The Star | The Daily Star
Publish: November 1, 2013
THE SMELLY SIDE OF HATIRJHEEL
Cover Story

THE SMELLY SIDE OF HATIRJHEEL

The colossal Hatirjheel-Begunbari Lake is now drifting across gray greenery and contaminated water with massive architecture clothed in dazzling lights. The express road, modern bridge, walk ways are overflowing with crowds and wastes of all kinds. A sea of vehicles

Accidental Activists
SPECIAL FEATURE

Accidental Activists

On October 1, British nationals Ellen Connett and Paul Connett, received “Friends of Liberation War Honour” from the government of Bangladesh among 60 foreign nationals at a ceremony for their invaluable contributions to the country's Liberation War in 1971. The Star looks at these two souls who did everything they could to support our struggle for freedom.

On October 3, 1971, Ellen Connett crossed the border town of Bongaon with Gordon Slaven, a 20-year-old law clerk from London and arrived at a Catholic mission 20 miles inside Bangladesh. Dreadful things had happened, the priests reported. There had

Four Days of Durga Puja
Village Flute

Four Days of Durga Puja

There’s a time for dancing. There’s a time for laughter. There’s a time for wild joy and freedom, to with abandon celebrate good’s victory over evil.By shoshthi, the sixth day of the waning moon in Ashvin month, the day before

A Place to Meet
City

A Place to Meet

Bangladesh is one of the richest countries in the world if you are liberal enough to consider art and culture an asset. Our millennium-long history is testimony to this land being the cradle of civilisation. We can see the signs

Let the Story Never End …
Tribute

Let the Story Never End …

I kept telling myself that my grandmother – Jana I called her – was waiting for him. He must be anxious also. He hadn’t seen Jana for nine long years. What must have been going through his mind, I wonder,

Breaking the Deadlock
Current Affairs

Breaking the Deadlock

In line with public expectations, Hasina invited Khaleda to her official residence on Monday. They however could not reach a consensus on the date and contents of the talk. Hasina wanted to have a discussion on the formation of an

Charming Old Dhaka
In Retrospect

Charming Old Dhaka

For those who have grown up in Old Dhaka, it is a place that holds the best memories of one’s life. It’s vibrant culture and old world charm has captured the hearts of many, especially those who have seen it

A Whirlwind Chinese Romance
Travel

A Whirlwind Chinese Romance

When we, a group of four, were planning our China trip, we made our own rules to rule China. We decided to explore as much as possible, eat till our stomach was at bursting point and shop till our suitcase

The Rewards that Followed the Award…
Food for Thought

The Rewards that Followed the Award…

This is the fifth 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 first

Kick Not the Stomach of the Source of Power
Chintito

Kick Not the Stomach of the Source of Power

There are many who will say this country is going to the dogs. A few will say it already has. Here the educated tell lies. Here the uneducated resort to falsehood. The danger is that both the educated liar and

The Man With the Golden Voice
Remembrance

The Man With the Golden Voice

Manna Dey  Born: May 1, 1919 Profession: Singer, Kolkata Died: October 24, 2013 Wife: Sulochana Kumaran Children: Shuroma and Sumita Dey It took Manna Dey 12 hours to record the legendary ‘Ek Chatur Naar’ from the movie Padosan. Music director

A SON’S TRIBUTE
Reflections

A SON’S TRIBUTE

I was in Beijing serving as Ambassador to China, when I was informed that my mother, Dr Maliha Khatun, was in critical condition, following an eye operation. As is common in such cases, she appeared to be recovering but her

Picture of the Week

Picture of the Week

An Unusual Sight The Mohakhali bus stand doesn’t usually present this picture. Buses were not moved from the bus stand during the three days of continuous hartals, as owners felt that it would be risky to ply their vehicles on the road

Star Diary

Star Diary

Fear of Politics The political turmoil of recent times is very worrisome for the general public. From the very beginning, we’ve seen the country come to a standstill whenever a hartal’s called by the opposition party. The roads are blocked,

KURT COBAIN
MAD GENIUS

KURT COBAIN

    “Drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and your self-respect and everything that goes along with with your self-esteem. They’re no good at all. A friend is nothing but a known enemy. We have no

Just friends?
Science

Just friends?

Wondering if your partner is cheating? His or her voice may be a dead giveaway. New research by Albright College psychology professor Susan Hughes has found that men and women alter their voices when speaking to lovers versus friends and

Mailbox

Mailbox

Do We Hear Her? Catherine Masud alone has done more for the film industry of Bangladesh than everyone else combined. She has also been working tirelessly to preserve our glorious past of the language movement and liberation war. Our nation

Voicebox

Voicebox

“If you had (Hasina) been sincere about contacting me she would not have called to my dead phone. Instead of trying to call to this dead phone you should have asked your staff to contact mine to arrange the phone

THE WALL

THE WALL

The New Bangladeshi Political Dictionary
Postscript

The New Bangladeshi Political Dictionary

It’s funny how the meanings of words change over time, sometimes because of certain events, at other times for no apparent reason. ‘Addict’ in Roman times meant individuals who couldn’t pay their debt and were given to their debtors as

Hatirjheel Stinks

Hatirjheel Stinks