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Girls Still Left Behind
“We know education is important. All of my three daughters studied up to grade five. But in our village, the demand of dowry increases if our daughters cross 15 years of age.
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The rise and silencing of a mass student movement
It all started with a mad race. Two buses from Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan were racing towards a stop near the Armed Forces Medical College in Kurmitola. It was peak hour. The students were in a rush to get home and both buses wanted to cash in on that. They were racing on the Mirpur to Airport flyover.
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Erased Desires - Of Disability and Sexuality
Twenty-four-year-old Nayeem, a private university student, has a spinal cord injury. He often talks about his girlfriend, whom he has been dating for more than a year now. They study at the same university. They met on campus when Nayeem was selling coupons for a department picnic, became good friends and eventually started dating. Nayeem says that he loves her “with all his heart”.
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Corrupting a Generation
The leaking of question papers before public exams has become a regular phenomenon in Bangladesh.
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WORDS FOR THE YOUNG
The Ekushey Boi mela is a little more fun on the weekends when families and children crowd the popular stalls, not to mention the series
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From Barter to Banknotes, All in One
You may have heard that eight maund (around 295 kg) of processed rice could be bought with one taka coin in the reign of Shaista Khan (popularly known as Shaista Khan-er Aamol).
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Chobi Mela IX Begins Today
The best thing about any February is the frenzy of activities that comes along with it -- the Ekushey Boi Mela, Pahela Phalgun celebrations and of course commemorating the heroes on International Mother Language day.
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The Future of Cinema
Cinema is considered to be the most important art form of this century—and to indulge into this art form, this week film enthusiasts witnessed a grand celebration.
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Rocket Steamers
Amongst the few paddle steamers that exist around the world used for tourism, Bangladesh has six of them, popularly known as 'Rocket
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Marrying off too early?
A law drafted more than two years ago, stating that a girl at the age of 16 will be able to marry as a non-minor with the consent of her parents, still holds its ground in the midst of major criticism. Turn to pages 8-9 to read thoughts and opinions on this draft law.
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A trip to Golap Graam
There are roses as far as the eyes can see in the Birulia union, under Savar Upazila, in the most vibrant, flaming shades of red.
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10 stories to look back at
As we all try our best to look forward to the New Year – make lists of things to do (better!), to read more, lose weight – in a nutshell, be a better person – we can't help but take a sneak peak at the past. Turn to pages 7-9 and take a look at 10 Star Weekend stories published in the last one year, that we believe have changed us for the better. On a brighter note, the Star Weekend team would like to wish you a happy new 2017!
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Songs of Victory
“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with love,” said Mahatma Gandhi, and how true his words are! The people of Bengal fought for liberation and freedom – not only with strategies, guns and grenades, but also with poetry, words of inspiration and melodies that were strong enough to move mountains.
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It's Cartoon Time!
What does it mean to be a cartoonist? Why is having an extensive platform for art aficionados, who share the same love for cartooning and doodling important?
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Broken Rides, Broken Promises
While the authorities think of ways to make Dhaka a child-friendly city, amusement parks are being demolished or sold off, one after another.
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Bangladeshi Theatre's Curtain Call
Earlier this year, under the guidance of Professor Dr Israfil Shaheen, the Theatre and Performance Studies Department of Dhaka University travelled to Delhi for the 9th Asia Pacific Bureau, as the first ever delegation from Bangladesh.
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Saving the Coral Island
Saint Martin's Island, the only coral island of Bangladesh, has lost most of its splendour due to continuous destruction of its precious...
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The Cultural Lighthouse
For over four decades, the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has been serving as the biggest cultural hub for art enthusiasts, music aficionados, film connoisseurs or dance lovers.
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Dreaming Bigger, Dreaming Better
On April 24, 2013, a disaster shook the whole nation when the Rana Plaza building, an eight-storeyed factory complex supplying clothes
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Baptised With Fire: First to arrive, last to leave
Bangladesh faced a national crisis when an eight-story building called Rana Plaza housing several garment factories collapsed to the ground, leaving a huge pile of rubble and thousands of lives trapped underneath. It was the deadliest building collapse in modern human history that shook the nation to its core.
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Baptised with Fire
In case of fire incidents, building collapse, road, railway or water transport accidents, and all kinds of emergency rescue operations, the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence is our first and last resort.
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The Bold and the Beautiful
Mostly deemed as the common man's art, rickshaw art is unique and vibrant - partly because of the bold strokes of flashy enamel paint that the painters use, but mostly for the range of subjects and surreal images.
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Breaking the Toilet Taboo
The 15 million residents of Dhaka have access to only about seventy public toilets. Most of us are lucky enough to use clean toilets at home, but for more than 5.5 million floating people in Dhaka, these 70 toilets are their only refuge.
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Sankar Dhar: A Phenomenal Sculptor
“Sankar aspires to be a famous artist. His creations are ingenious and promising”— Sankar Dhar made the headlines first in 1974 in the Daily Sangbad, at 16 years of age, when he was a student of class ten at Pogose High School, next to Banglabazar.
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Across The Canvas
Murtaja Baseer, as the adage goes, is a man who needs no introduction, especially to the aficionados of the modern art scene in Bangladesh.
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A Workaholic on Vacation
Growing up, I never wanted to be a 'holic' of any sort. Terms began with 'alcoholic' and then many began sprouting up- 'chocoholic', 'shopoholic' and what not. Since the first one I heard was 'alcoholic', I assumed anything that makes you a 'holic' must be bad.
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Revolutionising Qurbani
With the onset of a generation of virtual reality users, and with online shops becoming an important part of our lives, Eid-ul-Adha - the festival of sacrifice - is enjoying a renaissance.
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Thinking of Careers
We have come a long way today and think of a career beyond medical, engineering and architecture – all noble professions of course. Today we have corporates, accountants and marketing professionals on the rise.
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Back to Basics
Phones are what peoples' lives, in this day and age, revolve around. From the most private of details, to the most exclusive of news
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No Bachelors Please!
Single and unmarried people who have been living in Dhaka for work or education, without their families, have to go through an ordeal when it comes to finding a place to live.
