The Significance of Ramadan

The historical significance of the Islamic Lunar month of Ramadan is that for the first time in history, Allah chose to send a prophet not to a particular tribe or ethnic group but to all mankind.
The Qur’an says what means, “It was the month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed from on high as a guidance for humanity and a self-evident proof of that guidance, and as the standard by which to discern the true from the false.” (Al-Baqarah 2:185). The entire month of Ramadan is in essence a celebration of the Quran’s revelation, which is described as a “Guide and Mercy for those who do good.” (Luqman 31:3). Ramadan celebrates God’s Mercy by which He sent a guiding light in the Qur’an that leads human life towards the path of good and virtue and protects the human soul from evil and vice.


Fasting is not starving, it is actually a feeding the spirit.

The Muslim believes that his sole purpose is to serve God via all that He requires -- charity, kindness, good deeds, praying, abstaining from harmful acts against self or others, etc.
Mankind's Purpose on Earth
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is a time for Muslims to refocus that goal and remember their missions – to be grateful to the One who, without which, mankind could not be sustained. Chapter 51 (Surat Az-Zariyaat), Verses, (Ayahs), 56-58 of the Qur’an reads: “I have only created of Jinns and men, that they may serve Me. No sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed me. For Allah [God] is He Who gives (all) Sustenance (forever)”.
Fasting as an Obligation
Fasting, or Sawm, in Ramadan is one of the five “pillars” of Islam, and is incumbent upon every able-bodied man and woman above puberty or the age of 12. There is, of course, leniency for certain situations such as traveling, pregnancy, childbirth, menses, and illness. It is not intended to be a hardship upon Muslims, rather a cleansing and period of spiritual enlightenment.
Why the lunar month of Ramadan, specifically? The Qur’an answers that question in Chapter 2 (Surat Al-Baqara), Verse (Ayah) 185: “Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down The Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you and perchance ye shall be grateful”.
Fasting as a Spiritual Experience
This spiritual fasting is not just abstention from food. It is a time for increased time in prayer and good deeds, such as charity – a time of abstaining from anger and pettiness, haughtiness and attachment to worldly objects, impatience and frivolity. For some this might include staying off the Internet, putting away the Xbox, staying out of the malls, turning off the soap operas, being honest in their business dealings by not jacking up prices unfairly and staying away from people and situations that they know will rile them up.Read more: http://islamic-practices.suite101.com/article.cfm/significance_of_fasting_in_ramadan#ixzz0PdTcpbPM
Ramadan is festival kind of atmosphere ...it is become a culture thing to play eid songs during ramadan to remind about Eid while forgetting that fasting is for a month while Raya/Eid is only for a day!
The Muslim world goes topsy-turvy in Ramadan. Eating, sleeping and socialising routines are turned back to front – the first meal is eaten as the sun sets. The initial morsel of food into our mouths will usually be a sweet, succulent date, according to the Islamic tradition. But are the hours that follow really that religious?Contemporary changes to the Ramadan culture mean that the spiritual significance of Ramadan is slowly being lost. Abstaining from physical intake during daylight hours – which means food, drink, and sex – with the intention of getting closer to the Divine, has a myriad of philosophies and meanings.
It allows appreciation of the suffering of the poor and hungry, a chance to devote less time to the physical and more time to the spiritual, a recognition that we can live happily and successfully with less than we have.Come nightfall, these good intentions are put to one side, as though Ramadan is for daylight hours only, and the revelling begins.Mothers cook sumptuous meals for their families. The food is indulgently calorific to the point that many Muslims say they actually gain weight rather than lose it as one might expect. The philosophy of restraint and frugality adhered to during the day has its mirror image in the excessive culinary indulgence after dark.
One of the religious traditions of Ramadan is to feed others at the time of iftar in order to gain reward. Dinner invitations thus abound, and these iftar gatherings are warm social events. But in many places they turn into arenas for showmanship, gathering in partymode, outdoing friends and family with ever extravagant menus where as emphasise the one-upmanship that dominates what should be an occasion of sharing and community.
Once the iftar is over, there is a wide choice of entertainment. Those who are extrovert will find their way to newly erected Ramadan tents, to smoke shisha and chill out with friends for the whole night, going from party to party until dawn. Other families will stay at home to watch the multitude of soap operas which dominate Ramadan. In Saudi Arabia last year it was claimed that there were 64 such soap operas broadcast each night, staggered over time so audiences could watch as many as possible.
This is not a comment on the values or quality of the soaps, or the claims by some clerics that they are “debauched”. It is simply an observation that these soap operas prey on the communal feeling that is generated in Ramadan and profit from it. The audience is understandably drawn towards the high level of entertainment but inadvertently becomes distracted from the sweet pleasures of contemplation and social intercourse of Ramadan.
And let’s not forget the shopping. Shops are open later than ever, and it seems that Ramadan is not a time of midnight contemplation, but rather just a prelude to Eid, a day to show off your new clothes. Ramadan shopping festivals are becoming more common, as is the compulsion to purchase and give Eid presents to a wide circle of acquaintances.Instead of cutting back on the desire to consume, we end up with heightened consumption in these 30 days, whether that be in restaurants or in retail.
This is not to say that the Muslim world has become a month-long consumerist orgy – far from it. The social and spiritual temperature of Muslim communities is high and mosques teem with passionate worshippers.What may surprise many who live in majority Muslim countries is that this sense of community and faith is particularly acute in countries where Muslims are minorities.In these countries, if you are fasting you have to make an active choice to go against the grain of mainstream society. You still have to go to work where you can stare longingly at your colleagues drinking coffee, or attend meetings which run across the iftar time. You have to really know and understand why you are fasting, rather than just being swept up in the maelstrom. There is a sense of community purpose in these countries and an overwhelming push towards spiritual success.
These outcomes are all good things – part of the magic of Ramadan, no doubt. And of course there is no compulsion in how you spend Ramadan. You do not have to sit on a prayer mat all hours of the day. But I do see a worrying trend when you piece each of these actions together. Each one may be justifiable because everyone has choice, but if you step back, you start to see that the meaning and context of Ramadan is slowly being lost.
If we accept these justifications then we must be wary of opening ourselves to the charge of hypocrisy.Ramadan and Eid are not the only occasions to have suffered this slow and insidious dilution of meaning and impact. Practising Christians in the western world complain that Christmas has been sucked dry of its religious meaning.Other festivals, too, have lost their meaning. Easter was about rebirth and renewal, but now focuses on chocolate eggs and cute bunnies. And Lent, which was a 40-day period of frugality and restraint – almost akin to Ramadan itself in its ethos – has been distilled down to Mardi Gras, pancakes and gaudy carnivals.
Some people will bristle at the comparison of the way that Christmas has been usurped by consumerism with the contemporary experience of Ramadan. But the similarities are striking as the evidence above shows.You do not have to be religious to appreciate that the social and ethical meaning of festivals such as Christmas, Ramadan and Eid have a great deal to contribute to the morality of human society.
For this reason, Muslims add their voices to these complaints, as part of the faith communities who share a concern about the sapping of meaning and moral compass from these occasions. However, it often turns into pointing fingers at the West for becoming “godless” or “decadent” due to the excessive commercialisation, while turning a blind eye to the same challenges in the Muslim world.Is this a case of pot calling the kettle black?
Ramadan does not have to be, and should not be, sober pious asceticism. Of course not. Enjoyment, sharing and happiness in our togetherness are critical components of Ramadan. But Ramadan should be about more than gluttony, shopping and vacuous entertainment.We do in fact need to recognise and acknowledge the place of Ramadan’s material pleasures. By being honest about the importance of the physical, we can de-prioritise it in favour of the spiritual and moral at least for the 30 days of Ramadan.
This de-prioritisation is what makes Ramadan special in the first place. By withholding the importance of the physical self, Ramadan is about recognising the importance of our individual spirit, and about finding our place as souls, not bodies, in the society in which we live.

