Sadia Tahsin

Balancing work and family amid the pandemic

While the losses and challenges of the pandemic have been felt by everyone, the effect of Covid-19 and the resulting lockdowns have been particularly impactful on working parents.

Talking about valuing relationships on “Mullobodh Er Paathshala”

Aiming to stimulate the idea of values and positive change, Shuvashish Bhowmick, founder of father-son singing duo Baap Ka Beta, initiated the campaign, "Mullobodh Er Paathshala", which hosts live sessions with renowned celebrities, authors, and experts on the importance of morals and values. The sixth episode, titled "Can we value human relationships properly?" was held yesterday, featuring radio jockey Rifat Zibraan and actor Siam Ahmed.

Solo exhibition ‘My Country’ is an ode to Bangladesh

Prominent artist Shohag Parvez’s eighth solo exhibition, “My Country” is currently underway at Galleri Kaya in Uttara.

“Mullobodh Er Paathshala” discusses the potency of literature

With the motto to stimulate the idea of values and positive change, Shuvashish Bhowmick, founder of father-son singing duo Baap Ka Beta, initiated the campaign, “Mullobodh Er Paathshala". This campaign hosts live sessions with renowned celebrities, authors, and experts on the importance of morals and values. The fifth episode, titled "Does or can literature play a role in developing values?" was held yesterday, featuring Chamok Hasan, Research & Development Engineer at Boston Scientific Corporation and Mahrin Ferdous, an author by passion and profession who has been affiliated with literature for the past decade.

‘Mullobodh Er Paathshala’ discusses the dynamics of faith

In an effort to advocate positivity and social change, Shuvashish Bhowmick, founder of father-son singing duo Baap Ka Beta, started the campaign, “Mullobodh Er Paathshala". This campaign hosts live sessions with celebrities, influencers, and experts on the importance of morals and values. The fourth episode, titled "Can we value people’s faith properly?" was held yesterday, featuring Golam Murshed, Managing Director & CEO of Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd. and Ghulam Sumdany Don, Chief Inspirational Officer of Don Sumdany Facilitation & Consultancy.

Thriving as freelancers: Young professionals share their experience

Freelance jobs have opened up an array of opportunities for young professionals in recent years, across different industries.

Mullobodh Er Paathshala: Discussing discipline and wellness

Championing positivity and social change, Shuvashish Bhowmick, founder of father-son singing duo Baap Ka Beta, took an initiative called, “Mullobodh Er Paathshala”. This campaign hosts live sessions with celebrities, influencers, and experts on the importance of morals and values. The third episode, titled "Are we aware of discipline and wellness?" was held yesterday, featuring Shahriar Nafees, former player of Bangladesh national cricket team and the first captain of Bangladesh T20 team and Dr Saklayen Russel, Assistant Professor and Head of Department- Vascular Surgery of Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital.

Making the digital space safer

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in association with the ICT Division, organised The Digital Khichuri Challenge for the seventh time since 2016, with the hope to make the digital space safer, and work towards a more tolerant Bangladesh. The Grand Finale was held this March. Team 'Cyber Saver' was the winner, and 'N te Nari, N te Nirapotta' was the runner up in the students/campaigns category. In the start-up category, 'TransEnd' was the winner and 'Cyber Teens' the runner up.

A safe space to address mental health struggles

Shunbo is an anonymous mental health support group in Bangladesh, which encourages people to speak freely about mental health. It was inaugurated on July 5, 2020, amid the pandemic. Shunbo started off as the brainchild of six university students, Mohammad Samiur Rahman, Shams Mahfuz Arnob, M. Rakinul Islam, Vishal Agarwal, Abrar Islam and Ishraq Islam. Five of them are from North South University and one of them is from Independent University, Bangladesh.

Reimagining luxury outdoor lounging chairs with rickshaw art

24-year-old Tahira Resalat is a British Bangladeshi, living in London. She is pursuing an MA/MSc in Innovation Design Engineering at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art. She completed her undergraduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering from The University of Sheffield, following which she did a year-long internship at Dyson Technology as an upstream research engineer. She is now pursuing a more creative field in engineering, which explores human-centric designs.

