M H Haider

It seems that the whole country is on a shopping spree. The numerous malls of Dhaka are overflowing with people, tireless even in the month of Ramadan. After all, Eid is just around the corner.

The independent sultanate of Bengal was 200 years (roughly 1338-1538) of glory. Trade and commerce flourished. Muslin enjoyed an immense fame. Travellers who visited Sonargaon, an extremely vital city during the period, were awed by its splendour. Arts and literature thrived.

The signature fountains of Pan Pacific Sonargaon -- as you enter its premises and walk through the lobby -- somehow provide a refreshment in this hot and humid weather, especially if you are fasting.

On 13 June, 2015 Intellectual Property Association of Bangladesh (IPAB) had launched a campaign, titled 'RRBG- Nokol Rudhbo, Chorachalan Rukhbo, Rajossho Barabo, Desh Gorbo' at the ballroom of Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel Dhaka. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed MP was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony.

They say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Who is the beholder, we ask? Who defines beauty?

The platter provided the guests with a burst of flavours. You had the very hot and spicy Mongolian beef, the milder prawn item and the tangy olives in the salad.

From 25 May to 31 May, 2015 an Indian culinary fiesta was held at The Westin Dhaka's Seasonal Tastes restaurant.

“The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of

The traditional art of Jamdani weaving, which is included in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is an intricate process that takes several years to master. Nevertheless, as an outsider, the process is a fascinating one to observe - from the indigenous loom to the fine tasks of the weavers.

Once you've visited a Jamdani haat, you will think twice before metaphorically referring to a crowded and noisy place as a 'macher bazaar'.

WE have had a bad start, haven't we? Day 1 did not go well at all. Pohela Boishakh celebrations ended with a series of sexual assaults that took place at TSC, Dhaka University, which is one of the central hubs of the Bengali New Year's celebration.

IT was not to be any ordinary meeting. Now that the Buddha was gone, it became a growing worry that his teachings would become lost, misstated or corrupted.

What can a Chinese military general and an Italian political philosopher do for your career? A lot, apparently, if the general's name is Sun Tzu and the philosopher is Niccolò Machiavelli. They wrote two books that can immensely help you in your professional life.

Can our world stay this way forever? Trying to answer this reminds us of the world population. To feed all the human beings of the planet, science had to interfere: the world is bountiful, but even its bounty needed to be stretched and boosted in order to keep up with the growing population.

Accounts of Chinese Buddhist pilgrims and many literary and epigraphic records regarding Bengal between the 5th and 7th centuries paint an incredible picture in the mind.

And interestingly, it had been like that, in some way, in our history too. Bengal had held superiority in textile goods since olden times. The legacy of our textile industry is something to be proud of.

“I will gladly trade you my fishing net for your city life,” Johnny, my cousin who lived in our ancestral home in Khitirpara, Bikrampur used to say. But for me - being an urbanite - the rural landscape has always been inviting.

“DON'T be afraid. We will live,” the grievously wounded man tried to assure his companion.

Nothing was planned. It came almost instinctively. Since she was a child, she saw her mother as a culinary enthusiast, collecting recipes and experimenting to make foods of different sorts.

The days and times of our lives have been rather agonising, given the political tension our country is currently going through.