Exclusive One Hour Interview with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

A lot has happened in two weeks. At the start of my visit, I was granted a one hour sit down interview with the Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina. I was able to ask literally anything I wished to and she answered the curve balls with a smile.
I am really pleased to have been granted this exclusive  interview, the only one she is giving in this period, when several other international networks were keen on it too and have played out some of it already on The World Tonight Jan 2nd and 3rd, 2014.
Today I watched the swearing of the new cabinet at the President's office.

Radio and Television reporting in Dhaka

I am working across both media here this time in Dhaka and really enjoying penetrating some areas hitherto uncovered by foreign journalists.

Somehow local organisations really appreciate foreign reporters in a way that the London media mafia does not. In Dhaka, people seem to love the fact that we have taken time out to look at what they choose to offer up and treat us with great courtesy.

My Bangladeshi friends  are my backbone and give me so much love that I am bowled over. I will miss you guys for sure. Thank you to those who are helping.

BBC Bureau Dhaka

I'm not sure why but I chose to try and do a  lot of my work and my filing without going into the BBC bureau for the first week despite a very warm welcome from the bureau chief Shakil and advice all round to visit for the support. It would have made life a lot easier.

When I did go in  a couple of days ago, I found a strong and busy team that acts as a base and an anchor for visitors from abroad.

It was incredible and not unexpected to learn from Shakil that the BBC brand is the most trusted in Bangladesh and knowing the quality of some of the journalists there I am not surprised.

The Bangla unit contains some of the best journalists in the world. 

Dhaka Rocks

It may be tense here in Bangladesh's capital but away from the political centre, the road blocks, the barricades and the highly visible security, writing in my hotel room I switch between different television channels; BBC World, Bangla news channels, and a new channel, Gaan Bangla. It's a cross between MTV and Fashion TV and seems to be soaring ahead of MTV in the popularity stakes.

Christmas Eve at Namaaste Kitchen

We tend to eat together as a family on Christmas Eve whether at home or out, wherever we are. Maintaining a Bangladeshi spirit while preparing to fly out for the forthcoming election in Dhaka, the boys and I came together for a Christmas Eve Indo- fusion special at Namaaste Kitchen in Camden, owned by Sabbir Karim. The restaurant, one of two he runs, has won plaudits from the Guardian and other newspapers, for its wonderfully - presented unique recipes, all served at a very reasonable price.

The service was excellent so we had the staff sit down with us and tell us all about themselves. Young Imran, who works a few nights a week,  is doing double masters degrees; in Refugee Studies as well as an MBA, and played in the junior Bangladesh national cricket team.

The fact that Sabbir is a BA cabin crew purser is reflected in his eaterie - the style is light and sophisticated with more than a touch of the business class end of aviation.

Sabbir himself has won lots of awards over the years in the catering industry. I will be watching his progress with interest.

Shunga at the British Museum

With just a few days left to visit,  My Qi Gong tutor and I took a look round this fascinating exhibition of Japanese art. I was struck  throughout by the humour.

Most of the pieces on display were highly valuable and rarely seen, and some of my favourites were tiny figurines just a few centimetres high.

The art was laid out in eras and so even the way in which faces and forms appeared varied from period to period; with foreigners always larger than life.

I found the exhibition curiously restful and relaxing; the subject matter is not often placed in such a traditional arena and opened up for all members of the public to view.

I also liked the fact that there was a cross - section of ages and nationalities among the viewing public, with a high proportion, of course, of Japanese. 

Diwali at Neasden Temple

I was invited to the BAPS Shri Swaminaryan Mandir, popularly known as the Neasden Temple,  this  week to witness the 19.00 hrs. evening prayer known as arti and to witness its Diwali preparations. Many round the world celebrate the Hindu Festival of Light this weekend.

Security was airport-rigorous. In 2002, 33 temple devotees and visitors were gunned down at the Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, India by terrorists.

Neasden is a magnificent building and is Europe’s first traditionally built Hindu temple, the first such outside India in some 800 years. The last similar places of worship were built at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. No steel or manmade material has been used, in keeping with Hindu scriptures. One stipulation of the planners was that English oak should be utilised  in addition to the imported Burmese teak. Over 220 oak trees were felled for the temple, and some 2500 saplings were planted in their place . There is now a flourishing oak tree forest in Wiltshire, England.

 Almost 3,000 tonnes of Bulgarian limestone 1,200 tonnes of Italian Carrara marble, and 900 tonnes of Indian Ambaji marble, were hand-carved by more than 1,500 skilled artisans at 14 different sites around India into 26,300 pieces. These were then coded, packed and sent on their final 6,300-mile journey to London where each piece was assembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle over two and a half years. 

In the building known as the Haveli, a large hall behind which there is a similar-sized sports space popular with young people, there were peacocks placed around the walls as the Neasden temple Diwali has a peacock theme this year. For the first time in my life, I saw traditional rangoli pattern making being done by young and older ladies. This is an art form of design dating back centuries creating three-dimensional patterns of beauty. Watching the ladies at work on the huge coloured tiles laid out on the carpet was mesmerising and induced a feeling of calm. 

The temple has a fee-paying school attached to it that is in the national top five for points scored at GCSE, according to the Daily Telegraph. 

Neasden temple feeds 2,500 each weekend. The number is likely to jump to several thousand for Diwali.

In the temple complex is a great vegetarian supermarket and a reasonably priced vegetarian  restaurant; Shayona,  with an abundant and delicious menu. I enjoyed pani puri, chaat and masala dosa with a passion fruit drink.

The Mandir is open to everyone. More detail at 

www. Londonmandir.baps.org

  

Happy Diwali, Hindus around the world.