Mannan Mashhur Zarif

Empty nest? More like an empty heart: How one family turned loneliness into love

A woman facing an empty nest found renewed purpose by taking in her house-help's daughter. Despite restrictive adoption laws in Bangladesh, her family secured guardianship, focusing on emotional support and building a fulfilling bond.

3w ago

Think you've seen it all? Wait till you visit this 8th-century gem in Bangladesh

Somapura Mahavihara — “the Great Monastery situated in the locality of the moon” — is one of the oldest monuments in the country, and a UNESCO heritage site. Located to the northwest of Bangladesh in the district of Naogaon, the ruins of the Buddhist vihara at Paharpur serves as a cue to what was once a flourishing Buddhist culture.

1m ago

A postcard from memory lane: Revisiting Dhaka’s GPO

My earliest recollections of the city’s General Post Office are linked to my late grandmother.

1m ago

Unveiling the goddess within

Durga Puja celebrates Goddess Durga, highlighting her strength, courage, and compassion. These divine traits are present in every woman, empowering them to face challenges and embrace their inner goddess during the festival and beyond.

1m ago

Sharat’s graceful homage

Fall brings a whole new meaning to Bengali fashion. In this day and age, we love taking cues from global trends and fusing them with our versatile styles the rest of the year, but come this season we still lean towards more traditional forms and hues.

1m ago

Kashful fields and starry nights: The magic of autumn in Bengal

Fall, in this part of the world, may not be marked by a profound stillness. Nevertheless, even in Bengal, the season brings about noticeable changes.

2m ago

Tourism in turmoil: How political unrest and floods crippled Bangladesh

Currently, the Bangladeshi tourism sector is witnessing unprecedented problems. While this was supposed to be one of the peak seasons, due to the recent political situation and the current flood that is sweeping many parts of the country, the hospitality industry seems to have come to a standstill.

3m ago

Cultural heritage in a bowl: The taste of Bogura’r doi

Bogura, once a quaint town, is now a bustling metropolis, but its legendary curd, Bogura’r doi, remains a symbol of tradition. This gourmet delight blends age-old recipes with the finest local ingredients. Artisans meticulously craft it, starting with fresh cow’s milk, boiled and reduced, then fermented in clay pots.

3m ago
March 26, 2022
March 26, 2022

London 1971 — A political frontier of the Liberation War

Warzones of the 1971 War were many, and political confrontations were often fought thousands of miles away from the battleground. Case in point, London — the bustling metropolis where expat Bengalis, and people with conscience of all nationalities launched a civil protest, and thus began a diplomatic struggle against the Pakistani military junta.

March 15, 2022
March 15, 2022

Parenting 101: Understanding the need of giving sex education to children

 Recently, there has been much talk about sex education — long considered a social taboo in Bangladesh. Specialists agree that comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) should be an integral part of school curriculum, and that in an ideal setting, it should begin at home.

March 1, 2022
March 1, 2022

Positive discrimination to create a gender balanced society

Unfortunate as it may be, we still do not live in such a world. Gender equality is a far cry under most circumstances, but we are working together in our society to eradicate discrimination at all levels.

February 20, 2022
February 20, 2022

Sewing for the groom: Points to remember before ordering the perfect wedding sherwani

Designers across town will vouch for the fact that although festivities calm down at the end of winter, the proverbial ‘wedding season’ is now a yearlong phenomenon.

February 15, 2022
February 15, 2022

Celebrating Ekushey

It has been 70 years since that fateful February morning.

December 16, 2021
December 16, 2021

Stories of the liberation war, and how we must never forget to pass it on

Fifty years have now passed since that glorious day in December 1971 when we achieved victory after a battle for nine months.

October 19, 2021
October 19, 2021

Golden girls of the silver screen

When Honey Ryder rises from the waters in a daring costume with conch shells in her hands and a dagger by her side, the world took notice.

October 5, 2021
October 5, 2021

The time when social media was out

The impossible has happened. Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp et al — social media, as we know it, was down for some six hours. And, we survived!

October 5, 2021
October 5, 2021

Seventeenth anniversary exhibition at Galleri Kaya

Galleri Kaya celebrates its 17th founding anniversary through a soon to be inaugurated exhibit at its Uttara premises beginning Friday, 8 October 2021. The eagerly anticipated annual event is set to exhibit some 72 artworks from 32 modern and contemporary artists. It will be an opportunity for connoisseurs and art lovers alike to experience works by some of the greatest names in the local art scene.

September 21, 2021
September 21, 2021

Autumn in Dhaka

The days have turned hot and sultry; the nights and the mornings have cooled down. This year, autumn comes soaked in the dew of renewed optimism, albeit not without its dash of melancholia.