My Publications

Nowhere to park Faizul Khan Tanim seeks solutions to the crisis of parking space in the city and finds a company that has the simple answer to the problem Crises in the city With the advent of real estate development in Dhaka, construction of commercial and residential apartment buildings are on the rise and to a point where these buildings – plush shopping malls, office buildings, condominiums and apartments in the city – have resulted in illegal road occupation by vehicles on the main roads, alleys and by lanes. Between any main road or intersection, be it Mirpur, Satmasjid or Dhanmondi, Gulshan or Kemal Ataturk avenue, as a matter of fact any and every long stretch of roads in the city, the traffic jam at any time of the day is horrible because of these buildings constructed without optimum parking for occupants and their guests. And though the supermarkets like Bashundhara Shopping Mall on Panthapath offers a parking space of 1,200 vehicles, here too the people are habituated and ...

Bangkok Airways comes to town - Boutique airlines Bangkok Airways starts daily Dhaka-Bangkok-Dhaka flights

Breakfast Bonanza around Dhaka Breakfast Bonanza Faizul Khan Tanim heads out early for a hearty breakfast across Dhaka Be it the quintessential hangover cure, the ultimate fuel for the whole day, or the first chance to refuel blood sugar levels, a hearty breakfast is a meal you should never skip. Those who love food will travel as far as Tongi Bazar for that perfect paratha and beef bhuna or drive to Comilla for the ultimate malai cha. But you don’t have to go very far. Breakfast in Dhaka has healthy and not-so healthy options, some of it served in places not for the faint-hearted. For the ultimate breakfast, I crave all the greasy, crunchy, mouth-watering items. Think of golden crispy parathas, bowls of labra and an omelette or ‘mumlate’ as it’s called locally, or you may prefer a bowl of hot semolina or chicken soup. The first step towards making my mornings satisfactory is with breakfast and it can be from one of the temporary stalls that open up as day breaks or at one of the...

Hyder Husyn's 4th Studio Album Launched

Pandit Jasraj enthrals Dhaka The Pandit is still hitting high notes at the age of 81, writes Faizul Khan Tanim Although it was not midnight when the octogenarian stalwart of the Mewati Gharana, Pandit Jasraj, took to the stage, his Raaga Darbari (midnight raaga) intoxicated the jam-packed auditorium and those sitting outside the venue watching the performance projected onto a screen with a mediocre sound system. The event was organised by the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC), High Commission of India, Dhaka, who had perhaps underestimated the enthusiasm with which people would throng to see the musician on stage. Many people who had passes to the event were unable to enter the main auditorium and had to make do with the makeshift arrangements outside. For those who missed this performance at the National Theatre Hall of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy last Friday, they truly missed a mind-altering performance of the maestro’s magical Jasrangis – a term coined affectionately to de...

Bangladesh Emerging outsourcing super power? by Tim Millett Bangladesh is becoming one of the most common sources of skilled expatriate IT workers, well above its statistical population. This is interesting in more ways than one. The New Economy is basically an outsourced world. If you’ve done a game programming course, you’re on your way to being the next World of Warcraft. As a nation, Bangladesh has done it tough for a long time, but this new wave of possibilities could be the way of the future, in more ways than one. The New Economy is opening brand new doors, opportunities which have never existed in the global employment market before. Bangladesh is showing the capacity to produce high value outsourcers on a large scale. Bangladesh is also in the right place at the right time. The demand for IT outsourcing and other technical skills is booming around the world. Bangladeshis don’t have to look too far to find markets for their skills. Australia, India and China are all natural mar...

Blast from the Past Michael Jackson - Off The Wall 1979 saw the release of one of the greatest pop albums ever – Off The Wall - Michael Jackson's fifth studio album, which was the exit from his previous Motown sound. Collaborating with producer Quincy Jones, Jackson with his unique vocal styles - the vocal hiccup, Shh-ah!, Ooooohhh!, - and music combination of disco, soul, pop, soft rock and funk influences produced a sound very unique and never heard before. In that time, Rolling Stone compared his vocals to the "breathless, dreamy stutter" of Stevie Wonder. Their analysis was also that "Jackson's feathery-timbered tenor is extraordinary beautiful. It slides smoothly into a startling falsetto that's used very daringly." Michael Jackson (1958 - 2009) is an American pop icon, entertainer, visionary, philanthropist, who debuted as a member of the Jackson 5, but later went on to become a solo artist, perhaps, the greatest in the world. His extremely succe...

