Humphrey Fellow

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Dr Yunus conquered Boston University

Today (13 Oct) is the Eid day for Bangladeshi born & also other muslims living in New England area. With such an eid day enjoyment, the pleasure of Dr Yunus, a nobel lauret, coming to Boston University was added. Dr Yunus delivered his lecture today noon in front of the overcrowded people in spacious Metcaiff Hall, mesmerized the audience and conquered the heart and mind of all who attended. You can't imagine how popular he is here. After the lecture, everybody crowded to take some photographs with him and the demand was so high that the security people had to interfere at last. We the Bangladeshi people simply feel proud of him.

Apple picking - a different experience

As a Humphrey fellow, we're previleged to participate in many kind of activities. Yesterday (12 Oct) we visited State Street Global Adviser, a big investment firm in downtown Boston where we experienced how a modern day global investment firm runs its activities - global presence and continuous monitoring as well as coordination with offices abroad, huge turnover, sophisticated trading facilities and also research activities by the help of so many people. Today we're taken to an orchard in New Hampshire, about an hour and half driving distance. The firmowner very eloquently explained some technical as well as marketing aspects of running such a firm in New England area. We enjoyed the offer to pick and taste different varieties of apples - fuji, mackintosh, gala and so on. We're also allowed to buy our picked apples at huge discounts. This is new kind of experience - an event to enjoy.

Reunion - after long 23 years

As usual many faces were used to see each other in everyday campus life of Jahangirnagar University(JU) long ago (at least 23 years). But many of them became detached at least from me as they chose to settle thousands of miles away from mine. Yesterday evening (Oct 6) I got the opportunity to meet some of those friends as they gathered to a doa mahfil (prayer) in New York for the eternal peace of late Moshiur who passed away in the Ramadan last year. Moshiur was our yearmate in JU who settled in New York in the late nineties.
I attended from Boston to avail the opportunity of meeting some friends(Rana, Likhan, Matin, Mustaque bhai, Dulal and some junior JU friends -see picture). They're employed in different fields - from hedge fund/potfolio management to school teaching. They're our ambassadors here in USA. Bangladesh is proud of them.

Jackson Heights, NY- new little Bangladesh

Bangla languages whispering all around, bearded and old aged street vendors (hawkers) worn with pyjama/paanjami and selling stuffs like tupi (caps)/tosbih/books and so on, many hejab clad and salwar kamiz wore ladies and girls busy with shopping, bangla script written signboards in front of all shops(stuffs inside include mostly made in Bangladesh or other sub-continent countries), all Bangladeshi fishes (from Katchki to Rui, Katla, Elish ----and what not !) being quickly sold, almost no white people wandering in the horizon, outside atmosphere looking a little dirty (no offend please !)- this is the typical scene of the famous Jackson Heights area of New York what I saw on yesterday afternoon (6 Oct). So many times we the Bangladeshi people hear the name of this place but only yesterday I got the opportunity to see by myself. Thanks to Mr. Monzur who took me there from Boston.

A special weekend (29-30 Sept)

Last weekend was a special one. On 29 Sept I visited an exhibition with the focus on green cars. At the radio transmission stall there I saw some T-shirts with the WBZ Radio logo. On my query, the attending lady informed that to get one, I'd have to answer a quiz correctly. I agreed to deliver. She asked a MCQ (how much blood an adult contains in his/her body?). Out of 4 choices given I chose the correct one & won a T-shirt.

In the afternoon, Mahmud took me to an iftar party at Lynn mosque where I met Lipu, Monir, Monzur & others. Then we (Mahmud with his entire family) passed the night at Lipu's house at Rowley town. We kept talking almost the whole night & after taking sheri everybody including kids went to bed. Next day Mahmud took me to his home. At noon we went to Lowel Mosque & Islamic Center where Mahmud's 2 sons & Monir's (Mahmud's brother) daughter attend the Sunday islamic teaching school.

In the evening of Sunday, an iftar party was held at Monir's house where some Bangladeshi born families attended. Then at night Mr. Belal dropped me to my house at Magazine St, Cambridge.