Weekend Read
Our dying Chalan beel
Imagine vast, shimmering water reflecting a clear blue sky. Boats glide across the surface, carrying villagers through a network of rivers and canals teeming with life. Schools of fish, like silver flashes, dart beneath the water.
Moshar Machine promising a solution to mosquito menace
When the entire country is grappling with mosquito menace, a Bangladeshi entrepreneur and his team have come up with an ingenious solution that promises to be an effective tool in mosquito control.
Karupanya Rangpur / Is it a forest? Is it a garden? No, it’s a factory!
From a distance, it appears as a forest. But as one gets closer, it becomes evident that it’s in fact a seven-story factory building covered with vines and leaves. After entering the premises, one will see a 30-foot-tall white sculpture of a woman.
Rise of esports in Bangladesh / From fringe hobby to national pride
For years, gaming in Bangladesh was seen as a waste of time -- often dismissed as a frivolous activity or a distraction from more “serious” pursuits. Traditional societal norms placed little value on gaming, perceiving it as an endeavour devoid of any real-world benefits.
A love affair with tea
I wonder what it is in a cup of tea that makes it so invigorating. The obvious answer would be the stimulant, caffeine, or the particular flavour of the leaves seeping into the hot water and the aroma that takes over your senses.
Hats off to our green heroes!
The first time I fell in love with plants was when I saw my mother’s glossy green pothos arranged in old porcelain bowls that were slightly chipped off.
How a rickshaw-puller changed the course of Dr Zafrullah’s life
“Should I go back to the UK? If I can’t serve my countrymen, I might as well go back.”
Mangoes and litchis taking a hit from the heat
It’s painful for Tajul Islam to see what has happened to his beloved mango orchard in Rajshahi city’s Borobongram Namopara.
For the love of computers
Buying a computer, for most people, is a fairly mundane activity. It involves going to a vendor with a budget, a list of requirements, and the hope that the salespeople are trustworthy and knowledgeable enough about the products to find the best possible deal.
The dying art of Qasida
This is a loose translation of a melodious Urdu poem that once used to reverberate through the empty lanes of old Dhaka deep into the Ramadan night.
To be able to dream again
At first glance it looks like a happy gathering of women and girls spanning ages from 15 to 50 years. We are greeted by this group of 30 and they welcome us with a song and dance routine.
A palace by the river
Leave behind the tangled streets and chaotic symphony of Old Dhaka for a while. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a different era, stepping onto a gilded boat that glides through the sun-dappled Buriganga.
The wondrous world of rooftop gardening
Perhaps, there is a hidden farmer in all of us. Although suppressed under the urban rat race, many secret gardeners have decided they will create a garden, however small, within the confines of their buildings.
Banglabazar: All things book
Walking past the Jagannath University and Dhaka Collegiate School, amid heavy noise of construction work at Dhaka Sadar Post Office, these correspondents heard a voice that cut through the cacophony in narrow lanes of Old Dhaka.
Dhaka’s vanishing wildlife
Gendaria, a neighbourhood in Old Dhaka, once known for its spacious roads and European style colonial buildings, has lost much of its grandeur.
Tanguar Haor: A paradise lost
The iconic Tanguar Haor, one of Bangladesh’s most important ecologically critical areas, is facing an uncertain future amid growing environmental threats.
Bhairab a lifeline under threat
The Bhairab river is gradually approaching its demise due to encroachment, pollution, and unplanned river dredging and bridge construction works.
Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary: So dark the greed of men
Satgar area under Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary in Chattogram used to be a lush green haven for Asian elephants.
A tapestry of faith, tradition and unity
The mud huts on the foothills of the Garo Pahar are covered with bashor lota (lady’s slipper vine) at this time of the year.
Shining through neglect
In June this year, in what seemed like a step in the right direction, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a pay bump for the contracted women’s cricketers.
Women cricketers making waves, but is next-gen ship steady?
The vast potential of women’s cricket in Bangladesh has come to the fore again following the national team’s success of late, across formats and conditions this year. But has reality at the grassroots escaped the harsher sides or, at least, on the verge of it?