Weekend Read
The Great Himalayan Trail: Shakil’s story of perseverance
“Throughout the journey, death knocked at my door several times, but I never lost my focus, I never gave up,” said Ikramul Hasan Shakil, the intrepid conqueror of the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT), home to three of the highest peaks in the world.
High Barind running out of water
Due to decades of excessive water extraction, over 40 percent of unions in the high Barind region are facing severe groundwater depletion.
‘Our struggle for water is never-ending’
Bidyut Kumar Mondol, a farmer from Kamardha village in Naogaon’s Porsha upazila, finds himself grappling with a challenging predicament. He had prepared 23 bighas of land for cultivating Aman paddy, but his dreams have been thwarted by a relentless lack of water.
LONG READ / Arial beel under threat
Arial Beel, one of the largest wetlands located in Munshiganj, is facing an invasion by illegal real estate developers. These business entities have acquired portions of the wetland, filling them up with sand and strategically placing signboards to attract potential buyers for residential development.
WEEKEND READ / Farashganj: The French connection
In the heart of Old Dhaka, there lies a neighbourhood with a captivating history, centuries-old buildings and a thriving spice market. Farashganj is located on the northern bank of the Buriganga river. Established in 1780, its principal thoroughfares are BK Das Road and Ahsanullah Road. In today’s issue of the Weekend Read, we will explore the history, mystery, and spice of Farashganj.
JUTE MILLS IN DISARRAY
Due to lack of maintenance, the once-vibrant mill compounds now appear to be haunted places with weeds and vines growing all over
Remote palichara reflects overall reality
Palichara, a remote village in Rangpur district, is not an unknown name in the local football fraternity ever since it emerged as a breeding ground of female footballers in the country.
High hopes in Halda
It rained in Hathazari, and there was turbulence in the Halda. When the clock struck midnight, quite a few boats gently glided down the river.
Fry Cultivation / Hatcheries take over traditional methods
Once upon a time, egg collectors used conventional earthen wells to hatch spawns after collecting eggs released by broodfish in the Halda.
Shishu Park: once bustling, now fading from memory
The ever-memorable song starts playing while children, sitting on the metallic horsebacks, delightfully start going round and round -- this is a memory many Dhaka residents can still relate to.
Need to protect mangroves for coastal people
Kamal Hossen is a recently retired professor at the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Science of Chattogram University. In a conversation with The Daily Star, he emphasised the importance of the conservation of mangrove forests.
Fire safety in a precarious state
Fire safety in Dhaka’s market buildings is in a very precarious condition, which has increased vulnerabilities for people and properties associated with these markets. The recent fire incidents in Bangabazar and Dhaka New Super Market are testimonies of these harsh realities prevailing in the capital, said Dr Adil Mohammed Khan, executive director of Institute for Planning and Development (IPD), during an interview with The Daily Star yesterday.
Childhood trapped in ‘leguna’
“This is Mohammadpur, get off,” a child yelled out to the passengers of a leguna, otherwise known as human hauliers, which had reached the area as early as 7:00am.
No place to call ‘home’
Dhalpur’s Telegu community evicted without financial assistance, resource allocation
Haunting memories of Jinjira massacre
“Pakistani soldiers broke into our house through the backyard. Sensing their presence, three of my nephews gathered in one room. Another managed to flee. The soldiers entered our house firing indiscriminately killing the 3 helpless boys. They fell on the floor just like logs. …
‘Always a fighter’ Tanjila packs a punch
“Yes, my name is Tanjila Tanjila,” the rookie boxer only laughed when asked about why she lacks a conventional surname.
Sura Krishna targets Asian zenith
“Recently when I visited my locality in Rangamati, people inquired about professional boxing and how their children can pursue their passion in the sport. It gives me a lot of pleasure,” said a thoroughly content Sura Krishna Chakma, Bangladesh’s first professional boxer and the champion of the first international professional boxing tournament held in the country last year.
Bangladesh boxing poised for growth spurts
The Beximco XBC Fight Night in Dhaka had recently created some buzz among the ones fascinated with professional boxing.
‘Like a morning after a nuclear attack’
A World Bank team that visited different areas of war-torn Bangladesh in June 1971 likened Kushtia to a bombed-out “WWII German town”.
Kushtia’s tale of unimaginable brutality
A dilapidated tin-shed stands precariously at Bittipara area in Kushtia.
Sitakunda’s curse of industrial accidents
In Sonaichhari union alone -- where both BM depot and Sheema Oxygen Plant are located -- there are around 50 shipbreaking yards, several re-rolling mills, oxygen plants and one LP gas plant