May people wonder why we fast the month of Ramadan and what is so significant about it. The reson we fast is to develop and strengthen our self-control. The purpose is to be thankful for what you have and try to give more to the people that are less fortunate than us. In this holy month you are suppose to pray all five prayers and tarweh. Ramadan is not only to fast and pray, but also to enjoy the essence of Islam. Ramadan is the 9th month of Islamic calendar in which the holy book Qur’an was reveled to Prophet Mohammed. Muslims wait for this month for worship keeping in mind that their every prayer, fast and good deeds are accepted and rewarded many times compare to the rest of the months. Charity is major role in Islam especially in Ramadan. In Ramadan it is must on Muslims who work, earn and can afford to give a Zakat. Prophet Mohammed said, "He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, without nothing being reduced from the fasting persons reward." Ramadan is a significant month that all Muslims are grateful about.

“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard against evil.” (The Holy Quran, 2:183)
Allah says: “And when My servants ask you (O Prophet) about Me, surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should hear My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way.” (ibid., 2:186)
“And swallow not up your property among yourselves by false means, nor seek to gain access thereby to the authorities so that you may swallow up other people’s property wrongfully while you know.” (ibid., 2:188)
“He who does not give up uttering falsehood and acting according to it, God has no need of his giving up his food and drink.” (The Holy Prophet Muhammad)
Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights, and explained it by saying: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:2-4.) Moses also fasted forty days and forty nights (Exodus 34:28).
Purpose of fasting in Islam
To develop and strengthen our powers of self-control, so that we can resist wrongful desires and bad habits, and therefore “guard against evil” (extract no. 1). In fasting, by refraining from the natural human urges to satisfy one’s appetite, we are exercising our ability of self-restraint, so that we can then apply it to our everyday life to bring about self-improvement.
To attain nearness and closeness to God so that He becomes a reality in our lives. As we bear the rigours of fasting purely for the sake of following a Divine commandment, knowing and feeling that He can see all our actions however secret, it intensifies the consciousness of God in our hearts, resulting in a higher spiritual experience (see extract no. 2).
To learn to refrain from usurping other’s rights and belongings. In fasting we voluntarily give up even what is rightfully ours; how can then we think of taking what is not ours but belongs to someone else? (See extract no. 3)
Charity and generosity is especially urged during Ramadan. We learn to give, and not to take. The deprivation of fasting makes us sympathise with the suffering of others, and desirous of alleviating it; and it makes us remember the blessings of life which we normally take for granted.
Fasting in Islam does not just consist of refraining from eating and drinking, but from every kind of selfish desire and wrong-doing. The fast is not merely of the body, but essentially that of the spirit as well (see extract no. 4). The physical fast is a symbol and outward expression of the real, inner fast.
Fasting is a spiritual practice to be found in all religions (see extracts no. 1 and 5). The great Founders of various faiths (Buddha, Moses, Jesus, etc.) practised quite rigorous fasting as a preliminary to attaining their first experience of spiritual enlightenment and communion with God. This kind of communion is indicated in extract no. 2.

The word “ zakah ” in Arabic means purification. The giving of zakah (obligatory charity) is the third pillar of Islam. There are two types of zakah: zakat al-mal (charity paid on one’s wealth) and zakat al-fitr (charity paid before breaking the fast of Ramadan).
Every free Muslim who owns a saa` (2.176 kilograms or 4.797 pounds) of dates or barley that is not needed as a basic food for himself or his family is required to pay zakat al-fitr at the end of Ramadan and before the `Eid Prayer. Every free Muslim must pay zakat al-fitr for himself, his wife, children and servants.
The Prophet Muhammad enjoined zakah on those who fast to purify them from any indecent act or deeds. It is a sort of purification of the soul on the individual level, a cure against miserliness, and a social safety net. The rich are obliged to come in contact with the poor and the poor with the even less fortunate.
This contact between the various levels of society helps to create a real bond of brotherhood in the Muslim community. Zakah provides for the poor and spares them the humiliation of asking for charity. The Prophet Muhammad said, “Fulfill their need on this day” (that is, on the day of `Eid).
Zakat al-fitr is obligatory on every Muslim, rich or poor alike, young and old, because every Muslim needs this purification. The head of the household must pay for every member of the family, even for the newborn.
This concept of charity and generosity is central to the message of Islam. In the Qur’an, the believers are described as what means […those who spend (of that which Allah hath given them) in ease and in adversity] (Aal `Imran3: 134)

US Stock Market - the hibernation over, the speculators back again

http://247wallst.com/2009/08/28/the-return-of-speculation/

Tribute - Senator Edward Kennedy, the departure of a powerful voices

The only senator, the powerful leader and roaring lion from US who stood by the people of Bangladesh during its 1971 freedom war has left the legacy of humanity. so sad seen him gone... voice for the voiceless, voice for the humanity, voice for the equal rights has gone forever. We may not see anyone like him in our lifetime and the final farewell of the last of Kennedy brothers...

It may draw some of your interests reading an excellent article by Taylor Marsh on Ted Kennedy's contribution during the birth of Bangladesh, 1971 liberation war (in the middle of the article). A true friend of ours, the kind of leaders, the powerful voices and a humanitarian roaring lion needed and inneed to keep the worlds peace.

We salute you friend Teddy, "may your soul be rest in peace."
A picture of a tree planted by him at Dhaka University in 1972 (at the top). Also, a precious picture footage during his trip to free Bangladesh (at the top).
Some highlights of the article "My vote against this misbegotten war is the best vote I have cast in the United States Senate since I was elected in 1962." - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy

"Even though the United States government does not recognize you," Kennedy said, "the people of the world do recognize you."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taylor-marsh/ted-kennedys-foreign-poli_b_271866.html

THE death of Edward Kennedy of brain cancer at the age of seventy-seven is particular cause for sorrow on the part of the people of Bangladesh. The reason why such should be our feeling is not difficult to fathom. Back in the tortuous days of our struggle for liberation from Pakistan in 1971, when Bengalis were marked out for genocide and when as many as ten million of them fled to safety in neighbouring India, Senator Kennedy took up our cause in his country and in the international arena. His support gave that certain boost to our struggle that was so necessary for us at the time. The Nixon administration, in its misplaced obsession with opening a road to ties with China through making use of Pakistan, conveniently looked the other way as the then Pakistan establishment went on eliminating Bengalis. Mr. Kennedy chose to uphold reality as it then was.
It is thus that we recall the late senator. Our gratitude to him remains as real and as substantive as it did in our twilight struggle for freedom. That apart, Senator Kennedy will for long be remembered as a politician to whom the real issues which affected people mattered. In his forty-seven year career in the US senate, he sponsored or co-sponsored close to three thousand bills, all aimed at ensuring a better life for ordinary Americans. Unlike his brothers, all of whom died young and in tragic circumstances, Edward Kennedy lived to old age. In his long life, he was able to play a role in legislation that for years to come will draw the respect of Americans to him. His reputation as a politician rests on the strong foundations he developed in the senate. And just how enviable that reputation is can be gauged from the plethora of tributes pouring in for him from all across the world.
For all his legislative accomplishments, though, Senator Kennedy lived a life marked by tragedy and blunders that could have been avoided. He saw his clan suffering in various ways. He was the victim of a plane crash, the effect of which was a painful back. And then came the blunders. The death of Mary Jo Kopechne in 1969 is a tragedy that never let go of him. And then in 1980, as President Jimmy Carter's popularity plummeted, Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic Party presidential nomination but was ultimately unable to secure it.
Warts and all, Edward Kennedy was a remarkable politician. More importantly, he was one man who all his life symbolized the liberalism which once defined politics in America. We grieve for him and pray for the salvation of his soul.

