Avenue_T_June 2020_High re

Dhaka Tribune, June 2020, Avenue T | 1

Editorial, News & Commercial

Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath,

Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Advertising: 9132155

Circulation: 9132282

Website: www.dhakatribune.com

EDITOR’S

NOTE

Dear Readers,

From Ace of Base to Taylor Swift, all those artists

writing heartbroken songs called Cruel Summer

probably never dreamed that 2020 would pan out

the way it has. And yet, here we are. Still breathing,

somehow, still hanging on.

If you’re reading this, then you’re doing better than you

think. You’ve already survived so much, and the road ahead

is still uncertain. And that’s why we’re here with the complete

June roundup of all our big stories this past month, wrapped up

in a warm hug of a digital issue. As hard as it is to keep fighting the

good fight, this month’s focus has been on self care. From warm fuzzy

feel good stories to tips on how to deal with these times, here’s to giving

ourselves some much-needed TLC.

Wishing you safety and sanity.

Let’s stay in touch!

dt.avenuet@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/

DhakaTribuneAvenueT/

@dt_avenuet

2 | Avenue T, June 2020, Dhaka Tribune

AvenueT

A production of Dhaka Tribune

June 2020

Editor

Zafar Sobhan

Features Editor

Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

Deputy Magazine Editor

Tasfia Huda

Avenue t Team

Zora Mohsin

Saudia Afrin

Saqib Sarker

Sumaira Hossain Farin

Tanita Hossain

Tarin Fatema

Tanveer Mohiuddin

ON THE COVER

Photo: Mehrin Rahman

CONTENTS

Contributors

Mehrin Rahman

Kashfia Kayes

Tanvir Ali

Raida A K Reza

Tanishaa Arman Akangkha

Eza Chowdhury

Azfarul Islam

Graphics

Md Mahbub Alam

Alamgir Hossain

WELLNESS

• Greening up your lockdown (4)

• An act of self-love (7)

• ‘Your body is the only home your soul

resides in, take care of it’ (10)

• Repairing your sleep cycle (12)

• Eating your feelings (14)

FOOD

• Hand-harvested Cornish sea salt, or how

to exasperate your family by hogging the

larder (16)

• Ordering food during Covid-19: Crave or

cave? (18)

FEEL-GOOD CORNER

• The beautiful world of bookstagram (22)

• Pandemic playlist (25)

• Stressed, but blessed (30)

XTRAS

• Cracked window in the dark room (32)

• ‘The idea was to make a go-to website for

anything you need and that will match

your lifestyle’ (35)

Advertisement

Md Shahin Ahsan

Ishtiaque Mahmud

Production

Masum Billah

Circulation

Masud Kabir Pavel

Website

dhakatribune.com

Email

dt.avenuet@gmail.com


wellness

zero waste lifestyle

Greening up

your lockdown

5 eco-friendly things to do during the pandemic for a

zero-waste lifestyle

by RAIDA A K REZA

The past two months of

lockdown lifestyle has been

an eye-opening experience

for most of us, allowing us

to explore different ways to survive.

We’ve picked up on many new habits

and, if you look closely, some of your

habits hint towards an eco-minded

lifestyle. If that prospect excites you,

I hope you’ll stay with me till the end

of this article.

Eco-minded lifestyle doesn’t

mean that you’ll have to change

everything in your household. You

don’t have to buy a ton of products

to maintain that lifestyle; in fact, it’s

discouraged to buy a ton of products.

You can start by addressing some

low hanging fruits to investing some

resources for the long-term gains.

These are some ways you can

address a zero-waste lifestyle in our

‘new normal’ life.

Declutter your house

Being locked down at home seems like the perfect opportunity to organize

the space you live (and currently may also work) in, doesn’t it? This

exercise can help you improve your home (and work) environment and

well-being. While you review your things at home, also rethink what could

have another role or be reused instead of being given away. You may be

surprised at how you can save money, time and space by just shifting things

around! When you finish your decluttering process, make sure you don’t

throw anything away. Store them in an allocated space and reuse or recycle

when convenient.


Support your community

If you need to buy something, try to do it

locally first! This lockdown has had a lot

of food go to waste, as supply chains have

disrupted. If you can procure food from

your local markets, instead of the exported

produce, and from ventures that deliver these

produce from the struggling farmers to you

on your doorstep -- you will not only help

these businesses, but contribute to a shorter

supply chain with reduced carbon footprints!

Additional tip: Make sure you ask for a no

plastic option if you’re buying produce online.

DIY: Do it yourself

This is something most of us, in some way

or the other, have already done or are in the

process of doing. An excellent example is

the usage of makeup -- there are so many

DIY options out there for us that we never

previously considered. This also applies to

household products, such as vinegar, which

has many cleaning uses. This applies to

cooking and food waste; did you know you

can sprout spring onions by just placing the

discarded root in water? Interestingly, my

friend went up a notch and hatched baby

chicks from chicken eggs!

The easiest way to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle

is to check what you have and make new

things by avoiding waste and boosting your

health and creativity.


wellness

zero waste lifestyle

Learn and inspire

The only way we can understand more about following a zero-waste lifestyle is by learning

new behaviours and unlearning bad habits. The good news is that lockdown is the

perfect time to enroll in a course, spend some time researching on this topic, watching

a documentary, reading books/magazines on this topic, and finally discussing this with

people who might be interested -- maybe even with people who are uncomfortable with

change.

Reusables

One of the easiest ways to implement a

zero-waste lifestyle is by reusing things

that you already have. If you have any

leftover bottles or tubs, use them for

storing your home-made toiletries,

fragrances or bits and bobs to avoid

throwing them out. Buying reusables

such as bamboo toothbrushes or

reusable cotton pads might seem like a

chore, but they pay off in the long run.

You don’t even have to buy some things

-- ladies, you can use breast pads from

old bras as makeup removers!

“Individual action matters for a number of reasons: It stimulates and supports social

action. It is central to honouring our moral duties to respect life. And it can be a force for

social change in subtle or unexpectedly powerful ways.

Our individual choices join with others’ choices to disrupt the flow of destructive ways

of living. Small acts are a witness, inspiring others and contributing to a momentum of

change that can trigger a social change faster than we anticipate. That’s what we need.

Soon.” - Mark Hanson, University of Montana

Culturally, Bangladeshis are not wired

to make a lot of waste. If you can closely

monitor the way your grandparents or

parents did things, you can pick up a lot of

easy zero waste tactics! Now is the time to

double down on doing things that are good

for our health, our planet, and our future.

You don’t necessarily have to follow the

guidelines in this article -- but I do hope

they inspire you! Make your very own zerowaste

target, and if you’d like to share your

zero-waste journey, join the Zero Waste

Bangladesh (ZWBD) Facebook group. •


wellness

health

An act

of self-love

Making the right choices for sound health

by SUMAIRA HOSSAIN FARIN

Over the last month, there

has been a sensational

change in our access to,

and the accessibility of,

food -- alongside where we eat and

with whom. Also, personal, familial,

and societal health have never been

more of a priority. Having a healthy

eating routine can be your first line

of guard on the road towards building

a solid immune system. Furthermore,

it can also help keep up you

maintain good health during this

time in lockdown. A proper eating

routine can hold your calories and

cravings in check, and can prevent

you from feeling unwell in this crucial

time. Everything matters at this

time.


wellness

health

Eating a solid differing diet that

incorporates a lot of fresh vegetables

and natural fruits guarantees that you get

the nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants

you need

It appears that lockdown has urged many

individuals to rediscover many things,

and life has taken an unwanted but drastic

turn. It is affecting our regular life, in addition

to our health. A significant number

of people have not been moving about as

much as we did pre-lockdown. Since we

can’t go out, a lot of us have also resorted

to trying out some home workouts.

The lockdown has additionally compelled

gyms to remain closed, and numerous

gym-goers are trying to find the inspiration

to bring the gym to their own homes

(on the off chance that they have space) or

complete their daily exercises on the rooftop.

Also, access to food has changed. We

can’t generally get everything we used to

get so easily previously. As a result, there

have been changes made to our diet plans.

A few of us are also facing financial limitations,

which influences how we shop and

the food we can bear to purchase. So it’s

very important to maintain a regular diet

and weight to stay fit and avoid compromising

with our health.

Eating a solid differing diet that incorporates

a lot of fresh vegetables and natural

fruits guarantees that you get the nutrients,

minerals, and antioxidants you need

to maintain healthy digestion and properly

functioning immune system. Ginger,

garlic, and turmeric can help support the

immune system. Foods rich in zinc -- for

example, meat, chickpeas, lentils, nuts,

and seeds -- are additionally significant.

