Tahira Shamsi Utsa

Reporter, Print/Digital, The Daily Star

Country failing to protect children from violence

A 16-year-old madrasa student in Jhenaidah was hospitalised last month after being beaten by an assistant teacher -- reportedly for eating two slices of leftover orange after iftar, with the madrasa superintendent’s permission.

1w ago

Neonatal mortality still high at 20 per 1,000 births

A recent study has raised concerns about their current condition, revealing operational issues that could threaten future progress.

1w ago

HPV vaccination for cervical cancer: Overcoming stigmas, girls get vaccinated

Monowara Mubasshira Chowdhury, a seventh-grader at Government Agragami Girls High School and College in Sylhet, suffered a head injury and was unconscious for 45 days before undergoing surgery.

1m ago

Community shocked after beloved dog Keeper killed

The man struck Keeper in the head with a heavy slab, causing serious injuries that led to his death

1m ago

The unpaid household labour GDP ignores

Yasmin represents the millions of women excluded from the labour force, who say that family and household work is a significant setback to their employment.

2m ago

From piyaju to pizza: Dhaka’s street food business takes a delicious journey

Roughly two decades ago, Dhaka’s street food scene was all about simplicity: crispy piyajus and singaras, deep-fried puris, or spicy jhal muri. Depending on the season, you would also find a variety of pithas -- comforting, traditional and closely tied to local flavours. 

2m ago

Local mechanics rev up the road, now govt needs to catch up

Amid the worldwide development of electric vehicles, which is changing the traffic landscape away from fossil fuels, Bangladeshi mechanics brought their humble version of an e-vehicle to the road: a battery-run rickshaw -- awkwardly wired, with visible battery units slinging on the back.

4m ago

Sexual abuse is part of life for street children

Dhaka’s bustling streets are both a workplace and a home for 14-year-old Amina.

5m ago
April 21, 2023
April 21, 2023

Helpful initiative falling apart

Dhaka University’s attempt to break period-related stigmas and provide easier access to menstrual-hygiene products has hit a snag. Despite the installation of sanitary pad vending machines throughout the campus, many female students are left without the intended benefits due to the machines malfunctioning.

March 20, 2023
March 20, 2023

Thalassaemia a silent threat

Shetu Akhter and Aminul Islam were filled with joy when their daughter was born in 2019. But that joy was short-lived as Ahona, their daughter, was diagnosed with thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorder, just within 19 months of her birth.

March 4, 2023
March 4, 2023

More midwives needed to aid safe birth

Umme Kulsum was terrified when she encountered a mother in labour with no dilation around 3:00am at Brac centre in Dhaka. After several attempts, she could only bring out the baby’s head. The mother was exhausted from all the pushing. But Kulsum trusted her midwifery skills and eventually conducted a normal delivery.

January 29, 2023
January 29, 2023

Maternal Healthcare: Slum women left to fend for themselves

Eighteen-year-old Julekha Begum, of Tejgaon slum, was married off at 15 and is currently in the ninth month of pregnancy.

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