The Liberation War Museum (LWM) has reopened its doors to general visitors from Friday at its permanent venue located in Agargaon in the capital following health directives, after being closed for the past nine months.

The museum stopped welcoming general visitors since March 19 to prevent the contamination risks, when the COVID-19 pandemic first started impacting lives and livelihoods in Bangladesh.

Since then, the museum arranged several online programmes on its Facebook page, enthralling the viewers during the lockdown era and following.

Also read: Liberation War Museum initiates week-long Victory Carnival 2020

Among its virtual arrangements, LWM has organized the weeklong virtual 'Victory Carnival', marking the 50th Victory Day and Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from December 10 to December 16, the fourth edition of Dhaka DocLab on August 23, a virtual event marking the Hiroshima Day on August 6, LWM's Center for the Study of Genocide and Justic (CSGJ)'s special webinar on Bangabandhu featuring University of Denver professor and Cosmos Foundation Advisory Board member Dr Haider A Khan on July 30, the 95th birth anniversary of Bangladesh's first-ever Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad on July 23, the eighth edition of Liberation DocFest Bangladesh on June 16 and more.

Also read: Cosmos Foundation and Liberation War Museum sign MoU

Cosmos Foundation and United News of Bangladesh (UNB) have frequently collaborated with LWM arranging these virtual ventures, with being technology and media partners.

LWM organised a special solo-lecture programme at its auditorium on Friday, marking the release date of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from prison in January 8, 1972.

Former foreign secretary Mahiuddin Ahmed delivered his insightful solo lecture at the event.

Also read: PM mourns death of Liberation War Museum trustee Tariq Ali

LWM will remain open from 10 am to 5 pm, except Sundays. Visitors are required to maintain proper health safety guidelines during their time at the museum.

It’s 2021 and the epidemic doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. Despite heightened security and prompt responses in many parts of the world, the future remains uncertain and another lockdown could be imminent at any time. Unlike the first wave, everyone is better prepared; which means that picking up a new hobby during prolonged isolation could be the perfect opportunity to turn a grim situation into a productive one that we’d never have the time for otherwise. Here are a few hobbies to pick up if you find yourself back into quarantine. 

Baking

Surprisingly baking has been taking the world by storm recently, especially among millennials. Being deprived from outside food during a confinement period can make any foodie go crazy- which is just the void that baking fills. Much like cooking, baking is an expression of one’s creativity and even character based on the dishes chosen. Your ingredient pool is reasonably sized and an oven will pretty much be the main tool you’ll be using. Sourdough bread, cookies and brownies are existing staples that can never go wrong if you decide to share your talents with loved ones. Many consider the hobby therapeutic, and maybe the ideal option to find your center in the midst of the current global situation. 

Also read:Pandemic haunts new year as virus growth outpaces vaccines

Also read:How to maintain physical and mental health during coronavirus

(Dish) Gardening

Another hobby that seems to be picking up traction. Botany is best suited for the calm soul that is keen to nurture and literally bear fruits after months of “labour”. You don’t necessarily need a fancy garden to get started - dish gardening is more than enough to begin. In the dish, you’d naturally need the basic necessities of soil, sunlight and water; depending on the plant type of course and based completely on what your local plant store recommends. Dish gardening usually doubles as a decor piece for your living space and can be filled with colorful stones and figurines. Ultimately, committing to this hobby bears the responsibility of nurturing life; and if you are looking for a meaningful hobby - this should be on the top of your list. 

Audio Production

This hobby may seem a little ambiguous at first, but it allows you to truly venture into many specialities with little to no effort. Music creation, podcast recording or even remixing fall under the description that caters to many different kinds of talents. Having strengths in storytelling or an aptitude for rhythm can converge online, using applications such as Audio Concepts and Garage Band respectively. The sky’s the limit with this hobby and can be shared privately if you are too shy to post any of your creations online. If doing this alone seems challenging, podcasting and storytelling can easily be done with a couple of friends and family virtually without having to leave the house. The only foreseeable barrier that could prevent some from trying audio production out is paying for some, more advanced sound software and having access to a quality microphone set. 

