Zarif Faiaz

Zarif Faiaz is a writer, journalist, and a tech policy researcher based out of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is the In-Charge of the Tech & Startup section at The Daily Star and a Fellow at the Tech Global Institute.

Key considerations for getting bancassurance

In Bangladesh, bancassurance is gradually becoming a popular and convenient way for customers to purchase insurance products through their banks.

1m ago

Why it’s wise to start insurance at an early age

Starting insurance early is one of the smartest financial decisions a person can make—especially in Bangladesh, where insurance penetration remains low while the need for financial protection is rising.

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Bridging Bangladesh’s skills gap

Bangladesh’s vocational training sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, particularly in information and communications technology (ICT). Thousands of private training centres now operate across the country, offering similar types of courses in areas such as web development, hardware maintenance, and digital marketing. However, the absence of a standardised system of curriculum design, delivery, and assessment has contributed to wide disparities in the quality of training offered.

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Disinformation campaigns target women and minorities in Bangladesh: Study

Study reveals how gendered abuse, misinformation and disinformation on Facebook threaten democratic participation in Bangladesh, especially for women and gender-diverse individuals.

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Rewriting the future: Bangladeshi innovation in home appliances

The domestic appliance sector in Bangladesh is no longer playing catch-up with global markets, in many cases, it is leading them.

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Too old to hire? The quiet bias keeping skilled professionals out of jobs

In a world that prizes innovation and adaptability, one would assume experience is a critical asset. Yet, for many older professionals, particularly those over 50, the job market tells a different story—one where decades of service are quietly disregarded in favour of youth. Age discrimination, or ageism, in the workplace remains a pervasive but often under-acknowledged issue globally, and Bangladesh is no exception.

1m ago

The skills premium: how AI became essential for marketers

The marketing world is undergoing a seismic transformation. As generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) matures from a technical novelty into a strategic necessity, marketing professionals are being forced to adapt at a pace unprecedented in recent memory. No longer confined to the realms of data science or IT, AI has become central to the everyday operations of marketing departments, not just enhancing productivity, but fundamentally reshaping the structure, skills, and strategy of marketing teams worldwide.

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The colonial legacy in our digital infrastructure

How Bangladesh and the Global South remain trapped in digital dependence

2m ago
March 26, 2021
March 26, 2021

You don’t turn 50 everyday

At Toggle, we often spend a good portion of our content planning times thinking about what special days align with our Fridays, so we can come up with a good looking themed issue.

March 12, 2021
March 12, 2021

Everything’s changing

For starters, our editor. And now apparently social media, as we know it, is about to change as well.

March 12, 2021
March 12, 2021

Twitter is changing itself with new products in pipeline

Twitter’s major shift in its product lines was hinted with the introduction of Twitter Fleets last year – a feature that resembles Snap, Instagram and Facebook stories. In recent months, Twitter has rolled out an audio chat service called Twitter Spaces;unveiled plans for a newsletter product, and announced a new feature called Super Follows, which will let people subscribe to special content.

March 5, 2021
March 5, 2021

Is the future of social media audio only?

Social media, as we know it, might be headed for a big change. In the world of texts, photos and videos, an old trick is making a silent, but stomping comeback – audio chat rooms.

February 26, 2021
February 26, 2021

Amazon is facing off Reliance in India, here’s why

Amazon, world’s largest e-commerce business is facing off Reliance, India’s largest company in a legal battle that could shape the growth of the Indian e-commerce scenario.

February 5, 2021
February 5, 2021

Xiaomi Mi Band 5: Bang for the buck

The Mi Band 5 features a barely noticeable upgraded design. For a device that’s supposed to be worn on our wrists for the most part of the day, it could use with a little better look. It’s, however,

January 29, 2021
January 29, 2021

Revisiting Larry King’s 5 most iconic interviews

Veteran CNN talk show host Larry King has breathed his last on January 24, 2021. Over a career spanning more than six decades and over 40,000 interviews, Larry has hosted almost everyone from Putin to Paris Hilton and many more in between. In a move to pay our respects to the iconic journalist who was never afraid to ask the questions that matter, we revisit five of his most memorable interview moments.

January 29, 2021
January 29, 2021

Taming the ‘Savage Mountain’: How a team of Nepalese climbers claimed mountaineering’s last greatest prize

Nepal's greatest mountains were summitted first by foreigners while the Sherpas were treated nothing better than mules for their wealthy clients. K2's winter glory, therefore, was Nepal's own to claim. The children of mountains finally claimed the place where they always belonged. At the top.

December 18, 2020
December 18, 2020

Silver linings, at last

Look at us. We’ve almost survived an entire year of the Pandemic. But can we brace up for another? Don’t hate me, but from the looks of it, things

December 18, 2020
December 18, 2020

Covid-19 vaccine is around the corner, but here’s a reality check

At the time of writing this article, the total number of infected people in the country stands at 489,178 with a death toll of 7,020.