The New Nation - Internet Edition

Peaceful Ambiance of Foy’s Lake Resort

Farizaa Sabreen

Foy's Lake Resort captures the imagination of those who love the hills, lake and its tranquility. Those looking for a quiet holiday or seeking jungle adventures will love Foy's Lake Resort and the treasures it can offer. Wildlife abounds in a wonderful variety, the air is always fresh, and the scenery is never short of splendid. It is inside the Concord amusement world, Foy's lake. It has 12 clean, comfortable housekeeping rooms that are completely furnished and feature modern conveniences. Each cabin comes equipped with its own boat (motors available for rent), as there is no walkway.

The view at this rocky and hilly resort is breathtaking, almost like a bird's eye view. On your way to the dining and leisure are you have to climb a very steep staircase, so steep that you can touch the stairs while climbing it. When reaching there, you can see a wonderful concord park. The resort is nestled amidst hilly terrain of lush greenery and flanked by the expressway.

Foy's Lake Resort is located in the foothills of the Mountains, the most diverse area of Foy's Lake. This beautiful resort provides all the modern conveniences in a lush tropical setting and just minutes from the archaeological sites, lakes and other attractions that visitors come to see and experience in Chittagong.

The resort offers no blaring noise of commerce and loud music to wake you up or disturb your much-needed rest. The place nestled on top of a hill, surrounded by lush cool trees and chirping birds of different species.

The place has everything you need, from towels, fresh linens, barbeque grill and soon they will start Internet access. You can live very relaxing moments in their restaurant, convenient store, complementary breakfast, complementary paddle boat, and in their rooms all equipped with television, air conditioned, satellite TV, refrigerator and telephone.

It's peaceful ambiance exude the charm and warmth, which make you feel like having your own vacation home in paradise. The resort's friendly staff provided you with the exclusiveness that you wanted, and yet they are very accommodating to your needs like buying the freshest fish, fruits, and vegetables, then cooking them into a sumptuous meal.

At night, when you open the windows, a magnificent view of twinkling stars and fireflies lulling you to sleep underneath heaven's watchful embrace. Before the sun goes up, breath in the scent of natural morning air and be amazed of the transforming hues of daylight in the sky and the music of life's wonderful creations.

It is a very private place up in the hills and they have total privacy and relaxation. They even have a native dance performed for you. It's an experience that you will always remember.

The resort's nightlife is fun and you get to go to the clubs at night after a long and quite nap in your native huts. It was a nice experience to stay in a place where you feel like home.

The staff is available to accompany you as your tour guide. The service is very personalize.

According to Bishwajit Ghosh, Senior Marketing Executive, "Our goal is to build great resorts within the contours of the natural surroundings. The Resort is situated close to each other; their entire guest can at all the can enjoy and entertain themselves. "

The resorts are completely renovated by Concord Group in 2007 and are comfortable, very clean, nicely appointed and furnished.

"Foy's Lake Resort" is a spacious resort with 3 star comforts in natural surrounding and has been deigns tastefully with separate cottage type deluxe and executive rooms, providing the ambience of an individual bungalow that offers every basic amenities and facilities that you can desire for.

The room rent of silver or honeymoon chalet is at Tk. 3000, gold is at Tk. 5000 as well as platinum is at Tk. 6000.

The Resort is managed by experienced, well-maintained staff personal attention to every requirements of our customer. They cater to delicious veg. as well as non-veg. multi cuisine, which are hygienically cooked as per individual taste.

"Foy's Lake Resort" is also within a reachable distance from scenic views at important points. If this is not enough, "Foy's Lake Resort" has a wide range of indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and to keep changing with time. This place has a great theme, it's in an excellent place and the rooms are nice and fairly large.

So forget the city and drop-in at "Foy's Lake Resort" and come to nature's lap.

It has accommodations and facilities for family reunions, seminars, corporate retreats and conventions.

International Mother Language Day Art Exhibition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

"The Asiatic Society of Bangladesh celebrates the inauguration of its gallery of Fine art with a small but rich international exhibition of art. The Society already possesses a valuable collection of paintings, prints and sculptural works. The present exhibition sets a new phase in the society's art arena. Regular exhibitions will henceforth feature the activity calendar of the society. There will also be a permanent collection for visitors to see and enjoy at any time of working hours," said Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof Nazrul Islam at the inauguration of 16 day-long art exhibition organised by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh at its own gallery in the capital.

