Diary: Week Seven

I joined business section Wednesday (May 16) and went out with a business reporter to cover the annual meeting of Wabtec at Duquesne Club. It did not turned out to be a good story but I had an idea of business farms, although it is not that much big one. I talked with the CEO who said they also supply Bangladesh brake-shoes for trains.
We also talked with a number of traders at Market Square near the famous PPG building to know about business drop as shooting of a movie was going on blocking the streets.
As I was interviewing, I got a sense about trade here.
And I am learning gradually how to interview people from different walks of the American society, which is giving me an insight into American society.
I met an Bangalee businessman, Akhil Mishra from Kolkata, there who, with his wife, runs a shop named 'Giggles'. He came to Pittsburgh 40 years ago.
However, rest two days of the week did not turned out to be very productive as the person who was supposed to assign me my task did not find anyone to tag with or anything to do. I just read business stories these two days.
I was sick Tuesday.

ex-Bangladesh PM's son admits involvement in wholesale corruptions

Tarique Rahman, eldest son of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia and slain former president Ziaur Rahman, finally admitted to his involvement in large-scale corruption which he blamed largely upon his close friend and business associate Giasuddin Al Mamun.
Reporting this, a vernacular Bangladeshi newspaper, The Manabjamin, printed a signed statement of Tarique given to intelligence agencies on March 12, four days after his arrest on March 8.
Known as 'Mr. 10 percent' for extorting the percentage of money from winners of big work tenders and almost all big trade deals, Tarique, who is also the senior joint secretary general of BNP, one of the Bangladesh's main two political parties which is being headed over the years by his mother, blamed Giasuddin for most of the corruption during the regime of the immediate past BNP-led government. He admitted to having the knowledge of and consent to Mamun's acts and said Mamun had given him a supplementary debit card which he (Tarique) occasionally used to withdraw money from Mamun's overseas bank accounts.
Mamun, who is also in jail awaiting trial and already have admitted to extorting some top businessmen over $1.5m, donated large sums of money towards Tarique's political campaigns after his arrest, Tarique also admitted.
Read The Daily Star story

89 killed in law enforcers' operations in 120 days of emergency!

Eighty nine people were allegedly killed during operations by law enforcement personnel and 1,75,435 were reported arrested in 120 days since declaration of emergency in Bangladesh (Jan 11), according to rights watchdog Odhikar. Of the 89 killed, 49 were victims of activities (47 in so-called crossfire and two later in hospital after Rab arrest) by the Rab (Rapid Action Battalion ), 23 by police, seven by joint forces, six by the army, three by the navy and one by Department of Narcotics Control personnel. Twelve were police 'crossfire' victims, five allegedly died due to police torture, three shot dead, one died in police custody while two died in hospital after arrest by police. Four were reportedly killed allegedly due to torture by army, one died while trying to escape from the army van while another one died in hospital after arrest by the army. Of the 89, eight were from BNP, four from Awami League, six from Jonojuddho, four from Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), three from PBCP (Red Flag), two from Biplobi Communist Party, one from New Biplobi Communist Party, two from Gono Mukti Fouz, one from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), three from Sromojibi Mukti Andolon, four from Sarbahara Party, one was a freedom fighter, one an indigenous leader while one was reported as an 'extremist'. Among others were three from Gangchil Bahini, one each from Masim Bahini, Hazi Bahini and Salam Bahini, three suspected firearm smugglers, two alleged muggers, one an alleged gambler, two alleged drug peddlers, 10 alleged dacoits and 17 alleged criminals.