Zinc is associated with numerous pathways

in the body, including the immune

response.

Ensure that you are stocked up on nutrient

C rich foods -- like broccoli, grapefruit,

lemons, limes, and oranges. Nutrient

C is significant in the improvement of

white blood cells -- which is required for

our immune system to function.

On the off chance that you need to keep

up your present weight during this lockdown,

it’s important to plan your meals to

avoid overeating. Plan your menu, select a


chocolates is okay as a one-off. However,

sugary treats like ice-cream, cake, and

custard are high in calories, and can easily

add up throughout the day. Instead, try

introducing yourself to healthier snacks,

such as popcorn or low-fat yogurt. Other

low-calorie treats you can eat between

meals include a handful of nuts or two

squares of dark chocolate. You should be

very careful of foods high in sugar and fat

-- they can lead to an increase in weight

and other health risks.

Drinking an adequate amount of fluids

is essential for you to feel and function at

your best. But it doesn’t have to be just

water; you can get your hydration via

smoothies, tea, coffee, and milk as well.

It all counts towards the eight glasses of

fluids that we need daily, though you may

need more if it’s hot, immediately after

you exercise. Keep any caffeinated drinks

to a minimum.

By eating well, enjoying some healthy

treats, and exercising or meditating once

a day, you are ensuring your physical and

mental wellbeing. It’s essential to keep

ourselves in check at a time like this.•

Drinking an

adequate

amount of fluids is

essential for you to feel

and function at your

best

couple of plans to attempt, prep, and cook.

This will guarantee that you’re getting

a healthy, balanced diet, and you won’t

have to repeatedly worry about what to

eat when you get hungry. In case you don’t

know how many calories you have to keep

up your weight, you can utilize an online

BMR adding machine -- this will help with

keeping count of your calorie intake dependent

on your weight, height, age, and

activity level. If all that seems like too

much work, seek the help of a professional

nutritionist and talk it out.

A good start would be to structure

your day: Get up at the same time that

you would during a typical week of work,

and abstain from dozing the day away.

Have set times for work, reading, learning

something new, exercise, as well as when

to have your meals and snacks. Make

sure to eat your meals every three to four

hours, throughout the day to help control

hunger, keep your blood sugar levels

balanced, and avoid overeating. Aim for

three full meals and two snacks per day.

Cozying up on the sofa with a tub of

your favourite flavour of ice cream and


Wellness

Meditation

‘Your body is the only home your

soul resides in, take care of it’

by EZA CHOWDHURY

On Mar 20, I woke up in the middle of the night on a serene island,

south of Thailand, with a pit in my stomach that I will get locked

out of my home in Dhaka, away from my family, without a time

limit. I was in Thailand for follow up medicals and the usual yoga,

meditation etc that we love to be on the beach for. The media was continually

rolling out the news about the rapid spread of the coronavirus, number of

cases going up exponentially in Italy and elsewhere, WHO was now calling it

a pandemic, airports being shut down, travellers being stranded etc -- and

yet, I felt untouched.

I was on the ocean with good food, soaking up the sun on the beach,

spending evenings at reggae bars and not having to deal with the usual

throngs of loud tourists. I was doing yoga and meditation for hours, feeling

uber calm and positive. I couldn’t be more relaxed when I went to bed. But

then there I was, at 3am, wide awake, staring at the ceiling and my heart

racing. No idea where this sudden panic came from. This is what an anxiety

attack looks like. Sometimes it’s your conscious mind,uncertain and fearful

about the future, that causes anxiety, and sometimes, such as in this case, it’s

your subconscious mind, where you hide your fears reasoning with yourself,

through logic. You never know what will trigger it, or when.


Anxiety attacks were not new for me. I had

suffered for many years from what started as

simple work related stress or panic attacks to

later turning into an anxiety disorder , one of

the reasons how I devoted myself to yoga.

The first step to addressing stress and

anxiety is to come to the present moment, and

change what you can control, and not dwell

on what you cannot control. No matter how

much your mind races to negative thoughts

of the uncertainty of the future, you redirect

it back to the present, here and now. So I flew

back out to Dhaka on the first flight I could

find, to be with my family.

As soon as I arrived, my chats and emails

were flooded with students, friends, peers

seeking help with their stress and anxiety.

Health, work, relationships -- pretty much

anything to risk your wellbeing was now

exposed.

By now, you have already heard like a broken

record, how important it is to exercise, yoga,

meditate, reduce screen time etc. Even for my

seasoned yoga students, it was difficult at first to

tame their minds and form that discipline -- to

not get sucked onto the fear. After three months

of the isolation, we are still experiencing a roller

coaster of emotions of sadness, uncertainty,

anxiety, acceptance and peace and then back on

that roller coaster again.

There is, however, one solution that

works every time with calming the mind,

relieves tension, tiredness, stress, anxiety,

better sleep, balancing the right to the left

hemisphere of the brain etc.

Alternate nostril breathing/

Nadi Shodhana (Sanskrit):

• Sit in any comfortable seated posture.

Use a pillow or blanket if it helps to

make the pose easier. Try to keep the

back tall. Put away any distractions

such as cell phones.

• Using the right thumb, close the right

nostril, and inhale as slowly as you can

through the left nostril, then close it

with your ring finger. Pause. Open and

exhale slowly through the right nostril.

• With the right nostril open, inhale

slowly, then close it with the thumb.

Pause. Exhale through the left nostril.

Once your exhalation is complete,

inhale through the left. Pause before

moving to the right.

• Repeat this pattern. Begin with five to

ten times and build it up to five to ten

minutes.

What is absolutely essential is to maintain

a healthy respiratory system, where alternate

nostril breathing will help a great deal. It is

always advisable to take preventative actions

for those who experience the symptoms

mentioned above, as well as everyone else.

Something as simple as not experiencing

sound sleep can escalate to much more

serious conditions.

Caution: If your nasal passages are

blocked, wait until they are clear. If you

experience shortness of breath or high blood

pressure, consult with first with a certified

yoga teacher.

It is very easy to spiral into fear, and

personally, deep down, that is what I have

been struggling with. It is important we put

our health first and to remain in the present

moment. If the little voice in your head still

tells you during your self-care, that you

should reach for the phone, or hop onto social

media during that dedicated time, tame that

mind to tell yourself that none of the other

aspects of your life would exist, if you are

unhealthy. Your body is the only home you

soul resides in, take care of it.

For further specific advice on holistic

health, feel free to follow Flow with Eza

on social media and stay tuned for further

articles. •


wellness

circadian rhythms

Repairing

your sleep

cycle

by TANITA HOSSAIN


My friend put up a status on social

media asking: “What do you do

now that you didn’t do before

quarantine?” My answer: “Going

to sleep without setting any alarm.” There it

all began -- the disruption of my sleep cycle.

During the first month of the “general

holiday”, I realized it wasn’t just my sleep that

was disrupted -- my mental health was also

being damaged. Until the novel coronavirus

hit us, stress seemed like a more manageable

thing. No matter what the cause of the stress

was, it was more easily resolved, because we

had more resources at hand. Without a fixed

sleeping pattern adding structure to our day,

other normal routine tasks like showers and

mealtimes have also been thrown to disarray.

All of this increased my anxiety. I was not

alone in experiencing this, and realized that

I needed to find a way to fixit. Preliminary

research on the internet showed me how

sleep was related to mental health. Just as

we need water for survival, we need oxygen

for our brains. For this, we need a proper

amount of sleep. Through many sources such

as sleepfoundation.org I learned that sleep

lets our immune system function properly,

increases our appetite, improves our mood,

brain functions, and -- above all -- improves

our mental health.

Fixing your sleep cycle may sound like

a simple enough fix, but it can get quite

challenging. However, pointers shared on the

article ‘Sleep Guidelines During the Covid-19

Pandemic’ by sleepfoundation.org helped

me turn my habits around. Here is some of

the advice that I learned from the article and

implemented into my daily routine:

Set a time-table: Distribute time for each

task of the day, and make sure you follow it

religiously for the next three days. Include

at least seven to nine hours of sleep in your

routine, and avoid oversleeping. If you decide

to sleep my 12am and wake up by 9 am, be

determined to maintain that. Time track will

remind you to follow up on the activities you

need to do.