Kazi Nazrul Islam - tribute to the immortal legend

Kazi da - তুমি চলে গেলেও তোমার শৈল্লিক সৃষ্টি আজও আমাদের পথ দেখায় ! "Tumi robe nirobe ontore momo". "গাহি সাম্যের গান - যেখানে আসিয়া এক হ'য়ে গেছে সব বাধা-ব্যবধান। যেখানে মিশেছে হিন্দু-বৌদ্ধ-মুসলিম-ক্রীশ্চান।" অসাম্প্রদায়িকতার প্রতীক বিদ্রোহী কবিকে সশ্রদ্ধ সালাম। "gahi shammer gan, manusher cheye boro kisu nai, nohe kisu mohian" kingba "bolo bir bolo chiro unnoto momo shir" ... and You once said, "Even though I was born in this country (Bengal), in this society, I belong to the world."

An extraordinary, prolific and versatile poet, lyricist and writer, an undaunted unreserved authentic voice against bigotry, injustice and oppression, a passionate advocate of peace, freedom, harmony, love, compassion, humanism and beauty is Kazi Nazrul Islam, the Rebel Poet of Bengal.
The national poet of Bangladesh or more appropriately, a true World Poet, deserves to be known to the world outside, without being confined to the small Bangla-speaking community.
While every nation endeavours to promote their cultural excellence beyond the bounds of their own nation, we seem to be content with paying lip-service most of the time.
There is an interesting collage of excerpts taken from Nazrul's poetry highlighting his own views and feelings explicitly in his own worlds together with poetic tributes and dedications to Nazrul by famous literary personalities, including Tagore, Premendra Mitra, Annada Shankar Roy and others. Let's take a moment, take pride, pay tribute and uphold his arts, culture, philosophy, song, poem, novel, islamic thoughts and humanity thorough the greater world...

Richmond Community - Our Generations' Achievements, Congrats...

Congratulations and big applause for both Tahsin Haque (Daughter of Manjur Bhai & Joli Bhabi, unfortunately photo unavailable), and Sunan Ahmed (Son of Mahtab Bhai & Buli Bhabi, photo left) for their outstanding accomplishment on high school graduation with prestige and honor. Tahsin will be pursuing expediting academic program at VCU while Sunan will be heading for UVA certainly very lucrative program. We are absolute proud of you guys, salute to both parents for the great success of their children. Congratulations...

Let's take another moment of pride congratulating both Faraz Rahman (Son of Hasan Bhai & Nausheen Bhabi, photo right) and Anonta Amin (Son of Amin Bhai & Rosy Bhabi, unfortunately photo unavailable) for successfully completing their grad school orientation programs form Cornell and Harvard University respectively. Faraz spent three weeks at Cornell exploring the fascinating past, present and future of disease, illness, health and medical care in America highlighting at 3 credit hours Body, Mind and Health program.

On the other hand, Anonto spent June 20 - Aug 7 at Harvard completing Harvard's Secondary School Program (SSP), aiming challenges of taking college courses, living in a dorm , and meeting new friends. Hoping both of them will be leveraging their knowledge and experiences pursuing their future grad school admission. Congrts guys..

Wishing their great success in life !

Asian American contractors - discrimination fight not over yet!

Considering worth reading for all of Asian Americans particularly minority owned small business owners...
Aug 5, 2009, We, Some of the Asian American entrepreneurs, small business owners (SBOs) and community fellows gathered at the Virginia’s First Ever Asian Legislative Summit - a Civic Empowerment event in Ukrops Headquarter, Richmond, organized by Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce. The SBO session with attorney Aarathi D. Haig, Asian American Justice Center was one of the prime focuses to the event.
As you all know, Many levels of government, including the federal government, have "set-aside" programs that award a certain percentage of contracts to minority- and women-owned businesses. These programs were developed to remedy the effects of past discrimination and to address the difficulties these firms faced in competing with larger, more established firms for government contracts. Minority businesses are often newer and smaller and have difficulty competing with older, larger businesses that know the process and can afford to make lower bids. Acquiring government contracts can be involved and confusing for businesses unfamiliar with the process. Governments, especially the federal government, are often slow to pay their bills, so businesses frequently have to borrow money to bridge the gap between the delivery of goods and services that must be paid for and the time it takes the government to pay.
To better understand the SC stands - While the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet declared the use of racial classifications unconstitutional, it has ruled them suspect and subject to strict judicial scrutiny. As a result, set-aside programs came under increasing attack in the 1990s and late 2000s.
In 1989 the Supreme Court, in City of Richmond v. Croson County (488 US 469), struck down a Richmond, Virginia, city ordinance that reserved 30% of city-financed construction contracts for minority-owned businesses. The Court ruled that the ordinance violated equal protection because there was no "specific" and "identified" evidence of past discrimination, "public or private," against the Richmond Minority Business Enterprise in city contracting. The majority opinion, written by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, also noted that the city had failed to "narrowly tailor" the remedy to accomplish any objective other than "outright racial balancing." The opinion further stated that it was a "completely unrealistic" assumption that a 30% assignment to minority business enterprises in a particular trade would be a fair representation of the community.
Virginia state offers similar set-aside programs like M/WBE, DBE, 8(a) and other such programs to help the minority and/or women own small business owners to take advantage of this type of Govt. contract through competitive bidding process in all areas of business such as IT, retails, constructions, development etc. But this Minority "Set-Aside" Programs are under Increasing Attacked by various fraction of activists regarding the legitimacy and transparency of these programmes. It hardly provided successful contract to such minority owned SBOs, rather faced discrimination in many aspects of the working areas.
Attorney Ararathi- the Aug 5 SBO session leader, referenced of submition an exemplary testimonial into the Congressional record last March to show Congress that Asian American contractors do in fact face discrimination, and that is why it’s important to make sure they remain included in M/WBE, DBE, 8(a) and other such programs (i.e. attached the testimony of Mr. Dennis Kim below, as an example of what a testimonial looks like to support your rights).
Attorney Aarathi, on behalf of the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce made an appeal to the community requesting "Please look at the testimony. Read through it and think about whether any of its kind applies to you. If you feel that you’ve been treated differently than your white counterparts in a government contracting context, and you feel that the reason for the different treatment is because you’re Asian American, we really need to hear about it. Congress and the general public really need to understand that discrimination against our community is very real."
Attorney Aarathi can be reached at-
Aarathi D. Haig
Asian American Justice Center
1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202.296.2300, ext. 119
Fax: 202.296.2318
ahaig@advancingequality.org
http://www.advancingequality.org/

Below is the details of Testimony that was submitted by Attorney Aarathi:

