Heritage | The Daily Star

  • Bhitargarh: destroyed before discovery

    There was a king named Prithu Raja in northern Bangladesh in the 13th century. He had a fort city in Panchagarh called Bhitargarh, and he may or may not have died by committing suicide in a lake.

  • Bijoya Dashami today

    The five-day Durga Puja, the greatest of all Hindu festivals, will come to an end with solemn immersion of the Goddess Durga in the capital and elsewhere in the country.

  • The Forgotten Museum of Language Movement

    It was around 4pm on February 14. The lawns and courtyards of the historic Burdwan House, the home of Bangla Academy, were crammed with visitors, a predominantly young crowd.

  • From the Baltic to the Bay: Caroline Amena searches for her roots

    It was just a few years after the Liberation War in 1971. Caroline Amena Lauritsen was a child then. She does not remember how old she was back then, but her adoption papers say she was three years old.

  • The Last Bastion of Traditional Boatbuilding

    73-year-old Boidhonath Chondro Shutrodhar is one of the last remaining master carpenters in the country making traditional river boats. Living by the Jamuna river in Pabna, he started working at the age of around 20 under an ustad. In his early days making boats, he would earn just two taka per day.

  • When the government does nothing

    Last Thursday, a Dhaka-based organisation working with conservation of heritage posted urgently on Facebook about an unfortunate development unfolding in Lakhsmibazaar. “We just got to know today that the century-old beautiful building in Nobodwip Basak lane number 3 will be broken down on April 16. The contractor hired to do the job has already moved into the property,” the post by Urban Study Group (USG) states. Attached is an image of a home, the architecture of which is one of a kind and very rarely seen nowadays. The front facade has the atypical arches of the past

  • Preserving Bengali identity

    At dawn on Bangla New Year, Ramna Park wears a festive look. People from all areas of Dhaka city as well as different parts of the country congregate at the verdant ground to celebrate Pahela Baishakh.

  • Demolished in plain sight

    Puran Dhaka, even today, possesses enough heritage treasures to be the envy of many cities known for their historic character. Unfortunately, over the last decade, despite earnest efforts of civil society, activists and the media, there has been a steady increase in the erosion of its historic urban fabric.

  • Puppetry: The dying art form

    It is the year 1971. Standing beside a green paddy field, Yahya Khan and a Razakar are locked in a heated deabate against a Bengali farmer.

  • After Jamdani and Hilsa…

    In the last one year, two Bangladeshi products—Jamdani and Hilsa—received Geographical Indications (GI) from the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT). The DPDT is currently working on analysing 24 more goods.

  • Artwork for Sale, Not the Shobhajatra

    At a time when it's all but impossible to organise large-scale events without corporate sponsorship, the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), popularly known as the Charukola

  • Bangladesh Betar - The Story of Glory

    These days, when information technology and the internet are not far from our grasp, on hearing the name “Bangladesh Betar (Betar meaning radio in Bangla)”, one might ask, “Who would listen to Bangladesh Betar today?”

  • The Forgotten History of Dhaka Gate

    Once upon a time, it used to mark the terminus of the largest city of undivided Bengal; currently it lies uncared for, surrounded by

  • Ghuddi: The Romantic Consciousness of Cinema

    There are very few films made in our country that can be credited as alternative films. The last person to showcase this independent approach, both nationally and globally was Tarek Masud.

  • Dhaka's Brahma Samaj

    If you are a regular reader of Bengali literature, you must be familiar with the term 'Brahma Samaj'. But if not, don't mix up the term 'Brahma' and 'Brahman'—they are very different concepts.

  • The Pioneer Behind Ekushey Book Fair

    Muktodhara Prokashoni is the very first reason for us to be able to take part in and celebrate today's Ekushey Boi Mela. On 21st

  • 180 years of Chittagong Collegiate School

    In 1835 the General Committee of Public Interaction submitted a proposal to Lord William Bentinck, asking to establish an institution which would teach English literature and science in major cities such as Dhaka, Patna, Chittagong and many more.

  • Dhaka's Pandora's Box

    The definition of a market is an area or an arena in which commercial dealings are conducted. Now one can say that there's nothing remotely poetic about browsing through a market's shops— but what if a market gives the essence of the culture, the people and to some extent, the city as a whole?

  • An Evening in Laxmibazar Church

    Do you know that our country, which has a predominant Muslim population, owns a number of significant age-old structures

  • A Tale of a Tragedy

    It was December 11, 1971. A N M Golam Mostofa, Veteran journalist of the then daily Purba Desh was catering to family duties.

  • The legend of Ma Thin and her Undying Love

    It is said that in Bangladesh, nobody visits a police station until s/he is not forced to do so; however, the Teknaf police station has removed this stereotype with a very moving story.

  • Looking for Stories: A morning in Sadarghat

    Ever thought of looking for stories in one of the oldest and busiest spots in Dhaka? A trip to the Sadarghat is what you need.

  • The Kallol Era: A Glimpse into Bengali Modernism

    From the early 19th century, Bengal witnessed a change in its socio – cultural norms as the British Raj came into ruling.

  • From rags to ‘Kantha’

    A kantha is a great example of how you can upcycle your old clothes into something beautiful and functional.

  • Sirajganj's Special Weaves

    During the British colonial rule in the 18th century, when Bengali muslin was traded throughout the world, Britain's own clothing manufacturers conspired against the Bengali weavers.

  • A Witness to History

    There was a time when this particular place was more than just an educational institution. This haven once (trying its best even today)

  • The Art of Penmanship

    They don't have any fancy title attached to their names. They are not called calligraphers. Not even artist. But they have quality of little bit of both in them, because they know the art of writing beautiful letters.

  • The Mosque of Mohammadpur

    In the history and classical art section of Bangladesh National Museum, a photo of a beautiful mosque taken during the 60's can surprise audiences if noticed carefully.

  • A Blessing in Disguise: Bongshal Pond

    While you go through the chaos of Dholaikhal, at the edge of Tanti Bazaar, you will find a pond surrounded by the narrow streets that lead to Bongshal, old Dhaka. Bongshal pukur (pond)- as local people call it, has its unique charm reflecting the effervescent history of old Dhaka.

  • A Glimpse of the Tagores

    In the year 1784, a wealthy Bangali zamindar built a mansion in an area of North Kolkata. His name was Nilmoni Tagore who after a family feud decided to move out and build his own home.

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