‘Coincidence? I think not’
On a fateful day, Officers Abul and Kabul arrested a student during a protest against the price hike of kidney dialysis. The arrestee was defiant of the police officers, making preposterous arguments about freedom of speech and the right to protest, which had really ticked the officers off.
1w ago
This Eid, I pray for an awakening
So this Eid, I pray for a fresh pair of eyes, and a reason to hope. Or at the very least (once the festivities are over and we return to life as it is) be able to hope for and demand better realities than the ones we’ve been dealt.
What goes on the internet, doesn’t stay on the internet
Online harassment can range from hate speech and verbal abuse to (threat of) circulation of doctored photos and videos. In worst cases, perpetrators record rape in the form of video and photographs and then use it to extort or silence the victim.
Unable to deal with mosquito menace, Fashundhara resident starts adopting them as pets
It was late at night. After what was an excruciatingly exhausting day, Armana dragged her body to bed, eager to put the day, and herself, to rest.
The yellow days in Hanoi
When I visited Hanoi in 2019, I only had a chance to catch a whiff of Vietnam’s capital. I took a glance at all the splotches of yellow architecture in awe and had little to no idea how to navigate myself in a town that hardly communicated in English. But even then, Hanoi found a place of eternal fondness in my heart and gave me a gift of familiarity that I couldn’t make much sense of at the time.
Let the seasons begin
It was a time in the night where one can’t really tell if it’s night or eve. The sun is still sleeping in and it’s unlikely that it has any other plans anytime soon. Nothing but silence cloaks the wood and it is the time for the chatter of the owls and bats.
Realistic things to do in Dhaka traffic
Talking about Dhaka traffic and talking to a wall is almost the same thing. You can scream and shout all you want, but at the end of the day you realise that it feels like talking to a wall, and unfortunately, this wall doesn’t have ears as the Bangla saying goes.
Is ‘Faraaz’ just another movie?
How is it that such a seasoned director did not seek consent from the victims’ families when making Faraaz?
The art of moderating literary conversations
Rifat Munim highlighted how a moderator can be a catalyst to an engaging dialogue between the panellists and the audience,
Stirring social change through theatre
Fatima Begum (not her real name) is from Datiar char, located in Kurigram’s Chilmari upazila. She lived with her husband Baniz and three sons, all of whom are married.
Waffle Up: worth the fuss?
If you’re having a bad day and you need a pick-me-up, Waffle Up is definitely a place you should visit.
All male panel gives out ‘Best Female Award’
To honour the women who have proved to be young and promising from different walks of life, Beti Foundation along with Tara Barta jointly organised the “Best Female Award”.
In remembering the 'Queen's legacy', why do we forget the suffering of our ancestors?
To remember and to be informed are the most important duties that the colonised bear.
Of strength and togetherness
Festivals have always been a cornerstone of the country’s culture. It’s not only about the rituals and traditions that promote a sense of community but also about the various customs and the spirit of Durga Puja that buzzes in the air.
Where tradition meets craftsmanship
It is very easy for one to get woefully lost in the crevices and back alleys of Old Dhaka even with a guidebook. When one thinks of visiting Old Dhaka, Shakhari Bazar is a place that gets mentioned by almost all who either have lived or visited the area, thanks to its history associated with craftsmen.
Deprived of parents’ love, cop keeps taking it out on civilians
In a recent development of curious events in the city, a local policeman, on multiple occasions spacing out in different timelines, was found beating the excrement out of students.
Yass Kweeners rejoice as they’re the only queens in the game now
Instagrammers, bloggers, vloggers and content creators of all kinds who are part of the Global Yass Kween movement, rejoiced as they could now not only mispronounce, but also make “Kween” the new queen as the real monarch has left the lands.
A deep dive into a poet’s mind
He had lost touch almost completely with his craft, so much so that he wondered if he even had it in him. But even so, for the sake of writing, he wrote. When the pandemic hit, Helal batted off the dust of his desk and sat down to write. Sitting from a foreign land, the ink flowed again.
Home-grown solutions for a global crisis: 'Rohingya Camp Narratives' launches at IUB
“Here one will find on state policy analysis and societal dynamics–exploring grey areas and bringing multidimensional analysis to the refugee crisis”, said Professor Dr Meghna Guhathakurta.
What’s stopping us from reading books?
How did I get here? Can I unleash the wee bookworm that could devour books back?
From Feni to New Zealand: Trinkets of a life lived
Mastura's penning is sincere. She crafts the details like a watchsmith, a representation of which could be found in the very first piece of the book, named "Feni".
Budget 2022-23: Is the publishing industry only an inconsequential afterthought?
With the Russia-Ukraine war continuing and the (consequent) wave of inflation that has struck the world, serious concerns for
The twisted plight of Bangladeshi transgender community: A critical error in policymaking
If 'facilities' are really that accessible, why aren't we seeing more transgender people in job roles?
Budget 2022-23 and the fate of our publishing industry
The protruding question we’re left with is this: is the allocated sum for purchasing even merely enough to support our publishers in this grave time?
Into the mind of Kendrick Lamar with Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
The album takes his listeners through a journey of his own self-reflection.
Sailing to save lives
While healthcare is quite accessible for city residents, people living in rural areas are far less fortunate. This is where “Jibon Tari”, a floating hospital aptly named according to the service it provides, creates an impact. The hospital has been sailing through the major rivers of the country, making healthcare accessible for rural citizens.
When a little help goes a long way
When the pandemic hit, many displaced and impoverished families moved back to their native homes to survive the difficult time. Sujon had just got promoted to the fifth grade a bit before the pandemic started and his reality was no different.
