1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:04,000 'I'm Nadiya Hussain. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,000 'Last year, I shocked myself, my family and the nation...' 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,000 The winner is Nadiya! 4 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:10,000 CHEERING 5 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,000 '..when I won The Great British Bake Off.' 6 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,000 I'm never going to say, "I don't think I can." 7 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,000 I can. And I will. 8 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,000 'Now I'm going back to my roots.' 9 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,000 This is Bangladesh like I've never seen it before. 10 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,000 'And I'm taking my love of food...' 11 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,000 That is the best chanachur I've ever tasted. 12 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,000 '..and cooking with me.' 13 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,000 I'm on a moving boat cooking a biryani. 14 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,000 I didn't think I'd ever say that sentence ever in my life. 15 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,000 'This is a journey that takes me home...' 16 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,000 He's my favourite! 17 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:45,000 '..to the people and places I've missed so much...' 18 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,000 It's like, "Oh, catch it!" 19 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,000 Nothing like the wind in your hijab. 20 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,000 '..and on an adventure through a country I've never explored.' 21 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,000 I love the lead singer. 22 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,000 The lead singer sounds great. 23 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,000 There's a chicken running across my kitchen. 24 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,000 That doesn't happen at home. 25 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,000 I'm feeling a little bit old as a 30-something-year-old 26 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,000 with three children. I don't feel like I fit in. 27 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,000 I feel like a grandfather here. Yeah! 28 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,000 David Attenborough, eat your heart out 29 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,000 because this is the thing of dreams. 30 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,000 NADIYA: I've been staying near Sylhet 31 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:30,000 with my family for almost a week, 32 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,000 but now I'm about to head off to explore this amazing country 33 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:34,000 for the very first time. 34 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,000 To think I have been to Bangladesh, if not every year, 35 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,000 every other year of my life up until the age of 20, 36 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:48,000 I never, ever saw anything past the boundaries of the village. 37 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,000 We landed, we went to the village, we stayed in the village. 38 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,000 Didn't do anything else. 39 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,000 When you come from the culture I've come from 40 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,000 and the way that we've been raised, 41 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,000 it's totally unusual for a woman 42 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,000 to just get up and just travel on her own. 43 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,000 I'm doing something that not everybody does. 44 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,000 Before I leave my home town, Sylhet, 45 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,000 on a 900-mile journey around Bangladesh, 46 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,000 I'm joining the crowds visiting the shrine 47 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,000 of the 14th century Sufi saint Hazrat Shah Jalal. 48 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:23,000 The story goes that his uncle gave him some soil 49 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,000 and said, "Take this soil, and if you can find the same soil 50 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,000 "with the same smell and the same colour somewhere else, 51 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:36,000 "then propagate that soil there and spread Islam". 52 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,000 Could this be the reason why my family came here in the first place? 53 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,000 This definitely feels like the right point to head off. 54 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,000 I was going off quietly when I was saying bye to my mum. 55 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,000 I'm not going quietly now. 56 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,000 I just wonder whether they're going to follow me 57 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,000 all the way to Dhaka now! 58 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,000 Bangladesh is in South Asia 59 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,000 and shares borders with India and Myanmar. 60 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,000 My first stop is 120 miles south-west of Sylhet, 61 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,000 Bangladesh's capital city, Dhaka. 62 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,000 Dhaka sits on the Buriganga River 63 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,000 and is one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world. 64 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,000 It's also one of the most overcrowded, 65 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,000 with a population of 17 million. 66 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,000 Despite Bangladesh's booming economy, 67 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,000 three million of Dhaka's residents 68 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,000 still live in incredible poverty in makeshift slums. 69 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,000 I've heard about a great charity called Thrive, 70 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,000 providing free meals to schools right in the heart 71 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,000 of Dhaka's biggest slum and I want to find out more. 72 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,000 Showing me around is Sadia Moyeen, 73 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,000 one of the charity's leading volunteers. 74 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,000 Most of the people here are very hard-working, but some are beggars, 75 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,000 some are rickshaw wallahs and, you know, other menial workers, 76 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,000 perhaps some garment workers, as well. 77 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,000 As you can see, their homes are quite humble. 78 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,000 In theory, attending school is compulsory, but in practice, 79 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,000 only half the children growing up in the slums will go to school. 80 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,000 Since the charity initiated the free school dinner programme, 81 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,000 attendance at school has improved enormously. 82 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,000 It's proven that if a child has a hearty, healthy meal, 83 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,000 they can carry on into the afternoon and study really well. 84 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,000 Absolutely. It's better health, better mental health. 85 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,000 And they can concentrate better during the day. 86 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,000 For the children here, it's different. 87 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,000 It's a question of not eating at all 88 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,000 and going to school on an empty stomach. 89 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,000 I am seeing the difference in the last two years, 90 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,000 the impact that it has, the education and the food 91 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,000 has on the lives of these little children. 92 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,000 Sadia has asked if I could cook a treat for the pupils 93 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:47,000 attending one of the schools. 94 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:51,000 As a mother and a cook, this is a cause that's close to my heart. 95 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,000 How could I refuse? 96 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,000 Sweet coconut and fennel samosa is a recipe 97 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,000 I've inherited from my mother. 98 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,000 How are you guys? Not bad. 99 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,000 Very well. Very excited to see you. 100 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:04,000 I've got 300 samosas to make, 101 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,000 so Sadia and her cousin Amna are lending me a hand, 102 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,000 as well as a kitchen. 103 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,000 My first job is to make the pastry. 104 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:12,000 Right, so it's just flour... 105 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,000 Good pinch of salt. 106 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,000 And it's quite a nice combination 107 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,000 because it's savoury on the outside, but it's... 108 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,000 Really sweet inside. ..really sweet on the inside. 109 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,000 To bring the dough together, I'm adding cold water 110 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:27,000 a little at a time. 111 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,000 I'm going to get my hands in now. Yeah. 112 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,000 There's no other way. There's no other way. There's no other way. 113 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,000 Once it's formed a ball, it's time to knead the dough. 114 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,000 I just want it to be smooth, so when I roll it out, when you cut it, 115 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,000 it doesn't lose its shape. 116 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,000 So it shouldn't take too long. 117 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,000 Somebody can roll and somebody else can cut. All right. 118 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,000 I'll leave the dough with you. There's extra flour there. 119 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,000 This is definitely a very modern kitchen 120 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,000 compared to what I've been cooking in for the last week or so. 121 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,000 So it's quite nice, actually, to have an oven 122 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,000 and to have, like, plugs and sockets and whizz things up. 123 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,000 You're itching to bake something. 124 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,000 Yeah. I'm itching to bake something. 