Gold hits Tk 2,17,381: What this means for Dhaka jewellery buyers
A woman's gold is not only her strength, but her investments; by nature, a woman likes to save for rainy days.
20 October 2025, 18:20 PM
Why Bangladesh’s furniture fair is turning heads
A furniture fair is not exactly my idea of an afternoon outing. However, when my expat friend, who is returning to Dhaka to finally settle down, decided to explore the local furniture market, the ongoing five-day National Furniture Fair at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) seemed like the right choice.
18 October 2025, 18:28 PM
From quacks to qualified vets, Dhaka’s evolving pet care scene
People are becoming increasingly aware of animal welfare, leading to an increase in pet ownership and a push for better care for strays.
10 October 2025, 18:35 PM
In the heart of chaos, I find Dhaka’s flavour
Do you know why I will always be true to Dhaka? I admit that the metropolis is chaotic, but I do enjoy the fuss, the cacophony, and the colours in the lanes and by-lanes of this ever-changing city. Yet, it’s the food scene that I love most. I believe I know the town well enough, but every now and then, I stumble upon a hidden gem: a food corner that most people do not know of.
5 October 2025, 18:31 PM
Durga’s feast: From luchi to payesh, tradition reborn
The elaborate and painstakingly selected menu for the divine daughter is the best of South Asian vegetarian recipes; puffed up soft luchi (flatbread) that has a pearly sheen from being deep fried, potato curry, or alu’r daam as we call it locally, a mixed lentil curry and vegetable labra, and a hog plum or amra’r chutney.
1 October 2025, 18:15 PM
Durga Puja and Dhaka’s shared past
Once again, the majestic visitor of Sarat, or autumn, descends to her father’s abode on her annual visit. This year, Goddess Durga is riding an elephant, which, according to traditional Hindu belief, is the regal and auspicious mode of transport that promises good times for her devotees.
27 September 2025, 18:00 PM
Empowering breast cancer patients through community support
An initiative that I am particularly passionate about is TishCAN, a humble support group dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer patients who are unable to solicit donations or raise funds on their own.
22 September 2025, 18:13 PM
Vanishing hilsa and price we’re paying
It was my friend’s birthday, and I forgot to wish him. As penance, I treated him to a hilsa dinner.
21 September 2025, 18:18 PM
Of patriarchy and a need to change
People invariably get hurt by loved ones; whether they meant to do it or not remains another question to ponder on. I am talking about family elders, who should by now know how to conduct themselves in this time and era of all things politically correct.
26 October 2020, 18:00 PM
Ilish fiesta
It was already cloudy when we started early in the morning for a launch ride over the mighty Padma. The unpredictable weather was an impending threat, and our only concern was whether a Kalboishakhi will brew out of nowhere and throw a damper on our day out.
19 October 2020, 18:00 PM
Vibrant hues
There is something about the red and white; it reminds me of Apu and Durga, or Devdas and Paro, and invariably in a Sarat or autumn setting.
12 October 2020, 18:00 PM
Life lessons from the Coronavirus outbreak
And then COVID-19 happened, and everything came to a staggering halt.
5 October 2020, 18:00 PM
Happy Heart Day
A slight discomfort in the chest, and I immediately imagine an impending heart attack, not thinking twice that it could easily be some other ailment.
28 September 2020, 18:00 PM
A heart of gold
Dr N A M Momenuzzaman, eminent cardiologist at United Hospital, might appear to be very austere and serious, but when you sit to chat with him, you will be proved wrong. The busy physician loves to play the flute, enjoys farming, and takes pleasure in holidaying with friends.
28 September 2020, 18:00 PM
Global kitchens
Cosmopolitanism is all about accepting societal norms and cultures from many different countries and being open to different ideas and ways of doing things. From fashion to cuisine, it was been injected into our everyday lives, and truly enough that it has become a staple in our kitchen and experiments with all things food.
21 September 2020, 18:00 PM
Subscribing to newspapers in the new normal
We saw our fathers and grandfathers reading newspapers while having their morning tea. Later, with us, we read the papers in the car on our way to work or during hurried breakfasts.
7 September 2020, 18:00 PM
Normalising the new normal
For how long will I be doing office work plopped in some randomcorner of the house, the rooftop garden or the balcony? For how long will I have meetings in zoom, sitting in my living room?
31 August 2020, 18:00 PM
Plants for interior décor
Plants brighten up our moods and help reduce stress and anxiety; the greens friends make us feel calmer and self-aligned.
24 August 2020, 18:00 PM
A night at the InterContinental
So, all the painting, gardening, cooking, baking and other verbs ending in ‘ings’ that we did to keep ourselves happy and occupied during this lockdown have run dry. We are just tired of inventing ideas and taking up new hobbies to keep a check on our sanity; at least it holds true for me.
17 August 2020, 18:00 PM
My lone battle
A part of my soul is dead, and the other half is dying a slow death. Amid such painful existence, how do I breathe every day and carry on with my duties each day? It’s a question I ask myself continuously.
20 July 2020, 18:00 PM
Monsoon gardening tips
Monsoon is the season of beauty in Bangladesh. Everything around you is fresh, rain soaked, and green; even the polluted Dhaka air feels fresh. Our streets, our cityscape, rooftop gardens, the plants in the balconies — all beaming at their brightest.
6 July 2020, 18:00 PM
My own Scarborough
I named my herb patch Scarborough Fair, not because I have parsley, rosemary and thyme, but amusingly every time my husband sees me working on the herb bed, he sings this song. And somehow, I grew fond of the lyrics.
15 June 2020, 18:00 PM
Nature-bathing
There are times when I am overworked or stressed, and for a relief, I picture myself on the sandy beach of Teknaf, waves crashing in and out, tickling my feet, or walking along the abandoned rail line in Lawachara National Park;
8 June 2020, 18:00 PM
The pay cut chain reaction
Normality as we knew it might never come back, and it would only be wise to accept this new normal and act accordingly.
18 May 2020, 18:00 PM
Eid day table décor: spreading a positive vibe
But my Eid menu will be very simple — polao or beef tehari, Mughlai chicken korma or beef rezala, and gurer payesh and pantoa for desserts and Eid snacks.
18 May 2020, 18:00 PM
Half-hearted lockdown diaries
The story of the humble jilapi starts with the Turkic invaders, even before the Mughals took over the subcontinent. A flour based twirled dessert, the jilapi is dunked in sugary syrup and devoured by the tens, and is the most sought-after sweets during iftar.
11 May 2020, 18:00 PM
Cool meals for summer fasts
Similarly, watermelon with mildly salty feta cheese sprinkled with Vietnamese basil is a match made in heaven. Caesar salad, coleslaw, shrimp cocktail, crunchy vegetables wraps in rice paper rolls are all dainty comforting snacks for summer iftars.
4 May 2020, 18:00 PM
Catching your breath
Attending conferences, seminars, talks are always a big deal for most of us; we must not only be at our intellectual best, but also at our fashionable finest. After all, first impressions are the lasting ones, they say.
27 April 2020, 18:00 PM