Lalbagh rethought exploring the incomplete Mughal fortress in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Lalbagh Fort is probably the most ambitious building activity undertaken by the Mughal rulers of Dhaka. Although the complex coined the name ‘Lalbagh Fort’ because of its huge fortification walls and gateways, the master plan and the layouts of the buildings that still exist suggest little or no similarity with the other Mughal forts either in Bengal or any other parts of India. The construction of the complex ran only for one decade and it was left abandoned for unknown reason. The brief history of the megaproject had been buried since 1688 and the fort remained incomplete till date. Several attempts have been made so far to recover the memories of this monument after the amnesia of centuries. However, the incomplete nature of construction, the limited amount of archaeological resource, literary evidences and epigraphic records at the disposal of the architectural historians appears as the main thicket. Filling up this lacuna using these apparently inconspicuous resources certainly put the existing discourse regarding this monument in a perplexed situation. This perplexity is the character of the architecture of Lalbagh today. It poses a long list of questions regarding its original master plan, its purpose and its history of construction, of which we are yet to provide definite answers being in a telescopic distance. This paper is an attempt to examine and compare different contesting hypothesis regarding its architecture. The main idea is to explore the building by drawing parallels with other Mughal buildings in Bengal and outside. It would provide us further room to rethink and reinterpret all the possibilities and posit a narrative of its architecture as it was originally planned and designed

Plataformas geoespaciales y herramientas inmersivas para la cohesión social: la narrativa 4D de la arquitectura de los camelleros afganos de Australia

[EN] This paper focuses on examining the scope of virtual architectural archaeology in forms of digital geospatial platforms and immersive tools such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)tobe used for achieving social cohesion, particularly in a multicultural and multi-ethnic society like Australia’s.In the context of the current global and national concern about Muslims and Islam,as well as for the mistrust towards and distancebetween Muslims and Non-Muslimsin Australia, it is imperative to delve deeper into the contribution of early Muslim pioneers, in this case,the Afghan Cameleers, in the social fabric of colonial Australia. Based on the premise that architecture could bea unique and revealing research frame to gain insight into human values, worldview and material culture, the main aim of thispaperisto address two key issues using virtualarchitecturalarchaeology. Firstly,to demonstrate the applicationof4D capturing and component-based modelling with metadata and paradata regarding the past of the lost architectural heritage sites in remote centraland westernAustralia, also counting on assets such as Linked Open Data(LOD) for further dissemination and use. Secondly, to propose amode todisseminatenew knowledge through digital platforms and VR/ARexperiences to the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums)audiencesand schools regarding the Muslims in Australia.Understanding properly them and their contribution to theAustralian societywouldeventuallyminimise the cultural distance between Muslimsand Non-Muslims in Australia. Greater awarenesscould mitigate the myth of fear and mistrust regarding Muslimsand Islam, widely misunderstood for a long time.Este trabajo examina el alcance de la arqueología arquitectónica virtual en forma de plataformas geoespaciales digitales y herramientas inmersivas,como la Realidad Virtual (RV) y la Realidad Aumentada (RA) que se utilizarán como medios para la cohesión social, en particular en una sociedad multicultural y multiétnica como la australiana. En el contexto de la actual preocupación nacional y mundial por los musulmanes y el islam, así como porla desconfianza y eldistanciamientoentre musulmanes y no musulmanes en Australia, es imperativo profundizar en la contribución de los primeros pioneros musulmanes, en este caso los camellerosafganos, en el tejido social de la Australia colonial. Basado en la premisa de que la arquitectura podría ser un marco de investigación único y revelador para comprender mejor los valores humanos, la cosmovisión y la cultura material, el objetivo principal deeste artículo esabordar dos cuestiones clave utilizando la arqueología arquitectónica virtual. En primer lugar, demostrar la aplicación de la captura en 4D y la modelización basada en componentes con metadatos y paradatos sobre el pasado de los sitios del patrimonio arquitectónico perdidos en lugares remotos del centro y oeste de Australia; además, se cuenta con activos como Linked Open Data (LOD) para su posterior difusión y uso. En segundo lugar, proponer a las audiencias y escuelas del GLAM (en español Galerías, Bibliotecas, Archivos y Museos) un modo de difusión de nuevos conocimientos a través de plataformas digitales y experiencias de RV/RAsobre los musulmanes en Australia y su contribución a la sociedad australiana, lo que, en última instancia, reduciría al mínimo el distanciamientoentre los musulmanes y los no musulmanes en Australia. Una comprensión social/cultural adecuada mitigaría el mito del miedo y la desconfianza con respecto a los musulmanes y el islam, eliminando malas interpretaciones sobre su carácter y forma de vida (que les han afectado durante mucho tiempo).ARC (Australian Research Council) Linkage grant Project of Architecture of Australia’s Muslim Pioneer (2014-18), which was a joint collaboration between The University of Adelaide, International Islamic University Malaysia and South Australian Museum.Rashid, MM.; Antlej, K. (2020). Geospatial platforms and immersive tools for social cohesion: the 4D narrative of architecture of Australia’s Afghan cameleers. Virtual Archaeology Review. 11(22):74-84. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2020.12230OJS74841122Australian Museums and Galleries Association Incorporated (2018). A Roadmap for Enhancing Indigenous Engagement in Museums and Galleries. Retrieved November 18, 2019, from https://www.mgaindigenousroadmap.com.auAustralian Bureau of Statistics (2017). Media Release: 2016 Census data reveals "no religion" is rising fast. Retrieved August 14, 2019, from https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/mediareleasesbyReleaseDate/ 7E65A144540551D7CA258148000E2B85Abdel-Fattah, R. (2017). Islamophobia and Everyday Multiculturalism in Australia. Milton: Taylors and Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315179933Akhbarzadeh, S. (2016). The Muslim question In Australia: Islamophobia and Muslim alienation. 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Telling the local story: An interactive cultural presentation system for community and regional settings. In Y. Chrysanthou, K. Cain, N. Silberman, & F. Niccolucci (Eds.), VAST 2004: The 5th International Symposium on Virtual Reality, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (pp. 233-239). https://doi.org/10.2312/VAST/VAST04/233-239Rashid, M. (2013). Transforming constraints into opportunities: A case study of the virtual reconstruction of Sompur Mahavihara at Paharpur, Bengal. In A. Sapian (Ed.), Research Methodology in Built Environment. Kuala Lumpur: IIUM Press.Rashid, M. & Bartsch, K. (2012). Hybrid histories: A framework to rethink 'Islamic' architecture. In S. King & S. Loo (Eds.), Proceedings of Fabulation: Myth, Nature, Heritage, 29th Annual Conference of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ). Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.Rashid, M. & Rahaman, H. (2011). 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An Investigation of Success and Failure Factors of Street Food Sector Entrepreneurs in Sylhet