125 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,000 Amna, do you cook much? No, I don't. 126 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,000 I've really thrown you in the deep end now. 127 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:08,000 I have help at home! 128 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,000 While Sadia and Amna roll out the samosa cases, 129 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:16,000 I need to get the filling started by finely chopping fresh coconut 130 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:17,000 in a food processor. 131 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,000 There's nothing like fresh coconut because you get all the... 132 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,000 You know the dark brown bits around the edge? Yeah, the brown bits. 133 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,000 Which you can't get when you buy desiccated coconut from the shops. 134 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,000 Exactly. So I've got coconut, sugar, 135 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,000 added some water and some clarified butter. 136 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,000 I'm going to let that cook down. 137 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,000 This doesn't need a lot of cooking down because it's fresh coconut. 138 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,000 If it was desiccated coconut, you'd need to add a lot more water 139 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,000 and rehydrate that coconut again. 140 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,000 And then, finally, some fennel seeds. 141 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,000 I wouldn't have thought of putting fennel with coconut. 142 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,000 I don't know anybody else who does coconut and fennel. 143 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,000 No, not at all. I just gave away my mum's biggest... 144 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,000 Secret! Biggest secret combination! 145 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,000 I think our kids are going to be very excited to eat this. 146 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:04,000 The coconut filling needs to be simmered for about 15 minutes 147 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,000 until it's sticky. 148 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,000 Once the coconut mixture has completely cooled, 149 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,000 it's time for the fun part - filling the samosas. 150 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,000 Just flatten it out slightly around the edges. 151 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:15,000 And then... 152 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:19,000 I would go a heaped teaspoon 153 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:20,000 and go over. 154 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,000 Press down. It's still quite moist, 155 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,000 so you don't need anything to seal it. OK. 156 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,000 You just push it down and then just pleat it. 157 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,000 OK. Now, that's the part that we need to learn. Yeah. 158 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,000 You just lift it up from the bottom 159 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:39,000 and then you twist it over. 160 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:40,000 OK. 161 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,000 You're a good teacher, Nadiya. 162 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,000 Ah, thank you! 163 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:47,000 Does that work? 164 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,000 Yeah, that works. That looks really good! Yay! 165 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,000 It's not happening. OK, let me try. You'll get into the swing of it 166 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,000 once you've done a few... 167 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,000 Do you think, after having made these samosas, 168 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,000 do you think it'll encourage you to cook a little bit more? Definitely. 169 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:00,000 Yeah? Most definitely. 170 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,000 Once filled, the samosas just need to be dropped 171 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:07,000 into a deep pan of hot vegetable oil and fried until they're golden. 172 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,000 And the thing that I have to be really careful to do 173 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,000 is not to overcrowd the pan. 174 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,000 Because if you put too many in, 175 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:19,000 it starts to boil and then you get too much moisture in the pan, 176 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,000 so only do a few at a time. 177 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,000 First batch. Oh, that looks good. Oh, wow. 178 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,000 Yummy. I love to sprinkle a little bit of salt on top. Ah! Salt. 179 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:32,000 And I promise you, it sounds funny, but it really works. 180 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:36,000 With the first batch done, we all decide it's time for a tea break. 181 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:39,000 Oh, lovely. 182 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,000 I love your salt. 183 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,000 I'm definitely incorporating this in my... 184 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,000 We're going to make this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 185 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,000 We'll call it Nadiya Special. Oh, Nadiya Special! 186 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,000 With many more samosas to make 187 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,000 and a delivery deadline of lunchtime tomorrow, 188 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,000 we'd better crack on. 189 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,000 Today, Sadia and I are going to be handing out the samosas 190 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,000 during lunch break. 191 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,000 So the school I'm taking you to now is Jaago. 192 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:16,000 They have 290 kids here, from nursery up to grade five. 193 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,000 Good morning. 194 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,000 As you can see, it's all that. 195 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,000 So the classes are on top. 196 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,000 This is the nursery school. 197 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:32,000 Everything about this feels like a school! Yes, yes. 198 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,000 While Sadia organises the food for lunch, 199 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:38,000 head teacher Ayesha Rahman is going to show me around, 200 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,000 starting with the grade one class for six and seven-year-olds. 201 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,000 May we come in? 202 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,000 CHILDREN: Yes! OK. 203 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,000 And say hello to our guest. 204 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:49,000 Hello! 205 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,000 CHILDREN: Hello! 206 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,000 Poverty and illiteracy are a vicious cycle in Bangladesh. 207 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:57,000 Almost 50% of the adults living in these slums are illiterate. 208 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,000 The education that these children are receiving is vital 209 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,000 to their future prospects. 210 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:03,000 SHE SPEAKS BENGALI 211 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,000 What is that? Tree. A tree? 212 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,000 And what's that? Fish. 213 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,000 Fish? 214 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,000 Can I see your book? 215 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,000 Your writing is very good. 216 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,000 You can do English and Bangla? 217 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:17,000 Yes. Yes. 218 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,000 Bye! 219 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,000 The majority of secondary school-age children in Bangladesh 220 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,000 do not carry on their education. 221 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,000 But schools like this are working hard to improve that statistic. 222 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,000 What's your name? Hanzalah. 223 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,000 Hanzalah? Yes. How are you? 224 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:38,000 I'm fine. Yeah? How are you? I'm good, thank you. 225 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,000 Do you enjoy this class? I enjoy this class very much. 226 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,000 What do you want to be when you're older? 227 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,000 I want to be a cricketer. What job do you want to do? 228 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,000 You want to be a cricketer? Yes. Professionally? Yeah. 229 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,000 What do your parents do? 230 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,000 My father is a shopkeeper and my mother is a housewife. 231 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,000 Housewife? Yes. How far do you live from the school? 232 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:57,000 Near. 233 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,000 Number two! Somebody else! 234 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,000 Right, good. 235 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,000 I'll leave you to it. I think you want to get on with your work, 236 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:06,000 or you're going to get told off. OK. Bye! 237 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,000 Music, music. Thank you. 238 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,000 It's so nice to see that they're so engaged with what they're doing. 239 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,000 And it means... It just shows something's working. 240 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,000 You know, these kids are happy and they want to learn. 241 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,000 The broad smiles of the children belie the reality of the hunger 242 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:27,000 and disease that they face each day. 243 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,000 You're welcome. 244 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,000 For many of them, this simple lunch of my samosa, 245 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,000 an egg and a banana may be the only meal they have today. 246 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,000 Thank you! You're welcome. 247 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:41,000 SHE SPEAKS BENGALI 248 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:45,000 SHE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE 249 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:49,000 I've never cooked for a more deserving or appreciative crowd. 250 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:53,000 They are the smiliest, happiest children I've ever seen 251 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,000 and you can tell they're so happy to be here. 252 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,000 It's really clear to see that just that one meal in the day 253 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,000 that they have makes such a difference, 254 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:08,000 not only to their stomach, but also to their general health. 