Also read:Year of the Pandemic: Bright spots few and far between

Also read:World must be ready for the next pandemic: UN
Also read:City life amid Covid-19 pandemic - United News Bangladesh

 

Do you want to spend a day far away from the humdrum of city life? Visit Sadllahpur Golap Gram (Rose Village) in the vicinity of Dhaka. This place is located at the Birulia union in Savar. The village of Sadullapur stands on the bank of the Turag River. Here some farmers commercially produce and trade roses, that is why this place is called ‘Golap Gram’ which refers to ‘Rose Village’. Stay with us to know how to plan a one day trip to Sadullapur Rose Village.

When to Visit Golap Gram at Sadullapur?

Farmers cultivate Mirandi variety of rose flowers at Sadullapur village year-round. So you can visit this rose village at any time of the year. If you want to please your eyes seeing rose gardens filled with vast amounts of roses, visit Golap Gram during the months of June or July.

However, you may know that winter is the perfect season to grow fresh roses. So, those who want to enjoy the cherubic beauty of fully bloomed roses should plan their trips in the winter months. In this season, roses are in perfect size and shape. And, the whole area is mesmerized with the aroma of blooming flowers.

Read: Visit Chalan Beel at Natore in Bangladesh to Pacify Your Soul

Image: Sadullapur Rose Village, Savar, Dhaka

How to Go Saidullapur Rose Village?

Sadullapur Golap Gram can be reached through different routes.

Route 1: Via Diabari Bat Tola Ghat

You can reach Mirpur embankment from Jatrabari, Gulistan, or Farmgate via local bus services. Besides this, starting the journey from Gabtali or, Mirpur Section No. 1 or Mirpur-10 you can arrive at Diabari Bat Tola Ghat by local transport rickshaw. If you are living in other places of Dhaka, hire a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw or taxi cab to reach Diabari Battala Ghat. But don’t get confused about ‘Diabari Bat Tola Ghat’ with the ‘Diabari’ of Uttara.

At Diabari Battala Ghat, shallow engine boats – locally known as Trawlers – commute to Sadullapur every 30 minutes consecutively. The cost is BDT 25 taka per person. The journey may take about 40 minutes to reach Golap Gram. You can also hire a Speedboat, or a kosha boat, or a shallow boat to arrive at Sadullapur. In that case, you have to spend BDT 250 to 500 for the trip.

At Diabari Battala Ghat, boating service is available from 6.30 am to 5.30 pm. It would be wise to end your tour at the rose gardens before 5 pm; so that you can return to Dhaka before evening. You can visit the whole Sadullapur village on foot or by rickshaw.

Read: Picnic Spots near Dhaka City for Short Break

Image: Garbera and Gladiolus Flower Gardens at Sadullapur, Savar, Dhaka

 

Route 2: Via Birulia Bridge

If you start the journey from Tongi station, rent a reserved CNG to reach Birulia Bridge through the Kamarpara route. In an alternative way, from Uttara Mascot Plaza or Uttara House Building, North Tower, you can reach Diabari via local transport Leguna. It will take a few minutes to reach the main road on foot. There you can rent a local car to reach Birulia Bridge.

From Birulia Bridge, you will get shared autos to arrive at the Sadullapur Rose Village. The fair is around BDT 20 per person. Birulia Bridge is the best route to visit this rose village. On the way, you would get enthralled by the heavenly beauty of rose fields laid across the horizon. If you reserve an auto to reach Sadullapur, then you can visit the rose gardens by stopping your auto in different places.

Read: Day Trips from Dhaka: 5 Affordable Tourist Spots near Dhaka

What to See in Golap Gram?

On the way to reach Golap Gram vai Birulia Bridge, you would find vast gardens of various kinds of flowers including Garbera (Jarvara), gladiolus, rosemary, etc. There is an ancient banyan tree in the vicinity of the Birulia Bridge.
The main attraction of Sadullahpur Golap Gram is the wide-spreading rose gardens filled with different colors of Mirandi roses, including red, yellow, white, etc.

Here the morning dews get trapped in the petals of roses creating divine splendor. Each garden has unlimited numbers of flower-plants. You can walk through the narrow paths across the rose gardens and get to mingle with nature for a while.

