Azra Humayra

Every evening in Dhaka, when the house quietened, Rokeya Huq kept the family computer open and waited for the familiar Skype ring. On the other end were her children, Reza Ul Karim, calling from his Cambridge dorm, or Roksana Karim from Melbourne, ready to share their day.

Every year, more than 6000 students enrol at DU, but how many of them know about the orientation programme offered by the DU Central Library, designed to give them access to hundreds of thousands of articles, books and journals from some of the world's leading publishers?

Today, we dive into the inspiring journeys of two such distinguished ISU alumni, whose successes are a testament to ISU’s profound impact.

Presidency University has, over the years, built a reputation as a hub for cultivating bright, driven minds, individuals who leave its classrooms with academic credentials and the confidence, adaptability,

A reflection on growing up and witnessing parents age.

How much of the students' expectations after the uprising have been fulfilled?

Between July 15 and August 5 last year, parents across the country held their breaths waiting, worrying, and counting the hours until their children returned home from the protests. Some had their parents' blessing. Others went without it.

If the upkeep of a washroom, a basic and essential facility, is too much to ask of our universities, what does that signal about the priorities of those in charge?

Teaching someone the collective responsibility of keeping a city clean feels like trying to empty the Buriganga with a teacup.

While some perpetrators were held accountable, institutional responses remained inconsistent and were often shaped by power dynamics.

Why, in 2025, am I still mapping out my movements as if walking through a battlefield?

There’s no denying that July altered the political reality of Bangladesh. The uprising toppled a deeply entrenched despot and unleashed a wave of change that felt as sudden as it was transformative.

The youth, as key drivers of inclusivity, are critically examining the current state of democracy in our country. For them, it is less a triumph than a test—a moment of possibility, shadowed by the weight of history.

In a city where survival has taken the place of living, the loss of trust in law enforcement isn’t just personal—it’s a crack in the foundation of society.

Despite my best efforts to practice empathy – to offer a kind word, to share what I have – it often feels futile in an environment that seems to reward apathy.

For many students on a tight budget, meals become purely practical, devoid of any consideration for nutrition or quality.

University campuses ought to be places where we can learn, grow, and discover new things. Yet, for many women and gender-diverse students in Bangladesh, these spaces have become arenas of fear and marginalisation due to pervasive gender-based violence.

Political discussions today often devolve into verbal battlegrounds, where the goal seems less about understanding and more about winning. Social media, creating echo chambers and shrinking attention spans, amplifies this by rewarding outrage and oversimplification over nuance and depth.

PCOS is associated with significant health risks, including infertility, increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. It can also impact the psychological well-being of women, particularly those dealing with hirsutism (excessive hair growth) and menstrual irregularities, which may lead to depression or anxiety.

It took a year, perhaps two before I mustered the courage to tell my mother, thanks to the support of friends who had urged me to speak out.