Aanila Kishwar Tarannum

The case of the missing girl: Where are we in Bangla children’s literature?

It wasn’t until my 20s that I realised I had read less than 10 Bengali women authors in my childhood and adolescence.

Fashion: Self-expression or consumerism?

Clothing carries undeniable meaning, becoming a strong vehicle for self-expression.

Iconic TSC soon to be erased

In the wake of Dhaka University’s birth centenary in 2021, the decision to bulldoze its historical Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) and replace it with a multi-storied structure shocked students, alumni, and residents of Dhaka.

What good is the DSA if it can’t protect women from online harassment?

There is little I can add to what has already been said about the shaming, blaming and moral policing of women on the internet.

On broken things like the economy and young people’s spirits

For the number of times I have seen older people address and advise the youth, I have seen very few instances of the former assuming the role of a listener.

From footpath to Facebook

Sixty-four-year-old Habibur Rahman came to Dhaka from Narsingdi in 1988. For the past 32 years, he has been selling books around the city, and now, to the elderly man’s amazement, he is selling books online with the help of his son.

Periods to be replaced with commas in women’s bodies

When my editor asked me to write a period piece for this week’s Satireday, I was quite perplexed. After all, it is common knowledge that periods have been cancelled, and emojis now mark the end of sentences (¬‿¬)

Worse off at a shelter

Photos taken by activists at a shelter called Kalua’s Homes at Baruikhali of the capital’s Rayerbazar area have revealed a dismal picture. Scores of well and unwell dogs were photographed cramped inside a small shed, while paralysed cats were found in cages. Some of the dogs were all skin and bones, as the food given to them were inedible and covered with mould.

Satireday staffer quits as line between reality and satire no longer exists

Three weeks ago, I wrote a piece for your page on American conservatives, nay, white people. However, the piece had lost relevance before it could live out its originally predicted shelf life.

No room for suspected Covid-19 cases?

Forty-three-year-old Mosammat Roksana Ahmed, mother of three, and caregiver to her ill husband, passed away on the night of March 31 following multiple health complications including respiratory distress.

Climate crisis worsens, Boshonto and Shorot cancelled

In a shocking announcement, Bangladesh Met Office yesterday said the country no longer has six seasons.

Pahela Falgun, Valentine's Day: '2 days' in 24 hours

In recent memory, Pahela Falgun, the first day of spring according to the Bangla calendar, has fallen on February 13… or has it?

Mayoral Candidates Social Media Campaigns

Swaying voters on the digital space

With close to 100 million internet users in the country, everything from shopping to entertainment is moving online, and it is no surprise that mayor and councillor candidates for the two Dhaka city corporation elections have jumped on the bandwagon.

Swipe right to exercise your voting rights

As the city polls draw nearer, candidates are pulling out every stop -- be it composing hip hop music about lack of discipline in the ‘hood, posters on heritage sites, or going on Facebook Live more times than the admin of an average buy-and-sell group -- mayoral candidates know how to tap into the large pool of young voters.

Putting the “news” in our news feeds

Roshni Islam, 23, is a student of environmental science at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). On a typical day in her life, she wakes up around 8am and goes through a rotation of social media apps on her phone.

Architecture for the people

If you have passed through Manik Mia Avenue recently, you may have noticed six shipping containers sitting right outside the parliament complex -- each depicting the unique architectural landscape of Dhaka in different seasons. Designed by artist Reesham Shahab Tirtho, the vibrant graffiti on the container walls have caught the attention of all commuters, many of whom stopped to check out the exhibit.

Bangla natok and chill

There are over 40 privately run TV channels in the country, of which four are news channels, one music channel, and one is for

Clouds aren’t fluffy and other revelations at Meghalaya

During the Eid holidays, I went to Meghalaya through the Tamabil-Dawki border with seven friends. On our way to Sylhet from Dhaka,

‘The most alone of poets’

“I fell in love with how modern Jibanananda Das’ work was, and how unusual the temperament behind it was. And it’s not just his poetry, his life is just as interesting to me,” said Japanese filmmaker Hiroshi Sunairi, who has been researching on Das for the past few months.

Black Mirror’s “Miley Cyrus episode” : A better ending to Hannah Montana?

Any form of television or literature targeted towards female young adults have a few tried and tested tropes—protagonist gets a

How unlimited pizza became an iftar tradition

Over a decade ago, Dhaka was introduced to the phenomenon of unlimited pizza and its faithful companion, the bottomless drink. The first and only time I have ever availed this offer was back in fifth grade. My mother, a dedicated pizza lover, took me to Pizza Hut on Satmasjid Road.