Testimony of Dennis Kim President, EVS, Inc. before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee “The Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Programs” March 26, 2009 EVS, Inc. 10250 Valley View Road, Suite 123 Eden Prairie, MN 55344
My name is Dennis Kim and I am the president of EVS, Inc., an engineering consulting company in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. I immigrated to the United States in 1969 from South Korea. I joined the company in 1980 and took over the ownership in 1982 and currently have more than 20 employees. The focus of my company is civil and environmental engineering. For the first 10 years of my life in the United States, I continued my education at the University of Minnesota and worked as an engineer with the State of Nebraska. Despite all of this American education, Caucasian professionals who I see at work meetings regularly ask me where I learned to speak English and are surprised that I speak it as well as I do. I have heard many comments about my English. Then they ask me if I am a U.S. citizen. A number of Caucasian people also express surprise when I mention that my son is studying political science instead of engineering. It seems that it is expected that Asians are supposed to study only mathematics or engineering. I joined EVS, a four-person engineering company in Minneapolis, Minnesota with the dream of becoming a successful businessman. In 1982, I took over the company when the founder moved out of town. One of the ways in which I decided to grow my company was to get involved in government contracting. I first made this decision in 1984, when I obtained Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) certification. It was a time consuming and painstaking process to prepare all the required paperwork. It was also difficult to put together acceptable applications when help was not easily available at that time. The DOT told me they had limited capacity and could not do much to help me. Despite these difficulties, I am very proud to say that I now have 22 employees. Last year we had $2.5 million in revenue. I have been able to grow my business from just 4 employees in 1982 to now having 22 employees. I am very proud of what I have accomplished. In 1990 my company was a finalist for the American Society of Civil Engineers award for exemplary engineering work. A decision driving course I designed for Dakota County Technical College in 1998 is still used today to train police officers, fire fighters, commercial truck drivers and other law enforcement officials. The special pavement on the driving course that I designed can simulate winter driving conditions. Being able to drive in very harsh winter conditions is a crucial skill for anyone living in Minnesota, and especially for law enforcement officials who need to quickly respond to emergencies. I’m honored that I was able to play a role in helping the community in this way. During lunch meetings with potential project partners, Caucasian engineers and consultants tell me that they are sure that I eat stinky Korean food at home. I have tried explaining to them that Korean food tastes good and smells different because it is cooked with ingredients that are not used in American food. They tell me that it still stinks. Now, I make sure that I don’t bring Korean food to work. If I have it at home and have to see any colleagues soon after that, I make sure to brush my teeth, use mouthwash and drink milk in order to mask the smell of the Korean food as much as I can. I drink milk because I heard that it hides strong breath odors. I think this is outrageous. To me, Korean food doesn’t smell any stronger than hamburgers and French fries. I’m deeply offended that I have felt forced to hide eating my Korean food. The examples about food that I just described are only one example of the discrimination people have shown towards me because of my race. However, I do recognize that the United States has made a lot of progress and I’m very grateful for that. But there is still a lot of work to be done. In 1998, I first learned of a subcontracting opportunity with a large engineering company in Minnesota. This company was competing for a contract with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Our share of the contract was more than $150,000 for 2 phases of the contract. I believe that the total contract amount for the large engineering company was more than one million dollars. EVS had been chosen by this company because we had approached them about this project and there was a requirement of DBE participation. The project was delayed over a year because the scope of the project has been expanded greatly after the first contract was awarded. There had been a number of issues with the project including expanded scope of work, delay of the work and engineering problems. In the middle of the project, the DOT expanded the scope of the project. Figuring out how the large engineering company and my company were going to accommodate this expansion took significant time. Another reason for the delay was a change in the project management team at the large engineering company and at the DOT – the new people on the project management team had to take a lot of time to become familiar with the project. None of these problems were the fault of my company or me. In fact, during the period of delay, I frequently tried to reach the large engineering company to learn what was going on and I was repeatedly put off and was never given any real information. Finally, more than a year later, the engineering company and the Minnesota DOT summoned me for a meeting to discuss the project. When I walked into the room, there were 3 people from the engineering company and DOT – all male Caucasians. It was quickly obvious to me that they had already discussed and decided the fate of the project, including my role as a subcontractor. I knew that they already had met earlier because they were on agreement on every issue related to EVS. They told me that the problem was entirely my fault and I was wholly responsible for it. They told me that they were kicking me off the project, and since the problem was my fault they would only pay me a fraction of the money I earned on the project thus far. I felt that their reason for unfairly targeting me in this way is that I am Asian American. Had I been Caucasian they would not have done this to me. They kicked me off the project and replaced me with a Caucasian subcontractor. I did not complain to anyone about this because I was afraid of retaliation and being labeled as an Asian whiner. I regularly heard Caucasian engineers and contractors complain about DBEs who they thought were complaining for no reason. When the engineering company and the DOT kicked me off the project, I did not realize then that I had been blacklisted. I came to know this later on when I tried to compete for other projects. The reason for my rejection was consistently that this large engineering company and the Minnesota DOT staff gave me a bad reference and recommended against working with me. Again, I really believe this was because I am Asian American. I was an easy target, as a minority, to be bad mouthed by this large white prime contractor. Since then, I have never been able to procure a DOT contract in the same district where this issue had occurred. I would welcome the opportunity to do more work with the DOT – in particular I am excited to work on wind energy projects. It’s the new frontier and my firm is poised to do really well in this area. My experience with discrimination has demonstrated to me how important the DOT DBE program is. While in the situation I described, the project goals were clearly not sufficient incentive to keep the large engineering company from discriminating, I do believe that in many other cases the program works. Without it, qualified minority business owners like me would have even less of a chance at getting DOT contracts. Recently, since federal stimulus dollars have become available, I have contacted the Minnesota DOT about new projects. I have noticed that they have become much more user-friendly and I hope this will continue. Moving forward, I recommend that all federal and state agencies be more proactive in thinking about small businesses, including DBEs. Instead of always forcing small businesses to compete against large companies, there should be a more even playing field. This can be accomplished by unbundling larger contracts or even having particular contracts that are only open for bids from small businesses. Competition among peers is fair, and of course competition in general is always a good thing. Forcing us to always compete against the big guys means we will almost never get a prime contract. Small businesses want to be a player on their own, but we need experience in managing projects on our own and not always under someone else’s umbrella. This is important because in addition to having the right skills, business is heavily relationship oriented. When small businesses are always a subcontractor, even on small projects, we don’t have the opportunity to build relationships with the key decision makers. Interaction and relationship-building with the key decision makers will help small businesses become prime contractors and grow their business. When the pool of qualified prime contractors increases, the effect is that competition increases – and in business, that is always a good thing. I really hope that my story will motivate you to not only reauthorize the DBE program but to improve it. Thank you.
For some contents Ref: http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/2913/Minorities-in-Labor-Force-MINORITIES-IN-BUSINESS.html#ixzz0NuJyKIUW

True Democracy-Justice Prevails in Long Run

Even long 38 years after our liberty, still looking answers for justice in the assasination of our many great leaders like Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Tajuddin Ahmed, Mansur Ali, Syed Nazrul Islam, AHM Kamruzzaman, Ziaur Rahman, and including justice for many more unknown innocent killings both political and civilian people. The justice system in Bangladesh is chained-servant of so-called ruller cum administration. The power monger ruller utilized it as the modern vehicle to satisfy their deep rooted desire.

On the Contrary, If we make a short journey through justice system of a democratic country like USA, it reminds the wonder of rights and sweetness of freedom ! well, apparently and obviously there had been many very crucial incidents errupted lately that justify the injustice of the democratical justice system. But history witnessed - 'The truth is uphold in the long run to some extent'. For instances, revealation of the case of Water gate, WMD false-positive, Abu Grhaib ,Guantanamo Bay, US-Attorney firing etc validate the power of the freedom of justice.

The very recent case of Mohammed Jawad, a gitmo detainee waked me up again to re-think the Bangladeshi horrified Justice system. July 30, 2009, A judge ordered the current US administration to release a prisoner who is one of the youngest at Guantanamo Bay, saying the government doesn't have evidence to hold him there. The Justice Department initially indicated it might prosecute him in civilian court, but now says it wants to release him. Now he's a few weeks from leaving the prison camp. That revitalize my dream to waiting for the day, when each innocent Bangladeshi will see the sunrise in its justice system with a message, Yes-'We found justice, we revealed the truth'!

