My Publications

A stomach's trip to the Mughal Era - the Taj Mahal Tandoori http://www.theindependentdigital.com/?opt=view&page=29&date=2010-12-09

my first photo story/essay - Carrick-a-rede of the Giant's Causeway, North Ireland

Photo Story - The Giant's Causeway, North Ireland - UN Heritage Site This article was first published in The Independent, December 30 2010 *http://www.theindependentdigital.com/?opt=view&page=32&date=2010-12-30

Excel with SPEED Faizul Khan Tanim picks Madiha Murshed’s brain to get an insight on their programmes In today’s highly competitive world, you have to be armed to the teeth with every development in your chosen profession to get ahead. Training plays a vital role in self development and growth. Good communication skills are essential to run an organisation. The fast-paced changes taking place in the area of organizational development demands of professionals to stay updated and informed. This is where Services for Professional Education and Enterprise Development (SPEED) come in. They offer quality training programmes for teachers and corporate professionals in English language proficiency and professional development. The training centers are well equipped with hi-end technology, facilities and trainers to provide cutting-edge services. Essentially aimed at developing Bangladesh’s human resources in experience-based professions such as teaching, where their impact is often dimini...

The Ari Roland Jazz Quartet’s tales of peace Faizul Khan Tanim met with the Ari Roland Jazz Quartet, who let's their music speak for themselves The quartet felt very strongly about coming to Bangladesh for the first time, and was welcomed by music-lovers in Dhaka. In the process, and while performing, the musicians were happy to learn about Bangladeshi culture through our music, poetry and dance. For them it was a bit like digging up great treasures. Drummer Keith Balla said, “Bengalis are such great people to talk to and interact with. If I’m ever stuck in an elevator, I hope it’s with a Bangladeshi.” All four have released individual albums but they perform together as a family. They will start recording in February next year for their first studio release aimed for September. The quartet is from New York City and their music is inspired by the great names of jazz, such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and others. They have learned under the gu...

*Farah arrived in Bangladesh during the US president Barack Obama's 10-day, four-country Asia trip on November this year. The World has Changed In an exclusive conversation with Farah Anwar Pandith, Special Representative to Muslim Communities, US Department of State by Faizul Khan Tanim Photo of Farah at the Mosaic Summit: Abu Ala The world since 9/11 has changed for ever. Muslims have been looking at their faith more critically than ever before and asking which tenets of Islam are the truth and nothing but the truth. The Western world has changed dramatically as well. They want to know Islam better and reach out to Muslims. In one such initiative, Mosaic International Summit in the UK, an innovative leadership development organisation, founded by HRH The Prince of Wales, which brings together 80 young emerging Muslim leaders from around the world for two weeks in the UK with the aim to develop leadership ability and an aspiration to be an agent of change, and develop understandin...

Unity in Diversity (and protest) A colourful indigenous cultural festival ended on December 5 with a riot of colours and emotions erupting on stage were larger-than-life exhilarating performances revealed the arts and mysteries of indigenous culture at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. This festival is organised by UNDP's Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility (CHTDF) and Ministry of Hill Tracts Affairs every year and has become a hallmark for building awareness about indigenous communities among the population. There were 156 stalls by indigenous communities exhibiting handicrafts, paintings, food especially different types of pies and pithas, traditional attires and ornaments and much more. The four day long cultural events and festival saw almost 300 indigenous performers from around 23 different ethnic groups including Chakma, Marma, Bawm, Tanchangya, Rakhain, Tripura, Garo, Santal and other communities. The event included several traditional performanc...

I urge everyone to help this man Meet Mr. Gadget inventor - Dhaka's Inspector Gadget' Meet Mr. Gadget inventor - Dhaka's Inspector Gadget Dhaka Live's Faizul Khan Tanim met up with Wahiduzzaman Bachhu, Bangladesh's very own 21st century gadgets man. Photographs by Rakib Ahmed Wahiduzzaman Bachhu is not a household name yet, but this creative genius has only been held back from fame and fortune because of poverty, a lack of suitable patrons and the absence of opportunities and facilities. When you see Wahiduzzaman’s inventions, you’ll know that his experiments and inventions can combat many existing problems such as the lack of continuous electricity supply in the city. He has not had any formal educational and training in technology or engineering but has successfully created an array of electronic gadgets and appliances which are eco-friendly and cost-effective. Born in 1970 in Jhalokathi district's Krishnokathi village to a martyred freedom fighter, H. M....

Lights, camera, action! The 4th International Children's Film Festival in Bangladesh, January 22-28, 2011 by Faizul Khan Tanim A child’s heart and mind first sparks with imagination when listening to bedtime stories and lullabies. Children’s novels introduce a child to people, places, and thoughts and inspire dreams as well. Most importantly, books cultivate this affection and then audio-visual media create a wonderful bond between children and their dreams. Video illustrations not only enhance their thinking and strengthen their use of creative mediums but also explain certain situations and feelings from everyday life. Children's films and animations act as a mirror and a window to the world around them, showing them how people from diverse groups and cultures live and work together, and solve problems and overcome barriers. To open a new world of cinema and entertainment for children in Bangladesh and to expose them to different cultures and traditions using film, the Childr...

