The New Nation - Internet Edition

Make Over Your Home for Spring

WP Desk

Everything begins to come alive again and we begin to see signs of new life and color. The cold and dreariness begins to fade away. Warmer weather calls for a change in your home's decor. Turn your thoughts to spring cleaning, spring gardens, and of course, spring decorating! So, how do you prepare for spring decorating? Well, curl up with a good design book, and dream away!

Pack away the rich, heavy colors and patterns of winter, and bring out the bright, cheerful, light textures of spring. Open up those bright, shiny windows and let the sun shine in! Update your home by bringing in sheer fabrics, pretty florals, and garden elements.

Lighten Up!

Do you have velvet drapes or a heavy corduroy sofa? Spring is the time to change them out for lighter looking alternatives. Remove the drapes and replace them with airy sheers. Slipcover the sofa or chairs with paler tones or florals.

Rethink the Rugs

Wonderfully cozy area rugs look just right in winter. But when the temperature rises it may be time to roll them up and replace them for summer with sisal or cotton rugs in light, cool colors.

Orient Toward a View

If your furniture is centered in front of a fireplace, think about ways to rearrange the look for summer. Change the focal point away from the mantel to a view of a garden, placing the conversation grouping to take advantage of the garden scene just outside.

Create an Inviting Porch

Summer living often moves out to a porch or deck, but even if your home does not have these amenities you can get the look and feel of a porch inside. Introduce a few garden chairs, accessories, and floral fabrics into a family room, for example. You'll get the feel of the outdoors every time you're in the room.

Store the Silks

Remove dusty silk flower arrangements from your rooms and store them away for a few months. Instead, bring in fresh green plants, flowering pots, or elegant orchids. These lively touches can breathe life into winter-weary spaces.

Re-Accessorize

Time to rework your accessories and makeover your shelves. Clean winter dust off the shelves and begin to replace objects with an eye toward keeping the look light. Bring out your floral china or white ironstone, set up a collection of pitchers or glass, and include plants and picture frames as well.

Think Sheer

Sheer curtains, sheer tablecloths, sheer bedskirts, and pillows - all of these say "summer" louder than almost any other element. Look for plain, embroidered, or printed sheer designs that complement your interiors.

De-Clutter Now

Look for organizing solutions for your home. Any spot that is overcrowded or unorganized can drain your energies as it swallows objects and fill your life with clutter. A visit to a home store can yield products to contain clutter wherever it exists.

Sweep Off the Steps

Bring the look of summer to your front door by cleaning up the area. Wash the door and windows and touch up the paint if needed. Hang a silk flower wreath on the front door too. If you have a large porch you may also have room for pots of colorful spring flowers.

French Drama Festival

Farizaa Sabreen

French Drama Festival in Dhaka demonstrates wonderful cultural co-operation

existing between France and Bangladesh, said French Envoy. French drama festival has begun at National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the city recently. Alliance Française; Natuke, a theatre group and Fame, School of dance; drama and music jointly organising the festival.

Cultural adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury inaugurated the French drama festival as chief guest while French Ambassador Charley Causeret was present as special guest. Among others, playwrights Zia Haider, Syed Shamsul Huda, theatre director Ramendu Majumder, Sabin-ul Alam and Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation president H Hamid spoke on the occasion.

Inaugurating the French drama festival, Cultural Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury hoped that such a foreign festival would help the local playwrights to be further enlightened with the artistic work of the famous playwrights.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony French Ambassador Charley Causuret has underlined that French Drama Festival is the evident demonstration of a wonderful cultural co-operation exiting between France and Bangladesh. French Embassy would like to extend all our support to this ambitious and well-thought initiative, he further added.

French envoy recalled that in France, which is historically very much attached to art and culture, the theatre field is very active with a lot of companies, theatre halls and a strong policy of support by the French government.

"Like France, Bangladesh also has a rich tradition of theatre with a lot of outstanding playwrights. I will only mention Mr Selim Al Din who passed away recently and who will be remembered for his exceptional work", said French Ambassador Charley Causseret.

He also told that besides Moliere, this French drama festival will also provide an opportunity to present another French author, Jean Anouilh with the play "Antigone", inspired by a Greek tragedy, and an adaptation of the play "The Trial" by the Czech author Franz Kafka.

Zia Hiader said that translation of staging of foreign plays would enrich our theatre tradition and practice.

Syed Shamsul Haq said, "For enriching our own world of the theatre, we have to familiarize foreign plays and playwrights to our people".

A number of French Drama will be staged during the festival. These plays are produced by Alliance Française, Chittagong and will be performed by the students of Fame.

Naristan: British photographer Arabella Plouviez’s show

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

"Rokeya Shakawat Hossain was a Bengali feminist, writer and forward thinker. Born in 1880, in what is now Bangladesh, she wrote extensively, arguing for the education of women. She set up a school for Muslim girls and founded the Bengali Muslim Women's Association. In 1905, she wrote Sultana's Dream, used as quotes within this work. This a witty story about a utopia, Naristan (Ladyland), where women are free within the public arena and men are kept secluded away. Naristan is a non-violent country of health and beauty, combining knowledge from the arts and science to form a sustainable society working in tandem with nature. Bangladesh still celebrates December 9, the anniversary of Rokeya's birth, as Begum Rokeya Day, with newspapers publishing special articles, organized events and conferences as well as posters and chains of flowers to decorate the roads," said British photographer Arabella Plouviez about her theme of the works at photography exhibition titled 'Naristan' at Drik Gallery in the capital.