Paris je t'aime A photo story DhakaLive’s Faizul Khan Tanim fell in love with Paris when he was in the most romantic city in the world. Inspired by Raana Haider’s book, Parisian Portraits, he weaves a visual homage dedicated to Paris that speaks of its enchantment. Like a lover remembers every little thing about his beloved, these photos are the fond memories of stolen moments in Paris. So we see the Place de la République, then to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre where he was enchanted by the Mona Lisa, after that to Notre Dame Cathedral’s gothic wonders, caught the view from Sacré-Coeur and went down to gaze at the central Avenue des Champs Elysess, a peek into Moulin Rouge and a drink at the Hard Rock Café, then it was off again to discover hidden layers of the city with a cruise down the Seine, and a browse in the charming bookshop, Shakespeare & Co, which compelled him to stop at a typical Parisian café. The love affair ends appropriately wit...

Soi 71 – a gourmet trip Faizul Khan Tanim says his stomach journeyed to Thailand when he ate at this top-notch restaurant Soi 71, soi meaning road in Thai, is located on Road 71 in Gulshan. This family-run restaurant has become a local favourite since it opened in June 2010. For those who crave authentic Thai cuisine and great ambience this is the place to go. They also have karaoke! The hustle and bustle on the busy crossroads outside has been creatively blocked out. Once inside, you are welcomed by the friendly staff and step into a peaceful place. The waterfall, fresh flowers, ambient music and the calming affect of the aquarium will immediately relax you. There are private rooms and a separate children’s play area. The menu will only make the experience more delightful. When I ate there with my family, the three enjoyed a five-course meal that comprised of the house-special fried rice, Thai noodles, a vegetable dish, the spring fried chicken and a delicious fish dish and the bi...

BLAST from the PAST Sounds of Silence Faizul Khan Tanim reveals the impact of the legendary band’s iconic album Ardent fans still try to decode the sounds of silence, though the magical duo singer-songwriters Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel released their last record Bridge Over Troubled Water more than four decades back. Simon and Garfunkel’s first studio album, released in 1964 was titled ‘Wednesday Morning, 3 AM’ but they did not receive recognition until their second compilation ‘Sounds of Silence’, which was released in January 1966. Many believe when the original acoustic version of 'The sound of silence' from the first album was re-produced and given a rock sheen, folk-rock debuted and the vocal harmony-enthralled Simon and Garfunkel were catapulted to something far different from that era’s contemporary folkies. The album begins with ‘The Sound of Silence’ and ends with ‘Roving Gambler’. In between are the tracks ‘Blessed’, the romantic melodrama of ‘Kathy's Song’,...

The historical ruins of Bengal revisited Faizul Khan Tanim attends a photo exhibition that brings to life the historical twin cities of Gaur and Pandua of Ancient Bengal Did you know that the historical site of Gaur-Hazrat Pandua, which is 340 kilometres from Kolkata and 35 kilometres north of Chapainawabganj, is the medieval capital of Bengal where the Bangla language and culture once flourished? Well, if you didn’t know about these places then do make sure you get yourself to the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts on Road 27 in Dhanmondi, where a remarkable photo exhibition is taking place. To conserve and highlight these historical places, Babu Ahmed, a photographer, has taken detailed photos that weave a mesmerising tale of their history. The solo photography exhibition is set in the form of a photo story called 'Gaur and Pandua: The Lost Capital Of Bengal'. The exhibition was inaugurated at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts by the chief guest Rajeet Mitter, High Commissioner of In...

Bangladeshi artists debut at Venice Biennale Faizul Khan Tanim attended an exhibition hosted by the Italian Ambassador showcasing Bangladeshi art participating in the international event Venice Bienalle 2011 is the first time Bangladeshi artists are taking part in this international event. For the artists participating in the Biennale, this is a stepping stone towards making their mark on the global art world by setting a precedent, this will enable local artists to take part in such events in the future and endeavour to invigorate and energise the local art scene. The art chosen to represent Bangladesh at the 2011 Biennnale are based on the theme that is said to be emblematic of our times, exemplified by the limbo of purgatory – that suspended existence that is neither heaven nor hell. The project is thus called ‘Parables’. The six artists taking part are Mahbubur Rahman, Kabir Ahmed, Masum Chisti, Imran Hossain Piplu, Promotesh Das Pulak and Tayeba Begum Lipi. Bangladesh’s participat...