House hunting in Dhaka is nothing short of a nightmare, and I say this not necessarily because of the disparity of numbers between those who have their own house and who do not.

The name Formosa dates back to 1542 when Portuguese sailors sighted an uncharted land and included it in their maps as the "beautiful Island." It's a destination that I have always wanted to visit.

An occasion of remembrance for the departed, November 2 marks All Souls' Day for Catholics who gather for the deceased halted in purgatory.

A recent report published by the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) on the impact of migration on household income, expenditure and poverty, highlights a number of interesting trends.

The world is seeing a rise of authoritarianism—in the form of populist regimes—threatening all those who defend social justice across countries and continents.

In a grand rally, Hefajat-e-Islam, a Qawmi Madrasa-based Islamist pressure group, has recently thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her government’s recognition of Dawrae Hadith (Takmil) Certificate in Qawmi Madrasa. Hefajat enjoys considerable support among the country’s conservative populace. Therefore, its endorsement of the current government can make a difference in the forthcoming elections.

90-year-old Kamini Bala is one of the oldest victims of the brutal arson attack that destroyed homes of 11 Hindu families in Rangpur's Thakurpara village last November.

On October 27, the Jatiya Sangsad passed the Narcotics Control Bill 2018 to replace the 30-year-old law from 1990. The new law has introduced the death sentence for people found to be in possession of over 200 grams of yaba, or 25 grams of heroin.

On the October 19 issue of Star Weekend, Zyma Islam wrote a piece on the #MeToo movement. In the writeup, she analysed obstacles for such a movement in Bangladesh.

A few days after Pig-King Trump announced that the brazen and brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi could not be allowed to get in the way of American arms sales to the House of Saud, Jair Bolsonaro became the Brazilian President-elect.

“I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? Tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me? I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear.”

Baagh-Nama

Dhaka Lit Fest 2018

It is democratically ambiguous if there should be "reserved seats" for women to be chosen indirectly by the (mainly) male MPs, not the voters.

A washing machine is the fifth most important invention man has ever invented or stolen from an alien spaceship. Its illustriousness stems from having car, paracetamol, toilet flush and toilet hand-shower.

We read about this girl. That she may have a name doesn't matter. What matters is that she is a'middle-sister', 'middle' as in relative, as in younger sister to someone, older sister to someone, sister-in-law to someone, and daughter to someone else.

Every time Jamil has a night shift, he feels like quitting his job. Staying up all night, two nights in a week! Sleeping during the day is just not the same thing.

BAAGH-NAMA

Masud Bin Momen (MBM) is currently serving as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York.

Brother Ronald, or just Brother as he was popularly known, was born to Frank and Mary Drahozal in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1937. How this “corn country” farm boy made his way to this part of the world is a story that is intriguing and a compelling testimony to his dedication, compassion, and spirituality.