To homage the icon, Drik Gallery and British Council in association with International Photography Research Network (IPRN) and University of Sunderland jointly organised the photography exhibition to observe the International Women's Day. The exhibition featured photographs of women from varied backgrounds by Arabella Plouviez. The exhibition concluded on March 17.

Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain wrote the short story 'Sultana's Dream' in 1905. The story was originally published in The Indian Ladies Magazine at Chennai in India in English.

"Now that they are accustomed to the 'Purdah' system and have ceased to grumble at their seclusion, we call the system 'Murdana' instead of 'Zenana," this type of lines were in the Sultana's Dream.

For Begum Rokeya, the idea of 'female empowerment' must not have been alien. She was after all a pioneering Bengali feminist, writer, social reformer and progressive thinker. She wrote extensively, arguing for the education of women and set up a school for Muslim girls. She also founded the Bengali Muslim Women's Association.

Plouviz has photographed women who are renowned like Hamida Hossain, as well as everyday housewives. None of the captions include the name of the subject but quotes from 'Sultana's Dream.'

Arabella Plouviez is the Head of Photography at the University of Sunderland. Arabella has been a practicing photographer for a number of years making work for exhibition and publication. Her work involves image and text to visualise ideas and issues often researched through working with different groups of people. These include work looking at women prisoners in a high security prison, the representation of women in Northern England, image text work about drug users and HIV/AIDS, the communities along the rural coastal areas of North East England, a recent commission in Bangladesh and research into imagery of 'mad & bad' women.

Before moving to the University sector, Arabella worked in community photography in London, establishing a photography project working with various communities and groups including the homeless, drug users, single mothers and the unemployed. Arabella has, with colleagues, been instrumental in setting up a photography research centre at the University of Sunderland, including the IPRN, which received major the European Union (EU) funding for photographic commissioning along with partners in Slovakia, the Netherlands, Germany and Finland. Arabella's work has been exhibited nationally and internationally both within formal gallery spaces and in less conventional environments.

The subjects of the exhibition were all in their homes, either relaxing in the lounge, or contemplating in the bedroom.

The accompanying caption of a photo featured the late poet Sufia Kamal' portraits and her daughter Sayeda Kamal reads, "This is Naristan, free from sin and harm. Virtue herself reigns here."

An image featured Shaheed Dr. Milan's widow showed a modest room with bare essentials. The caption reads, "All present solemnly vowed that they would never allow themselves to be enslaved, no matter what happened."

'Naristan,' with only 12 photographs, might come across as 'indistinguishable' to the layman, uninformed viewer, but provided with the photographer's note and captions, this exhibition was rather inspiring.

Arabella Plouviez was commissioned by IPRN at the University of Sunderland and Arts Council England to undertake a commission in Bangladesh, hosted by Drik.

A year of stress-busters: 52 relaxing ideas

When did everyday life become so hard? Between work or school, household chores, typical errands, raising a family and maintaining general sanity, days are packed to the gills with more than even Wonder Woman could handle! To combat all those days brimming with things to do, people to see and places to be, we have some ideas for fun, relaxing and enjoyable ideas for you. These calming activities might give you the peace of mind and solace your life is missing.

1. Play catchup: Rent DVDs for a whole season of a hit show you've missed out on to catch up on the buzz.

2. Buy yourself a bouquet of your favorite flowers and have them delivered.

3. Go to the park and swing. See how high you can go.

4. Take a nap or go to bed early. No lie -- if you are feeling completely zonked from a tough week, your body will love you for it.

5. Brew a cup of tea and drink it out of a proper teacup with saucer.

6. Make some popcorn and have a themed mini-movie marathon. Watch five or six flicks starring your favorite actor, set in a special city, or with a storyline that always makes you smile.

7. Take your car to be detailed -- inside and out -- while you read or listen to music in the waiting area.

8. Buy a cool colored lightbulb and really view the world -- or the room at least -- with a rose-colored (or blue, or purple) tint.

9. Take a long bath with an gloriously indulgent and fragrant bubble bath.

10. Determine a maximum amount of money that you are "allowed" to spend and go shopping for new shoes. And a purse. And clothest

11. Listen to soft, soothing musict or, if you really need to get out some frustration, make that rock 'n' roll or hard core. Loud.

12. Make some "comfort food." Cupcakes, cookies, cakes, piest anything sweet and scrumptious is fair game!

13. Take an entire night to be a complete couch potato. Have take-out delivered, walk around in your PJs, and just enjoy having nothing to do.

14. Make a gratitude list. Think of the many people, things and life happenings for which you're really grateful.

15. Go on a boat ride. Canoe, sailboat, yacht, kayak -- it matters not the kind of boat, but that you have a nice, relaxing time on the water.

16. Do something small that will make your life simpler. Make a duplicate set of keys so you don't have to panic if you lose them during the morning rush. Buy a pen on a cord and stick it on your fridge so it won't disappear. Get rid of all the lingerie you never wear so you don't have to sift through it every day.

