Aanila Kishwar Tarannum

The case of the missing girl: Where are we in Bangla children’s literature?

It wasn’t until my 20s that I realised I had read less than 10 Bengali women authors in my childhood and adolescence.

3y ago

Fashion: Self-expression or consumerism?

Clothing carries undeniable meaning, becoming a strong vehicle for self-expression.

3y ago

Iconic TSC soon to be erased

In the wake of Dhaka University’s birth centenary in 2021, the decision to bulldoze its historical Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) and replace it with a multi-storied structure shocked students, alumni, and residents of Dhaka.

3y ago

What good is the DSA if it can’t protect women from online harassment?

There is little I can add to what has already been said about the shaming, blaming and moral policing of women on the internet.

4y ago

On broken things like the economy and young people’s spirits

For the number of times I have seen older people address and advise the youth, I have seen very few instances of the former assuming the role of a listener.

4y ago

From footpath to Facebook

Sixty-four-year-old Habibur Rahman came to Dhaka from Narsingdi in 1988. For the past 32 years, he has been selling books around the city, and now, to the elderly man’s amazement, he is selling books online with the help of his son.

4y ago

Periods to be replaced with commas in women’s bodies

When my editor asked me to write a period piece for this week’s Satireday, I was quite perplexed. After all, it is common knowledge that periods have been cancelled, and emojis now mark the end of sentences (¬‿¬)

4y ago

Worse off at a shelter

Photos taken by activists at a shelter called Kalua’s Homes at Baruikhali of the capital’s Rayerbazar area have revealed a dismal picture. Scores of well and unwell dogs were photographed cramped inside a small shed, while paralysed cats were found in cages. Some of the dogs were all skin and bones, as the food given to them were inedible and covered with mould.

4y ago

March 10, 2019

The millennial way of campaigning

In almost three decades, since the last Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) election, a lot has changed. Social media is now an indispensable part of students' lives, with Facebook being a popular platform for sharing information. Campaigning is no longer limited to the streets, it is also done through carefully curated content online.

March 8, 2019

Imagining a women-friendly city

While science fiction novels have moved on to imagining lunar cities where people travel on hoverboards, Bangladeshi women can still barely imagine a place where half of its population isn't constantly discriminated against. No one here dreams of hoverboards—they just want good buses they can get on without being groped or having their wallets stolen.

March 1, 2019

Everything you need to know about DUCSU election

Earlier this week, I learned that many Dhaka University (DU) students have absolutely no clue what DUCSU is. Some have only seen this name being thrown around in memes, some have seen it on a building on campus, but they're not sure what it means.

February 22, 2019

From Patharia to Lusai

The books we read as children have a much stronger influence on us than the ones we read as adults. When I was little, my only goal was to finish one book and get started on the next.

February 8, 2019

Hello, kishor bondhura

As a child, my one and only after-school activity was reading. I was extremely unathletic and I only got to watch TV for a limited amount of time before the adults in the house took over with their news and Ekta Kapoor shows. None of this was a problem for me, because there were always enough books.

January 25, 2019