Sania Aiman

Elegant blooms: Bring the joy of flowers in to celebrate Eid 

Tradition intertwines with artistry in Bengali culture and flowers have a timeless appeal for beauty and symbolism in both elements of Bangladeshi social lives.

7m ago

AI and the future of fashion

Tech and fashion have long been intertwined, and with AI entering the scene, the possibilities are endless. McKinsey's analysis predicts a significant boost in profits for the fashion industry thanks to AI.

9m ago

Walking on streets of Dhaka

During a stroll through the bustling streets of Dhaka, one would be enveloped in a whirlwind of sights, sounds, and sensations -- there’s a unique energy here, a vibrant pulse that beats to the rhythm of everyday life, singular to Dhaka.

9m ago

A trip to Darasbari mosque in Chapai Nawabganj

Rajshahi is well known for the various remains of ancient and medieval structures, remnants of a glorious past, dotted all across the region. Darasbari, a beautiful, haunting complex made of red terracotta bricks, is one of those places not often mentioned or even commonly known about except to the locals of the area.

2y ago

What does heaven look like?

Congratulations to you, my dear countrymen, welcome to heaven. But wait, heaven is…dark? One might be forgiven for thinking that here in Bangladesh at the moment, as cyclical power cuts literally leave millions in the dark for hours, and fuel prices make others see stars. It might become cheaper to buy a vehicle than the actual costs of buying a week’s fuel for it on a consistent basis. So, get walking, go green, when better than now?

2y ago

Warning signs of a heat stroke

With record breaking heat waves being experienced all over the world, heat stroke is a very real risk that many of us will face even without realising. A heatstroke, also called a sun stroke, is the most serious form of harm caused by exposure to extreme heat, usually indicated by a core body temperature of 104°C. But there are warning signs of a heatstroke in the making, and we can all look out for the following symptoms to help avoid it for ourselves and prevent it in the people around you.

2y ago

Bored at home? Here’s what you can do

Are you one of those lucky people who get to have really long holidays? Or were you forced to take the mandatory corporate block leave because it will expire? In any case, if you have some hours to fill and are getting bored otherwise, here are some ideas.

2y ago

Back to work after Eid holidays

The couple of days after Eid holidays are over, in countries like Bangladesh where a large section of urban dwellers rush back to their rural roots for festivals, offices often open up to slow pace of work and a temporarily smaller workforce. For those of us stuck at work because somebody must man the ship, it can get very boring very fast, especially if work pressure is lower than usual. Here is how to make that time a bit more bearable.

2y ago
June 18, 2022
June 18, 2022

More to mango than the himsagar: 300 varieties and counting

Small, fragrant and completely yellow when ripe, the Ranipasand mango was named such after being excessively liked by a visiting British royal during the colonial time, local Chapai Nawabganj folklore says.

June 16, 2022
June 16, 2022

Where the mangoes thrive: Rajshahi to Chapai Nawabganj

Mangoes might feel like just another fruit, but to the people of Rajshahi and its environs, they are a way of life. It is no wonder that the love for mango permeates Bengali culture, as witnessed by literature that is replete with references to magnificent mango trees and the sweet, cool and deep shade under the bountiful boughs, enticing the weary travellers to stop a while. For people like me, enjoying the fruits of nature are an act of devotion.

May 30, 2022
May 30, 2022

Evolving mosques in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, many new mosques with their edgy architecture are reflecting changes in the populace’s changing mores.

May 26, 2022
May 26, 2022

VR avatar’s sexual assault in Metaverse: What to blame now?

The incident of sexual assault on the virtual avatar of a female Betatester for Meta’s Horizon World might be baffling to some, and difficult to grasp for others, but for many others, it is a simple demonstration of what social scientists and activists have been saying for years. Sexual assault is never a survivor’s fault, only the perpetrators.

April 14, 2022
April 14, 2022

What’s the “Dhaka” magic?

There is no doubt that in terms of the public conscious of Bangladesh, being the capital of the country for 50 years, and the administrative headquarters of the region for much longer,

March 22, 2022
March 22, 2022

Shorno Chef: TV cooking competition for children between 12 and 17

Budding young chefs from across Bangladesh are flexing their cooking skills on Shorno Chef, a new television show jointly created by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and UNICEF.

February 20, 2022
February 20, 2022

Cox’s Bazar: Ready and waiting for more tourists

Bangladesh’s domestic tourism arguably was born as the beach town of Cox’s Bazar started to be recognised as a holiday destination, and it has been a bustling hub for tourists for many years now.

February 20, 2022
February 20, 2022

Bangladesh’s well-known haats

“Haat-baar” or the weekly/fortnightly bazaars aka market day are a concept enshrined in the fabric of traditional rural Bengal. In the olden times, artisans and traders of various wares would travel from one region to another,

February 15, 2022
February 15, 2022

The Ekushey spirit

One spring day, on February 21, 1952, a number of precious lives were lost to a government’s brutal reaction to a simple demand, for the right to include Bangla as an official and national language in a country where the majority of population spoke it as their native tongue.

February 8, 2022
February 8, 2022

Bay One: the first luxury liner on Chattogram-St Martin’s route

On the road by the river, over a bridge right before the approach to the BIWTA jetty no 15, the glimmering lights around the typical silhouette of a ship comes into view.