Significance of Shab-E-Bar'at/Lailat-UL-Bar'at

This version of blog/text is collected from various resources including scholars research, web site ref, hadees & Qur'an's ref:
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful...
"This Day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you ISLAM as your religion" (Quran 5:3). "Whosoever narrated a lie on my behalf, let him make his place in Hell-Fire." (Saheeh al-Bukharee).
15th Shabaan (Lailatul Barat/Shab-e-Barat): Shabaan is the eight-month of the Islamic Calendar. It falls between two sacred months, Rajab and Ramadaan.The night of 15th Shabaan is generally considered a festival of Muslims. Certain unexpected customs have been evolved which are adhered to, vigorously which researchers indicates that many of the exhibited festival is kind of man-made cultural type celebration. Neither Qur'an nor Hadees and the era of companions of Prophet Mohammed (P.B.U.H) indicate the existence of this festival, then. None of the Islamic scholars of early post -Kilafat-e-Rashida period have called such a feast Islamic.At the most, Islamic literature reveals only an event: once, on the night of Shaban the 15th, Hazrat Ayesha did not find Prophet Mohammed (P.B.U.H) on his bed, so she left in his search and reached Jannat-ul Baquee. He was present there. On quizzing, he replied on this night, Allah turns his attention from the sky to this world and forgives as many sins of people as the total number of hair of all the sheep's put-together of the clan, called Kalb. But a prominent writer of Hadees, Imam Tirmizi has declared this tradition a fragile and has claimed, through his research, that it cannot be believed with certainty that Hazrath Ayesha was its source.
There are other narrations, which are found in lesser-known compilations of Hadees. The excellence of this night is said to be only because human fates are decided in this, and affairs of birth and death are finalized. But all these traditions are weak...Islam has taken necessary care of the fact that its followers do not adopt rituals and rites which Allah has not asked them to. None of the self-created custom, artificial ceremony or any collective practice should take the shape of Farz. Allah knows better as to what will and what will not be beneficial for the people...It is our obligation to get to know more about the Night of 15th Shabaan...
LAILAT-UL-BARAAT, the auspicious night of the 15th of Shaban (popularly known as Shab-e-Baraat in this subcontinent), is a glorious and important occasion in the life of every Muslim. Both the words Lailat (in Arabic) and Shab (in Persian) mean night, and Baraat means salvation or privilege or quittance. Many in our subcontinent mistakenly think that this holy night is Shab-e-Barat or the "Night of Fortune." But Lailat-ul Baraat is actually the "Night of Salvation" or "Night of Privilege." It is on this propitious night that Benign Providence, in His infinite mercy, blesses each and every human being with a unique opportunity to receive the most coveted Divine mercy.It is true that Lailat-ul-Baraat has not been directly or specifically mentioned in the Holy Quran. But that does not, in any way, empower any Muslim to ignore, or make little of, the divine excellence of the Night of Salvation because there are numerous authentic hadith and historic evidence, transmitted or recognised by renowned traditionalists and universally revered saint and seers, which eloquently testify to the fact that the holy Prophet Muhammad (SA,pbuh) himself used to attach great importance to this extraordinary night and say special prayers on this sacred occasion.
Unfortunately, however, there are still some who claim that Lailat-ul-Baraat has no religious significance in the eyes of Islam. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The holy Prophet Muhammad (SA,pbuh) not only said special prayers on this sacred night but also visited graveyards and prayed for the departed souls. He even instructed Ummahatul Mu'mineen (his pious wives) to honour the sanctity and divine excellence of this blessed occasion. What is more, a reliable tradition also testifies that Bibi Ayesha Siddiqa (RA) visited a graveyard on this mubarak night of salvation in search of the holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh). An acclaimed traditionalist, Ibn Maja, reported on the authority of no less a person than Sher-e-Khuda Hazrat Ali ibn Abu Talib (RA) that the holy Prophet (SA,pbuh) had said: "On this night, from the moment the sun sets, Allah descends on the firmament of this earth and goes on asking till sunrise: 'Is there no one who asks forgiveness so that I may forgive him? Is there no one who asks provision so that I may provide him? Is there no one afflicted so that I may relieve him? Is there not such and such? Is there not such and such?" The holy Prophet (pbuh) never failed to avail this unique & glorious opportunity & himself used to pray all through this Night of Privilege every year with a view to receiving mercy from the most gracious & most merciful Allah.
On one occasion, the holy Prophet (pbuh) spent half of this auspicious night through a Nafl prayer of two rakahs and the rest through a long sijdah or prostration. Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (RA) reported that on one such occasion the holy Prophet (SA, pbuh) was so deeply absorbed in His meditation and remained so long in prostration that she became awfully nervous and thought that He (pbuh) had shuffled off the mortal coil.Abu Busa al-Ashari (RA) reported Allah's Messenger (SA, pbuh) as saying: "Allah Most High looks down in the middle night of Sha'ban and forgives all his creatures, except a polytheist or one who is hostile."
Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (RA) said: "I missed Allah's Messenger (SA, pbuh) one night and found him at al-Baqi (Jannatul Baqi). He (SA, pbuh) said: 'Were you afraid that Allah and His Messenger would act wrongly towards you?' I replied: 'Messenger of Allah, I thought you had gone to one of your wives.' He said: 'On the middle night of Sha'ban Allah Most High descends to the lowest heaven and forgives more sins than the hairs of the goats of Kalb.' " It is also reported that the holy Prophet (SA,pbuh) said: "Allah forgives every Muslim on this night. He does not, however, forgive the mushrik, the jealous, the cruel, and the adulterer."
According to another tradition, Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (RA) reported the holy Prophet (SA, pbuh) as saying: "Do you know what happens on this night?" meaning the middle night of Sha'ban. She asked: "What happens on it, Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "On it a record is made of every human being who will be born and of every human being who will die this year; on it their actions are taken up to heaven and on it their provisions are sent down."
"According to popular belief," corroborates the Encyclopaedia of Islam, "on the night preceding the 15th of Sha'ban the tree of life on whose leaves are written the names of the living is shaken to decide who is going to die in the coming year." It is claimed by some that it is the Sidratul Muntaha, "the Lote-tree of the extremity," a tree in the seventh heaven having its root in the sixth, which is shaken to decide who is going to die. (Sidratul Muntaha has been mentioned twice in the Holy Qur'an).It is not only the renowned traditionalists who champion the sacredness and excellence of the Night of Salvation, but even a great and universally accepted saint and scholar like Hazrat Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA), popularly known as Hazrat Bara Pir Sahib, testifies in his Guniatut Talebin, that Bibi Ayesha Siddiqa herself heard
the holyProphet (SA, pbuh) saying: "Allah opens the doors of mercy and grace for mankind on four nights -- the two nights of Eids, the night of the 15th of Sha'ban, and the night of Arafat." (The two other nights, Shab-e-Qadr and Shab-e-Mi'raj, have been specifically referred to in the Holy Quran). The doors remain open till the Fajr prayer.Hundreds and thousands of Muslims in our subcontinent celebrate this night through zealous and active participation in private and congregational prayers held in mosques.
Unfortunately, however, there are many among us who, through sheer ignorance or utter carelessness, turn this auspicious night into a mere occasion of pleasure and gaiety, fun and frolic, forgetting the very essence of this glorious night.There are some who think that crackers and candles are part and parcel of Shab-e-Baraat. This awful custom, introduced by the Barmecides in Baghdad, simply because they were fire-worshippers and loved fire even after they accepted Islam, not only disturbs the namazis and meditators on this auspicious night but also leads to unnecessary wastage and prodigality, which are forbidden in Islam.
There are also some who try to equate halwa and roti with the sacred Night of Privilege, claiming that the holy Prophet (SA, pbuh) lost a few teeth at the Battle of Uhud on the 15th of Sha'ban and hence people should not cook anything hard as a mark of respect to that historic incident. Some also claim that Hazrat Amir Hamza (RA) embraced martyrdom on the 15th of Sha'ban. Both these claims are totally baseless as both the incidents occurred in the month of Shawal. There is no harm if halwa and other sweetmeats are cooked on this occasion, but let these be shared with the poor and the have-nots.
The very spirit of such a noble and auspicious occasion will be lost if those who are affluent fail to share their good fortune with those who are less privileged.And lastly, let all of us say with all the earnestness the following dua, which the Prophet Muhammad (SA, pbuh) himself recited: "O Allah, I seek refuge in Thy good pleasure from Thine anger, and in Thy forgiveness from Thy punishment, and I seek refuge 'in Thee from Thee' from Thy wrath. I cannot reckon the praise due to Thee. Thou art as Thou hast glorified Thyself."

