Nafisa Faruque

I still remember when I was a child; I would sit next to my father every Friday evening while he rested on the armchair and read something from our home's library, or told me stories about his childhood.

The origin and development of Bengali literature for children can be dated back to the times when colonial modernity began to

Over the decades, children's fairy tales and stories have evolved significantly. From Hans Christian Anderson's classics to the Grimm's

This year, for the fifth time, Prothom Alo - Naksha organised its annual special event “Ayush-Naksha Biye Utshob” at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

Almost everyone dreams of having the most perfect wedding, with the most perfect better half. And when it's time, your loved ones go all out to make your special day perfect.

For several decades, gold jewellery has remained the revered czar of the jewellery scene in Bangladesh. Starting from the proposal token, to the ring and the final wedding ornaments, gold has been the preferred pick for almost all social classes.

The weather nowadays seems to be erratic and moody as the citizens of this city, changing without notice. As the nights get longer and you turn down your ceiling fans' speed a notch, you realise that the humidity and heat of summer are long gone. But as pleasant as the chilly breezes may feel at first, they do bear a bleak reminder for you to buckle up and start preparing for fall.

Whether it's a quick morning breakfast or a midnight snack, who doesn't love to find a bunch of ready-to-heat/fry/frozen goodies in their refrigerator.

Occurring annually, Durga Puja has always been one of the largest and most colourful festivals in Bangladesh. It marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, after ten days and nine nights of battling him.

I remember summer holidays during my middle-school years. On most days, I would be lazing around on the carpeted floor at one corner of the British Council library, with just a Roald Dahl classic in my hand.

‘Less is more' is the motto for modern day home décor. As a matter of fact, the idealised 21st century home is clutter-free and decorated with minimalist furniture.

A large portion of elderly people (defined by the World Health Organisation as 65 years old and above) in Bangladesh who are aged below 75 years are still capable of leading healthy and independent lives, as long as they are not already subject to any serious physical or mental illness. Many from the current older generation were

Recently named one of the 'Cool Crusaders of Conscious Clothing' by Vogue India, Living Blue is one of the frontlining revivalists of indigo as a natural dye in Bangladesh. Besides cultivation, it focuses on producing a range of unique products involving quilting and hand embroidery.

Even today, the story entailing indigo farming in the region of Bengal is one of indomitable tyranny and ruthless oppression. When the British rule collapsed, the cash crop almost vanished, leaving behind numerous dilapidated 'Neel Kuthis' (indigo extraction centres). However, the raw potency of indigo was what made its extinction far from possible in this region.

The tropical climate, riverine lands and lush soils were the most suitable conditions for indigo plants to grow in this deltaic part of the world. In Bengal, indigo farming began as early as the 18th century during the British colonial rule. Owing to the Industrial Revolution in the west that kicked off around 1750, the demand for indigo

Admit it. We all just adore an elaborate spread of chhola, peyaju, beguni and kebabs galore, the top traditional items that we simply cannot imagine having an iftar without. But before you prepare to feast upon all these foods in all their delectable oily glory, here's some food for thought:

We spend a great deal of time and money behind taking care of our skin; doing everything we can to treat it the best way possible. Most of the time, however, we tend to overlook our nails, which are often the most neglected part of our body.

In the wake of the year of 1971, a silent uprising was surging in the agitated hearts of thousands of Bangalis residing in what was then East Pakistan. At that time, Dhaka was an indispensable (yet deemed abominable by West Pakistan) part of Pakistan. The epic win in the 1970 elections by the Awami League had ignited emotions of strength and unanimity but peace and independence were yet to be realized.

Fateh Ali Chowdhury (decorated member of the Crack Platoon, freedom fighter of the 1971 Liberation War and currently working as the Director of Consolidated Services Limited) was a bright young student of the English department of Dhaka University then. “In my youth, I was quite jovial and carefree,” Chowdhury admits. While he was well aware of the tense situation in the East Pakistan region in March then, the thought of an imminent war had not occurred to him yet.

Nine months, which undeniably felt much longer than they were, had passed and thousands of lives had been lost. The lionhearted freedom fighters who had been in constant battle for days and nights persevered with every ounce of strength and courage they had left in them. Their resilience and unity had managed to weaken the nerves of the enemy to a significant extent and when the Indian forces joined