LIFE AS IT IS

  It is that time of the year when the Bangladeshi diaspora misses the tantalising aroma of masala chickpeas, mutton haleem, crispy eggplant fritters, and warm jilapi. They profoundly miss sitting around the dining table with family to break their fast as the melodious voice of the local muezzin recites the Maghrib prayer. The diaspora greatly misses the excitement of Eid shopping and the overall festive atmosphere that fills the holy month of Ramadan.  The Daily Star We spoke to some of our non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB) men and women to learn what they miss and how they observe Ramadan away from home. Mushfiqur R. Bhuiyan, Toronto, Canada Mushfiqur R. Bhuiyan is a Corporate Client Group director at Royal Bank of Canada. Bhuiyan, who moved to Canada in 2019, says that Ramadan days are just like any regular working day for him.  “Unlike in Bangladesh, where a revised office schedule is introduced during Ramadan, here, it is business as usual, which means that I am ex...

  What does patriotism or  deshprem  mean to you? To me, patriotism means love and devotion to my motherland. However, my love for my land is not blind or unconditional; it can question and point out flaws when necessary. I believe that patriotism does not mean unquestioningly supporting what one’s country does. Instead, it means taking a critical stance for national betterment. A nation that does not or cannot question is associated with authoritarianism or the suppression of dissent.  Patriotism manifests in various forms. We commonly associate patriotism with military service, as those who serve in the armed forces are ever-ready to sacrifice their lives for the nation. Patriotism is also closely linked to politics and politicians. However, ordinary people can be equally or almost equally patriotic, too; we witnessed ordinary people’s patriotic spirit during our nine-month-long Liberation War. Similarly, the nation witnessed ordinary people’s patriotic expressions...