It wasn’t a tour for photography but I had my camera with me. Actually It was a family tour to my grandfathers home (mother side) and uncles home in Bhairab. Our 25 years old family business is also based on Bhairab Bazar.

Traffic Jam of Jatrabari
We started our journey from Dhaka at 7.15am. Though It was Friday, we found a huge traffic starting from Saidabad. Reason for the traffic is a long “Hortal” schedule by opposition party. Our jeep was moving slowly and when reached “Jatrabari” I planned to take photos from car. Another reason of the traffic jam is Construction of “Jatrabari Flyover”.

Traffic Jam in Jatrabari, Dhaka

Traffic Jam in Jatrabari, Dhaka

Traffic Jam in Jatrabari, Dhaka

Traffic Jam in Jatrabari, Dhaka

Traffic Jam in Jatrabari, Dhaka

Traffic Jam in Jatrabari, Dhaka

This huge construction interrupt daily traffic and causes a huge traffic jam every day in this area. My target was to take photo of the traffic jam and people in highway. At the same time I decided no matter what, I’ll update my blog with this photo. At least that will be a restart :p.

I continued to taking photos upto Kanchpur bridge then packed my camera for that time.

A man walking on Kanchpur Bridge

Two Bridges of Bhairab Bazar
As it was a short and family tour, couldn’t get much time for photography. Only one site seeing program was enabled in our tour. That is to visit Meghna River bank and Two Bridges of Bhairab Bazar.

Two Bridges of Bhairab Bazar - People enjoying river side view

Meghna River Bank in Bhairab Bazar

Meghna Railway Bridge of Bhairab bazaar is a British structure and developed in British period. This is a very important bridge in Bangladesh Railway as this bridge is connecting Dhaka Division with important Chittagong Division and Sylhet Division. There is no alternative rail communication with these areas. This is a massive steel structure in Bangladesh.

Walking passage in Meghna River bank of Bhairab Bazar

Two Bridges of Bhairab Bazar - People enjoying river side view

Two Bridges of Bhairab Bazar - People enjoying river side view

Two Bridges of Bhairab Bazar

Two Bridges of Bhairab Bazar

The other one is 1.2km long, concrete made bridge. official name “Bangladesh-Uk Friendship Bridge”. It took 33 months of Uk based engineering company “Edmund Nuttall Ltd”. This bridge connect Bhairab Bazar and Ashuganj and save minimum 30min for each vehicle which time was required to pass the Meghna river through ferry service.

Bangladesh - Uk Friendship Bridge

Visitor beside the Bangladesh - Uk Friendship Bridge

Hot tourist spot of Bhairab Bazar
These two bridges are located in former “Ferry Ghat” area of Bhairab which become a hot tourist attraction in Bhairab Bazar. Everyday more then 250 people come here in evening for chat, roaming, site seeing etc. People who live near use the river bank to bath and wash cloths as well. This is a very old tradition of Bhairab Bazar.
Mega steel structure – Meghna Railway Bridge, Bhairab Bazar

Mega steel structure - Meghna Railway Bridge, Bhairab Bazar

An old women bathing on Meghna River under the bridge

Mega steel structure - Meghna Railway Bridge, Bhairab Bazar

People enjoying river side view under the Bridge

Train passing through the Meghna Railway Bridge

Train passing through the Meghna Railway Bridge

Bhairab Bazar has other few interesting and beautiful spots but those are not as popular as Bridge area is. I’ll try to post another blog or multiple blogs on Bhairab as I am very fascinated on this city as it’s my Birth city and lived there from 1983 to 1999.

Moon rise in top of Bridge

Meghna Railway bridge on twilight

Long live Bhairab Bazar.

Because of this season, we also had to change our route plan from the last year. Our plan was to reach Sunamganj by bus and from Sunamganj to Tahirpur by trawler. The second day we will visit Tanguar Haor and other areas beside the haor and third day we will back in Dhaka.

This is first time we have started our journey at daylight. At morning 7.30 o clock our bus started from Fakirapul bus counter. It was largest tour among nine safari arranged by TTL. We were total 35 travelers in this tour. So we booked the whole bus for us. In total 8 hours of journey, we only stopped in a highway restaurant at Ashuganj for breakfast.

We reached in Sunamganj town at around 3.30pm. It was already raining that time which gives us an impression that the whole tour we gonna face it. We have finished our lunch near in Sunamganj bus counter and then went to Saheb Bazar to ride on our trawler.

Our trawler was parked in Saheb Bazar ghat. One by one all of us get into the boat and I bring out my camera from the bag. It was still raining but in a low pressure. From the ghat we saw the hills which are in India. Finally the boat starts and 35 travelers were very excited.

Boats at Saheb Bari ghat, Sunamganj

Boat at Saheb Bari Ghat, Sunamganj

River at Saheb Bari Ghat, Sunamganj

Water level has increased so high. So, it was impossible for me to trace the previous road. So I was more interested to look for my subject of photograph.

On the way to Tahirpur, Sunamganj

After few hours, saw a very interesting view. A cow boy was sending his cows to other side of the river. The way those cows were passing river, i find very interest.

Cow Passing the river

The entire long road to Tahirpur was almost same landscape.  Small villages, Boats and Fishermen were visible after a regular interval. It was very clear that we were not in very high height from land, because some time we saw grasses on water and bottom of the boat sometimes touches the ground.

Boat at Tanguar Haor

We passing low water land

Villages of Tanguar Haor, Sunamganj

On the way saw some colorful boat and grass field too. In the grass filed, cow was eating grass. Its just like the scenery we read in books when was in KG school.

Boat

Grassfield

In the full journey to Tahirpur, Indian hills were with us and never gone away from our sight for a single moment.

We reach Tahirpur at late evening. Rain was already stopped. After a small walk by small narrow lane and a town road we reach our place where we will stay at night. All of we went to our room become a little bit fresh. But didn’t wait for a short photowalk in the Tahirpur Bazar. But after reaching the Bazar, we felt that we were too tired for a photowalk. Just shot few pictures and come back in our place.

Tahirpur Bazar

But wasn’t tired enough for an adda. Mishuk bhai and Sahal bhai entertained us with their nice song and skill in guitar.

Window of our rooms

Mishuk bhai with his guiter

14^th August, 2009. We ware suppose to weak up at 4.00 am and start our journey to Tanguar Haor. But because of the heavy rain we could not start journey at scheduled time. Finally we start our journey at 7.30am. After starting our boat I realized that it’s the same landscape like yesterday’s journey.

Hills of India in the bank of Tanguar Haor

It was very tough to have some different photos. And rain was also like yesterday. When heavy rain started, I went inside of the boat and shot some photos from there.

Rainy Tanguar Haor, Sunamganj

People of Tanguar Haor

Rainy Tanguar Haor

In the long journey to Moheshkhola, we find light for some time. Didnt miss the opportunity to shot the beauty of Tanguar haor and Shoni’r Haor.

We were planning to go Moheshkhola Bazar for our lunch. After asking some boatman, we find the Moheshkhola.

After a long journey, we reach Moheshkhola . The town is just in the border of Bangladesh and India. It was a very shiny weather, when we step our first step in Moheshkhola . We asked some local people how to reach bazaar. They show us the way, and during on the way we got rickshaw to reach bazaar.

Landscape from Moheshkhola

Shot some kids on the way to Bazar.

Young princes of Moheshkhola

Kid of Moheshkhola

I always feel good to be in a small town and Moheshkhola gives me the same flavor. We reached Moheshkhola bazar and local people were very strange to see a large group of photographers like us.

In the middle of Moheshkhola Bazar

Everyone get busy to have some food. We did shot sometime in the Bazar and then move to a Hajong village.

On the way to Garo village

Just in front of the village, we stopped in a tea stall and Faisal bhai meet a Hajong person there. The person was so nice and he bring us to his home. At his home, we see his family members  were working. They was actually preparing Pop Corn for their use and sale to. They offered me some pop corns too. It was fantastic in test.

Hajong women in work

A Hajong kid

Hajong people

After shooting at that home, we move forward. The scenery was soo mind blowing.

On the way to close to border

A Hajong kid

A indian radio

The village is near to the border. After shooting at the Hajong village, we back in bazar and finished our lunch there.

A river behind the Bazar - Other side of the river is India

After lunch we back in our boat. Before get into the boat, too few shots from the bank of the Haor.

Landscape of Sonir Haor

One by one everyone back and then we start our boat to go back in Tahirpur.

We saw the most beautiful weather when we were returning in Tahirpur. The sky was just like a painting.

Enjoying beauty

Sonir Haor Landscape

Transport of Haor

Fisherman of Haor

Trees of Haor

We could not see the perfect sunset on haor because of the sky. Before the full darkness of night, we reached Tahirpur.

Painted sky of Tanguar Haor

Painted sky of Tanguar Haor

All of us shot the sky as long as u can. Some of us ware so tired, so the ware sleeping on boat.

Night of Tahirpur was same like yesterdays night. Walk in Bazar, tea in small restaurant, Adda, singing in room, dinner and sleep.

Next day morning we weak up at 7.00am. Finished our breakfast and went to boat. This time our destination is Sunamganj. Again the waters, again the hills, the boats and the rain. Was not getting any different kind of shots, so I packed my camera.

Before I pack my camera

In the way we stopped our journey to visit an old Jamidar bari (Land lord’s home) in Dharmapasha. We the house is just in the bank of the haor. We get inside of the ruined house. I couldn’t manage much information about the house.

Ruined Jamidar Bari at Dharmapasha

Maximum information I come to know from Shudupto da is, the last descendent of the house is still alive. It was heavy raining then. So couldn’t shot too much.

After shooting at the house we moved to the Bazar which is very close to the house. Its an ideal village market to me. But for the rain, there was no human on the road. I shot few captures of the bazar and get back in the boat. Rest of the time I pass by sleeping & Adda.

Rain at Dharmapasha

After a long long journery we reach Sunamgonj at 4.00pm. We finished our dinner at there and ride on our reserve.

We all ware  damn tired. At first slept some time in bust than again adda.

Scenery of Water, Villages and Boatman was not very different for me. As my native village is in haor area, I am used to with this scene. But the hills and the friends are new addition in my memory. I saw this Tanguar gaor in two season which is a great achievement in my life. In the whole tour, we passed three haors (Hail Haor, Tanguar Haor, Soni’r Haor). Its an achievement too.

