Muntasir Mamun's Blog

Arabs wear Prada!
Masakin Sheraton, Cairo
16th Jan 2009

My obsession made me travel to Cairo twice due to the history of human civilization and the ancient cultural phenomenon of Egypt and especially for the book named “The Alchemist”. I am not too old to snap back my childhood memories of text book stories on Pharaoh and Pyramids. It was written, this is the land where civilization begun and so far one of these are elder of its kind.

This time, after the New Year eve I was flying from southern hemisphere to the far north, Middle East and the North of Africa. I had promises to keep paying back my sponsors money which I have received from an Egyptian telecom giant “Orascom”. Other wise I would never thought of visiting this place during the WAR time. Which I got to know before I reached here. All of the in flight news papers were showing the massacre in Philistine. From Melbourne to Kuala lampur, Bangkok to Doha. The two weeks of genocidal activity proves that nothing is impossible, if you have the power, you can use it in any ways you want.

I was following the city life of Cairo from the pedestrian by river Nile. I never climb so high before to meet some one except meeting God in the mountains. It was 27th floor of very posh Southern Tower of Nile Tower. We came up with everything within a very short time and she was showing me the way out to the elevator and stopped by a Christmas tree. It was kind of pale though but was still having the ornamentals on it. “Have you ever seen Christmas tree before?” she was wondering after asking this question. I know it was just out of blue as that tree was beside of our way out and we had to talk n walk on for a while. She was kind and generous corporate lady, so I dint miss interpret her asking. Yes, I am lucky enough to see such a colorful element before – I replied. I was happy to know among nearly 7-8% of Christian population Christmas tree is visible in here which is may not be so common in else where.

I had to look for a city map of cairo so that I can ride on my bicycle and can reduce my cost of transport though its like a hell of a place to try anything with any type of two wheelers. After security check I followed the escalator of very elegant Tower Mall to find out book store or travel desk (I was so fool!). I have found nothing but very expensive and exclusive shops of outfits and footwear’s. Strong fragrances of coffee and perfumes caught my attention to lead me to that source. Flock of executives were enjoying there meal and chatting loud. I found some ladies were caring their purse having a red strip on it and some guys having the same stripe on their shoes. Yes its Prada. They wear Prada on their daily life and surly they must be having positions in the business or any of its kinds who rules!

I am having a couch at my friends place, with a cable connected TV! I was flattered to have his hospitality and facilities I am having. I found nearly 200 channels on the TV including FoxMovies, CNN, BBC and Aljazaara and rest of them are half nude Arab speaking either music or general channels. During my last trip I was fond of Zoom, Dubai based channel that grabs my all attention and most of the time while I was in hotel. No it’s not an English channel, its lurid presentation of woman through music was so illusive; I could hardly turn my eyes off the screen. They were singing in that language which most of us forced to learn (I have sentenced to take one year spoken and written Arabic course during my bachelor) or at least to read. Oh hell, God communicated with us though this language! Its holly for us, the Muslims. No matter How fast I flick around the channels I have to see them while finding news on war. I was keener on learning the stands of neighboring states of philistines.

Number rose up to four digits within last 24 hours, ya they are dying so fast. They are paying for all of us. I don’t know whether they are dying in the name of religion or not, they are dying. To support them I don’t need to be a religious pig in the name of Islam or Judaism. They are just another human being bottled in a place where they can hardly run. Egypt and Israel blocking both side of tail shaped territory named Gaza. From 27th December to till today death toll is increasing.

But where is the precaution? Where are those Islamic leaders? No one come up with anything so far. You don’t need to be Muslim to help those 7 million peoples of Philistines, it’s a question of radical humanity. Where are the Arabs? Where are Egyptians? Where are Saudis? They are the strongest among others in Middle East and North of Africa.

Being a Muslim, I was always dreaming of visiting the Holly Land of Islam, I wish to follow the trail of Mohammad, the way he traveled from Macca to Madina. I always wish to be a pilgrimage of Hajj. But now I can hardly feel it any more. Its impossible to theorize the act and stand of Arabs states concerning the current situation of Philistine.

So far they haven’t got any common idea to way out to trim down the war cloud. No one wish to sets another joint force against Israel from the Arab world but every one like me was waiting for a decision they could come up with a bilateral seize fire.

I don’t know where is the patriotism of shooting some handmade local rockets to southern Israel to trigger them to lead genocide. Its fanatic in the name of humanity as you are impotent to defend your peoples. As Islam itself means peace then why they are acting so fool by being killed?

