Milia Ali

If any of you are looking for an optimistic and uplifting piece, please move on . . . this column will be one of despair!

BRAVING the horrendous city traffic, I arrived at the 2016 Dhaka Art Summit (DAS) at Shilpakala Academy on a Sunday afternoon.

As the flight made a rocky landing on the uneven runway of Dhaka's Shahjalal airport, I felt a rush of excitement at the prospect of coming “home”. I eagerly stepped out of the plane and was immediately greeted by a giant mosquito that landed on my nose.

According to a recent report “An Economy for the 1%” released by Oxfam, “wealth inequality has grown to the stage where 62 of the

I often hear Bangladeshis say: “Most Americans are racists.” Interestingly, 50 percent of Americans also support the view that racism is

In the wake of the Paris and San Bernardino attacks, prominent US Republican senators have called for measures for stemming the entry

Acouple of days back, I was driving down a relatively quiet country road when a speeding car hit me from behind. I

The past weeks have been especially difficult with terrorist attacks in Beirut and Paris, followed by the raging controversy over Islam

Last week I was appalled and deeply saddened to read about the bomb attacks on the peaceful Ashura procession at the Hussaini Dalan

Recently a friend invited me to a fashion show in aid of a worthwhile charity. The show and its designers will remain

The race for the United States presidency is heating up with the launching of the much discussed presidential debates.

Travel has a transformative effect on our consciousness. It enables us to compare and contrast human systems as well as societal norms - sometimes to the advantage of the place we are visiting. However, at other times these comparisons can induce nostalgia and make us realise that familiarity often numbs our appreciation for the good things in our own surroundings.

A couple of days ago, while I was waiting at a traffic signal I noticed a thought-provoking bumper sticker on the car in front: “I am a proud parent of a Middle School Honor Roll student.” My immediate reaction was bafflement coupled with disdain. I wondered why any parent would want to flaunt a child's achievement so blatantly! “And, should middle school grades matter enough to warrant this kind of bragging?” I muttered to myself, while staring at the sticker.

After a prolonged stay in Dhaka, I am set to return “home.” Some readers may ask: “Where is home for you?” It's a pertinent question

The placid Aegean Sea, the whitewashed villas dotting its Islands and “Zorba's Dance” could delude some into believing that all is well

Whether we choose to move forward or lag behind, life goes on. However, there comes a time, when looking back at the many

While it's been almost two-weeks since the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh, the ripples of his visit are still

Many Muslims currently living in the west claim that they are facing discrimination and even bigotry, on a day-to-day basis. While it's

Time seems to have a transformative impact on a person's perception of the surrounding environment. Since my stay in Dhaka this

Election Day invariably creates a festive mood mingled with a sense of anticipation. The recent mayoral contest in Dhaka on April 28 was no different.