http://muntsir.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/462219
Average Bangladeshi, was curious about my arrival in here and having a strong desire to know whether I am trying to find out any ways to penetrate Mexico-US border. I liked their attitude while I was surviving in world’s 3rd largest metropolis. After the prayer I was accompanying one of them, how was one of the most solvent and used to sale Indian cloths on the street. More precisely he is a “FeriWala”. I followed him like in many streets and turns of Mexico to know how he works for his living. It was not that easy to cope but after end of the day he turns back to his premises with a joy filled heart as his business is turning good day by day.

It was around 5, late afternoon in Mexico, area named Mazulatan, I found a mountaineering equipment store in the middle of no where. I waved my Bangladeshi friend to make a sight touring in that shop. Armando Dattoli, mostly is a rock climber and a running this business. After a small chat we found a common friend who is tagging us apart from a distance. Armando is hosting a famous mountain film festival in Mexico and I was trying like anything to make Bangladesh as one of their venue since 2005. Till to day no “green” signal from local authority.

He insisted me to join him in a German movie fest and to discover berth taking climbing scenes of “AM Limit”. It was really horrifying to go through all the movie as I have never seen that kind of pitch entire my whole life except very few expeditions in Himalaya and adjacent!

Reaching back to the home I was looking for a list of Master Rock Climber in the net. He was famous for climbing the sky scrapers; even my friends from Bangladesh can be knowing him as, “Spiderman”. Who climbs all most all the tallest building on earth and many prestigious rock faces, with his own style, all without safety rope and help. Basically I was trying to understand about who is best in this business and how.

No doubt there are many but none of them are like Alian. He is just as good as him and fund a very interesting picture in his website (http://www.alainrobert.com/photospress/ar_nobel.jpg). He is showing a picture of him with Professor Muhammad Yunus. I exclaimed with joy at the middle of the night and started posting that picture to my climber’s network. “You know what, he is from Bangladesh. May be we are enfant to the mountains and especially on the rocks but we have some one who is even desirable to the master rock rodeos” I way saying this to my friends with a happy feelings.


--
Shanti
----------------------------
Muntasir Mamun
----------------------------
Continuing : World Tour
Round the globe HIV and AIDS campaign on Bicycle
www.TogetherWeAre.net
----------------------------
Contributing : Adventure Magazine, NZ
http://pacificmedia.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
----------------------------
আপনার শান্তি কামনায়
মুনতাসির মামুন ইমরান
----------------------------
Personal Site:
www.muntasirmamun.com]]> Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:01:00 EDT http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/462219 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/455883
This Exhibition was directly hoarded by “The Global Fund”. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is supporting lifesaving treatment with antiretroviral drugs for more than 1.4 million people worldwide. The Global Fund is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector, and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing.(from official website)

Eight photographers has been working with peoples living with HIV and AIDS in different nine countries of the world for few months and came out with magnificent stories of their life. Some time it was hard to believe and some time it was hard to cope. From India to Peru every where is the same, life is meeting the decay or staying alive positively.

From the images there was a clear visual in front us, we have to think again about what we are going to do next. What we really want for the whole condition of HIV and AIDS which is an epidemic for many courtiers. Should we keep growing up the numbers of infections? Or we should keep the promise? If this is not the right time, then when?

Images are eloquent, having a strong message to protect us, ourselves and those who are living positively and reminds us to access in our life. Again. It’s a sanity.

For more information about the exhibition and photographer please visit
http://accesstolife.theglobalfund.org/exhibition

for hall photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/muntasir/sets/72157606695056878/
]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:37:00 EDT http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/455883 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/455753
I laughed and poked him how the hell do you know all these with out being there. But after started going to highlands, I realized, those are true (may be!) unless why does peoples climb. May be there is something eloquent in there, which can cherished or discovered by going there only.

I found those words in my another friends words, after so many years and so far away from home. Debrup, living in Mexico and teaching there. He proposed me to try something different in Mexico which is not so far and like a dreamboat! I have heard about mountains of mexico specially for Carlos Carsolio. These stratovolcanic mountains can re enforce some one to be a natural climber. So it was accidental to catch any mountain trip while I was here for round the globe HIV/AIDS campaign on bicycle.

