Footloose this summer

Imagine traversing the streets of Dhaka in the middle of the afternoon. You are carrying your umbrella and wearing your shades. You have put on the most comfortable cotton clothes but your feet, somehow manage to feel like they are in a furnace! 

It is hot. The mercury is rising and it is only going to get worse. 

Say hello to the world of summer footwear! Just like there are shoes for every occasion, there are also shoes for every season. Correct footwear can go a long way in keeping your feet cool during the summers.

For Him

Slip-on shoes and loafers

Not very different from each other, these have a semi casual look so you can wear them to work and they are equally suitable for a night out with friends. The best part about wearing loafers in summer is that you can go completely sockless with them, feeling cool and looking smart.

Espadrilles

Not only comfortable but also exceptionally fashionable, espadrilles should be part of every man's basic summer footwear wardrobe. The cotton fabric or canvas upper keep your feet cool as they let your feet breathe and allow proper ventilation. 

Boat shoes

Originally designed for the on board safety of sailors, boat shoes are one of the cool and most convenient shoe options for summer. Available in suede, canvas and leather these can be worn with a simple T- shirt and shorts and look amazing.

Strap sandals and rubber flip flops

How can we forget our good old 'chappals' when talking about summer footwear? Ideal for a run to the grocery store or a walk on the beach on your vacation, rubber flip flops are a must have for everyone during summer. 

These airy flip flops are available in various colours and are the most easy-going summer footwear. Strap sandals can make your feet look stylish and keep them cool. Just like flip flops they have been around forever. 

Be it in leather or any other material, you can team them up with a cool cotton panjabi to get the perfect summer look!

For Her

Ballerina flats

Flat heeled and very light, ballerina flats come in a variety of materials often styled with ruffles and ribbons. With most of the upper part of the foot exposed, they are the ideal summer footwear for casual as well as formal occasions.

Sandals

Strappy all the way, sandals leave room for a lot of air circulation keeping the feet cool and comfortable. Available in flats and heels, sandals are the best 'go to' shoes for the ladies.

Clogs and wedges

Typically closed in the front and completely open at the back, clogs are the best slip-on shoe option for women. With or without heels, they can be worn for both work and play! 

Wedges have the heel running through the entire length of the shoe, making it the most comfortable wear, especially if you want to add some inches to your height. 

They are versatile in design as they can be open or closed toed or with straps.

Canvas

Sporty and light, a pair of classic canvas is the perfect choice for a summer picnic or a long day in college. Canvas shoes are smart and ideal for those who spend a better part of the day on their feet.

Peep toe pumps

Appropriate for formal events and parties, pumps or high heels, are best worn open toed during summer to provide comfort to your feet. Available in a large variety of colours and designs, no party look is complete without them!

A walk down Elephant road in Dhaka or a visit to shoe stores such as Apex Gallery or Bata, will give you wide options in summer footwear. All of these places offer footwear at price ranges that will suit anyone's pocket. Bata houses some famous brands from across the globe like Naturalizer, Hush Puppies and Dr. Scholl's. 

The key to buying summer footwear is to choose shoes made of natural materials as they help the feet to breathe. Shoes with straps and open toes are always preferable as they allow a lot of air circulation. 

A good tip is to try and buy shoes that are slightly bigger than your feet, as feet tend to swell in summers, and finally, rest your shoes and let them dry. Keep __more than one handy for everyday wear.

By Samina Hossain

Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed

A Day at the Oldest Market in Town - 'New' Market

In the city of Dhaka, finding someone who has not yet set foot in New Market is a task that is close to impossible. From children to the elderly, this place is a shoppers' heaven for all. Built in the 1950s in Azimpur and currently operating under Dhaka South City Corporation, New Market not only holds an unyielding legacy as one of the most significant marketplaces in the heart of the capital, but also serves as a place that many shoppers hold close to their hearts.     

Like many other Dhaka-dwellers, I have been frequenting New Market ever since I can remember.  In its own way, it is a one-stop marketplace where one can buy all sorts of things beginning from personal goodies like socks and saris to culinary items like fresh vegetables and spices. Although I have shopped there countless times before, due to my focus on what I want and thus a lack of interest in my surroundings during shopping, I have never paid much attention to details. Hence, to truly know my way around this historical establishment, I decided to take a tour of 'the' New Market last week. 

The rickshaw halted near Chandrima Market, a few yards away from the premises. My mum, as usual, was accompanying me as my shopping partner/consultant/guide (given that I tend to get lost every time I am roaming in a crowded place). 