Street food sector is rapidly growing large informal sector in Sylhet, the holy land of Bangladesh. This study attempts to investigate the success and failure factors of entrepreneurs in the street food sector of Sylhet. The study was descriptive in nature and both qualitative and quantitative data were used. In this study, a total of 50 entrepreneurs of street food business were interviewed on the basis of convenience sampling (non-probability sampling technique) from Sylhet district. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from the entrepreneurs with a face to face half an hour interview. Mean, mode, percentile, standard deviation were used in the data analysis. The findings of the study divulge that most of the entrepreneurs of street food sectors are young and male. The study also depicts that lack of experience of the entrepreneurs is the main failure factor of this sector. Along with this insufficient capital, a large amount of bribe, intense competition, undefined location are the key failure factors of this sector. On the other hand, the key success factors include easy formation, lower startup cost, less paperwork, fewer employees. The study also interprets that the government has less regulation in this sector, which is also a crucial success factor in this sector. For the development of this sector, the local government authority should provide some specific location for this sector. A large amount of bribe in this sector also needs to be controlled. The banks and other financial institution should provide SME loan to the entrepreneurs. The study will helps local government authority, policymakers, academician and interested persons to get a better insight into this sector. Keywords: Street food sector, entrepreneurs, success and failures factors, Sylhet. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-9-01 Publication date:March 31st 201

The architecture of Lalbagh Fort mosque, Dhaka

Heritage Studies is best learned by experiencing the architecture of the past. Thus, the instructional design of Heritage Studies course in IIUM disseminates knowledge on history of Muslim’s civilization by familiarising students on the techniques of documenting historical buildings for preservation and conservation. The architecture of Lalbagh Fort Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh, offers students such experience. By analysing comprehensive architectural design aspects of the Mosque, students then produce documentation of the study. This chapter specifically and briefly presents the accents of work produced on the Mosque of Lalbagh Fort. Three main aspects discussed are the space planning, structural system, and decorations of the mosques. The documentation produced by this undertaking might be used by future generation towards awareness, understanding, and appreciation of Islamic architectural heritage

Of resilience and assimilation: contesting spatial dynamics of the Cocos Malays’ dwelling culture in Malaysia

