FIELD OF GOLD… Farmers harvesting Aman paddy grown on the Gumai beel – one of the largest paddy fields in the country, with an area spanning 3,000 hectares. The second largest beel in the country after Chalan beel, it starts from Mariamnagar in Rangunia upazila and ends at Rangamati’s Nishchintapur. For its fertility, Gumai is known as the grain storehouse of Chattogram. Earlier this year, there was a bumper yield of Boro paddy on this field as well. The photo was taken recently. PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN
CROWN OF ASH :
A male Ashy-crowned sparrow lark about to fly off with some dried grass to build a nest for his family on an open land in Sylhet’s Moulvibazar. A petite marvel in the realm of birds, the Ashy-crowned sparrow lark sports a beautiful full-bodied beak. As a true wanderer, it ventures into open lands and is found in such places across South Asia. It spends most of its time on the ground, where it feeds, nests and roosts. When startled or disturbed, the bird will take a crouching position before flying off, which is why in some Hindi dialects, it is referred as “dabhak churi” – meaning crouching sparrow. PHOTO: TIMU HOSSAIN
Police officials frisk and check a passenger at the Agargaon metro rail station. Due to recent arson attacks on trains and buses, law enforcers have been deployed at metro stations across the city to assist the MRT police unit and amp up security ahead of the January 7 polls. Photo: Prabir Das/Star
People, mostly child patients and their guardians, struggle to walk on the footpath in front of the Shishu Hospital as a significant part of it remains occupied by makeshift stalls and hawkers. The photo was taken at Sher-E-Bangla Nagar yesterday. Photo: Palash Khan
Amid nature’s colourplay, six friends enjoy a game of cricket on a winter noon in Gaibandha yesterday. Photo: Mostafa Shabuj
