Spotlight

A few reminders for SSC examinees

Last Friday there was a depressing photo on the front page of The Daily Star showing an SSC examinee and her father on the verge of nervous breakdown, as they could not reach the exam centre on time because of a traffic jam. Their anguished faces showed it all.

Jam is something that Dhaka dwellers simply cannot go without. Painful it may be, but it is a part of our everyday life. While the authorities fail to take measures it is the sufferers who needs to take some early precautions. In this regard, here are some reminders for all the SSC examinees and their parents that might come in handy.

There are traditions in Dhaka city of hiring rickshaws or auto rickshaws for a week or even an entire month. For a special occasion like SSC exam, parents should take this step as an early precaution. This step will lessen the hassle of hiring a vehicle and the bargaining while going to the exam centre. Estimating the time considering the distance between home and exam centre, keeping in mind about possible traffic jam and starting a little early will save precious time. If there are no hired vehicles then make sure the night before that there is enough change in the wallet. A few tk10 notes or a few tk5 coins will save you the time that rickshaw pullers usually take to pay the khuchra. Find out an alternative route with less jam to reach the exam centre. But do not experiment on the day of the exam. Do it some other time.

The night before, examinees should make sure that all the essentials are in order, like pen, admit card, calculator or the outfit they are going to wear and parents should handle or supervise these tasks.

Like traffic jam, load shedding is another unpleasant feature of our lives. Keep in handy at least one rechargeable light so that frequent blackouts do not ruin last minute study. If it is not possible to buy one then borrowing from relatives can be a great help.

It is a habit of every examinee to study late, depriving themselves of much needed sleep. Make sure to get enough sleep the night before. It is very important for a calm state of mind. Sleep helps re-organise the thoughts and memory.

Stress and tension only make things worse. During the exam parents should make sure of less visits from relatives and family friends. It there are any family scuffles, family members should try to keep it down for a while and examinees should not get involve with any hassles.

After the exam do not spoil your mood by trying to find out how many mistakes you have made, instead concentrate on the one that is ahead the day next. One should go without these worries that create anxiety. A daily dose of comedy shows, movies or cartoons can relieve the examinees from stress.

Parents should find a way of entertaining them like giving them a surprise present or cooking their favourite dish. If the child makes mistake in the exam or waste times, avoid yelling and try to be supportive and explain them later about the importance of good education. These handy hints might save a person from a lot of aggravation.

By Shahnaz Parveen

News flash

Courses on landscape design

Ever increasing population and the mushrooming of concrete all over Dhaka City has left little if no room for vegetation. As a result, people have begun utilizing open spaces around buildings, balconies and rooftops, and using species of shade-loving plants in their homes. However, not many are equipped with the proper amount of knowledge and experience needed in order to maintain such vegetation.

Sky-High Institute of Design is beginning a new course in the arena of landscaping, where the proper selection of plant species and varieties, maintenance, over and above designing and use of required amenities will be taught. Classes will be held twice a week on Thursday and Friday from 3:00PM to 5:00PM. The course is three months long. To get admission, contact the Sky-High Institute of Design (5th Floor), House # 27/1, Road # 13/A, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka 1205.

Chittagong Apparel and Accessories Exposition 2005

Fashion parades glittered all over the Port city lately. From February 24 to 26 the Chittagong Apparel and Accessories Exposition 2005 took place. 26 companies displayed their products mostly ready-made garment, fabrics, accessories, and garments machineries. But the centre of all enthusiasm was the fashion parades.

Models from Dhaka and Chittagong clad in designer Waliuddin Shujan, Shahina Nizam, Mukul, Fara, Borna and Tumpa's unique collection hit the spot. The exposition displayed mostly western outfits with a fusion of eastern motifs like Jamdani and Katan.
The exposition premise was filled with enthusiastic crowd everyday turning the show in to a successful one.

-LS Desk

Cookbook clips

BY Sherifa Ahmed

Home-Made Cream Cheese Salad
Ingredients
2 1b (920 grams) curd freshly set
2 spring onions
1 capsicum with pith and seeds
1 tomato skin removed by dipping
into hot water and seeded
¾ cup diced celery
1 teaspoon by mustard
1 teaspoon salt
paprika or red chilli powder to taste ¼ teaspoon black pepper
30 grams (1oz) grated cheese

Method
Hang freshly set curd in a muslin bag and allow whey to drip and drain off. It takes 2 to 3 hours. When it become thick and creamy place in a bowl and mix in chopped capsicum, spring onions, tomato and celery. Add mustard, salt, red and black pepper and most of grated cheese. Mix well and sprinkle with remaining grated cheese. Serve cold.

Roghan Josh (Kashmir)
Ingredients
1 kg mutton, cut into pieces
4 cloves
A pinch of toasted asafoetida (hing)
3 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon toasted coriander seeds (powdered)
½ teaspoon dried ginger
½ cup cured, well beaten and mixed with ½ cup water (powedered)
3 to 4 tablespoons ghee or il
1 to 2 tablespoons cream
A pinch of saffron soaked in a tablespoons hot milk
4 green cardamoms (crushed)
2 to 3 cups hot water
1 teaspoon garam masala
A pinch of nutmeg

Method
Heat ghee adds asafoetida, mutton, cloves and salt. Cover and cook without stirring. When The liquid dries up pour a couple of tablespoons of curd around the meat, stir, add red chilli Powder and cook until golden and the liquid is absorbed. Now add coriander, more curd and again allow the liquid to dry up. Stir in ginger and add more curd, browning meat. Blend stirring, well-beaten cream, saffron, cardamoms and nutmeg. Add hot water to the level of the meat. Boil Briskly for a minute, lower heat, simmer until tender and gravy coats the meat. Sprinkle with Garam masala.