After conquering Mount Kilimanjaro, Bangladeshi couple eyes seven summits
Julia and Shemon have been living as expats in Mombasa, Kenya since 2012. They run a car importing business together.
Nimtali Deuri: Restoring the remnants of a time bygone
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Gulistan, stands the Nimtali palace, bearing the testaments of a lost history.
UNFPA and BDC organise Bangladesh Youth Dialogue 2019
From November 12-14, 2019, the Government of Kenya, the Government of Denmark, and UNFPA are convening the Nairobi Summit, a high-level conference to advance the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES WE HOLD AS FRIENDS
There’s a lot of stuff you can say about friends on what they mean to you, but mostly, friends are your go-to support systems for
Understanding Male Body Image Issues
Starting from deodorant companies to clothing brands, corporations have been able to use the power of media and has tapped into
Fire safety in schools
The recent rise of reports on fire accidents happening in Dhaka all centre around the same issues—lack of infrastructure, limited awareness on fire safety and prevention, inadequate fire extinguishing methods, and the constant reluctance in maintaining building safety codes.
To Seenzone or Un-seenzone
The way we interact with each other has changed and taken many faces in the passing of time. Cavemen wrote on walls and used different sounds that would seem unfathomable to us but somehow made sense to them.
Are we treating our kids right?
What if we started listening to our students? What if we started to help them resolve their own problems instead of punishing them for it?
Making public commutes safer for women
For any working woman or student, having to use public transportation is the bane to their life. A study conducted by BRAC shows that 94 percent of women commuting in public transport have faced harassment in verbal, physical, and other forms.
Breaking out of a procrastination cycle
Getting out of this loop is tricky but these methods might help.
“Take care of your heart, don't let it fall apart”
The life of an average human being who has entered adulthood turns into an endless cycle of the same routines that include distorted sleep schedules, missed breakfasts and meeting deadlines. Life has now become synonymous with the motto “time is money.”
Bangladesh excels at WSDC 2018
The World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) is the annual debate competition where the best school debaters from all over the world face each other, holding on to the dreams of representing their motherland on the big stage.
How much is too much for the students?
With results being politicised and the scrutiny and shame that follows, a walkthrough in the life of a Bangladeshi student in the current decade is probably one of the most challenging and daunting tasks that exists.
Why milk matters
For all stages of life, milk is nature's elixir for good health. Milk and other dairy foods are densely packed with antioxidants, vitamins
HSC 2018: Panic at the examination centre
The question leak issue has been at play over the past several years and has been rotting the core of our education's assessment system—board examinations. This year however, after the question leaks in the Secondary School Certificate examination (SSC), the authorities have taken stricter measures to prevent question leaks, including social media surveillance and better security around exam centres. It was also announced that all district boards will supply the same question paper, choosing amongst 4 sets of previously prepared question papers, which will be done 25 minutes before the exam. This policy has given birth to a new set of problems.
Complete Inktober, earn money
Sayeef says, “Focusing on what you have to offer to which audience is very important, because then you can find your own crowd who
May 20, 2023
‘Coincidence? I think not’
On a fateful day, Officers Abul and Kabul arrested a student during a protest against the price hike of kidney dialysis. The arrestee was defiant of the police officers, making preposterous arguments about freedom of speech and the right to protest, which had really ticked the officers off.
April 22, 2023
This Eid, I pray for an awakening
So this Eid, I pray for a fresh pair of eyes, and a reason to hope. Or at the very least (once the festivities are over and we return to life as it is) be able to hope for and demand better realities than the ones we’ve been dealt.
April 2, 2023
What goes on the internet, doesn’t stay on the internet
Online harassment can range from hate speech and verbal abuse to (threat of) circulation of doctored photos and videos. In worst cases, perpetrators record rape in the form of video and photographs and then use it to extort or silence the victim.
March 4, 2023
Unable to deal with mosquito menace, Fashundhara resident starts adopting them as pets
It was late at night. After what was an excruciatingly exhausting day, Armana dragged her body to bed, eager to put the day, and herself, to rest.
February 18, 2023
The yellow days in Hanoi
When I visited Hanoi in 2019, I only had a chance to catch a whiff of Vietnam’s capital. I took a glance at all the splotches of yellow architecture in awe and had little to no idea how to navigate myself in a town that hardly communicated in English. But even then, Hanoi found a place of eternal fondness in my heart and gave me a gift of familiarity that I couldn’t make much sense of at the time.
February 11, 2023
Let the seasons begin
It was a time in the night where one can’t really tell if it’s night or eve. The sun is still sleeping in and it’s unlikely that it has any other plans anytime soon. Nothing but silence cloaks the wood and it is the time for the chatter of the owls and bats.
February 4, 2023
Realistic things to do in Dhaka traffic
Talking about Dhaka traffic and talking to a wall is almost the same thing. You can scream and shout all you want, but at the end of the day you realise that it feels like talking to a wall, and unfortunately, this wall doesn’t have ears as the Bangla saying goes.
February 3, 2023
Is ‘Faraaz’ just another movie?
How is it that such a seasoned director did not seek consent from the victims’ families when making Faraaz?
January 14, 2023
The art of moderating literary conversations
Rifat Munim highlighted how a moderator can be a catalyst to an engaging dialogue between the panellists and the audience,
December 17, 2022
Stirring social change through theatre
Fatima Begum (not her real name) is from Datiar char, located in Kurigram’s Chilmari upazila. She lived with her husband Baniz and three sons, all of whom are married.
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