Lifestyle
Motorbike Riding in Winter: How to beat the cold weather?
As winter approaches, many of us are looking for a new hobby to keep us busy. Have you ever considered riding a motorbike in cold weather? If this sounds like something, you would be interested in trying out, make sure that you do it safely! This article will share some tips and tricks on riding motorbikes as safely as possible during the winter months.
Dangers in motorcycle riding during the winter
Since the weather is colder and there is more precipitation, it might seem like an idea to take a break from riding throughout winter. However, this may not be as safe as you think. Here are some dangers of putting off your bike.
Slippery surfaces
The roads become slippery in winter due to fog and precipitation, and you will have to deal with these while riding in winter. This is particularly dangerous when it comes to turns, as your motorcycle can slide out from underneath you if there is not enough traction on the road surface beneath your tires.
Read Top 10 ABS Motorbikes in Bangladesh
If this happens, then your bike will keep sliding until either something stops it or gravity takes over. Therefore, it could mean a collision with another vehicle or, worse still, an obstacle like a lamp post or tree! Even if nothing stops it before that point, crashing into one of these objects at speed could be deadly for both yourself and anyone else involved.
The risk of hypothermia
Riding through cold weather means exposing yourself to even colder air blasts coming off car windscreens and the road surface. This can lead to hypothermia - a condition where your body temperature drops too low, which in extreme cases could be fatal.
Distraction
It is normal to get distracted during the winter as your vision may get blurry due to fog. Riding through winter means dealing with fewer daylight hours than you are used to. You may even face problems riding during the daylight too. Riding in winter weather can make you feel less comfortable on your bike than usual, which makes accidents even more likely.
read How to Choose a Motorbike Helmet in Bangladesh under TK 10000 in 2021
As you can barely see the path sometimes, riding too close together with cars or trucks puts both yourself and others at risk. Even if you have heavy motorcycles, it still offers little protection against other vehicles' metal frames, so give extra space to cars and trucks when you are out on the road.
Instagrammable Rooftop Restaurants in Uttara
A rooftop restaurant can create the proper atmosphere and concept for people to have an unforgettable experience in the middle of a sky garden. It gives the feeling of being in the heart of nature, with plenty of greenery and a nice breeze. The features that make a rooftop restaurant great are delicious food, impeccable view, courteous service and a tastefully adorned and well-maintained space. Today let’s take a look at some of the popular rooftop restaurants in Uttara that have a unique ambiance so that whenever someone wants to have a wonderful time while being surrounded by nature, they can head to these rooftop restaurants.
5 Instagram-friendly Rooftop Restaurants in Uttara
Charcoal BBQ Restaurant
If someone enjoys opulent barbecue, Charcoal is the place to go. This extraordinary rooftop restaurant offers a spectacular view of the Dhaka airport and city. The view from the 12th-floor roof, as well as some delectable BBQ for dinner, is the main draw. Even on a warm evening, the outdoor seating should not be a problem. They have massive pedestal fans that shower water droplets, which is extremely relaxing as well as adding to its uniqueness. The vistas are breathtaking all around. Uttara glistening on one side and the runway's dazzling lights on the other create the most relaxing atmosphere.
Read Best Rooftop Restaurants in Dhanmondi with Instagrammable Views
La Ting Ting
Located on the outskirts of Rupayan City, Uttara, this rooftop restaurant is one of a kind with its innovative and eccentric décor. This recently launched restaurant consists of a number of thatched huts seemingly made out of clay and brick, giving the illusion of a soothing little village in the middle of the bustling city.
Top 10 Historical Mosques in Bangladesh
A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims. Mosques are also known as Masjids. Usually, mosques or masjids are used for communal prayer on Friday Noon called Jumu'ah or Jami. Beyond the significance as a place of worship, mosques bear the symbol of tradition and architecture. Since the medieval periods, many Muslim kings have ruled over the territory now known as Bangladesh. Numerous palaces, mosques, and forts have been constructed in this region. Still today, some century-old historical mosques represent the grandeur of the rich Islamic architecture and tradition. Let us take a look at the top 10 historical mosques of our country.
Beautiful Traditional Mosques in Bangladesh
Shat Gombuj Mosque
It is one of Bangladesh's oldest mosques. During the reign of Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmoud Shah (1435-59), Khan Jahan Ali constructed a spectators' walkway for q gathering, which was ultimately converted into sixty domed mosques. On the west wall of the mosque, there are ten mihrabs. Within the middle, there is a towering and lovely mihrab. In the south, there are 5 mihrabs, and in the north, there are 4 mihrabs. There is a little entrance just next to the main mihrab, on the north facet, where there is thought to be one mihrab.
