DHAKA THIS WEEK

Mahbub Husain Khan

February 14th, the day after Pahela Falgun, about which Shubhash Mukhopadhaya wrote; "Flowers may bloom /Or they may not! Yet today is springtime." I visited the Ekushey Boi Mela on the 14th -- also known the world over as Valentine's Day -- a day for lovers and for the opening of the rites of spring. The Boi Mela is usually inaugurated by the Prime Minister, but this year it was the Chief Adviser who did so, for obvious reasons. Although gathering of book lovers and display of books were present at the Bangla Academy after Liberation, the first formal Boi Mela started in 1981 with 14 stalls. This has grown to nearly four hundred stalls this year, but is yet to match the seven hundred or so stalls of the Kolkata book fair last year, spread on a much larger area -at the Maidan-but not this year because of the 'Keep Kolkata green' campaign. The decorations and design of stalls is also on a simpler note, and there is none of the high pressure sales pitch that is mounted at the Kolkata Book Fair.
   The Ekushey Boi Mela is a book festival of Bengali books only, mainly those published in Bangladesh, and the officially approved editions of books by authors of West Bengal. There are, of course, pirated copies of books from West Bengal also, but these are not officially authorised. While those of us who visit the Kolkata Book Fair in search of English books, with some of the latest publications and old favourites available, these books are missing at the Ekushey Boi Mela. But rightly so, as this Mela is a celebration of Bangla literature and culture particularly since 21st February was declared by UNESCO as the 'International Mother Language Day'.
   By the time the 21st of February arrives a thousand new titles are expected from the publishing houses in Bangladesh. These include established and favoured authors, such as Humayun Ahmed, as well as first publications of new authors. In the past, the new releases used to arrive at the Mela after the first of Falgun, but for the last few years, all of these appear in the first few days of the Mela. As in previous years, but more so this year, authors are present at the mela, for quite a length of time each day, to sign books, mingle with the crowds, fans and friends, hold literary discussions and give lectures. This has always been a special attraction of the Mela.
   A particular lacuna of the Boi Mela is the absence of a definitive list of 'Books in Print in Bangladesh.' Such a list would increase the awareness about books available at the Mela, and those available at the book stalls during the rest of the year. The Jatiya Grontho Kendra publishes such a list, but this is not always updated, and besides there are no facts about the participants in the Mela. In the Western countries and also in India, there are spring and autumn list of new books, and reviews of these books in the journals and dailies, even before these books appear in the shops and fair stalls. A regular publication of new lists before the Boi Mela starts and reviews of many of these titles also adds to the attractions of the Mela for the general readers, many of whom are enlightened and become interested in the books by the reviews.
   The Ekushey Boi Mela is, for one a celebration of our Bengali way of life, and also a celebration of youth, and this is also an interesting way to inculcate the spirit of Bengali nationalism and pride in our traditions, in the generations born after 1971. And this year with the unveiling of the statues of the 'Bhasha Shaheeds' our perspective of history, for young and old alike, is even more enriched. On my visit to the fair this year, 1 found an overwhelming portion of the visitors at the Mela in their teens and early twenties. Starved of entertainment and relaxation amongst literary and cultural artifacts, the Boi Mela is, for the youth, a place to see and be seen, a place to make new friends and cement old friendships, a place to discover shared interests in books and cultural trends. By now Dhaka has quite a number of fairs, but it is the Ekushey Boi Mela that is the crowning event of the year, and the occasion that will endure the vagaries of time and the vicissitudes of the country's socio-political scenario.
   The feast of St. Valentine on February 14th is based on the name of two legendary martyrs whose lives seem to be historically based. One was a Roman priest and physician who suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius Gothicus and was buried in via Flaminia, Rome. The other, bishop of Treni, Italy, was martyred apparently also in Rome and his relics were taken to Treni. It is possible these are different versions of the same original account and refer to only one person. St. Valentines' Day as lovers' festival dates at least from the 14th century. A valentine is a special form of greeting card exchanged in observance of St. Valentines' Day. The custom has no connection with the two St. Valentines or with known incidents in their lives. It is probable that the valentine was the first of all greeting cards. The paper valentine dates from the 16th century; by then hand-painted copperplates were produced to meet the large demand for such greeting cards. In recent times, Valentines' Day is a part of our rites of spring in Dhaka and the cities in the rest of the country.
   
