Mapping Our Many Mother Tongues

Very recently, a video song called “Poran Priyo” released by the telecom provider Robi, featuring an all-girls band F Minor has been making the rounds on social media as a “pahari” song, but very few know that the language of the lyrics is actually Achik, the language of the Garo community.
21 February 2019

Reliable diagnostic labs?

There are numerous diagnostic centers that have been established in the country which use the latest lab equipment and employ lab technicians.
21 February 2019

Pulling the weight of the world

The story "Pulling the weight of the world" in Star Weekend tells us what we all know—once a rickshaw puller, always a rickshaw puller.
21 February 2019

Role of a Mother Language

I have been using an app for the last couple of months to have a conversation in English with people living abroad.
21 February 2019

Border killing conundrum

Recently, border killings have been on the rise by the BSF while from our side, BGB has done little to condemn such acts. India and Bangladesh share one of the most porous borders, with
21 February 2019

From Patharia to Lusai

The books we read as children have a much stronger influence on us than the ones we read as adults. When I was little, my only goal was to finish one book and get started on the next.
21 February 2019

A SIGH IN MOONLIT MIST

The sky turns grey as soon as the bullock-cart reaches the village lane. Rain shatters nature's luminosity, ruining the journey of the three friends through the rough backwoods. The jagged pillar of lightning is hidden behind dense dark fluffs of cloud.
21 February 2019

The year I spent without Bangla

Growing up schooled in an English medium curriculum can bring with it a certain disconnect with the Bengali language. Or at least it did for me.
21 February 2019

In conversation with Mohammad Sultan

About five years ago, I had a long talk with Sultan about several political events relating to the 1952 language movement, which I had taped. Mohammed Sultan was one of the pioneers of the movement and the founder of 'Puthipotro' which was the first progressive press in the country.This conversation was first published in 'Bichitra'.
21 February 2019

Central Shaheed Minar

In this document, which was found in the files of M. S. Jafar and Hamidur Rahman Collaboration, Architects and Engineers, the chief architect of the Shaheed Minar, Hamidur Rahman, recalls how the monument took shape over three decades. The document is reprinted verbatim.
21 February 2019

This isn't what I expected

Books and movies make pregnancy seem like a bout of ill-health, involving sporadic fainting spells, morning sickness and dramatic mood swings. I experienced none of those.
14 February 2019

Eishob Dinraatri

Every cat is a great teacher. I live with five and I know for a fact that they are.
14 February 2019

Ekushey Boi Mela - In conversation with 4 young authors

Star Weekend speaks to four young writers about launching their books at this year's Ekushey Boi Mela, about what influences their work, and their thoughts on the state of the literary scene in Bangladesh. A consensus emerged on the inspiration they receive from their childhood and the world around them and on the need for better editing, book marketing, and royalty payments in the industry.
14 February 2019

Solidarity through Social Media

When women find solace, support and strength in each other through Facebook groups
14 February 2019

White Headstones and Black Bodies

Tucked away in the hills of Chittagong, and between the overgrown temples of Maynamati, are white stones bearing the names of the African men buried beneath them. We refer to their graves as British graves.
14 February 2019

Caught up in red tape

“Would you dream of being a model teacher? Are you interested to take teaching profession for career building? Do you take it as a challenge to work at rural areas anywhere in Bangladesh?”
14 February 2019

The Layoffs

On January 12, Jubayer walked to his factory with his fellow workers to find his name and face up on the walls of the factory. He has since been unable to enter the factory and terminated from work.
14 February 2019

Ekushey Boi Mela

The highlight of February, a month of devotion to the Bangla language, is experiencing the annual 'Ekushey Boi Mela' at Bangla Academy and around Suhrawardy Uddan.
14 February 2019

DUCSU election: Make it happen

As per the High Court directive and steps taken by the Dhaka University administration, the much-anticipated Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) and the hall union elections
14 February 2019

Cancer treatment: A bleak scenario

I read the article "A Fatal Diagnosis: Cancer treatment in Bangladesh" published on January 11. My mother died from breast cancer in 2008. She took treatment from NICRH (National Institute
14 February 2019