Ashif Ahmed Rudro

I do not remember there being a World Cup where the Brazilian team was not one of the favourites. Even on their worst days they were expected to win and this World Cup season they have got a great team, and certainly are one of the favourites. Without a doubt, the samba dance is one of the most popular dances in Brazil and has become a symbol of its cultural identity. The dance transcends colour and class and is a representation of Brazilian culture. With Brazil under the spotlight, we focus on the samba dance.

The first upset was of course, Qatar losing the opening game as the host country. This is a first in the history of FIFA World cup (although we can’t really say we were surprised). The next one was not far behind when Argentina were beaten by Saudi Arabia. Instantly creating the buzz of ‘Harjentina’ (portmanteau of the words har as in loser, and Argentina).

One of the oldest cities of Bangladesh and seeped in history, Rajshahi is a metropolis known for its unbearable heat during summer, and the abundance of mangoes during the full season. However, Rajshahi can also be a treat for all you travel aficionados out there. The best thing about Rajshahi is that the city itself is calm, and most of the points of interest are in such spots that you can probably fit most of them in a day’s itinerary if you plan your timetable carefully. Here are the top 6 places in Rajshahi city that you should not miss.

Well known for its natural beauty, Sitakunda has always been one of the major tourist spots in Bangladesh. Sitakunda is an upazila in Chattogram district hosting the first eco-park of the country. The name of the place itself — Sitakunda is rather intriguing and there are multiple myths behind the origin of the name, but that’s another story! For now, let’s discuss the top 5 places you should visit if you are in Sitakunda.

The largest food and beverage company in the world — Nestlé — has been practicing a sustainable approach to production that is beneficial to the organisation, society, the environment as well as the consumers.

The largest food and beverage company in the world — Nestlé — has been practicing a sustainable approach to production that is beneficial to the organisation, society, the environment as well as the consumers. With their wide variety of Nestlé products, you probably come across at least one every day. To ensure that these products are of standard quality, sustainable, and leave as less carbon footprint as possible, Nestlé globally has an impactful approach, “Farm to Fork” and Nestlé Bangladesh also opted for the approach for their food products.

I was diagnosed as having obsessive-compulsive behaviour (OCD) when I was 22 years old, but I have had OCD all my life. Looking back, it was so obvious, yet how I never got diagnosed earlier is beyond me. Better late than never; at least now I know why I am ‘compelled’ to do the things that I do.

A living room has had many names. Lounge, sitting room, drawing room — whatever you want to call it, the appeal and importance of a living room in a home remains the same. While you might not actually live in the room, as the name suggests, a house or apartment just does not seem right without one. Here are a few ideas and tips to decorate your living room and make it more appealing.

Have you ever had one of those days when you just craved ‘biye bari food’? You just want the familiar food, but in the particular taste that can only be found at weddings. As unlikely as it sounds, one does not have to wait for a wedding anymore for such a treat. BiyeBari Restaurant now offers those dishes whenever you want them.

Travelling can be addictive, in a good way. Once you start to appreciate it, you will start looking for different ways to spice it up. And how you travel definitely changes your experience. Travelling to a destination by bus will be very different if you were driving yourself and driving yourself to a place that has a certain appeal to it.  It comes with a sense of accomplishment (you know what I’m talking about). Although there are not many roads in Bangladesh that are suitable for long drives, here’s a list to consider on your next itinerary.

Do you remember that line from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet? “What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” That’s another way of saying that names are arbitrary tags that we assign and have no effect on reality itself. It’s a nice sentiment yet reality is different. We don’t know for sure if Akhteruzzaman Elias would still have written Khoabnama if he had a different name; what we know is that names have an effect in our everyday life; whether we like it or not.

One of the most well-known districts in Rajshahi Division is Pabna. Presently known for the Rooppur Nuclear Powerplant, Pabna district is historical, beautiful and easily accessible, making it a great place to visit. If you have a small vacation, Pabna could be your next destination for a quick gateway.

What a way to start the day! The meeting was scheduled to start at 9. You rush into the conference room and the boss gives you a frown. The clock on the wall says 9:20. Sound familiar? As unfortunate as it is, you are not the only one called Late Lateef by their colleagues. A lot of people struggle with the same awkward problem – ‘being on time.’ Here are few of our tips to avoid such ineptness.

During summer, mangoes take over every household in Bangladesh. Sometimes in the form of snacks, sometimes in the form of substitute for a meal, and sometimes just because…why not? But ever wonder how the mangoes come to your table from the field? We are about to take a look into that journey that a mango has to go through to reach your table.

Museums are interesting points of attractions for travellers who like to know about history. If you are not a history buff, the artifacts draw attention of even the most unimpressed travellers. That being said, if you are visiting Rajshahi, you should drop by and visit the Varendra Museum.

During fruit harvesting season, if you are looking for mangoes for consumption or business, Kansat is the ultimate place to be. The Kansat mango market at Chapai Nawabganj is renowned as the largest mango bazaar in Bangladesh and like all bazaars, there’s madness here, but there’s also distinct method to it.

Price hike has been an alarming concern lately and it is not one to be taken lightly. From edible oils to rice and daily essentials, every section of our daily livelihood has been suffering lately due to inflation.

Hajj is one of the main rituals of Islam, and it takes tremendous physical and mental effort, as well as spiritual dedication. Because of the nature of it, like all types of pilgrimage, it can be quite challenging and requires certain preparations too. It's not a matter that can be taken lightly or suddenly decided upon. Hajj demands thorough and meticulous preparation that takes time.

The Mirpur 10 book market, sometimes called the old book market is easy to navigate, especially if Nilkhet is too far for you.

Eid is the happiest time of the year for most of us.  You get to see your family and friends; you get a few days off, and many get a decent amount in the form of Eid bonuses which certainly helps.