   DoE and RMG units
   As of today, around 3000 RMG units are working within the Dhaka city, and many others in Chittagong. These factories within the city give rise to many problems including environmental pollution, inability of the public agencies to supply utility services to the factories, some unsafe buildings, traffic snarl-ups when workers join work each day and come out after work, and. The presence of industrial units within the city pose further problems due to labour unrest from time to time and physical threats to women workers after work hours. In order to tackle the growing problems in this sector owing to the presence of factories within the city, the Department of Environnient (DoE) and the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will make incumbent upon the BGMEA members to relocate their RMG factories outside the city. The DoE has required of the BGMEA members that the factories within residential areas such as Gulshan and Uttara should relocate in two years' time, whereas those in the commercial areas such as Kawran Bazar, within three years' time. However, some of the members of BGMEA claim that as huge funds are involved in this relocation, a period of minimum five years may be allowed by the DOE.
   In order to implement this MoU, the government is going to allocate 300 acres of land at Bausia in Gazipur BSCIC industrial estate to establish a Garments Palli (Garments Village) for mid-level and sick RMG enterprises, which units would also need financial assistance for the relocation. The idea of a Garments Palli is welcome as this will reduce environmental pollution within the city, allow for necessary utility services to the Garments Palli, and also ensure safety of the workers who can stay near factory locations in accommodations provided by the respective garments owners. With workers staying near factories absenteeism and workers unrest, would be eliminated to a large extent, and the workers would also be able to live and eat cheaply. The quality life of city residents, who would be free of pollution, labour troubles and other related problems arising out of proximity to industrial units, including stresses and strains on supply of utility services such as water and power. At the same time the RMG workers would enjoy safe living and affordable food and accommodation. We welcome this move and look forward to speedy implementation of the terms of the MoU and all necessary assistance, and in deserving cases financial assistance from the government for relocation of selected RMG units. Let the CG initiate the process here and now that the plan can be implemented within schedule.
   
   Building Code
   Every day, since the takeover of the present CG, the print and electronic media are reporting the demolition of unapproved structures on the roadsides and inside buildings, particularly high-rise apartments. As of today the parks and playgrounds, are only three per cent of the total area of Dhaka. With the rise in the number of high-rise buildings in Dhaka and other urban areas of the country, lawns and spaces in front of buildings are a rarity. This is affecting the quality of life in the cities and also making the buildings prone to earthquakes and natural disasters. Among the organisations involved in ensuring safety of the city-dwellers and improving the quality of life in cities is OXFAM. At a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club organised by OXFAM and held on 8th February, it informed the audience that it was is accelerating the implementation of the 'The Building Construction Rules, 2006' aiming at reducing earthquake vulnerability. The press conference participants all concerned including building developers to follow the newly promulgated rules to reduce earthquake vulnerability of buildings in Dhaka and also two other earthquake-prone cities -- Chittagong and Sylhet. Also awareness and response capacities of the local communities would have to increase for the tackling of post-disaster situations
   The building code is aimed at making buildings safe from disasters and also improving the quality of life. Open spaces and greenery front of and within houses reduce air pollution, and thus make cities more habitable, as well as safe from major disasters. The efforts of OXFAM in promoting the building code is crucial at this stage when the development and construction of high-rise buildings are accelerating in Dhaka and the other cities, particularly Chittagong and Sylhet, where businessmen and prosperous Bang1adeshis resident abroad are investing In houses and flats. Simultaneously the concerned public agencies must enforce the building code strictly and deal out sever punishment including fines and demolition of buildings violating the requirements of the code strict punishment. Corrupt officials allowing constructions violating the building code must also be punished along with those constructing such buildings. Organisations like OXFAM, associations of architects and engineers, builders and developers, such as REHAB, and the government must keep watch on the building industry for correct application of the Building Code 2006, in the future.
   In all the countries I have travelled to and wherever there is a Bangladeshi community of more than two families, there is a Bangladeshi Association. Imagine for example Liechenstein which has a population of 32,000 and is 1/800th the size of Bangladesh. If there arc five Bangladeshi families with say a total number of 2l people, there will be four associations. Eleven may belong to Bangladesh Association (pro-Awami League), six to pro-BNP association, two to the Jatiya Party faction. One each leaning to Jamaat and Muslim League. Members of the same family may belong to different associations with different political leanings. The 11 Awami Leaguers may be divided into two factions -- centre, and left of centre. BNP into three, pro-Tarek Rahman, pro-Matin Choudhury and pro-Mannan Bhuiya. One is pro-Ershad, another anti-Ershad. The Jamaat and the Muslim Leaguer interchange their loyalties every month with the full moon.
   In Canada, where I had been recently visiting, there are various Bangladeshi Associations also. There is one for each political party in Bangladesh. Then again each of these is divided into white-collar and blue-collar associations. For example the Bangladeshi Taxi Driver's Association (Awami League), and the Ontario Bangladeshi Managers' Association (BMA).
   
   Bangladeshis' jealousy
   Where, however, the Bangladeshi fondness for cliques and groupings run riot is in business ventures. Only the other day, the nephew of a friend of mine, a computer engineer doing internet system business with another partner in Chittagong, was visited by the police. Apparently there was a business dispute between partners. The partner of my friend's nephew had filed a case before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Chittagong, who had sent the complaint down to the police station, and the police had come to pick him up. In another incident a few years back, a friend of mine in partnership with two others, was confronted by the two other partners - who had ganged up against him - and faced a police case as well as hired goons who literally drove him out of his own office. I envision a day when the proprietor of a firm may institute a case against himself just to prove the universality of this type of Bangali behaviour.
   Another hotbed of factionalism is the bureaucracy. I know for example that if I approach T, a Secretary of Ministry of P, then my 'tadbir' wi1l be turned down for sure because I happen to be a friend of S, the Secretary of the Ministry of E. if W, Secretary at the Ministry of S, gives an excellent ACR to Joint Secretary N, then his successor M will give a below average ACR to N. And I have been hearing accusations and counter-accusations levelled by two bureaucrat friends of mine aimed at each other, in respect of performance in their tenure at a post held both of them at different times. Bangladeshis are, if nothing else, great individualists. They just cannot survive in the company of even one more than themselves.

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