Sky and the sea

As regular safari tours of our photography group Through The Lens: Bangladesh (TTL), after our last tour in Rajshahi and Chapai Nawabgonj, this time we have visited Kuakata Sea Beach. Before the journey I was very excited, because this will be my first visit at Kuakata. After the journey I am still same excited having such a nice tour. I have visited the sea beach few more time before kuakata but never passed so many times in beach before this time. Also have seen some lifestyle that is dependent on the see.

We have started our journey from Malibag counter of Eagle Paribahan. Our bus was supposed to start at 8.00PM, but the bus started at 9.00pm. Some tour mates catch the bus from Badda counter and Sharif bhai catches from Uttara. We were a team of total 26 members. As always, we were dominating the bus. Everyone was chatting, singing and after around one hour, all get slept.

When we reach Aricha feri ghat, almost all of us came down from bus to have some food as dinner. We get in into a small restaurant and take some bread and vegetables. Before we finish, the feri has come and bus start moving toward the feri. We had to move fast, so we left our foods and run for the feri.

I have started 1^st shooting from the feri.

Feri leaving the ghat (station)

Feri leaving the ghat (station)

People in the feri

Bus and trucks in the feri

Protection

After the feri reach its destination, we get in into the bus and fall in slip.

I weak up at Khepupara Feri ghat and come to know that journey with current bus has end. After weak up someone told me that when we were sleeping, after Aricha, we have passed more three feris. Now we need to take a bus which was reserved for us. We leaved the 1^st bus and start morning shooting at the feri ghat. Saw some small hotels were just opened and people get busy with their duties. We were waiting for the feri to come our side of the river and bring our new bus to other side.

Hotel staff working

A man feeding crows

Mangroves in at Khepupara Feri ghat

Waiting for the feri

Waiting for the feri

Waiting in feri ghat

People crossing the river

Feri has arrive

Feri

After passing Khepupara ghat, we passed two more feris. Every times many of us have come down from feri and shot.

Our bus

A feri on the land

View from the window of feri

Bus in feri

I’ve found some other kind of use of feri and feri gaht.

Advertisement in Feri

Fisherman preparing net in feri

Fisherman with their net

Fishing boats in the Feri ghat

Fisherman

After the 2nd feri, we pass through some very green villages. During passing the village I felt the smell the scent of soil which reminds me my village. Seen lots of bird around us and presence of Black Drongo, White-breasted Kingfisher, Dove was in great position.

Bus on the village roads

Finally we reach Kalapara and declare the end of this bus journey. We had to walk five minutes to reach our hotel, Hotel Golden Palace. It’s a nice hotel. Me, Kamal and Kamrul got room no 201. It’s a nice room in deed. From the balcony of the room, we can easily see the sea.

Hotel Golden Palace

Balcony of the rooms

Leaf from my balcony

After a few hours rest, we went to beach which is very near from our hotel. We reach beach after a 5-8 minute of walk. Seem some trees, leisure fishing boats in the beach.

Beach 01

Beach 02

Leisure beach

Leisure boat 01

Leisure boat 02

Bay of Bengle

I discover most of the people in the beach are local people who are actually busy with fishing in beach and related works.

Fisherman 01

Fisherman 02

Fisherman 03

Fisherman 04

Fisherman 05

Fisherman 06

Youngest members of the poor fisherman family are also part of the job. They are doing the same work as their previous peoples did.

Working kid 01

Working kid 02

Working kid 03

Working kid 04

Working kid 05

Their family member helps them on the ground. They sort the required fishes and sorting them, they free the remaining fishes in the sea. Shooting few hours there, I went back to hotel.

Waiting for husband

Sorting fishes

Sorting fishes

Collection

A fish who couldnt go back to sea

After lunch we have visited the main tourist beach. There are some alive and dead coconut trees at the east side of the beach. The dead trees must be dead because of any disaster, provably AILA or SIDR or its effect of both of them. Increasing height of sea level is another cause of this.

Grounded tree

Strongest among them

Wheels are the most common object in all over Kuakata beach. These wheels used to bring the boats in dry land and send them to sea too.

Wheel of Kuakata

Spend few 20minutes there and then rent some motor bikes for a ride up to Lebu Bagan. Enjoyed the motor bike ride and reaches Lebu bagan within 20 minutes.

On the way to Lebu Bagan (Lemon garden)

At the door of Lebu Bagan

It’s a mangrove forest. Didn’t find any lemon tree, though its called Lemon Garden (Lebo Bagan). I don’t know the justification of this kind of naming. Heard call of many birds inside of the jungle but did not get in into the jungle. In front of the jungle found many mangroves and the remain roots of trees. Those might be destroyed by the sea.

Lebu Bagan (Lemon garden)

Lebu Bagan 02

Lebu Bagan (03)

roots of tree

Lebu Bagan

Wild fruits of Lebu Bagan

Mangroves and local people of Lebu Bagan

Roots of old trees

Roots of old trees

Mangroves

Lebu Bagan

Cows of Lebu' Bagan

Peoples of Lebu Bagan

Then we start going back to the fishing beach. At the middle of the road, we found some of us.

Then we leave our bikes there and pass some times there. There were so many red crabs that some part of the beach was almost becoming red by hundreds of red crab. Thos crabs are so smart that they don’t allow anyone to go near to them. When I was going near, they were going inside the soil.

Red crabs

Red Crabs

But they cant always save themselves from the birds. Local people also know the technique how to catch them. A young local kid catches a crab and takes to us to take a picture of that.

A hunter Black Drongo

Caught by local kid

Red Crab

Before we leave the place, a fishing boat just arrived from the sea along with some Hilsha and other small fishes.

Hilsa fish

Fisherman who caught the Hilsa

Then we have start walking to reach the fishing beach, because time of sunset was near and we wanted to shot the sunset from there. In middle of the walk we’ve found Sharif bhai was coming. Then I stayed with Sharif bhai and both of us passed time till the sunset and after sunset, we back in hotel together.

Returning Fishing boat

Grounded sky

When sky giving nice time

In hotel I was chatting with Sharif bhai, suddenly got the idea to shot the stars in sky. This is one of the big differences between Dhaka and other places in Bangladesh. As Dhaka is ranked one of the most polluted cities, stars are almost invisible form sky of Dhaka. But in other cities, night sky becomes the most beautiful thing to see.

Night Sky

Night sky of Kuakata

We had planned to shot the sunrise at Gongamati. So weak up at 5.00 AM and was waiting for the bikes to come and take us to the place. Finally we got the bikes at 5.30 AM and start ride for Gongamati. It was not a long ride more then 15minutes. Gongamati is in the east side of the Kuakata beach. Not only were we there, some other tourists also there to see the beautiful sunrise. After the sunrise shooting, we shot a forest beside that place. Mangroves of the forest reflect that Kuakata is not far from the Sundarbans. Found few birds there too.

fishermans going for business

Sunrise at Gangamati

Mangroves

Then we back in hotel. I was feeling very sleepy so that I went for a sleep.

After two hour of sleeping, I weak up and find few of us was inside hotel and rest of others went to Kawwar Char (Crow’s Island). We planned to visit a Buddhist Temple which is very near of our hotel. It was a very large temple and the statue of Buddha was very big in size.

Buddha Temple

Buddha

Buddha

Buddha

Buddha Temple

Buddha Temple

We found the Kua of Kuakata at the gate of the temple. It’s the deepest kua of the area along with some other area beside.

Stairs of the Buddha Temple

Kua of Kuakata

Kua of Kuakata

How stupid our peoples are.. they event dont have the sense of throwing packets and other things such historical kua After the short visit of the temple we came back in hotel again.

Our final and last two visits were in Narikel Bagan (Coconut garden) and Lebu Bagan. All of our bikes were ready in hotel and start bike ride from there. At first we have went at Narikel Bagan which is in east side of the main beach, not so far from there. As far Sharif bhai’s blog and his statement, once it was a very big garden but the changing landscape and increasing sea has destroyed it. Only few trees are remaining which don’t seems like a garden. Weather and light condition was perfect for shooting at that time.

Local kids working

Kuakata beach

Kuakata beach at Narikel Bagan

Narikel Bagan (Coconut garden)

Naricel Bagan with an old friend

Kuakata beach at Narikel bagan

After passing a few time there and start for the final ride of Lebu Bagan.

During the time of going Lebu Bagan sky was forming very nice. When we was passing by a constriction work was happening there. We stopped our bike and shot there.

People working

a new construction

At 2^nd visit of Lebu Bagan, I come to know that yesterday we shot at the start of lebu bagan and didn’t explore the reaming very big area of that place. This time we went at the end of the garden which is more likely a jungle (Very strange naming convention of the places).

As like yesterday, heard many bird calls and Shudipto da has called my in whispering way that there is a bird. He called me to shot that. 1^st I saw some wild pigeons but suddenly saw that there was a sandpiper walking near the shore. I tried to shot that ASAP.

Common Sandpiper.. this is a record of very early visit of a winter bird

Then I shot some water life and landscapes. The place we were standing is the bank of Andharmanik River and junction of the Bay of Bengal and the river.

Water life

A Fisherman fishing in the cannel of Andarmanik river

Lebu Bagan

Lebu Bagan

Bank of Andarmanik river

Lebu Bagan

Suddenly Tuhin bhai called that he saw some kingfisher. I find that these are Collared kingfisher too. I become very sure that the habitation of this bird is very good there. I went inside of the jungle to search other birds. But find only the colored kingfisher. But this time I went very close to him and hope its one of the best bird pic of mine.

Lebu Bagan forest

Lebu Bagan forest

Inside of the forest

Collared Kingfisher

Collared Kingfisher

After shooting him, I’ve come out from the jungle and together all come back to the main beach.

We spend only five minutes in the main beach and took 4/5 photos within the time. Then we had to go back to hotel for packing, because we had only few hours left in hand to leave Kuakata.

workers of kuakata

Todays Hilsha

Reflection

Sky and the sea

Back in hotel and packed everything. Then we see we still have some times in hand and beach is not so far from the hotel, so went to fishing beach once again. Took some quick shots but didn’t get the sunset.

We had to go back to the hotel. From the hotel we took our begs and said good bye to Labu bhai and went to bus counter. We ride on the bus to back Dhaka. Bust starts at 8.00PM. None of us had enough energy to have chat. All of us just slept and no one weak up until we reach Dhaka.

Solar Eclipse

From the earth, total solar eclipse observation is one of the rare events in our solar system. I can’t remember of any personal memory of viewing any solar eclipse. Really forget about from where I’ve got the first news of this solar eclipse. This time Bangladesh is lucky enough that from Panchagarh, total solar eclipse was visible but from Dhaka It was a 93 percent visible of partial eclipse.