From north to south, the mosque is 160 feet long, 143 feet long inside, 104 feet wide from east to west, and 88 feet wide inside. The walls are approximately 8.5 feet thick. Surprisingly, the total number of domes in the sixty-domed mosque is 81, with 11 domes in seven rows totaling 77 domes, four in each, and four in each of the four corners.
Read Top Historical Places in Dhaka City to Visit on Weekends
Atiya Mosque
The Atiya Mosque is about six kilometers south of the district headquarters in the Tangail district's Delduar Upajilla village of Atiya. During Emperor Jahangir's reign, Sayeed Khan Panni, son of Baizid Khan Panni, erected the heritage mosque in honor of Shah Baba Kashmiri in 1019 AH (1610-1611 AD).
“Once There Were Rivers” screened at IUB
Mahenaz Chowdhury’s short documentary ‘Once There Were Rivers’ was screened at the Independent University of Bangladesh’s Lecture Gallery premise on Saturday.
Organised by IUB’s Green Planet Club, the screening event featured panelists from IUB’s Department of Environmental Science and Management, who discussed questions by the students on a future with clean rivers.
Dr K Ayaz Rabbani, Head, Department of Environmental Science and Management, shared how the film had taken him on a journey that connects the essence of rivers, like Shitalkshya, with the people whose lives depend on it through a different lens.
Dr Abdul Khaleque, Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Management, emphasised why this film is a sign of hope that the new generation leaders and activists acknowledge the seriousness of environmental issues and is taking measures to a new height.
Md Ekhtekharul Islam, Senior Lecturer, IUB Department of Environmental Science and Management and IUB Green Planet Club coordinator, shared telling examples of how everyone on an individual level has to be aware of their environmental impact.
The knowledge exchange between panelists and students reflected future courses of actions that must be taken collectively to create impact. Further, it was discussed that there are excellent conservation and regulatory policies deployed by the Government but are not being implemented effectively.
Khichuri Recipes: 7 varieties of yummy nutritious Khichdi to try at home
Khichuri, a one-pot dish, is one of the most popular comfort foods in Bangladesh. Khichuri is also known as Khichdi or Khichadi. This rice and lentil dish is a complete meal that is not only absolutely scrumptious but is also quite healthy. It is a simple, flavorful, and easy-to-cook dish that is especially known to warm hearts during monsoon. The name comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Khicca’, which signifies grains and legumes. Various types of khichuri are cooked across the country, and it is a cuisine that brings us all together. Let’s take a look at 7 varieties of delicious khichuri which can be easily made at home.
7 Tasty Healthy Khichuri Recipes to Try at Home
Moong dal khichuri
This is the most common variation of khichuri. To prepare this dish, first, melt ghee or oil in a pressure cooker. Then cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, cloves, and bay leaf should all be fried whole until aromatic. When cooking the spices, the cumin should also crackle. Now add the grated ginger and cook for 5-6 seconds or until the raw ginger aroma fades. Sauté for 2-3 seconds after adding the turmeric, red chili powder, and asafoetida. Now sauté for 2 minutes with the roasted moong dal. Next, stir in the drained rice thoroughly. Pour 5 cups of water into a mixing bowl and season with salt and sugar. On medium to high heat, stir the khichuri and then pressure cook it for 4-5 whistles. Open the lid of the cooker once the pressure has settled down on its own.
Read Winter Cake Ideas: Yummy Recipes to add your baking bucket list
Oats khichuri
This khichuri is a healthier version of the normal khichuri. Heat 1.5 tablespoons of ghee in a 2 litre pressure cooker first. Then add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1 small bay leaf. Allow the cumin seeds to pop. Then add a third of a cup of chopped onions. Cook onions until they become transparent. Then stir in half a teaspoon of coarsely chopped ginger and 1 chopped green chile. Saute for a couple of minutes. Add 13 cups of chopped tomatoes next.
Exhibition of Bangladeshi arts, photographs begins in Toronto
The High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Canada has inaugurated an exhibition of Bangladeshi arts and photographs titled "Lighting the Fire of Freedom: Art of A Young Nation" at the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Toronto.