Diary: Week Six

I had a good week, full of events. Firstly, I was working for the biggest story so far, a feature on Indian mango in the U.S. The government gave importers green signal to import Indian mangoes 18 years after it the passage was blocked due to the authorities worries about pesticide. However, I enjoyed working on this story. As I worked on it through the week, I talked with some top Indian businessmen and got an idea about Indian business community, chain shops here in the U.S. who are mainly involved in mostly Indian products.
The story will come out next Thursday. I went to Duquesne Club with my mentor Greg Victor Thursday to attend the lecture by Ambassador Christopher Hill, head of US delegation to the six-party talks and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
Those who went there enjoyed the lecture very much because we cannot not know about
the inside story of the talks otherwise.
I'll be looking for more such programs because, I think, it'll help me get an idea about U.S. foreign policy.
Tonight, I had a good time with Greg, Nik, Peter and Rekha. We went to watch Pittsburgh Pirates' game with Atlanta Braves. The local team lost again, this time 2-9.
It's a total poor performance, they could not establish any sort of dominance over the Braves.
However, it was a very nice weather and we were sitting with other residents of Mt. Lebanon. The kids enjoyed the time very much. The Mt. Lebanon residents came and sat together at one side of the PNC stadium. A portion of the ticket money would go for treatment of two students.
Also this week, I watched Spider 3 at Destinta in Bridgeville with Greg, Rekha, Nik and Peter.

going cricket

Bangladesh flag is going to fly for the first time in a Pittsburgh cricket ground if everything goes fine till tomorrow. I am going to play in the 2007 cricket league in Pittsburgh which, in fact, begins today. I am not sure, but if I am among the first 12, I'll see my flag flying there at the stadium. "We couldn't fly your flag here as we didn't find any cricketer from Bangladesh. But we hope to do it this time," Shailesh Bokil, captain of our team, Strikers, told me before we began practice Wednesday. I liked this tall Indian man, who is also the chief of Pittsburgh Cricket Association and his deputy Mahesh Nanda not only because they know cricket very well but also because they are nice as human being.
I am joining the team as a medium pace bowler, although there are several very good bowlers. That's the reason I am afraid whether I would find place in the team. haha. Although most of our players are Indians, we have players from Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Scotland. However, I am happy to find Reg Henry, my newspaper's editorial staff and reputed columnist who is the gentleman personification in our team, as a teammate. This Aussie batsman have no lack of enthu even in his late fifties and it is he who helped me feel like home here in Pittsburgh by enrolling me in the team.

North Korea stubborn, negotiators also breached conditions

It was in the best interest of North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions but the poor country seems unable to realize it, said Ambassador Christopher Hill, head of US delegation to the six-party talks and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
Although it was reached upon in an agreement that the negotiators would release $25m from a North Korean bank, which was allegedly allowing money laundering, and provide the country certain quantity of fuel oil, they did not do so. And the country also did not comply with the agreement to stop its nuclear program, Ambassador Hill said on May 10 during the John T. Ryan, Jr. Memorial Lecture at The Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh.
"The country has become a threat to the region, and it is for the interest of the whole world that North Korea abandons the nuclear program...We've assured them of security, which they identified as a major issue," Mr. Hill said as he was giving his presentation on 'North Korea: Behind the Scenes of the Six-Party Talks'.
Founded in 1873, the Duquesne Club, located on Sixth Avenue , has evolved from a fraternity of prominent industrialists into the finest city club in the country.
Surrounded by elegant furnishings and works of art, Benjamin Lombard, a student of Franklin Regional High School, received the 2007 Donald E. Farr Award while Linda Vete, a teacher of North Allegheny Senior High School, received the 2007 George C. Oehmler Award.

the hero in every human being

Crawling out around you always some seductive spirit to derail you, don't get caught in the web of evil -- cautions Spiderman 3, the dazzling and brilliantly utilized the absolute latest in state-of-the art technology production.
It was a nice bright Saturday when Greg called me out to watch the newly released third part of Spiderman. It was my first dayout to a theater in the U.S.
The rock breaks open, out crawls some cognizant inky-black ooze-thing which eventually creeps onto Peter (Toby Maguire), bringing out the dark, vengeful side of his personality that he is struggling to control. Under the influence of the black suit, he becomes overconfident and starts neglecting people who care for him most. While choosing between the seductive power of the new suit and the compassionate hero he used to be, Peter must overcome the demon in him trying to subdue the goodman in him. The theater, Destinta at Bridgeville, was great with a sound system that perfectly took the sound with its brilliantly composed effects to the audience.
With Peter's good side ending up win over the evil, I, like other audiences, stepped out of the hall more confident. Haha. LET GOOD ALWAYS SUBDUE EVIL.