Say yes to healthy food, and no to caffeine

and soda: Alcohol, caffeine, or other drinks

that contain excessive sugar such as soda will

disrupt your sleep cycle. If you want to drink

coffee, it is advisable to have it only during

the first half of the day. While such drinks are

minimized, increase the intake of water and

smoothies with less sugar. Healthy food such

as vegetables and fruits will help to improve

your immune system, and make you feel

refreshed.

More vitamin D, less screen-time: Step out to

your balcony or terraceand enjoy the sunlight

for at least 20minutes every day. 10am-3pm

is the best time to soak in vitamin D. A bit

of change and movement will help you feel

refreshed and calm. Along with that, reduce

the habit of looking at the screen the whole

day, especially before going to bed. While

setting the time table, dedicate a particular

time to use your gadgets and social media.

This will help keep your eyes from stressing

too much.

Be physically active: Being active does not

necessarily mean working out only. It can be

any activity that involves physical movement,

such as doing the laundry, doing the dishes,

yoga, dancing, cleaning the house, etc. If

you are focusing on one physical activity,

make sure your body is moving rapidly for a

minimum of 20 minutes. Active movements

of your body will help to increase your level of

circulation, make you feel energized, and help

you to get some sleep as well.

Fix your bed manners: Clean and new bed

sheets and covers will lift your mood. Try

changing them ever four-five days. Besides

this, place a book by your bed. If you’re not

sleepy, try reading a book, listening to music,

or a podcast -- anything that is light and not

too exciting. Remember to avoid your phone

before bed, and keep the WiFi turned off.

Once you follow these simple instructions

for the first three days, you will find a

noticeable change in your lifestyle. Sadly, it

doesn’t look like the virus is leaving soon,

but you can control your thoughts. Once

you’ve fixed your sleeping habit, you will feel

much more tranquil, energized, andrelaxed

enoughto beat any sort of negativity. •

Primary advice source:

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/

sleep-guidelines-covid-19-isolation

Without

a fixed

sleeping pattern

adding structure

to our day, other

normal routine

tasks like showers

and mealtimes have

also been thrown to

disarray


wellness

nutrition

Eating your

feelings

by SUMAIRA HOSSAIN FARIN

Illustration: Bigstock

Do we really need food for every

emotion we come across everyday?

The other day, I ate my anger

in the form of spicy noodles, and

the day before that, I found happiness in a

packet of chips with salsa. I see peace in a

mug of coffee and I had a box of chocolate

ice cream when tears run down my cheeks.

Am I eating food or am I eating my emotions

out in the form of that food? This is me

finding my ease in food for every emotion I

go through nowadays. It’s not every day we

get the chance to eat our emotions; however,

comfort food is consistently here for us.

Regardless of whether it’s an awful day or a

terrible breakup, or any celebration, the one

thing we can depend on is having the option

to stuff our souls thereafter, without facing

any questions.

Perhaps the greatest myth about emotional

eating is that it’s provoked by negative

feelings. Indeed, one frequently starts eating

more when they’re worried, lonely, sad,

restless, or exhausted. However, emotional

eating can be connected to positive emotions

as well, similar to the sentiment of sharing

a treat with your beloved, celebrating any

success or festival. Once in a while, emotional

eating is attached to significant life occasions,

similar to a demise or a separation. Also, it’s

the countless little daily stresses that cause

someone to seek comfort or distraction in

food.

Emotional eating is when one uses food

as an approach to managing emotions rather

than to fulfill hunger. We’ve all been there,

completing an entire pack of chips out of

boredom or bringing down many treats while

preparing for a major test. But, when one

does it a lot, particularly without realizing it,

emotional eating can affect weight and health.

However, eating comfort food when things get

tough is not a solution to life’s challenges. It

only works temporarily. Worse, it causes longterm

distress if it brings about weight gain

and other health issues.

You might have the option to stop pressure

eating or emotional eating by making sense

of why you need comfort food. Does it calm

you down, cheer you up, compensate you

for an exhausting day? Perceiving these idea

examples can make it simpler to oppose your

craving. It also helps to realize that emotional

eating doesn’t solve the problem that made

you upset.

Another approach to controlling emotional

eating is to make sense of what your triggers

are. Keep a food journal that records what


Am I eating food or

am I eating my

emotions out in the form

of that food?

-- and the amount -- you ate, yet additionally

how you felt at that point. When you perceive

a pattern, build up a procedure to break it.

For example, if you often eat because you

think you deserve it following an extreme

day, recall that you additionally have the right

to shed pounds, feel healthy, and be glad for

yourself. On the off chance that you eat as a

result of pressure, figure out how to dial back

that pressure. Yoga, reflection, and customary

exercise can help decrease feelings of anxiety.

The best distraction from emotional eating

is things that take just around five minutes --

sufficiently long to assist you with changing

gears.

Taking a five-minute walk, sitting outside,

putting on your preferred music, calling a

dear companion to visit, trying to read that

unfinished book, or playing some games are

all efficient alternatives.

The more ways you can consider to divert

yourself, the simpler it will become after

some time to stop stress eating. Rather,

opposing will turn into your new habit.

For certain individuals, emotional eating is

a learned habit. During childhood, their folks

give them treats to help them with managing

a bad day or circumstance, or as an award for

something great. Over time, the child who

reaches for a cookie after getting a bad grade

on a test may become an adult who grabs

a box of cookies after a rough day at work.

This is the root of emotional eating that is

profound, which can make breaking the habit

a little too hard.

Even when we understand what’s going

on, many of us still need help breaking the

cycle of emotional eating. It’s always useful

to talk to a therapist to discuss different

approaches to break the pattern of emotional

eating, if one feels like it. A nutritionist or

specialist may likewise have the option to give

a referral to an expert or useful information

on making positive eating habits and a better

relationship with food.

It is understandable that this lockdown

and whatever is going on around the

world can make it difficult for us to keep

ourselves away from food. But despite all

of these, let’s try not to eat our hearts out of

sadness, boredom, or any other emotion.•

Illustrations: Bigstock


Food

humour

Hand-harvested Cornish sea salt,

or how to exasperate your family

by hogging the larder

by AZFARUL ISLAM

Illustrations: Courtesy

Noticing that my precious tub of

sea salt felt lighter than expected,

I had casually asked my mum

if she knew the whereabouts of

suspects crystalline in structure, wonderfully

exfoliating to the touch. “Oh, I used a bunch

to brine your chicken as you suggested.”

I beamed with joy. After hours of handwringing

and loud huffing, she had finally

seen the benefits of proper brining meat;

and I also tried my best not to shriek. So

I shrieked: “That’s the expensive salt for

directly sprinkling on food -- not for cooking,

marinating, or the like!” She gave me a flat

stare and declared with the same huff I had so

wonderfully inherited: “It’s just salt.” This was

well in advance of novel coronavirus, c.2019.

Having been locked in with my family for

a portion of the day when my battles would

be about very different topics, involving

spreadsheets and flow diagrams, (now both

are fought simultaneously during daylight

hours), regular skirmishes over kitchen

space (it is narrow, so bottoms -- nurtured

by continued adhesion to comfortable seats

-- are constantly worrying at each other),

debates over which knife to employ for

what task, and arguments over the merits

of different types of flour are unavoidable.

It is my wish to have two different types of

seaweed (one for snacking, one for making

stock), four types of soy sauce (light, dark,

regular, and gluten-free -- and one day there

will be a range which caters for the general

wellbeing of soybeans), and only oregano from

Mexico (if dried; from the garden, if fresh).

Sea-salt-gate was just a taste.

Consider the not-so-humble biriyani:

an onerous, multifaceted endeavour which,

once assembled, is left to faith (as Asma

Khan so eloquently mused on Chef’s Table).

Meticulous preparation that is religious in its

fervour, my grandfather’s recipe our guiding

light: a khichuri, it must never be. Naturally,

I wanted to deconstruct it, to have it speak

its secrets softly to me so that I could expand

its dimensions. Broken down, biriyani is

subtle sweetness, with each ingredient a

long-term diabetes sufferer: gamey mutton,

lightly crushed nuts, dried Turkish plums,

copious amounts of fried onions, and fluffy

potatoes that people would gladly storm out

of a wedding over if denied to them. And

with each scoop, you have an array of spices

hitting ineffable flavour notes that require a

thesaurus to describe, and a mellow fattiness

that gently coats the tongue. Harmony

is achieved through the medium of rice,

parboiled to perfection, then baked under

steam to create an ethereal texture. It is an

ode to excess, and for me, to roots.