Nevado de Toluca, is 80 km apart of Mexico City and well connected by road. It’s a large stratovolcano in the city of Toluca. The peak we are going to climb is called “Pica Del Agulia or Eagle’s peak” 4690 meter. We have started early in the morning from Mexico City with a 3 hours drive. Herardo was our leader as he is passionate and had climbed many peaks can be seen in Mexico.

We started climbing when I was don. Weather was perfect but the wind. Easy route to follow but altitude is rising. After crossing a small hump we started following a ridge and get into moraine zone. It was reminding me the flavor of climbing in Leh, Kashmir- easy but have to be careful, smooth but have to scroll some times. Complete mixer of fun and adventure. There were two crater lake beside the ridge though it was in distance. It makes the whole climb more enjoyable and picturesque for ever snaps.

A sign of cross was visible from the ridge, metal made symbol alarming us that we are closer to the top. There were few other peaks following the same ridge. The toped one is Pico del Fraile or Priest’s Peak and we are trying 2nd highest- Eagle. So I have found the resemblance of my childhood friend’s fairy tale, God lives here!

Herardo was slow, having a snails speed but steady. He accorded this after his many climb in this terrain, I mush say after the crossing first ridge we were almost lost in the jungle of scree-bolder-rock. We never eyed on him as we were fast. We found him almost hanging on a rock band and quite far from us vertically. Another small climb was left to reach the summit after a small push and encountering some watchful rocks. It was 1030 local time and a good feeling to reach to the top like any othe peaks of mighty Himalaya or Karakoram or else where. May be Eagle is soft to climb in dry session but surely not in winter.

It was good to be here rather roaming around in Mexico City and it will be always good decision to be around Mexican mountains, because its worth it.
]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:46:00 EDT http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/455753 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/455747
This Exhibition was directly hoarded by “The Global Fund”. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is supporting lifesaving treatment with antiretroviral drugs for more than 1.4 million people worldwide. The Global Fund is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector, and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing.(from official website)

Eight photographers has been working with peoples living with HIV and AIDS in different nine countries of the world for few months and came out with magnificent stories of their life. Some time it was hard to believe and some time it was hard to cope. From India to Peru every where is the same, life is meeting the decay or staying alive positively.

From the images there was a clear visual in front us, we have to think again about what we are going to do next. What we really want for the whole condition of HIV and AIDS which is an epidemic for many courtiers. Should we keep growing up the numbers of infections? Or we should keep the promise? If this is not the right time, then when?

Images are eloquent, having a strong message to protect us, ourselves and those who are living positively and reminds us to access in our life. Again. It’s a sanity.

For more information about the exhibition and photographer please visit
http://accesstolife.theglobalfund.org/exhibition
]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:37:00 EDT http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/455747 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/442171 20th july 2008, Campinas, SP, Brazil

It was noon, we get into a single storied building of that Italian restaurant. Around 50 guests were invited and I am only one from outside. It was a small party without the Church and priest to announce the Bride and Groom and dint continue too long to get board and peoples were very friendly and helpful. I was sharing a table with some of Lous friends and one of them was guitarist. We talked in many topics and after everything we found we have common interest in cycling, music and few others. After the toast of Champaign the party ended.
]]> Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:01:00 EDT http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/442171 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/398415
After had a safe landing, while facing the immigration police, saw a board just behind the counter, vibrantly written in blue colored ink, welcome to the land of smile! Queues were growing fast and long, though there were number of counters having the same backdrop and officer but we dint find any of them who having smiling face. The dutch-british-african-arab-indian-or us almost every one was astonished about the behavior of the officer and their backdrop slogan! Small mistakes or anything that she or he may dint like, had to left the queue and fix that and again follow the queue! For me us it was more embarrassing, all on a sudden they inquired us by saying “show money”! after all of these happenings we found out the green channel and ensure our landing in Thailand. It was mid day, bright sunny day. Catch up a taxi to Kausang Road, as it was backpackers hub in the town. Long way to go and so long to wait in the traffic jam. The saying “you can come to Bangkok airport sharp, but you can hardy reach the city in a same day due to the traffic” though there were hundreds of multi storied highways to follow – toll ways and many more but almost all the same. We have boarded in New Vong Thong Hotel for our first day, room was big and clean. Bangladesh food available near by. Mr Ibrahim, early aged Bangladeshi running this business who had come to Bangkok eight years ago with the help of his uncle. Small room vertically split into two with floor board, skewed stair case in the front. A kitchen, four tables and a Burmese helping hand cum waiter. Moderate cost per food which has common of our food. This is very popular meeting place for all Bangladeshis – tourist-businessman-residents.