Making our way through rows of shops laden on the footpath outside, we entered through Gate 2 and began our tour from the southern side. Despite the fact that it was noon on a weekday (Monday, to be precise), the place was bustling with pools of customers from all walks of life. To the right, there were numerous jewellery shops, including famous ones like Sangeeta and Amin Jewellers, their displays sparkling with the glitz of exclusive ornaments, while the left side accommodated stores selling all kinds of women's wear: three piece, one piece, as well as abayas and hijabs.

Although pure observation and window shopping were my true motives, my mother did actually have a few things jotted down in her list of chores/shopping so we headed to a watch shop named 'Time House' established in that very alley to get her watch fixed. Instead of lazing away, I decided to gather some info in the meantime. 

"It was built about 22 years ago and I have been here from the very beginning," said S M Shariful Kabir, one of the shopkeepers, upon asking how long the shop has existed there. "Among the hundreds of people who gather here every day, the frequenters are mostly students coming from the colleges located nearby. The open spacious lanes, the affordability and the availability of a large range of goods - all serve to attract the vast crowd of customers, many of whom have been coming here since they were children." 

Oddly, during our brief 15 minute-long conversation, at least half a dozen beggars stopped by randomly, asking for money. Without the slightest sign of displeasure on his face, Kabir chuckled and explained that this was a common everyday scenario there.

The line of stationery and books shops began from across Time House, and to have a look at the newest arrivals, we entered the 'Ali Brothers' store. "Bookworms of all ages gather here to find the best and latest storybooks and novels," informed Mohammed Emdad Ali, the proprietor. "In fact, if you have a certain book in mind, you can place an order and we will collect it for you," he added.

We moved on and came across a number of renowned sari houses, namely Shalimar, Khan Brothers, Farabe, etc., which have also spent decades in this complex. After another five minutes of walking, we reached Olympia Bakery (located near Gate 1), the legendary confectionery which has been serving mouth-watering delights to its patrons for many years. Interestingly we kept running into one or two homeopathic stores as well at random intervals. 

We zoomed through rows of arts and crafts, eyewear, gift, footwear, cloth and even wedding/events cards shops, and eventually slowed down again to explore the bags and baggage hub. 

With an approximate budget of Tk 500-3000, shoppers can find their desired bag among the varieties beginning from schoolbags, fashionable handbags to durable suitcases and laptop bags neatly stacked or hung out on display there.

On the sides of the lanes, numerous vendors have set up their merchandise on small platforms. Trendy winter/summer wear, tops and kurtis (one piece) for women were available there. This season, ponchos and shrugs are totally in and you can buy one at about Tk 400 (without bargaining), while light shawls can be bought at Tk 200. Same goes for Dupattas and summer kurtis, like for regular wear, colourful georgette and linen kurtis are sold at Tk 500-700. 

At this point we had reached the centre of New Market. We wandered through some tailoring, carpet and bedding stores, and discovered a miniature Shahid Minar located in front of the central building. A part of the first storey of the building accommodated the Apex and KZ showrooms, while the other side was occupied by a mosque. As we walked on, we went past a handful of baby care and electronics shops, along with a few photo studios. Coming across some bicycle shops reminded me of my first bicycle that I had bought from there and it brought back a stream of remarkable childhood memories.   

Having spent three long hours exploring, we decided to grab a bite from one of the classic food corners 'Chicken Village'. Like those of every other eatery existing there, the menu was predictably typical. 

Fast food items like burger, fries, fried chicken, as well as lunch combos with a Chinese essence consisting fried rice and curries covered the first page, whereas the next page took us to the Indian (dosa, puri, raita) side. Despite our very ordinary choice of the rice combos, the food was absolutely delish and I could not help but mention it to our waiter.

With happy tummies and a 10 percent discount card that the waiter had gleefully presented to us, we planned on doing a brief round around the three-storey New Super Market that can be accessed through Gate 3. 

Within moments of entering, my trusty companion (mum) completely forgot that I existed and got lost in the world of exotic decors (artificial flowers, table cloths, lamps, ceramics and much more) and various crockery, cosmetics and __more household goods. Navigating past those alleys, I realised again why this place is a heaven for culinary enthusiasts and home-makers, as we arrived at the spice, fresh fruits and vegetables junction situated just outside the market. After all this, there was little time left to explore the other two floors, which mainly consisted of __more men's and women's wear stores.

Finally we were back to square one and it was time to call it a day. Thus, to celebrate the end of a wonderful tour of a place that means so much to me, I treated myself to some divine kulfis from the ice-cream vendor settled near the exit before returning home with a newfound perspective on the oldest marketplace in town.  