As per our recipe (and others, I’m sure),

there is a need to “smoke” the meat. This

normally manifests as a hot piece of charcoal

quenched with flavoured oil, hissing and

sputtering in a way that is frisson-inducing

to those in earshot -- with the meat exposed,

shamefully, for mere minutes. Inviting over

chain-smoking relatives to occasionally walk

by this meat is likely more effective, even

with social distancing. “No. We shall smoke

it for 2 hours,” I declared. After prolonged

negotiations, all parties agreed on 45 minutes.

The method was to be so: array marinated

meat in a big pot in a way that maximizes

exposed surface area, heat up two pieces of

charcoal (this number was part of the deal)

to a white heat, and soak whole spices in hot


Harmony

is achieved

through

the medium of

rice, parboiled

to perfection,

then baked under

steam to create an

ethereal texture

water… “Wait, we cannot heat up the charcoal

to white heat in a kitchen! It’s too risky!”

interrupted my dad. I channelled my inner

Gibson (Mel, not William -- this would be a

very different story otherwise) and asked him

to hold, as he prodded the nuggets with tongs,

brows furrowed. Extractor fans were on full

blast, doors and windows were wide open,

metal bowls were available: we were prepared,

enough, to handle entropy (I imagined my

physicist sister-in-law shaking her head in

utter disbelief). The heated charcoal and

soaked spices were introduced to each other

and hit it off like old flames reconnecting,

resulting in copious wisps of smoke. We

covered the meat, leaving a little gap for

home-wrecking oxygen to remind these

lovers they were truly meant for each other.

But before we peek at the happily smoking

meat, let me tell you about my glorious plums.

Although homebrewed biriyani won’t leave

you enough leftover oil for setting up the fried

chicken pop-up of your dreams, it cannot

completely avoid its lipid destiny. I theorized

to my wife (who is very patient with my food

tangents) that something was needed to cut

through that richness, and I was unwilling to

let a third party such as a salad or a raita play

such a crucial role. Thus entered a wizened

traveller from the Far East: organic umeboshi

(preserved Japanese plums), introducing a

beautiful tartness that makes you regret it

at first nibble, and then makes you a willing

slave. In a show of continued cross-cultural

culinary collaboration, these joined the

Turkish plums -- intensely sweet and salty

in their own right -- in offering a perfect

counterpoint to the fattiness and savouriness

of mutton. When these friends from afar were

introduced to my parents and wife, there was

an initial frostiness. The smoking technique

was an extension of what was traditional

(and flawed; friends, please smoke for longer

-- your food that is) but this was a stranger

wandering about the family home. Only

years of proving myself repeatedly through

countless culinary experiments could have

convinced them that we should take a leap

into the unknown. All that for a single step in

dozens. The things I do for food.

Happily, not all things needed to be

escalated: my suggestion of dried roses to add

a floral whimsy, inspired by Iranian cuisine,

was accepted at first blush. In fact, my parents

plucked rose petals from our own garden

(no pesticides, all organic, watch out for that

ant) to slowly dry in the recently-generous

sun. These made their way into both the

marinade as well as the glorious recursion of

rice, fried onions, and other condiments (not

going to give everything away) that make up

the layers of a biriyani. Traditional? We may

never know, thanks to the best part of food

culture being how it wonderfully changes

to suit our palates, over distances and time

itself. When we nervously cracked open

the dough-encrusted pot for my inaugural

attempt, I wondered how my grandfather felt

when he made his famous biriyani: I imagined

it was with a smile, happy in the faith that it

would be perfect as always. Take away the

squabbles over who broke the bottle of rice

vinegar and if eggs should be hardboiled from

a cold start or plunged directly into bubbling

water, and you realize that from the simplest

snack to the most complex dish, food is about

true happiness and bringing people together.

To my family: I hope to keep exasperating

you with one-time ingredients and constant

huffing when you refuse to read instructions

on a pack of noodles, cooking for you is how I

show my love.•


food

dining

Ordering

food during

Covid-19:

Crave or

cave?

by KASHFIA KAYES

It has been an adventure, attempting to make our

favourite restaurants’ food in our own kitchens.

You finally have the perfect season for those Mango

Cheesecakes, and time for the Malai chops. DIY

kits from O’play, and YouTube cooking lessons had

never been more of a blessing. Let’s say we’ve all had

our moments of cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

Eventually, these surges of passion die down with scares,

meltdowns, and just anxiety over everything happening.

Honestly, for some of us, while the taste was never really

quite as hot as Madchef’s Naga special or as cheesy as

Bella Italia’s lasagna, it stopped feeling worth the effort.

You just want to click on that app and have your heavenly

favourites delivered to your doorstep. But you don’t,

right? Because you are scared -- we all are. We do not

know whether this quick fix of craving will cause an

invisible virus attack.

When you look up whether getting food at your

doorstep is safe, there aren’t many clear answers,

because other countries have it figured out and the

delivery industry is booming! We need to understand

that it is still a novel virus, and there are numerous

researches still being conducted. So far what we’ve

gathered from USDA, CDC, and FDA is that Covid-19 is

a respiratory illness; there is no indication that it can

be transmitted by any food. Reputable chains and good

restaurant kitchens are more likely to be geared towards

skilled, hygienic food preparation, ensuring a freshly

cooked takeaway meal poses minimal risk. Studies say,

it is safe to eat from your favourite restaurants! Still not

convinced? Let’s try to debunk those concerns.

Concern 1:

Who is touching my

food?

Nadvie Ahmed, managing partner

at Lean Nation BD, Polau Ghor, La

Jawaab, and Painted Chopsticks, says

it’s very low risk to order in. “When

we make your food, we are collecting

all the raw materials, disinfecting

them, and putting them together

into a finished safe product which

saves you from having to come in

contact with anyone -- no grocery,

no travel -- other than the delivery

man, sometimes not even that.

Considering that studies say the virus

is not transmitted through cooked

food, your ordered burger comes into

contact with the restaurant, and the

packaging with the delivery man. As

an added measure, our kitchen staff

who handle food have drastically

reduced contact with any outsiders,

even while not at work.”

Uncle Sam’s


Concern 2:

How do I know my food is not coming into contact with an

infected person?

Even if the food itself can’t transmit the virus, we still have reservations about having

what we eat handled by someone who may be infected. Everyone’s favourite café has the

right answers. “We are primarily keeping our staff at the stores, under very comfortable

and safe circumstances,” says Rehanur Rahman, Managing Partner, Crimson Cup

Coffees. “The coffee that is being made is completely contactless, and other restaurants

and cafés are taking similar measures. It is mandatory that our staff wear gloves and

masks at all times. Temperature and symptom check-ups are done every morning, and

any complaint of even a headache is taken very seriously.”

What about the delivery package itself? How do I

know it is not infected? How are they making sure my

package isn’t encountering the virus?

When leading delivery services of the country were asked about food and staff

safety, Ambareen Reza, CEO, foodpanda Bangladesh, conveyed: “We are in

constant communication with our restaurant partners following the latest World

Health Organization (WHO) notices, while advising them on the health and safety

practices beyond our food hygiene expectations. This ensures maximum safety

for both the food and packaging. As for riders, they are always equipped with all

sorts of protective measures. Besides the instructed use of masks, gloves, and

sanitizers at all times, daily temperature check is a must before each rider sets

out for their scheduled deliveries. To maintain hygiene of the delivery bags, riders

are mandated to sanitize the delivery bags after pickup and before every delivery

to ensure maximum hygiene. In light of the Covid-19 outbreak, to promote healthy

social distancing, apart from encouraging customers to switch to online payment,

we are strictly maintaining a contactless delivery service; customers can request

their order to be dropped off at any designated spot, minimizing direct contact.”

“We have full-time riders and not random people dropping off food, so we know

their whereabouts at all times. When they report to the hub before starting work,

a thorough health-check is done following strict international guidelines before

and during delivery. We even offer to leave food at the door; contactless.” –

Ibrahim Bin Mohiuddin, Co-founder & Deputy CEO, HungryNaki.

Laughing Buddha

Even if the food itself can’t transmit the

virus, we still have reservations about

having what we eat handled by someone who

may be infected


food

dining

Uncertainties

about food

safety make the

eating experience

unpleasant

Concern 3:

Where is my food being

made, and under what

circumstances?

It is especially important to feel

comfortable when ordering food

during the pandemic, and getting

transparent answers from your food

provider. Laughing Buddha had

become the new have-you-beenthere-yet

before all hell broke loose

on us. Since the beginning of our little

“stay home” situation, this restaurant,

like many other reputable ones, has

taken safety and hygiene seriously.