255 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,000 The children here have less coughs and colds. 256 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,000 They're much more awake, enthusiastic to learn. 257 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,000 I feel like I don't want to leave. 258 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,000 I feel like I want to go back in the kitchen 259 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:20,000 and make another 300 samosas and do this for a few months. 260 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,000 Coming here, I don't feel sadness. 261 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,000 I feel hope. Like something's happening. 262 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:29,000 These children live in the middle of these slums, 263 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,000 yet they have a place where they can come, they can have a meal, 264 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,000 they can learn and they can walk away and they have hope. 265 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,000 Today I'm leaving Dhaka, 266 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,000 setting sail from Sadarghat Port on a passenger ferry. 267 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,000 I've been invited as a guest of the captain and, in return, 268 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,000 I've offered to cook dinner for him and his crew. 269 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,000 I've come to Kawran Bazar to pick up a few ingredients for my recipe 270 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:03,000 before I board the boat. 271 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,000 I have to say, I'm really shocked. 272 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:12,000 I remember a bazaar from years ago where it was busy, 273 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,000 but I very rarely got to be in the centre of it. 274 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,000 I feel like my senses are being bashed around right now. 275 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:18,000 Mostly smell. 276 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:21,000 There is no hiding from where things come from. 277 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,000 It's all very real. 278 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,000 This is Dhaka's oldest and largest market. 279 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:29,000 It's a hub of activity, 24 hours a day, 280 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,000 and the produce comes from all over Bangladesh. 281 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,000 On my shopping list are chillies and spices 282 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,000 and it's very easy to get distracted here. 283 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,000 I'm always tempted by the dry fish. 284 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,000 They've got really big ones there. 285 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,000 They have so much fish 286 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,000 that sometimes they need a way of preserving it 287 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,000 and so what they'll do is they dry some of it, 288 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,000 they'll ferment some of it. 289 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,000 And it just adds such a delicious flavour to some of the broths 290 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,000 and things that they make. I mean, these are delicious. 291 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:00,000 They're just the smallest prawns you can get. 292 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:03,000 You dry fry them in a pan and then add them with onions and chillies 293 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,000 and then you just kind of macerate them 294 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:06,000 and then just eat them as they are. Delicious. 295 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,000 and then just eat them as they are. Delicious. 296 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,000 That's a liquid form of sugar. 297 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:22,000 My God, that's so sweet. 298 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,000 But if you buy that now as it is 299 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,000 and then add that to plain flour and some water and just cook it, 300 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:28,000 it's delicious. 301 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,000 I recognise that instantly, it's tamarind. 302 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,000 Some of it's in pulp and some of it is just in, like, a pod, 303 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:37,000 but it's, like, attached by string. 304 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:40,000 I prefer it like that because it just tastes so much sweeter. 305 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,000 If you want a chutney to be slightly tangy, 306 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,000 you add a little bit of tamarind to it. 307 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,000 Or quite often, my mum will cook with it 308 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:48,000 just to make a tangy fish curry. 309 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,000 He's just told me that it's really, really spicy. 310 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,000 But I believe him because there's a way of testing it. 311 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,000 So if you press the chilli hard, it should be really tight 312 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,000 and packed with seeds inside it. 313 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,000 So when he says it's spicy, I believe him. 314 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:17,000 I love the measuring system. Look at this. 315 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,000 Can't get more old school than that, can you? 316 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,000 Thank you. 317 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,000 When I used to come to the bazaar with my dad, 318 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,000 he was quite protective. 319 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,000 Literally, I used to be in a circle of uncles and Dad. 320 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,000 But this time, I've been able to kind of walk around 321 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,000 and see things for myself, 322 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,000 and I won't say that I haven't been afraid, 323 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,000 cos you almost kind of step back and think, 324 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,000 "Oh, my goodness, this is quite full-on." 325 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,000 But it's like anywhere. If you just remind yourself, 326 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,000 actually, it's just a market. It is just a market. 327 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,000 Oh, chickens! 328 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,000 There's something quite exciting 329 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,000 about something that's not completely orderly. 330 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,000 I don't quite know what I'm going to get around the corner. 331 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:22,000 TRAIN HORN 332 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:25,000 Did you see those children? 333 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,000 They made it look easy, standing on a train. 334 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,000 That's one way to travel. 335 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,000 With my shopping done, it's time to catch my boat. 336 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:39,000 With around 300 ferries and over 150,000 passengers passing through 337 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:43,000 Sadarghat Port every day, it's one of the busiest in the world. 338 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,000 I'm booked on the 6.30 departure heading south. 339 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,000 We're travelling overnight and for those on a standard-class ticket, 340 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,000 it's a case of making a camp on the open deck. 341 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,000 But for the lucky few like me, there are first-class cabins. 342 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,000 I'm heading there now to drop off my bag before I get to work on dinner 343 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,000 for the captain and his crew. 344 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:12,000 This is first class. 345 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:18,000 Let's just say I'm never, ever going to complain on first class 346 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:19,000 when the meals feel like 347 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:20,000 they've come out of the microwave on a train! 348 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,000 It's got a fan, it's got a television. 349 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,000 Let's see if we can get that to work. 350 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,000 I've been electrocuted so many times. 351 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:32,000 Hey, it works! 352 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,000 You know what? I shouldn't complain. This is very cosy. 353 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:38,000 There are people downstairs on the floor, who are going to be in 354 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,000 the sweltering heat, sleeping on the floor, so this is not bad at all. 355 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,000 I do feel a little bit out of my depth, 356 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,000 but I feel super brave. 357 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,000 You know, the more you sit in here and enjoy the fan, 358 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,000 it feels more and more like first class. 359 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:55,000 It's fab. 360 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,000 This is one of the four remaining paddle steamers built during 361 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:08,000 the time of British rule and dates back to 1929. 362 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:13,000 The captain and crew live and work on the boat all year round. 363 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,000 It's a pretty tough life. 364 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,000 I've decided to cook them a traditional biryani 365 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,000 topped with a fried egg, 366 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,000 a dish that my family usually cook and share for celebrations. 367 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,000 So I hope it will be a real treat. 368 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,000 My first job is to chop the garlic, onion and ginger. 369 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:36,000 My last boat trip was when I was 11, and I went to Boulogne. 370 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,000 Sick as a dog the whole way. 371 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:42,000 So I'm a little bit nervous about how rocky this is going to be. 372 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:46,000 Now I'm melting a knob of ghee to toast the bay leaves, 373 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:47,000 peppercorns and a cinnamon stick... 374 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:53,000 ..and then softening the chopped garlic, chilli, ginger and onion. 