For professional boundary I couldn’t manage time to visit Panchagarh to observe the eclipse, but I don’t want to miss the event. Anis bhai (Anisuzzaman Russell) informed that Onosonditshu Chokro has organized an observation center in Dhaka at South Plaza of our National parliament.

I was confessed that from where I should observe this natural beauty. Finally I’ve decided to go in Parliament plaza, because it’s not just and observation of eclipse, I wanted to see how people react in this kind of natural happening. As like always I always stay with my photography group Through The Lens: Bangladesh, I posted the news in Short Notice Photowalk thread. Few of my friends replayed very quickly that they will join as well. So we have set our meeting place in the spot and time is 6.00 AM.

I was little bit tensed too about photography of the eclipse. I was confessed that what/how much is the chance of getting a damage of my camera sensor. To discuss this, I called Tushar bhai who is a very experienced photographer and also Avik da. Avik da replayed it is not a problem but I’ve to be careful but Tushar bhai replayed that It might be risky for sensor and this is a warning from my manufacturer too that I never should shot a direct sun. So, I get disappointed and planned to not shot the eclipse but I’ll go to the place and will cover the event.

As per plan, weak up at 5.30am but it was still much dark. Set the mobile alarm at 6.00am but weak up at 5.55AM. Become fresh and started for Parliament. Reaches the place by 6.20am. Before me, Jenny, Salma and Tahiti were present there and Kamal & Saif bhai called me just when I entered the place.

People gathering for the Solar Eclipse Observation

Young guys were very interested

Before I entered, more then hundred peoples were already present there. This is what I wanted to see and wanted to capture their activity during the eclipse. Kids, school/college students, young generation in one word, visitor was present from every part of society. Camera of TV Channels, Print and electronic media was also present.

People waiting for the moment

People waiting for the moment

Students waiting

TV Channels was covering

TV Channel was covering

Police, RAB was present to control any unwanted situation. There was many volunteer who was controlling the spot and educating people how to observe. They were announcing the lessons & warning messages.

Police was there to control the place

volunteers

volunteer

Guideline and warning message announcement

Information share

They did distribute some solar glass, filters to use these during observation. But there a limitation of these free filters so everyone didn’t get the filter and for that’s why there was little bit dissatisfaction among visitors. This was the only sad part of the observation event. Some young guys become angry and tried to grab the filters of others, but police did control them very well and volunteers did made a block to restrict some area from the general visitors.

Peoples

People trying to take solar filter

Peoples

Volunteers controling

Volunteers controling

Volunteer controlling

There were clouds in the sky, so we were unable to see the starting of the eclipse. Everyone waited a bit for the sun & moon to come out from the behind of clouds. Suddenly the cloud has pass and the sun come out with a partial eclipsed situation.

Observers found that cloud is gone

Solar Eclipse

Solar eclipse (02)

Solar eclipse (03)

Solar Eclipse (04)

Solar Eclipse (05)

People started shooting it and I couldn’t stop myself. I didn’t think about the camera sensor and start shooting the sun. I tried to shot with X-ray sheet and welding glass too, but X-ray sheet gives me the good results. During shooting the eclipse with X-ray, I was photographed by some AFP photo journalist, which photo was published in Google News and Yahoo News. Thanks to my friend Kamrul who let me knew this thing.

Solar Eclipse (6)

Solar Eclipse (7)

During photography of the event, saw suddenly Honorable speaker of our Parliament, Mr. Advocate Abdul Hamid arrived in the spot. He saw the eclipse from the ground. He also has given a speech on LIVE TV Program. There are some superstations that people should not eat during the solar eclipse. Mr. Abdul Hamid did eat some food at eclipse time to show that there is no superstation, its just science.

Mr. Advocate Abdul Hamid

Visitors were very busy with observing and photographing the partial solar eclipse. Everyone was using and sharing the filters provided by organizer and some used exposed X-ray sheet. Visitors used cell phone camera, Point & Shoot Digital Cameras and DSLR’s obviously.

Observer 01

Observer 02

Observer 03

Observer 04

Photographer 01

Photographer 02

Observer 05

Observer 06

Observer 07

Telescope

Photographer 03

Photographer 04

When inspiration comes from inside, cell phone is enough for photography…

Photographer 05

Photographer 06

Photographer 07

People was not only interested to shot eclipse, but also the to shot observers and others.. ( me too :p )

Photographer 08

Photographer 09

Photographer 10

Photographer 11

Observers again… no one can stop

Observer 09

Observer 10

Fight among friends to observe the unlimited beauty of nature…

Observer 11

Observer 12

Observer 13

Observer 14

Observer 15

Photographers still fighting to increase their number.. she could be an inspiration…

Photographer 12

Photographer 13

People was in line to observe the eclipse using the big telescope

People in line

Obsrvation through the telescope

Near at the big telescope, I found organizers maintaining some chars. Went in close and saw they was recording some data about the sun, time, temperature etc.

Temperature chart

Volunteer recording temperature

Thermometer

A small group of Volunteers

My time was coming to end because I had to go office after shooting. I did pack my gears and said bye to friends. They also did pack up then but yet many people was still hanging with the telescope and addas with friends.

Peoples was still there

I loved the initiative by Onosonditshu Chokro and people did a very good responds. Though it was a rear event, but visitors enjoyed it. Young school kids learned the solar eclipse practically. Hamid saheb make people aware about the superstation. Bangladesh will not see a total solar eclipse in next 105 years, but we will have partial eclipse. Moreover organizations like Onosonditshu Chokro is capable enough to arrange Moon observation, Milky way observation or sky observation type events. That will educate people about astronomy, science and let them aware about this. Beside the education and awareness, people will have some recreation too.

Just before some days, I sold my Nikon D40 with 18-55mm Kit lens because I was planning to buy a Nikon D80. I was in short of wide lens, so I planned to capture only faces and what I can get with my Nikon D90 and 55-200mm VR lens.

The photowalk was supposed to start at 8.00am from the Janata Bank Terminal. With a 10minute delay, I reached the place with my cousin Sunny. Few of us was already there and was waiting for other few. Some of ultra wide holder (@:@:@ Grrr) like Kamrul, Faisal bhai was already started shooting with their Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 (Pitla Lens in Shudipto da’s term ::) )

Well, I don’t have much Idea bout the Shadar Ghat Lonch Terminal, so I cant explain more about the place except Its in bank of almost dead Buri Gonga river. Keranigonj is in opposite side of the river . Our plan was to walk beside the river and capture photos, we will cross the river to Keranigonj and back in Old Dhaka side by the Babu Bazar Bridge.

When started walking, I discover that fruit market is dominating over other shops. People sealing seasonal fruits. Some boats are also carrying fruits from the other side of the river, but I really don’t know where the main source of these fruits is.

Fruit seller

Barber

Fruit seller 02

Fruit transporter

Pineapple

Fruit transporter 02

Fruit Transporter 03

Mobile phone call cener

After some walking we get down into a small terminal. Shot some lifestyle there and went inside of the Lonch. Most of these run in Barishal road.

Lonches of terminal

Polluted river bank

Lonches

Inside of a lonch

Inside of a lonch 02

In the bank of the river, hundreds of boats used to transfer people from one side  to another side. People need to pay two times for this transport facility. One is to the boatman and other payment is for the terminal owner.

Boatman waiting for passenger

People using boat to cross the river

Passenger paying to terminal owner

Transport

Transport 02

Boat terminal

Boatman taking rest

I also saw many peoples around the terminal. Some kids from there are…

Kid waking on a small bridge

Friends

Leisure time

Jump

Then we took two small boats to cross the river. Took few photos from the boat as well.

People crossing river

Kuli

Dhaka from the Keranigonj side. An awesome view to me. Ahsan Manjil was looking so attractive from other side of the river. Saw some people were bathing on the river though the water of the river is not a great quality.

Ahsan Manjil from othre side

Medical advertisement

Bathing on river

Then we used the stairs of the Bridge to getup of it. From the top of the bridge took some boat shots as well which were in Buri Gonga.

Buri Gonga

Boats

Boat with passenger

Boatman

Boat carrying bricks

I shoot people’s faces who was passing the bridge…

Face 01

Face 02

Face 03

peoples movement 01

Peoples movement 02

Peoples movement 03

Peoples movement 04

Saw the 1^st Buri Gonga bridge which is located near Sir Salimullah Medical College. Three Rockets was parked in the bottom of the bridge on Babu Bazar side. Believe me it was my 1^st live view of this type of ship.

1st Burigonga Bridge

Old Rocket

It was a shot photowalk and though the place is very near to me, I know a very very little about the place. That’s why I am very much un-satisfied about writing of this blog. Though I write it, otherwise in future I could be more lazy in blogging. Comments, critic about the writing and photos are most welcome.

After our Sylhet tour, was getting prepared for Rajsahi and Chapai Nawabganj. Then finally 28th May has arrived. As per plan, Shudipto da, Kamal, me, Eather, Ferdous bhai, Rakib, Afzal bhai and Akhlas bhai from sylhet, Tushar bhai, Kamrul, Biju, Anis bhai, Taufiq bhai from Chittagong reported in Rajarbag Greenline bus counter. Belal bhai, Saif bhai, Rokon bhai joined us from another counter.

Greenline Bus Counter

We inside the bus

After a short chat in bus, I start sleeping and weak up when we reached

Aristocrat Restaurant in Sirajganj. We had porota and beaf/chicken there and ride on bust for the final destination.

Snacks in Aristocrat

Snacks in Aristocrat

Trying self portrait

At morning 5.30am we stopped in front of Hotel Hoq’s Inn. Me, Saif bhai (Gazi Saif Sohel) and Biju bhai was partner in one room. After 2 hours sleep, Shudipto da called us and we weak up. Get ready for breakfast. 2 micro buses were waiting for us. We ride on the microbus and started for a Bindu Hole and Restaurant for breakfast. On the way we saw the new rail station in Saheb Bazar. All  peoples were looking at our big team of photographer and some was asking questions are we here for shooting or any News paper/TV Channel. Some of us also did some shooping after breakfast. Mainly the were purchasing gamcha from local shops.

Bindu Hotel and Restaurant

At breakfast

Local shop beside Bindu Restaurant

After our breakfast and started moving for Puthiya Palace. After an around 30mins journey, we saw the beautiful palace. We stopped in front of some very old temple which is part of Puthiya Palace, its call Aanni Temple.

Aanni Temple complex

The Temple complex also share two other temples named Choto Gobindo Temple (small Gobinda)  and Gopal Temple.

