Firoz A Muzahid

Fishing in Bay: Stymied by poor catch, lengthy ban

For the past three years, the government has been imposing 65 days of fishing ban in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Bangladesh at Bay of Bengal.  

3y ago

Nothing to see there anymore

Leading British architect-planner Graeme Shankland once said, “A country without a past has the emptiness of a barren continent, and a city without old buildings is like a man without a memory.”

3y ago

Social forestry: who do you serve?

Under a quizzical social forestry project undertaken right in the middle of a natural forestland in Moulvibazar’s Kulaura upazila, the Forest Department is jeopardising age-old natural forestry as well as livelihoods of several hundred people living in the area for generations.

3y ago

Locals raise Tk 16 lakh in five days to install central oxygen supply

Belongingness, willingness, compassion and leadership go a long way when it comes to overcoming any difficult situation or task.

3y ago

No ICU, testing lab for 28 lakh residents of Patuakhali, Barguna

It has been more than a year since the novel coronavirus pandemic broke out in the country.

3y ago

‘Strict’ on paper, reality suggests otherwise

When the death toll due to the highly infectious Delta variant of Covid-19 has been on the rise across the country, the largest weekly livestock market in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj continue to be arranged without ensuring any health safety rules.

3y ago

Breaking taboo with needles

Seeing young Aminul Islam’s keen interest in embroidery and needlework, the villagers used to tease him saying, “Embroidery is for women and girls. Why do you like it so much? Are you a housewife?”

3y ago

Two jobs and a mayor

Ignoring the Monthly Payment Order (MPO) Policy 2021, an acting principal of a government college, has been enjoying amenities of two jobs since he was elected mayor of Dinajpur’s Birampur municipality in January this year.

3y ago
March 10, 2021
March 10, 2021

Disability fails to hold back widow

Physically challenged Rozina Begum was left with two young children when she was widowed six months ago, at only 35 years of age.

December 16, 2020
December 16, 2020

Martyrs who still remain unrecognised

It was time to rebel. It was time to revolt. It was 1971.

December 3, 2020
December 3, 2020

The ‘Birangona’ we never knew

It was a Saturday noon in 1971 when Jahiron Bewa’s world came tumbling down.

November 26, 2020
November 26, 2020

‘Wonder girl’ reaches for the stars

Out of all the limbs in her body, only one arm is functional. And in that arm, only three out of four fingers work properly.

November 10, 2020
November 10, 2020

She fights on, 24 years later

It has been 24 years since retired school teacher Kanon Bala Devi, now 71, her sister Basona Devi and their widowed relative Nayan Rani fled from their village home -- in Shahbazpur village of in Netrakona’s Purbadhala upazila -- where they had everything.

November 2, 2020
November 2, 2020

A green enclave called ‘Gaach Bari’

Everyone in Laxmandia village, in Shailakupa upazila, feels proud when visitors from faraway places come looking for “Gaach Bari” in their village.

August 18, 2020
August 18, 2020

When 79 years is not enough

How long does it take to solve a trivial problem at a school where hundreds of youngsters take their first lessons to be good human beings and responsible citizens of the country?

July 26, 2020
July 26, 2020

It exists only in paper

The pandemic has ruined livelihoods of many hardworking honest people, but it apparently could not stop those who had been repeatedly feasting on public money.

March 31, 2020
March 31, 2020

The Koras of the War

“I’ve got to do something for my country -- that’s all I could think of. I have to free my country from Pakistan,” Kina Kora reminisced about how he felt when the Pakistani occupation army cracked down on unarmed Bangladeshis in the dark night of March 25 in 1971.

January 6, 2020
January 6, 2020

The last of the Koras

They took part in laying rail tracks -- one of the primary infrastructural backbones of the country. Several of them fought for the country’s independence in 1971.