Mother’s Day: Teach your sons to respect women

Mothers, who have overcome all challenges to become successful professionals and be role models to their sons and daughters, say that teaching sons to share their familial and social space equally with girls is the first step for removing the double standards that have been instilled in generations.

Tale of two princes

If you are familiar with Game of Thrones fan theories, you might have heard one that suspects Jaime Lannister is Azor Ahai, a King Arthur-like figure who will rise up to save humanity.

Remnants of a Buddhist civilisation in Nateshwar

The recently excavated Nateshwar archaeological site bears witness to the Bengal region’s thousand-year-old history, with its

The Mediocre Millennial Creative Agency

After winning the second runner-up slot in CreatHive 3.0, Arif, Shabab and Shiuli’s team “Game of Thrones Pun” from Institute of Creative Administration (ICA) decided they can go even further.

Pahela Baishakh: The industry that colours the celebration

Next Sunday, this dusty grey city will transform into a sea of colours, momentarily giving its residents a break from their monotonous

The other side of Archie comics

When Riverdale, a TV series based on ye olde Archie comics released a few years ago, I was quite disappointed. The writing got worse each season, and the show had no humour.

Why blame the observers?

During the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) and hall union polls on March 11, a group of eight teachers voluntarily carried out the duty of election observers. They reported multiple cases of irregularities and demanded reelection, claiming that the polls were not free and fair.

Sustainable startups by the youth, for the people

On a random Ramadan evening a few years ago, Abdulla Al Hamid, then a student of United International University, noticed the huge amount of waste generated from cooking oil.

'Will cooperate with this panel if they work for students'

Auroni Semonti Khan is a student of Dhaka University's Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology department.

The millennial way of campaigning

In almost three decades, since the last Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) election, a lot has changed. Social media is now an indispensable part of students' lives, with Facebook being a popular platform for sharing information. Campaigning is no longer limited to the streets, it is also done through carefully curated content online.

Imagining a women-friendly city

While science fiction novels have moved on to imagining lunar cities where people travel on hoverboards, Bangladeshi women can still barely imagine a place where half of its population isn't constantly discriminated against. No one here dreams of hoverboards—they just want good buses they can get on without being groped or having their wallets stolen.

Everything you need to know about DUCSU election

Earlier this week, I learned that many Dhaka University (DU) students have absolutely no clue what DUCSU is. Some have only seen this name being thrown around in memes, some have seen it on a building on campus, but they're not sure what it means.

From Patharia to Lusai

The books we read as children have a much stronger influence on us than the ones we read as adults. When I was little, my only goal was to finish one book and get started on the next.

Hello, kishor bondhura

As a child, my one and only after-school activity was reading. I was extremely unathletic and I only got to watch TV for a limited amount of time before the adults in the house took over with their news and Ekta Kapoor shows. None of this was a problem for me, because there were always enough books.

Beneath this mask there is an idea

During the road safety protests last year, a photo of a schoolboy standing in a desolate road with V's mask on became viral. It was seen as an expression of anarchy, a form of protest against an allegedly totalitarian rule.

Do girls still need a curfew?

Raisa is a final year student at Dhaka University's (DU) science faculty. She lives in Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall, where the gates close at 9.30pm sharp.

Why incompetent people think they're smart

Have you ever met someone who has very little knowledge, hardly has any useful skills, but still thinks that they're the best at everything?

WHAT NOT TO DO AT DLF

Before writing this article, I decided to ask a few people why they chose to attend this year's Dhaka Lit Fest (DLF). Most of them said they wanted to take a picture with Tilda Swinton.

Are you even a startup anymore?

Have you ever wondered why people suddenly stopped calling their ventures businesses, and started using the term startup?

New semester, new me

I am nearly done with university, and I have been making new resolutions every semester for the last 3 years.

Local woman goes to England and spends her time looking at paintings by dead dudes and relics stolen from colonies

People don't usually visit the UK for the sole purpose of tourism. They either go there to study, work or visit family. Last year I had the chance to spend three weeks in London, and it was the best vacation of my life. The only reason many, at least from Bangladesh, don't consider the UK as a holiday destination is because of the high price tag. But if you're savvy, there are many ways to cut down on your expenses. Once you figure out food and shelter, your UK trip should be a breeze.