lifestyle
‘Goblin Mode’: What does Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year mean?
Asked to sum up 2022 in a word, the public has chosen a phrase.
Oxford Dictionaries said Monday that “goblin mode” has been selected by online vote as its word of the year.
It defines the term as “a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.”
Read: Survey finds young people follow news, but without much joy
First seen on Twitter in 2009, “goblin mode” gained popularity in 2022 as people around the world emerged uncertainly from pandemic lockdowns.
“Given the year we’ve just experienced, ‘goblin mode’ resonates with all of us who are feeling a little overwhelmed at this point,” said Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl.
The word of the year is intended to reflect “the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the past twelve months.” For the first time this year’s winning phrase was chosen by public vote, from among three finalists selected by Oxford Languages lexicographers: goblin mode, metaverse and the hashtag IStandWith.
Despite being relatively unknown offline, goblin mode was the overwhelming favorite, winning 93% of the more than 340,000 votes cast.
Read: Everyday Habits to Learn English Successfully
The choice is more evidence of a world unsettled after years of pandemic turmoil, and by the huge changes in behavior and politics brought by social media.
Last week Merriam-Webster announced that its word of the year is “gaslighting” — psychological manipulation intended to make a person question the validity of their own thoughts.
In 2021 the Oxford word of the year was “vax” and Merriam-Webster’s was “vaccine.”
8 Safe Motorcycle Riding Tips for Women
Motorcycle riding has been a male-dominated hobby for almost a century, but each year an increasing number of women are starting riding motorbikes on the road. Lack of enough public transport, harassment on shared transport, high transport fare of private transport, etc are encouraging women to ride personal motorbikes. Let’s take a look at some safe riding tips for female motorbikers.
8 Safety Tips for Women Motorcycles Riders
Practice First
As more women are discovering the thrill of riding and the freedom of the open road, novice female motorcyclists may not know where to start. Many experienced riders advise novices to practice on a secondhand motorcycle before purchasing their own motorbike. Thus, if you tumble from a sharp curve or drop the bike by mistake, you will not damage a brand-new model.
Buying the Correct Bike
There are several ladies' motorbikes available on the market. However, when purchasing a motorbike, you must ensure that you can safely operate the one you pick.
Read More: Ladies Scooter Buyer Guide: How to Choose a Two-Wheeler for Women
Make sure the bike can handle your weight. Choose a motorcycle with a seat height and weight that are optimal for your physique. In addition to a comfortable riding posture, your motorbike should keep you near enough to the handlebars.
Don't forget to check the type of bike, engine power, safety features, suspension, weight limit, turning radius, and maintenance requirements before choosing a motorbike. Besides these, consider the durability, and resale value of the vehicle.
Become Acquainted with Your Bicycle
Regardless of the bicycle you pick, you must be acquainted with all of its components and operations. Before you can rev your engine, you must identify the start and throttle, as well as understand the clutch and brake mechanisms.
Read More: best 100cc motorbikes available in Bangladesh
Before hitting the road, familiarize yourself with the weight of your motorbike and practice balance. Adjust your bike's mirrors and seat height. However, you may need tools to modify the mirrors and seat of your motorbike. This technique is explained in the owner's handbook.
Get the Right Equipment
Obviously, you want gear that is as elegant as your motorbike, but it is also important that your gear protects you. Motorcycle riding attire demands more consideration than automobile attire. Whether you're traveling at fast speeds for miles or making many stops on the route to work, your gear should be able to protect you from the weather.
Even though no one intends to fall or have an accident when riding a bicycle, it is essential that your clothing offers the optimum cushioning just in case. Protect the impact zones of your body, including your knees, elbows, hands, and face.
Read More: Safety Gears for Motorcycle Riders: Necessity and Types
Remember that your legs and feet will be close to very hot components of your motorbike, such as the engine and exhaust pipes, so protect your flesh to prevent serious burns.
As a woman, it is essential to choose appropriate clothing for riding a motorcycle. Utilize online forums and social media groups for women riders to choose the right sizes and kinds of riding gear.
Establish a Pre-Ride Examination
As a novice rider, it can be beneficial to develop a pre-ride inspection to perform prior to each ride. This should include inspecting the following: Tires and wheels, Controls, Lights and electrical, Oil and fluids, Chassis, and Stands.
Read More: Motorbike Riding in Winter: How to beat the cold weather?