One of my friends told me to stand on the street of Cairo to protest the war, indeed I would love to do that, I walked every corner of city heart of the very first day, I wonder, I haven’t found anything. Cairo is just having full space of usual life. Nile is flowing, street vendors are selling bread, cars are buzzing the horns, back street boys are smoking and ruling classes cherishing their life and making it more comfortable by wearing Prada. No one wants to get dirt on it.

cairo, egypt, worldtour, war

Time went by quite fast since the new millennium. To quantify what we comprehended and how we put our efforts in terms of our understanding -would surely be in vain. But in our calendar, it has been a psychosis of 10 years with intense exhilaration and profound excitement with adventure and advocacy! As the Millennium Resolution marked the beginning of a new era in human advancement with promises of limitless innovations, our lack in foresight skyrocketed vast ceiling-less industrialization which played its part in demise of the environment. Now, in 2009-2010, while we are to celebrate our 10 year anniversary, the rest of the world is desperately seeking measures for limiting carbon emission. In our tiny little delta, while the means of leisure amusement came to be limited in reality, some of us started to set sail for the unknown.

In time it transitioned into country’s based organization with a clear view of social responsibility, originality; providing a strong platform for voluntary youth participation. This distinctive revolution is namely KEWKRADONG BANGLADESH. Early into the new millennium, Trek n’ Trek-was our first initiative within which identity, we started to go to the hills in Bandarbans. And that was just the beginning. We trekked to almost every part of our hill tracts. Trekking was not the only commotion at that time. We walked across Bangladesh from north to south to generate public awareness against acid-violence. Since then, we tried to hold on to different message in our every endeavor. In time we found ourselves in Nepal, celebrating the 50′Th anniversary of Everest conquest, climbing mountains in Solo-Khumbhu holding a message of peace, in movement of conservation of mountain biodiversity, motivating mass people to protect marine ecosystem in our own coast. We have demonstrated that bicycle could be an alternative mean of travel with our crosscountry bicycle rides in Bangladesh, Bhutan. Moreover, we have toured around the world in 5 different continents riding bicycle to generate awareness among mass on HIV/AIDS.

We can feel proud of our initiative now, being originated in a third world country which is played by extreme natural, political and economic catastrophes all year long-proving our aptitude for adventure in our every steps. We also understand it is not enough time to quantify our achievements. Though in numbers, it has been 8 mountain expeditions, 20,000+km on bicycles, hundreds of thousand KGs of marine debris disposed, mass awareness programs involving over 1 million, published articles in more than 100 foreign and domestic publications, 2 separate publications of our journals, 6 websites, 1.5 million web hits, 10 thousand adventure photographs and most importantly, words of praise from national and international organizations and individuals. What more can we ask? If the whole world is advancing towards prosperity, why can’t we move ahead? We believe, if we stand under the red & green Bangladesh flag, we must bear the aptitude to hold it even higher. We are here, we are open. Let us probe the unknown with KEWKRADONG BANGLADESH, let’s move ahead for Bangladesh.


Read the magazine online
http://www.kewkradong.com/2010/05/02/trino-2nd-issue.html

bangladesh, kewradong, aids, hiv, trino, adventure, advocacy, muntasir

It was all packed like some other day. But today, the last day of this week, Thursday, when men, women, guys, girls fights to get to home as fast as they can. Finally that made them even delayed for the crazy traffic. No wonder, we don’t learn from past, present or even from our mistakes.
FM radios have huge impact on Dhaka’s jam. Except sometime, it’s great to tune into and to kill some time. As it seems it’s more like swinging on the channels. No one is good to be stick, but to kill time, better to roll on!! Great. So, it was news time, evening, quoting from PM’s message, “Amader Prodhan montri Nari, birodhidolio netri of Nari, … …. …. Agamite jeno shonshode acjon speaker mohila hoi she dike lokkko rakte hobe”. Ohya ohya!!

8th march just passed away. I knew this day was only for “GALS” when they can say something even about their life and body. That’s perfect! So, headlines, news flashers, bulletin on radio, all for women. Let them come! Let them proceed (only on this day)!

It was yesterday, I was availing Dhaka’s fair most transport “Volvo”, just under the foot over of firm gate, massive crowed grabs my sight while listing Sarah’s newly released “Momer Alo” in my pod. Un believably, I have found few girls trying to scroll down through a building which was not less than 30 feet above the ground. In the first sight, it was tough to get any clue, but after a while, my eyes found a policeman with a baton on the top, in search of them! Fuck!

It was a huge show for the mass and nearly 100% are guys those who take oaths on many special days like few days ago on world women’s day. Thank God, I dint do that so I can enjoy the show! My bus was moving with a snail speed so do my eyes on the terrace of the neighboring building. Some others like 6 or 8, could escape from one building and trying to get down from the 3th floor of the other.
I wonder why this is. By this time, not to mention, they are those, I used to cross them every night in front of very shiny GPC of Firm get. In the beginning, I felt bad to see them, soon after, no, its oky, it just another business on the street. And it’s ok!

But, the inhumane action of our authority certainly reminds me that feeling, they are not human, they are just some deposable love that you can buy and try!! Aren’t they women? What do you think?

KB_janakantha_nov_09 KB_janakantha_nov_09 Posted in Bangladesh

KB_janakantha_nov_09 KB_janakantha_nov_09 Posted in Bangladesh