Collections from various resources, scholars researches
Ref: http://www.al-islamforall.org/Misc/S...shabebarat.htm
http://www.al-islamforall.org/

Nobel Laureate Prof Dr. MUhammad Younus - Our Pride, Our Prestige

No, I did not dream to be a cheer writer.While I may have been tempted to do so, I realize that would have been a total career-limiting move! And even though the content of the blog needs to stay in the precise issue oriented short discussion, I thought I'd give some props and kudos to our own Nobel laureate who really erected our head for ever!
Yes, he deserves it! Nobel Laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus was named by President Obama among the 16 Recipients of 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. America’s highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. This year’s awardees were chosen for their work as agents of change. President Obama said, “These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds. Their tremendous accomplishments span fields from economics to poverty alleviation efforts, science to sports, from fine arts to foreign affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way. Their relentless devotion to breaking down barriers and lifting up their fellow citizens sets a standard to which we all should strive. It is my great honor to award them the Medal of Freedom.” President Obama will present the awards at a ceremony on Wednesday, August 12. Among others receiving the award for 2009 are Nancy Goodman Brinker, Dr. Pedro Jose Greer, Stephen Hawking, Jack Kemp, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Billie Jean King, Reverend Lowery, Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, Harvey Milk, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Sidney Poitier, Chita Rivera, Mary Robinson, Janet Davison Rowley, M.D., and Desmond Tutu for the outstanding contributions to the various aspects of human life.
So, I thought it is worth analyzing the life and works of Dr. Muhammad Yunus since he is the only ever Nobel Prize winner from a poor country like Bangladesh.
The professor was born in 1940, the son of a goldsmith in Chittagong, then in East Bengal currently Bangladesh, one of nine children. He excelled at school and, in 1965, was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to take a PhD at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. He married and had a child with an American woman but she was miserable living in Bangladesh. In 1980, he married his second wife, Afrozi, a Bangladeshi teacher and researcher in advanced physics. They now have a child, Deena. It is his mother who had the most profound influence on his life, however. He had watched her, as he grew up, making extra jewellery which she sold so she would always have a little to give to poor relatives. This imbued in him the sense that having enough yourself was only as important as helping others. His epiphany came while he was teaching at Chittagong University during the 1974 famine and skeletal figures began arriving in nearby towns and villages. "I wanted to run away from these theories, from my textbooks." he says." I wanted to discover the real- life economics played out in the neighboring village, the people of Jobra would become my teachers." Jobra became both his laboratory and his road to Damascus as he began to take what he calls a "worm’s eye view” of the lives of the destitute. What he found was tremendous potential. “In such conditions the fact these people are even alive means they are skilled, yet they are treated as if they have nothings to offer." he says. His economist’s eye also began to see how the poorest were enslaved to loan sharks who lent money at 10 per cent interest per week, sometimes even per day. They were allowed just enough to keep them alive but not enough to escape the money lenders.
In 1974 Professor Yunus, an economist interviewed in a poor village a woman stool maker who had every week to borrow the equivalent of 1.5d (TK100) to buy the raw bamboo. When this woman paid back, she only made a penny profit. Professor Yunus saw in her the dilemma of poor people all over the world, and after rebuffs, scorn, and skepticism from orthodox banks, set up the Grameen Bank, in 1983 in his native village Jobra, Bangladesh to provide small, low-interest loans to the poor to help better their livelihood and communities, which lends minute sums of money to people who cannot get credit. History was made and "Micro credit" was born.
Yunus lent the equivalent of $27 from his own pocket to 42 basket weavers. He found that even with such a small amount it was possible for them not simply to survive but also to create the spark of initiative and enterprise needed to pull themselves out of poverty against the advice of the banks and government, he carried on giving micro loans". Despite its high interest rates and lending to poor individuals, Grameen Bank is sustainable and 98% of its loans are repaid -- higher than other banking systems. This scheme has triumphantly worked and whole districts in many countries have been transformed and that was the beginning of journey for Dr. Yunus...In these days of the Third Way, it is no wonder this man, a true visionary, is feted by Western governments, borrowed from by the Clintons, and studied by Milbank.
Interesting facts to notice; Ammajan Amina, an illiterate beggar in her 40s, was one of Grameen Bank’s first clients. Of her six children, four had died of hunger or disease and her husband had spent most of their assets pm trying to find a cure for an illness which took his life. After his death, Amina was left with only her house and two daughters have to feed. For awhile, she sold home – made cakes and biscuits but ran out of money to buy ingredients and turned to begging. One night, she came home to find her brother- in- low had sold their tin roof. Later, monsoon rains destroyed the mud walls and she found her elder daughter dead in the rubble. When Grameen workers found her, she was hungry and desperate. The bank lent her some money to start making bamboo baskets; she made a profit, repaid her loan and then took another to develop her business. She was now a businesswoman, not a beggar "We have two million such life stories." says Professor Yunus’ "One for each of our members."
Just unimaginable to realize-There are many ways for people to die, but somehow dying of starvation is the most unacceptable of all. It happens in slow motion. Second by second the distance between life and death becomes smaller. At one point life and death are in such close proximity one can hardly see the difference and one literally doesn’t know if the mother and child prostrate on the ground are of this world or the next Death happens so quietly so inexorable, you don’t even hear it. And all this happens because a person does not have a handful of food to eat at each meat. The tiny baby, who does not yet understand the mystery of the world, cries and cries and finally falls asleep without the milk tit needs so badly. The next day maybe it won’t even have the strength to cry.
Witnessed enough during this deep recession, If you want to see a western banker after a natural disaster or/and man made financial collapse had wiped out most of all his business clients you would be in for a grim hour. That is exactly the position that Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Bangladesh Grameen Bank is in. Social barriers, political embattlement, so-called civil society, Recurring floods, worst in the global history covered most of the land and affect the total population years after years. But professor Yunus is totally amazingly, unclamped. He is a paradox a personally modest man is traditional dress who lives simply in a small flat " over the shop " an ambitious businessman and visionary convinced that he has picked one of the lock that imprison the poor. His Key is credit –minute sums borrowed mainly by illiterate women set up the smallest imaginable enterprises .He calls it micro credit, and it works After 26 years spent fighting the skeptics, Grameen is a $2.5 billion business . Professor Yunus could easily have prospered as one of the elite band of international economics that he has, instead, spent much of his life puzzling and annoying with heretical ideas about the bank ability of the un bankable. His heart plainly, movingly, soft but there is nothing soft centered about his economics.
In Bangladesh today Grameen has Total number of borrowers of 7.90 million, 97 per cent of them are women and more than 98 per cent of loans are repaid, a recovery rate higher than for any other banking system. Grameen Bank has 2,557 branches. It works in 84,487 villages. Total staff is 23,323. Over time, His grameen model has proved extremely successful, Since his initial loan of twenty- seven dollars made in 1976, Total amount of loan disbursed by Grameen Bank, since inception, is Tk 458.61 billion (US $ 8.17 billion). Out of this, Tk 407.90 billion (US $ 7.25 billion) has been repaid. Current amount of outstanding loans stands at TK 50.71 billion (US $ 734.65 million). During the past 12 months (from July’08 to June'09) Grameen Bank disbursed Tk. 71.85 billion (US $ 1044.59 million). Monthly average loan disbursement over the past 12 month was Tk 5.99 billion (US $ 87.05million). Micro lending has now spread beyond Bangladesh to America and Western Europe as well as developing countries Throughout Grameen’s growth; To date, Grameen – type projects have sprung up in places as diverse as Vietnam, china, the Philippines, and the ‘South side of Chicago and spread over more than 50 countries.
Yunus has avoided the involvement of international development specialists, decrying them as limousine liberals, and instead has sought out private donors and foundations for support. In this way, he has aligned himself with current nonprofit economic development initiatives that cultivate private- sector, as opposed to government, funding. Anyone who doubts the potential power of “new capitalism” to transform the lives of the poor or the world for better should do deep dive into the Grameen Bank model by Dr. Yunus. It is an amazing account of the way in which one man with a vision and the right values can turn the established order on its ear. But however powerful such revolutions in commercial and business culture may eventually be, they need to be accompanied by parallel revolutions in government and governance.

For years, Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammad Yunus has helped the poor people of Bangladesh by giving them "microcredit" to start businesses. One such enterprise is a cell phone service that provides service and equipment to 260,000 village "phone ladies" across the nation. His profound sense of social responsibility which leads his to shun a detached academic life is repeatedly illustrated in both his autobiography and his system of credit we are granted access to an individual genuinely concerned with the fate of the poor one whose pragmatic insights into the processes of the world economic system contribute hugely to a grass roots model for development. Yunus micro credit system expends to a whole range of social concerns such as gender and social equality birth control education hygiene sanitation housing communications and environmental concerns.

