Kids and TV

As Television has become an inherent part of our life, parents should monitor kids habit of watching TV. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in its recent policy statement says 'children under 2 should avoid watching television'. TV viewing may lead to sleep problems and a delayed use of speech in young kids, recent research suggests.

Pankouri is back!

Great Falls, Virginia

Pankori is back again!  We apologize to our readers as we've not updated pankouri for the last few months. We're going to publish new postings soon. Thanks!

Cherry Blossom 2011

National Book Festival 2011

National Book Festival 2010

Mark your calendar for the National Book Festival 2011 at the national mall on September 24.  The good news came from the Library of Congress, the event organizer, that the event would be extended for 2 days.  Last year, around 150,000 people attended the one day event at the mall. The expansion was made possible by a gift from financier and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, who donated $5 million over five years for the festival.

US much behind the parental leave

The new report from the Human Rights Watch about the parental leave in the United States shows it's much behind than any other western counter part. The report, "Failing its Families," says at least 178 countries have national laws guaranteeing paid leave for new mothers, while the handful of exceptions include the U.S., Swaziland and Papua New Guinea. More than 50 nations, including most Western countries, also guarantee paid leave for new fathers.

পানকৌড়ির গল্প: ০০১

Meddah (The Story Teller)

পানকৌড়ির গল্প কিছু কাল্পনিক চরিত্র ও ঘটনার সন্নিবেশ। অবসরে কী বোর্ডের উপর আলতো হাতে ফুটিয়ে তোলার চেস্টা কিছু শব্দচিত্রের নির্মাণ যা খুব অজান্তে হৃদয়কে স্পর্শ করে। জীবন নদীর মতো প্রবাহমান। সময়ের সকল ব্যবধানকে অতিক্রম করে তার মাঝে বেঁচে থাকে খন্ড খন্ড গল্পগুচ্ছ। কিছু গল্প চলে আমাদের আলাপনে। কিছু গল্প আমরা বয়ে বেড়াই অদ্ভুত এক বোঝার মতো। আমাদের গল্পগুলো তার চরিত্রে আর প্রকাশে এক অনন্য আনন্দ বেদনার কাব্য। পানকৌড়ির গল্প শুরু হলো তুরস্কের মেদ্দার (গল্প বলিয়ে'র) অবলম্বনে। মেদ্দারা ভ্রাম্যমান গল্পকার যারা কফি হাউজের সামনে লোকজন জড়ো করে গল্প শুনাতেন যার মধ্যে থাকত অনেক নীতিকথা। তাহলে শুরু হোক পানকৌড়ির গল্প। এতে নীতিকথা তেমন না থাকলেও জীবনের বিচিত্র কথামালা নীরবে ঠাঁই নেবে।

What happened on February 14th in Bangladesh?

Like every other year, February 14th is being celebrated as Valentine's Day in Bangladesh. As the celebration continues, have we once remembered the day February 14th? Today in 1983, all the student fronts in Bangladesh came out from their campuses to protest the military dictator Ershad's autocratic rule and infamous Majid Khan's education policy. Let's read some excerpts from a few bloggers who have reminded us how shamelessly we've forgotten February 14th? One of the saddest days of our recent history has been silently replaced by Valentine's Day's "World Love Day". Long live our memory resembling a gold fish!

It's not Spring yet, It's Bosonto

Spring in Washington DC has not come yet, it won't until March 20th, at least officially. But Bangladeshis all over the globe have started joyously celebrating the arrival of spring as the the first day of the Bangla month Falgun arrives on February 13th. They're singing: "Whether birds are singing or not, flowers are bloomed or not, today is spring". Let's welcome Spring "the queen of seasons" when nature graciously blesses our lives with blooms and festivities.

Why do you use Turmeric?

Turmeric (in Bangla হলুদ), a must ingredient for South Asian culinary, is proving its power as medication. So, next time when you use it, don't think for its color, think about its secret power that may treat patients after stroke. You're not convinced yet!

BBC reports, "A drug derived from the curry spice turmeric may be able to help the body repair some of the damage caused in the immediate aftermath of a stroke".

NIH says: Turmeric May hold answers to Bone-Protective Effects (September 2010), Alzheimer's Disease (July 2009)and Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms.

Don't forget about turmeric if you're seriously considering liver cleansing and weight loss!

It's just a beginning for Egypt



Photo Credit: The Washington Post

After 18 days of protest, victory finally came for the Egyptian protestors. Hosni Mubarak's autocratic regime has been over as he fled Cairo after 30 years' iron rule. Egyptians are celebrating freedom as they're hoping to begin a new chapter of democracy. They've won the path for "a clean start" (BBC News) towards democracy, but their destination is still far away.  The Washington Post suggests, "...the best way forward is to institutionalize the dialogue taking place today and convert it into a national conference or round- table negotiation between state institutions, youths, the political forces and independent national figures."