Raankabab
To serve 4
1 kg (2 lb 4 oz) leg of lamb
Marinade:
To 1 cup well mixed curd add the following ingredient:
2 ½ cm (1") ginger, 3 medium sized onions, 2 teaspoons cumin seeds and 4 cm (1 ½") square unpeeled unripe papapy (or any meat tenderizer) ground to paste.
3 teaspoons salt.
4 red chillies seeded, ground to paste
A pinch of saffron (soaked in 1 tablespoon of hot milk)
3 oz (85 grams) khoya (optional)
Garlic water (8 to 12 cloves garlic crushed and soaked in 8 to 9 tablespoons hot water, use Water only)
2 bay leaves
4 green cardamoms
2 small onions, finely sliced, fried golden brown and crushed
20 almonds blanched and split into halves
345 to 460 ml (1 ½ to 3 cups) hot water
1 edible silver-leaf, a few drops of kewra essence (optional)

Method:
Clean and wash leg of lamb and prick well. To the curd mixture add 2 teaspoons salt and marinate The meat for 6 to 8 hours. Keep in refrigerator in hot weather. Turn the leg in the marinade a Coupe of times, so that the mixture soaks in uniformly.
Heat ghee or oil. Add cardamoms, bay leaves and meat along with marinade. Cook on a low heat. Turn the meat occasionally adding a little garlic water just before turning. Cook to golden brown.

Add hot water, rest of the salt. Cook covered until the meat is kabab-tender adds more water if required. Add crushed fried onions, saffrom milk, red chilli paste and ½
cup hot water and simmer further for it to blend. For festive occasions when extra richness is desired, add crushed fresh khoya and blanched Almonds in the cooking. Serve sizzling hot, decorate with silver-leaf and sprinkle with a few drops of kewra essence if desired.

Ls alert
Adivasi Cultural Festival

Bangladesh can surely take pride in its diversified indigenous cultural life with various ethnic groups living in the hill tracts, north-central plains, north-east and in the coastal belt.

From March 17 to 19, Society for Environment and Human Development will organise a festival based on their lifestyle and culture. The festival titled "Adivasi Cultural Festival" will take place at Shilpokala Academy. The main objective is to help the Bengali community leap beyond the boundary of incognisance to have a better understanding of this unique spirit. It is a celebration of life and cultural diversity.

During the festival every evening from 5 to 7:30pm there will be cultural shows. On the first day, the Oraon, Santal, Rakhain, and Tripura teams will perform their rituals, dances and songs. Marma, Bawm, the tea workers community, and the Mandi cultural teams will perform on 18 March and on the last day; the Tanchangya, Monipuri, Chak and Khyang cultural teams will perform.

Photographs portraying their lifestyle and artefacts used by the people of these communities will be displayed every day from 2 to 8pm.

Every ethnic group having their unique traditions, knowledge and lifestyle contribute profusely to enrich our culture. To witness a tapestry of diversified culture visit Shilpokala Academy situated at Shegunbagicha and we suggest you make it a family event.

By Shahnaz Parveen

 

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TIPS

Bugged by bugs?

Spring and summer rituals such as gardening, fishing, camping, summer picnics and other outdoor activities will be starting very soon. But the enjoyment of these outdoor activities will be curtailed with the emergence of biting insects. So in this warm season, keep your eyes and ears open to stay safe from these annoying bugs.

The best protection against these biting insects is insect repellent. In our country mosquito is the most common biting insect. Here, summer is characterised by diseases like malaria and dengue, which are again spread by mosquitoes. Mosquito repellents are available in Dhaka's markets, you can apply these to keep yourself and your family protected from mosquito borne diseases. You can check out the pharmaceutical stores for Odomos, an effective mosquito repellent that is priced at tk.40.

Before you reach for the can of bug spray, here are some precautions you should take to help control the biting insects. Bugs are attracted to perfumes and shiny objects. Therefore, leave your scented cosmetics, soaps, aftershaves and flashy jewellery at home. Mosquitoes and gnats are attracted to bright, vivid colours. Thus, the best to wear are those that are white, grey or khaki.

Remember that bugs are attracted to the warmth and sweat of active people, so wipe sweat as often as you can when you are working outside. You can also use deodorants to prevent your own body odour created by sweat. And if you are using an insect repellent, then keep in mind that repellents are washed off by sweat and water. Hence, the repellent should be reapplied throughout the day.

When going outdoors for prolonged periods of time, make sure to pack insect repellent and apply as directed. Keep all kinds of aerosols away from the reach of children. When cooking or eating outdoors, cover food and beverages so that bees are not attracted.

Summer insects are attracted to bright light; therefore avoid using fluorescent lamps at home if not needed.

Life without bugs is unimaginable, they are annoying yet they are a part of our daily life. So it's always better if we learn the tricks to stay safe from them.

By Penelope