The joy, jingles, and jumbling schedule of Christmas in Bangladesh

A look at how Christian students in Bangladesh celebrate Christmas.

The unnerving reality of school and college students living in hostels

What living away from home entail for these young students are poor living conditions, dreadful food arrangements, and more mental ailments than one can keep track of.

Scientists name prehistoric shark after Chainsaw Man’s Pochita

Pochitaserra Patriciacanalae is one of two ancient species described in the paper.

Navigating US undergraduate admissions: What to watch out for

Before you start envisioning yourself heartily laughing with your group of very intentionally diverse friends on the freshly cut American grass on a poster-like university campus, I want you to hold your horses for a minute.

Carbon neutrality: Explained

Carbon neutrality refers to the balance between the absorption and emission of CO2 from the atmosphere.

Where they all disappear

All he hears is the weight of his right-hand trembling as the frantic sound of beak against wooden board grows louder and louder.

Reader Submission / The future of work and the need for humans and AI to grow together

The future isn't humans or machines; it's synergistic performance.

Anime / Honey Lemon Soda: A refreshingly wholesome throwback to classic shoujo romance

Watching Honey Lemon Soda felt like stepping back into the 2010s golden age of school romcoms.

Over & Out!: Bangladeshi 90’s nostalgia turned into a video game

Over & Out! is a quest driven single-player adventure game set in early ’90s urban South Asia.

Education

Education

A level Law: Should you consider taking it?

Many aspiring law students, including myself, may have believed that to pursue law in university, one must have it as a subject in A levels as well. Yet this assumption may quickly fade once the course begins.

Addressing the mental health crisis of our school teachers

The mental health of school teachers remains one of the most pressing yet less discussed issues in our society.

Peer pressure in school life: How it shapes choices and students

Peer Pressure in School: Harmful or Helpful?

South Point School & College, Baridhara, launches international English medium section

South Point School & College, Baridhara, recently inaugurated its international English medium section under the British curriculum.

SJWS celebrates 30 years of excellence in education

Sir John Wilson School (SJWS) took its first step 30 years ago.

The A Level dilemma: Recheck, retake or rethink?

The exams are done, the pens are down, and the results are in. You’ve survived the endless revision sessions, late-night cramming, and the exhausting exam days. Then comes results day – the moment of truth. But what if those grades staring back at you aren’t what you expected?

The O/A level conundrum: Stay in school or opt for private registration?

Why is it that students feel compelled to opt out of school and take either one or both of their exams as a private candidate?

Pop culture

Pop culture

Did you know: Mulan is Disney’s deadliest princess

Disney’s Mulan might just be the deadliest character in cinematic history.

Wolfwalkers: An enchanting tale of the forces that make and break community

The movie wears its influence of Irish folklore on its sleeve.

Hope, horror and introspection in Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World

Re: Zero blends dark isekai fantasy with deep character growth.

Anime / A Sign of Affection: A heartfelt tale of connection and growth

A heartfelt shoujo anime showing love beyond words.

A story of cards, consoles, and anime: My life growing up with Pokémon

Pokémon were not just characters on a screen; they were companions that guided me through the trials of childhood.

Another 104 days of summer vacation

Phineas and Ferb revival brings back the summer fun

Explained

Explained

Trigger Warnings: Explained

Sticks and stones may break bones, but words can inflict just as much pain. That is exactly why trigger warnings exist, though oddly, not everyone seems to understand them or even think that they are necessary..So why do we need trigger warnings? Is the internet getting too “soft”?

Reader Submission / How exercise boosts memory and brain function

Exercise reduces stress hormones and boosts the release of “feel-good” chemicals.

Elections: Explained

Elections may sound distant or abstract, but they shape nearly every aspect in our lives, from education policies and job markets to climate action and civil rights.

Green colonialism: Explained

Green colonialism masks exploitation as climate action.

The curious case of the vanishing bees: Explained

The vanishing of bees isn't a distant environmental tale, it's a local, urgent reality.

How are black holes detected

How scientists detect invisible black holes.

Tariffs and trade wars: Explained

Tariffs may target nations, but the public often bears the burden.

Fiction

Fiction

The mirror between us

And for the Oldest, the mirror wounds as well.

Reader Submission / It’s all in my head

In the silence, her mind ruminated on every little detail.

Reader Submission / Maybe a mirage

Something you may... You may never find again.

How to: live

My love always arrived wrapped in silence, wrapped in dust. But that was childhood.

Heart, cling to me

We will make meaning out of the holes in the sun

Fiction / Once, spring stayed longer

He brought the jasmine to his nose, inhaled its narcotic sweetness, and wondered if maybe, just maybe, it was true.

Interests

Interests

The colours and constraints of cosplaying in Bangladesh

For a growing number of people, cosplaying has become a special way to express creativity and build a community.

Who are the 2025 Nobel Prize winners?

Here are the winners of the 2025 Nobel Prizes.

Should you consider spaying or neutering your pet?

Is spaying or neutering your pet really necessary for their health?

Lost in a real-life Charlie’s chocolate factory

A few thousand miles away from Dhaka, in a small town located in the outskirts of Zurich lies a place known for its signature centerpiece worldwide, a fountain of real chocolate.

Girls stepping into the world of robotics

Bangladesh, often overlooked in global tech discussions, has quietly cultivated a thriving robotics culture, particularly for young women.

Eid enchantments and us

A special cover of Rising Stars where we look back at how Eid has changed for us over the years. 

Stars on the rise

Stars on the rise

Bangladeshi student wins gold at international climate change olympiad in Russia

Taseen won a gold medal at the International Olympiad on Climate Change and Environmental Issues (IOCE) 2025. 

Glenrich students bag first place in NSS Space Settlement Design Contest

A team from Glenrich International School, Uttara has secured first place in the internationally-acclaimed NSS Gerard K O'Neill Space Settlement Contest.

Md Moynul Islam’s story calls for a profound shift toward inclusion

Visually impaired Bangladeshi student Moynul defied odds, excelling in education despite systemic barriers, showcasing the need for accessible tech and support.

A trip to the Midwest

From June 9 to June 22, I had the privilege to be a participant of a creative writing and cultural exchange programme called “Between the Lines (BTL): Peace and the Writing Experience” at the University of Iowa.

Sunnydale School runner-up at international youth handball tournament

Sunnydale School’s under-10 (U-10) boys handball team became the runner-up at the 2024 Partille Cup, the world's largest International youth handball tournament. 

Bangladesh wins bronze at European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad

212 students from 55 countries competed in the global olympiad this year.