The present exhibition displays works of 22 Bangladeshi artists including the founding fathers of modern art in Bangladesh, Zainul Abedin, Quamrul Hasan, Safiuddin Ahmed and SM Sultan. Other major senior artists represented in the show are Muhammed Kibria. Aminul Islam, Mustafa Monwar, Abdur Razzaque, Qayyum Chowdhury, Rashid Chowdhury, Murtaza Baseer, Zunabul Islam, Syed Jahangir, Devdas Chakraborty, Kazi Abdul Baset, Samarjit Roy Choudhury, Abdul Muktadir, Abu Taher, Shamsul Islam Nizami, Nurul Islam, Rafiqun Nabi and Monirul Islam. The youngest of these 22 artists, are the last two, Rafiqun Nani and Monirul Islam, both born in 1943, are not so young now though extremely youthful in their artistic activities. Several of the senior artists are now dead. All the 22 artists are represented by their characteristics works. Artist Hamiduzzaman Khan has taken trouble in collecting such valuable pieces from families of the artists and other private collections.

While speaking at the inauguration of the exhibition, Prof SMA Faiz, Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, said, "The Asiatic Society is something to be admired. It welcomed many artists from overseas, and this particular exhibition is a hub of many cultures."

Prof Nazrul Islam said, "This is a pioneer work in terms of setting up a permanent gallery. The exhibition marks the International Mother Language Day and there are participants from as many as eight countries, including Bangladesh. Although organised within a short time, the participants represent the subcontinent and beyond. The display also features paintings of Bikram Shah from Nepal and other artists from South Asia and Europe."

Asiatic Society has always been a patron of art, literature and history, said Prof Nazrul Islam. The permanent gallery, even though it is limited in nature, will encourage people to come and appreciate fine arts, he said. The other two permanent galleries are the ones at the National Museum and the Shilpakala Gallery.

He added that as the gallery is located at the breakpoint between the old and new city, it should attract many viewers. Several members of the society are themselves painters of repute, like Murtaja Baseer and Hamiduzzaman Khan.

Eminent artist Hamiduzzman Khan said that he had worked with the Asiatic Society for seven years, along with others like Qayyum Chowdhury, Rafiqun Nabi and Ivy Zaman. In the process, he said, he managed to collect many works by senior artists for the gallery.

He added that in the field of fine arts, Bangladesh was ahead of many in South Asia.

Senior painter Qayyum Chowdhury said that to be able to exhibit at the Asiatic Society Gallery was a credit and honour for artists.

Mahfuza Khanum of the Asiatic Society said that the institution focused on fine arts and artworks by 35 artists from USA, UK, Germany, Spain, India, Malaysia and Greece that had been collected for the display.

The works of Zainul Abedin was represented by the seated woman in her red striped sari, dreaming of her beloved.

Safiuddin Ahmed's painting brought in a carpenter, while an overwhelmingly large watercolour by SM Sultan conveyed the dreams that the artist had for the prosperity of the country.

A pensive woman was depicted by artist Qayyum Chowdhury, while Abdul Basset's piece was also a stylised one.

Fascinating lines entered into Monirul Islam's semi-abstract work.

Gold and blue dominated Syed Jehangir's depiction of women winnowing in the countryside.

The works of Clare Mitten from UK, Georgia Grigoriadou from Greece, Uttam Nepali, an impressionist artist, currently exhibiting in USA and Suzelee Ibrahim from Malaysia were also there to be admired.

The exhibition was ended on February 24.

Nishorgo starts eco-tour guide certification

WP Reporter

Forest Department's Nishorgo Support Project (NSP) has started professional Eco-tour guide certification process at its five pilot sites to ensure quality eco-tour guiding facilities for the nature tourists.

Nishorgo Program is developing sustainable eco-tourism in protected forests areas to provide economic incentives to local population to reduce their dependency on forest. Forest Department's Protected Area Management Program is called Nishorgo, which aims to conserve biodiversity through collaborative management with local stakeholders. As a part of ecotourism development and alternative income generation, NSP has trained local youths to operate as Eco Tour Guides, developed trails for forest hiking and others. Nishorgo Program receives financial assistance from the USAID through the NSP.

Till now to generate alternative income to reduce pressure on forests, the NSP has imparted training to 74 young men and women for eco-tour guiding who lives near the five pilot protected forest areas. Most of them are now self-employed as eco-tour guides. These guides are providing eco-tour guiding service at the five pilot sites, which are Lawarchara National Park, Satchari National Park, Rema Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary and Teknaf Game Reserve.