400 yers old Aanni Temple

400 years old Choto Gobindo Temple

200 years old temple Gopal Temple

Aanni temple and X temple is 400 years old, established in Mughal period. The Shiva temple is 200 years old. Except us, saw few other tourists were also visiting the temples.

Front of Aanni temple

Aanni temple from other side

Three temples

Temples from top view

Aanni Temples

Terracotta of Aanni temple

Terracotta of Aanni temple

After shooting in Aanni temple we went to Puthiya Palace passing a big pond in front of the Anni temple. If anyone stands in bank of the pond, in his/her left the Anni temple will be found, front and front right Shiva temple and Dola temple and in Right, the Puthiya Palace will be found.

The Puthiya Complex

Puthia palace consists of a cluster of notable old Hindu Temples. It located 23 km to the east of Rajshahi city it has the largest number of Historic temples in Bangladesh. The temples were built by Hindu Zamindars Rajas of Puthia who were noted philanthropists of Rajshahi. The Palace is now used as Puthiya Degree College.

Puthiya Palace & Pancharatna Gobinda Temple

Puthiya Palace

We have been guided to Pancharatna Gobinda temple inside of the palace. On the shot way we found a real big wooden gate. I dont have idea, now a days will anyone dare to make such a gate for Tample or Masjid.

Gate of Pancharatna Gobinda Temple

Gate of Pancharatna Gobinda Temple

Pancharatna Gobinda temple, the grandest temple in Puthia, the Govinda temple was erected in mid-nineteenth century by the queen of Puthia. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The temple has exquisite terracotta ornamentation depicting the divine romance between Krishna and Radha.

Pancharatna Gobinda temple

Pancharatna Gobinda temple

Other ruin part of Pancharatna Gobinda temple

Backside of Pancharatna Gobinda temple

Some desing

As well we have seen some birds inside the temple. Spotted Owlet, Purple Sunbird (Male & Female), Bulbule are major. But I only managed to shot so many Purple Sunbirds.

Purple Sunbird - Female

From the temple, there is a clear view of Dola Temple and Shiva temple. In middle of Dola temple and Puthiya Palace, there is a big field where young boys was playing cricket. I asked a local people about Dola temple, said the name of the temple and also said Kings used to play holi (Play with wet color) in the Dola Temple.

Shiva Temple, Dola Temple and young boyes

Dola Temple

Dola Temple

After Pancharatna Gobinda temple, we moved to Shiba temple.

Shiba Temple

Shiba temple was built in 1815 by the queen of Puthia and dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, is the largest Shiva temple in Bangladesh. The corridors have a touch of Jaipur architecture and in the sanctuary, lies a very large black basalt Shiva Linga, one of the largest in the country.

Shiba Temple

Shib in Temple

Shiba

Pond behind the temple

Front of the temple

Down stairs to the pond

Temple from the pond

Temple from the pond side

Temple from the pond side

Temple from the other side

Temple from the other side

Shiba Temple from the small architecture beside it

Other architecture beside the Shiba Temple

Outside of the temple

A door to go inside

The temple suffered damage in the 1971 War of Liberation of Bangladesh. The destroyers attempted to displace and break the Shiva Linga, but were unable to move it from its position.

Shiba temple from the Puthiya Palace Pond

Top of the temple

Top of the palace

After shooting Shiba temple, we went to Kajla more for lunch. In middle of the road we get down in Banessor mango market. Took many photographs of mango shopping. Banessor bazar is another famous place for Mango Market. Its the one of the biggest market in Rajshahi.

At Banessor Mango Market

People around the mango

Banessor Market

Banessor Market

Banessor Mango Market

Mango traders

People purchasing mango

Mango traders

Mango traders

Mango traders

Mango traders

Mango market

Part after the lunch becomes more memorable for me. It was Birding in Rajshahi University. For the first time we (me and Saif bhai) meet Moni (Israt Jerin Moni) in RU Campus. She is one of the great bird watcher I’ve ever seen. After a little chat she went back home and we started birding. The first surprise for me was watching an Asian Paradise-flycatcher. It’s the only paradise-flycatcher among 12 species. Suddenly I saw Saif bhai was shooting same another bird from different place. Couldn’t stop myself to go there and shot.

Asian paradise-flycatcher

I’ve a separate blog on the beautiful bird, for more please visit Asian Paradise-flycatcher, most beautiful bird of Bangladesh

After a while, went another place in RU Campus. I was just becoming mad watching soo many birds in campus. Have shoot Jungle Babbler with many others. Finally some one told me if we went in Botany campus, we should have more birds. Me, Taufiq bhai and Tushar bhai moved there. After a long walk we saw nothing there and get frustrated. Tushar bhai already backed then. Me and Taufiq bhai was a little slow but because of this we saw Stork-billed Kingfisher. Also find Common Kingfisher, Magpie Robin, Spotted Dove,  Black-rumped Flameback. During back, we saw a nest of Asian paradise-flycatcher.

Oriental Magpie Robin

Stork-billed Kingfisher

Common Kingfisher

Common Kingfisher

Stork-billed Kingfisher

We shot squirrels on the way.

Squirrel

Squirrel

RU Campus

After few time we found rest of all waiting for us to leave the campus. We ride in our microbus and start moving toward Padma’r Par. After coming down from microbus, saw a rickshaw pooler was sleeping on his rickshaw.

Sleeping rickshwa driver

Didn’t wait to shot that. In opposite side of the river we saw minimum 100+ Asian openbill was sitting.

Asian Openbill

In a tree just beside me, saw two Black-rumped Flameback was sitting. This time didn’t miss to shot them.

Black-rumped Flameback

By the time Saif bhai called from opposite side of road that few spotted owlet was sitting in a jackfruit tree and also captured them.

Spotted Owlet

Spotted Owlet

Spotted Owlet

Then started planning to go opposite side. Reserved a boat and went to opposite side but before we reach to Openbills, they fly away. We were very disappointed. But it didn’t stop our plan to cross the river.

A useless bote in bank of Padma

In the land we took some rest. Most of us were very tired. We found many birds there as well. Green Bee-eater, Asian palm-swift was in leading number.

Green Bee-eater

Grassbird

Also saw Grassbird and few other which are unknown to me. We saw many people visit the place in evening section of day. We pass time there till sunset. After sunset we leave the place and went back to hotel.

Sunset at Padma

Took bath and rest in hotel till we start mango eating party in Sudipto da’s room. Finished 10Kgs of mango in 7 minutes by 10 peoples. Took lunch at 9.30pm and went to Rajshahi Rail Station after lunch. Unfortunately I didn’t bring my camera to station, so cant share any photograph this time. After coming back from station, just went to bed for sleep.
As per plan with Shudipto da, weak up at 4.45am for another birding round in RU campus but we failed to get inside of campus because of security issue. As an alternative, we entered in RUET campus. Team member was only me, Saif bhai and Shudipto da. We passed one hour in RUET campus and shot Black-rumped flameback, Indian Pond Heron, Storck-billed Kingfisher, and Coppersmith Barbet. Also seen Asian koel (female) and few others.

Blue-throated Barbet

Stork-billed Kingfisher

We back hotel after shooting and was waiting for everyone to get ready. Around after one hour, we started our journey for Chapai Nowabgonj. In the highway, we took our breakfast.

Then we direct we went to Khania Dighi Masjid in bank of Khania Dighi which is about a quarter mile away from the high mud wall of the ancient city of Gaur on the north and the Balia Dighi on the west in Nawabganj district.  It’s a 14th century masjid, a valuable archeological heritage of Bangladesh.

Kania Dighi Masjid

Entrance Kania Dighi Masjid

Desing in the masjid

Kania Dighi Masjid

A door of the Masjid

Inside of Kania Dighi Masjid

Inside of the Masjid

Inside of the Masjid

Inside of the Masjid

From inside of the Masjid

Kahia Dighi Masjid from the mango garden

There is a mango garden between Kania Dighi and the Kania Dighi Masjid.

Mango of Kania Dighi Mango garden

Kania Dighi Mango garden

Kania Dighi Mango garden

Kania Dighi Mango garden

In Kania Dighi we have shot Great Cormorant, White-breasted Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher in Khania Dighi.

Great Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Indian Pond Heron

White-breasted Kingfisher

White-breasted Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

After shooting there, we start for Choto Sona Masjid. I was amazed to see a graveyard in front of Choto Sona Masjid. There were may other tourists in the Masjid.

Choto Sona Masjid Entrance

After ablution we entered in masjid and take photographs. It was very harsh light to take photos, everyone have to straggle to get proper exposure. Well everyone managed somehow with their photography technique. Almost every angel was captured by everyone. The masjid built by Sultan Wali Muhammad bin Ali during the reign of Sultan Hossain Shah in between year 1493-1519.

Choto Sona Masjid

Inside Choto Sona Masjid

Inside Choto Sona Masjid

Inside Choto Sona Masjid

Inside Choto Sona Masjid

Choto Sona Masjid

Doors of Choto Sona Masjid

Choto Sona Masjid with the ancient graveyard

Choto Sona Masjid with the ancient graveyard

Choto Sona Masjid with the ancient graveyard

Choto Sona Masjid with the ancient graveyard

Two Important graves in the graveyard

Choto Sona Masjid

Choto Sona Masjid

After shooting Masjid, we had took tea in road side and shot Common Myna there. I think I’ll never be able to be so close of a bird that the Myna allowed us.

Common Myna 01

Common Myna 02

Common Myna 03

Next destination after Choto Sona Masjid is Kansat Mango Market. We not only photographs there, but purchased some mangos for us as well. Its the biggest mango market of Bangladesh. Kansat market supply mango to all over Bangladesh.

Kansat Mango Market

Anis bhai with his Mangos

In a Mango shop of Kansat

Mango shop of Kansat

We are the the shop manager

Local people of Kansat also love mangos

Local people of Kansat

Kansat Mango Market

After the kansat bazaar, we come back in hotel. During back, we all slept in microbus. After coming back in hotel, we all become fresh and didn’t wait to go back to the bus counter.

Hotel Hoq's Inn

Our bus starts at 6.00pm. After a 30 minute chat, we all fall in sleep again. Weak up again when bus stopped in Sirajgonj for a break. After final start we passed Bangabandu bridge. We reached in Dhaka at 12.00am.
In summary it was a nice tour, but for hot temperature I become so lazy to take more photos which I should. I missed photos of many places. Both Rajshahi and Chapai Nawabganj. I didn’t take photos of Rajshahi city, local lifestyle, Rail Station, Reshom Institute, Tomb of Hazrat Shah Makhdum, Jami Mosque, Bagha Mosque, Bagdhani Mosque, Tomb of Hazrat Shah Sultan and many other places in Rajshahi.
Places I didn’t visited in Chapai Nawabganj are Rajbari (palace), Baragharia Kacharibari (revenue office), Chapai Mosque, Naoda Stupa (Buddhist monument), Jora Math (twin monastery), Nachole Palace, etc. When next time I’ll visit the places, I’ll try to visit the places.

