My Publications

Till Death Do Us Part: 20 Years of Cryptic Fate They call their rock Brutal... no-holds-barred Heavy Metal and the only way to listen to them is to turn up the volume and blow your mind (and hopefully not the speakers!). Writes Faizul Khan Tanim Arguably the greatest rock act of the country, Cryptic Fate’s four members – Farhan Samad, Farshed Mahmud, K Sarfaraz Latifullah and Chowdhury F Shakib - are in a rock relationship with each other for the past two decades and are still going strong. Fate developed and maintained a sound that was completely unlike of any others in the scene. With a heavy metal influence and an alloy between their individual musical styles, they emerged as one of the most successful heavy metal bands on both the concert and recording circuits of Bangladesh. Today, Cryptic Fate is respected, revered and they have revolutionized Bangla rock to a point where listening to them equals fighting your own demons, waging war against the 1971 rajaka...

Sustainable Commuting – Walking and Cycling   Faizul Khan Tanim writes on the benefits of walking and cycling and the feasibility of practicing them in Dhaka With increasing reduction in physical activity or manual labour, growing number of desk jobs and with most people living increasingly stressful lives, the first thing that hits us is the fatigue factor. Therefore, opportunities are needed to incorporate some form of regular exercise or physical activity into our daily routine and what better activity can there be than relying on walking or cycling as means of commuting and transportation? Choosing walking or cycling as modes of commuting can significantly improve our health and fitness as well as the vitality and well-being of our community. Not only in Western countries but citizens of a number of developing countries are adopting walking and cycling as integral parts of their daily lives. These two modes are the most sustainable means of...

Food Fest Indulge in the spirit of iftari Faizul Khan Tanim is always craving the crunchy, spicy food that we eat during Ramadan Photos by Faizul Khan Tanim Chhola bhaja, piyaju, beguni, jilapi, alur chop - crispy, flavoursome, colourful - a diverse range of crunchy snacks called iftari, these items here are major attractions during Ramadan. But the availability of these munch delights are not limited to just one month anymore; you can get them in different places around town, throughout the year. Banani Bazaar is one such area where you would find these items. Tk 5 to 10 worth of chhola bhaja, piyajus and begunis from Tk 2 a piece, Tk 10 for a filling large-sized jilapi or the potato chop - they are hot, tasty, and churns essence of aromatic spices. If one can spare five to ten minutes, they will make you the ‘ultimate iftari mix’ with all the items mentioned above with specials add-ons – muri (puffed rice), green chili, shredded onions and coriander leaves, few...

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...

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...

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...

Musical Miracles Unleashed Tor Jonnno Ami Bonno famed Upol Islam releases his debut album Miracle-I By Faizul Khan Tanim When I was listening to a recently released CD of Upol, the album title Miracle-1 reminded me of a Bon Jovi quote - “Miracles happen everyday, change your perception of what a miracle is and you'll see them all around you.” Upol's songs are contemporary - a luminous mix of emotional-vocals-in-tune, electronic pop, righteous rock sound, red-hot lyrics and the whole compilation sends a message to believe in the beauty of miracles, which weaves stories in our head. Thus, the stories begin…the stories of real life ordeals and enticing memories molded in memorable music compositions, lyrics and the album is declaring this - the phenomenon miracle is fascinating. Be it incredible achievements, sudden realizations or morbid fall downs all these extreme emotions seem miraculous as every human being gets affected by them…and most importantly, on a positive note. The ...

The memory remains Faizul Khan Tanim visits the War memorial at Mirpur Jalladkhana killing field and returns with haunting stories of an unforgettable legacy A surprising site at the gates of the recently opened war memorial is a group of street children, ranging from four to six years olds, lined up in front of the memorial gate, and singing patriotic songs like Mora ekti phool ke bachabo bole judhho kori and the national anthem Amar shonar Bangla ami tomai bhalobashi. They sung with so much passion and devotion that even commuters on the street took a break and stood for some time to see that emotional scene. As you enter the monument site, you realise it is a small area of land upon which different parts the memorial stands. On the left of the gate, a mural, made of burnt bricks, stands boldly. Eminent artist Rafiqun Nabi says, the first time he entered the site, he was pain-stricken trying to visualise the mass murders, and the idea of a mural struck him. Later, Nabi and Muniruzza...

