Mayabee Arannya

Are digital spaces only for men?

“As a woman, navigating online spaces in Bangladesh is quite challenging. Whether it’s crude comments about women or gender minorities, news of violence and people making fun of it and victim blaming or problematic content -

Bangladeshi youth at the forefront of the climate movement

“While conducting surveys in the coastal areas, I realised how climate change was at the root of issues like lack of education, malnutrition, and soaring child marriage rates.

The future of higher education in Bangladesh

“Whatever lies in the future of our university education, my peers and I will have a tough time adjusting to it as we have become accustomed to online classes. I don’t think things will go back to how they were before the Covid-19 pandemic, so I’m both excited and nervous about what’s to come,” shares Risana Islam, a third-year private university student in Dhaka.

‘We need to foster policy literacy in young people’

There is no one “young people”. In this country, we have young people from various backgrounds, rural and urban, as well as varied economic conditions.

An unparalleled veteran in the world of publishing

Behind his big glasses and mischievous smile hid over 50 years of experience in publishing. Very few people would be able to claim the same kind of knowledge and understanding of the ins and outs of publishing as Mohiuddin Ahmed, Emeritus Publisher and Director, The University Press Limited.

Is the SME sector adequately women-friendly?

“I had to let go of many employees, close down shops, and shift to mostly online deliveries,” shares Ashna Afroze, CEO and Founder of Prakriti Farming, when speaking about the initial hit faced by her small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Time for Nature

The theme for World Environment Day (WED) 2021, “Ecosystem Restoration”, is the ultimate environmental call to action. We can’t reverse time and prevent the damage that has already been done to our environment.

A beacon of resilience

“I had always dreamt of working to help marginalised communities, and I made sure my dream came true,” shares 23-year-old Beauti Rani Sikder, a woman who not only takes care of her family on her own but has also dedicated her life to taking care of her community.

A mother to the entire community

“I was six months pregnant when the pandemic first hit Bangladesh, but I knew I had to go out and help my community,” shares Sajia Akter, a 29-year-old mother of two.

A warrior in the fight against the pandemic

“Having two young children and an elderly mother-in-law at home, it was dangerously risky for me to go out during the pandemic.

50 years later, the fight goes on

When speaking about our Liberation War of 1971, we often commend our freedom fighters for their sacrifices and bravery and condemn the then Pakistan army for inflicting inhumane torture on our innocent people, especially our women.

Chobi Mela (0): Redefining photo festivals for the post-COVID era

The Drik-Path building peeks into the sky in the middle of the busy commercial area of Panthapath, Dhaka. This is where Chobi Mela Shunno (0) is taking place this year.

Counting the days to independence

“The struggle this time is for emancipation. The struggle this time is for independence.” These historic words rang through the air

Road to March 7, 1971

Bangladesh is a country built on a foundation of struggle. The struggle for language, as our people sacrificed their lives to have our mother tongue be our state language in 1952.

Emperor for People

On May 10, 2019, Japan welcomed its 126th emperor, Naruhito (original name Hironomiya Naruhito), to the Chrysanthemum Throne after the abdication of his father, Akihito. Born on February 23, 1960, today marks the Emperor’s 60th birthday. On this special day, let us take a glimpse into the significance of Emperor Naruhito and the Japanese Imperial Family in world history.

An unparalleled veteran in the world of publishing

Death need not be painful: Palliative care in Bangladesh

In November 2016, nine-year-old Asif was admitted to the only hospital which treats child cancer patients in the country. He was prematurely released from the hospital, with a few months of treatment still left to receive.

Is it too late to learn soft skills?

Imagine this: you walk into an interview for the multinational company you have been dreaming of working at.

Growing up in a digital world

The tiny hands of a seven-year-old can barely hold an eight-inch tablet, but Riana had practice.

Towards Greener and Smarter Living

Gone are the days when Dhaka city dwellers were satisfied with plain apartments. Home-owners are now increasingly interested in innovative housing with greater facilities.

Does Instagram care about your mental health?

Bid farewell to Instagram “likes” since the app has recently started testing out the removal of the likes count on posts.

The Prospects and Promises of E-learning

Technological advancement is ensuring convenience for us in almost every step of our lives, starting with online shopping, ride-sharing services, and of course, food order and delivery.