The exhibition consisting 50 outstanding works of 38 Bangladeshi artists and photographers, is organised to celebrate the twin historic occasions of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, said the High Commission on Saturday.
The exhibition will remain open until 12 January 2022.
The exhibition covers the history of Bangladesh from the birth of Bangabandhu in 1920 to 1975, depicting the important events of his life and his struggle and sacrifice to build a new nation, Bangladesh.
Also read: Bangabandhu Exhibition Centre a ‘new icon’ of Dhaka-Beijing fruitful ties: Envoy
Best Rooftop Restaurants in Dhanmondi with Instagrammable Views
In recent years there has been a surge in restaurants in Bangladesh. The restaurant culture has moved from the traditional Bangla Chinese establishments to more oriental and fusion choices. The changing food culture has complemented the change in restaurant aesthetics as well. Rooftop restaurants have become a staple to that changing culture. Located at the heart of Dhaka, Dhanmondi offers some of the best rooftop experiences with amazing views all around. Here is a detailed take on some of the best rooftop restaurants in and around Dhanmondi.
Instagrammable Rooftop Restaurants in Dhanmondi
Koolcha
Situated right opposite the iconic Star kabab of Dhanmondi 2, Koolcha is a relatively new place. The place opened just last year on the rooftop of the Yellow showroom.
Koolcha offers a great panoramic view of the Dhanmondi area through its dual rooftop setup. The restaurant is designed in a rustic appeal resembling the traditional tea culture of Bangladesh. The colorful ambiance with amazing lighting at night enhances the overall aesthetics of the restaurant.
The menu of Koolcha is traditional snacks with a twist of oriental fusion. There are momos, puri, kebab rolls, and a very unique item called Naanza which is a mix of Naan and Pizza. For people looking to have a quality tea time under the sky, Koolcha can be a great choice.
Read Visit Sajek Valley: Amazing Hilltop Cottages, Resorts, to Spend Your Vacation
The Forest Lounge
Situated right at Dhanmondi 10/A, the forest lounge offers one of the most exquisite rooftop experiences in all of Dhaka. Like its name, the restaurant abounds with greenery meant to mimic a forest. The open multi-storied rooftop restaurant also offers a unique menu for food connoisseurs. The menu ranges from continental to oriental to Pan Asian.
Sparks fly as neutral pronoun included in French dictionary
It’s a neutral pronoun that’s proving anything but: A nonbinary pronoun added to an esteemed French dictionary has ignited a fierce linguistic squabble in the country.
Le Petit Robert introduced the word “iel” — an amalgamation of “il” (he) and “elle” (she) — to its online edition last month. While the term is gaining currency among young people, it is still far from being widely used, or even understood, by many French speakers.
Though at first the change went mostly unnoticed, boisterous debate broke out this week in a nation that prides itself on its human rights tradition but that also fiercely protects its cultural heritage from foreign meddling. In one camp are the traditionalists, including some political leaders, who criticize the move as a sign that France is lurching toward an American-style “woke” ideology. In the other is a new generation of citizens who embrace nonbinary as the norm.
Also read: White House adding sign language interpreter for briefings
“It is very important that dictionaries include the ‘iel’ pronoun in their referencing as it reflects how the use of the term is now well accepted,” said Dorah Simon Claude, a 32-year-old doctoral student who identifies as “iel.”
“It is,” they added, “also a way of confronting the Academie Francaise that stays in its conservative corner and continues to ignore and scorn users of the French language.”
Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer is not in the same camp. He went to Twitter on Wednesday to say that “inclusive writing is not the future of the French language.” The 56-year-old former law professor warned that schoolchildren should not use “iel” as a valid term despite its inclusion in Le Robert, seen as a linguistic authority on French since 1967.
Francois Jolivet, a lawmaker from President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party, also made his distaste plain. Nonbinary pronouns are, he suggested, a worrying sign that France is embracing a “woke” ideology.
Jolivet wrote a letter to the bastion of French language, the 400-year-old Academie Francaise, claiming that Le Robert’s “solitary campaign is an obvious ideological intrusion that undermines our common language and its influence.”
The general director of Le Robert editions, Charles Bimbenet, jumped to the dictionary’s defense Wednesday in a statement. Far from dictating which terms should be used, he said, Le Petit Robert was elucidating the word’s meaning, now it is growing in currency nationwide.
Since “the meaning of the word iel cannot be understood by reading it alone,” Bimbenet said, “it seemed useful to us to specify its meaning for those who encounter it, whether they wish to use it or … reject it.”