Bangkok, a decades ago it was alike ours economically but now fended couple of decades within very short time. Deliberately constructed roads, high ways and express ways are pack with vehicles and their sense of obeying the law drove them to prime stage of saving times of daily life. Though roads are often packed with traffic during peak, causes several minutes to wait in a single traffic signal. Only for that they trying make more fly overs to reduce loads on the common roads. City is having subways, number of buses, sky rails, taxis and famous Tuk-Tuk. Living is bit costly for generals as Thai peoples annual average income is nearly 2000 us dollar. But local food is quite popular among the locals and tourists and it’s within budget. So far it is a very well maintained city where dwellers will get every facility of basic need to live. In my understanding this is one of the most fast grown countries to reach the standard as a nation. Bike shops: Its quite clear that locals are not that much into cycling as the roads are vigorously packed with fast plying vehicles and there is not sign of cycling track on the street. But two wheels like motor bikes of different types are very common among guys and girls. No age and sex barriers, peoples loves to ride on their motor bikes very much, its very clear. We have hardly seen any bicycle rider during day time but at night after 9 we have seen flock of cyclist are paddling as a matter of recreation specially before any weekends. We have found two very good bike shops in Bangkok. All are imported and brand cycles. Some other shops are available in the China Town too.

for more www.togetherweare.net]]> Sun, 29 Jun 2008 05:51:00 EDT http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/398415 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/356673
I am Mr. Muntasir Mamun Imran, 25 years old electrical engineer living working in Dhaka capital city of Bangladesh.

We few young enthusiastic personals getting prepared for a World tour on bicycle. We would devote our efforts towards an AIDS awareness campaign titled "Stop Aids, Keep the promise" as a part of our contribution along with the international AIDS campaign. This is a global campaign against massive epidemic of AIDS around the globe.

I have already registered to IAC 2008 as a youth and i am a member of IAS. I will start paddeling from Argentina from end of May 2008. I am positively hoping that i can gather many stories from the route which i can share with you guys. I also do phtography and looking for a good photo documentry as well on PLWHA from my visiting places.

We will try hard to bring out the best through our campaign against AIDS. Our prime target would be covering as many countries as possible of 6 different continents.

While we are in your country it would be encouraging and appreciable to give us an appointment at your office and share this news to your local network.

According to our plan we are going to start by the beginning of May 2008, first for Latin America then other continents to follows latter on.

So you are welcome to participate and please extend your support for this year long venture.

For more about the trip please visit
http://www.togetherweare.net

My TIG profile
http://profiles.takingitglobal.org/muntsir

My web site
http://www.muntasirmamun.com/


Regards,
Muntasir Mamun Imran
Round the Globe Campaign for AIDS on Bi-Cycle
Together We Are . net
www.togetherweare.net]]> Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:36:00 EDT http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/356673 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/356665
I am Mr. Muntasir Mamun Imran, 25 years old electrical engineer living working in Dhaka capital city of Bangladesh.

We few young enthusiastic personals getting prepared for a World tour on bicycle. We would devote our efforts towards an AIDS awareness campaign titled "Stop Aids, Keep the promise" as a part of our contribution along with the international AIDS campaign. This is a global campaign against massive epidemic of AIDS around the globe.

I am happy to let you know that we will start paddeling from Argentina en route to Mexico city.

so I am egarly waiting for anyone who may join in my ride.

We will try hard to bring out the best through our campaign against AIDS. Our prime target would be covering as many countries as possible of 6 different continents.

While we are in your country it would be encouraging and appreciable to give us an appointment at your office and share this news to your local network where we can share our trip details and photos.

According to our plan we are going to start by the beginning of May 2008, first for Latin America then other continents to follows latter on.

So you are welcome to participate and please extend your support for this year long venture.

