In a "minute."

A Bangladeshi minute has just passed. In the past few days some significant things have happened. Nobel laureate Dr. Yunus has given up on the idea of launching a political party, there have been some blasts on three main railway stations through out Bangladesh, a good friend has left Bangladesh, my stepfather has left Bangladesh and will return in late august, Sheikh Hassina (a former prime minister and leader of the political party the Awami League) has come back to the country after having lived in “exile” during the past months, the Care Taker Government is declining in popularity (although they are doing many good and necessary things), and a new set of rules has been declared issuing that industries (pending on area) will have separate weekly holidays (so some areas have holiday on Friday as normal, whilst others have holiday on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Monday etc – this in order to save on electricity)…so many things that have happened in such a short amount of time that if it would have been any other country it would have flooded the media (apart from that my friend and stepfather left Dhaka of course. Not even a foreign press would have paid attention to that!). Here all these things seem as completely normal. In many places this is a rather obvious philosophical statement, but in Bangladesh it is literally true that: what happened yesterday should not be taken for granted today.

I am in my office and have just finished off an afternoon coffee break. It has been killer hot during the past weeks. 38 degrees in the shade and 100% humidity. Sweaty.

Otherwise I am only up to my old tricks. Lot’s of work this summer. I may have some vacation in August and will then plan a small ‘Sweden trip.’

/Chris

Traffic Complaints

11 general rules apply when cruising down the river of cars in Dhaka and Bangladesh.

1. Sound your horn and flash the head light as many times as necessary in order to make people aware (or rather not to forget) of your presence.
2. Incase you have headed the wrong way and need to turn, feel free to do so any where on the road. Just make sure that you block up the entire road in order to avoid any unnecessary bumping of cars.
3. When you are in a hurry (or not) make as many takeovers as possible. Your passengers may be impatient. IMPORTANT!: Takeovers should only be performed when cars in the opposite direction are heading right for you. If they refuse to get out of your way use the head light as many times as necessary.
4. Use breaks only when an accident is immanent.
5. You have the right of way if and when you assume that a fellow car will have time to break and stop for you.
6. To hit pedestrians is a viable and recommended alternative, as cars and rickshaws may result in bumps in you precious metal.
7. Don’t care about cars behind you, keep your focus on the cars ahead.
8. When you are gracious enough to allow someone to overtake you, roll down your window, wave with one finger (index finger recommended) as to indicate “you may pass.”
9. When making a turn you have to plan ahead. For a right turn, stay as far in the left lane as possible. Do the opposite when turning left: stay in the right lane.
10. When all else fails, put your hand and arm out the window (for a more lasting effect have you fellow passengers do the same) and nonchalantly indicate as to what you want (stop, turn etc.)
11. If you choose to neglect these rules, that is fine. Most things change over night, but one rule is constant: Don’t care about anyone or anything, as long as you reach (or die trying) your destination.

Best of luck!

/Chris