Bangladesh EU Film Festival underway

Celebrating Bangladesh’s 50 years of independence, the European Union (EU) launched the first Bangladesh EU Film Festival (BEUFF). It was inaugurated on the 9th of June and will continue till the end of the month. The festival illustrates the cultural interchange between EU and Bangladesh. The eight Bangladeshi films being exhibited at BEUFF are by young, talented filmmakers. All 23 films are available free of cost throughout the festival to all audiences residing in Bangladesh.

A chat with Lovely Deb

Growing up in a musical family based in Sylhet, Lovely Deb was prompted to persuade music from a very early age. Events such as Mongola and Nagarkirtan acted as a motivational force for her, more so because Lovely’s father realised her potential and inspired her.

Behind the wheel with young delivery agents

Delivery agents stand among the frontline workers keeping the country safe and running amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Beating the heat and other tough conditions every day, they do their work diligently, posing risks to their safety.

A torchbearer for freestyle footballers in Bangladesh

Freestyle football is the art of self-expression through creatively juggling a football using any parts of the body, from the elbows to the hands.

Art world adjusts to lockdown cautiously

With spiralling Covid-19 cases, the government of Bangladesh announced a seven-day countrywide lockdown, starting from April 5. Art galleries and event spaces are monitoring the situation strictly. While most of them have postponed their public programmes, others have chosen to operate cautiously.

Conversations with young authors of Ekushey Boi Mela

The Ekushey Boi Mela provides ample opportunities for young authors to showcase their talents. Star Youth, The Daily Star, caught up with seven such authors to find out about their aspirations, and more.

Delivering reliable healthcare information in Bangla

Tasnim Jara is an emergency medicine doctor at National Health Service, England, and a master’s student of Evidence-based Healthcare at the University of Oxford. She co-founded Shohay, a start-up that aims to provide reliable healthcare information in Bangla.

Introducing winners of The Daily Star’s ‘Muktijuddho Olympiad’

The Daily Star’s “Muktijuddho Olympiad”, powered by efood, aimed to educate young students about the history of Bangladesh. Nearly 4,800 students registered for the online completion across four categories: School (Class 4-6), School (Class 7-10), College, and University.

An ode to the glorious history of Bangladesh

Muktijuddho Olympiad, an online competition based on the Liberation War, concluded yesterday, after the winners were handed prizes.

Celebrations for Bangabandhu’s birth centenary, golden jubilee of independence begin

First day of the ten-day celebratory programme to mark 50 years of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman commenced today in the capital’s National Parade Square.

BYLC’s Global Youth Climate Summit 2021 kicks off

Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC) hosted the Global Youth Climate Summit, in partnership with the California-based Foundation for Climate Restoration, Resilient Markets and the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge. Held from March 11 to 12, it is a two-day online summit, with more than 500 young change makers, from six different continents.

Right to the City: A colourful celebration of International Women’s Day

For International Women’s Day 2021, the European Union (EU) Delegation to Bangladesh organised ‘Right to the City’, a daylong mural painting event, on March 6. The wall outside the EU Delegation Office in the capital’s Gulshan 2 was painted by eighteen young female artists in less than seven hours. The mural was curated, coordinated and led by noted artist Fareha Zeba. Renowned artist Kanak Chanpa Chakma was also a part of the initiative. EU Ambassador to Bangladesh, Rensje Teerink, will unveil the mural at 4:30 pm today.

Shat Bochorer Khatiyan: A retrospective of Professor Nisar Hossain

Renowned artist, critic, and activist Nisar Hossain’s solo art exhibition “Shat Bochorer Khatiyan” is underway at Gallery Chitrak. It was launched on February 19, and will conclude on March 19, 2021. Gallery Chitrak inaugurated their journey in their new location at Dhanmondi with this exhibition.

Najmun Nahar Keya on her artistic inspirations

Najmun Nahar Keya’s artistic journey began in Old Dhaka, where she grew up in the midst of beautiful architectural wonders and a family that encouraged her creative aspirations. Her artworks exhibit her inclination towards nostalgic memories, associated with archival photographs of her family, architectural beauty, new materials, recent societal and global political events, and personal experiences. Keya co-curated many shows before, but her first ever solo curated show is “Frozen Song”, an exhibition inspired by architect Bashirul Haq, currently underway at “Chobi Mela Shunno”.

Fulfilling dreams with 1 taka

Ek Takay Shikkha, a social organisation, has been in operation since 2017 with a mission to ensure that one’s financial condition does not restrict them from acquiring an education.