Usually is 10cm in length, width 7.7g, wing 5.5cm, bill 2cm, tarsus 1.4cm and tail 3.3cm. Although very small and active, sunbirds are known to have long lives in the wild: records of lives exceeding 12 years exist.

The male looks different from female. It’s a common resident in villages of Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet division. Bengali name of the bird is Beguni Moutushi.

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Purple Sunbird - Female

Globally this is also extends from the Middle East through South, East, and Southeast Asia, including Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Indochina.

Habits and behavior

Purple Sunbird inhabits open deciduous forest, cultivation, gardens and homesteads. Usually it seen alone or in pairs.

It feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed most of the time.

Breeding and Nesting

Its breeds through the year but mainly season are April-June.  The female lays 1-3 grayish-white eggs, 1.6cm x 1.1cm each. Egg incubation time takes 14-15 days. Incubation done by the female alone. Nests are pear-shaped, globular or oval placed in trees or bushes. The nest is an oblong pouch of grass, fiber, leaves and bark, wrapped with cobwebs. The nest is camouflaged by sticking pieces of bark and caterpillar droppings on it.

Gallery

Purple Sunbird - Female

Date: 29th May, 2009

Location: Pancharatna Gobinda Temple, Puthiya Temple Complex, Puthiya,  Rajshahi

Purple Sunbird - Female

Date: 29th May, 2009

Location: Pancharatna Gobinda Temple, Puthiya Temple Complex, Puthiya,  Rajshahi

Purple Sunbird - Female

Date: 29th May, 2009

Location: Pancharatna Gobinda Temple, Puthiya Temple Complex, Puthiya,  Rajshahi

Purple Sunbird - Male

Date: 29th May, 2009

Location: Pancharatna Gobinda Temple, Puthiya Temple Complex, Puthiya,  Rajshahi

Purple Sunbird - Male

Date: 29th May, 2009

Location: Pancharatna Gobinda Temple, Puthiya Temple Complex, Puthiya,  Rajshahi

Asian paradise-flycatcher

Asian Paradise-flycatcher occurs in two colors morphs, white and rufous. In the white morph, it looks predominantly white except for its glossy black head, throat, ear-coverts, crest, primaries, secondaries and tetials. In the refous morph, it looks rufous from above and grayish from below. Its head, throat, ear-coverts and crest are black like that in white morph. Its 20cm long, weight is 20g, wing 9cm, bill 2.5cm, tarsus 1.7cm, tail 10cm and the main attraction tail-streamer of male is 35cm. The function of the long tail is assumed to be related to sexual selection, with females choosing males based on the length of the tail.

Globally this is also extends through south, east, near east and south-east Asia, including Maldives, China, Japan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Indochina.

Habits and behavior
The Asian Paradise-flycatcher is a noisy bird with a sharp skreek call. It seen alone or in pairs. It feeds on butterflies, bugs, beetles, dragonflies and other large insects. It has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently. They use a variety of foraging techniques, including hawking from a perch, sallying hovering, gleaning, and flush-pursuiting. They bathe in small pools of water in the afternoon by diving from perches.

Breeding and Nesting
Its breeding season is April-August. The female lays 3-4 pink eggs, 2.0cm x 1.5cm each. Egg incubation time takes 15-16 days. It nests on horizontal forks of thin branches. The nest is a tiny cup of grasses, roots, fibers and leaves bound together with cobweb and plastered on the outside with egg-bags of spiders. Paradise-flycatchers like all monarch flycatchers, are monogamous and are generally territorial, although in some cases birds may nest close together and defend the nests together against predators.

Gallery

Asian paradise-flycatcher

Date: 29th May, 2009

Location: Rajshahi University

Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Date: 29th May, 2009

Asian paradise-flycatcher

Location: Rajshahi University

Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Asian Paradise-flycatcher

Date: 29th May, 2009

Location: Rajshahi University

Rajshahi, Bangladesh

At first I called Shuhag Poribahan for ticket booking, but all sits for Thursday night was booked. Then I tried in Greenline, but they only had two sits which was not enough for us. I get afraid that we might miss the trip for tickets. Then I called Shudipto da for help as he always has solutions for any problems. I said that we are not getting any ticket, if you have any solution please help. Then he suggests phoning Shymoli Poribahan. I asked him to do it for us J and he did it. He managed four tickets, but that was not an AC bus. But we were happy enough to have the tickets.

Time of bus was 12.15am. It was a tough time to go out with camera for everyone. I asked everyone to come my home before 10pm and we will go to but counter together. Everyone accepted the invitation and was present at my home within 10.15pm. We had dinner together and started for bus counter at 11.15pm.

As Shudipto da booked our ticket, we went to counter and collected our tickets at 11.30pm. We had enough time to spend before bus starts, so we went in a local restaurant just beside the counter, had tea there and just around 12.10 we ride on the bus.

Shamoly Paribahan

We taking tea in hotel

We in bus

The bust started in right time and sitting in bus we was browsing flickr.com from mobile. Actually we were trying to find the TTL POD winner of the day. We congratulate the POD winner of Thursday from mobile and start sleeping, case we knew we will have a tough Friday. We just weak up when bus stops on Ujan Vati resturent in Ashugonj. We waited outside of the bus and enjoyed the environment and after bus starts again, we had our final sleep of the night. I weak up when we were entering Sylhet.

Chili Seller

In Subhani Ghat bus counter, we get down from bus around 5.30am. A free road, only few trucks was, 2/3 Autorickshwa (CNG) was passing by after 10/15mins regular interval. After a 5 minute walk, we reach in a Bazar. Most of the people were busy with packing vegetables to distribute in many parts of Sylhet. Some people were having their breakfast in street side mobile restaurant. In road and footpath, we found some sleeping guys. After shooting a while, we get into a restaurant for breakfast. After the breakfast we moved to Shawon da’s home.

Truck driver sleeping inside truck

The truck

Trader decorating his products

Trader decorating their products

Trader decorating their products

Trader decorating their products

Mobile restaurant

People having breakfast

Tea stall boy opening his stall

We going to Shawon da's home

His home is in a fantastic place. It’s in a very quite place. After reaching home, we took shower and after resting a while Shawon da offered breakfast. Though we were loaded, didn’t miss the chance. As per Shawon da’s plan, we started for Khadim Nagar after the breakfast.

Shawon Da's home

We in 2nd breakfast of the day

Now Fakrul bhai also joined with us from the main street of Shawon da’s home. Munayem bhai was also there, but he couldn’t join us because of some of his work. Khadim Nagar is a tea estate and we insert in a village of tea workers.

At the entrance of Khadim Nagar

At the entrance of Khadim Nagar

At the entrance of Khadim Nagar

At the entrance of Khadim Nagar

Flowers at Khadim Nagar

Flower at Khadim Nagar

A small village of people from same profession. Most of the peoples are from Hindu religion. Found some Mandirs there. Most of the houses ware developed through soil. Few houses has some sort of decoration in front side, few were colorful. This is the symbol of their broad mind, though they are not economically solvent, no hesitation to spend money or art and calligraphy.

Barber on Khadim Nagar

Childrens of Khadim Nagar

A Mandir in Khadim Nagar

A Mandir in Khadim Nagar

A village house

Village home

Village home

Village road

Village road

Village road

I saw an Oriental white-eye (Udoi Dholachokh) bird and big goat fight inside the village. Also saw a Purple rumped sunbird, but couldn’t photograph that. There should be more and more birds, but I was not focused enough on shooting birds, might be that’s why I didn’t saw more birdsL.

Oriental White-eye (Udoi Dholachokh)

For more details on the bird, see my blog on this bird,  Oriental White-eye, a common resident bird of Bangladesh

Butterfly

Kecho

Goat

Don’t miss the video

Nature

I loved the Khadim Nagar tea estate Masjid as well. After walking few hours in Khadim Nagar, we went back in Shawon da’s home and took another bath. Fakrul bhai went back in his home. Our plan was after lunch, we will move to Bhulagonj.

we moving through the Khadim Nagar

Khadim Nagar Masjid

Khadim Nagar tea estate factory

Family Mandir in workers home

We took our lunch in a restaurant in Zinda Bazar. During our lunch, Fakrul bhai, Munayem bhai and Akhlas bhai joined us. Then finally we started for Bhulagonj by Munayem bhai’s car and a CNG Autorickshwa. Me, Atik bhai, Neaz bhai, Fakrul bhai and Munayem bhai was in his car driving by him and Kamrul, Shawon da and Akhlas bhai was in the CNG.  I also took some photos through the window of the car.

Munayem bhai driving his car

refuling car

Landscape on the way

Landscape on the way

On the way to Bhulagonj

Bridge on the way

After a one and half hour drive, we saw the beautiful place. Indian hills of Meghalaya and the unknown river with millions of small and big stones make this place so peaceful. Hundreds of peoples were working on digging mine, uploading in trucks. Coming down from car, we took tea then start shooting.

Bhulagonj 01

Bhulagonj 02

Bhulagonj 03

Bhulagonj 04

Bhulagonj 05

Bhulagonj 06

Bhulagonj 07

Bhulagonj 08

Bhulagonj 09

Bhulagonj 10

Bhulagonj 11

Bhulagonj 12

Bhulagonj 13

There were too many subjects and beautiful objects that I become mad and started shooting here and there, which is definitely not a good performance for a photographer. Both man and women are working and digging stones from river and carrying to trucks. Even I saw underage boys were also working, in this age he was suppose to go school. Felt very sad to see him.

Bhulagonj Worker 01

Bhulagonj Worker 02

Bhulagonj Worker 03

Bhulagonj Worker 04

Bhulagonj Worker 05

Bhulagonj Worker 06

Bhulagonj Worker 07

Many many years ago my father was a buyer of stones from that place. I asked him to know the process of their work. As far his statement, some people take lease the river for a period from the government. Workers are independent. They buy ticket from the party who leased the river. Workers can use 1 ticket for per ride on river and in this ride they can bring one boat stones. Then the validity of ticket is over. They sale the stones to some other stone business man who also stay in the same place. And this final business man layer sale the stones to stone market in Bangladesh.