“Robert’s mission is to observe and report on the evolution of a changing and diverse French language,” he said.
Also read: Coronavirus can affect memory, language: Study
In 2017, the Academie Francaise warned that moves to make French more gender neutral would create “a disunited language, with disparate expression, that can create confusion verging on illegibility.”
Gendered languages like French are seen as a particular hurdle for advocates of nonbinary terms as all nouns are categorized as either masculine or feminine, unlike in English.
Not all European countries are moving at the same speed as France. In Greece, where all nouns have not two, but three possible genders, there is no official nonbinary pronoun, but groups who support them suggest using “it.”
In Spain, after former deputy prime minister and affirmed feminist Carmen Calvo asked the Royal Spanish Academy to advise on the use of inclusive language in the Constitution, its reply the next year was crystal clear: “Inclusive language” means “the use of the masculine to refer to men and women."
Top 10 Nutritious Winter Vegetables in Bangladesh
In the winter, our bodies seek rich foods that provide both warmth and nourishment. This need necessitates the consumption of warming foods. Any vegetable that takes a long time to mature and has an edible section that grows beneath the ground's surface is usually warming and a wonderful winter vegetable to eat. When it comes to eating holistically for our health, seasonal foods provide a natural diversity that we should take advantage of. Now that it is winter, let us take a look at 10 of the most nutritious winter vegetables that provide numerous health benefits.
Winter Vegetables in Bangladesh
Carrots
The carrot is a root vegetable that is crunchy, delicious, and packed with nutrients. Beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants are the nutrients that are found in carrots. They are a healthy weight-loss snack that has been linked to decreasing cholesterol and bettering eye health. Their antioxidant carotene has also been associated with a lower incidence of cancer. Carrots might trigger allergy reactions in persons who are allergic to pollen. Carrots cultivated in contaminated soils may also have greater levels of heavy metals, compromising their safety and quality. To reap the benefits of numerous fruits and vegetables, including carrots, it must be consumed in moderation to avoid any negative consequences. Bangladeshis typically enjoy carrots raw, as sautéed or as the popular dessert known as gajor er halwa.
Read Winter Cake Ideas: Yummy Recipes to add your baking bucket list
Cabbage
To enhance the diet, start with cruciferous vegetables like cabbage. These are rich in vitamins, fibers and antioxidants. Consumption of cabbage may reduce the risk of certain diseases like heart diseases, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol level, improve digestion and reduce inflammation.
How to Choose the Right Sunscreen for Your Skin
While everyone should wear sunscreen all year, it is more crucial in the summer when the days are longer, the sun is stronger, and when people spend more time outside. If a person spends any time outside, they have probably heard at least one caution about the need to wear sunscreen. Using a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 broad-spectrum UV protection is highly recommended. Regardless of the weather, using sunscreen is critical since it is one of the most efficient ways to protect the skin from dangerous ultraviolet rays. The proper product can make all the difference, and today we will show how to choose a good sunscreen.
Tips to pick the perfect sunblock for your skin
1. Broad spectrum
This mark indicates that the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays, which are the primary cause of sunburn and skin cancer, are blocked by all sunscreens. UVA radiation, on the other hand, can cause skin cancer and premature aging. The term "broad spectrum" can only be applied to items that pass a specific test. Products that are not broad spectrum must state that they only protect against sunburn and do not protect against skin cancer or aging.
Read: Best Health Clubs and Gyms in Dhaka in 2021
2. SPF
A sun protection factor (SPF) number is printed on every bottle of sunscreen. The SPF indicates how much protection the product provides from the sun's rays. However, a greater SPF does not guarantee that the skin will be protected. A product with an SPF of 30 enables 3 percent of UV rays to hit and be absorbed by your skin, whereas a product with an SPF of 50 only allows 2 percent, a 50 percent difference. The issue is that by choosing a lotion with a higher SPF, one may believe that they are getting more protection and hence do not need to apply sunscreen as often.
Though an SPF30 should allow a person to spend 30 times more time in the sun than exposed skin, and an SPF50 should allow him to spend 50 times more time in the sun. It is possible that one will start burning far sooner than that. When someone sweats or swims, the sunscreen is washed away, and they lose protection. Therefore, a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 should be used by everyone. People who have fair skin should opt for 50.
Read Winter Skincare: How to care for sensitive skin during winter