooming and gentlemen.
Truefitt & Hill Bangladesh has brought in
what it has been recognized for, training
its staffers in the way royalty and cult
personality figures are to be treated, and
how every small aspect of grooming is to
be on spot. Basic aspects of hair and
beard apart, the franchise re-introduces
the concept of complete grooming. From
understanding what cologne suits a man
to the intricate details of angular hair
styling and beard styling in proportion to
the facial structure. Truefitt & Hill also
has brought in all of its well-established
products, shaving creams, kits, hair wax,
serum, body wash, shampoos, musk,
soaps, as well as their special gift sets, all
along the realms of both traditional and
modern styles.
Standing out in a market that lacks
significant depth does not necessarily
require much, however, being a market
mover in terms of creating a large
enough impact is something that Truefitt
& Hill aims to make. Creating a change
in the market that instills both importance
and impact of proper grooming for
men is what the franchise aims, and in
due time, it would not look out of sorts to
have board meeting with men having the
royal cut and being at the peak of
grooming to ensure that the deal is
ensured.
January 2020 | 89

Events
OSSUM
LAUNCHED ON
SHAJGOJ
World famous fragrance brand “OSSUM” (from the makers of
FOGG) was officially launched on Shajgoj, in a grand event on
December 19th, 2019 at Lakeshore Hotel Gulshan on a dazzling
eventful evening full of glamour & grace.
January 2020 | 90

On this event VINI Cosmetics Pvt. Ltd.
International Director Samir
Bhattacharjee, VINI Cosmetics
Bangladesh Ltd. Country Manager
Ahasan Parvez Khundker, Shajgoj
Co-Founder & CEO Nazmul Sheik and
many others were present. The event
was full of glamour & many important
people from all the leading FMCG
companies were there. There was
musical event & fashion show.
On this occasion, Samir Bhattacharjee,
International Director of VINI
Cosmetics Pvt. Ltd. said "Now our Flag
ship Brand FOGG is marketed at 70+
countries accross the world. The Brand
has successfully placed as No.1 Brand in
perfumed body spray category within
the SAARC Countries. We are really
happy & excited that after the
tremendous success of FOGG in
Bangladesh, now we are officially
launching the exclusive female
fragrance range of OSSUM in form of
perfumed Body mist and Body spray.”
Ahasan Parvez Khundker, Country
Manager of VINI Cosmetics
Bangladesh Ltd. further added, “VINI
has always ensured the best & premium
quality products for the consumers with
the promise of SMELL GOOD, LOOK
GOOD. FEEL GOOD. OSSUM is our
exclusive female fragrance line, and it
has now great range of perfumed body
mists & body sprays that we have
launched today. We are honored &
delighted to partnering with Shajgoj,
their relevant knowledge & expertise in
beauty will help us serve the consumers
better with authentic great products."
Nazmul Sheik, Co-Founder & CEO of
Shajgoj said, "It is a great honor &
privilege for us to tie up with VINI
Cosmetics (BD) Ltd. in Bangladesh &
launch Ossum on Shajgoj. We are really
excited & looking forward to this
collaboration. As the most popular
online platform for beauty conscious
women in Bangladesh, we are committed
to deliver authentic information and
products to our consumers.”
The fashion show was choreographed &
organized by Internationally renowned
choreographer & stylist Faisal Tushar &
coordinated by his agency Saffier. The
outfit and accessories for the show was
sponsored by Tansha by Sadia Zaman
Tushi, Makeover partner was Piya’s
Beauty Essentials by Piya Zaman &
event partner was E24 Management.
January 2020 | 91

Events
NSU
HOSTS
COLORS
By Tunajina Islam
North South University’s Communications Club
organized a workshop on journalism on December 17,
2019, to orient students about journalistic writing. The
team of Colors were invited there to share their
knowledge of and experience in journalistic writing.
A full-house picture
of Communications
Club, Colors team
and audience.
January 2020 | 92