17. Give yourself a nice pedicure to pamper yourself and to get your toes in shape for sandals.

18. Go get two coffees: one for you, and one to be hand-delivered to a friend or co-worker.

19. Put on comfy clothes and snuggle up with a stack of good books.

20. Download some of the favorite songs from your youth, and see if you can still remember the lyrics well enough to sing along.

21. Stop and smell the roses. Or the laurel, freesia, primroses, daphne.

22. Look through old photo albums to remember where you've been and all you've done.

23. Exercise! Go for a run, walk, jog, ride your bike, use a hula hoop or any other athletic activity that's fun and rewarding to you.

24. Add a little comfort to your life -- whether that means faux-sheepskin covers for your car or a big, soft bath towel for you.

25. Enjoy a candlelit three-course meal, with your best china, a placemat and a cloth napkin.

26. Go on vacation. Whether you leave for a week or you actually only take a fifteen-minute walk around the block without your cell phone, sometimes an escape from reality is all it really takes to re-energize and rejuvenate yourself.

27. Buy a box of chocolates, and eat all your favorite ones first.

28. If you're home alone, close the blinds and walk around naked. No waistbands, no collarst it'll feel pretty good.

29. Go all day (or longer) without makeup. (Hey -- if celebrities can go out in public like that, you can, too.)

30. Get some friends together and play tennis or golf, toss the ball around or do something new and exciting in the world of sports.

31. Write down all the things on your mind that are stressing them out. Put the list away somewhere for later, and stop worrying about it for now.

32. Have a massage or another relaxing spa treatment.

33. Get together with your girlfriends to chat or to commiserate.

34. Try a brand new super-posh luxury shampoo and conditioner -- one that smells just heavenly.

35. Hire someone to come clean your home from top to bottom.

36. Upgrade something little but practical in your life. For example, swap your old scratched sunglasses for a stylish new pair or replace your faded, thinning bed sheets with some fabulous high-thread-count versions.

37. Imagine you won 10 million dollars, and write down all the delightful ways you'd spend it.

38. Take yourself on a picnic, complete with a blanket, a deli lunch and some fresh strawberries.

39. Find somewhere quiet and simply enjoy the silence.

40. Go outside, get comfortable on the ground or a chaise longue and just watch the sky go by.

41. Start making your dream real: Start researching hotels at an exotic destination, start checking out new kitchen countertop materials or test drive a fancy car.

42. Explore your artistic side: draw, paint, write or even make something out of paper maché.

43. Take a deep breath. Inhale slowly through your nose and fill your lungs (comfortably) as deeply as you can. Hold for about five seconds, and then exhale through your mouth. Repeat at least twice more.

44. Work on a challenging-but-still-fun jigsaw puzzle, preferably featuring a soothing scene.

45. Light some candles (including a couple with your favorite scent) and place them throughout the room.

46. Take yourself out to dinner at your favorite restaurant.

47. Visit a local body of water -- ocean, lake, reservoir or even a fountain -- and just chill out watching the water flow.

48. Meditate or try some calming visualization.

49. Go for a drive at dusk with the top down, sunroof open or windows down. Music optional.

50. Cross something niggling (but ultimately not vital) off your to-do listt even though you didn't get it done. Let it go.

51. Try one of the oldest de-stressing methods in the world: sex. The hormonal release can be profoundly relaxing.

52. Laughter is one of the best stress-busters of all. Whether by means of a movie, book or DVD of your favorite comedian, give yourself a good giggle!

No matter what types of activities -- or lack thereof -- refuel you and refresh you after a tough workday or workweek, remember that the best way to restore yourself and relax is only a good night's sleep away.

6 Career Fixes

1. It's official: The bloom is off the rose. What used to seem fun and exciting is now a regular drag. Is it Friday yet?

"Keep in mind that the bloom comes off every rose -- whether it's a job or a relationship or a business," says life coach Cheryl Richardson.

The question you should ask yourself, she says, is whether you love what you do and are temporarily bored, or if you're experiencing some deep-seated despair. "If you're working for the weekends," warns Richardson, "you're wasting your life. If you suspect you're just in a lull, however, she suggests considering what you can do to make work more meaningful and fun again.

One of the best places to find ideas is your personal life. Incorporate elements that you enjoy out of the office into your daily work ritual. Meeting friends for a cup of tea or coffee, sharing a laugh, telling a good story -- all of these can and should be part of every day. The key is opening yourself up to making friends with your workmates.

You don't have to be BFFs, but sharing a few personal details (last night's horrible blind date or that embarrassing thing your kid did) can forge alliances that make the daily grind more enjoyable. In fact, a recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that those who had developed a social network at the office were less likely to suffer from depression.

Sometimes, befriending coworkers takes a little initiation on your part. Start a company softball team or bowling league, organize a Friday afternoon happy hour in the kitchen, or see if that empty conference room is available for a post-work yoga class. Chances are your colleagues will thank you for taking the lead -- and you'll develop friendships that otherwise would have gone untapped.

Keep reading for more issues, including what to do when: the job takes over your life; there's no promotion in sight; the office atmosphere is negative; and your to-do list never seems to end.