“We, at Laughing Buddha, have

adopted every measure possible to

keep our staff healthy and safe since

day one of the threat at hand.

• We maintain sectional quarantine

in the restaurant itself; there is no

physical contact within the team

members.

• The kitchen is wiped down with

our mix of disinfectant, faint

amount of bleach, and water

periodically. It is also sprayed on

the staff after change of clothes.

• The staff are living in housing

provided by us, under strict

measures and a safe environment.

The safety of our staff is our prime

concern, and we have taken every

measure to ensure it, along with

which the food promises preparation

in the safest environment according

to us.” – Farazi Ghani, Managing

Partner, Laughing Buddha.

Concern 4:

How safe are the packaging

materials? How is the

restaurant handling them?

Although studies suggest low chances

of the coronavirus being transmitted

by packaging, uncertainties about food

safety make the eating experience

unpleasant. Sami Ameen, owner at

Uncle Sam’s, Uncle Chaap and Afters,

and Managing Partner at Fryyay, also

talked about packages: “We often

get asked whether the foil boxes or

containers are safe. We follow all

safety procedures suggested by the

FDA. We wash all the containers

with food-grade detergents and dry

them up. We try to stay stocked up

so that interaction with suppliers is

limited, and the boxes are stored four

to five days before they go out to the

customer. Another legitimate concern

is what if the bag that it is being carried

in gets contaminated during delivery.

Which is why, we use 2 layers of baggies

and advise customers to throw away

all packages and transfer food to their

own containers as soon as they receive

it. You want to be as careful as possible,

and ensure utmost safety of the people

who instill hope in us.”

I recently gave into my craving for

thick fries and ended up ordering

one of my favourites: Frybox. When I

brought the packet in, it had a visual

sticker of how my food was prepared

safely, and how packaging was handled;

it had a positive psychological impact

on me. When asked about their mantra,

Kishwar Hashemee, CEO and cofounder

at Kludio (Frybox, Dough on

the Go and Hero Burger) said: “Our

great hold on hygiene is due to being in

control of the production, logistics, and

technology. Food is also cooked at high

temperatures, with Covid-19 specific

sanitization in place. We make sure our

customers know about our measures.

Do your due diligence to the place you

are eating from. I think the future is

live streaming of kitchens, so you see

how your food is being made and who is

making them.”

Kludio


Steps we can take:

• Check restaurants’ safety

measures. (ask for photos if you

are feeling CID)

• Make a cashless transaction

(because who wants to boil dirty

cash?)

• When accepting delivery, wear a

mask (be a good person, tip the

Superhero)

• Transfer food to containers at

home (don’t have to plate like a

MasterChef)

• Dispose all packages and

containers (keep mom away if it’s a

nice plastic box)

• Wash your hands for 20 seconds

(don’t forget to sing Happy

Birthday twice!)

• Heat your food up (not a necessity,

it’s for the heat-kills-germs

believer in you)

• CAVE AND DEVOUR (thank me

while you eat)

foodpanda riders

Concern 5:

Are other people ordering too?

“While we have seen some people being scared to order, contrary to popular belief,

we’ve been experiencing a rise in orders during the pandemic. Many people are relying

on food delivery more than ever -- because firstly, food is not a vector. Delivery people

have been some of the unsung heroes of the pandemic, and thanks to cashless payments

and contactless deliveries, they have been plying the roads while staying safe with the

necessary precautions. As a small business, Cookups has a responsibility towards our

diners to maintain hygiene, but also to keep our team safe while we go about our daily

work.” – Namira Hossain, founder and CEO of Cookups. We also reached out to someone

who recently got over his fears and made his first order for delivery. “There are only a

few restaurants that I can trust, when it comes to safe food delivery. Izakaya is one of

them. They’ve made sure to communicate with me (when asked) about how their food

is prepared. To top that off, their delivery man was fully equipped with PPE and proper

facemask.” - Zulyad Islam, Musician.

Our fear of this “cosmic horror” is hurting a

lot of local businesses we love, even though

they are taking strict and rapid steps to make

sure all our dilemmas are put to rest. It’s time

we educate ourselves and support these local

brands that have tirelessly worked to make a

place in our hearts. Helping to promote these

standards through buying habits will help set

examples for other restaurants and cafés to

follow by making it the new normal. It is our

responsibility, as consumers, to support an

industry that has proven to be the only vessel

of happiness in every misery that has hit us

over the years. Ask questions, make sure all

your doubts are calmed, and CAVE. It has

been a crazy ride, this dumb year, and you

deserve it. •

Kashfia Kayes is a blatant Dhanmondi

girl with a whole lot to say. She’s every

cliché, yet nothing like you’ve ever seen

before.


FEEL-GOOD CORNER

blogging

The beautiful world

of bookstagram

by MEHRIN RAHMAN


Photos: Courtesy

I

have always loved reading for as long as I can

remember. What started off as a little habit of reading

bedtime stories turned into full-blown passion for

me.

Now, if you’d asked me two years agoif I’d be taking

pictures of books and maintaining a blog, I’d have laughed

at your face. Being a fresh-out-of-med school doctor

took a lot of my time and creativity away. I always had

to juggle between studying medicine and surgery, and

actually reading. This is probably one of the hardest tasks

out there. But I’m so glad that my love for reading books

thrived through the hardships of med school. It’s where

my love for blogging bloomed, driving me to start my very

own bookstagram account.

Bookstagram is like a breath of fresh air for me -- it’s

my holy grail. It is that one platform where I can talk

freely about books, look for whatever books I want, and

rant about the books I’ve read. It’s my passion, my hobby,

my home.I strongly believe that blogging helps relieve

stress too. When you bottle everything inside, it can really

weigh you down. Laying it out there and putting your

deepest thoughts and emotions in words gets it out of

your system. Think of your blog as the best friend that you

can unload all your problems onto. Let it out. Write it all

down.

Our heads can be a messy little space, with lots and

lots of thoughts churning inside constantly. Writing it all

down has always helped me sort through my problems,

gain new perspectives, and get clarity.


FEEL-GOOD CORNER

blogging

Blogging also helps me to come up

with a viable solution to a problem and

share them with everyone. It helps a lot

when you get to bond with someone over

mutual problems in life. The light at the

end of the tunnel might not be so far away

when you know you have got someone

who understands you, even if that person

is a stranger. Ultimately, this platform

allows for greater understanding and

reflection of oneself.

My bookstagram account has also

allowed me to express my creativity, and

play around with what I believe to be my

aesthetic. The books we read help us delve

into a different world, and recreating a

small portion of my interpretation of that

for my feed is always a challenge that

excites and inspires me.

Most importantly, being a blogger and

a part of the bookstagram community

means that you get to make many, many

new friends -- friends that live all over

the world! It’s amazing for me to be able

to connect with people from around the

globe and chat on a daily basis about

books, and all sorts of other things, too. I

get to gush with fellow bookstagrammers

who are part of the same fandoms as

me, and that within itself is a really

wonderful and a powerful feeling. This

has, essentially,broken barriers between

nations and helped connect so many

people, simply over their love for books.

In my experience, my fellow bookworms

have proven to be the nicest and most

genuine I’ve ever had the privilege of

speaking to.

At the end of the day, what makes

bookstagramso special to me, and

thousands of people around the world, is

that it always makes me feel welcome. It

makes me feel warm and loved. It makes

me feel like I belong. It makes me happy.

The amount of positivity I’m exposed to

everyday from this beautiful community

is more than I could’ve ever imagined.

And I’m forever grateful for it.•

Follow Mehrin’sbookstagram at

https://www.instagram.com/

literary_rebel95/


FEEL-GOOD CORNER

music

Pandemic

playlist

A celebration of local artists

during dark and trying times

by ZORA MOHSIN

The sudden arrival of the Coronavirus shook us all

up in ways that will probably require years of therapy.

But the one good thing we must give it credit for is the

amount of creativity everyone around us displayed.

Whether as a coping mechanism, or because they’ve

finally found the time to do something they truly love,

artists of all fields have kept us entertained during a

time of distress. Some of our favourite local musicians

have also taken the opportunity to create more of their

magic. As appreciation for their contribution, here’s a

playlist consisting of some of the many incredible songs

released during lockdown:

Photo: Mehrin Rahman


FEEL-GOOD CORNER

music

Illustrations: Bigstock

Jon Kabir - Acoustic EP

Genre: Acoustic

Background: 2020 has been a major year

for Jon Kabir as an artist, with him starting

his own YouTube channel, and releasing his

first single Moho in February. During the

first phase of this “lockdown”, Jon went on

to release not one, but 5 acoustic covers of

renowned originals by Black (and a bonus

track), as part of an acoustic EP. All these

songs were recorded about two years ago,

with no plans to release them. Interestingly,

each of the songs was recorded in one take.

