Our people opened a new horizon of possibilities and demonstrated what it means to be active citizens. In the days of chaos following the fall—with no police and the army happy to sit back—they took on traffic regulation, protected their neighbourhoods, and organised a massive relief effort for the flood victims. They did all this without command and with no thought of reward other than a functioning state. The jury is still out on what they have received in turn.

Badruddin Umar, a leading Marxist intellectual, political analyst, and activist, talks about the recent student-led mass uprising and what lies in the political future of Bangladesh in an interview with Ananta Yusuf, Priyam Paul, and Shamsuddoza Sajen of The Daily Star.

The use of cartoons in mass uprisings is a long-standing tradition, but the sheer volume of cartoons created in the last 20 days of July 2024 seems to be unprecedented in the country’s history. Many of these cartoons were produced by entirely new cartoonists, some of whom may have been drawing their first political cartoons. Yet, their work displayed a level of sharpness, awareness and expertise that belied their inexperience.

August 5, 2024 is two months behind us. That’s a much longer time than between citizens demanding the authoritarian Hasina step down and her actually fleeing. Yet, for many people, July-August 2024 will always shadow their present. Even by the end of August, pretty much all the beds of the ground floor casualty wards at the capital’s National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) were occupied by those injured during the student-led movement. The wards at the National Institute of Opthalmology & Hospital (NIOH), too, were filled with those who had received severe injuries to their eye(s) during the movement.

Eye-witnesses would describe that as early as mid-day the police were shooting at protesters breaking curfew and trying to go to Shahbagh. When Hasina fell and Gono Bhaban was taken over, the protesters turned on the police. The police were armed—the protesters were not. Even though the government had fallen, they trooped out and shot everyone in sight.

How a student's movement for reform of the quota system for government jobs turned into a mass upsurge against a fascist government and led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina after 15 years in power

When students took to the streets on July 1, 2024, demanding reforms of the quota system, they did not imagine that this movement was about to rewrite the history of Bangladesh.

Although efforts were made to hide Hasina regime's bad governance by gagging the media and free speech and using fake statistics of economic growth and various visible infrastructure development projects, her downfall could not be prevented. It is important to learn from the history of the Hasina regime so that such incidents can be prevented in the future.

We have done the unthinkable—bring down a dictator—only to realise that the fascism within the body politic—and within ourselves—is much harder to dislodge than a once-invincible regime. If we are to do better as a nation than we have in the past, we must do the hard work of looking inwards and collectively figuring out the root causes of our dispossession and deprivation.

In today’s world of Instagram and Pinterest, where we’re constantly flooded with images of impeccably designed spaces, it’s hard not to feel inspired to decorate our own rooms to match the dreamy, magazine-like aesthetics we see online.

In the 21st century, it is almost impossible to imagine life without electricity. It powers every aspect of our daily lives, from our homes to our workplaces. However, electrical hazards, such as fires and the risk of short circuits, remain significant concerns, often worsened by poor cable quality.

In many Bangladeshi homes, space is often a luxury, and this is particularly true when it comes to having a dedicated reading room. However, for book lovers, even a small space can become a cherished reading nook, a personal sanctuary filled with the smell of books and the joy of reading.

Amidst the urban cacophony, finding tranquility even within the four walls can be challenging. In large cities, especially in Dhaka, noise levels consistently exceed the acceptable limits.

When decorating their homes, people often consider changing curtains, adding paintings or showpieces, and buying new furniture. While these changes can certainly make a difference, they can also be costly and time-consuming.

In 2022, the fire service officials in Dhaka evaluated 1,162 buildings and labelled 136 of them as “extremely risky” and 499 as “risky” in terms of fire hazards. The recent incidents in Bailey Road, Moghbazar and Narayanganj demand a closer inspection of the risks of fire hazards not only in commercial buildings but also in residential ones, especially when it comes to highrises.

Decorating your home with plants adds greenery and life, enhancing both the beauty and atmosphere of your living space.

As a fortunate young adult and student living with my family, I have come to appreciate the comforts of having a roof over my head, meals prepared for me (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), my clothes washed, and not having to worry about cleaning my room. This leads me to realise that there is a completely opposite and contrasting side, with the uncertainties that come with living alone as a bachelor.

The Daily Star (TDS): What inspired you to become an architect, and how did you start your journey in this field?

For a long time, glass was primarily associated with windows and mirrors in real estate and interior design. However, modern apartments now fully embrace its potential to enhance both aesthetics and energy efficiency.

Overpopulation and urban density have squeezed the living space of modern apartments to accommodate more people.