For more about the trip please visit
http://www.togetherweare.net

My TIG profile
http://profiles.takingitglobal.org/muntsir

My web site
http://www.muntasirmamun.com/


Regards,
Muntasir Mamun Imran
Round the Globe Campaign for AIDS on Bi-Cycle
Together We Are . net
www.togetherweare.net]]> Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:07:00 EDT http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/356665 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/333191
Mt. Rubal Kang, name of a peak which is 6187meter/20300 feet, geographically located in Kullu Himalaya, Himachal Pradesh, India.

We, Kewkradong Bangladesh, took part first Bangladesh India Joint International Mountaineering Expedition during the month of May 2007. And we are feeling proud to say we have carried our national flag at the height of 20300. We have successfully summited on the crest of Mt Rubal Kang.

In this regard we would like to invite you to come to our group photography exhibition and encourage us to climb more and even higher!



Regards
Muntasir Mamun Imran
+88 01911 310 275]]> Sun, 10 Feb 2008 04:00:00 EST http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/333191 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/309797
We have seen this while struggling to fix out our 9 bicycle from the carrier of Dhaka-Shrimongol bus. Middle of the night , it was Eid day. Happy faces are all around but that street child! We were shocked. He will be hardly 5. Learnt to survive at this age. His bent figure was lying over a polyethylene bag. Tranquil.

We came here to paddle around the unknown green territory of Sylhet . 5 days program stated from the day of Eid. Resolving the happiness of Eid in the shape of adventure. We are ``Kewkradong” a community biased to adventure.

Nine leaned bicycle was close to that boy so do we. David came up with an idea to help out that kid , who is just at the age his own kid “Sheshthoo”. This veteran super commercial photographer could sense it before us as he is a father of two kids. He requested us not to capture his face , the light and the scene! You might get an award out of your click , but dose it really make sense to that pure soul? He added , let's do some for the kid. We tried to do as best as we could on that time and webbed an idea that can last for long. That made him happy! What else could have been that great as his silent smile? We loved that and tide a good turn knot in our mind to do like this for ever and ever.

We have started paddling. It was donning. Perfect light and gentle sweet breeze blowed our way. Heading towards komolganj following a sandwich metalloid road though Lawyachora reserve forest. Seductive tropical green forest is welcoming us. Dew drops are logging on the leaf. Mist covered road took turn to get a close view of a tea garden belongs to Duncan 's. Looking like safe house from the far as we used see them on TV serials. Pin drop silence , only the bhoooobhooooo sound is coming out from the friction of rubber made tire and road. Drizzling weather made some delay on our sweating as the path is scrolling up and down. Feel like heaven on wheels while following any slop and let the wheel rolls! It's awesome when air was passing out beside the ear making a harsh sound!

Sky is covered with black cloud that resist us to pull out cameras so nothing could stop us enjoying the chill green Lawyachora forest. We were drifting quite gently as few of us was not that used to in regular cycling. But the “joss” of cycling triggered all of us so run again. While resting , communicate with local enthusiastic faces that were eyeing on us as we are aliens! Our helmet was the most attractive part out of our all apparatus. We fixed panniers on our bike carrier to be the host of our all materials- food , repairing tools and accessories.

After crossing Komolgonj found a problem on my left paddle and the tools we have brought not enough to fixed that instance. Ranjan Shing , motor mechanic of Halima Bazar came out with helping attitude to resolve the problem and he gave us a fixing tool which he was used to use on daily basis. We thanked him from the bottom of our heart and it appeared in our mind that we can hardly find anything bad through out the vicinity of our trip. Local inhabitants are always helpful and friendly and they are the main source of security but have to understand them first.


By this time cloud flew away for some time , it was not that sunny as we were expecting. We went to local police station of Kulaura and checked the place where we can dwell for first night. Hitch out many places but could not get anything that can work. At last got a place to pitch our tents. It was raining , grass field was muddy that's why we stored us over a long balcony of a Kulaura govt college. Our arrival news spread like anything so many peoples joined the party while managing all loads and many more were standing outside of the college boundary wall. Head of the Department of English came out from the mass and let us use the compound.

Next morning we are riding en route to Juree , new upazilla of this territory as a resting point. Roads are nice , few vehicle we have encountered so far. And drivers were showing their gesture by waving hands and leaving a space for our safety. This is a beauty , beauty of nature and the people and certainly its bit unorthodox in the town like beloved Dhaka !

