Celebrating our inspirers
A very special award
Ever since 2017 we, in collaboration with IPDC, have had the honour of introducing a very special kind of award titled “Unsung Women Nation Builders”.
Editor’s note
We strongly believe that those who break new grounds, take our ambition to higher levels, and open up new frontiers of success in our “Business World” collectively inspire the entire nation to move forward and deserve to be given special recognition.
In with the new: Lifestyle Chronicles
Fast and slow fashion: What makes slow fashion work
The young are the typification of what’s new and trending in the fast fashion world now. They are colourful and up-to-date on the latest fashion craze. They go to markets with pictures of the latest blockbuster and they buy the most trending Bollywood-inspired shalwar kameez or lehengas.
Cashless is the future
The food delivery man rings the doorbell. “Apa, here’s the naga momo that you ordered.” A bit muffled and more so happy that something appetising has been ordered by the teen in the house,
Can local cosmetics edge out the global competitors?
Cosmetics and toiletries have long been in demand. People of both genders now prioritise self-grooming.
Homecooked meals: Why they make sense in today’s society
The argument for home cooking is perhaps one of the most observable phenomena of modern middle-class lives, which just keep getting busier. Many of us can still recall childhoods when anything from the store or bakery was quite a treat.
Dhaka’s lively bakery scene
As a city, Dhaka is rich in terms of culture and tradition, and what forms a big part of our heritage is the food we have carried down from generation to generation.
Embracing the slow fashion movement: In conversation with Silmat Chisti
Slow fashion, as the definition roughly entails, is couture that is hand-spun and has its roots steeped in tradition, and is focused on sustainable and ethical productions. The Daily Star recently spoke to Silmat Chisti, Founder, NOBO Designs Pvt Ltd, also MD, Bangladesh SME Corporation Ltd. She shed some light on the Slow Fashion movement in Bangladesh.
Dhaka’s open mic scene: A platform for emerging artists to shine
Dhaka’s open mic scene has evolved over the years, from humble beginnings to now being a platform for performers to highlight their talent and make a breakthrough in the industry.
Sari - The changing tale of draping
In the current fashion world, the sari, a traditional female garment of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka is all the rage.
Where Showbiz meets the Internet
Bite-sized videos the future of Showbiz?
It is indeed a fast-paced world we live in, evident by our incessant need for instant gratification in every aspect of our lives.
Television’s transformation for survival
Burdened with competition from digital platforms, the television industry is dipping its toes into digitalisation as well, with many networks planning to launch their own streaming platforms and news sites.
Is corporate involvement enriching our music?
While many old songs are being lost due to a poor archiving system, corporations like IPDC, Square, and Coca-Cola are working tirelessly to archive old Bangla songs and present it with a modern twist for the young generation
Hollywoodisation of video games: Blurring the lines of interactive media
Despite the very first video games stemming from the 1950s, it wasn’t until the popularity of arcades and home consoles in the 1980s that video games truly entered worldwide pop culture.
Children’s entertainment – Needs more local, creative content
Spearheaded by amazing series and films like “Hawa”, “Poran”, “Karagar”, and “Syndicate” amongst many others, the Bangladeshi entertainment industry seems to be booming. However, amongst all this great work, one sector of the industry, children’s entertainment has been somewhat neglected.
New stars storm the entertainment industry
In the arena of showbiz, new and upcoming talent are always looking for opportunities to prove their potential. However, since the level of competition in this industry is high, the probability of gaining recognition and acceptance is equally lower.
BookTok – Making reading trendy
‘BookTok’, is a hashtag on TikTok, that connects avid readers across the world who interact with each other, discover new books and share their own ideas on what they read.
The changing middle-class story
The job market for fresh university graduates
The job market in any field has always been competitive.
Women on the move: Making travelling easier
While the desire to explore new places may be the same for all, is travelling throughout the country the same for everyone?
Middle class driving our tourism
Travel is all about broadening your perspective. It allows you to encounter different ideas, viewpoints, cultures, scenery, and even cuisines.
Exotic fruits and vegetables in our diet
In recent years, the availability of exotic fruits and vegetables from local farms in Bangladesh has been on the rise.
Young entrepreneurs in agriculture: The new driving force
Agriculture accounts for approximately 13.6 per cent of Bangladesh’s GDP and employs more than 40.6 per cent of the labour force. As technology advances, so do agricultural applications, ushering in a new era of industrial upheaval.
Innovation in education
Education is an ever-evolving pursuit. Both in terms of delivery and reception, the content and the mode of learning must continue to be re-imagined in order to fit the needs of the students.
Seeking treatment: Choosing between foreign and local healthcare facilities
Every year, thousands of Bangladeshi patients travel abroad in search of better medical treatment despite the availability of similar services within the country.
Caring for the terminally ill: Palliative and hospice care
Palliative and hospice care were introduced in the western medical field decades ago. In Bangladesh, the concept is new, and lacks proper research and resources.
Towards a smart Bangladesh
Staying on top of the 4IR at the policy level
Bangladesh is poised to join the ranks of middle-income countries in 2026, and industrial growth will form the backbone of our economy as we make this transition.
Overcoming challenges of LDC graduation
The United Nations Committee on Development Policy (UN-CDP) determined in February 2021 that Bangladesh has satisfied all three requirements to graduate from the category of Least Developed Country (LDC) for the second time.
Our migrant workers deserve better protection
How often have you heard the term “hundi” recently? I would bet quite a few times, especially if you’ve been following the worried discussions surrounding the cost-of-living crisis and economic downturn, both at home and abroad.
Creating conditions for our youths to prosper
Despite overcoming its many economic challenges, one obstacle Bangladesh continues to struggle with is creating enough quality employment opportunities for its young population.
Making private sector a key driver of our economy
Bangladesh has come a long way in weaving its inspirational tale of incredible success as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
Better care for migrants can ensure higher remittance earnings
Abdur Rashid Mia (32) from Narsingdi went to Saudi Arabia in June 2022. However, each step of his journey there was complicated – from getting his passport, to completing his medical check-ups, paying for his tickets and, finally, getting a job.
How can we become an attractive investment destination?
Economic growth and business development are highly dependent on the business climate created by socio-economic policies and political decisions of governments.
Nature-based solutions can fight two key battles together
In the last two months of 2022, two large global events took place on two continents flanking the Atlantic Ocean. In November, around 35,000 people met at the Egyptian tourist city of Sharm El-Sheikh for the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27).