Gramps' Web Site - Bangladesh Gallery Bangla Wedding   HOME Bangladesh Gallery    00-Arrival    10-Install Panel    20-On The Road      21-Commerce      22-Ferry Crossing      23-Road Work      24-Drivers      25-Field Work      29-Nasim's Baby    30-At Home      31-Dhaka Streets      32-Around Dhaka    40-Heart Attack    50-Floods    60-Bangla Wedding    70-Signs    80-Portrates    90-Last Day    Bangla Journal    Sign Gramps'     DreamBook    “guestbook”     Shahinul Islam was the engineer in charge of all field operations for TWX. He had a job offer in Canada but wasn't sure he wanted to emigrate to a country where he thought he would face discrimination. His fiancé was all for it. I made a comment about subsurviant wives in Islam and everyone laughed. Apparently, in good families, the wives are not subsurviant. There are, however, clearly defined gender rolls. Shahin's bride was (is?) a lawyer. Click on a thumb to see a larger version. Shahin was handsome, hardworking, intelligent, patient and tactful. He spoke English flawlessly as well as French, German, Russian and a little Chinese in addition to Bangla and several dialects. Apparently he was quite a catch. Shahin's family, but mostly Shahin, had to pony up to rent a hall for 3 days, food for 3 days, fancy dress, flowers, etc., etc., etc.. This "arbor" was set up for the groom. Shahin had to sit through having his picture taken with every male guest. The TWX crowd was invited on the Bride's Day because of the work schedule and because Shahin thought that we would find it more interesting. We arrived late, after a long day in the field, to find this crowd waiting to greet the bride and groom. The bride and her family all gathered in the bride's arbor awaiting the ceremony. Shahin climbed in with the bride and her female relatives. I didn't understand the words but there was a lot of giggling among the women. Part of the ceremony was sharing goat cheese. It was in appearance like feeding each other the cake at a western wedding. I'm not sure of the significance here. After the goat cheese and giggling, Shahin sliped THE ring onto his new wife's intricately decorated finger. Click for the larger image to see the designs on her hand. Shahin toasted the bride with chamgagne - a shocking western innovation in an otherwise traditional ceremony. Notice the bride's bowed head. This produced much amusement among Shahin's friends who assured me that she was anything but submissive. The newly united couple is congratulated by the assembled throng. Unfortunately, I caught Shahin in mid-blink. In reality he seemed relaxed and relieved. "Remember, Gramps loves you and wants you to be happy."