Diary: Week Five

Continuing from the preious week, I sat with the online section on the first two days of last week to observe how they opearte during the busy hours, after the afternoon. Sitting beside the man who put to live all the sections on the home page and ensure that all the sections are put to live appropriately: the story, the audios, videos are there and the links and interactive maps working appropriately. He also gives headines and adds one para, to some, stories on the the home page.
As I've mentioned in my training plans, I'm very much interested to learn the whole operation. I learned some techniques of writing headlines, cutting short the ledes, and above all , working under stress.
However, let me make it clear that I didn't going to try to learn the technical things, it's too complex.
Then I started at my base, feature section where my desk is. I was told that I'll be made to remain very busy and I got a story to write which would go on the next magazine issue. It is on Mars Weekend celebration at Carnegie Science Center. You know, I felt home when I started working in the section. The following day, I write an obituary. I don't know why I am growing my interest in writing obituary, I am really getting interested in people more and more. As I am interviewing people, I'm also learning interviewing techniques.

Pirates Jubilation

It was Pirates’ day, and mine too. It was their third consecutive victory and my first ever experience to watch a baseball game, and at a place not less than the Home of Pirates, PNC Park. It’s surely good luck for a new Pirates supporter, who is learning to love the city, to see the home team finish 3-1. The Pittsburgh Pirates were not ready to let any space to Cincinnati Reds, and simply kept the spectators dancing.
Mascots of the Pirates and the green bird added to audiences' amusement by dancing and shooting hot-dog and T-shirts to different corners. I was simply amazed to see people’s love for the game.
It reminded me how mad people of my country for cricket. Thanks Greg for taking me to the stadium. The fireworks after the match would make the match more memorable. It seemed the whole sky would catch fire any moment.
Watch my videos: * Home of Pirates celebration
* Pirates' victory
Photo: (L) My mentor, Greg Victor, and I posing as the Pirates were preparing to pitch, (R) a Pirates batter -- wearing Jackie Robinson's No. 42 in a show of respect to the baseball great -- hitting a Reds delivery.

being online

I sat with the breaking news section of our online section whole day Thursday to see how the how it functions in terms of collecting reports from reporters and wire services and uploading those. It is because one of my main goals is to learn how the online section functions because I think digital convergence of newspapers has no alternative.
Prior to sitting with the online section, I attended its morning meetings where the plan about days works to have an idea how the plans are implemented. I was very curious especially about uploading audio clips and blogs on the web page.
Besides observing how he receives inputs from reporters, edits and uploads their items, I also wrote two small stories Thursday and saw those being uploaded. I was amazed to see how fast he edits stories besides sorting dispatches from wire services and PR agencies. The news treatment is also a matter of great curiosity because a number of stories and dispatches are coming.
Another online staff was updating the home page continuously with the uploading of new stories; it’s a totally technical matter. Without understanding that much, I just saw her updating the page in moments and posting photographs as required.
I also saw the online function Friday. I sat beside Mike to see how he uploads interactive map to the web page.
It is very interesting to see how the whole section operates – coordinating with reporters covering different events to get their stories, photo slides, audios and blog inputs at the earliest and uploading those.
The online section is hell of team!
The whole operation is aimed at better serving the readers, the effort is tireless and always seeking innovative and interesting ways. That's why I am so much interested in it.

at the court, first time

For the first time in my life, I witnessed a jury trial Monday and Tuesday (Apr 23-24). Accused by a 25-year-old mother of two children of rape in August 2005, an around 55-year-old bartender appeared before the Allegheny County Courthouse with his wife and two children. Although I have seen earlier in movies, the expression of the 14-member jury during the testimony of the complainant and the accused as well as of other witnesses amazed me as they sat without making any reaction the whole time.
The testimony of the complainant, who, I think, failed to provide enough evidence for her claim that the man raped her, and the accused, who was quite furious to the investigating police officer and the prosecutor, was very interesting. Saying that they were mutually making advancement to have sex, the man said both of them, when either of them pointed out about his wife’s possible reaction to the matter, refrained from doing so.
Although the complainant was not consistent in her description and time, the man, for the first time, gave a detail description. He termed inexplicable why praised the woman that night, which ultimately led to the advancement, and repeatedly apologized for his betrayal with his wife. This was, definitely, a strong blow for his teenaged son and daughter sitting in the courtroom. Stepping down from the dock, the man apologized before his children, who were crying silently, repeatedly.
On Apr 25, I went to another court where a homicide case for the murder of 16-year-old Carrick High School student Keith Watts, Jr., on March 16, 2005 in which Howard Kelley, 22, and Jheri L. Matthews, 21, of Mount Oliver, and Shawn Wilmer, 24, of Beltzhoover, have been charged for homicide and conspiracy. It is also a jury trial and the jury comprised 14 members
As Mr. Watts was seated in a car with two others about a block from the school, a passenger in a passing vehicle took aim with a semi-automatic assault rifle, killing him and injuring one of his friends, in a hail of gunfire.