375 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,000 Add my salt. 376 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,000 You have to be a bit overgenerous with the salt, 377 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,000 because you are going to add rice to this and when you mix it up, 378 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:02,000 you need to have the flavour going through all the way. 379 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:07,000 Then, add a splash of water... 380 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,000 Just to help to soften the onions. 381 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,000 You don't want it to boil, you want it to brown, 382 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,000 but adding water stops it from sticking. 383 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:16,000 Hot. 384 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:20,000 Really, really hot. And I used to complain about being in my kitchen. 385 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,000 I'm not used to wearing my scarf when I'm cooking, 386 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,000 so it's really hard. 387 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:30,000 Once the onions have softened, it's time to add the spices. 388 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,000 We bought these at the market today, 389 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,000 in these lovely makeshift... 390 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:39,000 I think these look like... This paper's come from the bank, I think. 391 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,000 And they've used... Recycled. 392 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:42,000 They recycle everything. 393 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,000 Oh, there's some account numbers in here! Better put that down. 394 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:48,000 So...add this chilli first. 395 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:51,000 Then a few teaspoons each of turmeric, 396 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,000 garam masala and coriander. 397 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,000 So I'll add each of these one by one. 398 00:19:56,000 --> 00:20:00,000 And you have to be sure to cook this out for at least ten minutes. 399 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:03,000 The trick now is to just let it cook. 400 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,000 And you know the spices have cooked when all the oil, the red oil 401 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,000 comes to the top. 402 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:09,000 This is the perfect time now to get the meat in. 403 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:13,000 I've used mutton, or lamb or beef at home, because they're easy to find. 404 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:15,000 But they don't have mutton here. 405 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,000 Can you imagine a sheep with all that wool in Bangladesh? 406 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,000 It would just be torture, really. 407 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,000 So I think it's just... 408 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,000 It's just animal-friendly just to use a goat. 409 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,000 So before it starts to stick too much 410 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:29,000 I'm going to add all my goat into the pan. 411 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:32,000 I mean, it's... 412 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,000 You can tell this goat was looked after. 413 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,000 It's just marbled with lots of beautiful fat. 414 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,000 So I've got all the meat in. 415 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:44,000 It's all coated in all the spices. 416 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:47,000 I'm going to put the lid on and leave it for half an hour. 417 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,000 And while that cooks, I'm going up on deck to get my bearings 418 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:52,000 before the boat sets sail. 419 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,000 Now, this is Bangladesh like I've never seen before. 420 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:02,000 It's odd, because rivers are usually quite calm and quite serene. 421 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:05,000 But it feels like the mayhem of the land 422 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,000 has somehow seeped into the water. 423 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,000 This quarter-of-a-mile-wide stretch of the Buriganga River 424 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:13,000 is one of the most dangerous waterways on earth. 425 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,000 All day long, thousands of commuters cross the river in wooden boats, 426 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,000 vying for space with hundreds of passenger ferries 427 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,000 and huge cargo barges. 428 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,000 That's teetering on the edge of danger, that is. 429 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,000 One more bag of rice and they're on tipping point. 430 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,000 They don't seem too worried. 431 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,000 They look like they're going to school. 432 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:36,000 Where are you from? 433 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:37,000 London! 434 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,000 London? Ah! 435 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,000 I think I'm getting chatted up! 436 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,000 What is your name? 437 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,000 "What is your name?", he says! 438 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:50,000 The crew are preparing the boat for departure, 439 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:52,000 so I'd better get on with their dinner. 440 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:54,000 So the meat looks cooked. 441 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:55,000 ROARING 442 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,000 And the engine's just started. 443 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:01,000 The meat is looking good, so I'm adding some yoghurt and dried fruit. 444 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:02,000 These are actually called boroi. 445 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,000 I really struggle to find these when I'm back in England, 446 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:06,000 so I'd use dried plums. 447 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:07,000 HORN 448 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:13,000 Looks like we're about to set sail. I'd better hold on to my dish. 449 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,000 You can see people kind of scurrying on. 450 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:21,000 It's like, "Oh, my God! There's only one plank left! Run!" 451 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:23,000 Finally, some fresh coriander leaves, 452 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:24,000 and that's the meat curry done. 453 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,000 Now it's time to assemble the biryani by layering up 454 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:29,000 parboiled rice and curry. 455 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:32,000 But first, I'm lining the pot with melted ghee. 456 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:33,000 So what I'm going to do, 457 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,000 the first layer is going to be a layer of rice. 458 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:39,000 And what that'll do is, as it's cooking slowly, 459 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:43,000 it'll create a really crunchy layer of rice on the outside. 460 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,000 So when I stir it all through together, with every bite, 461 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,000 everybody will get some crunchy rice, some soft rice. 462 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:51,000 So it adds that extra bit of texture. 463 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:54,000 So I'm going to go in with my hands, just because it's easier. 464 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:57,000 Then it's in with the meat, 465 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,000 and I'm going to keep on alternating the layers until the pot is filled. 466 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,000 We're actually moving off. Aaah! 467 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,000 ENGINE ROARS 468 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,000 I'm on a moving boat, cooking a biryani. 469 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,000 I didn't think I'd ever say that sentence ever in my life. 470 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,000 I'm tempted to say, "Ahoy!" 471 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:20,000 Ahoy! 472 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:25,000 The biryani needs another half an hour on a medium heat. 473 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:27,000 And to make sure no moisture escapes, 474 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,000 I'm putting a tea towel under the lid. 475 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,000 You know it's a good biryani when you open the lid and it goes... 476 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:34,000 Just, poof! 477 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,000 Whilst my day's drawing to a close, 478 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,000 the captain and crew are just getting started. 479 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,000 They'll be steering our passage south through the night 480 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:59,000 and need a good meal. 481 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,000 I just hope they like my biryani. 482 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:08,000 That's really sweet. 483 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:11,000 They've all just turned round and given thumbs-up. 484 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,000 There's nothing more heart-warming than that. 485 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,000 In 12 hours, I will arrive in Barisal and, from there, 486 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:35,000 I'll continue my journey by road to Gobra, a remote river village. 487 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,000 It's 6am and I thought I'd get some more sleep in the car, 488 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:51,000 but the view through my window is far too interesting. 489 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:04,000 The last part of my journey is by boat on a tributary of the Padma, 490 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,000 known in India as the Ganges. 491 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,000 Never, ever had the pleasure of doing this before... 492 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,000 ..just to kind of drift and see. 493 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,000 There's, like, a commuter belt where people take cows. 494 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,000 People are taking... Schoolchildren are going across to school. 495 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,000 Motorbikes. 496 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:37,000 I'm used to seeing graffiti, but they're drying their fishing net. 497 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,000 That's one way of using a bridge. 498 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,000 Bangladesh sits on the world's largest delta 499 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,000 and is covered in more than 700 rivers. 500 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,000 Now I understand, I suppose, 501 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,000 why fish is such a massive part of our diet. 502 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,000 I've arrived in Gobra, 503 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,000 where I'm spending the day with the local fishermen, 504 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,000 whose fishing technique dates back more than a thousand years. 