2. Your office has the aesthetic appeal of an airport lounge and the coziness of a hospital waiting room.

An ugly office -- cramped cubicles; fluorescent lights; lots of gray, black, and beige -- does more than curb your enthusiasm. "Your immediate environment affects how you feel, so if your work space is depressing, you're not going to be as productive," says feng shui expert Jayme Barrett, author of "Feng Shui Your Life." She suggests creating a space that inspires and energizes you -- no major renovation (or corner office) required.

First things first: Pass on the standard-issue gray plastic office accessories and find items that you love from your favorite stores -- even if you do it on your own dime. "Invest in your space," says Barrett. Pick up a few baskets, faux-leather boxes, a nice lamp. These are your things, and you'll take them with you when you leave."

Some other ideas: Cover bulletin boards with colorful fabric, wallpaper your area with pictures of friends and family, add a small area rug. She also suggests bringing the outdoors in with a desk plant or fresh flowers.

If a window is not in your future, install a high-intensity light box that measures 10,000 lux. Studies have shown that exposure to light can increase brain levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood.

And don't forget to eliminate the obvious such as books on the floor, unsorted clutter, and piles of paper. "These all bring your energy down," says Barrett. "Keep only active projects visible. Everything else, especially finished tasks, should be out of sight."

3. As much as you love your job, it seems to have taken over your life. You never take a break -- and you're beginning to burn out.

Stop whatever you're doing right now and take a deep breath. Make that a few deep breaths. Before your brain goes completely on the fritz, ask yourself these questions: When was the last time I took a real lunch? What about leaving on time? And when was my last vacation? If the answer to any of the above is "I don't know," it's time to start putting yourself first and get your priorities straight -- and to realize they're your priorities to set.

"Work doesn't take over our lives unless we allow it to," says Richardson. "You need to set boundaries -- and if you're overwhelmed, then go to your boss and tell her that while you're committed to success, you can't succeed without some help. It's her job to help you manage it." Another word to the wise: Don't be a hero. "Nothing kills a hero faster than trying to take on more work than she can reasonably do," says Richardson.

There are steps you can take to make sure you're setting healthy boundaries at work. Start with getting outside for your entire lunch break. "When you change your geography and get some fresh air, you change your thinking," says Carol Ross, a career coach based in the Denver area. Ross recommends taking a midday walk or run -- even if that means eating at your desk later. Not only will exposure to natural sunlight boost your mood, it will get you out of your head by engaging all your senses and possibly triggering new and creative ideas.

Next, know when to call it quits for the day. Working mothers and fathers have a built-in excuse to leave work on time; those who don't have kids can find it challenging to turn off the computer at a reasonable hour. To create some structure, Ross suggests scheduling an activity right after work -- a yoga class or a date with a friend -- to get you out the door on time.

Once you do get home, put away your BlackBerry, email, and cell phone, collectively known as the electronic leash -- at least for a little while. "This sense of urgency is self-imposed," she says. "Very few 'emergencies' can't wait until the next day."

Lastly, take that vacation. Studies show that people who take regular vacations are less likely to have heart attacks, and they also report lower levels of stress and depression; they even have happier marriages.

Not only that, taking a decent amount of time off will keep you from burning out, allowing you to return to your job with newfound energy and vigor. Instead of complaining that you don't get enough vacation days, try using up the ones you already have. A 2007 survey conducted by expedia.com found that 51 million Americans are vacation deprived, taking only 11 of the 14 days that they've earned.

4. With no forward or upward movement -- in position or salary -- you feel like you're constantly spinning your wheels and collecting dust.

In an ideal world, we'd regularly receive praise and money for the hard work we've done. But often, we don't -- and that puts us on the fast track for dissatisfaction. To avoid feeling like you're hitting a glass ceiling, take control of your own destiny rather than waiting for someone to hand you a promotion on a silver platter.

At larger companies, annual reviews offer a built-in time slot for you to get feedback from your boss on how you're doing and how you can improve. (Employees at smaller firms might need to initiate this process on their own.) But once a year isn't enough. "Keeping the air clean between you and your supervisors is the number one way to remain happy at work," says Rowan. She suggests touching base with your boss more casually each quarter -- over lunch or coffee -- regardless of whether you have a yearly review or not.

Prepare for this with an honest evaluation of your own progress. Are you meeting expectations and deadlines? Are you handling your responsibilities well? When it comes to raise time, do your research. Find out how much your peers are making (try salary.com or payscale.com, which collect surveys from corporate human resources departments across the country to create databases of national averages).

"Go in to the meeting knowing what you're worth and what you want," says Rowan. "Even if you don't get the money, you may succeed in shifting your responsibilities so your job brings you greater joy."

And don't discount the power of a positive attitude. You can be the hardest worker at your office, but a sour demeanor will only keep you down. "People who are upbeat tend to be promoted more and have better job security," says Will Bowen, author of "A Complaint-Free World," referring to a review of 225 studies published in the Psychological Bulletin. The conclusion showed that positive emotions lead to success, not always the other way around. Researchers also found that people with upbeat attitudes tend to be more motivated, easier to work with, and more capable of managing stress than their grumpier peers.

5. The "vibe" at work couldn't be worse. Between the backstabbing and the negative energy, it's hard to feel positive about being at the office.

There are countless reasons sour vibes can bubble up at the office, and many of them begin as bad news. Word of pending layoffs, budget cuts, or a heated argument spread through the halls like lightning, touching off a frenzy of excitement and fear. And what's the first thing we do? We gossip.

