The current rates of taxes and value added tax (VAT) pose a big obstacle in the development of the country’s tourism industry, a parliamentary body has said.

These days, travel photography has become an inseparable part of travelling. Developing an efficient eye for travel photography is an ever-evolving process as every travel destination has its distinctive culture, landscapes and stories to display. Hence, it is not a very easy task for an amateur photographer to snap a perfect shot with one click of the camera. However, having some tips and tricks in mind, we can empower ourselves with photography skills and equipment and collect beautiful images with the cameras that we have at our disposal.

As instructed by officials, a workday from now onwards would start at 8 AM and employees are expected to wrap up by 3 PM. As for banks, the timing shall be from 9 AM to 4 PM. 3 PM? I thought to myself, as I glanced at my calendar and realised, I was occupied by meetings only up until that time. A drastic change in such a short span of time will definitely hamper work schedules. Over time, we get accustomed to a certain working clock and organise our day accordingly. A sudden change may disrupt the work pace and alter our routine way of work to some extent. It is especially difficult for offices that are highly invested in international clients or counterparts to adjust.

Twenty years ago, I had a dream that I would climb Kilimanjaro. On 13 July, 2022 at 11 AM, I summited the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, the Roof of Africa, Uhuru Peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, 5895m!! For the most part, Kilimanjaro has been easy — nicely laid out trails, gradual inclines, steady pace, trekking for no more than 6 to 7 hours a day. All great, save for Summit night which started at 11 PM. This was the most horrific experience of my life. It literally, felt like a page out of Dante's Inferno. There were so many real moments when I truly wanted to quit.

Karagar intrigued me further to explore the world of Bangla Entertainment having their, long-awaited shot on OTT platforms. With a little bit of digging, I came across a few more intriguing Bangla shows with an equal potential to intrigue. Here are my top picks.

If there’s one Bangladeshi actress whom we can turn to; for graceful sari looks, it is indisputably Jaya Ahsan. Flaunting her ethnic side to pitch-perfection, the actress is the style icon, and women of all ages tend to follow devoutly.

Illustrator and author, Fahmida Azim, won the Pulitzer Prize for using graphic reportage and medium like comics to pen down a powerful and intimate story of Uyghurs and their struggles against China’s systematic oppression, bringing a complex issue accessible to a wider public. The Pulitzer Prize is considered to be the most prestigious awards in journalism and publishing. Mohammad Ponir Hossain won it for feature photography in 2018, as Reuters staff.

If you are looking to invest in a perfume, we have the perfect one for you. The YSL Y is unlike perfume you have ever used before. It’s fresh. It’s bold. It encapsulates the spirit of being young and free. It’s not too in your face or over-the-top but do not let that fool you, it will still announce your arrival and command attention. Best part, it’s perfect for the Bangladeshi weather.

The Philippines is a diversified island country consisting of some 7,000 islands and islets. Interestingly, the Philippines takes its name from Philip II, who was King of Spain during the Spanish colonisation of the islands in the 16th century. It is one of only two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being East Timor. The country has always been one of my favourite destinations.

It is no secret that the reigning royalty of summer fruits includes mangoes, lychees, pineapples, various berries, guavas, etc. And while we have said goodbye to most of these fruits as the season comes to an end, guavas are just about coming to a peak. Here are 8 ways to make the most out of this guava season while they are still in the markets!

Sugarcane is a quintessential summer delight in our country and now is that time of the year where various sugarcane juice carts have started to pop up. The most common ways of consuming it is by having its juice directly squeezed out or by chewing it and crushing it to swallow the juices. However, sugarcane is more than just its juices. There are so many recipes both sweet and savoury that you may try out using sugarcane. In the joy of summer and this glorious summer delight, here are a couple of tantalizing sugarcane juice and skewer recipes.

Versatile enough to wear on traditional or western clothing, the boho trend is blazing a bold trail across the fashion scene and the magic seems to be catching on. One of the best ways to rock boho or hippie jewellery is to give it a plain canvas so that the outfit does not interfere with the bold interplay of colours, textures and designs of the ornaments.

After the maiden flight on August 18, tickets for the second Biman flight on Dhaka-Guangzhou-Dhaka route have been opened for sale at 4:00pm today (August 22) on Biman’s host system.

The concept of old age homes or retirement homes is commonplace in many countries. But in our society, the idea is still frowned upon, to say the least. It is almost a taboo; the social stigma is deeply rooted. On the other hand, though, is it not high time that we embrace this idea?

What can be a better thirst quencher than a glass of chilled and refreshing iced tea in this hot and humid weather? Nothing beats the heat better than a rejuvenating glass of iced tea. Here is an array of fruity, soul replenishing iced tea recipes for you to enjoy this summer.

It is always difficult when someone turns you down and says ‘no.’ Be it a personal favour or a business pitch, it can be hard swallowing rejection. Sometimes, it is because we fear being rejected because of internal shame or embarrassment, or because of the way we were brought up, we sabotage our own relationships and opportunities which would be good for us. So, to learn how you can accept rejection, it might be worth trying to understand why you fear rejection in the first place.

Natuzzi is the best-known lifestyle brand in the global furniture industry. Founded in Puglia, Italy by Pasquale Natuzzi in 1959, the Natuzzi style, as it is known now, has been developed over the past three decades with their signature-coloured leather sofas featuring innovative design and unparalleled comfort. The brand’s long-established expertise in effectively combining design, functions, materials, and colours allows it to constantly evolve in line with style and fashion trends. In 1993, it became the first and only Italian lifestyle brand to be listed on Wall Street, establishing Natuzzi as one of the world’s leading players in luxury furniture.

Bhai Girish Chandra Sen was a polymath, and the first person to translate the Holy Quran in Bangla.

Bangladeshi nationals will be able to avail on-arrival visa in Egypt.

Our country is covered with many magnificent lakes and water bodies. These lakes not only protect the natural environment, but are also mesmerising sights and wonderful places to go for recreation and contemplation. Here are top 5 must-see lakes which offer mesmerising sights, fun activities and much more.