By Nafisa Faruque

Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed

Laila Sharmeen exhibiting at New York and Venice

Bangladeshi artist Laila Sharmeen is showcasing her works at the Art Expo New York and the upcoming Venice Biennale. Her paintings in acrylic on canvas and mixed media -- deeply influenced by the ancient philosophical text Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, take the Upanishadic themes, particularly the ones about three duties that each individual must perform. These duties are Datta, Dayadvam, Damyata - meaning give, compassion and control. Through her works, she spreads this mantra for peace and serenity.

At the 39th edition of the annual Art Expo New York, over 400 innovative exhibiting artists, galleries and publishers from across the globe showcased artwork, prints, paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, lithographs, glass works from April 21-24. 

The 57th edition of Venice Biennale opens to the public from May 13 to November 26, at the Giardini and the Arsenale venues. The international exhibition “Personal Structures” at the biennale will feature 40 international artists including Laila Sharmeen.

Radisson Blu Dhaka's ice cream chocolate fondue

Movenpick's ice creams are internationally famous for its world class quality, and Callebaut is recognised as one of the highest grade chocolates in the industry. And a match of them calls for an unforgettable culinary experience!

Ice cream fondue is already famous and hugely popular around trendy dining scenes across the globe, and this delicacy is now available exclusively in Radisson Blu Dhaka's Chit Chat Café - a perfect treat for couples, families or just for your own self for the much needed indulgence!

Radisson serves up a choice of 3 or 5 scoops from their Movenpick ice-creams, matching them with freshly baked waffles, marshmallows and tropical fruit skewers, alongside a melted Callebaut chocolate pot for dipping your sweet delights. 

Try it out today! 

Strengthening labour adjudication

At present, Labour Courts in Bangladesh are functioning under the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006. According to this Act, the Labour Court is a unique and distinct court, constitution of which is based on tripartite representation model. The Court consists of a chairman and two members; one representing the workers and the other representing the employer. There is a panel of members of the Labour Court from which the Chairman appoints two members to constitute the court for the purpose of hearing an industrial dispute or a dispute relating to the service/employment of the workers. The Court while trying offences under the Act or resolving a dispute relating to the payment of wages or of compensation to workers for accidents, consists only of the Chairman.

Appeal from the judgments, decisions, or awards of Labour Court lies to the Labour Appellate Tribunal. The Tribunal may be constituted with one Chairman alone or with the Chairman and such other members as the Government thinks fit. The Chairman may be appointed from among the persons who are or had been a Judge or Additional Judge of the Supreme Court. Ordinarily the decisions of the Tribunal is final, no appeal lies against the order or judgment of the Tribunal.

Keeping the practical aspects aside, the Act itself too can be legally scrutinised for delving deeper into the problem. The Act has not provided for any criteria of judicial knowledge, experience or minimum qualification for members except for that of the Chairman. Though the Labour Court is a specialised judicial body but there is no provision requiring any prior experience (in dealing with labour law matters) or for minimum training for judges before getting them appointed from lower judiciary. As a result, indifference, inefficiency and unprofessionalism of judges and members hinder the proceedings of Labour Courts.

Though the Act mandated the Government to establish required number of Labour Courts, as of now, there are only 7 Labour Courts across the country (3 in Dhaka, 2 in Chittagong, and 1 each in Rajshahi and Khulna). There is only one Labour Appellate Tribunal at Dhaka.  Among these, Courts of Dhaka and Chittagong are situated in the divisional headquarters.  As a result a tea garden worker of Sylhet and a rice-mill worker of Brahmanbaria has to go the Labour Court of Chittagong to file cases for their grievance, unpaid wages and compensation. A worker of Syedpur has to go the Labour Court of Rajshahi and a worker of Barisal has to go Khulna for seeking labour justice. Therefore, instead of going courts traveling hundreds of kilometres for their redress many workers have to embrace injustice. Harassing the toiling masses and workers in such a way in the name of delivering justice is contrary to the spirit of our Constitution.

The Act mandated the completion of trial in the Labour Courts and Tribunals within 60 days. However, it is found that about 50% cases take time from 1-3 years while around 20% cases take __more than 3 years. In most of the cases the reason behind this delay is adjournment of judicial proceedings on the request from the employers' side. As a result, a worker who is being terminated from one factory fighting for his unpaid wages and other dues and joined in a new factory, by appearing in the Court frequently s/he gets terminated from the new factory also.

By analysing court registers, it is found that, till September 2016: in the Labour Courts of Bangladesh, 15128 cases were pending and among these, 11272 cases have been pending for __more than six months. It is also found that, case filing rate is higher than case disposal rate causing great sufferings to the working masses. A few number of labour courts are overburdenend with cases resulting in the backlogging and delay in disposal of cases.