Roud Bolechchey Hobey by Faizul Khan Tanim Roud Bolechchey Hobey promised to take me on a musical journey but it just left my feelings maimed by the roadside. Welcome to one of the most morbid albums of the year as Arnob's songs here are few shades darker and slower than the previous compilations. The overall sound could have been better as well. It’s obvious the singer’s going in a much more downbeat direction with the melancholy compositions and a sombre voice. But interestingly, there are very few artistes who can be in personal relationships with his/her fans to make an impact - sometimes, an artist does need to talk things out with life over slow, joyless melodies and has a different story to tell. To me, Arnob does this with flair with his overall lyrics, which are quite confessional and a little sad. And sometimes, the mystifying depth of a song can be the best part of an album. For example, track six Biri has a very psychedelic and atmospheric feel with the use of slid...

The Rock Revolution Part-1 It took more than two decades for genres like heavy metal to be born after rock first arrived in our country. Faizul Khan Tanim traces the early steps of this revolution as he revisits the magnum opus mixtape "Hooray" It’s the year 1991. Bangladesh is being rocked by the downfall of the Ershad regime. However, the audio shops are being rocked by something completely different: a heavy metal mixtape called ‘Hooray’, released by the record label Sargam. Covered by abstract art in black over orange, the cassette had a quite incongruous look - but once in the cassette deck it made its existence known. Screaming guitars and vocals filled with emotions that could drill their way straight into the marrow of your bones. Pop lovers covered their ears, dubbing it ‘noise’. Heavy metal aficionados like me, however - who were already listening to the likes of Iron Maiden and AC/DC - we were overwhelmed. This was our music, being played by our own! Son...

Father, son and the Wonder Rock music is all about missions and visions. The Concert for Sundarbans was a beautiful testament that rock music can also be about family relations by Faizul Khan Tanim It is often said that “hope rocks”. And as the rockers on stage hollered “Save the Sundarbans” and the 15,000-strong audience replied “amen” in unison, the huge October 1-event at the Army Stadium to create awareness about the Sundarbans and promote it as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, proved this to be right. This BAMBA (Bangladesh Musical Bands Association) concert at one of the country’s most esteemed music venues, the Army stadium, was otherwise most noted for its display of two generations of Bangladeshi rock. Sharing the stage with their fathers Manam Ahmed (Miles) and Maqsoodul Huq (Maqsood O’Dhaka), were Zeheen (Mechanix), Zerif (Power Surge) and Dio (Nemesis). Together they reached new, rocking heights. The only complaint was the omission of a good sound system throughout...

If you had your pick of exciting pop songs to raise the temperature blending passionate words, sensual voices, explosive lyrics and videos to make your hair stand on end, which ones would you choose? Faizul Khan Tanim 's choices These are the songs inviting you to the dance floor, lyrics enticing you to push the envelope, the beats get you ready to make some moves and the visuals get you in to the groove. Dolly Shayontonni – Rongchota Jeans Now this is an absolute classic late 80’s music video. A soundtrack by genre, it sports our hero-in-action wearing a loud red shirt, faded jeans, stylish shades, puffing some smoke and playing a macho hard-to-get fella. And then…appears our miss rebellion lip-synching Rongchota jeans er pant pora...jolonto cigarette thot-e dhora - the moment these urgent lines were aired on radio, they spread to stereos and blasted out of speakers across the country and all hell broke loose on the streets. Kaniz Shuborna – Tumi Nishho Korey Dao & Moner Chh...

Music from the sun Almost two years after Doob , Arnob is about to release his fourth studio album Roud Bolechhey Hobey under his own record label, writes Faizul Khan Tanim This Eid-Ul-Azha, Arnob’s music full of psychedelic sunlight and the spirit of survival will shine on us through these words from the title track - Ageyi tokey janiye ditam roud bolechhe hobey. Jene newar eii batasher jonmo kothay kobey – a very optimistic lyric written by Rajib Ashraf. In his studio, patterns of smoke float in spirals while spotlight rays penetrate the fumes, creating a mystical aura. The full-on sound from the monitor speakers harmonises the atmosphere in there. Blowing smoke circles, Arnob speaks in measured tones “This album is based more on acoustic instruments with less fancy digital effects, primarily because I want to be comfortable while playing them live. I used very little keyboards in the arrangements as well, keeping the song structures simple and organic." The newly f...

Shut Up and Dance Srabonti Narmeen Ali, also known as Tushi, will be releasing her debut solo album Dhadha, produced by music genius Arnob. It’s a record that will definitely travel wide and far – from dance floors to computers and mp4-devices, writes Faizul Khan Tanim and Naheed Kamal , meeting the two in Arnob’s studio Shut up and dance is the pop-puffed, rap-grooved song that will leave your feet tapping and fingers snapping. At the same time, it raises questions of facing up to and fighting realities – maybe with some fatalities on the dance floor! Not only relieving stress and lifting you out of your melancholy, it is a song that addresses many social anomalies and it will definitely influence you to listen to the entire album. It’s an inspiration to think and feel, infused with the peculiar combination of both happiness and contemplative ideas. “The best part about working with Arnob is that he takes a lot of my inputs. I have creative freedom and we shared our ideas while we wor...