Maisha Islam Monamee

The author is a student of Institute of Business Administration (IBA) at the University of Dhaka and a contributor at The Daily Star.

How K-dramas became our favourite form of emotional escapism

There are few things as consistent as our unstable Wi-Fi, existential dread, and a go-to playlist of Korean dramas to cushion reality’s blows—especially for Gen Z, myself included. To love K-dramas is to willingly suspend disbelief, bask in a world where minor inconveniences spiral into grand epiphanies, and where misunderstandings are solved with monologues. The question is not why we watch K-dramas, but why, in a country that has its fair share of daily drama, we still crave more — and from 5,000 kilometres away, no less.

1d ago

Bangladeshi researcher invents drone-based disaster communication system

A. F. M. Shahen Shah, a Bangladeshi researcher based in Turkey, has developed drone-based technology that could significantly improve emergency communication during natural disasters. His work, which has gained notable coverage in Turkish media, addresses the critical problem of the collapse of communication networks following disasters such as earthquakes and floods.

5d ago

Understanding Gen Z’s newfound obsession with Pakistani dramas

Pakistani dramas, once a peripheral cultural product in this region, have seemingly surged in popularity among Gen Z viewers in Bangladesh. Not in a nostalgically indulgent way, but with the kind of fervent devotion that leads to 1-billion-view YouTube milestones, fan edits on Instagram, and TikTok videos that reimagine tearful climaxes as memes. The real question is no longer whether this trend is genuine, it is, but rather why now?

2w ago

Bangladeshi founders raise $2.6M to launch world’s first self-driving AI CRM

Bangladeshi-led startup Octolane secures $2.6M to launch the world’s first self-driving AI CRM, transforming how sales teams engage with customers.

2w ago

‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’: A love letter to endurance, memory, and the women of Jeju

"When Life Gives You Tangerines" has sparked a frenzy on social media, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about K-dramas of the year. It is not just the powerhouse performances of IU and Park Bo-gum or its beautifully shot cinematography that have captured the audience’s attention but the way the series lingers, offering a meditation on love, family, and time that feels both universal and deeply rooted in Korean culture. The show, which takes its time to unfold, has become a viral sensation, with fans and critics alike drawn to its emotional depth and understated storytelling. But beyond the buzz, this show’s quiet power lies in the way it draws you in, inviting you to reflect on the intricacies of life, love, and the enduring bonds that shape us.

3w ago

The ultimate guide to acing business competitions

Business competitions are among the most rewarding experiences a BBA student can have. Participating in these competitions provides exposure to real corporate problems often presented by leading companies.

3w ago

How Eid nostalgia thrives in a tech-driven world

The world has changed, and with it, so has Eid. Yet, paradoxically, technology is bringing back the very elements we thought we had lost.

1m ago

How Netflix’s UGC is a masterclass in brand loyalty

Netflix has long been at the forefront of digital entertainment, leading the shift from DVD rentals to streaming dominance. But its latest move—integrating user-generated content (UGC) into its platform—is perhaps one of its most ingenious strategies so far.

1m ago
May 1, 2025
May 1, 2025

How K-dramas became our favourite form of emotional escapism

There are few things as consistent as our unstable Wi-Fi, existential dread, and a go-to playlist of Korean dramas to cushion reality’s blows—especially for Gen Z, myself included. To love K-dramas is to willingly suspend disbelief, bask in a world where minor inconveniences spiral into grand epiphanies, and where misunderstandings are solved with monologues. The question is not why we watch K-dramas, but why, in a country that has its fair share of daily drama, we still crave more — and from 5,000 kilometres away, no less.

April 27, 2025
April 27, 2025

Bangladeshi researcher invents drone-based disaster communication system

A. F. M. Shahen Shah, a Bangladeshi researcher based in Turkey, has developed drone-based technology that could significantly improve emergency communication during natural disasters. His work, which has gained notable coverage in Turkish media, addresses the critical problem of the collapse of communication networks following disasters such as earthquakes and floods.

April 17, 2025
April 17, 2025

Understanding Gen Z’s newfound obsession with Pakistani dramas

Pakistani dramas, once a peripheral cultural product in this region, have seemingly surged in popularity among Gen Z viewers in Bangladesh. Not in a nostalgically indulgent way, but with the kind of fervent devotion that leads to 1-billion-view YouTube milestones, fan edits on Instagram, and TikTok videos that reimagine tearful climaxes as memes. The real question is no longer whether this trend is genuine, it is, but rather why now?

April 15, 2025
April 15, 2025

Bangladeshi founders raise $2.6M to launch world’s first self-driving AI CRM

Bangladeshi-led startup Octolane secures $2.6M to launch the world’s first self-driving AI CRM, transforming how sales teams engage with customers.

April 8, 2025
April 8, 2025

‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’: A love letter to endurance, memory, and the women of Jeju

"When Life Gives You Tangerines" has sparked a frenzy on social media, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about K-dramas of the year. It is not just the powerhouse performances of IU and Park Bo-gum or its beautifully shot cinematography that have captured the audience’s attention but the way the series lingers, offering a meditation on love, family, and time that feels both universal and deeply rooted in Korean culture. The show, which takes its time to unfold, has become a viral sensation, with fans and critics alike drawn to its emotional depth and understated storytelling. But beyond the buzz, this show’s quiet power lies in the way it draws you in, inviting you to reflect on the intricacies of life, love, and the enduring bonds that shape us.

April 8, 2025
April 8, 2025

The ultimate guide to acing business competitions

Business competitions are among the most rewarding experiences a BBA student can have. Participating in these competitions provides exposure to real corporate problems often presented by leading companies.

March 31, 2025
March 31, 2025

How Eid nostalgia thrives in a tech-driven world

The world has changed, and with it, so has Eid. Yet, paradoxically, technology is bringing back the very elements we thought we had lost.

March 30, 2025
March 30, 2025

How Netflix’s UGC is a masterclass in brand loyalty

Netflix has long been at the forefront of digital entertainment, leading the shift from DVD rentals to streaming dominance. But its latest move—integrating user-generated content (UGC) into its platform—is perhaps one of its most ingenious strategies so far.

March 29, 2025
March 29, 2025

Miyazaki, AI, and the weight of human ingenuity in art

One ought to adhere to a certain level of reverence when talking about Hayao Miyazaki. The man has dedicated his life to a form of animation that values patience over production speed, detail over efficiency, and emotion over mere aesthetics. Back in 2016, he made a public statement regarding AI-generated art, where he called it an “insult to life itself”. To therefore understand the weight of the proclamation itself is to understand the nature of his art.

March 25, 2025
March 25, 2025

'The Electric State' and its missed connections

This year "The Electric State" arrived as one of Netflix’s most expensive gambits, a film burdened not only by a budget that exceeds $300 million but also by a creative lineage that promises much. The Russo brothers, known for their mastery of blockbuster spectacle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), bring their vision to a film set against the dystopian backdrop of a desolate, near-future world where robots and humanity are in a state of uneasy coexistence. Based on the acclaimed illustrated novel of the same name by Simon Stålenhag, the film stars Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, and Anthony Mackie. Despite the star power, the enormous investment, and the high expectations surrounding its release, "The Electric State" struggles to live up to its ambitious...