Regularly doing this pre-ride examination will acquaint you with your motorbike, making it easier to notice any potential issues. The owner's handbook for motorcycles may assist you to identify these controls and components, as well as the precise maintenance needs.
Exercise in a Secure Setting
When initially beginning to bike, it is recommended to practice on a straight, level road. A lengthy driveway or empty parking lot might provide you with the space you need to develop a feel for your motorcycle's throttle in a location devoid of other cars and people.
Once you have mastered fundamental navigation, you may begin practicing turns. Again, a wide, unpopulated, flat location is ideal for learning how to make huge turns. As you gain confidence, you may practice tighter spins that involve leaning.
Read More: How to Choose a Motorbike Helmet in Bangladesh under TK10000..
At some time, as a motorcycle rider, you’re sure to have a wet ride. Utilize this secure area to practice riding in wet conditions in preparation. Wet roads are more difficult than dry roads, therefore it's essential to train in a controlled setting to get used to the slippery circumstances.
You may also take a motorcycle safety course that can teach you the fundamentals of riding a motorbike. It can also help you in the motorcycle license driving exam.
Become a Defensive Rider
All motorcyclists must possess defensive riding abilities. It is easy to find yourself in a car's blind zone on the road, particularly on fast-moving freeways. You have to keep yourself safe at all times while riding your bike and ride as if people on the road can’t see or hear you.
Read More: Top 10 ABS Motorbikes in Bangladesh
Constantly monitoring the road for possible dangers, such as potholes, gravel, and roadwork is part of defensive driving. Additionally, you should learn to foresee potential threats. Obviously, you cannot predict the future, but you must always be equipped to defend yourself and your bike.
Seek Out Other Women Riders
While motorcycle riding may be an amazing individual experience, this pastime also gives a feeling of camaraderie. Consider joining a women's motorcycle club to meet other female riders, get the guidance, and possibly acquire new abilities. Your first time driving on the highway may be less daunting if you are accompanied by a passenger.
The advice of other women riders might also help you avoid biker faux pas, such as wearing motorbike-friendly clothes or ignoring other social indications that only seasoned riders would understand.
Read More: The Most Popular Motorbike Models in Bangladesh
Conclusion
After purchasing a motorbike and becoming familiar with its operation, you become a proud rider of two wheels. From purchasing a bike to hitting the road safe riding should be given the highest importance.
So far, we have discussed some essential safety tips for female motorbikers to assure a safe riding experience on road. Riding a motorcycle safely, you can not only solve your regular communication dilemma but also gather precious riding memories on vacations.
Activists target Salt Bae’s upscale London steakhouse
Animal rights activists have attacked the Knightsbridge steakhouse run by Turkish celebrity chef Nusret Gökçe, better known as “Salt Bae”.
Extinction Rebellion’s branch Animal Rebellion is advocating for “mass rewilding” and a plant-based food system.
They claimed that eight patrons sat down at tables that had been reserved at Salt Bae’s steakhouse in the upscale central London neighbourhood at around 6 pm on Saturday (December 03, 2022), Sky News reported.
Read more: French baguettes, Chinese traditional tea-making added to world heritage list
A failing system is symbolised by restaurants like these, according to student Ben Thomas. While two million people in the UK are already dependent on food banks, influencer chefs are selling steaks with gold plating for more than $1,000, he complained.
“Steaks, and other red meats, that we know carry the highest environmental impacts,” he said.
A woman was seen being dragged onto the street by restaurant personnel and left to sit on the curb in a video that the protest group published.
Read more: Top 10 Most Expensive Foods in the World
The restaurant – one of more than a dozen Nusr-Et Steakhouse locations worldwide owned by Salt Bae – launched in the latter part of last year, and patrons were astounded by its costs right away.
Soon after the restaurant opened, a receipt from one customer was posted online. It included prices for a rack of lamb at £200, a huge tomahawk steak at £630, a Coca-Cola for £9, a Red Bull for £11, sweet corn for £12, and a “golden burger” for £100.
The steak restaurant chain was started by Nusret Gökçe, who gained internet celebrity in 2017 after appearing in a video salting a steak theatrically from a height – thus earning the nickname “Salt Bae”.