While partaking in it may scratch a temporary itch, gossip does little to soothe ragged nerves. In fact, say experts, it can inflame them. But regardless of its shady reputation, gossip has an undeniable draw. "We all need energy, and gossip provides a quick and ready source," says Richardson. "It's like junk food -- fun and delicious in the moment, but it makes you feel bad afterwards." What's worse, the more depleted or frustrated you are, she says, the more drawn to this kind of bad energy you'll be -- and at some point, given gossip's dirty nature, it can come back to bite you.

To break out of the cycle, find a better, healthier reason to get together and chat: A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S. showed that positive chatter can increase cooperation. In order to determine what is and is not okay to say behind someone's back, Bowen suggests this litmus test: Say anything you want, as long as you'd repeat it word for word -- with exactly the same inflections -- to the person you're talking about.

As far as bad work vibes go, consider whether chronic complaining might be dragging down your mood. According to Richardson, it's one of the biggest issues people have with their work environments. Why all the huffing, moaning, and groaning? "We do it when we feel helpless," she says. "And yet complaining, without action, accomplishes nothing."

She advises paying very close attention to your own griping, and identifying the issues that tend to trigger it. "You may even want to invite a coworker to help you out," Richardson suggests. "Give her permission to call to your attention whenever you start up again about the same old thing." Not only does this keep you from being a nuisance to your fellow coworkers, it also invites conversation and insight. Instead of constantly bellyaching about your problems, you can now start thinking about what you can actually do to solve them.

6. No matter how much you accomplish, it's never enough. At the end of the day, it feels like you've spent 10 hours climbing up the down escalator.

Between the phone ringing, email dinging, and nonstop meetings, it's a wonder anyone can stay focused. This makes it all the more important to maximize every second, minute, and hour you're in the office.

For Richardson, the solution lies in the focused to-do list (ones too long and detailed can be just as distracting). She suggests taking a 3-by-5-inch index card and, either with your boss or on your own, identify your overall top five priorities at work. Put the card somewhere in your line of sight, and consider it your gold standard.

"Now you have something to measure your to-do items by," says Richardson. "What items on your list support these top five priorities? Which don't? This can make a huge difference in how you work and where you expend most of your energy." Once you've determined what your top priorities are, all the extraneous work should and will weed itself out.

As for basic daily strategies to keep your sanity (and happiness) intact? First, cut back on email. This indispensable marvel has become a huge time waster, derailing our train of thought with interruptions that are anything but urgent. Timothy Ferriss, author of "The 4-Hour Workweek," goes so far as suggesting only checking twice a day, once at 11 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. (and letting people know this is what you're doing). It's an impractical idea for most, but the general advice still applies: Get in the habit of checking email only when you're through with the project at hand.

And don't discount the power of a quick break. Taking short breathers throughout the day will reenergize you, allowing you to tackle your projects with a clearer vision. Ross recommends that clients schedule regular five-minute breaks to stretch, do some yoga poses, or meditate.

Tevis Gale, who creates mindfulness programs for corporations such as Google and AOL through her consulting company, Balance Integration Corporation, teaches employees to meditate at their desks. Try her approach when you feel you need a break: Lift your shoulders up and breathe in. Exhale through your mouth as you bring your shoulders back, opening your chest. Rest your hands in your lap, palms facing up. As you inhale, relax your eyes by softening your gaze; let your tongue relax. Breathe in deeply through your nose and exhale through the nose slowly and deeply. Repeat for 5 to 10 breaths. "Even just 30 seconds can calm your nervous system down," says Gale.

Sunsilk Global Survey

WP Report

Sunsilk shampoo, a hair product by Unilever has recently prepared a survey. It's Bangladesh's report is prepared by MRC Mode and AsiaticJWT as well as Global report prepared by salt. Global survey details this research was carried out by Sunsilk in Bangladesh, Thailand, India, Brazil, USA, Russia and Mexico. Around 500 girls globally were questioned in each country during August 2007 to January 2008. At Sunsilk, they understand the transformational power hair can have on the life of 20-something girls. And so, they set out to find out just how important hair is to the lives of girls across the world - asking girls in India, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, USA and most importantly girls in Bangladesh, questions about their hair, their life and how one impacts the other.

Hair - crucial to your look!

Nearly all girls - wherever you are in the world - think hair is a crucial part of their appearance. In fact over 41 per cent feel hair is the most important aspect of their looks - over make-up, clothes and skin! Five out of the six countries surveyed felt that hair is the most important aspect of their appearance, none more so than in Bangladesh where more than half of the girls subscribed to this outlook.

And amongst all the countries surveyed, Bangladeshi girls are most convinced by the power of hair. In fact 96 per cent of the girls here believe it plays a crucial role in the way a person looks.

Perhaps hair is so important because girls can use their hair to make a fashion statement - something 82 per cent of girls do worldwide and Bangladeshi girls are no different as 93 per cent of them also feel the same way. And this is something that can be done spontaneously; with over 87 per cent using their hair to instantly transform their look. Girls in Bangladesh make the most of this instant tool of transformation, as almost all of them use their hair this way. Once again the girls from Brazil closely follow with 95 per cent using hair as a transformational tool, with 92 per cent of Russian girls also recognising the transformational power of hair.