Bhulagonj Worker 08

Bhulagonj Worker 09

Bhulagonj Worker 10

Bhulagonj Worker 011

Bhulagonj Worker 12

Bhulagonj Worker 13

Bhulagonj Worker 14

Bhulagonj Worker 15

A free truck waiting for stones

During shooting we were very close to no-man’s-land, that is Bangladesh and India’s border. Then BDR came to talk with us to know whats the mater, why we shooting photos. We told them we are by hobby photographers and then they asked us not to go more because that might be risky for us. We talked with them about the place and also keep shooting. After shooting the sunset, we planned to come back in city.

Meghalaya hills from Bhulagonj

Meghalaya hills from Bhulagonj

Bhulagonj

A dog of Bhulagonj

Product and the carrier

Sunset at Bhulagonj

Sunset in Bhulagonj

In the same formation we back in Sylhet city direct in Munayem bhais home. I took the 3^rd bath of the day in his home. Bhavi made sandwich, noodles for us and the tea was supper. We passed some time in his roof as well. Then back again to Shawon da’s home. Had final dinner and leave his home around 11.00 pm. From 12.30am’s bus we leaved Sylhet city for this time and that was the end of the crash program.

In Bangladesh, Sylhet is the most favorite city of mine. There are many reasons behind that. But had only few chances to pass more time with Sylheti people in Sylhet. Now I must say Sylheti peoples are as beautiful, as good as Sylhet city is. Thanks to Shawon da, Munayem bhai, Fakrul bhai and Akhlas bhai for the tremendous day. Without you people, the day would not as enjoyable as we enjoyed.

How to reach Bhulagonj: Very easy, after reaching Sylhet, ask any CNG Driver if he wants to go Bhulagonj. My suggestion will be to reserve the CNG otherwise you might fall in problem in return time. Up / down and 2/1 hours in there, total package should not costly more then 500BDT. Best time to visit the place is before morning 11am and after 3pm.

Local name of the bird is Udoi Dholachokh and also known as Shet-ankhi. Scientific or Latin name is Zosterops palpebrosus which means large-browed eye-ring.

Oriental White-eye

Oriental White-eye is a small yellowish-green bird. It is 10cm in length, 9 g in weight, wings are around 5.3cm, bill is 1.2cm, tarsus are 1.5cm and tail is around 4cm. Upperparts are uniformly yellowish-green with darker wings and tail. Its throats and upper breast are bright yellow, the lower breast and belly are whitish and its undertail-coverts are yellow. It has a prominent white eye-ring, blackish lore and a small dark patch under the eye. Its irises are yellowish-brown, the legs and feet are plumbeous grey to grey-brown and its bill is black with grey at the base of the lower mandible.

Globally this is also available in much of Asia, including Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Indochina.

Habits and behavior

Oriental white-eye is a social singing busy bird and is usually seen in small parties of up to 30-50. Only during the breeding season pairs form and they seclude themselves from the group until the young ones fledge out. Their small body size and an active lifestyle burns tremendous amount of energy hence they have to feed constantly and they have a high metabolic rate. It feeds on insects, spiders, caterpillars, berries, buds, seeds and nectar. They often join hunting parties of small babblers and leaf warblers. They are sometimes seen active even in night.

Breeding and Nesting

It breeds in April – September. The female lays 2-4 pale blue spotless eggs, 1.5 x 1.1 cm each. Incubation takes 10-11 days. This is one of shortest incubation period of any bird species. Young The young are fed by both the parents with insects and fruit pulp. Once the young leave the nest and start to move about the nesting area, the parents constantly keep a watch on them and feed them at regular intervals. This period is the most dangerous period of their lives as they are preyed on by raptors, rodents and can even fall prey to big spiders.

They nests on horizontal fork at the thin end of branch well covered by leaves. The nesting materials are soft grasses, rootlets, moss, lichen, cobwebs, cottons and other soft materials.

*A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Passerine some time also called song birds.

Source:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_White-eye,

2. http://speciesguide.delhibird.net/internal/90/oriental_white_eye.htm,

3. A field guide to the Birds of India by Krys Kazmicrczak,

4. Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh

Image Gallery

Location: Khadem Nagar, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Date: 22nd May, 2009

Oriental White-eye

Location: Khadem Nagar, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Date: 22nd May, 2009

Oriental White-eye

Saat Gambuj Masjid

Archeologists of Bangladesh claim that the Masjid was made by Shaista Khan. He was a Subadhar and army general of Mughal Empire in Bengal region from 1664 to 1688. As the accurate date and year of creation of the Masjid is unknown, we can assume this was made between these years.

A lane beside Masjid

Size of the Masjid is 17.67meter X 6.22meter. The masjid has three domes in north to south side and four dooms in four corners. In total it has seven domes, that’s why people call it Sat Gomboj (Seven Dome) masjid. All seven domes are almost in same size.

Saat Gambuj Masjid from front right side

Quran Sharif in Masjid

Quran Sharif holder in Masjid

Masjid view from ground floor of a dome

It has a small gate in front of the masjid. The gate self alone count as an archeological heritage. Place for ablution (Oju) is in the west side of the Masjid. Masjid has a grave yard in east north corner.

Gate of Shat Gambuj Masjid

Oju Khana (ablution place) of the Masjid

Oju Khana & Back Side (West side) of Masjid

Grave yard and Masjid, Gate in Middle

Grave Yard

After its boundary, there is a big garden, which is also property and part of the masjid. Boundary of the garden ends in the road and just opposite side of the road there is also a small architecture which is actually a shrine (Majar Sharif). People say one daughter of Shaista Khan is sleeping in this Majar sharif.

Majar Sharif of (Shrine) Shaista Khans's daughter

Architecture of this Majar has similarity with Sat Gambuj Masjid. There is a same architecture in Rohan Pur of Chapai Nawabganj. But the Shat Masjid is an unique Masjid and the same kind of masjid is not found in any other place.

Masjid from various angel

A hujur is sleeping in front of notrh gate

South side entrance of the Masji

View from the entrance of grave yard

two house sparrow was playing

Saat Gambuj (seven dome) masjid, Mohammadpur, Dhaka

This is a very beautiful architecture by Shaista Khan. This could be one of the places of tourist attractions without hampering the holiness and prayer schedule of the masjid. But I personally didn’t see any initiative by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) or Department of Archeology of Bangladesh Government. Unplanned buildings very close to the Masjid have also destroyed the beauty of the Masjid. There should be some regulations and implementation of regulations on developing buildings around the archeological heritages.

SAVE THE FROGs Day

28th April, 2009 was the 1st Annual International SAVE THE FROGS day, which is a part of amphibian conservation program of a NGO SAVE THE FROGS. World wide many countries participate in many programs on that day. But the 28th April is not the only day, SAVE THE FROGS have many other events in round the year in many cities of the world. For more information: click for SAVE THE FROG Day and SAVE THE FROGs conservation program.

Birds Bangladesh

Birds Bangladesh (BB), a bird watching and bird conservation club in Bangladesh has take the initiative to participate in this world wide movement. BB arranged an art competition in Telia Para Primary School, Shahjanpur, Madabpur, Habigonj. Participants are from class five students of the school. Sayam U Chowdhury, creator of BB invites me to join their team for the awareness campaign. Another great grate bird watcher, senior brother of me Zamirudding Faisal also called me to join the program and I was feeling so lucky. Didn’t think much and I accepted the invitation.

As 28th April is an office day, BB Planned for 2nd May, 2009 with an 11 member team. We also have a Bird watching program as an add-on, because the main campaign will not take much time, but we have the whole day. So, Sayam planned to visit Shatchari National Park (SNP) after lunch, because SNP was very close from the Shahjan pur village.

2nd May, 2009, Morning 8.30 AM. As per plan, I went beside of Kakoli foot over bridge where from Sayam should pick me. I had a tea from local tea stall in road and saw that some other guys was also waiting for some one. It was a wild guess that they could be our team member, as I only know Sayam & Fahim and his friend Adiba from 11 members. Sayam reached the meeting place at sharp 9.00 AM. When I get into the micro bus, my guess becomes correct. The waiting guys were my team members. Nasir and Samia get into the micro bus just after me. Sayam came along with Shimona Miss, Fahim and Pavel bhai. Pavel bhai is the guy who helps with the overall arrangements and talking to the school principal for the program. We pick Adiba from Nikonjo, Atik, Shama and Samina from Uttara. Well I think S rulez that day . Though it was a remarkable density of S, with all together, it was a very nicely balanced team for such program.

We reached near Narshingdi i at 10.30 AM and stopped our microbus for a break fast/tea. Some of us take Ruti, Dal Vaji, but everyone takes tea and me took two cups of tea . Shimona miss bring sweets for all. Tested the sweet and that was really nice. Thanks again miss .

Having tea in Narshingdi

Sayam (Left) having Runi and Dal vaji as breakfast

Samia (left) taking breakfast & Adiba (right) is happy with tea

Rana Hotel & Restaurant

Atik chatting with Shimona Miss

We started again and then the frustration started after watching sky. The whole sky was getting covered by dark black clouds and our hope for bird watching in Shatchari was dying per second. Fahim was most frustrated my view as it was his fist time in Shatchari. From the whole sky, we saw just a row of white/radish white sky near horizon.

The sky with dark cloud

The sky with dark cloud

I hopped that we might see a shiny sky just after Bhairab Bazar. But when w reached Bhairab bazaar, we didn’t see any changes.

Old Brahmaputra River at Bhairab Bazar

Riskshwas on Bhairab Brahmaputra bridge

I saw the Old Brahmma putra river in Bhairab Bazar many times. It’s a dead river now, but the river with the black cloud was looking very good to me. We passed the Bhairab-Ashugonj bridge in top of Meghna river..

Bhairab Meghna Bridge

No change in sky, moreover it’s started raining. At this time, I was frustrated too.

Sign of rain

We reached watching close to Telia para Primary school at around 12.50 PM. Rain was still with us. Rest of 3 minutes (or 2minute?) walking distance road was a soil made road. The road was risky enough to pass with the microbus and we didn’t have enough umbrellas. Then we planned for go to school by two shifts. After the first migration, I started walk by covering my bag with his raincoat and me by my raincoat.

Telia para Primary School

It was really a good feeling after reaching school. All students were looking at us with their very curious eyes. We meet Head sir of school and then get into class 5 room. Students were also getting prepared for something unknown for them. Then Shimona Miss started talking with students. Topics was how many frogs the saw regularly, how they behave bla bla. Then she played some frog calls in her laptop. The calls didn’t stop until we finished the program. It was really a nice environment.