Read More: British Curry Festival at InterContinental Dhaka with Michelin Star Chef Dominic Chapman
7 Food Delivery Apps for Dhaka
The hectic traffic jams of Dhaka city discourage many people to visit the physical food outlets and restaurants. App-based online food delivery services have appeared as a savior for Dhaka city residents. Using the food delivery apps, food enthusiasts and office goers can order desirable foods from their chosen restaurants after checking ratings and reviewing. Let’s take a look at 7 well-known food delivery apps to order food within Dhaka city.
7 Online Food Delivery Services in Dhaka
Food Panda
The app was released on 19th November 2019. It has an average of 4.2-star play store with more than 2 lakh user ratings. The app has been downloaded over 100M times. FoodPanda now operates in around eleven countries throughout the globe including Bangladesh. They provide their services in a variety of locations in Bangladesh, beyond Dhaka city.
Pathao Food
Pathao is the greatest online food service for you to use if you want to get your meal exactly one hour after placing your order with them. You need to download their applications to your Android mobile devices in order to make use of their services. However, you have the ability to choose which restaurants are shown on the app.
Read More: 5 Bangladeshi Winter Recipes Using Date Jaggery
Shohoz Food
Shohoz company sells tickets for various transport services, including launches, motorcycles, trucks, buses, etc. Their food delivery lineup called Shohoz Food is one of the largest online food service providers for residents of the city of Dhaka.
They are working with a large number of eateries located around Dhaka and delivering orders in a timely manner. The Shohoz food app is not available in the play store right now. However, it can be downloaded from the official Shohoz blog. This app can be downloaded on mobile devices running either Android or iOS.
HungryNaki
Hungrynaki has become one of the most well-known and widely used online meal delivery services in Bangladesh. It is one of the earliest online meal delivery services based in Bangladesh. Hungrynaki is the choice that you should choose since it covers the cuisine of more than 800 different eateries. Customers who pay with credit cards get discounts on their orders placed via Hungrynaki.
Read More: 5 Yummy Samucha Recipes for Evening Snackers
The HungryNaki app is also available to make things more enjoyable by providing a more convenient dining experience. You may sign in to the application using your HungryNaki account, Gmail account, or Facebook account. The app was released on 10th January 2014.
Khaas Food
Khaas Food is just not another leading name in food delivery services in Dhaka. It has become the most popular name among grocery delivery services in Bangladesh. Since its first release in 2015, the app is providing consistent service delivering fresh and intoxicated food to the inhabitants of Dhaka city.
Khaas Food has currently 100+ products and provides home delivery within Dhaka, Chattogram, Comilla, and Sylhet city and has served 35 thousand satisfied customers to date.
Read More: 5 Nepali Momo Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchen
Cookups
Cookrups is the greatest site to use if you want to purchase handmade dishes online since it allows you to do so. In addition to this, it offers groceries products over the whole of the city in Bangladesh.
This app can be downloaded from the app stores for Android and iOS-based smartphones. It is ahead of the pack across the board in terms of women. The Cookups app was released on 8th August 2017.
Kludio Asia
Kludio began its journey with such a large number of companies. For the purpose of the company to the consumers, and for the customers to the classified products. They provide a wide variety of tastes under a variety of brand names, like "hero burger," "fried box," "dough on the go," and several more. They provide services covering a very wide variety of cuisines.
Read More: 5 Healthy Winter Soup Recipes for Weight Loss
Conclusion
Only Dhaka dwellers know how much hassle it is to move from one place to another in Dhaka due to traffic jams and overpopulation. In recent years, several food delivery businesses have emerged in Dhaka city to deliver food and drinks to busy people. Not all of them have reached the standard level of success.
However, online food delivery start-ups are trying to ease Dhaka city's residents’ life by saving them from going out and experiencing traffic jams to just eat some food. So far, we have discussed 7 App-based Food Delivery Services in Dhaka. Pick your online food delivery service after checking ratings and reviews.
Read More: 5 Yummy Winter Pitha Recipes for Diabetics
5 Healthy Winter Soup Recipes for Weight Loss
As temperature drops in the winter, you pile on extra layers of clothes and tend to overeat also which ultimately leads to weight gain. Interestingly, you do not eat more because you are hungry, you do it for emotional satisfaction. You can totally ruin all your weight loss efforts if you are not careful about what you are eating. Let’s take a look at 5 tasty and nutritious soup recipes to lose weight this winter.
5 Delicious Winter Soup Recipes to Lose Weight
Weight-Loss Cabbage Soup
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 onion, chopped, 2 carrots, chopped, 2 stalks celery, chopped, 1 red bell pepper, chopped, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 1 ½ teaspoons seasoning, ½ teaspoon ground pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt, 8 cups vegetable broth, 1 green cabbage, halved and sliced, 1 large tomato, chopped, and 2 teaspoons white vinegar.