Zoe & Idris Rahman in concert Idris and Zoe Rahman are talented musicians from the UK. Acclaimed with various titles in the contemporary jazz scene of Europe, they came to Dhaka, recited stories of Bangladesh through their music and left the crowd mesmerised. Writes Faizul Khan Tanim . Photos by Andrew Biraj Zoe was playing as if her fingers were moving like butterflies and the flute of Idris sounded like the powerful wind. Anyone who went to see Idris and Zoe Rahman in concert on March 24 and 25 came out besotted by the beauty and dexterity of their performance. The show was organized by the British Council Dhaka at the Shaheed Zia Auditorium of the National Museum in Dhaka. Their set comprised of musical scores of popular Bangla modern and Tagore songs like Cholona ghure ashi, Abar hobe toh dekha, Purano shei din-er kotha, Muchey jawa dinguli and more. The tunes were frequently merry but occasionally melancholy, incorporating an interesting fusion and striking a love-struck balan...

A coral dream-house Faizul Khan Tanim takes a spontaneous trip to St. Martins Island and returns besotted by its beauty photos by Md Nazrul Islam & Md Asif Ali If you crave for a little bit of adventure, an impulsive trip that does not call for passport and visas, then touring Saint Martins Island might just be it. It is a small coral island in the northeast part of the Bay of Bengal, about nine to ten kilometres south of the tip of the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula. From what I have heard about the island in the past, a lot has changed. Now, there are hotels, towers (reception of cell phones absolutely clear), restaurants brimming with tourists, chit-chatter and the clattering noise of forks and spoons- in a nutshell, it is not at all a deserted place anymore. The white and grey sand dune, looking stunning under a bright sunshine, and plenty of breezes, still, however, preserves its natural feel. The most thrilling part, though, is that there is no electricity, making every...

A coral dream-house Faizul Khan Tanim takes a spontaneous trip to St. Martins Island and returns besotted by its beauty photos by Md Nazrul Islam & Md Asif Ali If you crave for a little bit of adventure, an impulsive trip that does not call for passport and visas, then touring Saint Martins Island might just be it. It is a small coral island in the northeast part of the Bay of Bengal, about nine to ten kilometres south of the tip of the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula. From what I have heard about the island in the past, a lot has changed. Now, there are hotels, towers (reception of cell phones absolutely clear), restaurants brimming with tourists, chit-chatter and the clattering noise of forks and spoons- in a nutshell, it is not at all a deserted place anymore. The white and grey sand dune, looking stunning under a bright sunshine, and plenty of breezes, still, however, preserves its natural feel. The most thrilling part, though, is that there is no electricity, making every night ...

Get up, stand up, stand up for your right - Take Back Bangladesh Will the young take the helm? Awareness event to claim back democracy Faizul Khan Tanim and Imtiaz Ahmed Chowdhury Stop for a moment and think! It’s 2006. You’re 18 years old and an adult. So, are you aware of the political situation of the country? Are you at all interested about the incendiary evening news shown daily on television? Think about it…ever since you were born, you have known Bangladesh to be a cauldron of corruption, mass killings, bribery and dishonesty! Indeed, the list of irregularities can go on and on. Ever since you were born, you’ve seen your parents take part in heated conversations, expressing their anger towards thieves disguised as ministers; ever since you were born, you’ve witnessed every single person criticise the ‘SYSTEM’. Are you still not interested in whatever that’s going on outside your cosy home? Well, the time has come for you to stop complaining (or simply JUST listening to them) and...