The man behind the bell
Last week, a peon, who was also a night guard, of Poradanga Government Primary School of Kulotia Union of Monirampur upazila,
13 June 2019, 18:00 PM
Takes two to make one AND raise one
When Nasim Hossain, a senior manager at an international trading company, first heard the news from his wife Tanuja Islam that they
23 May 2019, 18:00 PM
THE POWER POLITICS OF FIGHTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Last month, Star Weekend, The Daily Star conducted an online survey to explore incidents of sexual harassment in the workplace.
9 May 2019, 18:00 PM
Old wine in a new bottle
This is a story of how “recruiting” companies lure people with promises of jobs that don't actually exist, and skive off money from them in exchange.
18 April 2019, 18:00 PM
Don't rub against me
Since my student days, I've been a regular commuter on public buses in Dhaka city. When I was in college, the money that my father sent every month was barely enough to cover my tuition and living costs...
11 April 2019, 18:00 PM
The Curtain Call
33 years back, cinema enthusiast Mohammad Mortuza started his career as a gatekeeper at the famous Ananda Cinema Hall in Farmgate, with a salary of Tk 400 per month.
4 April 2019, 18:00 PM
Down Memory Lane
During a chat with my mother one evening, I asked her, "Which belonging of yours do you cherish the most?” I expected her to name her favourite kitchen utensils (which she guards with her life by the way) or her money pouch or that mobile phone of hers which she uses to video call anyone and everyone at the oddest of hours.
21 March 2019, 18:00 PM
Arming slums against disaster
In a disaster-prone city such as Dhaka, slum dwellers are often the most vulnerable to fires, earthquakes, water-logging and other disasters.
14 March 2019, 18:00 PM
No room for (Hindu) Women
The Hindu Women's Rights to Property Act, 1937 completely excludes women from getting a share of their father's or husband's property if there are sons in the family. Even if there are no sons, not all daughters are equally eligible to inherit their father's property.
7 March 2019, 18:00 PM
Digitally hers
What does a woman need to get out of an abusive situation?
7 March 2019, 18:00 PM
More tragedies from the night of horror
The ghastly fire at the Churihatta intersection in Dhaka’s Chawkbazar area leaves some with the last moments of their lives in agony, while others are left with a horrific memory that will haunt them forever.
21 February 2019, 13:10 PM
Solidarity through Social Media
When women find solace, support and strength in each other through Facebook groups
14 February 2019, 18:00 PM
Pulling the weight of the world
Fifty-year-old rickshaw puller Rafique Miah was struggling hard to peddle his rickshaw on the uneven roads of Mirpur. Looking exhausted, bearing testimony of his daylong hard labour, sweat trickled down his face on a winter evening in January. Still, he was doing his best to move forward, all the while wiping his brow with his torn gamcha (towel).
7 February 2019, 18:00 PM
A victim no more
Do you remember the 13-year-old girl from Ullahpara, Sirajganj, who was gang-raped by members of the then ruling party after the 2001 election? Do you remember her portrait that was published in almost all newspapers, where she was hiding her face in her hands? Or that title 'Aami ekhon mukh dekhabo ki kore (how will I show my face to society now)?'
31 January 2019, 18:00 PM
Riding in a man's world
A small but growing number of female riders are making an impact in ridesharing services as well as making a living
24 January 2019, 18:00 PM
How long will it take for employers to offer childcare centres?
Siddiquatul Haque, a former employee of the Bangladesh Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Limited, had to resign from her high paying job because she didn't have anyone to take care of her firstborn.
17 January 2019, 18:00 PM
Free and Fair Coverage
During the Dhaka City Mayoral elections of 2015, Samakal's senior reporter, Amitosh Paul, was assigned to cover the polling booth at the Uttara Girls High School Centre. Inside, he noticed a group of men—belonging to the ruling party—misguiding a section of the voters.
20 December 2018, 18:00 PM
Mental Health 101
The recent cases of suicide in educational institutes this year—nine cases of suicide at University of Dhaka (DU) and one at a residential complex of a private university—has opened a can of worms, exposing how poorly the mental health condition of Bangladesh's youngsters are dealt with.
29 November 2018, 18:00 PM
Taxing Periods
Like other remote villages in Bangladesh, in Barapushia, a small village in Gazipur, having your period is something to be kept a secret.
22 November 2018, 18:00 PM
Flammable Existence
For 20-year-old housewife Ripa, it was a usual weekend morning. Her one-year-old daughter Ayesha had woken her up at around 7 am and was repeatedly pointing to the window, wanting to go outside.
15 November 2018, 18:00 PM