Directions
First, take a large pot and heat the oil. Put onion, carrots, and celery in heated oil and cook, for 6 to 8 minutes or as long as the vegetables begin to soften. Make sure you stir continuously. Then add bell pepper, garlic, seasoning, pepper, and salt. Mix together and cook for 3 minutes.
Now mix broth, cabbage, and tomato. Increase the heat and let it boil. After some time, reduce the heat. Cover the pot and cook as long as all the vegetables become tender. Remove from the stove and mix vinegar.
Read More: 5 Nepali Momo Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchen
Roasted Cauliflower & Potato Curry Soup
Ingredients
2 teaspoons coriander, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon, One and a half teaspoons turmeric, 1 ¼ teaspoon salt, ¾ teaspoon ground pepper, 1 small cauliflower, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 large onion, chopped, 1 cup diced carrot, 3 large cloves garlic, minced, 1 ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger, 1 fresh red chile pepper, 1 can tomato sauce, 4 cups vegetable broth, 3 cups russet potatoes 3 cups sweet potatoes, 2 teaspoons lime zest, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 can coconut milk, Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish.
Directions
First, prepare your oven to 450 degrees F. Now take coriander, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, salt, pepper, and cayenne together in a bowl. Toss cauliflower with 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of the spice mixture. Roast the cauliflower in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes or as long as they become brown in color.
Take a large pot and add oil, onion, and carrot and fry until they become brown. Then Add garlic, ginger, chile, and the remaining spice mixture and cook for 1 to 2 minutes Now add tomato sauce, broth, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lime zest, and juice. Cover the pot and boil the mixture over high heat.
Then minimize the heat and cook until the vegetables are tender. You may need 35 to 40 minutes. Finally, add coconut milk and the roasted cauliflower. Mix well and remove from the heat. Garnish with cilantro and chiles.
Read More: Postpartum Weight Loss: How to lose baby weight fast after pregnancy
Vegetable Weight-Loss Soup
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 onion, chopped, 2 carrots, chopped, 2 stalks celery, chopped, 12 ounces beans, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 8 cups chicken broth, 2 cans other white beans, rinsed, 2 medium zucchini, chopped, 4 tomatoes, seeded and chopped, 2 teaspoons vinegar, ¾ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 8 teaspoons prepared pesto to garnish.
Directions
First, heat oil in a pot and then add onion, carrot, celery, green beans, and garlic to the pot. Cook for 10 minutes. Make sure you stir continuously. When the vegetables become soft, add broth and boil the mixture.
Then bring down the heat, cover, and for 10 minutes or more to make the vegetables soften. Now mix white beans, kale, zucchini, tomatoes, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Increase heat and cook as long as the zucchini and kale have softened. Finally, garnish the pesto.
Read More: Egg Diet For Weight Loss: Does It Work?
Bean & Barley Soup
Ingredients
4 teaspoons olive oil, 1 large onion, chopped, 5 cloves garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 can other white beans, rinsed, 1 can diced tomatoes, 6 cups vegetable broth, ¾ cup barley, 1 package baby spinach, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, ¼ teaspoon pepper
Directions
First, heat oil in a pan and add onion, garlic, and basil. Mix them well, stirring occasionally, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes. Then mash 1/2 cup of the beans and add the mashed and whole beans, tomatoes, broth, and barley into the pot.
Allow the to boil over high heat. Then minimize the heat and cook for 15 to 16 minutes to make the barley tender. Now mix spinach and cook another 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the stove and add cheese and pepper.
Read More: 5 Yummy Duck Recipes to Warm Up this Winter
Chicken Soup
Ingredients
2 cups chicken (minced), 2 medium onions, salt as required, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 eggs, powdered black pepper, water as required
Directions
First, take a large pan and melt the butter in the pan. Fry the chopped onion as long as they become brown. Then add the chicken meat into the pan and fry the meat with onion till the meat becomes brown too.
Now mix the boiling water in the pan and cook the meat to get cooked and the juices to get released into the soup. After cooking is done, strain the soup into a big bowl and remove the fat from it when it becomes cool.
