They say the only constant in life is change and regeneration. And the time for that change and rebirth in nature is here and now. Trees are shedding their dead leaves, bringing forth fresh, colourful sprigs. Look around, and fruit trees bloom and flowers blossom. For why not -- this is the season of forgetting the past and embracing the new. Usually, this season gives us the first showers of the year, after the dry season. This year, Dhaka saw a hailstorm to the surprise of the city dwellers. Many made a day out of it, having fun in the rain and hail while others took cover.

It's the day we say goodbye to the winter and say hello to the spring on the first day of the Bangla month Falgun (February 13). It's a day painted with bright colours and joyous tunes in the air. Red, yellow and orange seem to be the colour of choice for the women with flowers in their hair. Dhaka, especially the Dhaka University vicinity, took a festive look. Procession, rallies and cultural programmes on Basanta (spring) welcomed the king of the seasons and the sprouting of fresh leaves on trees. More to the celebration, the second day of Falgun (February 14) is the Valentine's Day.

N rural Bangladesh, it's quite a common thing to see farmers chipping off trunks of date trees in winter evenings, driving a tube through the fresh cuts, and hanging a pitcher. Overnight, the pitcher fills up with a delicious gift of nature. The sweet juice harvested in the morning is a real treat. It is used for making molasses, a key ingredient in the traditional pithas you so love. But a glass or two of this fresh, raw date juice is something to look forward to in chilly winter mornings. The photos were taken from Khajura in Jessore late last month.

Nakshi Kantha (embroidered quilt) and other handicrafts are on display during a month-long fair on the premises of Bangladesh Folk Art and Crafts Foundation at Sonargaon in Narayanganj. Visitors are also kept enthralled by traditional songs performed by artistes from across the country. The annual festival is being held since 1975 to promote and save the folk culture.

Miniature trees and plants made by bonsai artists grab the spotlight at the Women's Voluntary Association auditorium a few months ago awing visitors. Bangladesh Bonsai Society, which began its journey in 1999, has been holding the yearly exhibition of the work of bonsai artists to promote the art in Bangladesh. From palm trees to banyan, the exhibition had them all. Bonsai is the Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers. It originated from the Chinese practice of penjing.

What looks like white-water rafting is actually the only means of travel to Tindu, Remakri, Baramadak and Chhotamadak in Thanchi of Bandarban. Tourists might find the trip on the Sangu river exciting with the beauty of Bandarban all around but regular travellers see it as troublesome. You have to get down at places as the boat runs aground and you often have to push the boat. And there is always the added danger of hitting a rock and the boat getting shattered. There is no boat service during the rainy season when the river becomes dangerously turbulent. A ride on this boat costs Tk 400 per person.

At churches in Dhaka and across the country Christmas carols, prayers, and special Masses marked the biggest festival of the Christian community. The birth of baby Jesus was celebrated on December 25 and there was something for every age group. Some devoted themselves to prayers, some in the choir, some were all about the Christmas dinner party while others more interested in what Father Christmas had in his bag or a ride on a choo-choo train.

Winter arrives in Bangladesh predominantly with two conspicuous but completely different pictures. One section of people breathe a sigh of relief after long summer days and relish winter delicacies, while the other is in pain and sufferings. The underprivileged people hardly have enough warm clothes to protect themselves from the chilling cold. Things get even worse for the homeless, especially when the night falls. With no place to call home, they cover themselves with whatever they have and make footpaths and railway station platforms their bed. A little humanitarian help from the affluent could greatly reduce their sufferings.

The advent of winter heralds the peak of holiday season in Cox's Bazar, perhaps the most popular holiday destination for the Bangladeshis. There seems to be something for everybody on the longest sea beach of the world. Some find it fun collecting seashells while others would rather go surfing, jet skiing, or on a ride on the quad bikes. Some want to have a dip in the water while others want a horse ride along the beach or just sit on one of those beach chairs for rent. The beach is crowded this time of the year since it caters to everyone from children, whose school exams just ended, to senior citizens.

HOUSANDS of low-income people migrate to Dhaka from different corners of the country, looking for a better life. Unfortunately, most of them end up in slums and shanties in the capital which is already stretched to its limits and identified as the second worst livable city in the world. The photos show a slice of the everyday life of those living in shanties in Tejgaon and Jurain. Life here runs along the railway lines. Danger of accidents barely matters when reality is allready too cruel for them.

Bangladesh has a rich cultural heritage and Nabanna, the festival of new harvest is celebrated by the rural people across the country. This rich tradition was almost going into oblivion in the cities but now it has caught on again. Nabanna Utsab 1422 was organised a few days ago at the Institute of Fine Arts in Dhaka University, where children performed dances and sang welcoming the new harvest and a time of plenty. Traditional delicacies like several kinds of pitha and food items were also on display.

There are a few zoos in Bangladesh and a handful of safari parks and every now and then we hear about something unusual, like a crocodile farm doing well. But a butterfly park is something unheard of in Bangladesh and one has been in existence since 2010 (officially opened in 2012) near Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport. Despite the noisy jets landing and taking off frequently, the park built on six acres of land has about 11 species of live butterflies and a museum of butterflies.

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Barinagar, a village of Jessore, is famous for large-scale vegetable cultivation. The farmers of the village remain busy

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As the Bangla month of Shraban ends, so does what is officially the rainy season of Bangladesh. This year there was plenty of rain. The