Besides rose gardens, there is a palace called Birubari Rajbari and a mini zoo called ‘Lake Ireland’ in Sadullapur.

Read: Visit Zinda Park Eco Resort Narayanganj for Family Day Out

Where to Eat in Sadullapur Golap Gram

You would find tea stalls under the Banyan tree at Shahdullapur ghat. Here you can drink tea with some snacks. There is a local hotel/restaurant near Sadullapur Ghat. You can have breakfast or lunch in this place. However, it would be best if you can carry some food from home.

Image: Sadullapur Rose Garden Savar Dhaka

Rose Market

There are several markets in this locality where farmers sell their produced roses and other flowers. For instance, some farmers sit to sell roses at Abul Kashem Market located in Shyampur village. This place is called Golaper Haat (the market of roses). Flower businessmen from all over the country gather in this place to buy flowers in bulk. Here trading of roses continues up to late-night starting from the evening.

Besides these, there is another market called the Sabu market at Mostapara. Some farmers sell flowers in this place. The trading of roses and other flowers continues in these markets year-round. Sadullapur rose village can fulfill almost half of the flower-demands of Shahbagh Flower market in Dhaka city.

You can purchase roses from the farmers. But usually, the farmers don’t show interest in selling roses in retails.

Read: Best Resorts near Dhaka for Day out or Weekend Away

Some Cautions to Visit Saidullapur Golap Village

- If you commute to Golap Gram by personal transport, park your vehicle at the designated place.

- Do not pluck roses or other flowers from the gardens without permission.

- Do not enter the flower gardens after the evening.

- Do not irritate the farmers while they remain busy in carrying out their livelihood activities.

- Stay away from any kind of immoral and unsocial activities.

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More often than not, new year's resolutions are commonly associated with fitness aspirations to the point where we can seem a little overdone, but if there’s any time to get into shape - now is a better time than any. With 2021 starting with much uncertainty due to the epidemic, lockdown can return at any time and staying healthy through it all can provide a huge boost in confidence and mood. Here are a few tips to help you reach your fitness goals in 2021.

Decide What Kind of “Fit” You Want To Be

Being healthy has so much to it and people decide to begin their fitness lifestyle for drastically different reasons. Whether it’s for dopamine release in the form of jogging or getting cut to impress your friends - the regime that you’ll commit to will vary dramatically. For those who are keen on long distance exercises like running, swimming or cycling; it’s important to note that endurance doesn’t come overnight - especially for beginners. Conditioning the body will take time and dedication, which starts with untimed distance milestones.

Also read: Being rebellious, Anika now devotes herself to bringing healthy lifestyle for all

On the other hand, if you’re looking to put on muscle - bodyweight exercises and weights are your go to. The troublesome part about embarking on this journey is the possible expenditure on equipment to diversify your routine as much as possible. It doesn’t have to be fancy by any means, but having a solid plethora of options can help you mix it up every few weeks.

Alternatively, just wanting to be active is a far simpler goal that can easily be achieved with fun activities. Picking up sports like basketball or football are classic pastimes that enables you to bring people together (keep safety distancing rules in mind). Learning a brand new skill set on top of working on stamina is a stellar option to ease into fitness.

Easing into an Active lifestyle

More applicable to beginners, easing into fitness can be initially intimidating. It is difficult to compartmentalise exercises to JUST being a hobby, as result-oriented activities almost always require practice. With you’re tight for time, classes are a good way to start because you will be guided by experienced instructors, and booking classes will make it harder to cancel! Ideally, training between three to four times a week will condition your body to adapt, even if it is tough at the start. If the frequency is too much to handle initially, HIIT workouts are a great start. Even if done twice a week, HIIT guarantees intensity in small sessions that last between15 to 45 minutes. Although not optimal, it is something to consider if you are drowning in other responsibilities.

