Asrar Chowdhury

Asrar Chowdhury teaches economic theory and game theory in the classroom. Outside he listens to music and BBC Radio; follows Test Cricket; and plays the flute.

With and beyond Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Pierre Alain-Baud, (Pyaro), the author of Le Messager du Qawwali (Voix du Monde) (Demi Lune 2008), and Kazi Abdullah Al Muktadir, the book’s Bangla translator in Shahen Shah E Qawwali: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Pathak Shamabesh 2022) talked with Nazia Manzoor, Editor of the Daily Star Books. The authors shared anecdotes. What started out as a fun experiment, ended as a lasting experience in the hearts of all of us who were present that day.

Recovering a sunk cost

When we realise we have entered a situation due to a bad decision, the sooner we can make an effort to get out, the better.

Starting a degree in Economics? A teacher tells you what to expect

Economics has a unique way of looking at the world through unique tools and mechanisms. The problem, however, starts here. If you ask the question: What is economics, you could be misled.

SOULS: Through the eyes of its founder, Sazed Ul Alam

I returned to Chattogram from the Liberation War on December 20, 1971 with my nephew,

How many eggs are there in our basket?

In a highly competitive market like the egg market, one would expect prices to remain stable. They can rise, but over time.

Why you need to know about contract cheating

Contract cheating is a process through which students (or academics) get original work done for them through a third party.

Sports journalism and Bangladesh

Textbooks in Bangladesh tend to be written by foreign authors. Those that are written by Bangladeshi authors, emphasise on examples in a non-Bangladesh context.

Souls at 50: The many incarnations of a band

Souls is not the first band in Bangladesh to reach the milestone of 50 years.

December 15, 2022
December 15, 2022

Bangladesh: A War Like No Other

It’s now the responsibility of the youth to dig through that history and feel proud.

December 4, 2022
December 4, 2022

Did you ever ask, why you fear maths?

Why do students fear maths? There's much more to maths than numeracy.

November 17, 2022
November 17, 2022

Autumn Festivals and Nobanno

Ancient societies were agrarian. From farmers at the bottom to zamindars and kings at the top, everybody depended on a good harvest. The word harvest derives from the Old English hærfest which means autumn. The autumn harvest was usually the largest harvest of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The weather was neither warm nor cold. Everybody prayed to the heavens for manna (sustenance) to fall. When manna did fall, there would be feast and festivity. When manna didn't fall, it could spell disaster for everybody.

October 20, 2022
October 20, 2022

Open Space: A final frontier?

I spent my formative years in Jahangirnagar and Cambridge University where I took space for granted.

October 17, 2022
October 17, 2022

Love Me Do: Sixty years ago, the Beatles began to play

Sixty years ago, John, Paul, George, and Ringo released their first single, Love Me Do, on October 5, 1962. It was a Parlophone 7-inch 45rpm with the seal 45-R 4949.

October 6, 2022
October 6, 2022

Religious Festivals and Holiday Blues

Sadly, not all religious festivals are accommodated with breathing space.

October 6, 2022
October 6, 2022

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: A chance encounter, and the rest is history

The memoir provides a good primer to Nusrat's life as a musician and the legacy he left.

September 22, 2022
September 22, 2022

Checking exam scripts: One moral side of teaching

I can safely proclaim that one of the hazards of teaching is checking exam scripts.

September 8, 2022
September 8, 2022

Two Sides of Dorm Life

Arun and Barun came from two different parts of Bangladesh, and from two different social backgrounds.

August 29, 2022
August 29, 2022

‘Bulbuli’: Nazrul’s music for future listeners?

We were at the dinner table. My wife asked if I had seen Bulbuli, the Coke Studio Bangla song. Till then I hadn’t. The upload was only a few days old.

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