My Publications

Five-minute briefing: TIBET Choosing the perfect occasion Tibet, a mainly Buddhist territory known as the ‘roof of the world’, is governed as an autonomous region of China today. The Tibetan people now stand at an important junction - the 50th commemoration of the March 1959 uprising against China’s occupation of Tibet and the Beijing 2008 Olympics in China. The Chinese government is allegedly attempting to use the Olympic Games as a platform to gain acceptance as a global leader and to promote its propaganda on Tibet. Beijing sees this moment as an opportunity to legitimize its rule in Tibet once and for all, says Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement (http://tibetanuprising.org). The website claims: The Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement is a global movement of Tibetans inside and outside of Tibet taking control of their political destiny by engaging in direct action to end China’s occupation of the country. Through unified and strategic campaigns they will seize the Olympic spotlight a...

Election in Russia A Russian RouElection? Fair or Rigged!?! Without a doubt, during Vladimir Putin's eight-year leadership, Russia has revitalised as a promising world power with stable political situations, a prosperous economy and confident citizens other than a country facing social, economic and political collapse at the end of the 1990s. Putin, during whose time, real wages have tripled and unemployment has fallen rapidly, therefore is widely popular amongst the people. The amicable state of the nation has now equipped the Russians with a desire to look forward to the future with greater optimism and confidence than at any time over the past two decades. Dmitry Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin's chosen successor, won 70.23% of the vote on Sunday, with nearly all votes counted. As Putin's anointed heir, 42-year-old Medvedev was soon in the spotlight after the incumbent president publicly announced that he supported Medvedev's candidacy at the end of last year. Var...

Music- ‘impulsive and raw’ The music sensation Balam, who continues to create new tunes and medley for music lovers, speaks of his passion, his work that began a decade ago and plans for creating more music in an interview with Faizul Khan Tanim photo by Momena Jalil His signature style of combining eastern and western fusion incorporated with humming tunes has indeed won hearts and opened a new dimension to upcoming artists across the country. On the spring afternoon that I met this versatile and talented artist, Balam, in his studio, he was busy working on a new composition— playing with organ, piano and string tones. Needless to say, like always, the sound that he was creating before my eyes was fresh, elusive and mystic. With passage of time, we can safely say that Balam is one of those artists who has brought unique musical perspective to the electro pop genre and captured attention of critics and fans. Although his sudden shift from rock to pop may have disappointed his core fa...

Breaking boundaries with gentle hands illustration by Shibu Kumar Shill As International Women’s Day approaches on March 8, Xtra profiles the life of an extraordinary woman who have survived great adversities and made unthinkable sacrifices in her journey towards changing her own fate and touching lives, and moving on to build institutions that serve millions of people across the country ANGELA GOMES - The survivor and the saviour by Faizul Khan Tanim Strong, determined, confident, fighter, survivor, ideological and inspirational. Fifty-five year old Angela Gomes is each one of them and perhaps many, many more. Winner of the prestigious Magsaysay Award and one of 1000 women short-listed for a noble peace prize in 2005, Angela Gomes, executive director of Banchte Shikha, has touched lives of millions of women who love and respect her and have learned to survive through her organisation. Based in Jessore, on a 1.5-hectare complex and 30 more offices in eight districts of the country, Ban...