To ensure that all the tourists receive the same standard quality guiding services, the NSP took examination for the trained guides for eco-tour guide certification. To evaluate and certify the trained eco tour guides, a board was formed consisting of Elisabeth Fahrni Mansur, CEO of Guide Tours and Mamun, CEO of Green Tours, representing Tour Operator's Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), Modinul Ahsan and Kazi Nurul Karim, Assistant Conservator of Forests of Forest Department and Kazi M A Hashem of the NSP.

The two day long certification course included written test and field examination. The board assessed the service quality of the trained eco-tour guides and determined the eligible guides. The eligible guides are divided into two grades. The best guides with advanced interpretation skills are labelled as green and the ones with basic guiding skills are labelled blue. The guides will charge for their services based on their grades. Now the tourists will be able to choose their desired level of guiding facilities or the one that would match their budget. This certification process was held at Mochoni Nature Park, Teknaf Game Reserve on February 13 to 14 this year for the Teknaf and Chunati Site and on February 17 to 18 at Srimongal for Lawachara and Satchari National Park and Rema Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Some 43 eco-tour guides from five sites participated in the certification examination.

While trail hiking within the protected forest areas, the nature tourists are encouraged to hire a eco-tour guide. The tour guides are available at the entry areas of the park. Otherwise, a tourist can directly call an eco-tour guide whose contact numbers are listed at the NSP's website.

The certified eco-tour guides will serve in their respective protected areas as conservation ambassador and will help the tourists to enjoy their time in the forest and disseminate the essence of conservation of biodiversity.

Amar Ekushey at the grassroots

Saidur Rahman

Resource Study and Management Center (RSMC), a community based organization, observed Amar Ekushey (Mother Language Day) at Kathulia of Alampur Union under Kushtia district with due fervor and festivity. The day's activities started with placing wreaths at 12:01 am of 21 February at the Martyr Monument erected on the campus of Bodhon, a community library of RSMC located in the village of Kathulia. In the morning different sections of people including the student groups, the village leaders, farmers, day laborers, and the invited guests placed wreaths/flowers at the monument.

The cultural and sports events started with a race of the under-six children of RSMC run Bodhon Pre-primary School. The other events/competitions of the morning included cockfight, rhyme recitation for kids, biscuit race for kids, stitch and thread to adolescent girls, pillow transfer for elderly women, high jump, long jump, and dress-as-you-like. The most enjoyable part of morning events was hari vanga (pot breaking) in which the age-old honorable people of the surrounding villages took part. The day's special charm was traditional lathikhela (baton fight), which was organized in the village after long 10 years. [RSMC seeks to revive the old fashions of the society - the folk culture and sports events to bring back the occasions of amusement, the social bondage, and fraternity in the village life.]

The evening was decorated with a colorful dais for performance of 'Ekush Amar Pran', a drama produced by the RSMC Cultural Group.

Shimulia-Kathulia Community Primary School, the only primary school in these 2 villages, was established in 1993 with 2 classes - Class I, and Class II. Thanks to the initial interest and care of the community leaders and some youth to improve primary education in the locality, another 2 classes - Class III, and Class IV was added to the school after 2 years. The situation changed when the influential families and individuals wanted to established their leadership regarding school management, teacher recruitment, fund utilization, yearly school development projects etc. The latter 2 classes were cut off only 2 years after opening. Only one teacher is now engaged. The 2-hour school hardly remains opened on the weekdays. The community people don't send their children to this school; rather they send their children to BRAC run school or kindergarten schools.

RSMC has initiated awareness campaign and community mobilization to make the people re-think about the well-being and future of their children, usefulness of the govt. primary school, the way they can re-structure and improve the school management system. Some informal group meetings have already been held. Voices are now being stronger around school restructuring. The concerned govt. department will be negotiated soon. We seek cooperation and assistance from all concerned.

First National Education Conference

WP Reporter

The First National Education Conference on Whither Policy Reforms in Education in Bangladesh: Lessons and Challenges will be held in Dhaka on 2nd-3rd March 2008.

Policy reforms in education are one of the major concerns in the discussion of development in Bangladesh. The conference is organized to bring specialists, scholars, researchers, education activists and all those interested in educational research and activities together around this topical theme.