Also read: Mental fitness is also important: Mominul

Unfortunately, dieting is a vital component that goes hand in hand with fitness and training. For weight loss and even staying in shape. It’ll help with muscle building and weight loss dramatically. If it’s difficult to go cold turkey, we recommend trying to ration out junk food to one meal every two days to start with and slowly transition to having junk food only on weekends. When you are comfortable with your new meal plan, the ultimate goal is to condense all the unhealthy delights to one dedicated cheat day (or even meal). Dieting is half the battle and even mild alterations in fitness and in food intake can give you results in a few months.

Also read: Exhibition on ‘health and fitness’ begins in city

Maintaining the Active Lifestyle

Once you’ve settled into a relatively consistent workout schedule and make some changes to your diet, it’s inevitable that you’ll lose some steam in a couple of months. One of the most effective ways to avoid this is by switching up your workouts ever so often to keep things interesting. If you’re going for weight loss, long distance workouts can turn into HIIT, yoga, sports and more.

Also read: Senior trio likely to get NCL ticket despite fitness failure

Having a training partner is another way to keep your head in the game. Nothing beats solid accountability from a partner when procrastination starts to hit. The tricky part about this strategy is if either party decides to postpone, rescheduling will start to snowball if all workouts are meant to be done together. Once again, being committed to classes is a slightly safer way to avoid straying away. Lastly, clever scheduling can bring you far if there are certain hours in the day you could slot your workouts in effectively. Sacrificing precious time you could spend with loved ones may sting a little at first, but is necessary for long-term commitment. It is advised to go for alternate days of exercise to let your body have the rest it needs.

Also read: Fitness is key to play longer, says Farhad Reza

Stop waiting for a miracle drug: A Boston University doctor says a sufficient amount of vitamin D can cut the risk of catching coronavirus by 54%.

“People have been looking for the magic drug or waiting for the vaccine and not looking for something this simple,” said Dr Michael Holick, professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics at Boston University School of Medicine, reports Bostom Herald.

Holick and his colleagues studied blood samples from Quest Diagnostics of more than 190,000 Americans from all 50 states and found that those who had deficient levels of vitamin D had 54% higher COVID positivity compared to those with adequate levels of vitamin D in the blood.

The risk of getting coronavirus continued to decline as vitamin D levels increased, the study, published in the Public Library of Science One peer-reviewed journal shows.

“The higher your vitamin D status, lower was your risk,” Holick said.

Many people are vitamin D-deficient because there are only small amounts in food, Holick said. Most vitamin D comes from sun exposure and many are deprived, especially during winter months.

But the sunshine vitamin is easy to find and relatively cheap in drug stores, and taking vitamin D pills comes at no risk. “It’s perfectly safe,” Holick said.

“It’s considered to be, by many, the nutrient of the decade,” Holick said.

COVID-19 positivity is strongly associated with vitamin D levels in the blood, a relationship that stayed the same across different races, sexes and age ranges, the study states.

Also read: Higher Vitamin D in 1st year of life can help against obesity in adolescence: study

Vitamin D suppresses excessive cytokine release that can present as a cytokine storm, a common cause of COVID-related morbidity and mortality.

A deficiency in the nutrient alters the immune system, making one more likely to get upper respiratory infections, Holick said.

Throughout the pandemic, people of color have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus, experiencing a higher risk of acquiring it and having serious complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Holick’s study examined the ZIP codes of people of color and found patients from predominantly Black and Hispanic ZIP codes had lower levels of vitamin D and were also more likely to have coronavirus than in patients from predominantly white, non-Hispanic ZIP codes.

The average adult needs around 2,000 units of vitamin D a day, Holick said. He said he’s been taking 6,000 units a day for decades and is in great health.

Several other studies on vitamin D have shown its benefits to the immune system.

Also read: Vitamin D deficiency may increase risk of getting Covid-19: Study

Research published with the National Institutes of Health showed people with lower vitamin D levels were more likely to self-report a recent upper respiratory tract infection than those with sufficient levels.

Another study of more than 11,000 participants published in the British Medical Journal found vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of acute respiratory tract infection among all participants.

“Vitamin D definitely improves your overall immunity to fight infections,” Holick said.

Update:  A Brigham and Women’s Hospital study will test to see if vitamin D can lessen the severity of coronavirus symptoms and reduce the chance of becoming infected with the illness in a nationwide, placebo-controlled trial.