Take another and add the soup to it. Boil the soup. Meanwhile, break the egg and separate the white part. Then, pour the egg white part into the soup and stir it continuously. Now add the seasoning of salt and black pepper to the soup and boil for 2 minutes. When your soup is ready, strain it again and serve it hot in the serving bowls. Garnish the soup with the green herb.
Read More: 5 Bangladeshi Winter Recipes Using Date Jaggery
Bottom Line
Soups are healthy, tasty, yummy, and nutritious. Most of the soups are great to lose weight. So far, we have discussed 5 delectable winter special soup recipes. If you want to control your weight this winter, try these recipes at home. However, you can customize the recipes depending on your precise taste and choice.
5 Nepali Momo Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchen
In recent years, a new snack called Momo has got popularity in Bangladesh for its unique look and yummy flavor. Momo is one of the most special dishes in Nepalese cuisine. Nepali Momo is a type of boiling dumpling. Let’s take a look at the history of Momo. We shall also share the 5 best Nepali Momo recipes to try at home.
History of Momo At a Glance
Besides Nepal, Momo is a customary delicacy in many countries worldwide including Tibet, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India.
However, its still a mystery where it got its name. However, the Newar Community of Nepal believes that the method of cooking Momo has come from Tibet.
Newari people were accustomed to traveling to Tibet for trade which might be the reason behind the origin of Momo in Nepal. Another reason might be the use of Tibetan ingredients in Momo including local vegetables, spices, buffalo meat, chicken meat, or goat meat.
Read More: 5 Yummy Samucha Recipes for Evening Snackers
How To Cook Momo?
Nepali Momo is made with a filling of vegetables or meat mixed with a combination of ground coriander, ginger, turmeric, cumin, and chili.
You can prepare momo easily at home as it doesn’t need any special ingredients. All the ingredients you require to prepare momo are available in your kitchen. But you need to have a special appliance to prepare Momo that is called Dumpling Steamer.
Another thing you need to prepare or cook Momos is an easy and fun way that is a helping hand to help you with cooking in the kitchen. With the help of more hands, you can prepare several dumplings fastly and quickly.
Read More: 5 Bangladeshi Winter Recipes Using Date Jaggery
5 Nepali Momo Recipes to Try at Home
Chicken Momo
Ingredients of Stuffing
200 gm chicken, 1 tsp soy Sauce, ¼ tsp Salt, 2 tsp Green Chilies, ½ tsp Ginger Paste, ½ tsp Garlic Paste, 2 tbsp Chopped Onion, ½ tsp Cooking Oil, ½ tsp Black Pepper
Ingredients of Wrap
1 cup Flour, ¼ tsp Salt, ½ tsp Oil, 1/3 cup water
Instructions:
First, mince the chicken nicely using a food processor. Then take a large bowl and mix chicken with soy sauce, salt, green chilies, ginger paste, garlic paste, onion, and cooking oil. Keep the mixture aside for rest. Next, take another bowl and mix flour with salt and oil.
Add water gently as long as the dough is consistent. Kneed finely and add little oil and let the dough set for some time. Now divide the dough into some parts and give them a spherical shape until it has a 2.5-inch diameter. Fill each part with the filling and gently seal the wrap using little water and steam for 10-12 minutes. Now, your chicken momo is ready to serve.
Read More: 5 Yummy Duck Recipes to Warm Up this Winter
Vegetable Momo
Ingredients of Dough for Wrapper:
flour : 3 cups, Oil: 1 tbsp, Water: 3/4 cup or as required, Salt to taste
Ingredients for Vegetable Filling:
Cabbage: 1/4 cup (finely chopped), Carrot: 1/4 cup (grated), Spinach: 1/2 cup (finely chopped), Spring Onions: 1/4 cup (finely chopped), Ginger: 1 tsp (finely chopped), Garlic: 1 tsp (finely chopped), Green Chillies : 3-4 (finely chopped), Cheddar Cheese: 1/2 cup (shredded), Black Pepper Powder: 1/2-1 tsp (Freshly grounded), 5 Spice Blend: 1/4 tsp (Fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, Mustard seeds, Cumin seeds & Sesame seeds), Soy Sauce: 1 tsp, Oil/Butter: 1 tbsp, Salt to taste
Instructions for Dough:
First, take a bowl and mix flour, oil, and salt. Add water slowly so that you can prepare the dough that will become homogeneous in texture. Cover and allow the dough to rest for 30-40 minutes
Instructions for Stuffing:
Take a pan and saute chopped ginger and chopped garlic for a second. Next, add the all chopped vegetables and cook them for 2-4 minutes. Now add black pepper powder, and salt and mix them well. Minimize the flame and add shredded cheese. Remove from the heat and put it away to become cool. Then add soy sauce, five spice blend powder, and mix together.
