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
September 14, 2021
September 14, 2021

Spending like in the days of the pandemic

If there is one lesson that I can take from the COVID-19 situation, apart from appreciating good health, is my new learnt experience of being thrifty.

August 15, 2021
August 15, 2021

Knowing Bangabandhu

On 15 August, we mourn the loss of our founding father and charismatic leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. For most of us, he remains a figure larger than life we were not fortunate enough to have met or seen.

April 22, 2021
April 22, 2021

'Desi Delicacies': Tracing South Asian Muslim civilisation through food

Desi Delicacies: Food Writing from Muslim South Asia (Pan Macmillan India, 2020) is a delightful anthology edited by Claire Chambers—no stranger to the lifestyle of Muslims.

February 17, 2021
February 17, 2021

Dissecting social networks: The truth about our commenting habits

I joined social networking platforms fresh out of university. In the mid-2000s it seemed like the most happening thing to do. Failing to reap the pleasures of poking, or keeping my pet puppy, Whiskey, healthy — I felt I was a miserable virtual socialite.

February 17, 2021
February 17, 2021

Dhaka’s online food business

The lockdown-days of the coronavirus outbreak gave many a second chance to rediscover their inner fortes. While some resorted to taking up the pen or the painting brush, others looked deep into their recipe books and some honed their baking skills. Quite a few took the next, not necessarily the obvious, step!

December 15, 2020
December 15, 2020

A paper trail: Preserving fragments of an epoch

Collecting memorabilia is not a recent phenomenon, but appreciation for such assortments have today garnered much interest among the general populace. Ever since the days of our freedom struggle, there has been individuals who have preserved historical artefacts related to the Liberation War for future generations.

December 15, 2020
December 15, 2020

Fashion brands see slow sale ahead of Victory Day

Over the last two decades, Victory Day became a festivity of sorts for a lot of urban people. To cater to the growing demand, prominent fashion brands have been bringing out collections themed in red and green, and in the last few years, sales surrounding the day have consistently been high, industry insiders said.

October 4, 2020
October 4, 2020

Cloud kitchen: a recipe for growth in food business?

When the coronavirus pandemic hit Bangladesh early in March, most industries got up and on their toes. Fearing bankruptcy, they scratched their heads and looked for a way out.

September 29, 2020
September 29, 2020

The other side of Dr Fatema Begum

Born in Rangpur and raised in a peaceful environment, nature did not touch her that way back then. She grew up in a family surrounded by brothers, and hardly ever enjoyed anything else other than a game of cricket or volleyball.

September 29, 2020
September 29, 2020

Dr Sayedur Rahman Khan: In the Mission of Mending Hearts

Being a Cardiac Surgeon, or being a doctor for that matter, was not his personal calling, rather much like a typical desi story, decided by the family patriarch. But even from his student life studying MBBS at Dhaka Medical College, he realised being a doctor was, in his capacity, a way to serve people.