So, in recognition of his works, December 10, 2006, Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladeshi economist known as the "banker to the poor," was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Sunday in Oslo, Norway. The "microcredit" pioneer shared the award with his Grameen Bank for helping people rise above poverty by giving them small, usually unsecured loans. Yunus is the first Nobel Prize winner from Bangladesh, a poverty-stricken nation of about 141 million people located on the Bay on Bengal. "I am so, so happy, it's really a great news for the whole nation," Yunus told The Associated Press shortly after the prize was announced in 2006.
"I firmly believe that we can create a poverty-free world if we collectively believe in it," Yunus said. "The only place you would be able to see poverty is in a poverty museum."
During the reception ceremony at Washington DC, I heard some of the famous quote by Dr. Muhammad Yunus in live:
"We will create a poverty museum by 2030. We will start with Bangladesh."
"Poverty in the world is an artificial creation. It does not belong to the human civilization."
"Poor people are not asking for charity. Charity is not a solution for poverty."
Question is - how Grameen Bank works? Grameen Bank was the first lender to hand out microcredit, giving very small loans to poor Bangladeshis who did not qualify for loans from conventional banks. No collateral is needed and repayment is based on an honor system. Anyone can qualify for a loan - the average is about $200 - but recipients are put in groups of five. Once two members of the group have borrowed money, the other three must wait for the funds to be repaid before they get a loan. Grameen, which means rural in the Bengali language, says the method encourages social responsibility. The results are hard to argue with - the bank says it has a 98 percent repayment rate.

If it is true what we have discussed so far, further questions arise - Why is this different from other loan programs? Unlike other loan programs, clients are not required to provide collateral to receive loans. This allows people who would not qualify for loans at traditional financial institutions to receive credit. MFIs (micro finance institutions) are also very client-friendly; most usually go to their clients to provide loans and receive payments, rather than requiring their clients to come to them. A few of them also use local centers where clients gather to conduct financial transactions and receive other social services. The peer support system practiced by many microfinance programs is another unique feature. When clients gather weekly at “center meetings” to make loan payments, or informally in smaller support groups, they share successes and discuss ideas for solving business and personal problems. Maybe most importantly, they empower each other to stay on the path out of poverty. This mutual support strengthens their resolve. In addition, MFI staff members share vital information and resources to improve their clients’ well being. This might include bringing in local nurses to provide health and nutrition counseling, or providing help with literacy. .

Many critics, and social gurus questioned - Are these people really poor? Grameen Foundation’s MFI partners serve very poor people, many of whom are in rural areas and live on only a dollar or so a day. While the exact dollar figures for measuring their level of poverty may vary from country to country, one thing is constant: they are literally struggling to live from day to day. Don't you feel curious, why do Grameen focus on women? Grameen proclaimed, Women have proven to be the best poverty fighters. Experience and studies have shown that they use the profits from their businesses to send their children to school, improve their families’ living conditions and nutrition, and expand their businesses.

It came to my minds many times; can very poor people actually start and run a successful business? According to study,Grameen proved with very absolute model. Many poor people have skills that can quickly become an income producing activity. With small sums of money, they are able to purchase the inventory, supplies and tools needed to start or expand micro businesses that range from weaving, sewing, grinding grain, reselling produce, and growing and selling vegetables, to catching and selling fishing, wholesaling dried fish, raising chickens to sell eggs, and breeding livestock. They also help the rural poor start technology micro businesses, such as selling cell phone time to other villagers, which also provides valuable means of communications and access to vital information. These small ventures can grow into vibrant community businesses. One micro entrepreneur in the Philippines dried fish caught by her husband and sold them to local markets. The demand grew quickly and she then hired her neighbors to help. Now, nearly 20 neighbors earn an income from her family fish business, and her entire community is benefiting.

I was very interested to know that do very poor people repay their loans? Grameen proclaimed, microfinance clients are excellent credit risks. The repayment rate is between 95 and 98 percent. In fact, it is higher than the repayment rate of student loans and credit card debts in the United States. They value the opportunity to improve their lives.

What do you think? Is Grameen exploiting the innocent poor people? Or do people really get out of poverty? Grameen defended that Microfinance is not a silver bullet. It will not defeat global poverty by itself. But, it is an important part of the solution. Microfinance provides a stable and sustainable source of income that enables clients to climb steadily out of poverty, while providing better living conditions and opportunities for their families. For some, that progress means moving from a house made of mud to one made of wood. For others, it means better nutrition and the money to finally send their children to school. A 1998 World Bank study showed that, in Bangladesh, Grameen Bank’s clients were escaping poverty at the rate of 10,000 per month.

I’ve heard that MFIs charge a high rate of interest for the loans. What you think? Grameen explained- like other financial institutions, microfinance institutions (MFIs) charge interest for the loans they make to their clients. Government of Bangladesh has fixed interest rate for government-run microcredit programmes at 11 per cent at flat rate. It amounts to about 22 per cent at declining basis. Grameen Bank's interest rate is lower than government rate, defendant by Grameen Bank authority. There are four interest rates for loans from Grameen Bank: 20% for income generating loans, 8% for housing loans, 5% for student loans, and 0% (interest-free) loans for Struggling Members (beggars). All interests are simple interest, calculated on declining balance method. This means, if a borrower takes an income-generating loan of say, Tk 1,000, and pays back the entire amount within a year in weekly installments, she'll pay a total amount of Tk 1,100, i.e. Tk 1,000 as principal, plus Tk 100 as interest for the year, equivalent to 10% flat rate. Without microfinance programs, the most common alternative for very poor people is the local “money lenders,” who regularly charge between 120 and 300 percent.

It is a sad fact of human nature that for every Muhammad Yunus, particularly country like Bangladesh, there are always unscrupulous competitors ready and nasty politics, corrupted leadership and unjust social barriers always there to cut the corners. Let’s make a movement to help this fighter fight for the right cause of the humanity.
Finally, 'Banker of the poor' a very splendid book, by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, which ends with a hopeful message: “we have created a slavery-free world, smallpox free world, an apartheid-free world. Creating a poverty free would be greater than all this accomplishments...This would be a world that we could all be proud to live in.’’ "Can we really create a poverty free world?" asks Muhammad Yunus at the end of his autobiography. Yes, he says, and he believes that he has the key; credit. According o Mr. Yunus, the surest route out of destitution for the world’s poorest people lies not in aid, welfare payments or loans from development banks to governments, but in lending tiny amounts of money directly to the poor, 'Banker of the poor' the story of both Mr. Yunus’s life and Grameen Bank, the institution he founded, is his account of how he has put his belief into practice. We are hopeful to see a poverty free world some day by the noble efforts by Dr. Muhammad Yunus and by many invisible philanthropic hearts all around the world.

Personal Achievements- CoE

Sheikh A Ahmed, PMP received the '2009 Circle of Excellence (CoE)' award of CapitalOne Financial Corp (COF), a fortune 500 company, for his outstanding contributions to the company's strategic infrastructure development of Analytic DW Platform. The award was
viewed as the top 1% company wide performance based recognition. In the award giving ceremony, Chairman and CEO Richard Faibank said, "The contributions of our 2009 Circle of Excellence recipients distinguish Capital One in the marketplace and support corporate and business imperatives. At the heart of these accomplishments, our recipients live our Values of Excellence and Do the Right Thing to drive meaningful customer experiences, operational efficiency and strategies that enhance revenues and mitigate losses". It is worth mentioning, this was the second consecutive CoE award for Sheikh Arif Ahmed.

KABAB House Adda at Crystal City, VA

‘Coffee house er she-y adda ta aj ar ne-y…’ or ‘Adda-e jibon, adda-e moron…’ the nostalgic & very emotional sweetest sound intensely re-ignited six of our BUET 87 family memories at the VA/DC/MD get together planning cum adda on Fri June 26 evening.

