Cover Story

FOREST FEARS

With the construction of a power plant in Rampal and the continued industrialisation in Mongla, the outskirts of the Sundarbans will lose its ecological balance, affecting the lives of humans, animals and plants dependent on the bounty of the forest and its surrounding. Can anything be done?

Ananta Yusuf

Imagine the world’s largest mangrove forest gasping for air. The once-green landscape is turning a dull gray, yellow and brown. In certain places where the rivers intertwined with the forest have turned black. The air is as harsh as the…

In Retrospect

CURIOUSLY HISTORICAL

Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan

The Indian subcontinent is the arena of myriad illustrious historical phenomena. The great Moguls, the British Raj–all the big shots of history have made this land full of legends and myths. There is little doubt as to whether these rulers…

Reflections

Ukrainian Bethlehem

Andrew Eagle

O little town of Bethlehem how still we see Thee lie, Above Thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by. – a familiar Christmas carol. All the driver had to do was open the doors. Enter five thousand…

Writing the Wrong

One Year On

SHARBARI AHMED

When I was 21 I travelled to Gaborone, Botswana to visit my uncle, who was dying of lung cancer. He had lived there for over a decade and was raising his two daughters there. We all knew he was dying…

Art

Sultan and His Mystery

Fayza Haq

As a child SM Sultan’s nickname was Lal Mia, and he was an apprentice to the masonry work of his father, a mason, Sheikh Meser. With the help of a patron, he entered Calcutta Art School. He did not bother…

Interview

ART in Pixels

Fayeka Zabeen Siddiqua

Artist Rabi Khan creates digital graphic paintings, exhibits them online and sells them in global arena. The digital print of “The Kiss”, one of his artworks has been sold more than 5000 pieces in the international market. Currently living in…

Current Affairs

OCTOBER 27

Shakhawat Liton

A senior BNP leader on condition of anonymity says he now firmly believes the ruling Awami League and the government will not change their stance on the general election. They will not make any compromise with the opposition parties on…

Travel

A Tale of Two Cities

Azizul Jalil

What has Copenhagen in Denmark and Lund in Sweden in common? Nothing much, except that they are close to each other and during our recent Scandinavian trip in the autumn of 2013, we happened to visit both of them. Copenhagen…

Food for Thought

Negotiating with Your Muse

Farah Ghuznavi

This is the third in a series of articles written by Farah Ghuznavi as Writer in Residence at the Commonwealth Writers website, based in the UK. Commonwealth Writers is the cultural initiative from the Commonwealth Foundation, and Farah is their…

International

Myanmar Waits for Better Times

The majority of the people of Myanmar (Burma), including myself, last year looked upon the government and president with constructive optimism. The authorities provided a ray of hope on much-needed economic and social reforms as well as politics. Lingering conflicts…

PERSPECTIVE

IS TRUTH TRUE?

Amitava Kar

On a freezing January afternoon in 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed on take-off from Washington National Airport and plunged into the icy Potomac River, killing 78 people. A balding man, probably in his 50s was seen clinging with five…

Musings

When Humour Charms . . .

Syed Badrul Ahsan

The good thing about Jatileswar Mukhopadhyay is that he sings beautifully, even in these advanced years he happens to be going through. The better thing is that he has a remarkable sense of humour. Seeing him last week and hearing…

Health

THE HEALTHY 10

Upashana Salam

Health is a major concern for most of us, but not really our main concern. What with the job, family, household chores and social engagements, caring for our health often takes the back seat. Before you know it, the day…

Star Diary

FADING BEAUTY OF HATIRJHEEL On Eid day this year, some friends of mine planned to go to  Hatirjheel Flyover. As we had only seen images of the place in the media, we thought of checking out the place that looked…

Chintito

Not Your Fault, But…

Chintito

If you are born with no eyesight it is not your fault. But it is your fault if you cannot see the world with your other senses. It is not your credit if you can see the world. But it…

Voicebox

“The offence in which somebody killed someone intentionally falls under Section 302. Killing in road accidents does not fit into this category.” MUHIUDDIN KHAN ALAMGIR Home Minister of Bangladesh assuring the leaders of the truck and covered van owners and…

Letters

Endangered Heritage The writer of this week’s story on the Katras has done a wonderful job of reminding us of the importance of preserving places like the Katras.  The government needs to realise that maintaining and preserving historical sites can…

Advertorial

ALGOMA UNIVERSITY

A WARM HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Small class sizes, low tuition fees, a beautiful environment and friendly campus atmosphere are just a few of Algoma University’s wonderful features – especially when it comes to attracting international students to its campus. Surrounded by the rich, natural beauty…

HOW TO KILL A FOREST

Postscript

‘Concrete Jungle Housing Society’

Aasha Mehreen Amin

Travelling around the residential areas of the city one will find many structures with names that have little bearing with the reality of their circumstances. There may be humungous housing complexes in some ‘garden city’ with no greenery in sight,…