county sheriff candidate interview

Acting Sheriff Bill Mullen, 60, of Banksville and Damon J. Brown, 44, of Greenfield turned up to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette with their own visions to run the office of Sheriff Pete DeFazio, who was first elected in 1997 and resigned on Halloween before pleading guilty to shaking down employees for campaign contributions.
Mullen, who has been serving as acting sheriff since November 2006 reorganized the duties of supervisors and reduced annual budget by $500,000, mostly by cutting overtime besides introducing "Most Wanted" web sites featuring deadbeat parents and violent offenders.
Brown, a trainer of civilian police abroad countries for U.S. State Department, is for more specialized training for deputies, including for hostage, bomb and armed criminal situations. Besides reviewing and revamping emergency contingency plans, he hopes to improve police relations with youngsters through a police athletic league.
After democratic voters in the May 15 primary select from Mullen, Brown, and Anthony Costa, 55, of Swissvale, the winner will square off against lone Republican, Edward J. Kress, 35, of Shaler, in the November general election.

indiana jungle beauties

I had a great time with jungle beauties at Indianapolis Zoo on Apr 21, kept on clicking, especially of the dolphin show.

to speed and to strive

Minutes into my coming out of the Indianapolis airport Wednesday (Apr 18), Matt Fox of Indiana Council on World Affairs simply made me happy. “Let’s go to the speedtrack,” deserves no refusal, and I found myself gazing, mesmerized, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This is the track where the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500, and historically known simply as 'The 500,' is held annually over the Memorial Day weekend. 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing' is one of the oldest and richest motorsport events in existence, having the largest attendance and one of the largest radio and television audiences of any single-day sporting event worldwide.
I had more to be surprised. never before we entered the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, he had told me that about 75 vehicles including many which won the race through years are on display. I just kept on clicking my camera as I encountered the beauty of the bygone ages. The museum is recognized as one of the most highly visible museums in the world devoted to automobiles and auto racing.

With my thirst to know more growing, we got on a bus that took us around the the track.
I felt the track, gasoline stations, media station, drivers and visitors' parkway, and even the grasses of the speedway, as if, had something to tell us, as I was listening to a recorded description of the track and the events -- three of separate kind taking place around the year.
Besides there are pre- and post-race traditions that also attract a huge spectators from acorss the globe.

Photos: (L) Cover of Speed Age magazine, showing start of first Indianapolis 500; (R) the media complex

international presentation

For even a single moment I could not feel how one hour passed by as I was talking on the misdeeds of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats of my country. Mostly elderly persons, the audience at my presentation at Indiana Council on World Affairs wednesday took cues from my speech.
As i was attending their questions, I felt I did not fail to hold my audience's attention throughout the whole presentation. Besides asking about corruption, people's reaction to the rule of a military-backed interim government, the audience was also curious about women empowerment, natural calamities, environmental degradation, religious fanaticism and role of journalists.
While replying, I rediscovered the confidence that spurred me in my worst days to stride ahead. Didn't I bleed inside too when an elderly lady asked me where I got the leadership spirit that made me stand up for my fellow countrymen and clasp to an optimism to dream even under such a darkened sky? Yes, I am rediscovering how much I miss my country, and learning to love it more. I don't know why I get my eyes wet.

