Women in Bangladesh spend between six and eight hours in the kitchen every day, and nearly three to four of those hours cooking.

The Star is about to embark on a new journey. It will change its format from its present size to a tabloid. Being its editor for most of the 18 years of its existence a little reminiscing is in order.

The reigning assumption these days about courtesy, civility, and manners is that they are merely frosting on a cake. The clear connection between courtesy and kindness is generally not understood.