Making Momo Wrapper:
Now knead the dough nicely and Divide the dough into several parts. Take each part and flatten it with a rolling board and fill with filling close the edges with your fingers and steam them for about 8-10 min. Serve hot with Chutney or sauce.
Read More: 5 Yummy Winter Pitha Recipes for Diabetics
French baguettes, Chinese traditional tea-making added to world heritage list
The artisanal knowledge surrounding France's iconic daily bread loaf, the baguette and traditional tea-making in China have been awarded special protected status by the UN's cultural body.
They were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during a meeting this week in Morocco's Rabat.
Read more: Vietnam keen to work for development of Sylhet tea industry
Also, the culture of Ukrainian borscht cooking was placed on a list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
The inscription of the baguette, one of the quintessential staples of French life, on the Paris-based UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Intangible Cultural Heritage list honours the artisanal know-how and culture surrounding the loaf.
A real baguette has just four ingredients – flour, water, yeast and salt.
France's long, crusty and delicious loaf bread requires specific knowledge and techniques. It is baked throughout the day in small batches and the outcomes vary according to the temperature and humidity.
16-days of activism: Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka conducts tree plantation, rickshaw rally in the city
As part of its ongoing ‘16 Days of Activism’ campaign against gender-based violence, Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka conducted a handful of activities on Monday in the capital's Baridhara.
The activities included tree plantation in the Baridhara Lake Park, which was followed by a special rickshaw rally.
Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka executives and members joined the activities alongside the local rickshaw pullers wearing orange dresses, as a unity against violence against women and children.
Read more: Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka launches 16-days activism campaign against gender-based violence
Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka launches 16-days activism campaign against gender-based violence
Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, The Zonta International, a globally acclaimed service organisation, has launched its ‘16 Days of Activism’ campaign on Friday against gender-based violence.
Starting from November 25, the campaign will feature several events and activities on eradicating violence against women and girls in society and advancing women's rights, continuing till December 10, the International Human Rights Day.
Six Zonta Clubs in Dhaka and Chattogram organised a rally at the Gulshan Society Lake Park in the capital on Friday afternoon to kick off the activism programmes, which was joined by the distinguished and eminent Zontians to celebrate their unity against gender-based violence.
Travelling 100 countries with the 9th weakest passport in the world
Maliha Fairooz, or “Maliha Around the World” as her travel blog is called, has been exploring the world on her own with a Bangladeshi passport. She promotes travel culture among Bangladeshi youth by sharing her experiences on her blog.
On November 25, 2022, Maliha reached her 100th country – the Republic of Ghana. On the occasion, she made a long post on her Facebook page, recounting the challenges, joys and discrimination she experienced while travelling as a “brown, Muslim, Bangladeshi woman”.
In Maliha’s own words:
“100 at countries, 6 continents, mostly solo with the 9th worst passport in the world. What a wild ride it’s been! I have dreamt of this moment for as long as I can remember and whilst it’s taken 1 year longer than planned – I am still so grateful to have been able to make it.
READ: This is the top travel destination of 2023 according to Lonely Planet
Modern day travel as it stands is extremely neo colonial – built to favour those from wealthy countries with a strong imperialist and colonial past. From passport privilege to race privilege I have seen my more privileged travel friends waltz in and out of countries without any accountability or difficulty, whilst I have been detained, deported, put in immigration jail, interrogated, searched, subjugated, harassed and simply made to feel like I was not welcome by the authorities in spite of fulfilling every single entry requirement in many countries – simply because I am a brown Muslim woman who holds a Bangladeshi passport. I dream of a world where the colour of my skin and the place of my birth are irrelevant but sadly the reality could not be further than this.
READ: How to Get E-Passport in Bangladesh: Things you need to know
As I write this, I am reminded of the utter privilege I possess to have been able to make it this far. Class, wealth, education, language privileges that majority of the world can only dream of. But there is a long way to go and my work to urge travel world to decolonise travel will continue – so stay tuned as I attempt to reach what only a few hundred people in the world have managed to do so far – go to all 197 countries.”
READ: How to get an Indian Tourist Visa from Bangladesh