Single parenting is not something we all envision happening, but it does happen. Raising a child is inarguably the toughest job around and carrying out this great responsibility becomes far more strenuous when one has to do it alone - every day, day after day!

I was traveling to Dhaka from Chittagong with my five-year-old son. The flight departed on schedule. But 15 minutes in, the captain announced that he was rerouting us back to Chittagong, because the weather was turbulent and unsafe for landing in Dhaka.

For years, dining out has been the go-to option for friends and family in the metropolitan city of Dhaka. However, the recent trend has been not only to eat but to live a little lavishly for some, pampering themselves to take respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

There is not a single space on the horizon that reveals foliage – austere words like these, have almost become harsh realities, especially for urban settlers like myself. But all is not lost; there will always be some people who fight against the tide, bringing back the happiness that seems lost with the greenery.

When breaking down this big idea of beginning a new healthier lifestyle to more doable mini goals, many are considering going organic,

Every country has a range of things that is unique to the rest of the world. It is this uniqueness that the nation proudly presents: from its history, to its people, and their culture. A country's cuisine is of course one of those important things.

In the Bengali menu, what are the items which are truly ours? What delicacies do we make which are the best in the world? What are the foods which should carry a special label, such as the Geographical Indication (GI)?

We have a great 'product', but are we promoting and selling enough? Promoting a country's cuisine is akin to promoting the country's culture, heritage and diversity.

It is no news that globally non-linear media is fast overtaking traditional forms in terms of entertainment consumption. Researches in the West show a clear, steep shift to digital, on-demand content over the likes of television and radio, and the markets there are quickly adjusting to the shift.

After Gangnam Style and PSY had skyrocketed to the most wanted music video towards the end of 2012, soon Picotaro became the

“Kothao amar hariye jawar nei mana...” was probably an outpouring of a latent desire of the post 1400 (Bengali Year) middle class

Many a traveller has braved the high seas, traversed the many aisles of rice fields, trekked the tall mountains and lived to write of their glorious adventures in this land of rivers - Bangladesh.

Forever in Fashion is a treat for fashion lovers. We begin by addressing the issue of our own wonderful abundance of textiles and how to showcase them on a global platform. Then we dive into the history of colours, hues emboldened with history, each with their own message to send. Finally, we look through our history of fashion over the years, culminating in Bangladesh's fashion industry making a mark on a global platform! But fashion is about lifestyle too, so why miss that out?

Bengal throughout the ages has been famed for creating superior fabrics and weaves. In the world map of textiles, our land had held - and arguably continues to hold - a dominant position in terms of quality and uniqueness. And therefore it is of no surprise that history is dotted with accounts and anecdotes which reflect this glorious past.

Fashion in Bangladesh has come forward in leaps and bounds or so it may seem. While it may appear that we are involved in a lot of

The paper lanterns keep flying higher, and higher still; the flame beneath, propelling the 'phanush' creating a mesmerising display of colours in the sky - a fiery burst of yellow, seen through the translucent mesh of thin coloured papers.

The 40s witnessed worldwide war, despair and asceticism. By the time the United States emerged out of depression, the rest of the world including, Europe and Asia, were already submerged knee-deep into terrible combat.

Fashion trends are a narrative of the innate culture of a people, and it is no different for Bangladesh.

In the frenetic modern world, ingesting toxic air pollution, preservative-loaded food and the pressures of earning a living, now more than ever we need to draw on ancient wisdom to find a balance that nurtures health and happiness.

The future landscape of the country depends on what we make of Dhaka city. Any national plan will have to consider the urban scenario of the whole country, from the primary cities to the small towns, but particularly Dhaka city as it will continue to play a vital role in impacting places throughout the country.