Road to Bianibazar is very charming , most of time we faced ups and down and we have enjoyed a lot while running down though any slope. Day light disappeared when we hit Baianibazar. Local peoples are rich can easily understood by seeing the stores and shops but all of resting inns were closed to due to Eid vacation except Hotel Al-Fatah. As usual sub urban hotel , not that clean , not that good but ok.

Today we have to ride longest way , from Bianibazar to Jointapur. At first we have decided to halt at kanaighat but favorable weather helped us to do more. Took a turn while crossing Shahbag, a massive banyan tree was towering tall adjacent to a beautiful mosque. We have reached there by mid day though it was raining. Bank of river Shurma was muddy , we had to struggle to load our fully packed bicycles. Like other sub urban city , it's crowded and packed. We took lunch in a local restaurant. We were about to divert to Borochutul as everyone was saying that could be place for tonight. But few members went on and there was no other alternative than catching them up again. They have already reached to Jointapur. We left behind due to taking pictures. It was beautiful out there, scenic, spectacular and very photo ganic, tough to resist any one having camera. So again we have lost almost an hour and half. Scout team started bugging after confirming the boarding and it was getting dark too.

We came up with an idea of derailing some ways from our prefixed course, followed route to gowainghat. We were slow like snells because no fixed destination we have for tonight. So googleing around unknown, where we can spend the night. Got it! Found tonmoy heading right from the road where streets has no name, into a grass field surrounded by bushes and a long canal beside. Say it will be staying here, everyone seducing everyone. So occupied an eye catching camp site with 3 tents and nine bicycles.

Problem was with food but local villagers helped us a lot. They let us cook oat meal for denier and provided security by a chowkidar otherwise we must have to leave the place as it was completely in the middle of nowhere named KataKhal. Thrice we have faced police and most importantly they helped us most. We discovered them very gentle and cooperative. What we usually heard and what we are getting. Its completely inspiring while talking with them about our trips. Everyone is so welcomed and so well behaved that cherished our thrusts for unknown!

Next day we ended up our trip via Salutikor and caught our bus to ordinary life.

]]> Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:20:00 EST http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/309797 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/309781 Present condition is getting better as many peoples are working on it. Specially the US crops and different orgs of Bangladesh. We are having a small part there too ( in really tiny scale) as we have to arrange fund first then support. Lastly our team of volunteers worked for cleaning the ponds and canals and next will be chlorination; as most of domestic animals died and their dead bodies are contaminating the areas.
We are coming up with our strength. Peoples of Bangladesh is really some thing that some one can ever think of. They will revive again,
They need help. ]]> Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:27:00 EST http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/309781 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/309783 Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:27:00 EST http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/309783 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/309795

We have seen this while struggling to fix out our 9 bicycle from the carrier of Dhaka-Shrimongol bus. Middle of the night , it was Eid day. Happy faces are all around but that street child! We were shocked. He will be hardly 5. Learnt to survive at this age. His bent figure was lying over a polyethylene bag. Tranquil.

We came here to paddle around the unknown green territory of Sylhet . 5 days program stated from the day of Eid. Resolving the happiness of Eid in the shape of adventure. We are ``Kewkradong” a community biased to adventure.

Nine leaned bicycle was close to that boy so do we. David came up with an idea to help out that kid , who is just at the age his own kid “Sheshthoo”. This veteran super commercial photographer could sense it before us as he is a father of two kids. He requested us not to capture his face , the light and the scene! You might get an award out of your click , but dose it really make sense to that pure soul? He added , let's do some for the kid. We tried to do as best as we could on that time and webbed an idea that can last for long. That made him happy! What else could have been that great as his silent smile? We loved that and tide a good turn knot in our mind to do like this for ever and ever.

We have started paddling. It was donning. Perfect light and gentle sweet breeze blowed our way. Heading towards komolganj following a sandwich metalloid road though Lawyachora reserve forest. Seductive tropical green forest is welcoming us. Dew drops are logging on the leaf. Mist covered road took turn to get a close view of a tea garden belongs to Duncan 's. Looking like safe house from the far as we used see them on TV serials. Pin drop silence , only the bhoooobhooooo sound is coming out from the friction of rubber made tire and road. Drizzling weather made some delay on our sweating as the path is scrolling up and down. Feel like heaven on wheels while following any slop and let the wheel rolls! It's awesome when air was passing out beside the ear making a harsh sound!