Sajjad (ME), Sanjoy (CE), Romeo (CE), Tipu (EE) including his wife Mukta &16 month old son Areeb, Parvez (ME) including his wife Rimu & 8 year old daughter Emara, and Arif (CE) who drove 100+ miles including his wife Runa, 3+ year old son Abrar & 9 month old daughter Anisha rejuvenated in a rainy evening at Adda in Kabab House, crystal city adjacent to pentagon.

Meeting after nearly decay; it was kind of emotional hug for some of us. After initial introduction, our family members exhibited bondage such a way to be known each other since our BUET life. As usual, Tipu started picking on us but wasting no time utilized our WMD “bhabi ke shob bole debo” theory instantly bold out him. Awaiting kabab & food on the tables, we passionately talked about our left behind BUET life, campus, nirob hotel, cafeteria’s adda and many more fun and sorrow moments including our current org activities. Runa, Rimu & Mukta bhabies were engaged in full swing adda. Emara, Areeb & my son Abrar had been playing & enjoying restlessly. When we finally said good bye at around midnight, my son cried & said at the door “baba, can I play with Emara & Areeb 5 more minutes?” me just smile and walk on the street leaving behind the memories…

BUET 87 Batch Get Together - VA/DC/MD at Baltimore

Well, you remember the song “Tell me lies, oh no no no…tell me the sweet lies”. After long 15 years crossing the steep slope of life accompanying ‘chiriya badhio atee…’ theme, like all of Buet87s, some of the 87s friends & families at Virginia/Washington DC/Maryland areas were eager to hear that even it sweet lies, to revitalize the memories of our past in a form of get together.
So, on Sunday July 26 2009, seven families of us from VA/DC/MD areas namely
Sajjad (Shamsul Abedin – ME/RH, MD), families at BD;
Shaheen (Md. Monjurul Alam – ChE/SH, MD), Raifa Janan Alam (D 5);
Tipu (Tanvirul Islam – EEE/SBH, MD), Mukta Bhabi & Areeb (S 16 MO);
Parvez (Abdullah Parvez -ME/RH, VA), Rimu Bhabi & Imara (D 4);
Jenny (Taslima Akhter – CE/LDH, MD), Chandon Bhai and Nuren (D 10+), Nobel (S 7+) & Nusrah (D 3+);
Imtiaz (Imtiaz Chowdhuri – ChE/AH, MD), Rumana Bhabi & Ayman (S 8+);
Arif (Sheikh Arif Ahmed – CE/SBH, VA), Runa, Abrar (S 3+) & Anisha (D 10 MO), rejuvenated at Baltimore Inner Harbor, MD for celebrating the 21st anniversary of our Buet87 family in the name of GT.
How did we pass the day there? Well, I know it may the most boring reading. But keep patience, relax and let me walk you through the day long journey at the Harbor, which may be worth reading. I would call it GT + Vacation + some flavor of
Sunday was the record breaking hot humid summer (97 degree+), still looks the day pretty packed with tons of excitement, adda, fun, food, activities, ride, and ‘big boo boo boo...boiya’ to the mad friends all around and above all utmost tribute to our lost friends. “We miss you friends, peace be upon you”! I am still amazed watching the up beat energy of this group! There was much to get done before the weekend to be organized (i.e. buet87 foundation banner created around 2 am Sun morning), Kudos to Sajjad for putting this together, but at the end of the day seems excitement outweighed the cost. The MBM (minute by minute) activity will witness some of our fun facts:
Sajjad and I got into the designated harbor location ‘glass shaded open balcony on top of the harbor’ a bit before noon; then gradually Imtiaz, Tipu, Parvez, Jenny, Shaheen including their families showed up by 1:00 – 1:30 pm. Introduction part was blended of surprise, excitement, emotions, either meeting closely for someone first time or seeing after long 15 years. All we looked at our face, grown up, semi-grey hairs, kids, families, responsibilities, accountabilities...
Chandon Bhai (Jenny’s husband buet 87 pass out) started off pointing up with ‘BUET 87 Foundation banner’, what is it? We explained the mission & vision of our org, recent activities and future plan. It looked pretty energetic and motivating being supportive by a buet alumni + ORCA member. As always enjoy the time with buddies; who brings both a long perspective and good out of the infinite energy.
We then had a short photo session followed by our long awaited lunch. There was a big shout “take ample photos, otherwise Vashkar maira felbo”. Everybody picked up their lunch from the variety of menus around the cafeteria/restaurant. I noticed some of us wanted to sit inside the central AC but feeling peer pressure into the enthusiasm around the balcony banner area, sited together in the round table lunch. Interesting thing happen “sounded like hamiloner bashi”, a big flock of birds (see in the pictures) wrap around the kids. Guess what, spreading their own foods to the hundred of birds; kids were making hell of fun. That was astounding watching the innocent bondage!
Then what, walking in big group by the harbor at 100 degree temp, talked about our various walks of journey, refresh unknown lost lies and memories, took pictures, silent watch the kids play around and so on…
Kids can’t wait for their most awaiting fun part ‘Aquarium visit’. Hitting the big lotto, Imtiaz & Chandan bhai managed the last minute ‘dolphin show’ for their kids. Blaming to the closing time, remaining kids kept happy enough just getting them normal visit.
Ice cream socialization was another happy hour for both kids and babies even each 25 cents ice cream cost $4
During the Aquarium visit, nature was kind enough pouring heavy rain with thunderstorm. Interesting observations: saw a black young guy backpacking his infant girl slowly walking and singing on the rain. One white lady shouted, hey – run, your infant is wet and trembling. The N guy replied with mild smile “I am enjoying watching her wet in the rain”
Now, here comes the most fun part especially for the kids – riding water taxi! For Parvez and his family’s failing attempt of getting paddling small boat, we all boarded to the water taxi. Just secs before the departure, noticed Sajjad and Imtiaz missing. Requested the captain to wait a lil, the response was nothing different than our 6# bus driver in Mohakhali-Gulisthan road. So, had to get down all.
Finally, the moment arrives! We all this time successfully get on the water taxi for our last voyage. The way journey designed, had 5 stations (i.e. #2, #4, #7, #11, #16 like island) where we need take a transit in each of the station for the next ride. By the time we arrive in #11, it was almost 8 pm. There we found a clown who decorated our fun loving kids with colorful balloon. That was a moment to enjoy, watching them continuation of fun, play pretending like a clown even their parents looked tired, exhausted. There was another ‘Ice cream – pop sickle’ thrust crunch at the #11 transit island.
The route to #16 was never taken, sad for the kids but happy for the parents. Came back to the origin station at around 8:45 pm
Finally, all of us had to say good bye to our friends and families at around 9 pm.
Tiredness has started catching me now! I had to drive 160+ miles to home with my 3+ & infant and wake up in the morning for the office. Big surprises waited at the parking checkout around 9:30 pm, $22 parking fee?? “God Dammn!!!”, $3 small water bottle each? $3 lil coke each? $4 ice cream each? $29.75 aquarium ticket each? $9 ticket water taxi each? $$ food? $$ fuel cost? “God Dammn!!!” is it worth it? Then I do the math “$$/Benefit = ∞”, then shake up my head & shoulder ups & down – yes, it’s worth it!
Next morning, I wake up early morning heading towards my work. My son, Abrar, 3+, wakes up & jumps (normally, he doesn’t’ know when I leave for office) “baba, let’s go to GT”. Wondering what is GT? Come on baba, “you taught me yesterday get together, you talked about for last few moths”…
That was my day. Definitely a good one and I were able to go off for the long due work backlog feeling like I got a lot accomplished.
I hope every one of us had a great “get together” and wishing remaining of Buet 87 batch mates and families will enjoy far better, far energetic, far accomplished! Post what you do before the GT, and for the GT, here!

Arif – CE/SBH, VA