Disputes between employers and workers are inevitable in industrial relations. Resolving these disputes peacefully while keeping the working environment sound, will result in production, growth, investment, industry and economy of the country. To make the Labour Courts accessible for the workers and to facilitate them to recover their legal rights, at least one Labour Court (constituted with a Joint District Judge) should be established in every district and two in every district having industrial area and at least one Labour Appellate Tribunal(constituted with a District Judge) in every division of Bangladesh. Compulsory court sponsored ADR system should be introduced in the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 to reduce inordinate delay and backlogging of labour disputes.

The writers are students of law,  University of Dhaka.

Green tea the wonder drink!

It is associated with myriad benefits. Numerous studies show how important green tea is for one's body and mind. So is this the healthiest beverage ever?

It is, in all likelihood, given how beneficial green tea is for you.

This form of tea has bioactive compounds, which can have a positive effect on your body. The tea contains polyphenols like flavonoids, and catechins which work as powerful antioxidants and may help prevent cell damage. 

One of the powerful compounds in green tea is the antioxidant Epigallocatechin Gallate, which has been studied to treat various diseases. Because of the presence of these antioxidants, many researchers believe that green tea may reduce the risk of various types of cancer. It is also believed to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.   

The beverage is also believed by many to have benefits on mental health. A study revealed that those who drink the tea have greater activity in the brain's segment of working memory. Theanine can produce a calming effect. Green tea is also believed to have positive effects on neurons, with a potential to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Can green tea aid in weight loss? Popular belief says that it can.

It can be very useful if you substitute other beverages with green tea. Replace those sugary drinks opting for the tea, which is known to increase metabolic rate. But the direct relationship between weight loss and consumption of green tea is yet to reach definite and concrete conclusions. Some studies show that the drink can aid in cutting down the blood's cholesterol level.   

Researchers have a long list of reasons why you should shift to green tea. It is considered a wonder drink, and green tea has a reputation to live up to. 

– LS Desk 

Exercise Your Way to Wellness

Our aversion towards exercise in the first place always helps in piling up excuses for not being able to commit. Setting aside our absurd pleas, we can instead try to motivate ourselves to be __more dedicated towards exercise, since it helps us keep fit and healthy.  Gym is not the only effective solution for exercise; there are perfectly other workable alternatives around the home, the office and even in the cars we ride.

These alternatives make full use of furniture and other infrastructure available at home to do all the components of fitness like warm up stretches, cardiovascular training, strength training, and finally even cooling down stretches.

One must exercise at least five to six times a week for 45- 60 minutes and this can be broken down in two to  three periods of activity over the course of the day for the same health benefits as one continuous  session.

People can conveniently perform a complete indoor aerobic movement routine - one that works the body's large muscles and raises the heart rate, making it stronger.

Making a record of tasteful peppy music to fit the length of planned exercising session has been proven to be valuable. Any music with a steady energizing beat is suitable. 

To avoid inadvertent injury, one must always wear a good pair of sports / aerobic shoes with cushioned sole.

Instead of sitting for long hours at one place we can just take a walk within the house, in the corridors or even in the terrace. 

Marching or going up and down the stairs is an excellent and super-easy form of aerobic exercise. 

Other low impact aerobic steps include simple dancing to music which also provides a good Cardio workout.

Working at a desk for long hours often leads to postural fatigue. Simple neck and shoulder exercises while sitting can be done when ever possible and they take only about a few minutes. These are the same exercises recommended for long flights in airlines.

 Toning of abdominal muscles works wonders for the pot belly. It can be done by just isometric contraction (tucking the tummy in and holding for a few seconds) of the Abdominal muscles. Holding for a count of 10 is equal to performing one abdominal crunch. Similarly lower abdominal and pelvic floor tightening can be achieved by just contracting and holding the bladder for a count of 10 and then relaxing for a few cycles every day. This can be done anywhere, any time and any number of times, and it is not even noticed.

 Gentle exercises like neck rolls, finger curls, finger walks, palm press to the upper chest, back, side, hamstring and quadriceps stretches, shoulder rolls and standing push-ups, tummy and seated twists can all be easily done at home with no __more special equipment than what is always available plus it also eases tension, increases flexibility and get our blood circulation going!

Our well qualified and trained physiotherapists in VLCC centres are always at hand to monitor, guide and support the customers on these exercises which is part of the holistic approach; completely natural and scientific weight management services are provided here delivering weight loss, body shaping and improvement in overall health and wellbeing; all leading to a healthy, active life, free of aches and pains.

All these we do at VLCC without crash diets, appetite suppressants, or artificial food supplements and without any side effects helping you to enjoy good health for life.

Photo and content courtesy: VLCC