Education seems to be intrumentalised as a commodity in this era of global capitalism. In this context, philosophy of education, relation with knowledge and power, meaning and process of learning, relation of education with the role of state and development, globalization of knowledge are some of the key debatable issues in the discourses around generation and control of knowledge.

The decades of economic restructuring throughout 1980s and 1990s have put neo-liberal policies and programes into education system. These neo-liberal reforms have been spearheaded by a range of multilateral and supranational organizations tied into the system of global governance- the World Bank, the IMF, the WTO with participation of national and international nongovernmental agencies. Bangladesh like other economies had to adjust to this new "structural" reality. Education policies and progerammes have been designed, shaped and reshaped in this neo-liberal framework for conformation and reproduction. Neo-liberal educational reforms are directed from the notions of open markets, the reduction of the public sector, the decrease of state intervention and deregulation of markets.

The neoliberal reform agenda transformed education policies, systems, managements and programmes in Bangladesh. Some of the major changes are linked to primary education, technical education, reduction of state intervention in education services, privatization of higher education, initiation of non-formal education, NGOs' involvement in education services, involvement of donor agencies in decision making and implementation.

Laser Vision releases new albums

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Country's leading audio, video and music production house Laser Vision releases new four albums in the market. These are - Durbin 2.01, Uttorio Upakkhan, Third Eye and Dui Bhuban.

1) Durbin 2.01

Genre: Second band album of Durbin

Music direction: Tinku, Fuad, Ibrar and Pankaj

Total songs: 11

Songs: 1) Swapnodana by Shahid, 2) O Bondhu by Sabbir, 3) Prem Hobena by Shahid, 4) Ekta Ache Kabya by Noyon, 5) Allah by Sabbir, 6) Lal Sobuj by Shahid, 7) Nil Noyona by Sabbir, 8) Matal Basona by Shahid, 9) Mon Pukure by Noyon, 10) Hoini Khule Bola by Shahid and 11) Shudhu Ami Eka by Zahid.

2) Uttorio Uppakkhan

Genre: Special drama for Valentine's Day

Script: Geetali Hasan

Direction: Shuvro Khan

Starring: Apurbo, Shahriar Shuvo, MM Morshed, Faria, Bona, Noman, Sajit, Asif, Kabir and others.

Story: Anom is a student of a medical college. While walking at the road his eyes were affected due to hit by 'urna' of a girl (Raha). His eyes were seriously damaged by that hit. For this reason, the girl was repented and grew a soft corner to him. From this soft corner, a love relationship was build up between them. In the meantime, marriage of Raha was settled with a boy named Pranto. Raha became in a fix. At last what was happened?

3) Third Eye

Genre: Telefilm

Direction: Zahid Hasan

Starring: Zahid Hasan, Intekhab Dinar, Mir Sabbir, Rumana khan, Dolly Zahur, Ali Imran, Mumin Babu, Selim Reza and others.

Story: The story of the drama was based on judgment of a blind man, his intelligence and perception. Pulack (Zahid Hasan) is blind from his birth. He does not see anything. But his desire is interesting and thoughts are terrible. He goes to Nepal with his mother. Topu (Intekhab Dinar) also went to Nepal with his newly married wife Nila (Rumana). Shanto (Mir Sabbir) is an interesting person. He does not say anything about his pain. So that what is pain?

4) Dui Bhuban

Genre: Telefilm

Script and direction: Saiful Islam Mannu

Produced: Refugee and Migratory Research Unit (RMMRU), University of Dhaka with the support of British High Commission.

Starring: Dolly Zahur, Mahmud Sajjad, Afroza Banu, Tazin Ahmed, Syed Shuvro, Ettela, Kawsar Chowdhury, Al Mamoon, Saiful Islam Mannu and others.

Story: The telefilm is based on migration experiences of two Bangladeshi nurses Smriti and Zarina. Due to having ambition risk factor comes forward, somebody realize, some other not. Zarina is of them who does not realize. Though she had opportunity to go to London by nurse visa, but she went there by tourist visa. As a result, she caught under a trap, which took her to her marriage. But she did not save herself.

Exhibition of Japan

Farizaa Sabreen

First solo exhibition of Mohammad Wayes was ended on February 23. A seven-day-long exhibition was inaugurated by Kamal Uddin Shabuj, General Secretary, National Press Club in the city's Drik Gallery. During the opening ceremony the chief guest appreciated the photographer for his wonderful work and added that his work on Japan will further enhance the friendly relations and bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Japan.