Do you have the wrong opinion?

Social media platforms are where we truly are not ourselves. At least, in most cases. With millions of people sharing the same platform, it’s no surprise that we feel the pressure to push out unique content in order to stand out from the crowd.

The bad influence of influencers

Bangladesh has recently seen an influx of social media influencers, making it one of the most up and coming career options for the youth.

Trends worth starting

Trends have no positive outcomes other than the inflation of egos of the trend followers. Therefore, we should strive to start trends that are in the best interest of the people

Confessions of an online shopping addict

My love for not leaving my bed coupled with my crippling social anxiety has made home delivery my number one go-to for any kind of purchase. Be it food, clothing, or beauty products, you can bet your hopefully-more-active-butt-than-mine that I won't be heading out to physically buy any of it.

How to make your gift seem thoughtful

Let's face it, most us fail miserably when it comes to gift-giving. We think we know somebody until it comes down to finding the perfect object that encapsulates the very essence of them and their interests, all in the budget of BDT 500 because, of course, we're broke.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BEAUTY GURU

I begrudgingly wake up and head straight to the filming room to grab my camera equipment. Today is the day I finally film my morning routine, so I head straight to the bathroom, do my 12-step Korean skincare routine then put on eight layers of makeup.

THE AUNTIEZONE

I'm unfortunate enough to have been in a wide spectrum of zones: the dude zone, bro zone, even apu zone. If you think those are bad, I'm here to burst your bubble just as how mine crashed down upon me as I, a 19-year-old, was called by a new title recently: auntie.

HOW TO BE A GOOD CUSTOMER ONLINE

Contrary to popular belief, the customer is NOT always right. When communicating with businesses, some people forget one important detail: humans run the business. Can we forget common decency while talking to people just because they are labelled differently?

GUIDE TO GUIDED MEDITATION

Have you ever tried meditation and thought it was completely useless? Or maybe you haven't even tried it because you think it doesn't work. I am here to change your mind.

Thoughts while in a changing room

The library, the rooftop at night, your bathroom, your bed at 3 AM – all of these are great places for thinking. But the best place to overthink is, by far, the changing room.

PERFECT “AESTHETIC” VIDEO EDITOR

If any of you want to up your Instagram game, be it your stories or posts on your feed, the app “90s - Glitch VHS & Vaporwave Video Effects Editor” is what you need. It can be used to edit photos to make mini videos from 1-10 seconds and can also be used to edit actual videos.

For a healthy heart

Is your heart hurting?

The Jump from A Levels to Admission Season

Remember the good old days after O levels when everyone used to tell you about A levels being the hardest obstacle you'll need to go through in life? I can almost hear you laughing in pain, fellow university admission candidates.

The ultimate Alice in Wonderland spin-off

When you think of Alice in Wonderland, you think of crazy monarchs, tea parties, rabbits, and smiling cats. But in “Alice to Zouroku”, you think of existential crises, kids with superpowers, and an old man who loves giving a good scolding.

Board-less games for when you're bored

Get off your computers and spend some quality time with friends or family by playing some of these fun and easy games anytime, anywhere.

Living Sustainably

Understand what choices you can make to positively impact our environment.

Of Kings and Madmen

B: The Beginning is an anime I had started watching on a whim since it had no real summary, therefore I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I can now safely say I've found a (sort of) hidden gem.

When everything is black and white

VOI is a minimalistic puzzle game that will drive you insane. There are 88 levels and on each, you are given a seemingly simple shape to recreate using other shapes.

An ode to potatoes

I was inspired to write an ode to potatoes honestly because I am shaped like one. Being potato-shaped, however, is nothing to be ashamed of since when it comes to cooking, potatoes are one of the most versatile vegetables out there.

Practicing our emotions

A few weeks ago, I came across a podcast called “The Science of Happiness”. The host Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology, brought in “happiness guinea pigs” in each episode, which were essentially people who shared their experiences after partaking in one of the practices that the website “Greater Good in Action” had in store.

If famous meet cutes happened in Bangladesh

For anyone confused about what exactly a meet cute is, it is a scene where the two leading characters of a romantic movie or TV show who are destined to be together, meet for the first time. Romantic comedies are never complete without an interesting meet cute, but what would change if these meet cutes happened in Bangladesh?