A market teeming with buyers and sellers of cantaloupe in Nagarkanda upazila of Faridpur yesterday on the eve of Pahela Baishakh. It is a popular fruit widely consumed throughout summer, particularly on this occasion. Only a few days ago, a violent transport blockade was threatening the prospect of a good sale following a good harvest because the farmers could not bring the fruit to markets. Recently, the political violence has eased centring about the upcoming city elections in Dhaka and Chittagong and given the choking economy a breathing space. Photo: Rezaul Karim
Ayesha Khatun has seen more than a hundred Pahela Baishakhs (she claims she is 108 or 110), and observed how society has changed with time. Talking to the photojournalist in front of her house in Bir Nahail village at Tangail sadar upazila yesterday, she spreads her trembling hands to give an idea of how big hilsas used to be in the past. She did not remember when she tasted a hilsa last but said her husband would buy the fish for Tk 1 or 2 in their early days of marriage. Widowed two years ago, the mother of five sons thinks good food has been a rarity today, while greed has become the order of the day. Photo: Mirza Shakil
A student of the fine arts faculty of Dhaka University gives finishing touches yesterday afternoon to a giant replica of a deer, made of papier meche and bamboo, which will adorn the traditional Pahela Baishakh procession on the campus today, known as Mongol Shobhajatra. Photo: Rashed Shumon
The winning team from Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) along with guests at the two-day "NASA Space Apps Challenge" held on the IUB campus in the capital on Friday. The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services was the local organiser of the event. Photo: Collected
Officials and employees of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital cleaning the apron area on Civil Aviation Authority Apron Cleanliness Day yesterday to create awareness among staff about keeping the apron free from unwanted stuff like stones and metal pieces which can cause serious damage to aircraft. Photo: Rashed Shumon