At the turn of the 19th century, a small group of Malay population settled in the small island of Cocos (Keeling) Island of Australia as slaves/labourers for the private coconut plantation of Alexander Hare and then, John Clunies-Ross. The Cocos Malays originated from the descendants of Malay settlers from the British colonies of British Malaya, Singapore, Brunei and the Riau Archipelago of Dutch East Indies. During the 1940s the island became overpopulated and faced a significant shortage of food supply and hence a large number of the population were transhipped initially to Singapore and then on to different parts of North Borneo. This paper focuses on the little-known facet of the architectural history of the material culture of emigrated Cocos Malays, who later settled in Kampung Balung Cocos in Sabah. It would offer a critical interpretation of the Cocos Malays Dwelling Culture in a broader sense and scrutinize how it was developed and transformed through the ages in comparison with the emigrated Cocos Malays, after almost seventy years of separation. The study takes on an anthropological-architectural approach to discern different historical layers that reflected their value and social system, resilience and assimilation and most importantly their imaginary parallel of a homely space in an apparently alienated land (not their place of origin). Moreover, by reading their architectures and settlement as text this paper would reveal the contesting dynamics of their material culture as well as of their everyday resilience to assimilate, which was never recorded in the mainstream discourse on Malay traditional dwelling culture

Evaluation of performances and selection response of three indigenous chicken genotypes at seventh-generation

The present study was conducted to assessed the performances of three native chicken genotypes under intensive management. A total of 1042 day-old chicks comprising of 3 types of chicken, namely Naked Neck (NN-381), Hilly (HI-313), and Non-descript Deshi (ND-348), were Hatched for this study. The seventh generation, selection was practiced at 40 weeks of age according to 40-week body weight (BW), egg production (EP) up to 40-week, egg weight (EW) at 40 weeks, and age at maturity (ASM). The data were analyzed in a CRD. Day-old chick weight was significantly (P < 0.001) highest in HI (32.52 ± 0.32 g). Significant (P < 0.001) body weight differences among the genotypes were observed at the 12th week of age. Genotype had a significant effect on chick mortality. The average age at the first egg of ND 145.54days was 8.81 days earlier than that of HI 154.35days. Hatchability on fertile eggs differed significantly (P < 0.05) among the genotypes. The percentage of dead germ was affected (P < 0.001) by genotype. Feed consumption from 9 to 16 weeks showed a significant (P < 0.001) variation in feed intake among the native chicken genotypes. EP of ND, HI, and NN birds were expected to increase by 0.875, 1.585, and 0.255 %, respectively. The EW of ND, HI, and NN birds were expected to increase by 0.205, 0.250, and 0.015g, respectively. Responses to selection for EP and EW for three genotypes (ND, HI, and NN) were expected to be positive (increase). It is concluded that the Hilly genotype may be chosen for meat production and the Non-descript Deshi genotype for egg production

Advanced CNC/PEG/PDMAA Semi-IPN Hydrogel for Drug Delivery Management in Wound Healing

A Semi Interpenetrating Polymer Network (semi-IPN) hydrogel was prepared and loaded with an antibiotic drug, gentamicin, to investigate the wound healing activity of this system. The semi-IPN hydrogel was synthesized by combining natural polymer cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and synthetic polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly (N,N0-dimethyl acrylamide) (PDMAA), which was initially added as a monomer dimethyl acrylamide (DMAA). CNC was prepared from locally obtained jute fibers, dispersed in a PEG-NaOH solvent systemand then mixed with monomer DMAA, where polymerization was initiated by an initiator potassium persulphate (KPS) and cross-linked by N,N0-methylenebisacrylamide (NMBA). The size, morphology, biocompatibility, antimicrobial activity, thermal and swelling properties of the hydrogel were investigated by different characterization techniques. The biocompatibility of the hydrogel was confirmed by cytotoxicity analysis, which showed \u3e95% survival of the BHK-21, Vero cell line. The drug loaded hydrogel showed antimicrobial property by forming 25 and 23 mm zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (gram-negative) bacteria, respectively, in antimicrobial analysis. At pH 5.5, 76% of the drug was released from the hydrogel within 72 h, as observed in an in vitro drug release profile. In an in vivo test, the healing efficiency of the drug loaded hydrogel was examined on a mice model with dorsal wounds. Complete healing of the wound without any scar formation was achieved in 12 days, which revealed excellent wound healing properties of the prepared drug loaded semi-IPN hydrogel. These results showed the relevance of such a system in the rapid healing of acute wounds

A 48–year–old female presented with severe neck pain

This article has no abstract. The first 100 words appear below: A 48-year-old married female got admitted on 8th September 2017 into the Boarder Guard Hospital, Pilkhana, Dhaka, Bangladesh with the complaints of severe neck pain associated with low grade backache for the last four years. This patient is hailing from Soliabazar, Jashore, Southwestern region of Bangladesh where she was treated with local doctors by cervical collar and analgesics for her neck and back pain. As the pain did not subside, so she was brought by her brother-in-law who is a BGB soldier to Boarder Guard hospital for better management