studying newspaper

Last week made me confident: the kind of hesitation and lack of confidence in talking with American people, interviewing them over phone and writing stories after verifying the information are not that hard task to me any more as I first feared and felt. I did not write any major story, only wrote obituaries, made stories from press releases and covered a hearing on Food Stamp program. But these were not at all insignificant.
I thank my mentor and editors here in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette very much because they did not ask me first to come up with big ideas and write major stories. It helped me a lot to get used to talking with people and learn how the newsroom works as they asked me to do these stories. In fact, it was a kickstart that I needed, and my office did not let me worry a little bit about it. I found the stage was already set for me.
I am now quite comfortable with the software the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette uses, and reading our stylebook and getting to learn the newspaper policy. I had to struggle and literally run to escape the chill of cold as there was snowfall and rain last week. I've bought an umbrella but it's certainly of little help to save you from the chill -- either of cold or rain -- when you walk on the bridge and it takes about 10 minutes to cross the river.
Although I had earlier shared with my colleagues my experience as a journalist in Bangladesh and what are going on in Bangladesh now, I had a brown bag lunch Wednesday at my office where i made a presentation on the same topics and took questions from my colleagues. While I am abroad, I am learning more and more about my country.
As the weekend was approaching, i truly felt very good at the thought that I’ll not need to go out in the cold. And my mentor Greg was simply great. Half an hour before I would leave office Friday, he invited me to dinner with his family, and there was no reason for me to miss the chance. Greg, his wife Rekha are very nice me.
Although I had an invitation to newspaper guild dinner Saturday, I didn't feel like attending it as it was very cold. But Greg, his sons Nik and Peter would not let me stay alone. I had a very good time Sunday. Although it was raining, we drove to the downtown, had lunch out there, visited Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning, the largest roman catholic church in Pittsburgh and several beautiful places.
I was otherwise bogged down Saturday and Sunday preparing for my April 18 presentation at Indiana Council on World Affairs. Hope everything will be fine there; I feel a little bit tension because it is my first such presentation.

here i am

it's my city, it's my home

got my first story published

I had a sigh of relief when i saw my first story in today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. It was the first task I was given and I made no mistake. Although it was just an obituary, you know, it is the first impression thing. The city editor just said we do not need to write anything about profession of the dead person's sons and daughters. Bingo, hail Rafael!

first dayout

Shadowing a senior reporter, I went to Regent Square in the city at 3:30 p.m. today to cover the launch of an overhead pedestrian flasher. It may mean a little to many, but it's the first instance in Pittsburgh that private citizens offered to pay for a traffic safety improvement. And it has a tragic story. Evelyn Wei, 26-year-old scientific researcher at UPMC, was struck and killed by a car when she was crossing Braddock Avenue in the area in January 2004. Her parents, Donald and Yuling Wei represented by Pittsburgh attorney John P. Gismondi, filed a civil suit against city and had rule in their favor in September 2005. The parents and the attorney have even share in the donation of $20,000 for installing the overhead flasher, which the parents along with the city officials activated at 3:35 p.m. it will be dark until activated by a pedestrian wishing to cross the road.
And I feel a bit frustrated that I don't have any part in writing such a 'first ever incident' story. I saw the parents' choked eyes as they were crossing the road after activating the signal. No doubt they'll fail to hold the tears when they are home.

welcome misfortune

down i fly for the iron city

It’ll definitely be over two hours that my mentor and I had to observe what other people in front of us were doing as we were standing in the cue for getting our boarding passes. And we had our luggage checked before we found a space to let our legs have a refuge. We were, however, happy that we finally were going to get on board the aircraft scheduled to take off at 11:39 a.m. but why would it be so smooth? There was an announcement minutes before we were hoping to be in the air: "US Airways Flight 4635 has been cancelled." I truly felt I would fall on the ground anytime, but my mentor would not let me do so. He is smart enough to work out an alternative quickly, and succeeded: we decided to hire a car and drive all the way to Pittsburgh. After getting our luggages back half an hour later, we started for Pittsburgh, and had dinner with Greg's family in the downtown of the steel city. All the way to Pittsburgh, I just felt it is a beautiful country, and was never tired to mention it. I am sure you're not thinking that I forgot to click a few hundred times. It’s fun.