505 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,000 Bangla is the official language of Bangladesh, 506 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,000 but there are regional dialects, 507 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,000 so I'm hoping I'll be able to communicate with everyone. 508 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,000 Robin's fishing method is unique to this area of Bangladesh. 509 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:30,000 But his lifestyle is under threat, 510 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:34,000 and he is one of only 150 men still fishing in this way. 511 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:37,000 LOUD SQUEAKING Am I going across here? 512 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:40,000 That loud noise is the sound of Robin's hungry workforce, 513 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:44,000 his family of otters - mum, dad and their four babies. 514 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,000 They're feeding the adults on the outside, 515 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:48,000 but the babies get fed on the inside. 516 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,000 I've never, ever seen an otter this close. 517 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:53,000 What I didn't realise is they've got webbed feet. 518 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,000 I didn't realise that they were webbed, but I suppose they're 519 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:58,000 in the water a lot and they need them to be webbed. 520 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:00,000 How much fish do they go through every single day? 521 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:07,000 Robin has bred and trained these Asian short-clawed otters. 522 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,000 I know some people object to working animals, 523 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:12,000 but his breeding programme plays a vital role in the conservation 524 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,000 of this species, which is native to Bangladesh 525 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,000 and vulnerable to extinction. 526 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:22,000 They play with his hands, and if he calls them, 527 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,000 they all recognise him and they all come running. 528 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,000 Is it easy to train an otter? 529 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,000 How many years does it take before it can start fishing? 530 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:42,000 Robin and his otters usually fish at night to avoid the heat of the day. 531 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:45,000 But he's kindly offered to take me out now to show me how it's done. 532 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:57,000 Otters fish in pairs in the wild, too, so Robin is harnessing 533 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:58,000 their natural skills. 534 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:05,000 Robin and his uncle fish together every day of the year, 535 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:09,000 and between them they have over 70 years' experience. 536 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:11,000 They've got this enormous, U-shaped piece of bamboo, 537 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,000 and they've got nets attached to it, 538 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:18,000 and they're kind of pushing it into the bottom of the bed of the river. 539 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:19,000 And they've got the otters, 540 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:23,000 who they're controlling with these enormous sticks with their feet, 541 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,000 and the otters are pushing the fish into the net. 542 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,000 He seems to have his own little language with the otters. 543 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,000 They look like they're looking for each other. 544 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:42,000 They're communicating with each other, and every now and again, 545 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:45,000 they get close and have a little kiss and then go away. 546 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:46,000 It's so sweet. 547 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:53,000 At night, Robin usually catches about ten to 15 kilos of fish. 548 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,000 But in his grandfather's day, 549 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,000 the catch could be over six times as big. 550 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:07,000 So in sync with each other. 551 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,000 It's quite beautiful to watch. 552 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:12,000 Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels 553 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:15,000 linked to climate change, and I wonder if this is why 554 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:17,000 there are fewer fish in the rivers. 555 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:20,000 Do you know why the fish stocks have gone down in the river? 556 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,000 When you were 18, when you started fishing, 557 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:33,000 was it a profitable thing to do? 558 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:45,000 As the catch has got smaller, the market price of the fish has risen. 559 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:48,000 Robin can still just about make a living as a fisherman, 560 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:49,000 but it's not easy. 561 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:54,000 And despite everyone's best efforts, 562 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:56,000 we don't catch anything today. 563 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:58,000 I'd love my kids to come and see this in a few years' time, 564 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:02,000 but I wonder if this skill will still be around. 565 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:03,000 I hope it is. 566 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:10,000 Islam is the official religion of Bangladesh, 567 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,000 and 90% of the population are Muslim. 568 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:17,000 Robin and his wife Alo are part of a small Hindu minority 569 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,000 that makes up only 8%. 570 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,000 This evening, their village is hosting a group of 571 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:25,000 devotional musicians, but before they perform, 572 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:27,000 I've been invited to share a meal. 573 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:30,000 My contribution is grilled chicken, 574 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:34,000 marinated in spiced yoghurt and served with a deliciously tangy 575 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:37,000 pickle made from shatkora, a type of lime from Sylhet. 576 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:40,000 They're not used to eating something like this. 577 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:44,000 They're probably used to eating chicken that's stewed like a curry, 578 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:46,000 but I thought, "If we're going to make something, 579 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:49,000 "let's make something slightly different and see if they enjoy it." 580 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:52,000 Alo is making one of their traditional fish curries, 581 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:55,000 and her daughter Brishti is in the middle of making a curry paste. 582 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:00,000 My first job is to marinade the chicken to tenderise the meat, 583 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:02,000 but also give it a fantastic flavour. 584 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,000 I've just added some yoghurt to it. 585 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:06,000 Going to add a bit of salt, 586 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:08,000 and I'm going to add a bit of turmeric. 587 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:12,000 To that, I'm going to add the juice of a shatkora lime. 588 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,000 This looks so much like a grapefruit. 589 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:18,000 The reason it's called shatkora is because it's got seven segments. 590 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:20,000 So you could use grapefruit, you could use orange. 591 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:23,000 There's a chicken running across my kitchen! 592 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:24,000 That doesn't happen at home. 593 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:28,000 These are FULL of juice. 594 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:31,000 They will impart so much flavour into this chicken. 595 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:33,000 I thought cooking in Bangladesh might be a challenge, 596 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,000 but I didn't expect to be constantly observed. 597 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:39,000 My kitchen's definitely my safe place, I've worked that out. 598 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:44,000 I quite like just whipping off the scarf, putting on some music, 599 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:46,000 dancing around in some shorts and cooking. 600 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,000 I definitely can't do that here. 601 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,000 I don't know if I'm going to miss the audience. 602 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:51,000 While my chicken marinades, 603 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:53,000 I need to make a start on the shatkora pickle 604 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:56,000 by finely chopping onion, ginger and garlic. 605 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:01,000 Into hot oil go the whole spices - 606 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:04,000 bay, cardamom seeds and a cinnamon stick. 607 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:09,000 I'm going to add my garlic, ginger and my onions. 608 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,000 Brishti is in charge of keeping my cooking fires burning. 609 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:17,000 And for even more of a kick, I'm adding turmeric, chilli, cumin 610 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:19,000 and curry powder to the pickle. 611 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,000 Hard work, all this cooking outdoors lark. 612 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:26,000 Now, I'm finally chopping a quarter of a whole shatkora, 613 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:28,000 and I need to stir that into the pan. 614 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:31,000 Add some water and then leave it to reduce for 15 minutes. 615 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:37,000 I'm going to add the chicken 616 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:38,000 to the grill. 617 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:39,000 Have a sizzle. 618 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,000 Grilled chicken is such a favourite of mine, 619 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:46,000 but it's very unusual to cook like this here. 620 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,000 Traditionally, meat and fish are always cooked in a lot of sauce. 