Cover Story

AN EPIC EYEWASH

“This country belongs to everyone….doesn't it?” Asks a nineteen-year-old college student of Buddhist faith (who wishes to remain anonymous for her safety), as she looks anxiously at the stark white wall across the room. “I don't want to leave, I shouldn't have to and they don't have the right to make me,” she says in a more resolute tone as she sits up straight, as though preparing to brace herself for an onslaught from faceless attackers who have declared her and anyone else who do not conform to their unyielding value-systems, their sworn enemies.

ANIKA HOSSAIN

When the original Constitution of our country was written in 1972, Secularism was included as one of the Four State Principles along with Democracy, Nationalism and Socialism. Despite the subsequent changes that were made to transform us into an Islamic…

Cover Story

STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND

The rise of religious extremist forces within the country and the recent spate of violence against non-Muslim religious communities raise the question of whether we can make our country a safe home for all

Tamanna Khan

Throughout the 24 years of Pakistani rule the people of Bengal experienced the failure of the two-nation theory of dividing nations based on religion. So they fought for Bangladesh — a land which would belong to everyone — atheists, Budhhists,…

Periscope

The Ministry of Magic

AHMEDE HUSSAIN

Dark and difficult times lie ahead, and soon we have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy. Return of Religion? Only days ago, there were talks of banning political use of religion and establishing secular…

Current Affairs

Political Tsunami

Shakhawat Liton

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not take long to reject Transparency International Bangladesh’s (TIB) proposal for an election-time government. The TIB had spent much time to draft the proposal and disclosed it on April 12. But the premier did not…

MUSINGS

Idle Thoughts, Somewhat

Syed Badrul Ahsan

The Baridhara Society recently gave us food for thought and certainly much of amusement. It decreed that rickshawpullers operating within Baridhara or coming into it from outside must make sure they are clad in western trousers rather than the local…

Reflections

Agreeing to Disagree

Zahir Hassan Nabil

How wonderful are some discussions over endless cups of tea. Almost all of us have memories of remarkable discussions with our nearest and dearest ones. Even accounts of casual talks draw deep lines in our minds. One may find it…

Travel

A WORLD IN A GRAIN OF SAND DUBAI

Sreelata Menon

We were in a powerful 4–  wheel drive. Set for an evening of fun, we sped along merrily. There were five of us including the driver. A well informed chatty fellow, he appeared to know what he was doing. Though…

Impressions

Calcutta Charms

Hadleigh Fischer

Before arriving, I knew only three things about Calcutta (presently known as Kolkata) – Eden Gardens Cricket Ground, and the famous test match of 2001, Mother Theresa, when I first head the word ‘destitute’, and finally that it was the…

Photo Feature

A Renewed Hope

Photos: Prabir Das The Bangla Noboborsho 1420 has brought renewed hope and promise to the lives of people. The celebration began at sunrise with raga Vairav on flute and other classical instruments at the Ramna Batamul. The melody of the…

Art

Rafiqun Nabi’s Bangladesh

FAYZA HAQ

Few painters have been able to give such childlike wonder to images of Bangladesh’s rural beauty. Whether it is a lone bird, a goat grazing on the grass or the bandor wala (monkey man) making his monkey play tricks, Nabi’s…

Cartoon Strip

The Conspiracy

Sharier

Letters

Blog or not to blog

Last week the Star’s cover story was an interesting read. The debate surrounding whether blog content is private or public was informative. People not familiar with this new phenomenon of expressing opinions and presenting oneself in a virtual public space…

Economy

LOOMING DANGER

Many articles and books have been published on the contrast and competition between the present Western and the Asian-style economic models. Western countries are said to have the free-market model based on competition among private firms, with the government taking…

Food for Thought

My Other, My Self

Farah Ghuznavi

The covert racism evoked by the fatal combination of poverty and perceived racial inferiority sometimes manifests in the most unexpected places. And all too often, it comes full circle. In the further adventures of one of the world’s most popular…

Star Diary

Confusing Attitude of Our Policemen! Last week while riding back home from the office – a multi-national company – I had to stop my bike near a police check post which was not very far from my office. Just like…

Straight Talk

Curtain Call

NADIA KABIR BARB

The lights dimmed and almost immediately silence fell upon the room. I rummaged around in my bag frantically trying to find my mobile phone to put it on silent. I would hate to be the person whose phone goes off…

Chintito

Ill-motivated Branding

Chintito

When a person serving as a schoolteacher is shamelessly exposed of and belatedly charged with sexually exploiting his student, we never say that all the teachers of that school or of the country are rapists. When a business house is…

voicebox

Voicebox

“You will come to power then by destroying the nation’s economy; what do you plan to gain?” A K AZAD former chairman of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry about hartals and its devastating effect on the country’s…

OMINOLIS SIGNS

Postscript

How to Combat Exam Stress (for parents only)

AASHA MEHREEN AMIN

One of the basic experiences that all parents will go through at some point in their lives is exam stress. As the time for the examinations draws closer, parents go through symptoms that may be likened to the sympathetic labour…