Let us congratulate her on achieving this great honour as a grandmother. For those who wish to communicate with her direct, her telephone number is: (604) 515-7209 and e-mail: almaszakiuddin@gmail.com.

Almas wishes to share her experience with members of the Family as reproduced below:

With best wishes,
Khwaja Sayeed Shahabuddin

Message from Almas

Dear Relatives,

I am delighted to share some wonderful news with my family members. By the Grace of Allah my Final Doctoral Oral Examination was held on January 9th, 2012, at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. It was for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, in the department of Women’s Studies and Gender Relations, UBC.

Almas with her son, Ziad

I defended my dissertation entitled “Modernizing” Islam: The Imam Discourse in Bangladesh. By Allah’s Kindness, my examination went very well and all examiners were satisfied with my defence and with my dissertation. They have recommended to the Faculty of Graduate Studies that my dissertation be accepted without revisions. This means I can submit it as is, no changes required. The “no revisions” condition is alhamdulillah a real honour as most often dissertations need minor revisions. In some cases, there are major revisions too that have to be made. I will inshallah submit it within a few days and then, after about a week or so, it will be available as an electronic document online for anyone to read. I will send the link as soon as that happens inshallah! The Convocation is in May this year.

I was very fortunate because my older son Ziad, my daughter in law Goldie and a good friend Itrath were among those who watched my defence (it is a public event and the audience can also ask questions — thank God they did not!). My external examiners (two) were from the University of Victoria and Cornell University. The examiner from the University of Victoria was present at my defence while the other examiner sent in questions. I also had two university examiners and my committee of three including my supervisor. Everyone asked three or four questions each and one examiner was quite aggressive and asked five questions! But on the whole, alhamdulillah, they did not really attack my work, merely felt around to find out how much I knew what I claimed to know! At one point I wanted to sit down but the format is that you have to stand throughout the exam — for nearly two and a half hours! My back was aching towards the end.

Then, I had to leave the room with the audience while the examiners deliberated and then they called me in alone and told me I had passed with no revisions! I shook their hands, embraced a few women professors and then when Ziad came in, I hugged him and burst into tears and I have to say, his eyes misted over too!! (Kamil is in Toronto and I know if he had been there too the waterworks would not have stopped at all!).

I want to say that I could not have done this on my own. My thanks to my family: to my mother, Binoo Zakiuddin, for everything she has taught me in life from working hard to never losing hope, for her prayers for me through every moment of my life; and to my late father, Khwaja Zakiuddin. I do not think it was a coincidence that my exam was held on January 9th, his birthday. I know Abbu was smiling at me and his dua and blessings made my journey possible. My sons, my daughter in law, my brother, sister, sister in law, cousins, nephews, nieces are all so happy for me! I am indeed fortunate to have their love and so much more.

I used to walk around Bait ul Aman as a child and pretend I was a teacher. The hens and flower beds (and sometimes my younger brother Zahid) were my students. I remember thinking to myself, I am Almas Zakiuddin, ABCD. I think I was trying to say PhD. Which makes January 9, 2012, one of Allah’s miracles for me.  

Sincerely,

 Almas

Moeena Moinuddin

Munna Haque: Wish everyone my family, friends and relatives a happy new year. I hope you guys all have a healthy and successful year.

K.M.Shukkur (son of K.M.Moudud) of 12 Islampur Road died of prostate cancer and brain hemorrhage in October 2011.

An employee of Dhaka Municipal Corporation K.M. Shukkur was famous for his singing abilities in Baithak, Mehendi and Sehri Kaseeda. He was 79 years old and left behind two sons Babu and Shahzad and a daughter Alika. He also served as a member of Moulvi Abdullah Welfare Trust and always attended meetings related to family affairs. He was buried in Begum Bazaar family graveyard.  For condolence please call 01 940 09 5947.

K.M.Abdullah

K.M.Abdullah (son of Khwaja Sirajuddin) of 36 Ahsanullah Road (currently residing at Uttara) died of heart attack on November 7, 2011.

He left behind his wife Tahmeena Begum, two sons Sahal and Tausif and daughter Samreen. 

 Khwaja Abdullah was serving his second term as a member of Moulvi Abdullah Welfare Trust. He was also the general secretary of Young Men Welfare Association. K Abdullah briefly worked in Dubai in the eighties. He worked relentlessly to advance the causes of the Nawabbarians.

He was with the 1969 Nawabbari boat race champion Blue Brothers team. He is buried at Begum Bazaar family graveyard. For condolence please call 01 610 000 1047.