621 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:56,000 It needs to be cooked really, really well. 622 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:58,000 It is very different for them, 623 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:00,000 and I don't want to give them undercooked meat, either. 624 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:18,000 She is not convinced at all by my methods! 625 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,000 I assume that they've never seen grilled chicken. 626 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:26,000 She doesn't think it's cooked and she's not sure how to eat it. 627 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,000 That's all it is. I was worried that it was something to do with perhaps 628 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:31,000 her religion or perhaps there's a way I've cooked it 629 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,000 that she can't eat it. But I suppose if we show her, 630 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:35,000 it might change her mind... 631 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:52,000 She's going for it. Look. 632 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,000 No inhibitions. 633 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:14,000 It's such a strong flavour and they've never tasted it before. 634 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:17,000 And here I am, this foreigner, coming in and cooking 635 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:19,000 this grilled chicken. 636 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,000 I was really nervous that they would hate it 637 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:22,000 and they would not want to eat it. 638 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:24,000 But they liked it, so I'm pleased. 639 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:25,000 Thank you. 640 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:29,000 I'm pretty sure Robin's family would have preferred a more traditional 641 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:32,000 chicken curry, but I've loved cooking for them, 642 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:35,000 and now it's my turn for a new experience. 643 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:37,000 TRADITIONAL HINDU MUSIC 644 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:47,000 They come every few months 645 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:49,000 and they just do, like, blessings around the villages 646 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:52,000 and they get everybody together and it's lovely. 647 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:55,000 It's nice to experience blessings from a different religion. 648 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:57,000 I'm so used to, obviously, my own... 649 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,000 The way we do things in Islam. 650 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:02,000 It's nice to see how other people do it. 651 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:06,000 Islam doesn't really have very much music, but we do have drums. 652 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:08,000 The drums are quite familiar. 653 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:10,000 They're singing for Krishna, I believe. 654 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,000 Beautiful! It's so beautiful. 655 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:16,000 I love the lead singer. 656 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:18,000 The lead singer sounds great. 657 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:19,000 MUSIC CONTINUES 658 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:36,000 I have a feeling that this celebration could go on a while. 659 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:37,000 It's time for me to slip away. 660 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:42,000 I'm spending the night on a boat moored just down the river, 661 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:45,000 and I'm keen to get on board before it gets too dark. 662 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:51,000 I'm always kind of taken aback a bit 663 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:52,000 at how welcoming everyone is, 664 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,000 despite the language barrier, 665 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:57,000 despite all of the different... 666 00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:59,000 despite all the differences. 667 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:03,000 They're still there. Look. 668 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:04,000 Hi! 669 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:09,000 I've just come from a Hindu ceremony across the way 670 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:12,000 and I can hear the call to prayer all across this side. 671 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:15,000 Which is odd, cos I'm not at home, 672 00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:18,000 but, by hearing that, I kind of almost feel at home. 673 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:22,000 It's lovely that two sides can live together like this. 674 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:26,000 I just... I can't... I have to keep pinching myself. 675 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:27,000 I cannot believe where I am right now. 676 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:29,000 David Attenborough, eat your heart out, 677 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:32,000 because this is the thing of dreams. 678 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,000 After a night gently rocked to sleep on the river, 679 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:51,000 I'm up early to cook myself a simple dhal for breakfast 680 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:53,000 before I continue my journey. 681 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:56,000 Going home and cooking in the kitchen isn't going to quite feel 682 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:57,000 the same any more. 683 00:36:57,000 --> 00:36:59,000 In ten years, I'll be like, "There was a time when I was on a boat 684 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:02,000 "and I was cooking my lentils for breakfast." 685 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,000 We came from a farming village 686 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:12,000 and I know that my uncles grew up on lentils. 687 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:13,000 They ate a lot of lentils. 688 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:17,000 I think it was because it was cheap and it was easy to make in one pot 689 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:20,000 and it was hearty and it filled a hole. 690 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:22,000 I mean, I do wonder, do I really need that kind of fuel 691 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:24,000 first thing in the morning? 692 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:26,000 It's one tradition that's stayed. 693 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:28,000 So on a Sunday, every now and again, why not? 694 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:31,000 BIRDS CHIRP AND SQUAWK 695 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:34,000 I have an uncle who knows, like, every bird call. 696 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:37,000 He can tell me from the bird call what kind of bird it is. 697 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:40,000 He'd be useful right now. 698 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:44,000 At certain times of the year, 699 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:48,000 over 600 types of birds can be found in this part of Bangladesh 700 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:52,000 and there are hundreds of other animal species living in and around 701 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:56,000 this river, including the endangered Ganges river dolphin. 702 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:59,000 The dolphins that I'm looking for, they're freshwater dolphins 703 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:00,000 and they're very rare. 704 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:04,000 And the only other place we can see them is in the Amazon. 705 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:09,000 I should just let somebody else take over while I look for dolphins. 706 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:11,000 Oh! 707 00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:12,000 I saw one! 708 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:14,000 I just saw one. Oh! 709 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:22,000 When you squeeze it, if it's got that powdery bit in the centre, 710 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:23,000 it's not cooked. 711 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:26,000 I'll put it back. 712 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:28,000 I feel so awful for having seen this, 713 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:30,000 cos the boys would be so jealous. 714 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:32,000 They really want to see something like this. 715 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:36,000 I'm going to serve this up into a bowl with some chapatis 716 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,000 and I'm going to sit down on top of the boat 717 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:40,000 and see if I can spot some more dolphins. 718 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:43,000 Oh, look! There's another splash just there. 719 00:38:57,000 --> 00:39:00,000 I'm driving 180 miles north of Gobra 720 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:03,000 to the rural region of Sirajganj. 721 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:11,000 50 million people still live in poverty in Bangladesh 722 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:15,000 and almost three-quarters of them are based in rural communities. 723 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:19,000 I'm on my way to meet an entrepreneurial couple who have 724 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:23,000 pulled themselves out of extreme poverty by producing street food 725 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:25,000 snacks a little like Bombay mix. 726 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:31,000 They're hugely popular in Bangladesh and I love them. 727 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:38,000 Assalamu alaikum. Walaikum salaam. 728 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:44,000 Johir and Hamida run their street food business from home 729 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:46,000 and they've invited me along to show me how they make a couple of 730 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:50,000 their bestselling snacks - nimki and chanachur. 731 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:57,000 Their first job is to make two simple savoury doughs. 732 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:14,000 Before starting the business, 733 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:16,000 Johir was employed as a weaver 734 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:18,000 in one of the many local loom factories, 735 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:20,000 a job he did for over 25 years. 736 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:31,000 It was quite a risky thing to do. 737 00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:33,000 How has your life changed since starting your business? 738 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:01,000 With the dough ready, it's time to get cooking. 739 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:04,000 Johir and Hamida have three children 740 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:08,000 and today their 16-year-old daughter is lending a hand. 741 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:10,000 Freshly cut strips of the nimki dough 742 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:12,000 are the first thing to go into the fryer. 743 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:14,000 How can I describe them? 744 00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:16,000 They're like fried biscuits. 