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/

channel/UCy3-rT8v4OfsAtYkjTar1CA/videos

Banglamotorr - The Only Way Out

Is Through

Genre: Post Punk, Indie

Background: The song was recorded in a

studio that’s called Bedroom Pop Studio

and the studio is literally located in the

guitarist’s bedroom. The artwork and

graphics were made by Shehab from Norf

Made Production, who was also a part of

their first single, “Lucid”. The certain effect

on the vocals was predetermined. They laid

the tracks with high-end microphones but

it sounded too “clean” for their taste. Later,

a budget microphone was used to blend

with the garage-rock aesthetics. The lyrics

translate to what the listener’s mind wants it

to be; relationships, self, the world, or even

attachments with toxic narcissism. Or as

simple as a bad haircut.


watch?v=a8Ks3gArxW4

Circus Police - Bharshammo

Genre: Trip-Hop, Folk

Background: This song was written almost 10

years ago, for a mixed album that never came

to be. Circus Police always wanted to make a

Folk inspired song and thought why not mesh

it with Trip-Hop. The song came to life with

Zulyad playing the funky drumline that you

hear in the song. Written by Zaki Adnan, the

song talks about betrayal. It’s about agony. It’s

about complete disruption of equilibrium --

bharshammo.

The video was made by their bassist, Efaz R

Khan. Covid-19 lockdown gave him the time to

create his own interpretation of the song and

thus the lyric video was made. Efaz explained

that the video represents a man lost in chaos,

asking God why/how he ended up in this

mess; meanwhile, the lead expresses our own

wrongdoings, and how we’ve been destroying

the very balance of the world, and life itself.

Rakat Zami, the producer, and Maher Khan

played pivotal roles in producing the song.


watch?v=zWyjJFs7yUQ


Martian Love - Dynamo

Genre: Psychedelic rock, Art rock

Background: The lyrics of the song are just penned down

spontaneous feelings of the vocalist, Sharruk. The song revolves

around the idea of being trapped in toxicity and struggles to

climb out of it.

They wanted to take on a challenge of producing a vintage

sound. The song is inspired by old French movies and

soundtracks from classic Godard films.The Nouvelle Vague

played a part in shaping the sound of the track to some extent.

The video that came later seemed easy, as the sound gave it a

visual already. The plan was to make a short film, which had to

be changed because of the global lockdown.

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT0bVjfVYn4

Jay Das - Drop Dead ft Juno Karr

Genre: Urban Pop, Alternative Hip-Hop, Trap

Background: The song was inspired by an inside joke. Nelson,

the guitarist, changed from a confident and outspoken

character to a shy one when he fell in love at first sight. Like

a fool in love, he had lost his words. Hence, he would “drop

dead” whenever she would be around. Jay wrote and coproduced

the song which features Juno Karr. It was recorded

at Noodleshop Studios in New Jersey, co-produced by Daryl

Perez, and co-produced and engineered by Aiden Robert. The

music video was edited by Guillermo Viera. The song hit 10k

streams on Spotify in less than 2 weeks, and after Change, his

first release, has over 20k streams on Spotify.

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuBqE15Ctfk

Petty Never Grew - Bhor

Genre: Indie rock, Ambient

Background: On a Facebook post shortly after the release

of “Bhor”, the band wrote: “We decided to release this song

because we felt it was the appropriate time to sing this tune.

Our world is sick. It is sick beyond our wildest imagination.

But it is not stopping our human spirits to dream -- to dream

of a new day where we will unite as one, to dream of colours

and to let the world colour us in, our spirits, and our souls.”

The band has spread out across the world since the album

was released last year. They were in Dhaka together for one

day after that in December, and that was the day this song was

introduced to the band by Rushmian, at Jatra. He had recorded

the basic structure and the vocals of the song with producer

Rakat Zami before he had left for Oklahoma, USA. The rest

of the band joined with online tracks to finish the song and

release it on the record label during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The theme of the song, “New Dawn”, seemed to fit perfectly

with the occasion. The band suggests that Rakat has had to do

a lot with the success of the song. This is the band’s debut with

their guitar player, Sakib Manzur Zihan.

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgj9ik1ouxg


FEEL-GOOD CORNER

music

The Attempted Band - O

Moushumi

Genre: Bangla Rock, Soft Rock

Background: “O Moushumi” is the third

single, and the third track from The

Attempted Band’s concept album “Agoon O

Moushumi”. It’s based on a tragic love story

set in the 1990s, in Dhaka’s Green Road area.

In this song, the boy Agoon waxes lyrical

about his newfound love, Moushumi.

The album was conceptualised and

recorded remotely. The Attempted Band

members Arafat Kazi and Imran Aziz (both

also members of The Watson Brothers) and

Jason Cammarata live in separate cities,

as do singers Punam (Prayer Hall) and R

(Blunderware). They overcame the challenge

with the compositional ease and freedom

given to all the players, and “Agoon O

Moushumi” released earlier this year on all

streaming platforms, under the label of The

Mothership Records.

BeatBaksho X NAOHA - Downpour

Genre: Indie, Ambient

Background: “Downpour” is a single written

by young singer/songwriter Pragata Naoha,

and composed by Moktadir Dewan, aka

BeatBaksho,. It was released on all platforms

via The Mothership Records right at the

beginning of the quarantine, amidst all the

April showers. The song could be interpreted

as an ode to lonesomeness, the masochistic

side of love, or just the feeling of hollowness

that the rain sometimes brings with it . The

song was recorded, mixed and mastered at

Hungry Dog Studio by Mohammad Raihan

Mahbub Rasha.


watch?v=Os7fmlMke1s

Pieket - Pay the Troll

Genre: Dream Pop, Lo-fi

Background: “Pay the Troll” was released

as a teaser for the band’s EP “Underwater

Mania”, released on all platforms under The

Mothership Records. “Pay the Troll”, like a lot

of Pieket’s discography, has mysterious lyrics,

and according to them, the short album is

about a fantastic adventure in Super Mario

with an underwater kind of theme, which

begins with chancing upon a troll under a

bridge, and having to pay a hefty toll. Both

the single and the EP have been recorded at

the Hideout and at Sparky’s, and mixed and

mastered by Sinjan Saadat.


watch?v=nG8royMLa9Y


watch?v=7Y_fzQwaCrs


Photos: Bigstock

Embers in Snow - The Woods

Genre: Indie Rock, Ambient

Background: The song is a single off the

upcoming album “Solstice”. It’s primarily

about longing. It’s about things you want,

things that are apparently easy to have but, for

some reason, they are always eluding you.

A part of the song -- drums and bass

-- was recorded earlier at Acoustic Artz

Recording Studio sometime around October

of 2019. It’s an old song, written back in 2016,

and it developed and changed to finally what

you can hear. There was a plan for shooting a

music video, but that proved to be impossible

because of the lockdown; so, the lyric video

came about based on the song’s artwork

which was done by Tuba Zehra Huq. The

typography was done by Tilok Adnan, and

then it was just a matter of arranging it in

a sequence and putting it together with the

song!


watch?v=GZuN3qlC8u0

Farooque Bhai Project - Shuno Pls

Genre: Alt-Pop

Background: Farooque Bhai is a Torontobased

Bangladeshi artist and his EP “Gin

Bhoot Tonic” was released in May with the

first track being “Shuno Pls”.

This new song speaks about a strong

woman who can survive and carry herself

in a way that the artist thinks he never can.

His language is communicative with a mix of

English words in the midst of Bangla.

Farooque bhai came across Monowar Ashraf

Khan’s artwork through his Instagram (@

trashartandwatermelon) and was blown away

by the diversity of his portfolio and his use of

colours, and thought he would be perfect for a

music/lyric video.


watch?v=YqgIZZFSWYg

Suhrid

Genre: Easy Listening, Soft Rock

Background: The song “Ghore Achhi”

released under the label Ajob Records. The

lyrics of the song have tried to portray life

during the pandemic; stories of being stuck

at home in contrast to the struggles of living

without pay. The song pleads everyone to

follow safety measures as now is the time to

“save the world”. It goes on to tell how it’s

time to stay away from each other to save one

another and never lose faith.

