Raffat Binte Rashid

Raffat Binte Rashid

Raffat Binte Rashid is editor of My Dhaka at The Daily Star.

When did Dhaka swap tea for coffee? A tea lover’s dilemma

The article celebrates the rich culture, heritage, and health benefits of tea, lamenting Dhaka’s shift toward coffee culture. It envisions a dream tea bar honouring traditional tea rituals, artisan varieties, and community connection amid modern coffee trends.

3w ago

Finding the men in pink

There are men in pink or men who support women’s rights.

3w ago

The rickshaw debate

For some, the battery-run vehicles are a time-efficient and cost-effective blessing; for others, they are a dangerous disruption to the already precarious traffic system.

1m ago

Eid retail rush: A shopper’s guide to Dhaka

Who is crazy enough to go window shopping at this time of the year? I mean during the month of Ramadan, and that too in a cosmopolitan like Dhaka.

2m ago

Breaking the retirement myth Embracing a second innings

Iris Apfel was one of my favourite celebrities. Apfel was an American textile expert and interior designer by profession.

3m ago

A new era in elderly care

Dr Asha Islam Nayeem, a professor in the Department of History at the Dhaka University, has a heart-wrenching story.

4m ago

Shopping in Dhaka: A trip down memory lane

I heard a friend say that no matter where she goes shopping, be it on 5th Avenue in New York, in old Delhi, or even at Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, nothing beats the pleasure she finds shopping in Dhaka’s shopping districts: Chandni Chawk, Hawker’s, and New Market.

5m ago

Dhaka: In search of the beginning

The history of Dhaka is as fluid and majestic as the rivers that surround it. Over the centuries, the city’s course has shifted, evolving with each new civilisation that passed through, leaving behind traces of their cultures in its soil.

6m ago
September 14, 2024
September 14, 2024

The thriving world of Bangladeshi ceramics

Bangladesh’s booming ceramic industry is as thriving as our readymade garment (RMG) sector, which I say from my many shopping exploits.

September 7, 2024
September 7, 2024

A battleground of change: Role of DU in social movements

The pulsating energy of Dhaka University campus works as a catalyst to inspire students and shape their conscience.

August 24, 2024
August 24, 2024

Graffiti vs Regime

The early stages of the quota reform movement in Bangladesh saw the use of a subtle yet powerful language of protest: graffiti.

August 3, 2024
August 3, 2024

Barishal, a serene escape amid nature’s bounty

Surrounded by tall coconut and betel nut trees, picturesque ponds, and lagoons -- the green countryside makes Barishal a great city for local tourism.

July 6, 2024
July 6, 2024

Embracing the old-world charm, one antique at a time

There is a certain drama in being mystified with all things retro and vintage.

May 17, 2024
May 17, 2024

Rediscovering self: A note to me

In life to give your 100 percent to any one of your relationships you have to lose more than what you gave to that person.

May 11, 2024
May 11, 2024

A love affair with tea

I wonder what it is in a cup of tea that makes it so invigorating. The obvious answer would be the stimulant, caffeine, or the particular flavour of the leaves seeping into the hot water and the aroma that takes over your senses.

May 4, 2024
May 4, 2024

Hats off to our green heroes!

The first time I fell in love with plants was when I saw my mother’s glossy green pothos arranged in old porcelain bowls that were slightly chipped off.

March 23, 2024
March 23, 2024

Breaking free of patriarchal moulds: A daughter's journey

A daughter’s identity is not defined by who she is fundamentally or characteristically, but who she should become to thrive in a man’s world.

March 9, 2024
March 9, 2024

Islampur: a business hub with centuries-old vibe

If listened carefully, amid the maddening hustle and bustle, cacophony of sounds, one might find a strange harmony in the chaos -- a thing that links this place to a bygone era.