And with all this emphasis placed on hair, it isn't surprising that hair is the last thing, almost 50% of the girls in Bangladesh check before an important event - such as a meeting.

In fact in all countries apart from Thailand, hair scored highest with girls for things they check before an important event - with over half of girls in the USA putting hair above everything else.

However, over a third of girls worldwide are unhappy with their hair and only one third of girls find it easy to get the look they want for their hair - leaving two thirds of girls struggling with complicated and time consuming styling. The girls of Bangladesh tell a different story however, with three quarters of them stating that it's easy to get the look they want for their hair.

My hair is me!

Amongst all the countries surveyed Bangladeshi girls are also the most convinced that their hair is the very best reflection of their personality with almost 90% of them believing that hair defines the physical expression of who they are.

Nearly all girls - a whopping 97 per cent - admit that how their hair looks affects how they feel about themselves. This is particularly true for girls in Thailand, Bangladesh and Russia - almost 99 per cent of girls in those countries are affected by the way they feel about their hair.

In fact more than half of girls don't feel truly themselves when they are unhappy with their hair. And girls from Russia, Bangladesh and Thailand feel least like themselves when they aren't happy with their mane.

Girls - and Sunsilk - believe that a person's identity is radiated through their hair - so much so that over 80 per cent of girls have made a judgment about someone solely based on their hair.

Girls in Russia judge people according to how their hair looks more than any other girls. However, this is closely followed by girls in India, Mexico and the USA. However, girls in Thailand are the least judgmental about other people's hair - perhaps they are worrying too much about their own.

Hair makes life happen

A huge 87 per cent - nearly 9 out of every 10 girls feel more confident and open to new opportunities when they think their hair looks good. Girls in Thailand, Russia and Bangladesh feel the most confident and ready to make life happen thanks to their lovely locks.

This must be why 69 per cent of girls get impatient when they feel happy with their hair - they don't want to waste time before going out and making the most of their 'good hair feeling'. And this is especially true of girls in Bangladesh - where more than 81% of the girls are in a rush to show off their hair, many more than laid back American girls.

Because for more than three quarters of girls, hair magically transforms the way they feel about themselves - feeling good about their hair makes them able to make the most of the day and make life happen. So they can live for today - not tomorrow.

Once again, this magical transformation is felt most by girls in Thailand - with nearly 9 in 10 girls feeling more able to seize the day because of the way the feel about their hair, followed closely by 85% of Bangladeshi girls.

However, this means that 50 per cent of girls feel the need to hide away from the world when they aren't happy with their locks. And it is impossible to make life happen when you are hidden away. Russian girls feel the strongest about this with over 60 per cent of girls wishing they could hide from the world on days they feel unhappy with their hair. They are closely followed by the Bangladeshi girls where more than half of them feel like they can't go out and face the world when their hair does not look right.

A life ruled by hair

Feeling unhappy with your hair can have a huge impact on your life and cause extreme behaviour - over half of the girls in Brazil and Russia have purchased emergency hair products and made an emergency appointment with the hairdresser.

Girls in Thailand seem to take the most drastic action when they aren't happy with their hair - over half of girls have stayed in the house all day when they weren't happy with their hair and 15 per cent of girls have not even left their bed. This particular extreme reaction is also quite prevalent in Bangladesh where 1 in every 10 girl decided to stay in bed because they were unhappy with their hair!

In India, 1 in 10 girls have gone as far as taking the day off work because of their discontent with their hair. And when Indian girls have braved a work appointment a bad feeling about their hair has wrecked it for a fifth of girls - nearly a fifth of these girls have also had a job interview ruined because of this. Almost 1 in 10 Indian girls have cancelled a job interview because they weren't happy with their hair.

Mexican girls are most worried about what people they know will think about their hair when they are unhappy with their style - nearly a third have crossed the road to avoid seeing someone they know because of bad hair. This is true for almost a fifth of girls worldwide - think of all the missed opportunities!

A hairy outlook

Half of girls throughout the world describe themselves as unattractive when they are unhappy with their hair.

One third of Brazilian and Mexican girls think, a bad feeling about their hair makes them feel sad.

Feeling unhappy with your hair also appears to make many girls insecure - a third of girls reporting this feeling across the world. This hair-related insecurity could be holding them back and may mean they miss opportunities. For 1 in 10 Indian girls their hair can also make them feel incompetent - not a feeling that will make you able to make good things happen.

The Sunsilk summary.

These global findings prove just how powerful hair can be. Feeling happy with your hair can make you feel confident, open to new opportunities and truly be yourself. Hair can be a reflection of your personality - an expression of self - but this means if you feel unhappy with your mane you can want to hide away from the world and think you are insecure or incompetent. Girls need to feel happy with their hair and take advantage of its instant, and sometimes magical, transformational powers to ensure they never miss or ruin another important work meeting again!

Laser Vision releases new albums

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Country's popular audio, video and music production house Laser Vision recently released new six albums in the markets. These are -

1) Kosti Pathor

Genre: Bengali drama

Script: Arun Chowdhury

Direction and camera: Mohammed Hossain Jaimy

Producer: Ekramul Haque Selim

Music: Emon Saha

Editing: Ehsanul Kabir

Starring: ATM Shamsuzzaman, Gazi Rakayet, sumona Islam Soma, Promit, Shams Sumon, Seema Dasgupta, Jhuna Chowdhury, Shafique Al Mamun and others.