745 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:18,000 As if biscuits aren't delicious enough, you fry them. 746 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:25,000 He just knows. 747 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:32,000 He wasn't wrong about them being the best. They are absolutely delicious. 748 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:34,000 You can tell he knows he's good at what he does 749 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:35,000 and he's confident in what he makes. 750 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:40,000 Johir has a special bit of kit to make the chanachur, 751 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:43,000 which is the main ingredient in Bombay mix. 752 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:45,000 The machine presses the dough through a metal sieve, 753 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:49,000 creating fine noodles that drop straight into the boiling oil. 754 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:53,000 I've come to Bangladesh 100 times and eaten this 100 times 755 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:55,000 and never have I ever seen this being made. 756 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:17,000 They've been married 28 years. 757 00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:21,000 The secret to a successful marriage - make chanachur! 758 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:26,000 Making the chanachur is clearly a team job, 759 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:28,000 but when it comes to selling the finished product, 760 00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:30,000 Johir works on his own. 761 00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:32,000 Six days a week, 762 00:42:32,000 --> 00:42:35,000 he sets up his stall and stays open until he's sold out. 763 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,000 We're going for four chillies. 764 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:43,000 I did ask for hot! 765 00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:45,000 When we were younger, 766 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:47,000 me and my mum used to love stopping for these in the street 767 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:49,000 and we'd compete as to who would have it spiciest. 768 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:54,000 I don't know how spicy his spicy is, but I am going to give it a go. 769 00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:57,000 Johir makes his chanachur to order 770 00:42:57,000 --> 00:43:01,000 by mixing the fried noodles with his own secret blend of spices. 771 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:06,000 And it's all from a great height and... 772 00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:12,000 Oh, I can smell that. That smells good. 773 00:43:12,000 --> 00:43:16,000 Some people like it really soft. Some people like it quite crunchy. 774 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:21,000 You're not eating it right if you're not eating it out of newspaper. 775 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:27,000 It's not a bank statement this time, it's just a newspaper. 776 00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:33,000 That is the best chanachur I've ever tasted. 777 00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:38,000 That's, er... 778 00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:41,000 less than 10p 779 00:43:41,000 --> 00:43:42,000 in England. 780 00:43:43,000 --> 00:43:45,000 That is it. That is a cheap snack. 781 00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:54,000 They've taken a skill, 782 00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:57,000 simple food that you see everywhere in Bangladesh, 783 00:43:57,000 --> 00:43:59,000 and they've made it extra special. 784 00:43:59,000 --> 00:44:00,000 And they've made that their livelihood. 785 00:44:00,000 --> 00:44:04,000 And they are so proud and they're so happy with what they've done. 786 00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:06,000 They are proof of the Bangladesh that I know, 787 00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:08,000 the people that I know of Bangladesh, 788 00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:11,000 who are always so willing to try and try hard 789 00:44:11,000 --> 00:44:13,000 to constantly try and improve their lives. 790 00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:15,000 This is chanachur that's made with love. 791 00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:38,000 I'm nearing the end of my stay in Bangladesh, 792 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:42,000 but before I head back to Sylhet to say goodbye to my family, 793 00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:45,000 I've heard about an exciting new foodie destination 794 00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:46,000 and I'm keen to check it out. 795 00:44:48,000 --> 00:44:50,000 It's a four-hour drive from Sirajganj 796 00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:52,000 back to the capital city, Dhaka. 797 00:44:59,000 --> 00:45:01,000 Kazi Food Island is an open-air market 798 00:45:01,000 --> 00:45:03,000 hosting a collection of food stalls, 799 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:07,000 all clustered around a central shared dining space. 800 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:10,000 My escort for the evening is Tanim Ahmed, 801 00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:11,000 a Dhaka-based journalist 802 00:45:11,000 --> 00:45:14,000 and self-styled gastronomical enthusiast. 803 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:19,000 As I walk in, straight away, there are only young people here. 804 00:45:19,000 --> 00:45:21,000 Yeah. Young, hip, happening. 805 00:45:21,000 --> 00:45:24,000 They also cater to this kind of crowd. Yeah. 806 00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:25,000 It's supposed to be loud. 807 00:45:25,000 --> 00:45:27,000 And the music and the food and everything is... 808 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:30,000 I'm feeling a little bit old as a 30-something-year-old 809 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:32,000 with three children here. I don't feel like I fit in. 810 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:34,000 I feel like a grandfather here! 811 00:45:34,000 --> 00:45:36,000 This laid-back scene is so different 812 00:45:36,000 --> 00:45:39,000 from the strict and sheltered culture of my youth. 813 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:41,000 I've looked around and there's all these kids 814 00:45:41,000 --> 00:45:43,000 and they're all in mixed groups. 815 00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:45,000 There's no chaperones, not one to be seen. 816 00:45:45,000 --> 00:45:47,000 Right, that's one of the attractions of this place. 817 00:45:47,000 --> 00:45:50,000 It's not just the vibe of this place that feels new to me. 818 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:52,000 The food on sale is also surprising. 819 00:45:52,000 --> 00:45:53,000 The Bizarre Cafe. 820 00:45:54,000 --> 00:45:56,000 The names are interesting, aren't they? 821 00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:58,000 Then you've got all sorts of influences. 822 00:45:58,000 --> 00:46:01,000 You've got Chinese, you've got American, Italian. 823 00:46:01,000 --> 00:46:05,000 I don't know about you, but as I stand here, I worry slightly about 824 00:46:05,000 --> 00:46:07,000 the next generation's waistline. 825 00:46:07,000 --> 00:46:09,000 You're right to be worried, actually. 826 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:14,000 One in every five women is said to be obese in Bangladesh. Really? Yes. 827 00:46:14,000 --> 00:46:19,000 While I've been travelling, all I've had is rice, curry and lots of fish. 828 00:46:19,000 --> 00:46:20,000 Right, yes. 829 00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:23,000 Is all this kind of different types of food, 830 00:46:23,000 --> 00:46:25,000 is that representative of Dhaka now? 831 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:27,000 For a certain level of restaurant, yes. 832 00:46:29,000 --> 00:46:32,000 It's so popular here, if you want a seat, 833 00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:33,000 it's a case of sharing a table. 834 00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:36,000 Can we join you? Yeah? 835 00:46:38,000 --> 00:46:40,000 What's your favourite thing to eat here? 836 00:46:40,000 --> 00:46:43,000 The sub sandwich and the cold coffee. 837 00:46:43,000 --> 00:46:46,000 The cold coffee. Everyone says the cold coffee is really nice. 838 00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:48,000 Maybe because of the weather. 839 00:46:48,000 --> 00:46:50,000 Do you guys come here regularly, then? Yeah. 840 00:46:50,000 --> 00:46:55,000 It's really close to our university. Do you guys study at the university? 841 00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:56,000 Yeah. OK. 842 00:46:56,000 --> 00:46:59,000 In Dhaka, I've seen there is a lot more continental foods, 843 00:46:59,000 --> 00:47:02,000 much like England, where there's lots of different types of country. 844 00:47:02,000 --> 00:47:03,000 Here, you've got more variety. 845 00:47:03,000 --> 00:47:07,000 Do you guys find that you guys are cooking more like that at home 846 00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:10,000 or do you guys just come out to eat like this? 847 00:47:10,000 --> 00:47:11,000 We just come out and eat like this. 848 00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:16,000 We don't actually... I don't think most of us cook like that at home. 849 00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:18,000 If I make dinner for myself, 850 00:47:18,000 --> 00:47:21,000 then I would go for pastas or steak or mashed potato and so on. 851 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:24,000 But if my mum's cooking dinner, she's never going to cook that, 852 00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:26,000 she's probably going to cook just rice. 853 00:47:26,000 --> 00:47:29,000 So from, like, the last generation, from our parents' generation, 854 00:47:29,000 --> 00:47:31,000 that trend does not follow. 855 00:47:31,000 --> 00:47:33,000 You know, apart from traditional foods, 856 00:47:33,000 --> 00:47:36,000 we do like to open up to new tastes and all that. So... 857 00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:39,000 These students, all in their early twenties, 858 00:47:39,000 --> 00:47:41,000 are clearly connected to the world beyond Bangladesh. 859 00:47:41,000 --> 00:47:43,000 Do you see yourself staying in Dhaka, 860 00:47:43,000 --> 00:47:47,000 or do you see yourself going abroad to work? 861 00:47:47,000 --> 00:47:51,000 We would like to be in Bangladesh and get some corporate experience, 862 00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:52,000 and then go outside. 863 00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:56,000 But I personally do not think that staying abroad as a Bangladeshi 864 00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:58,000 might not be the best option 865 00:47:58,000 --> 00:48:00,000 because, at the end of the day, I am a Bangladeshi 866 00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:03,000 and I need to come back and contribute to my country. 867 00:48:03,000 --> 00:48:05,000 I'd like to go abroad for educational purposes, 868 00:48:05,000 --> 00:48:06,000 learn new things 869 00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:10,000 and maybe implement those in my country when I come back. 870 00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:13,000 So, permanently, staying abroad is probably not an option for us. 871 00:48:13,000 --> 00:48:17,000 Patriotism to your country, I don't think that's ever changed, 872 00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:19,000 because, actually, you see all those people 873 00:48:19,000 --> 00:48:22,000 who do travel abroad and go abroad, 874 00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:24,000 they spend a lot of their money back in Bangladesh. 875 00:48:24,000 --> 00:48:27,000 You know, they live in England, but they're kind of... 876 00:48:27,000 --> 00:48:29,000 Everything comes back here. 877 00:48:29,000 --> 00:48:31,000 You know, so I suppose in some ways, 878 00:48:31,000 --> 00:48:33,000 whether you travel there or don't travel there, 879 00:48:33,000 --> 00:48:35,000 that sense of belonging 880 00:48:35,000 --> 00:48:39,000 or that loyalty to your country still kind of stays, yeah. 881 00:48:42,000 --> 00:48:45,000 Got my first selfie in Bangladesh. 