United in misogyny?
Our misogynistic attitude towards women is so normalised that it moves seamlessly across political parties, economic classes, and generational divides.
6 March 2025, 10:36 AM
Echoes of colonialism in Bangladesh
In navigating colonialism, we have to ask ourselves, who is striving for control.
21 August 2024, 05:00 AM
Fear, loss and isolation
Humans are social creatures. While all animals have a need to communicate, none have quite the same ability or need to organise themselves into communities the way humans do.
9 October 2021, 18:00 PM
Citizens’ participation in formulating health policies can be a game changer
In the olden days, in the city best known as a democratic city-state, where, arguably, the concepts of citizenship and democracy emerged, there was something called Ecclesia. Here,
10 August 2021, 18:00 PM
Finding the fingerprint of creation
I started to write this on the night that is deemed the holiest night of the holiest month of the year by Muslims.
30 May 2020, 18:00 PM
Learning Forgiveness / Reflections from a conversation with the Dalai Lama
Is forgive-ness a phenomenon that is learned or is it something that some of us are inherently better at than others?
17 November 2019, 18:00 PM
The burden of the ‘Eves’ of this world
"EVE-TEASING”, the colloquial term for public sexual harassment in use despite directives being issued by the High Court about changing it to a more appropriate term, alludes to the monotheism’s (mainly biblical sources) creation story concerning Adam and Eve.
3 July 2019, 18:00 PM
United in misogyny?
Our misogynistic attitude towards women is so normalised that it moves seamlessly across political parties, economic classes, and generational divides.
6 March 2025, 10:36 AM
Echoes of colonialism in Bangladesh
In navigating colonialism, we have to ask ourselves, who is striving for control.
21 August 2024, 05:00 AM
Teep or Hijab: Why not both?
Are teeps truly a Hindu religious symbol?
5 April 2022, 16:23 PM
Fear, loss and isolation
Humans are social creatures. While all animals have a need to communicate, none have quite the same ability or need to organise themselves into communities the way humans do.
9 October 2021, 18:00 PM
Citizens’ participation in formulating health policies can be a game changer
In the olden days, in the city best known as a democratic city-state, where, arguably, the concepts of citizenship and democracy emerged, there was something called Ecclesia. Here,
10 August 2021, 18:00 PM
Finding the fingerprint of creation
I started to write this on the night that is deemed the holiest night of the holiest month of the year by Muslims.
30 May 2020, 18:00 PM
Reflections from a conversation with the Dalai Lama
Is forgive-ness a phenomenon that is learned or is it something that some of us are inherently better at than others?
17 November 2019, 18:00 PM
The burden of the ‘Eves’ of this world
"EVE-TEASING”, the colloquial term for public sexual harassment in use despite directives being issued by the High Court about changing it to a more appropriate term, alludes to the monotheism’s (mainly biblical sources) creation story concerning Adam and Eve.
3 July 2019, 18:00 PM
A personal tribute to Nusrat Jahan Rafi
Mf first visit to a madrasa school for female students was in July 2014. We met in a large rectangular room, with a faint damp stench,
18 April 2019, 18:00 PM
On Power: A high unaccounted for
Last year, an English daily published a report that the police arrested at least 21,883 suspected drug-peddlers and addicts across the country between May 18 and June 21 as part of the anti-drug drives.
18 January 2019, 18:00 PM
Shame, guilt, anger—and lives lost
The body of 15-year-old Aritry Adhikary was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her room, with the door locked from inside, at her Shantinagar home on Monday.
8 December 2018, 18:00 PM
Make space for the art of free speech
It is no coincidence that the word “articulate” begins with the word “art”. There is an art to the formation of clear and distinct sounds in speech.
10 October 2018, 18:00 PM
Crippling Senses
A human being has five senses. Taste, smell, touch, hearing and sight. These senses are essential for survival that is the ultimate goal
16 March 2018, 18:00 PM
Under an open sky
Last Sunday, the front page of The Daily Star displayed an image of a classroom. In the photograph, a teacher of Chhalia Government Primary School in Sylhet was seen as imparting lessons upon her students on the school playground.
19 January 2018, 18:00 PM
A teacher's worth
My postgraduate classroom was filled with teachers and social workers. Self-proclaimed idealists. Once, during a highly theoretical discussion, someone made a comment about how we are not all as selfless as we claim.
5 January 2018, 18:00 PM
When saying “No” to a man is a death sentence
Stalking wasn't considered a crime until fairly recently. The High Court declared stalking of girls and women illegal, and directed the government to consider the offence as sexual harassment in 2011.
30 December 2017, 18:00 PM
Reclaiming public spaces for women
The front page of The Daily Star published a photo that could be a poster for any women's empowerment campaign. In the picture, 15-year-old Ontora, calls passengers to board a Mirpur-bound BRTC bus, her face a perfect picture of strength and resilience.
22 December 2017, 18:00 PM
The need to be seen
The fundamental need of a human being, I think, is to feel seen. To connect.
14 December 2017, 18:00 PM
An insidious silence
When I was an undergraduate student, I remember reading about a campaign in Libya by a grassroots organisation, Voice of Libyan Women. They were, at the time, running a campaign against domestic violence.
1 December 2017, 18:00 PM
The psychology behind communal attacks
Bullying is an interesting, unique and complex form of interpersonal aggression. It is a distinctive pattern of harming and humiliating others, especially those who are in some way smaller, weaker, younger or in any way more vulnerable than the bully.
18 November 2017, 18:00 PM