Almost all national parks of Japan were his subjects of photography. However, due to budget constraints present exhibition only includes photographs of Oze National P9!k (Japan).

A total of 47 selected photographs of the same park shot in his early career are included for the exhibition.

In future he will exhibit photographs of at least 10 to 12 National Parks of Japan. He hopes his present stock of slides of those parks would be superior both in terms of quality and quantity. If he gets the proper support he can bring much larger size photographs in future exhibitions.

Mohammad Waves was born in 1969 and spent his childhood close to nature in a mountainous area.

His affection for nature was deep-rooted in days of his childhood and the affection got even, deeper in Japan.

This passion for nature forced him to take the journey into the world of nature photography. At the beginning, this was a lonely walk without any proper academic background. So he was his own mentor into this challenging and ever changing world of photography.

Since 1988 he spent almost six years alone trying to experiment and learn a very expensive subject (for him) like photography. In 1994 he enrolled for the diploma course under New York Institute of Photography.

This helped him correct his basic techniques of photography. Later in his life he worked with some of the renowned photographers like Mr Takahasi Youshiyouki and Mr Fujiwara Yohei. Mr. Takahasi encouraged Wayes while joining him in his personal assignment.

He is one photographer who does not entangle himself with any kind of fame and at this early stage of learning.

As a result, it took 20 years for his first exhibition to materialize. His dream is to mark his footprint in each and every corner of his home country to photograph and show the real beauty of Bangladesh to outside world.

Poetry

Wishes for my Valentine

-Imrez Chowdhury

Look outside

My love sprinkles dew drops

Its soring time.

Look up above

My love sparkles shining

Moonlit ajure says hi.

Look downward

My footprints are all over

Tiptoeing you

Look inside

My heart keeps telling

I just love yout from Bombay with love

Nature, human and the mind

-Emdadul Huq Badsha

I have seen a lot of colours of cloud,

And seen it's aggressive mood;

I have seen huge waves of many rivers,

And seen much happiness in those tears.

I have seen good blessings of sky,

And seen it's endless and vastness;

I have seen grand speed of wind,

And it's divine blowing kind.

I have seen countless dances of sea,

With her Swatch -of -no -ground lee;

I have seen much more heat of sun,

And the vastness it's strong gun.

I have seen many broadness of hills,

And it's natural playing games dills.

I have seen many types of human being,

And their colourful Hippocratic staying.

I have got much taste of my life,

And got immortal honey-sweet type;

I have seen various scenes of human minds,

And also seen their sad and joyous kinds.

I have seen the tidal flow of Bengali here,

Creating cheerful madness for Ekushe there.

My Dove!

-Md. Ziaul Karim

My mind is dry, eyes want to cry

I think a lot but don't know why.

I try to laugh but it's really tough

As it seems I have lost my dove;

A dove that deserves extra care

If not found it won't be fair.

I feel pain in my heart's domain

I try to cheer but in vain.

I talk to people for fun

But my dove resembles none.

Who can bring my dove back

And let me know what I really lack?

I will be so pleased and benign

When I get back my valentine.

10th part of smile show

WP Reporter

The 10th Smile Show entertainment programme will be broadcast at 8.00 P.M. on ATN Bangla on 29th February 2008. The programme directed and presented by Khandaker Ismail. In the programme a special report on late popular actor Manna of Bangla Film will be telecast. In the program the memorial place of Manna including the bouquet of respect to graveyard of Manna would be highlighted. The memorial statement about Manna by his relatives will be taken. In the program "Moner Sathe Juddo" acted by Manna will be shown including the songs of James.

There also audience part of Bengali Alphabet on the occasion of 21st February, 2008 the beginning of the program. There also song of 21st February and song of" DAM DEA KINACI-II BANGLA" written by late language fighter Abdul Latif. The singer of the son is Fakir Alamgir. Musician Shahin Shah will show his magic. Living in abroad, American popular singer of 1980's M.A. Shoyeb sings the song of Sona Mukhi Ma Amar Pin-ta Pater Saree ". Besides, actor model Shohel Khan and Nafeza participated in the various parts of the program. In the program there are also be a part in the memory of late prominent actor, resister Golam Mostafa.

The Smile Show program is being telecast regularly on the last Friday of every month at ATN Bangla. Meantime the program has gained much popularity at home and abroad.