Sky is covered with black cloud that resist us to pull out cameras so nothing could stop us enjoying the chill green Lawyachora forest. We were drifting quite gently as few of us was not that used to in regular cycling. But the “joss” of cycling triggered all of us so run again. While resting , communicate with local enthusiastic faces that were eyeing on us as we are aliens! Our helmet was the most attractive part out of our all apparatus. We fixed panniers on our bike carrier to be the host of our all materials- food , repairing tools and accessories.

After crossing Komolgonj found a problem on my left paddle and the tools we have brought not enough to fixed that instance. Ranjan Shing , motor mechanic of Halima Bazar came out with helping attitude to resolve the problem and he gave us a fixing tool which he was used to use on daily basis. We thanked him from the bottom of our heart and it appeared in our mind that we can hardly find anything bad through out the vicinity of our trip. Local inhabitants are always helpful and friendly and they are the main source of security but have to understand them first.


By this time cloud flew away for some time , it was not that sunny as we were expecting. We went to local police station of Kulaura and checked the place where we can dwell for first night. Hitch out many places but could not get anything that can work. At last got a place to pitch our tents. It was raining , grass field was muddy that's why we stored us over a long balcony of a Kulaura govt college. Our arrival news spread like anything so many peoples joined the party while managing all loads and many more were standing outside of the college boundary wall. Head of the Department of English came out from the mass and let us use the compound.

Next morning we are riding en route to Juree , new upazilla of this territory as a resting point. Roads are nice , few vehicle we have encountered so far. And drivers were showing their gesture by waving hands and leaving a space for our safety. This is a beauty , beauty of nature and the people and certainly its bit unorthodox in the town like beloved Dhaka !

Road to Bianibazar is very charming , most of time we faced ups and down and we have enjoyed a lot while running down though any slope. Day light disappeared when we hit Baianibazar. Local peoples are rich can easily understood by seeing the stores and shops but all of resting inns were closed to due to Eid vacation except Hotel Al-Fatah. As usual sub urban hotel , not that clean , not that good but ok.

Today we have to ride longest way , from Bianibazar to Jointapur. At first we have decided to halt at kanaighat but favorable weather helped us to do more. Took a turn while crossing Shahbag, a massive banyan tree was towering tall adjacent to a beautiful mosque. We have reached there by mid day though it was raining. Bank of river Shurma was muddy , we had to struggle to load our fully packed bicycles. Like other sub urban city , it's crowded and packed. We took lunch in a local restaurant. We were about to divert to Borochutul as everyone was saying that could be place for tonight. But few members went on and there was no other alternative than catching them up again. They have already reached to Jointapur. We left behind due to taking pictures. It was beautiful out there, scenic, spectacular and very photo ganic, tough to resist any one having camera. So again we have lost almost an hour and half. Scout team started bugging after confirming the boarding and it was getting dark too.

We came up with an idea of derailing some ways from our prefixed course, followed route to gowainghat. We were slow like snells because no fixed destination we have for tonight. So googleing around unknown, where we can spend the night. Got it! Found tonmoy heading right from the road where streets has no name, into a grass field surrounded by bushes and a long canal beside. Say it will be staying here, everyone seducing everyone. So occupied an eye catching camp site with 3 tents and nine bicycles.

Problem was with food but local villagers helped us a lot. They let us cook oat meal for denier and provided security by a chowkidar otherwise we must have to leave the place as it was completely in the middle of nowhere named KataKhal. Thrice we have faced police and most importantly they helped us most. We discovered them very gentle and cooperative. What we usually heard and what we are getting. Its completely inspiring while talking with them about our trips. Everyone is so welcomed and so well behaved that cherished our thrusts for unknown!

Next day we ended up our trip via Salutikor and caught our bus to ordinary life. ]]> Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:27:00 EST http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/309795 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/255115
It was the beginning story of today's successful International Coastal Cleanup 2007 Bangladesh chapter. ICC is internationally organized all over world each and every year by The Ocean Conservancy. This event chinch the title of world's largest and oldest voluntary activity where people will come , gather and try to collect marine debris around the shore. This is the concept of this day. This one day event may not be able to clean whole year's debris from the coast and more apparently the volunteers are not trying to do that . A day at the beach can make a world of difference – believe in that way , if we start it now , for a day , can create that awareness for the whole year!

