RBR

It’s a tradition to usher Baishakh on a sweet note, and so, sweetmeat  once again takes centre stage in our celebrations. From that van vendor  at the corner of any local bazaar or park where children crowd for  sugary treats, to branded and popular sweetmeat shops -- all are busy  making their special offers.

Let me ask you a puzzler: who is the most sought-after person in Dhaka during this month of Ramadan? I know without a blink of an eye you would say your tailor, and my-oh-my, are they a busy lot or what?

The first day’s iftar menu is an elaborate one in almost every household. Even when iftar preparation goes on in full swing at home, your mind oscillates between iftar bazaars, restaurant offers, and home-made dishes.

The historical background of “Bloody 21st” is passionate and nationalistic. Baseer was one of the protestors of February 21, 1952.

This tree is almost invisible to us throughout the year until early spring, when its glorious red crown of showy flowers captures our souls.

Cleanliness is next to godliness is a cliched saying we have all heard since childhood but have miserably failed to take heed of this unoriginal saying. Though it means that we must keep ourselves clean, our homes spick and span and our communities unpolluted and dirt-free, sadly, we all know that is not the case.

Many women nowadays have to work outside of their homes for extended periods of time, often without access to appropriate washroom facilities. This can be difficult to manage when it comes to menstruation. This challenging scenario demands a sanitary napkin that can provide reliable protection for at least 12 hours, allowing them to go about their daily lives without worrying about leakage or discomfort. Finding an appropriate product can be essential to ensure that women can be productive and confident at work.

Nazrul Islam Ritu is the first transgender elected union parishad chairperson in Bangladesh. The 44-year-old activist and politician was born on 15 June, 1979, and lives in Trilochanpur, Jhenaidah District, where she is the chairman of Union 6.

A child of seven or eight is sent to work because the economic strength of the parents is in dire straits and they cannot afford to feed the child. The sting in this act is so scarred that only a parent can understand the helplessness and void of it all

Spring or boshonto is the last of the six Bangla seasons and happens to fall between winter and summer, spreading over the Bangla months of Falgun and Chaitra (mid-February to mid-April).

Traditionally, seafood did not suit the deshi palate. We were more accustomed to having freshwater delicacies. Time, however, is changing and we now enjoy delightful, seafood dishes. The following is a recipe of a popular seafood dish, with added cheat codes that make it easier to make.

If you have a veranda decked out with plants and ferns, place two garden chairs and the setting is perfect for a tea. Simply spread the tea table for your spouse and yourself, with just two cups of steaming milk tea and ghee toast, and it is party enough. In this busy metro-life of yours, you two do not have the luxury to spend quality time together let alone enjoy a cup of tea in silence.

In this day and age, it’s very difficult to find time to do just about anything, meaning much less time in the kitchen, save for the weekends. But if the mood demands something scrumptious, lack of time is the last thing that will work as an excuse! These recipes are dedicated for those express situations where time is short but craving is not.

Jewellery, especially the ones given at weddings, hold special meanings in their intricate designs. Each piece has its own story to tell. The olden ‘tikli’ (the forehead pendant that had the star and moon designs carved up in red rubies and whitish yellow ‘pukhraj’ or yellow sapphire stones) promotes prosperity, wealth, and marital bliss. The lover’s knot or ‘prem fash’ designed chain holds its meaning in the name. ‘Prem’ in Bengali is love, and ‘fash’ means a grip, so as the name suggests, it is a lover’s grip, a treasured design construed in a bangle or chain given to the beloved as a wedding-night gift.

Each street popular for its food has a story to tell. From the narrow lanes of Old Dhaka, the bustling Taltola or Banani 11, to Uttara — they all have their flavour for us to relish. Each experience is richer than the next one but hands down, it's time to re-discover Mohammadpur's street food this winter, for its warmth and vivacity.

Upcycling is the act of taking something no longer in use and giving it a second life and new function. In doing so, the finished product often becomes more practical, valuable, and beautiful than it previously was. While recycling involves the destruction of waste in order to create something new, upcycling creates something new from it in its current state.

Unfortunately, the clothing industry has drilled this idea into our heads that the biggest fashion crime you can commit is to repeat your clothes. It is time to undo and ditch that unsustainable idea promoted by advocates of fast fashion.

Teas are a joy, be it chamomile, Earl Grey, Makaibari or just good old deshi milk tea. A light sip of hot black tea with a slight squeeze of lemon or brewed heavily in cardamoms and cloves, or frothy milk tea; it makes you happy and keeps you going. So, with the advent of chilly evenings and misty midnights, go for your favourite warm fuzzy brew to add a little liveliness to your day’s itinerary.

The ilish is a versatile fish as it can be used to prepare a variety of dishes. Hilsa is as suitable for preparing delectable dishes on those special occasions, as it is for cooking a regular everyday curry. The hilsa season is almost coming to an end. Now is the time to get your fresh ilish from the bazaars of Chandpur and Mawa. The following are some easy to make recipes with hilsa. Try them out and you will not be disappointed!

Modest and fashion might be two words seldom put together, but changing global perspectives made its popularity a reality. It is by no means a new idea, as people, and women, who preferred to dress modestly have always been around, but the idea to cater to this growing population specifically is only just catching on. Some choose it to comply with religious practices, others for simple personal preference; however, modest fashion is not about the hijab or headscarf alone. It relates to anyone who is partial to loose, flowy clothes, often in multiple layers, like capes, wraps and loose jackets, with the intention of not displaying the shape of their bodies prominently.