Pavel bhai (left) and Nasir (right) working

Pavel bhai and Nasir working

Fahim talking with students

Curious Students

Sayam was very quick to distribute the sketches of frogs to students to start the competition. The competition was actually to color the sketches with their imagination. Everyone helped him to do the task, except me . I was busy with photography. Shama, Samia, Samina helps by distributing color pencils to students. As per Sayams mails reference, Shama did a great job by collecting t he used pastel colors and reusing them as attractive gift materials for the students. Thanks to Shama from me.

Students with Sketch

The competition starts at 1.10 PM. Other teachers were already in class to visit and monitor. Our meets was also monitoring and guiding them up to a level. 30minutes students remain busy with coloring the sketches. Sayam took some data from the students during this time. Data such name, fathers occupation, who run their family etc.

Students coloring sketches, Shama is moderator?

Some students never learn

Students 01

Students 02

Samia and Adiba with students

Sayam taking data from students

Shimona Miss working

Sayam taking data

Atik taking care of students

Samia & Adiba observing students

Samia helping students

Students drawing frogs

Students drawing frogs

Shimona Miss working, Fahim and Samia observing

Shimona Miss

Last moment work

Last few minutes

At 1.40 pm we started taking back the sheets and we moved to teachers’ room.

Samina taking sheets

Shama taking sheets

Consolidating all the sheets

We choose best 10 among around 35 students. Then we asked Head sir for choosing best three and he has come up with final result, the best three.

Selection process going on

Elimination process

Elimination process

Elimination process

Shimona miss giving speech during art selection

and best 10 are

Frog 01

Frog 02

Frog 03

Frog 04

Frog 05

Frog 06

Frog 07

Frog 08

Frog 09

Frog 10

We entered the class again and announced the 1st, 2nd and 3rd position. Sayam gifts T-shirts to winners. T-shirts were sponsored by Ronnie bhai (Ronald Halder):. Shimona miss gifts some Frog toys as well. From Birds Bangladesh, all students got some chocklets. After the price giving, Shimona miss give a speech to students. She spooked on use of plastic materials, over fertilizing our soils, how frogs helps ecosystem, how they are disappearing and how to save them. Miss you got thanks again from me, for the nice effort.

Shimona miss on speech

Samina distributing chocolates

Samina distributing chocolates

Sayam with winner, presenting T-Shirt

Winner with her art and gift

2nd position holder

3rd position holder

Then rest of the sheets has distributed to actual artist students.

Atik distributing papers

Pavel bhai distributing papers

Students promise

Agenda of students promiss

After the competition we all took a group photo. Then Fahim also offered me to go in group and he’ll take photo. I really loved his group photo. Nice job man… . After the group photo, teacher asked us for some dry food . We had Biscuits and Chanachur then. After the refreshment, we said buy to Teliapara Primary School for that day.

Group Photo 1: Photo credit - Fahim

Group Photo 2

Having chanachor with sir

At this part, I’d like to thanks some more people, whom I didn’t directly participate in the program, but helps the programs from background. Ishtiaque Shams: for designing the frog- banner, Rahul bhai (Saniar R. Rahul): for helping us out with the transport. Ronnie bhai (Ronald Halder): for contributing frog-t-shirts for the three winning students. Zamir bhai (Zamiruddin Faisal) : for providing the frog outline printouts. Thanks to all of you brothers. By luck rain stopped when we just come of school. Thanks to Allah.

After coming from school, we planned for lunch. 2:30 PM, We went in a bazaar near the school and took our lunch with Egg and fish. After the lunch, we too some drinks as well. After the lunch at 3.10 pm, we start for Shatchari National Park.

Waiting for food

Waiting for food

Food came and pet puja

Pet puja

Pet puja

Started for Shatchari

After a 20minutes journey, we reached our final destination of that day at 3:30.

Samia on the way to Shatchari

It’s a project by Nishorgo. Shatchari National Park is a reserved rain forest. Size of the forest is 242 hectares /600Acre. Though is not that much a big area to be a forest, Shatchari has around 218 species of birds within this size. Really amazing.

Shatchari National Park

Shatchari national park, Part of Map

Shatchari Facts

We entered in a trail and started work. Every on gets busy within a few minutes. Some was busy with binocular, some with camera (:p me also) and rest either watching other or itching Pavel bhai. Well that was another attraction of the whole tour . I really enjoyed it and become strangled how Pavel bhai defend them. Great you are Pavel bhai.

Shatchari 01

Birdwatchers group

Shatchari 03

Shatchari 04

Shatchari Flower 01

Shatchari Flower 02

Shimona miss in action

Unknown to me

The Jungle

Dragonfly

Shatchari trail

Flower 03

Shatchari trail 02

Langur

The team (a part)

Shatchari trail

Shatchari great tree

We passed almost one and half hour inside the trail. The full time include go in and coming out. After coming out, we took tea, banana etc. we rest there for around 15/20 minutes and start journey to Dhaka.

Shatchari trails

Fahim in trail

Shatchari trails

why shouldnt shot dog in Shatchari?

Red trail

Sunset at Madbpur, Habiganj

After a short journey, we stopped in a restaurant in Madappur, Habiganj. Saw a beautiful sunset from there and the final journey to Dhaka begins. Overall it was a very good day to me. Meet some wonderful good souls. Felt very good as becoming part of such nature awareness program. Shatchari is such a place, as many times someone will visit that, the more s/he will want to visit. Lot of fun, lot of learning, even from the students of school, nature and team members. Everything gives me so pleasure, that the tour become one of remarkable tour in my life. A thanks goes to Sayam for a good arrangement and management.

Thanks to all team members for giving me a such nice tour. Thanks to all students & teachers of Teliapara Primary School and obviously SAVE THE FROGs team for starting such nice awareness program. Allah may bless you all.

Tour Schedule: 9-11 April, 2009

Places Visited: Parjatan Rest House, Shoilo Propat, Chimbuk, Nilgiri, Shangu river, Ruma Bazar, Boga Lake.

Hill tracks of chittagong were always dream to visit, but before the Safari 4 of Through The Lens: Bangladesh (TTL), i wasn’t lucky enought to visit one of the most beautiful landscape of Bangladesh.

5^th March, 2009. TTL announced that Safari 4 is going to be held in Bandarban from 9-11 April, 2009. Listed places for visit was Bandarban Town (Parjatan Rest house Meghla), Chimbuk, Nilgiri rest house (night stay), Next day start for Ruma Bazar, Boga Lake (night stay), next day starts for Bandarban, then Shwarna Mondir and back to Dhaka. In between this, we shell visit some tribal villages. I enrolled my name in the tour member list as quick as I saw the thread in the group and starts waiting for the 8^th April night because we will start journey at 8^th Night.

Finally the 8^th Night came and we were supposed to be meeting at SA Poribahan Counter, Komla Pur at 10.00PM. Bus was supposed to start at 10.30. I reached at 10.05pm and many of us were already there and then starts waiting for rest of the people. Though our tour member list reached 32+ members, but finally we were 27 and 5/6 of them was from Sylhet. They came Dhaka at the same day and starts with us. Our bus started at 11.00pm.

No one was interested to sleep rather than chatting and enjoying the journey. But it was not the first time. It’s the same case as our previous three Safari tours and Kite Festival tour in St. Martins. But after some time of chatting, I feel for sleep and I went back to my sit for a sound sleep. Weak up when our bus stops for 20 minutes to have a break on journey. Provably we took more than 30 minutes and went back to bus and I sleep again until we reached Bandarban.

9^th April, 2009. We reached Bandarbat at around 8.00am and took a two hours break for fresh up and breakfast. We stayed at Parjatan Reast house Meghla. As per plan, after fresh up and breakfast we start our journey with two cars. Unfortunately I don’t have any good picture of the Parjatan rest house, our breakfast and the cars when we started.

View from Bandaran Parjatan Complex

Started enjoying the beauty of Bandarban, Hills, roads and everything we was passing by. We saw Tiger hill from our car and I planned to visit that place anytime next.

At around 10.00am we reached Shoilo Propat. We all came down of and spread around the place within the moment. I started with Zamir bhai (Zamieeruddin Faisal) to take some birds shot. But in between that I also took some other places that are a tiny water flow from rocks, hills behind the Shoilo Propat, two bridges in two sides of the place. Anyway, those bird shots wasn’t good enough to post here.

Bridge beside Shoilo Propat

View from Shoilo Propat circle

Shoilo Propat

Another Bridge beside Shoilo Propat

Local peopels beside Shoilo Propat

Than we start again for Nilgiri and enjoyed the beautiful landscape.

Before reaching Nilgiri, we visited Chimbok as well. The beauty of hills from chimbuk is just awesome. We take some food from there as well.

Chimbok, We taking food

Chimbok, right two cars was ours

Chimbok

Butterfly with Joba

Landscape from Chimbok

Hills from Chimbok

Hills from Chimbok

We enjoying junk food in Chimbok

We reached Nilgiri around 1.30pm and were really shocked to see such luxury resort in that remote area which is in 2,500 feet high. It was so beautiful and clean and two cottages were in front of us which was so beautiful and in blackish red color.

Nilgiri tree

Nilgiri living cottage

Nilgiri cottage

Nilgiri rest house

Nilgiri Rest House, Views

Nilgiri Rest House View

Nilgiri Rest House View

Then we informed that there was another cottage which is VIP and finally I stayed in that room with Sharif bhai, Zamir bhai, Nurur bhai, Tushar bhai and Neaz bhai. The level of luxury of that room is just awesome. Wooden furniture, the balcony, washroom, bed and TV with Tata Sky receiver just amazed us all.

Nilgiri Rest House, VIP Room

Nilgiri Rest House, VIP Room - Wash room in the photo

Nilgiri Rest House, VIP Room stairs

Nilgiri Rest House, VIP room

Nilgir Rest House, VIP Room

Then we informed for lunch and we joined in canteen which one is also very much luxurious. We took our lunch and enjoyed tea in the balcony of the canteen.

Nilgiri Rest House - Canteen

Nilgiri Rest House - Canteen, Taking lunch

Nilgiri Rest House - Canteen, Tea after lunch

I’ve took some other views of Nilgiri Rest House just after tea.