Click here for more pictures

Beginning of January 2011, Dhaka Nawab Family member’s from Nawab Bari area went to Idrakpur fort for family picnic. Five hours scenic Bajra (boat) ride on a dull Saturday morning was quiet entertaining. The picnic was arranged by Istiaq, Johny and Yusuf Bhai. Entry fee was taka 500 for family and taka 300 for individual.

Click here to see more pictures

A Meena Bazaar was held on Nawabbari Gol Talaab area on the 14th January 2011. Lead organizers were Rasel (son of Mastan bhai), Fazal, Fayez (son of K.M.Motahar) and Rocket (son of Khwaja Fakir Mohammed). Many decorated stalls were crowded with buyers and visitors.  From clothes and electronics to patisapta and Kashmiri chai – all range of items & food were sold.  Nagor Dola (fairy wheel) , pony ride and paddle boat entertained the children. RAB police were deployed to maintain security.

How are you? For the last many years I am searching and looking to find out one of my friend of Nawab of Dhaka family, today successfully searched the web of Nawabbari and in google I found the name of my friend Khawaja Manzar Nadim, I seek your help/assistance for re-union of old friend/class mate of New Govt High School Armanitola Dhaka, am sure you people know him, I remember one of his brother is Khawaja Waqar.  

I request you people to kindly help me get his email or other contact so that I can write him.

Thank you so much for your help. 

Azfar Shamim

Karachi Pakistan

Please spread the word and confirm your participation calling 718 606 9487 or 646 379 3603. Team will be announced after lottery drawing. Details are as following-

Date: Saturday January 7 2012

Time: 4.30 PM- 8.30 PM (please show up on time, as we have reserved the court until 8.30PM)

Place: John Bowne High School (Gym room) 63-25 Main St. Flushing, NY 11365

Category: Men’s doubles , Women’s doubles, Young adult singles

Dress code: Sneaker is required to play

Management will provide all necessary equipment; however professional badminton rackets is also available for rental on premises for $3 a day.

Entry fee: $10 per person.

Khwaja Anas Nasarullah:

December 1911 – The Partition of Bengal, Bongo Bhongo, was revoked.

December 1971 -Finally we became liberated after 60 years.

Hope people of all level can get out of all forms of oppression forever.

K.M. Ibrahim: O Amar Desher mati….. Tomar Pore Thekai Matha..

Khawaja Ershad Moinuddin: ‎40 years gone by, where do we stand. Sincerely wish for a joyous Bangladesh.

Sana Siraj: Happy Victory Day…..i feel proud of my Bangladesh..♥♥♥♥

Farhad Khaja: Happy independence day to all of my friends.

Leena Sarfraz

 Click here to see nore pictures from Khawaja Arshad

by Khwaja Sayeed Shahabuddin  

For the first time, the Annual Family Eid Milan, held in Karachi on Thursday 1st September 2011, was for HIGH TEA between 5 and 7 p.m., instead of lunch. It was the day after the observance of Eid-ul-Fitr in Pakistan. It was a pleasant afternoon as members of the Dhaka Nawab Family came to the house of Aliya and Nabil Tebawi, which is presently being taken care of by Khwaja Munir Mashooqullah, to meet one another at the Annual Get-together – The Eid Milan. They came from far and near, the vast majority from the far flung parts of Karachi – the Buffer Zone, North Nazimabad, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, etc. – to make a success of this special occasion which is looked forward to by so many with great interest.

For this all of us owe a deep sense of gratitude to Khwaja Arshad as this function could take place only due to his untiring efforts. Not only did he make all the arrangements but spent hours each day telephoning and sending SMS to members of the Family and requesting them to register the number of persons attending so that the caterer could be given the number of persons to cater for. He also contacted the various donors for contributions in cash and in kind so that the difference between the amount charged, per head, by the caterer and the contribution received from members could be met. As always, he also made his own contribution in cash as well in kind. His whole family– Shahnaz, Khurram, Dr. Atiyab, Nida and Tuba; helped in wrapping gifts etc, so many of them were on display and had been received by those who had the lucky ticket numbers.

From 5 p. m. members of the family started arriving, and, before 6 p.m. the entire area, beautifully decorated, was full and humming with excitement as there was meeting and greeting among relatives, some of whom were meeting each other after a whole year. …

The proceedings began with Sayeed Shahabuddin addressing the gathering. He reminded them that we owe a deep sense of gratitude to Aliya and Nabil Tebawi for giving us a ‘blank cheque’ to use these premises for the Family Eid Milan every year, and for which we are also grateful to Munir and Murad Mashooqullah,…