Story: Gazi Rakayet is a person like stone. His name is also 'Pathor' (stone). His heart is also like that where there is no kindness. His only child died during his born. To get psychological relief he joined a gang of ATM Shamsuzzaman. When he started terrorism he was sent to jail. After some days, he was freed. Then many highly suspicious events took place. At last what was happened?

2) Jhorer Pakhi

Genre: Bengali movie

Script, music and lyrics: Khan Ataur Rahman

Direction: Zaman

Camera: Khan Arifur Rahman

Editing: Abu Taleb

Art direction: Abdus Sabur

Vocals (artistes): Abida Sultana, Rebeka Sultana and Mohammad Abdul Zabbar.

Starring: Razzak, Shabana, Khan Ata, Khalil, Mahmud Sajjad, Kayes, Ayesha Akhter, Nargis, Darashiko, Khan Zainul, Minu Rahman, late Razu Ahmed, Inam Ahmed and others.

3) Abar Asibo Fire

Genre: Bengali telefilm

Script and direction: Al Mansur

Specialty: Dispora contributes to home country with skill, knowledge and remittance.

Production: Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) of Dhaka University.

Starring: Khairul Anam Sabuj, Manos Bandapaddhya, Sharmin Munni, Zahidur Rahman Tazim, Saiful Islam, Ratan Das, Rani, Mafi Lima, Nurul Amin, Runa, Pushpa, Sohel, Abdul Kuddus Diran and others.

Story: A migrated family came to Bangladesh to invest and after coming they face many problems. At last they won. In the story, positive investments by migrants were focused successfully.

4) Biporit

Genre: Bangladeshi drama

Script: Masum Reza

Direction: Taher Shipon

Starring: Richi Solaiman, Tony Dayes, Al Mamun, Saidul Islam Babu, Nupur, Faruk Ahmed, Shankar Sarkar, Ilias and others.

Story: Tony and Richi loved each other. In their family their younger brother Babu, a journalist, was along with them. Tony worked in a well company with handsome salary. Babu liked his colleague Nupur. She also liked him. But they did not say their loves. Sudenly, Tony returned home and said his brother Babu that he was terminated from his job. Babu and Rich became astonished. They asked him why he left his job? Tony said he would join another better job and he needs Tk three lakh. He requested Richi to take money from his elder brother. But Richi did not do that The story went on with dramatic way.

5) Rajdhani

Genre: Bangladeshi movie

Written and direction: Mohammed Hossain Jaimy

Starring: Manna, Shumona Shoma, Fardeen, Shahnoor, Misha Saudagor, Ahmed Sharif and others.

Music: Emon Saha

Editing: Sahidul Haque

Director of photography: Mahfooz-ur-Rahman Khan

World distributor: Kirtonkhola Productions

Production: Layla Hossain Mony.

6) Dhuli Barite 10 Number Bipod Songket

Genre: Bangladeshi drama

Script: DA Tayeb

Direction: Sukumar Chandra Das

Assistant Director: Sumon Mahmud

Camera: ZA Swapan

Background music: Arman Khan

Starring: Abdus Sattar, Dilara Zaman, Abdul Kader, Khairun Kader, Azizul Hakim, Kazol, Fahmida Shanta, Anisur Rahman Dipu, Asma Ahmed, Manik Shahin, Kabir, Mahim, Hamid, Rafiqullah Selim, Sumon Mahmud and DA Tayeb.

Story: Everybody believes that after returns of Chan Dhuli all situations would become normal. But result was opposite. Guard was busy to save his job, while Badarjan was planning to leave the house. Driver Amir Ali fell on love with Aduri and Jamila. But Aduri and Jamila were still fighting to marry Mokhles. For this reason, Chan Dhuli was about mad. So red signal number 10 was ringing in his house.

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Managing twin babies

The demands of caring for twins or more puts a strain on even the strongest marriage. With a little preparation, these tips will help make the first few months with multiples a bit more manageable.

1. Connect With Other Families

Meeting other parents of twins, triplets or more can be extremely reassuring and rewarding. Not only will they show you that life with multiples is do-able, they can give you solid advice on just how to do it. It's crucial to establish a network of been-there, done-that veterans to call on in times of crisis.

2. Stock Up on Supplies

With double the demand, baby supplies are consumed at a rapid rate. Stock up on the things you'll use most: diapers, wipes, bottles and formula. An ample supply of onsies and light sleepers is invaluable. Keep items in their original packaging and hold onto receipts so that you can easily return the things that aren't used. The clubs mentioned above hold annual sales; they are a fantastic opportunity to stock up on gently used clothes and equipment.

3. Sleep When the Babies Sleep

It may sound silly, but this advice is echoed repeatedly by nearly all parents of twins or more. It's tempting to use the precious quiet time to get other things accomplished, but you have to remember your own rest requirements. It's easy to become overwhelmed when you're exhausted. Sleep is a precious commodity, so take advantage of every opportunity

4. Get A Good Stroller

One of the trickiest aspects of managing multiples is logistics: getting anywhere becomes a nightmare when you've got more babies than hands. A good stroller makes it much easier. Some parents prefer a tandem (front/back) style for maneuverability in tight spaces, while others find that a side-by-side model is more comfortable for their babies. Specialized strollers for triplets and quads are also available. Although pricey, they are worth the investment.