The song has been arranged by the founder

and guitarist of the band “The Miliputs” from

Kolkata. The lyrics are written by a young

writer, Mrinmoyee, and the music video by

Himu. Suhrid has an exciting collaboration in

the making with Demalya from the Miliputs.

It is the beginning of a series between the two

Banglas.


watch?v=HUF-DMaa6qU


FEEL-GOOD CORNER

reflections

Stressed,

but

blessed

‘It is entirely normal

to feel guilty,

but it is not okay to let

it consume oneself’

by TANISHAA ARMAN

AKANGKHA

The world that we welcomed in

2020 is obviously not the same

anymore. This year has been

witnessing all sorts of natural or

man-made disasters, one after another.

The pandemic has managed to change all

of our lives, affecting some more gravely

than the others. Mental Health Awareness

month has shed light on certain alarming

issues for all of us. Apart from the physical

threat, the nationwide holiday since March

has affected the mental health of those who

have never experienced symptoms before.

Other than being overwhelmed by anxiety,

stress and paranoia, the most common

emotion reported by people is guilt.

During these challenging times, the

guilty feeling a person experiences is

when they understand the advantages

their privilege has given them. A vast

chunk of the society is sheltered from the

novel virus, but at the same time many

are accumulating irrecoverable business

losses, dismissed employment or household

unrest. The news of death is reaching closer

and closer from incidents of acquaintances

to friends and family. Despite all of this, at

least we should not be complaining because

we have a roof over our head, food on our

table and most of our loved ones safe,

right? There are many people suffering

throughout the world, especially the ones

living in poverty. Some of us also have the

ability to donate or arrange charity drives.

Why should any of us feel stressed when we

are blessed? Well, that perspective is quite

not right.

Guilt often stems from secondary

trauma stress (STS). Secondary trauma can

be sustainedwhen an individual is exposed

to people who have been traumatized by

acatastrophic event. Sometimes people

hear troublingexplanationsof traumatic

events by a survivor and feel guilty for


having survived it. Symptoms of secondary

traumatic stress include flashback, difficulty

concentrating, trouble sleeping, agitation and

anxiety. According to Harvard Gazette, the

stress of the pandemic and the disruption in

daily routine which causes sleepless nights

can aggravate both physical and mental health

problems.

The daily newspaper, constant TV news,

upsetting social media posts and staggering

statistical updates of infections and deaths

can trigger any healthy mind. The obsessive

hygiene routine, germ phobia or the tactless

protocols around the city can generate

paranoia quite easily. It is normal to feel guilty

of belonging to a better societal class and

having access to amenities when others don’t.

However, the crushing sense of class guilt

that so many of us feel isn’t only bad for the

psyche, it’s bad for our physical health as well.

“If you are feeling guilty, you are probably

stressing out yourself. If one’s body releases

stress chemicals, it puts the person at

risk for minor issues like headaches and

backaches,” shares mental health expert

from Evercare Hospital Dhaka (formerly

known as Apollo). “Guilt also contributes to

cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal

disorders. With given time, it can even have a

negative impact on the immune system. Guilt

also has influence on a previously delicate

mental state. It contributes significantly

to depression, as it is very often involves a

negative view of self, and to anxiety,” the

expert explains.

It is entirely normal to feel guilty, but it

is not okay to let it consume oneself. The

pandemic is affecting each of us differently

and it is very normal to feel undeserving

of the privilege. We can often see people

consoling themselves for ‘having it better’

than other people.

“I lost my job during the pandemic and I

don’t know what to do when my savings run

out,” shares a school teacher, “at least I have

some money andmy situation is not as bad

as it is for other people.” Similarly, Elma,

a private sector job-holder, who has been

struggling to work home for over two months

is simply ‘grateful’ to have a job. “I have not

been meeting the deadlines or been the

most productive with office work lately. I am

overwhelmed with the unpredictable working

hours and I can’t concentrate with all my

might especially with my supervisors being

assertive. The new routine has been hectic

and humbling and it is all too much to absorb

when you live and work in the same place.

Sometimes I want to quit so I can let my brain

rest but how will I pay my bills if I quit during

the pandemic? I do not want to be an ingrate

where people are losing jobs all over.”

Instead of forcing oneself to be grateful,

observe what is really bothering you. Ask

yourself why until you find out reasons or

ways to turn your guilt into solutions and

genuine gratitude. It is okay to pause from

work, feel unproductive and lethargic in an

attempt to get in touch with inner solitude but

remember to pick yourself up and prepare

for the upcoming world. Talk to someone

who you think can support you be it a friend,

family, mentor or colleague. There are many

mental health hotlines across the city who are

there to listen without hesitation.

In order to reboot your attitude, limit

the amount of daily news you watch or read

about. Try to come to terms with the fact

that pain, loss and suffering are realities of

life over which we have little or no control

over. Be grateful for what is good in your

life, in the world and find ways to reconnect

with positivity. Find happiness in little things

around you and spread some joy to others

which will comeback in tenfold for you.

Reconnect with new and old people. Try

to find some meaning in the suffering you

see, say a little prayer for the ones who left

early. If you must blame something, blame

the situation, not any person and especially

not yourself. Help others as much as you

can be it little or small. Most importantly,

show compassion to yourself by being kind,

soothing, and uplifting because a new world

lies ahead of us and we need all stress-free (or

manageable stress) thinkers to build a better

world. •

Tanishaa Arman Akangkha is a researcher in

the development sector by profession and a writer

by passion.


Xtras

photography

Cracked

window in

the dark

room

Photos: Tanvir Ali

Navigating

through the world

of photography

during a

pandemic

by TANVIR ALI


On December 31, 2019, I made a

resolution for my business -- this

would be the year of new heights

of success for us; or so we thought,

till the world turned upside down. Our wildest

imaginations fit the arrival of the apocalypse,

or even a city shaking earthquake, but did

we think we’d be hearing a different version

of the Azaan in our households due to an

invisible force creating panic all over the

world?

The fear of pay-cuts and downsizing, and

completely unsure of what the future holds

-- we’re all in this together, fighting to get

through this one day at a time. With frequent

mental breakdowns and health concerns,

we are all just trying to find ways to make

sure there is food on the next plate. We are

cooking up storms in the kitchen, blowing

off dust from our 10 year old guitars and

playing familiar tunes, making Tiktok videos

(which some of us never thought we would),

fighting with our families over games of ludo,

and some just looking for shelter and safety.

I’ve been engrossed in the same thoughts as

thousands of others I share some privileges

with, but I would like to take this opportunity

to bring stories of photographers during the

pandemic into light.

I have been working as a professional

photographer day-in and day-out for

more than 10 years and suddenly, one fine

morning, I had to send all my colleagues

home, with no certainty of when we’d be back

on track. Wedding Moments and Tanvir Ali

Photography had just finished a successful

wedding season, and we had immense work

in the pipelines, bewildered as to how to meet

deadlines and maintain quality of work. What

none of us had was the experience of working

from home. How do you run a company from

your bed? How do you motivate your team?

Not a clue.

We all know how the joys of being home

slowly starts to take a turn for the highway to

hell. As the days went by, I constantly found

myself battling with the thought of running

out the door to document what lays outside.

Every time, I was stopped by the nightmare

of somehow getting my family infected. Like

everyone around, I am scared too. What

lights my fire is watching works of bravery by

people like Mehedi Rahman Ehab. Powerful

photos in their element backed up by little

anecdotes that seem like stories are just

everyday realities for most on the streets of

Dhaka for us to scroll through and tap on.

Over a conversation regarding motivation,

Have 2020

not be a tragedy.

Let it be the time

you’ve been

yearning for

Ehab has said: “I felt that I have to document

this pandemic in whatever way I can, without

exposing myself too much, but at the same

time trying to tell stories of people who are

usually neglected. The drive to tell their

stories gives me the courage.” Ehab is in awe

of the findings he has come across. One of

which is, these people on the streets are not

beggars by profession, rather by fate.

I did dare to go on my own share of selfassignments

to seize the opportunity and

freeze the rarity on my camera. With every

click, I could read the faces I captured, and

they were different shades of frowns and

tragedy. I frequently stopped to reflect on

what I learned with every click: Life is fragile

for all, but what breaks us is different. While

I worried about my life going forward, future

of wedding photography and living in the

new normal, a man sat squatted on the street

counting every last paisa, trying to predict

his next move. For him, the opportunity

cost of buying a mask to save him from the

coronavirus is starving – maybe even to

death. Tough choices, wouldn’t you say?

