Mannan Mashhur Zarif

Embracing the chaos: The art of creation

Creative blocks mirror nature’s barren phases, yet chaos and stillness birth inspiration. True creativity resists control, flowing from instinct and emotion. In its wild, sacred moments, we connect deeply—with self, soul, and the art of becoming.

1m ago

A wall’s eye-view diary of a neighbourhood

Every locality in this city has stories, and none seem to speak louder than the anecdotes shared by walls! Case in point: Shantinagar! Having lived here for over four decades, I am no stranger to the tales they offer, and curiously, these narratives are ever-changing.

1m ago

Old Dhaka Weddings: Of flavours and traditions

In Old Dhaka, kachchi biriyani has emerged as the quintessential wedding dish

2m ago

Shakrain: Kites and tastes of Old Dhaka

Shakrain is now observed by the entire community of Old Dhaka

2m ago

Rashid Choudhury: Weaving magic into Bangladesh’s art scene

Rashid Choudhury revolutionized Bangladeshi art by pioneering modern tapestry, blending Bengal’s cultural heritage with European techniques. His vibrant, symbolic works redefined artistic boundaries, inspiring generations and transforming textile art into a powerful medium of national identity.

3m ago

An Eid lunch to remember

Kumkum Rahman grew up in Dhaka. As part of the generation of the ’70s, she has recollections of a relatively quaint city, free from the hustle and bustle of the present day. Among her most treasured memories are those of Ramadan in the metropolis, but what remains etched in her heart is the joy of Eid in a bygone era.

3m ago

Abahani vs. Mohammedan: The football rivalry that defined a generation

Back in the day, the Abahani-Mohammedan rivalry was as fierce as Real Madrid-Barcelona

3m ago

Why I will always love the month of Ramadan

Ramadan holds a special place in the heart, rooted in childhood memories of fasting, reading, and spending time with family. The sacred month provides a chance for reflection, reconnecting with loved ones, and appreciating life's simple, meaningful moments.

4m ago
August 21, 2018
August 21, 2018

Nazneen Haque Mimi's Travel Journal

What makes travelogues intriguing still? Why do people still make an effort to read when complementing images alone can take one through a journey into the unknown— the chaos of a city; the sublimity of wilderness?

August 14, 2018
August 14, 2018

Safety first

These are more important than the don'ts for a simple reason — they are true for every traveller irrespective of the season or the country. The guidelines for travelling are general and more of a matter of judgement, a civil affair rather than a legal one.

August 7, 2018
August 7, 2018

Timeless yet changing architecture

Sparkling décor of vines and patterns on ceramic walls of a mosque, magnificent domes, and tall minarets for the muezzin to call for prayers are all too synonymous to what we consider as distinguishing features of Islamic art, or to be more precise — Muslim architecture.

July 31, 2018
July 31, 2018

Alpana Habib — “the happy homecook”

Almost four hundred prime-time television recipe shows. Over 24,000 Likes on the Facebook page, ‘Alpana Habibs Cooking Club.’

May 4, 2018
May 4, 2018

Collector's Exhibition - A celebration of passion

As alien as it may seem to us today, baby boomers are no strangers to the fad of matchbox collecting. Millennials will remember the pleasure of removing stamps from an envelope, soaking them in water and once dry, sticking them on albums. Coins and banknotes have always been popular and even today an average Joe carefully preserves a ragged note long out of circulation.

May 1, 2018
May 1, 2018

An exhibition of collectibles in Chittagong

People have the general perception that leisurely pursuits like stamps and coin collecting are dying pursuits. This is far from reality, as the exhibition — Numismatic, Philatelic and Hobby-Item Exhibition2018 — organised by Chittagong Collector's Club between Thursday, 3 May and Saturday, 5 May at the Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Gallery, Zilla Shilpakala Academy, Chittagong will show.

April 3, 2018
April 3, 2018

Alta…Churi…Feeta

The belle is a likeness of the goddess to romantics; a literary or visual imagery handed over generation after generation of writers, novelists, painters and sculptors, not to mention the roadside Romeos! Times have changed, yet the look of a quintessential girl is the exact same — taant, alta, churi, feeta…

March 20, 2018
March 20, 2018

The portrait of an artist

How does one pay tribute to the lifetime achievements of an artist, especially when the iconoclast is Ferdousi Priyabhashini? Growing up in Khulna, a quaint town of the then East Pakistan, she once nurtured a passion for music. Her relinquished desire to become an exponent of Tagore gave Bangladesh one of its most revered sculptors.

March 20, 2018
March 20, 2018

The honesty of a white Panjabi

The finely woven sheer kurta comes out of the drawer every Friday morning. Blued at the laundry for the desired snowy-white appearance, the panjabi is stiff and comes neatly folded. The fabric crinkles as one separates the layers glued from the dip-starch, and as one walks towards the masjid chanting the takbir, the all-white ensemble complemented with a whiff of rose water completes the sanctified aura of Jumu'ah.

January 30, 2018
January 30, 2018

Recipe for change

My culinary experiments began at the tender age of seven, and involved puddings, singaras and vegetable rolls.