5. Keep Things Straight

How much did she eat? When's the last time he had a wet diaper? Which baby are you anyway? Setting up an organized system for keepings things straight will ensure that everyone's needs are met. Make a chart to track feeding times and amounts, diaper changes, medications and other important information. (Hint: if you're having trouble telling your multiples apart - even if they're not identical! - a small dab of nail polish on one toe will help distinguish them.)

6. Focus on Priorities

Keep it simple. Let things go. Your focus during the first few months with multiple should be on your newly expanded family. It's not the time to cook gourmet meals, do spring cleaning or learn a new hobby. Focus on caring for your new bundles of joy, and let the little things slide. You'll have time to catch up on those other things a few months down the road, when your multiples have established a schedule.

7. Organize Help

People love multiples, and they genuinely want to help. Take advantage of every offer. Delegate. Be specific. Let your eager helpers take care of meals, errands, care of other siblings, housework, yard work, laundry, shopping and all the details of life so that you can focus on priorities.

8. Take Time Out

Even though your identity has changed to encompass your new role as parent of multiples, you can't afford to neglect your old self. It's important to take time off every once in a while to focus on yourself and your spouse. Put a helpful relative, neighbour or even a teenage mother's helper in charge of the babies for a few moments so that you can take a break. Soak in the tub, take a walk, or simply take a nap. You'll be amazed at how refreshed you'll feel after even a short break.

9. Be Flexible

A textbook approach doesn't work with twins or multiples. Every family has different habits and needs and the "right" way is really whatever works best for you. As you establish a routine that includes your newest additions, be willing to try a variety of schedules, techniques and products. Remember that your multiples are individuals, and not a perfectly matched set. What works for one may not be appropriate for the other.

10. Recognize That This "Two" Shall Pass

Keep things in perspective. No matter how bad things get, they are temporary. Babies grow up. They will start to sleep more and eat less often. It will become easier to take them out in public. With each passing day, you are one step closer to getting things under control. Savor the special moments of infancy: the sleepy snuggles, shy smiles and sweet smells of your babies. They will soon be only a treasured memory.

Feeding Twins

In the first few days you will think this is impossible. It is possible to breastfeed two babies but a bottle is easier, especially if you have help. It is also easier to monitor how much each baby has taken if you use a bottle.

But you probably want to breastfeed because it is better for your babies. It can take several weeks before your breasts produce sufficient milk, so a combination of your milk and a formula feed may be necessary until your milk production gets up to speed. Try to feed both babies at once otherwise you will be at it non-stop.

Raising Twins

There's no denying it's hard work. According to Tamba, the Twins and Multiple Births Association, twins should be encouraged to achieve a sense of individuality. To this end don't dress them in matching clothes, if you are given matching clothes as a gift try to ensure they wear their identical outfits on different days. Ask family and friends to send individual cards and presents, and try not to refer to them as 'the twins'.

It has been known for many years that twins' language is about six months behind their peers. They talk later and in shorter sentences. This can lead to reading difficulties later and problems when they start school. You can help by ensuring that you find time to talk and read to them, individually if possible as if you talk to them as a pair the dominant one will respond and the other may just opt out. If you can't find the time or energy for a bedtime read, play them a story tape.

Photo: Ziauddin Alam

Regarding sleeping arrangements, it is most often thought that sleeping in the same room works best. This is because it increases the odds to get them on the same schedule without much effort. When one wakes up, he or she will tend to wake the sleeping baby -- and, believe it or not, this is what you want. In fact, it is recommended that if one baby wakes up during the night, you should wake up the sleeping twin and nurse him too -this will continue to foster the same eating/sleeping schedule. It is also a good idea to nurse the twins simultaneously, even during the day. They sell twin nursing pillows to ease this task.

One other issue worthy of mention is the bathing schedule. Number one rule: don't become compulsive about a little dirt. If bathing on the same night is difficult, simply break it up over two nights and just keep a schedule of whose turn is next. It's also possible to sponge bath the least messy infant, while bathing the messier. This technique seems to lighten the load.

Food promotions @ Sonargaon

WP Report

When it comes to good and healthy food and eating experiences, Pan Pacific Sonargaon is right up here with the finest dishes in the city. Cool down during the hot season by dropping at Sonargaon for the Italian traditional favorite pizza at CIAO and a wide array of seafood dishes at JHARNA.

A very welcome refresher- the two promotions will be available from 17th -27th March, on a special a la carte menu everyday for dinner.

JHARNA

The extensive Seafood menu will feature delicious dishes with salmon, pomfret, lobster, crab, sushi and sasami. You can enjoy a delicious dinner with soups, salads, grills and fusion delicacies at our signature restaurant.

CIAO

The traditional Italian style pizza … Pizza Seafood, Pizza with Salami, Pizza Napoletana, Pizza Sonargaon, Pizza Four Seasons, Pizza Pocket, Pizza Giardienara or you can create Your own pizza with ingredients to your heart's content- the best of which we've lined up over here for your eating pleasure. Bon appetite!

For reservations please call at 8111005