As we make choices everyday weighing

the pros and cons of going out to take photos,

one of my favourite soldiers has been in the

frontlines on the battlefield. Sudeepto Salam,

a renowned photojournalist and writer, says:

“Journalism by no means is a job for the weak

hearted, but it is true that the risks are much

higher during the pandemic. I may protect

myself in every way possible, but still be at

Photo: Mehedi Rahman Ehab

Photo: Mehedi Rahman Ehab

Photo: Tanvir Ali


Xtras

photography

jeopardy. The scariest part is finding

yourself in crowds and the camera always

attracts attention. Either you step away from

it, or you do what you must to get the job

done. When you love your work, you can’t

walk away from a story until you click it.”

As a photography mentor at Creative

Nation -- a creativity school and community

I’ve built with my partner M Aminur Rahman

-- I frequently get asked about how to keep

the art alive during such times by my fellow

craftsmen. I wish I could give myself the same

words of encouragement I write on the small

message boxes to my mentees locked at home.

Shadman Jamal, a photographer by hobby, has

been an inspiration for me in that category.

He portrays stories that linger inside the walls

of his home skillfully with his camera. When

asked about how he decides what to frame

among things that may seem trivial to most,

Shadman said; “I take up every opportunity I

get to indulge in projects to feed my passion.

The pandemic is not any different. I have

had ample amount of time to spend with my

favourite subjects -- my parents. I know their

movements; I anticipate and capture these

precious moments. People seem to like the

pictures a lot.” Shadman suggests that people

Photo: Shadman Jamal

Photo: Tanvir Ali

Photo: Shadman Jamal

try and find their muse in their often-ignored everyday phenomenon. If you’re unsure of where

to start, don’t be. Like they say, big things start at home.

It may feel like it, but we’re all hoping it is not the end of the world. Photographers globally

are trying to learn how to create a new normal in fueling this art we love so much, and make

our livelihoods with as well. Gatherings are being looked down upon, so what does that leave in

store for the future of wedding events? Travel bans are threatening the beautiful genre of travel

photography. Right now, as we overthink, negatives definitely outweigh the positives. Let’s sit

back, clear our minds and think of ways to adapt. Let’s try and find inspiration in the things

taken for granted. Let’s pick up the brush and paint our dreams on a fresh canvas. While we are

literally stuck in the box, it’s time to really think outside of it. Have 2020 not be a tragedy. Let

it be the time you’ve been yearning for; the time you finally have for a breather to start anew. I

think I’m ready for it. Are you? •


XTRAS

e-commerce

‘The idea was

to make a goto

website

for anything

you need

and that will

match your

lifestyle’

Novschor Living, a

one stop lifestyle tech

e-commerce with

all things best and

affordable

by TANITA HOSSAIN

Gone are the days when shopping

meant going to shopping malls

only. The world is within our

hands now. With a single tap, we

can order anything from any corner of the

world now. Along with the shift in shopping,

we also noticed a major shift in the business

industries. Shopping in the current time is not

only about luxury or fulfilling the necessities

anymore; rather it’s about sustainability. In

regards to making the world a healthier place

while making better lifestyle choices easily

accessible, a lifestyle tech company, Novschor

Living (NL) was launched on April 23,

2020 with earth friendly business practices.

In order to make things easier for their

customers, Novschor Living (NL) offers a

range of lifestyle and home focused products.

The family-centric website is designed to lay

customers’ hands on affordable, good quality

products. From books, home-ware, fitness,

fashion, children’s apparel to home tech

products – there is a wide variety of options

available that can cater to one’s necessary

desires.

NL aims to be the leading international

home and lifestyle brand from Bangladesh

compared to other existing e-commerce

firms. With that aim, NL curates the best

Photo: Courtesy

products from an extensive network of

trusted suppliers located all over the world

and to establish them as their legal resellers

of Bangladesh. International brands, such

as Reddie (Australian home design and

furniture) are currently working with NL.

NL was founded by Razana Mehzabeen

Tariq, Sharhad Abedin, and Raslan Mustapha

with the hope to inspire people to live their

dream lifestyle at affordable prices. With this,

they started shipping worldwide.

Although they ship to all the remote places

in the world, NL was essentially created for

the Bangladeshi people. Keeping that in

mind, NL managed their online payments in

a way where Bangladeshi customers would

not have to go through the hassle of using an

international credit card. The payments are

charged in local currency and all medium

with an easy transaction such as Bkash are

available.


XTRAS

e-commerce

This month, the Avenue T team got in touch

with the founders to learn more about what

made Novoschor Living, what it is today:

What was the reason behind starting

Novoschor Living?

With all of the owners growing up in

Chittagong for the maximum part of their

lives, we saw how difficult it was to get our

hands on good books or home products. Even

while visiting Bangladesh, until recently, it

was hard to get such products at retail stores

unless someone was ordering online through

a Facebook page. A lack of proper online

stores and accessible books and lifestyle

goods led us to start Novschor Living. We

wanted to be as user friendly as possible and a

platform through which people have access to

products from different vendors. The idea was

to make a go-to website for anything you need

and that will match your lifestyle.

What does the term “Novschor” mean?

“Novschor”, when translated to Bangla, means

Òbf#i. It means a celestial object moving in

the sky that depicts power and growth. It was

first named for the parent company Novschor

Trading, which has industrial and medical

roots and the main aim was to help people on a

mass scale, aiding in the growth of Bangladesh

Photo: Courtesy

Walk us through the social responsibility

that NL has decided to take.

As part of our social responsibility to our

community, we have set up the Novschor

Giveback Fund, a charity initiative, through

which we plan to educate and provide basic

life necessities to children from lower income

families in Bangladesh. This is accessible

on the website and customers can choose

to donate their desired amount through

our payment portals. Novschor Living also

strives to be a “green and sustainable”

firm and we are taking steps in our daily

operations (gradually converting towards

environmentally friendly packaging options)

to live up to our goal.

“Novschor” means a celestial

object moving in the sky that

depicts power and growth


What makes NL stand out in the e-commerce

industry?

The products that we have are not available

elsewhere -- we are an international firm,

exploring our options in Bangladesh,

prioritizing our countrymen so they get the

best and we bring in growth to our economy

from businesses abroad. We are a very user

centric company and it is reflected in every

aspect of our business starting from ease

of order placement, to no-contact delivery

for the safety of our customers during this

pandemic. Usually, this comes at a price but

we have focused on making it affordable for

everyone, while providing some very high

end goods. Unlike most lifestyle retailers in

Bangladesh, we have an efficient automated

system running on our backend at our own

platform. We created this platform to meet

global standards and have audiences and sales

coming from Europe, North America as well

as Asia. We aim to make Novschor Living the

Bangladeshi brand to the world.

What are the difficulties NL is facing during

the pandemic and how are they adjusting to

the new changes?

Starting a new venture at the time of the novel

coronavirus is definitely unusual, especially

when retailers are shutting down. However,

we were prepared for certain situations as

we had already monitored these conditions

in Hong Kong and China from January and

how businesses were working around this in

order to survive. We are a tech firm and we

had everything in place when we started, so

no, running the business was not difficult

in terms of our operations, however flights

are getting cancelled / delayed and even

when goods are delivered, they are being

delayed at different customs. We are facing

some challenges due to this delay, but we are

shipping through priority shipping at most

times and making sure our customers are

receiving the goods with only a slight delay

of the shipping time which is standard (three

to five weeks, if imported from outside the

country). Some goods, such as books are still

reaching on time and earlier, actually within

two to three weeks of order. We are constantly

in touch with our suppliers and monitoring

logistics, while keeping our customers

updated at every step. Transparency is key to

customer happiness and our customers will

always be our primary focus.

Novschor Living (NL) is a sister concern of

Novschor Trading, incorporated in Chattogram,

Bangladesh which is currently operating from

Hong Kong, Chittagong, London and Toronto.

They will soon launch their own line of furniture

and home-ware in the next couple of months in

the Bangladeshi market. •

To place orders or surf through their website, please visit: www.novschor.co

Instagram : @novschor https://www.instagram.com/novschor/

Facebook : Novschor Living ; https://www.facebook.com/novschor.co/


Presenting the

Avenue T

Cover Photo

Challenge!

‘Tis the time to show off those skills and get

featured on the COVER OF AVENUE T! Click a

photo, strike those brushes, or just swing the

cursor; all categories can compete!

Theme: Your ideal magazine cover

Medium: ANY! Get creative

Let’s bring back positivity to magazine covers that

represent us -- who we are and everything we stand for.

Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for details!


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