Vice
Chancellor
Md. Atiqul
Islam
Colors’ Advisory Editor Ziaul Karim and The
Financial Express Content Specialist Khawaza Main
Uddin spoke there as guest speakers. It was also
addressed by NSU Vice Chancellor Md. Atiqul Islam,
Director of student affairs Ms Parisa Shakur and
faculty advisor Naveed Islam.
The workshop began with a ukulele performance by a
member of Communications Club. From the first
speaker, Ziaul Karim, the students learn the
importance of storytelling, the power of genuine
narratives that provoke emotion and, most
importantly, inspiration. He says journalism brings
insight into the world’s greatest and darkest corners.
He also talks about the privilege of interviewing people
of different strata and building bonds that truly make
this type of work rewarding.
Based on diverse experience in journalism, Khawaza
Main Uddin goes on to explain what makes a good
story. A question comes from the audience as to ‘what
makes a story worthy’. He replies: A story that is
authentic and creates a new sense of understanding for
the reader is what makes it worthy of being told. Every
single person has something to tell that resonates with
other people, he adds. ‘It’s vital to be able to use your
skills of writing and observation to unravel a new and
unique narrative,’ Main Uddin points out.
This discussion also encompasses major roles that
planning and prepping play when interviewing a
person and writing a piece. As Ziaul Karim
emphasizes, ‘always do your homework – You need to
have extensive research behind every article and
interview.’
Hosts of
Communications
Club Emceeing
Ukulele
performance
taking place
January 2020 | 93

Events
10 YEARS OF
TOGETHERNESS
City Bank Toasts Successful Journey Of American
Express In Bangladesh
City Bank Chairman Aziz Al Kaiser, City Bank Managing Director and CEO Mashrur Arefin and Divya Jain,
VP and Business Head - India and South Asia, Global Network Services, American Express, among others, were
present at the function.
City Bank and American Express have
celebrated 10 years of togetherness in
Bangladesh. Officials of both companies
unveiled new initiatives at the ten year
celebration ceremony at Radisson Blu
Dhaka on Friday, December 13, 2019.
To celebrate the decennary celebration,
City Bank hosted a musical gala event
which got a colorful touch with musical
performances for cardmembers and
merchants. Internationally-acclaimed
singer Runa Laila’s composition title
“Legends Forever” released at the event
and Indian playback singer Hariharan
performed solo music .
The occasion also witnessed the
unveiling of City Bank American
Express Prepaid Card for domestic &
overseas usage. Senior officials from
City Bank and American Express
unveiled the card. The product is
targeted towards corporate houses for
an all-in-one prepaid solution to meet
their expense management as well as
emerging unbanked users in consumer
category. The product will be available
in the market in January.
City Bank Chairman Aziz Al Kaiser said
introduction of the American Express
cards in Bangladesh market has showed
a new dimension of card services. He
also mentioned that City Bank has been
introducing many attractive features in
Amex to ease the lifestyle of the
customer as well as contributing in
digital transformation in the country
towards cashless society.
City Bank Managing Director & CEO
Mashrur Arefin said the decade long
journey with American Express has
added new benchmark in continuous
service innovations in banking domain.
“Amex is one of the major feather in
uniqueness of City Bank. Marking the
decade long partnership, we have
introduced pre-paid card of the globally
prestigious brand to reach more people
in the line with bank’s vision of more
financial inclusion in the society,”
Mashrur added.
Divya Jain, VP and Business Head -
India and South Asia, Global Network
Services, American Express, said “We
are proud to be associated with City
Bank as our partner since 2009. Our
successful collaboration over this period
has helped deliver greater level of
product innovation and service in the
Bangladesh card market. The launch of
Ambassadors Day and City Bank
American Express Prepaid Card to
mark a decade of our partnership,
further strengthens our commitment to
the market. American Express is
recognized across the world for
delivering best-in-class customer
experience and premium services to
Cardmembers. In City Bank we have a
like-minded partner who meets our
passion for our customers. On behalf of
the team at American Express, I
congratulate the City bank team for a
decade of powerful backing in Bangladesh
and look forward to accelerating
the momentum.”
City Bank introduced the state-of-the
banking service in 2009 in affiliation
with global card brand American
Express to empower Bangladesh users
with world-class services. Initially
starting with the Green Blue and Gold
Credit Cards, the bank currently boasts
a robust product line of Platinum credit
card and co-branded cards with the
country’s leading airline, hypermarket
and university, Airport Lounges,
Service Centers, propelling City Bank to
new heights as the market leader in the
industry. City Bank represents 35
percent market share in card segment
serving approximately half a million
subscribers of total 1.2 million cards in
the country. To adorn the lifestyle of
the women customer’s City Bank has a
specialized card named as ‘City Alo’
American Express Credit Card.
January 2020 | 94