Maisha Islam Monamee

Konok Karmakar holds the highest Guinness World Records from Bangladesh. A freestyle footballer, Karmakar graduated from Feni Polytechnic Institute.

To further uphold the legacy of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Brac joined social entrepreneurs’ global platform Ashoka, and launched this initiative named after the Brac founder to promote young changemakers.

During the recent weeks of lockdown, these five books—ranging from historical fiction to memoirs to fantasy to romance—allowed me to disappear into stories, to live many lives, and they reminded me how vast the world was and will soon again be.

During these months of isolation, many of us have adapted to an indoor routine and found quality reading time where we can get it. However, sometimes, we just cannot get ourselves to start a new book. On World Book and Copyright Day, we take a look at five ways to beat a reading slump.

Ahmed Imtiaz Jami has been named in the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list 2021, under the category of Social Impact. Jami, a graduate of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, established OBHIZATRIK Foundation in 2010, to work with underprivileged children. So far, his foundation, with the help of 3,500 volunteers, has supported 1 million people on poverty elimination, education, health and nutrition, and human rights issues. Star Youth, The Daily Star, caught up with him to learn about his aspirations, and more.

The movement restrictions induced by the surge in Covid-19 cases have rendered several families helpless. People living below the poverty line have been hit the hardest. In such tough times, Nafisa Anjum Khan, a graduate of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, announced that she would go around different streets in her father’s CNG-run auto rickshaw, providing free food packets to impoverished individuals and families.

Dr Fazlur Rahman Khan was a Bangladeshi-American structural engineer and architect, who initiated important structural systems for skyscrapers.

Due to the ongoing second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are expecting to spend Ramadan indoors, away from the usual festivities and gatherings. Here are five things you can do at home, to make the most out of this holy month.

Project Maa is a social initiative to help breast cancer patients through fundraising. It was started by Mir Hosnay Tasnim, a student of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, on International Women’s Day this year. It features five paintings, dedicated to breast cancer patients. Tasnim plans to sell 50 copies of the five paintings, and donate 20 percent of the proceeds to Shanti Foundation for the treatment of breast cancer patients. The idea behind Project Maa came from her personal experiences.

The Ekushey Boi Mela provides ample opportunities for young authors to showcase their talents. Star Youth, The Daily Star, caught up with seven such authors to find out about their aspirations, and more.

Munzereen Shahid is an emerging online content creator and educator, from Bangladesh. Through her conversation skills and unconventional methods of imparting knowledge, she has impacted the lives of many. She recently received the Silver Play Button from YouTube, after crossing 100,000 subscribers on the platform. Her YouTube channel currently has over 170,000 subscribers.

Tabassum Ahmed initiated #dhakainred, a photo series on Instagram, to showcase the beauty of Dhaka. We spoke to participants of the series on the Independence Day of Bangladesh.

Celebrating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, a ten-day programme, "Mujib Chirantan", began on March 17 at the capital's National Parade Square. The eighth day of the event began with the theme, "Shanti, Mukti O Manobotar Ogrodut", acknowledging Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a pioneer of peace, freedom, and humanity. Be it the famine of 1943 or the communal riots of 1947, Bangabandhu always stood beside those in need and believed in the power of peaceful protests.

The Ekushey Boi Mela, which was inaugurated on March 18, 2021, is stretching out across an expanded space of 1500,000 sq ft to accommodate the 834 stalls allocated to 540 organisations this year.

With admission tests of different public and private universities approaching and coaching centres being closed, candidates may be in a dilemma about their preparation strategies. The last few weeks before an admission test can be tiring. Here is a list of tips to ensure that you are on the right track.

TransEnd, a social welfare organisation that works to empower the transgender community, recently began their vaccine registration drive. They began the drive in the last week of February, and have registered more than 35 transgender individuals for the first dose of vaccination against Covid-19.

“Through this initiative, we provide a platform for women to inspire and empower each other. Screening for this particular exhibition’s open-call is never conducted based on artistic skills, as we focus more on the theme interpretations,” shared Aisha Siddiqua, Program Assistant, EMK Center.

Team Bertho is a storytelling collective, initiated by a group of friends in 2016. “We present human experiences through creative mediums,” shared Murshidul Alam Bhuiyan, the director of the collective.

Hellfire is at once a book about patriarchy and the toxic strand of matriarchy that supports it. Through the lives of sisters Lovely and Beauty, both kept from socialisation and even attending school deep into middle age, the novel captures near perfectly the convoluted blueprint of life for South Asian women.

The Covid-19 pandemic witnessed several youth-based organisations step into action. From distributing food and groceries among underprivileged communities to raising awareness about the spread of the virus, youth organisations played an active role in helping the nation combat the pandemic. With vaccination drives being conducted across the nation, resuming normal lives finally seems like a possibility.