882 00:48:45,000 --> 00:48:47,000 MAN LAUGHS 883 00:48:48,000 --> 00:48:52,000 This is a very modern Bangladesh that I have yet to experience. 884 00:48:52,000 --> 00:48:54,000 It's the first time I've experienced something like it. 885 00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:57,000 This is definitely the other side of the coin. 886 00:48:57,000 --> 00:48:58,000 I'm used to traditional Bangladesh. 887 00:48:58,000 --> 00:49:01,000 This is definitely modern Bangladesh. 888 00:49:01,000 --> 00:49:03,000 You know, you meet these young, articulate people, 889 00:49:03,000 --> 00:49:07,000 who have got so much to say and, you know, so many hopes and aspirations 890 00:49:07,000 --> 00:49:10,000 and that's Bangladesh's future, perhaps. 891 00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:20,000 Two weeks ago, I arrived in Bangladesh, and now, 892 00:49:20,000 --> 00:49:25,000 over 900 miles and some incredible experiences later, 893 00:49:25,000 --> 00:49:26,000 my journey is coming to an end. 894 00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:32,000 The final leg is a six-hour drive from Dhaka 895 00:49:32,000 --> 00:49:35,000 back to my family village, near Sylhet. 896 00:49:36,000 --> 00:49:39,000 This is the longest I've spent away from Abdal and the kids, 897 00:49:39,000 --> 00:49:40,000 who are back home in England, 898 00:49:40,000 --> 00:49:42,000 and I'm really looking forward to seeing them. 899 00:49:43,000 --> 00:49:48,000 Just texting Abdal to let him know that I've done a grocery shop. 900 00:49:48,000 --> 00:49:50,000 Can he be at home on Sunday, please? 901 00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:54,000 They've got school on Monday, so I'm doing all the packed lunch shopping. 902 00:49:54,000 --> 00:49:57,000 I'm afraid that he's not going to know what to get them 903 00:49:57,000 --> 00:49:59,000 and it'll be Jaffa Cakes and crisps! 904 00:50:03,000 --> 00:50:07,000 I'm heading back to the village to see my family now. 905 00:50:09,000 --> 00:50:13,000 And I couldn't not see them before going back home to England. 906 00:50:13,000 --> 00:50:15,000 I think they'll have lots of questions. 907 00:50:15,000 --> 00:50:17,000 Or at least I hope they have lots of questions, 908 00:50:17,000 --> 00:50:20,000 because I've got lots to tell them. I've got lots to tell them. 909 00:50:20,000 --> 00:50:24,000 I want to scream and shout and say, "Guys, get out of the village! 910 00:50:24,000 --> 00:50:28,000 "Get a car, find a boat, do anything, just leave! 911 00:50:28,000 --> 00:50:30,000 "Go see it." 912 00:50:30,000 --> 00:50:32,000 I can't believe I've been able to see parts of Bangladesh 913 00:50:32,000 --> 00:50:34,000 that a lot of my family members have never seen. 914 00:50:34,000 --> 00:50:37,000 I feel quite privileged to be able to have done that. 915 00:50:39,000 --> 00:50:40,000 I love coming home! 916 00:50:46,000 --> 00:50:48,000 That's full of water now. 917 00:50:48,000 --> 00:50:50,000 When I left last week, 918 00:50:50,000 --> 00:50:53,000 it was just slightly in the middle. It's all full. 919 00:50:53,000 --> 00:50:55,000 Hi, Dad. 920 00:50:55,000 --> 00:50:57,000 Assalamu alaikum. Walaikum salaam. 921 00:50:57,000 --> 00:50:59,000 How are you, darling? I'm all right. 922 00:50:59,000 --> 00:51:01,000 It's always been so important to my dad 923 00:51:01,000 --> 00:51:02,000 that I feel connected to Bangladesh, 924 00:51:02,000 --> 00:51:06,000 so I know he's desperate to hear about my trip. 925 00:51:06,000 --> 00:51:07,000 I could just go on all day 926 00:51:07,000 --> 00:51:10,000 and tell you about all the things that I've seen, honestly. 927 00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:13,000 I am officially more Bangladeshi than you are! 928 00:51:13,000 --> 00:51:15,000 I'm proud. I'm proud. 929 00:51:15,000 --> 00:51:16,000 Yeah, I know you are. 930 00:51:16,000 --> 00:51:17,000 I'm so proud that you have seen it 931 00:51:17,000 --> 00:51:20,000 and you can at least influence your children. 932 00:51:20,000 --> 00:51:21,000 Dad, can we have some otters? 933 00:51:21,000 --> 00:51:23,000 THEY LAUGH 934 00:51:23,000 --> 00:51:26,000 My mum and dad will be returning to the UK soon. 935 00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:30,000 It's the rest of my family I need to say goodbye to. 936 00:51:30,000 --> 00:51:32,000 And especially my grandma. 937 00:51:52,000 --> 00:51:53,000 She gets really upset. 938 00:51:53,000 --> 00:51:55,000 She always says that whenever she sees us, 939 00:51:55,000 --> 00:51:57,000 she feels like it's the last time that she'll see us. 940 00:52:06,000 --> 00:52:07,000 For my last dinner here, 941 00:52:07,000 --> 00:52:11,000 I'm cooking a comforting beef curry with garlic and paprika-spiced okra 942 00:52:11,000 --> 00:52:14,000 and some simple rice chapatis. 943 00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:17,000 And because I always prefer to chat while I cook, 944 00:52:17,000 --> 00:52:21,000 my cousins Sumi and Iva are joining me in the kitchen. 945 00:52:28,000 --> 00:52:29,000 OK, come on. 946 00:52:29,000 --> 00:52:31,000 Iva, we'll give you the easy jobs. 947 00:52:31,000 --> 00:52:33,000 Yes, please. Come on, then. 948 00:52:33,000 --> 00:52:37,000 The beef curry that I'm doing is just a classic beef curry. 949 00:52:37,000 --> 00:52:39,000 It doesn't have any vegetables in it, 950 00:52:39,000 --> 00:52:41,000 it's just beef and spices and lots of onions. 951 00:52:41,000 --> 00:52:44,000 And traditionally, when you make a big pot of beef curry, 952 00:52:44,000 --> 00:52:47,000 you always have it with rice chapatis. 953 00:52:47,000 --> 00:52:49,000 So we're going to make a few of those today. 954 00:52:49,000 --> 00:52:50,000 And... 955 00:52:51,000 --> 00:52:53,000 ..it's going to be easy work, because I've got lots of help. 956 00:52:53,000 --> 00:52:56,000 Extra hands are essential, 957 00:52:56,000 --> 00:52:58,000 because there are no mod cons in my grandma's kitchen. 958 00:52:58,000 --> 00:53:00,000 Take this here. Put that on top. 959 00:53:04,000 --> 00:53:07,000 I've got Iva doing the okra for me, so she's splitting them lengthways. 960 00:53:07,000 --> 00:53:09,000 I'm having a feeble attempt 961 00:53:09,000 --> 00:53:12,000 at peeling all this ginger and garlic and onions. 962 00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:16,000 And Sumi, she's the human food processor. 963 00:53:18,000 --> 00:53:22,000 But Mum's just keeping an eye on the fire for us and washing the meat, 964 00:53:22,000 --> 00:53:25,000 and keeping the cat away. Mum, you want to keep the cat away! 965 00:53:26,000 --> 00:53:28,000 Everyone's got back pain. 966 00:53:28,000 --> 00:53:29,000 Our mums... 967 00:53:29,000 --> 00:53:33,000 Our mums are always complaining about having really bad backs. 968 00:53:33,000 --> 00:53:34,000 We know why. 969 00:53:35,000 --> 00:53:38,000 I'm quite looking forward to getting back to my own kitchen, 970 00:53:38,000 --> 00:53:40,000 with its work surfaces and familiar knives. 971 00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:51,000 I'm too slow. I'm going to have to practise and come back 972 00:53:51,000 --> 00:53:52,000 so I can be a bit faster. 973 00:53:52,000 --> 00:53:57,000 This time last week, I was on a rocket steamer, 974 00:53:57,000 --> 00:54:00,000 boat, cooking for the captain. 975 00:54:01,000 --> 00:54:04,000 Wow. What did you cook? 976 00:54:04,000 --> 00:54:08,000 What did I cook? I cooked a mutton biryani, 977 00:54:08,000 --> 00:54:11,000 and they really liked it. I was really surprised, actually. 978 00:54:11,000 --> 00:54:13,000 Did you do any shopping? 979 00:54:13,000 --> 00:54:15,000 For the first time in my life, I didn't actually come for shopping. 980 00:54:15,000 --> 00:54:17,000 Oh. 981 00:54:17,000 --> 00:54:18,000 Are you slightly disappointed? 982 00:54:18,000 --> 00:54:19,000 Yeah! 983 00:54:21,000 --> 00:54:24,000 So you didn't get anything? Not really, no. Nothing? Nah. 984 00:54:26,000 --> 00:54:28,000 I still feel out of my depth here. 985 00:54:28,000 --> 00:54:30,000 I need to go back down to gas mark one. 986 00:54:30,000 --> 00:54:33,000 Don't quite know how to do it. I'm going to set myself on fire. 987 00:54:33,000 --> 00:54:36,000 Right, no. That didn't work. OK, let's just go with it. 988 00:54:36,000 --> 00:54:38,000 Sumi is making the chapati dough 989 00:54:38,000 --> 00:54:41,000 by adding rice flour to boiling salted water. 990 00:54:41,000 --> 00:54:43,000 Right, I've got bay leaves. 991 00:54:43,000 --> 00:54:46,000 When you're looking for bay leaves, they're always above your head. 992 00:54:46,000 --> 00:54:50,000 I'm making the beef curry and the first job is to get the base going. 993 00:54:50,000 --> 00:54:54,000 So I've got my oil and then I've put my whole spices, 994 00:54:54,000 --> 00:54:59,000 so cinnamon, cardamom and some bay leaves, and I've added my... 995 00:54:59,000 --> 00:55:04,000 that Sumi did for me, my ginger, my garlic and my onion paste. 996 00:55:04,000 --> 00:55:06,000 That just needs about ten minutes' cooking 997 00:55:06,000 --> 00:55:08,000 and then it's time to add the beef. 998 00:55:10,000 --> 00:55:13,000 I'll miss the fun that comes with cooking in a kitchen like this. 999 00:55:13,000 --> 00:55:15,000 I definitely have a different appreciation 1000 00:55:15,000 --> 00:55:19,000 for how hard everybody works just to cook one meal. 1001 00:55:20,000 --> 00:55:23,000 The final stage is to add some whole green chillies... 1002 00:55:25,000 --> 00:55:30,000 ..and the ground spices, turmeric, chilli, cumin and curry powder. 1003 00:55:31,000 --> 00:55:34,000 And then that just needs to tick away for about half an hour 1004 00:55:34,000 --> 00:55:38,000 while Sumi finishes the chapatis and Iva and I make the okra. 1005 00:55:38,000 --> 00:55:40,000 I'll do the oil bit and you do the rest. 1006 00:55:40,000 --> 00:55:43,000 We're coating the okra in a delicious blend of salt, 1007 00:55:43,000 --> 00:55:45,000 garlic powder and dried chilli flakes. 1008 00:55:48,000 --> 00:55:52,000 Heat the oil up, throw it in, two minutes, out. That's it. 1009 00:55:52,000 --> 00:55:54,000 I'm adding some fresh coriander to the curry, 1010 00:55:54,000 --> 00:55:58,000 and as soon as the okra and chapatis are done, it will be ready to serve. 1011 00:55:59,000 --> 00:56:02,000 Going to all head over to Dad's, get together, 1012 00:56:02,000 --> 00:56:04,000 have our last meal together as a family 1013 00:56:04,000 --> 00:56:06,000 and then just, yeah, enjoy the night and say goodbye. 1014 00:56:09,000 --> 00:56:11,000 Mum, you know your coconut samosas? 1015 00:56:11,000 --> 00:56:13,000 I gave away your secret, I'm sorry. 1016 00:56:13,000 --> 00:56:16,000 It's OK. I've got another secret. Are you going to tell me? 1017 00:56:16,000 --> 00:56:18,000 She's not going to tell me anything any more. 1018 00:56:18,000 --> 00:56:20,000 She's not going to tell me anything 1019 00:56:20,000 --> 00:56:22,000 because I'll just put it in a cookbook or something. 1020 00:56:22,000 --> 00:56:24,000 They liked your recipe, Mum. Thank you. 1021 00:56:37,000 --> 00:56:40,000 Coming to Bangladesh and teaching my children about Bangladesh 1022 00:56:40,000 --> 00:56:42,000 was never really that important to me, 1023 00:56:42,000 --> 00:56:43,000 but it feels important to me now. 1024 00:56:43,000 --> 00:56:45,000 You enjoy yourself? Yeah. Good. 1025 00:56:45,000 --> 00:56:48,000 I've always called Bangladesh "back home", 1026 00:56:48,000 --> 00:56:50,000 because that's what my dad called it. 1027 00:56:50,000 --> 00:56:52,000 But I know why it's "back home" now. 1028 00:56:52,000 --> 00:56:53,000 I know why it's "back home". 1029 00:56:53,000 --> 00:56:56,000 And I'm not going to leave it another decade 1030 00:56:56,000 --> 00:56:58,000 to come back. 1031 00:56:58,000 --> 00:57:00,000 I went into complete strangers' homes 1032 00:57:00,000 --> 00:57:02,000 and fed them things that they had never seen 1033 00:57:02,000 --> 00:57:05,000 and they cooked for me and we ate together. 1034 00:57:05,000 --> 00:57:10,000 And despite the language barriers and despite the cultural barriers, 1035 00:57:10,000 --> 00:57:13,000 despite everything, we could sit down in the same place 1036 00:57:13,000 --> 00:57:14,000 and be together. 1037 00:57:14,000 --> 00:57:16,000 I've learned so much about the people. 1038 00:57:16,000 --> 00:57:18,000 But I've learned stuff about myself, as well. 1039 00:57:18,000 --> 00:57:20,000 To be able to experience it properly 1040 00:57:20,000 --> 00:57:23,000 in parts of it that I've not seen before, 1041 00:57:23,000 --> 00:57:25,000 you know, it's given me an opportunity 1042 00:57:25,000 --> 00:57:27,000 to see really, actually, where do I belong. 1043 00:57:27,000 --> 00:57:30,000 I'm British, I'm a Muslim, 1044 00:57:30,000 --> 00:57:32,000 I'm Bangladeshi, and I'm proud of all three. 1045 00:58:06,000 --> 00:58:09,000 Planet Strictly to Sparkle - this is Mission Fabulous. 1046 00:58:09,000 --> 00:58:12,000 It's your job to find this year's celebrities. Good luck. 1047 00:58:12,000 --> 00:58:14,000 ELECTRONIC BEEPING