Shop special

Charon at Drik Gallery

Charon, the Interior and Exterior design showroom, is hosting its first artistic furniture and handicrafts exhibition at the Drik Gallery (House 58, Road 15/A New, Dhanmondi). The inaugural ceremony was launched on April 26 with well known art critic Mijarul Quayes as chief guest. The organizers include Manzurul Islam Khan, Subir Obayed, as well as the artist himself, Sudipta Mallick Sweden.

The words 'innovative' and 'unique' could sum up all on display. The polished wood of these furniture pieces could be found in bright, unusual combinations of hues such as bottle green, violet, deep mustard and black, and in earthen tones such as orange, red, maroon and brown. The artist has mixed and experimented with polish and different kinds of paint to create the end result.

There is nothing drab or dull about the presentation and setting. Bright splashes of colour in the form of lamp shades and glass table tops (including some cushion covers), hand-painted in Acrylic, intersperse and compliment vibrant sofa sets and dining tables. Colourful squiggles and art work permeate even furniture pieces, such as a foyer table with a combination of wrought iron on display. There is a sense of playfulness in the geometric curves and edges without any of it going overboard. After all, the idea was to lend a degree of aesthetic purpose to the furniture without taking away from its functional aspects.

Sweden mentions that this current collection of furniture and handicrafts, the first of its kind being exhibited, largely comprises of wood, but he is also in the process of experimenting with cane, bamboo, metal and even fiber glass amongst other mediums in the future. He also gave an interesting explanation for his unorthodox designs. His aim, he says, was to implement and present items that are a part of Bangladesh's regional heritage. For instance, you may find a dining table top in the shape of a cartwheel, a side table with four hookahs serving as legs for the table, and even a boat shaped divan. The idea behind Sweden's conception was to not simply create functional pieces of furniture, but rather present them as artistic sculptural forms that make a statement as well.

From furniture for the office as well as the home, to small decorative pieces such as ornament boxes and pencil holders, the exhibition which lasts up till May 5, has a lot to offer, so don't miss out!

By Rubaiyat Khan
Photo: Tanvir Murad Topu

T-Shirt
The weather just seems to be getting hotter and hotter with each passing day, and so you've got to come up with a plan of how to beat the heat. One way in which you can do so is by wearing a T-Shirt. T-shirts are both comfortable and fashionable, and so by wearing one you'll be able to get respite from the heat and also look chic. At the outlets of Aarong some well-designed T-Shirts are being sold for Tk 155. If you think that's too pricey for a T-Shirt, you can always go to the famous Bangabazar. Over there, depending on your bargaining skills, you can even get a T-Shirt for a mere Tk 40!

Jeans
If there is one piece of clothing that is absolutely timeless then that title definitely has to go to jeans. Therefore, if you can't figure out what to wear to university or an informal social gathering, just wear jeans and we assure you that nobody will refer to you as "out of times!" Jeans are also very comfortable and so you won't feel any discomfort wearing them. At the outlets of Westecs you'll be able to purchase decent jeans. Prices are usually in excess of Tk 400. Once again, if you think that's too pricey, then we suggest that you go to Bangabazar. That's because if you're good at haggling you can buy jeans for about Tk 200 from there.

Lungi
Most women think that a lungi is a despicable form of clothing, but yet the vast majority of men cannot go to sleep without wearing one! Probably the level of comfort that a lungi can provide is something that shorts cannot match! Anyway, if you're an ardent lungi fan, you need not be bothered about what others think. As long as you're comfortable that's all that matters. At the outlets of Aarong you'll find that quite a few lungis are being sold for Tk 240.

Children's Wear
Children are absolutely adorable and when you dress them up with well-designed clothes they are even more adorable. At the outlets of Aarong you'll find that they've got some splendid children's wear. Their children's wear covers all age groups of children, and so whether you've got a 3-year-old or a 6-year-old, Aarong will be able to provide for your needs. Prices of their children's wear are usually in excess of Tk 300.

Air Conditioner
Even after wearing your summer clothes, if you're finding the heat unbearable then it's probably time for you to buy an air conditioner. An air conditioner will keep your room nice and cool, and so you'll get some much-needed respite from the heat. This godsend piece of electrical equipment that will enable you to experience the temperature of Antarctica while living in Bangladesh is quite expensive. A 1 Ton AC of one of the most renowned brands, General, will cost about Tk 34,500. If you go to the electrical stores of National Stadium Market, you'll probably be able to buy it for slightly less.

Infrared Lamp
Do you regularly suffer from muscular pain or does an elderly relative live with you who suffers from such pain? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then you should consider keeping an infrared lamp at your home. The rays of an infrared lamp will help to soothe the pain of aching muscles. Infrared lamps are available at some electrical showrooms. Various brands of infrared lamps are available in the market and Philips is one of them. A Philips infrared lamp can be bought for about Tk 2,550.

By Sayeed Mahmud Nizam

Essential

Not my child
You hear these gruesome stories on television or read about them in the papers. You shake your head and sympathize, but then you go on and forget all about it, secure in the knowledge that it can't happen to your child. Can't it?

Child molestation is a nightmare no parent wants to live through with their child. Yet it's very much a part and parcel of our society. Scary, but true. Child molestation can occur in many forms, with indecent overtures to rape and pornography.

Abusers can be from all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. They may have been abused as children. They often feel more comfortable relating to children rather than to their peers.

They may exhibit extreme over protection of their children and over reaction to any sex education at their child's school. They may treat children as property. They may also abuse alcohol and other drugs. What's worse is, they might even be people you know.

Warning signs
How do you determine whether or not your child is being victimised? Anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, excessive crying, sleep disturbances, withdrawing from family and friends, irritability, hostility, change in appetite, school problems, running away, and self-destructive behaviors, are all signs that your child has a problem. Add to that the fear of certain people or places, and physical problems such as pain or irritation in the mouth or genital and anal regions, and diseases commonly understood to be transmitted sexually, and you've got a crisis on your hands.

Do…
In the event that the unthinkable has happened, you should act fast.

Believe the child. Rarely do children lie about sexual abuse. You may be the only one the child thinks can give help.

Try to remain calm. This may be difficult but shock or anger may only cause the child to withdraw.

3. Praise the child for telling. Reassure the child that he or she has done the right thing and is safe with you.

4. Reassure the child. Make it clear that what happened is not his or her fault.

5. Listen to the child. Take the child to a private place and let the child tell you what happened in his or her own words. Give the child your full attention.

6. Respect the child's privacy. Be careful not to discuss the incidents in front of people who do not need to know what happened.

7. Get help, be responsible. Report the incident, arrange a medical check-up and seek counseling.

Don't
Panic or overreact when the child talks to you about the experience. The child needs help and support to make it through this difficult time. Don't blame the child. Sexual Abuse is never the child's fault!

Sabrina F Ahmad

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