Tales of traditions, spices and herbs

Songsari is a spice and herbal product venture that intends to be a part of everyone’s family. Food enthusiasts Dolon Champa Dutta and Tazrin Farzana Zinia primarily started Songsari on July 15, 2020,

Ensuring equality by dismantling social injustices

Gender Justice is a non-profit legal and policy advocacy organisation with steadfast commitment to addressing the chain of circumstances relevant to gender- based violence and inequality.

Musings in watercolour

Edge Gallery at the capital’s Gulshan 2 is currently hosting the third season of Jolokabbo, a group watercolour exhibition, which intends to take the audience down a unique artistic voyage through the medium.

Striving for a more inclusive world

Shamsin Ahmed is the founder of Identity Inclusion, an organisation working to eliminate the stigma around mental health stigma and promote community-based support and social inclusion of people with psychosocial disabilities in Bangladesh since 2015.

Encouraging students to participate in co-curricular activities

Universities from all across the country are now focusing on extracurricular activities alongside academics, and clubs have been arranging various programmes to enhance the skill sets of students.

Mahfuz Anam on the importance of extracurricular activities

Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star, was actively involved in extracurricular activities, particularly debating, during his youth.

How Extra-curricular activities can bring out better leaders?

Sonia Bashir Kabir, Founder, SBK Tech Ventures, actively participated in sports, public speaking and debates from a young age.

Adbox: Inspiring creative minds

Adbox was started back in 2018, by a couple of students from North South University.

A ray of hope for the less fortunate

Sombhabona’s Pushpokoli School is a free, open institute for underprivileged children. Their lessons revolve around patriotism, discipline and health awareness, among other things.

Pursuing goals on the field

Reasat Islam Khaton, 31, was born in Dhaka and later moved to Germany, where he began his football career. He played in the Welsh Premier League for Llanelli Town AFC, making him the first Bangladeshi to ever play in the top division for a European country.

Shomonnoi Bangladesh: Uniting people to combat COVID-19 and Amphan

After reeling under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many youth-led relief initiatives have taken over the past quarter of this year.

Grand finale of ‘Idea Innovation Contest 2020’ held virtually

With Covid-19 taking over the globe, many annual competitions developed for students have either been put on hold midway for an indefinite period, or cancelled. In the interim, Interactive Cares arranged a virtual grand finale for ‘Idea Innovation Contest 2020’, an entrepreneurship-based business idea event. This year, they came up with business ideas which will be profitable and sustainable during isolation and stabilise the socio-economic state of the country.

Dhaka Youth Club and Mohajon Foundation’s Manobik Store for underprivileged families

Dhaka Youth Club and Mohajon Foundation established the Manobik Store in Bongshal to help underprivileged families during the global coronavirus crisis. With the slogan, bhalo thakun, bhao rakhun, the initiative was funded from their own accounts and maintained by the members of the club and the foundation.

Auxilio: Interacting with a computer differently

Auxilio (meaning “to assist” in Latin) is a head mounted wireless device, created by a group of youngsters, as an alternative means for controlling a computer mouse. With this device, users can move the cursor by rotating their head in different directions, and implement clicks by their eye blinks.

International Women’s Day Walk: #FreedomFromFear

A vigil-walk was seen in the north of the capital around the eve of International Women’s Day 2020. The event page of the walk, hosted by Deeory, has been circulating over Facebook for the past week.

‘DSDE Youth Exchange’ at BRAC Centre

Desperately Seeking Development Experts, formally known as DSDE, has been serving as the largest network of development practitioners in Bangladesh.

‘DSDE Youth Exchange’ at BRAC Centre

Desperately Seeking Development Experts, formally known as DSDE, has been serving as the largest network of development practitioners in Bangladesh.

Strolling around in OLD DHAKA

The team of Star Youth, The Daily Star, recently went on a tour to Old Dhaka, as a part of our monthly initiative, ‘Star Youth Meets’. Here, some of us recount our experiences.

Improving the living standards of the Christian community

The largest credit union in South Asia, The Christian Cooperative Credit Union Ltd, Dhaka, was founded in 1955 by Rev Fr Charles J Young CSC in Lokhhibazar. The union aims to provide the Christian community with affordable services, helping them to achieve financial viability, operational efficiency, competitive advantage, and good co-operative governance. The Daily Star has formed a partnership with the organisation, under which 100 copies of the newspaper are provided to them every day, for free.