Nilgiri Rest House View

Nilgiri Rest House View

Then started a walk for a tribal village. Some of us very tired then after walking a while we decided not to go in the village and come back in rest house.Took some photos in between. Most of them was nature phtoos

Nilgiri Nature

Nilgiri Nature, Ant colony

Nilgiri Nature, Spider

Nilgiri Nature, Spider

Nilgiri Nature, Spider

Road just beside Nilgiri Rest House

Then had a sleep in balcony of the canteen with two of my cameras just beside me in an open place. Nuru bhai also did the same .

After a very sound sleep, we felt that its almost sunset time and become busy with camera till dark night.

Nilgiri Rest House, View from Canteen

Nilgiri Rest House, View form Canteen

Nilgiri Rest House, The Canteen

Nilgiri Rest House, The Canteen

Landscape from Nilgiri

Landscape from Nilgiri

Nilgiri Rest House

Nilgiri Rest House, The Canteen

Landscape from Nilgiri

Nilgiri Rest House

Landscape from Nilgiri Rest House

Then after shooting, all becomes busy with camera charging and chat. We were in our VIP room than suddenly someone called us to go outside to see clouds. At 2500 feet high, clouds were passing between the rest house. When we came of room, it was crossing us and we felt the cloud. Some of us were trying long exposure, but I didn’t. Everything can’t just capture in frames, something must felt also. After sometimes we were called for dinner. Had dinner and went for sleep.

10^th April 2009. Weak up at morning 7.00am and have the breakfast very quickly because we have to move fast for our next destination, Boga Lake via Ruma Bazar.Took breakfast so fast and some photos from that time.

Nilgiri Rest House, The Canteen during breakfast

Canteen Balcony

Started our journey around 8.30am in the same way we came to Nilgiri up to Chimbuk Army camp. Then we turned in another road in the way to Shangu Nodi (River).

We reached in the bank of Shangu Nodi around 11am and reserved some boats to take us up to Ruma Bazar . At boat we all were enjoying the beauty of river, its cold water as the weather was too hot. The hills and village around the river. Found many people’s working on river with bamboos. The river wasn’t very deep in this dry season. Many times our boat gets shucked with the soil under the river.. imagine how deep it was.. some of us get down from the boat and starts walking beside the boat.. it was a wow feelings.

Shangu nodi (River)

Shangu Nodi (River)

Shangu Nodi (River)

Shangu Nodi (River)

Shangu Nodi (River)

Our boat on Shangu Nodi (river)

Peoples of Shangu Nodi (River)

Fisherman in Sangu

Shangu & its bank

Around 1am we reach in Ruma Bazar. Boat port in Ruma bazar really remind me my childhood life of Bhairab Bazar as that is one of the biggest boat port in Bangladesh.

Bank of Shango Nodi in Ruma

We had our lunch in Ruma Bazar from Al Amin hotel and bought some dry foods, drinks from the market. Then started our journey again with other cars. This road was more difficult than previous roads.

Ruma Bazar

Ruma Bazar

Ruma Bazar

Hotel in Ruma Bazar

Ruma bazar

Restaurant in Ruma bazar

After a hardcore journey, we reached near of Boga Lake. Our car stopped and our driver and guide told us that now we need to climb a hill to reach Boga Lake. It was really tough for us, because none of us had any good experience of tracking. There was no other option, so we started! It was really hard time for us, we was taking rest after each 5minutes of tracking and total average 30/45mins of tracking we reached in pick and saw the beautiful Boga Lake.

Boga Lake at 1200ft high from sea level

Laram Rest House, Boga Lake

After the first sight of Boga Lake, forget the hard time of tracking. Was so pleased to see the landscape. A beautiful lake surrounded by high hills and a small village just beside the lake. When I know that we will stay in the village we just saw, felt I am in haven for one day.

When entered in the village, after saw the house we going to sleep I felt so pleasure that I can’t express. It was a dream house and dream village to live my entire life.

Village beside Boga Lake

Government sign board of Boga Lake

Just had a walk in the bank of the lake and front of the village. Suddenly I heard a bell from the village church and went in front of the church. Villagers was going inside one by one.

Peopels of Boga Lake

Peopels of Boga Lake

Tribal Kid. Her naem is Belinda, Boga Lake

Asked permission to get into church to have experience of their prayer. In the tone they started prayer, make me mad.. Fall in love with the tone.

Inside of Boga Lake Church

After a while I come out of the church and saw some people were bathing on the lake and I also joined. After bath many of us was busy in long exposures, as like before, I wasn’t interested rather I joined in chat with other. Then had dinner and finally went to bed to sleep.

11^th April 2009. Weak up at 6.30am. A team was going Murong village which is another 1hour tracking far from the village we stayed. When I weak up, I didn’t find those who stayed here. After a 10 minute walk, I fund Rafi bhai and we been called for breakfast. Then Me, Rafi Bhai, Shakil, Anis bhai took breakfast and start walking and have a short tracking in just up our village.

Our breakfast table

It was just 10 minute track.Shots from the walk.

A tribal man reparing his home

A tribal family in their Balcony

Tribal girl working

Tribal girls working

A tribal man working

Village tribal people

A tribal baby

A tribal man was reparing his old home

A tribal full family working

A tribal kid

Same Kid again

Tribal architecture from Bwam village

Tribal Architecture from Bwam village

Some nature shot in same time..

A fruit called Aam-jam

Insect 1

Grasshopper

At returning time, I went Belinda’s home and meet her mother. She was working that time.

Belinda with her mom

Belinda with her mom

I couldn’t stop my selft to take a photo of mine with Belinda. The kid is soo cute.

Me with Belinda and her mom

After coming back from there, we went to Marma village with rest of us. After a while, when we saw we need to go down of a small hill, some of us backed in village and some of us was still going.

Way to Marma Village

Road of Marma Village

But we feel so sad that the Marma villagers didn’t allow us to take photographs of them. Finally we just took some photos of their home and other landscape and came back to our village.

A Mamra house

A Marma House

Taken from Marma Village

Another Marma Architecture

Marma Village

Then start coming back and toke photograph of Marma village from top.

We coming back from Marma Village

Marma Village in Top View

Boga Lake from Marma Village side

Then we came back to ur village and went to lake for bath and enjoyed the bath in the lake. Just after bath, we said good bye to Boga Lake and start journey for Bandarban. Here are last few shots from Boga Lake

A tribal girl

A tribal kid

Birder trying for portrait

Dragonfly 1

Dragonfly 2

Dragonfly 3

Bee 1

Ant1

Leisure walk in Boga Lake

A beautiful girl of Boga lake

Young players of Boga Lake

After a crazy drive, we backed in Ruma Bazar, have lunch there and start again for Bandarban. This time we passed Shangu by walking. We reached Bandarban at around 5 and have another bath in Parjatan Rest house.

Last shot of the tour

Then we took our dinner and ride on bust at 8.30PM. No one was energetic enough to have another chat, I just slept and weak up at 5.30 when we was in Dhaka and the tour ends here.

This was one of the unforgetable tour in my life. Love u Bandarban, Love u Bangladeh, the queen of Beauty.

Pohela Boishakh fall in 14/15th April of English Gregorian calendar. In Bangladesh, 14th is the official celebration day as per official amended calendar by Bangla Academy. In some places/people celebrate this in 15th as per Old Bangla calendar / Hindu calendar. 14th is National Holiday in Bangladesh to celebrate Pohela Boishakh.

Pohela Boishakh is celebrated in every part, city of Bangladesh. I went in Dhaka University to celebrate the festival and it was my first time with camera. Here are some photos from Pohela Boishakh 1416

I was entering in DU through the Doyel Chattr to TSC road.  In between I started my first click of Boishak by capturign Bibi Russell and her Truck rally.

Bibi Russell on truck

Bibi Russell and her Team on truck

the truck from front

Just beside the Dus, the stopped and come down to road, had a dance

Dance of young peoples

I got some video as well

then starts again.. and i also left the place..

i was planning to to Art Institute and suddenly saw a rally of horse. I captured that

Horse Rally

Horse Ride

At the center of TSC Circle,  preparation of concert was going on.  Musician was playing music and some tribal girls was also waiting to show a dance.

Musician playing music

Tribe Girls was waiting for a dance show

Finally I started for Art Institute and found a rally by TSC members. Also captured the Demo Crocodile, Owl and Eliphant which is gonna used in Mongol Shuva Jatra.

Rally by TSC Members

Demo Crocodile

Demo Owl

Demo Elephant

there was many flooting business man showing his product by playing music

businessman showing product

found many people with masks, i got one of them

man with mask

then finally entered  in Art Institute and saw the preparation of Mongol Shuva Jatra

Front line people of Mongol Shuva Jatra

People with Banner of Mongol Shuva Jatra

Music play in Mongol Shuva Jatra

then suddenly saw, some musician came and starts playing… i think its some kind of warm up policy

Music in Mongol Shuva Jatra

Dholy Playing Dhol

Dholy Playing Dhol

Then finally Mongol Shuva Jatra begains and it came out of Art Institute

Mongol Shuva Jatra coming out of Art Institute

and its on road

Mongol Shuva Jatra

Police as security in front of hte rally

Police in front of the rally

uncountable people joined the rally

Peoples on the rally

Peoples on the rally

Then Mongol Shuva Jatra passed by me and I started shoting something else and I found another short rally by Nogor Shongkirton, a hindu community

Nogor Songkirton rally

Participants of Nogor Songkirtorn Rally

Participants

Music in the rally

Participants

Angelica

Kid on the rally

then i shot some other rally and faces

Rally by Baul Community

Demo of Bangladeshi Culture

Demo characters of Bangladeshi Culture

Again I entered in the Art Institute and behind the Bokul Tola, found Nagor Doul Service. People were really enjoying it

Line for Nagor Doul

Nagor Doul

finally I went for some portraits

Dancing girl

Dancing girl

This is my first Boishak as an amature photographer. At the end of the festival I realized there are lots of things I’ve missed.. such as Ramna Boto Mul function by Chaya Not, Panta Elish, Hal Khata, Dhanmondi Robindro Sorebor etc. Hope for next year to cover left things.. Now I just need to wait another one year for the missed shots!

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Using the scope of postering, we planned for a Night Photowalk. So we bring cameras and at the same time of postering, we also did photography. we was around 20 peopels there. Night walkers was straned to see us a big groupo with camera in everyones hand. Some time police mans comes to ask whats the matter and after a little chat the appritiate us. Here are some shots from the night posterwalk

Preparing poster

Preparing poste

Mishuk Bhai thinking deep thinking

Our Postering crew working

People documenting our work

Night Riders

street boy working with us

Night guards were curious to see 22 crazy photographers at night

contractions workers are working

Night dont come for every people

government's old habit.. drilling the road was going on..