Spotlight | The Daily Star

  • Bike-sharing services in Dhaka

    An estimate by the government concluded that traffic chips away about 3.2 million working hours daily. The infamous traffic causes vehicles to idle at dead standstills indefinitely and slows down daily routine commutes more and more to a snail's pace.

  • Be your best hostess this Baishakh!

    At long last Baishakh is here. We bid adieu to all that is old and weary, making way for new and auspicious tidings. The time to celebrate life in all its glory is here, and a sense of rejuvenation and renewal is prevalent all around. This festive energy touches every aspect of Bengali life, as we like to embrace the spirit of Baishakh wholeheartedly!

  • A lively evening with fun, frolic and food

    On Friday, 23 March at Cityscape Tower, Jete Chao? and Cookups presented an event to celebrate Women's Day. These two ventures, both led by women, created the opportunity for numerous other female entrepreneurs in Dhaka to showcase their work, and talent in a place collectively called “Sheroes of Today.”

  • Home bakers rejoice!

    Life is truly about the simplest things. Dreaming and aiming high is admirable, but it's possibly the smallest things that give us true happiness, most pleasure.

  • When a nation speaks

    The unforgettable baritone that transcends time and vision- that would be a paltry description of what Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave to the nation on March 7, 1971 at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan. The historic congregation of almost 10 lakh people at the then Race Course ground (now Suhrawardy Udyan) at the end of the 20-minute speech bore witness to the all defining words: “Ebar-er shongram

  • The voices of nations

    There is hardly anyone of the modern world unfamiliar with historical speeches-- from Dr. Martin Luther King or Abraham Lincoln or even older speeches from ancient times by Socrates or Pericles. Volumes after volumes of compilations of the great and famous (and also of the infamous and dreaded) are not only easily available but come with audio and video recordings to present a fully immersive experience.

  • A day at the post office

    Passport is one form of identity. One may also be quick to relate nationality to the use of currency. Yet, most people miss the link between our individuality on a world scale, and how it is represented by little ambassadors of every nation — postage stamps!

  • Ujjwala - Empowering women

    Ujjwala started by encouraging would-be women entrepreneurs and providing them with the tools and skills for their entrepreneurial journey, especially in the service sector of Bangladesh.

  • The masterstroke of black and white

    Colours may reign supreme in our high definition lives, but the charm of black and white has not been lost. Sayeed Siddiqui, with his work with Cats Eye as well as other projects, has been a pioneer in bringing focus back to the wonder and aesthetics of black and white.

  • Think Pink

    There are many ways you can make the colour pink your own. The nibbling doubt in your mind that it may not be a good idea is

  • A world of purple affairs

    Traditionally associated with royalty, the colour purple is one of elegance, spirituality and mystery. It reminds you of delicate orchids

  • Digital Bangshal for an eco-friendly city

    If you talk to people who were children or young adults during the liberation period, when the population was still countable, they willl

  • BE YOURSELF; BE STYLISH

    You consider yourself a fashionista. Coco Chanel quotes grace your social media cover page, and you believe in them wholeheartedly. A lady should be two things — classy and fabulous, is your mantra in life.

  • Blame the chair not the person for being a pain in the neck!

    Ergonomic researchers are concerned with the designs of the office space that is chairs, tables/desks, monitors, etc., to achieve maximum comfort for workers to allow for good health. This includes keeping workers energised and having their spines aligned to avoid office related injuries that strain the body's structure and inflict short or long-term damages.

  • Ensuring a pet friendly winter

    As the temperatures are finally starting to drop in the city we prepare ourselves with an army of winter goodies to keep us insulated throughout these months, and stock up on herbal essentials to avoid catching a cold.

  • Fridays at the Bangladesh farmer's market

    Fridays at the farmer's market

    At least once in your life, you must have been to a grocery store or a modern convenience store to check off household shopping from your chores list. But shopping regularly from the store next-door can get monotonous easily, as well as expensive.

  • A Chef's Grocery Bag

    Have you ever wondered how a chef shops for his/her grocery? Chefs are known to be food experts, not only because they know how to cook it well but also because they intricately understand food quality and taste.

  • Getting yourself tested

    For starters, basic things such as your blood type (if you do not know that already), blood pressure and cholesterol levels should be tested.

  • Revisiting Shakrain

    While it is one of the oldest festivals held in Dhaka, carried over from the Mughal times, the gusto of celebration is best seen at the old parts of Dhaka.

  • Winter work wear

    Silken Dreams

    A gentle flurry of fabric, a graceful sway of soft material in bright jewel toned luxury– ah, for all that is silk!

  • Don a little black dress To impress

    A modern woman's wardrobe needs a few smart essentials, which, if chosen well, will see her through every possible situation in style.

  • Xmas decor

    While Christmas shopping in Bangladesh may not be as much of a rush as those we see in the 'wild west,' paired with the end of

  • Wishing you a cosy Christmas filled with greenery

    It is official -- winter is here. While the remnants of late autumn still linger, your mind is already in half-lazy mode. For those of you

  • Colours of Christmas

    December is an exciting month — long holidays, the not-too-biting chill, and the end of another gruelling year with tonnes of lessons learnt.

  • Speed

    For those growing up in postcolonial times, there was no escape from the tumultuous events that unfolded before them. Not a witness to the savagery of the Second World War, but of a world polarised as its direct result, Shahabuddin

  • Gardening in the crowded city

    A cup of steaming hot coffee paired with your favourite book, clad in periwinkle pyjamas and bathing in the winter sunshine. Obviously, you would have to be surrounded by beautiful greenery and colourful flowers with maybe yellow butterflies roaming around. Can it get any better?

  • Changing wedding trends

    The idea of the pre-engagement shoot is to allow couples to have exquisite shots of themselves which they will cherish forever. You can choose exactly what kind of photos you want — the props, the dresses, and even the location. Ideally, one picks a theme around which the photographer works. Cute couple pictures for Instagram? Check!

  • Dovetail, minimalist home decor

    The two brothers, Rafid Wahid Yaad and Giash Uddin Razin, co-founded their venture, 'Dovetail' about a year ago. “The name symbolises the 'Dovetail joint', as a connection of traditional knowledge and modern design for our venture,” shares Rafid.

  • The ultimate wedding check list

    Get your guest list ready for the holud, mehendi, and wedding. Decide on the venues based on the guest list. Draw up a list of preferred venues. Collect the names of contact persons and numbers for finalising the venues.

  • All aboard on a shopping spree

    Bangladesh, for the best shopping destinations You thought Bangladesh was only famous for its hospitality and food? Erroneous observation! There are so many other things that this beautiful country is celebrated for; shopping being one of the most prominent.

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