Shamsad Mortuza

When was the last time you looked at the face of the rickshaw-puller who gave you a ride? Or the guard who opened the door for you at a mall?

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all its affiliates to implement the semester system by July 1.

It is common for modern day leaders to use teleprompters, in which words are projected onto transparent beam-splitter mirrors, making their speeches appear impromptu and spontaneous.

“The Book (Le Livre)” was an ambitious project of the 19th century French poet Stephane Mallarme.

There was a time, not long ago, when Bangla news editors would use the phrase “like the price of water” to connote the low cost of an item.

A colleague teaching abroad recently called to ask, “What’s the minimum criteria for becoming a vice-chancellor in Bangladesh?

Let’s admit it: the time for debate on school reopening is over. It’s time to stop treating education as an afterthought, as if it’s not a priority.

The mystery of nine dead zebras over a period of three weeks at the Bangabandhu Safari Park in Gazipur has been solved. Experts identified bacterial infections and infighting during the mating season as the causes of death of those striped animals.

Can the flapping of a butterfly’s wings here cause a storm elsewhere?

The thoughtfulness of my son-in-law in printing a personalised letter on a blanket as a paper-themed anniversary gift to my daughter enthralled me.

“Money can open every DoE door”—I read out the news heading in this daily only to trip over the last two words. The stuttering tongue-twister made me chuckle.

Will the Covid-19 masks finally come off in 2022? The ever-evolving nature of our little big enemy makes it difficult to say if the mask mandates will remain effective in this new year.

In October 2019, The Guardian featured an article titled “The rise and rise of Bangladesh” with a string attached in its title, asking, “But is life getting any better?”

Covid-19 deserves a trophy for virtually connecting many of us during these atrophy-ridden times.

The recent announce-ment and endorsement of the resignation of two high-profile figures have rocked the political boat. A mayor and a state minister have given up their offices—or should I say, they have fallen out of grace to fall on their own swords.

There was a 10mm glass wall at ULAB that separated Prof Rafiqul Islam’s office room from mine for more than three years.

Every time I pass by the Banani flyover area, I look at the worms that have come out of the deep to rear their heads to announce the underpass underneath, and ask myself why the much-hyped pedestrian tunnel has not been opened to the public yet.

“Do you know that you cannot die without being born first?”

The planning minister recently used an onomatope—a word that imitates the things signified. He referred to the economic growth of the country with the sound image of “shonoi, shonoi,” which can be literally translated to “by and by.”

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.