This time around 100 peoples , it was 2006. There were more to join but month of September is the month of natural disaster for Bangladesh . Almost each and every year our shore line inhabitants face this calamity. Sea was rough; all fishing boats are requested to return to safe places, beach goers were not allowed to jump into the sea. That was the fact of last year's scenario. Still volunteers from Dhaka joined with local peoples and collected number of 40 different types of debris. Due to bad weather we could collect all most 20000 number of marine debris from our shore line (ICC published Annual report 2006 Bangladesh chapter).

This year , 2007 , we are quite fit , quite vigorous for the day. Though country has been flooded badly and sudden increase of water flooded the north and other districts again. We shall over come , we proved the before and still… our backpacker community friends camp up with a mutual fund as relief for the flood victims. Two big responsibilities were too close to merge or squire the pressure on.

Everything is set , sponsors , alliances , supports are set. It was just before the fixed date , evening 1820 local time , got a query from sponsor , hay do I know that a big massive tsunami is coming to hit by the mid night? Rush in to the net , BBC weather , Yahoo weather , CNN , AP , AFP and obviously the local news. Yes , its true , tsunami strikes at Sumatra and coming towards Indian Ocean . So Thailand , Singapore , Myanmar coast is in danger but where is Bangladesh 's name? Nowhere in the shooting list!

Facts of 2006
Top 10 debries*

- Bags | 35.8%
- Cigarettes/
Cigarette Filters | 25.9%
- Food Wrappers and
Containers | 15.0%
- Tobacco Packaging/
Wrappers | 7.4%
- Cigarette Lighters | 2.1%
- Pull Tabs | 2.0%
- Beverage Cans | 2.0%
- Straws/Stirrers | 1.7%
- Caps/Lids| 1.6%
- Cups/Plates/Forks/
Knives/Spoons | 1.1%

But as for safety national government seal the costal belt for everyone. According to our local source from Department of Environment said they could not find anything symptom that may refer to any presence of Tsunami around the Cox's Bazar peninsula.

Me , as the country coordinator on behalf of Kewkradong Bangladesh , scheduled to be at the cleanup site by tomorrow morn , finding no other alternative , what will I do? Four months effort , Hundreds of peoples , so many plans… will that go in a vain? Looking for last help , if media resolves the hype of tsunami here! Whole night expected only this single news.

At last by the morning , got the news , no tsunami stroked Bangladesh by the mid night and there is no chance of hitting by today! But another problem , as we are moderate Muslim , regulation of Ramadan on the society is not that strict but every body's will to fest on the beginning! So we have missed few many valued volunteers on this issue.

On the appointed day , hundreds of local peoples , school kids joined together at Labonee Beach (Cox's Bazar) , we are not professional but we have got little experience last year and before. Spilt the crowed in groups and deployed over the shore. Day long program took a break during noon as Friday mid day prayer is holly for us.

We have started sorting the debris after the break. Alas it was quite huge! Thousands of polithin bag! Millions of cigarette butts! We are still counting and waiting for all data cards!

If we think about size of the bags of our collected debris , its lot more than last year! Each of them was heavy to carry! So , we did some thing , isn't it? Isn't it a pride in the name of our coast? So say it , let's do it again!

Welcome ICC 2008.




*ICC published Annual report 2006 Bangladesh chapter ]]> Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:27:00 EDT http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/255115 http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/241765
I am Mr. Muntasir Mamun, writing from Bangladesh for the first time. I am 25 years old living in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh.

We are, some of young enthusiastic personals making will full preparation for a world tour by Bicycle . We will devote our effort towards a campaign titled againest AIDS. This is a global campaign against massive epidemic AIDS.

We will try hard to bring out the best of our campaign against AIDS.

In this regards we are seeking your support for a successful round the globe campaign against AIDS by cycle.




Regards,
Muntasir Mamun
Round the Globe Campaign by Bi-Cycle
Kewkradong Bangladesh
www.kewkradong.com



--
www.muntasirmamun.com

+880 1911 310 275 ]]> Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:44:00 EDT http://muntsir.tigblog.org/post/241765