“Katra” is a Persian word that means caravanserai or roadside inn. Multiple katras were constructed during Mughal and Nawabi eras in Dhaka. Of them, Bara Katra and Chhoto Katra are mentionable.

An exciting new discovery by researchers has raised the hope of saving one of the most important heritage sites of Dhaka – the Bara Katra, a Mughal-era palace built for a prince and later turned into an inn for travellers.

A grant worth BDT 19 lakhs and 20 thousand were provided to six films, out of which Akhtaruzzaman’s “Suchona Rekhar Dike” remained incomplete.

I can see there is a misconception that we are protesting against providing grants to the mainstream films. That is simply not true.

The government of Bangladesh has been up front about supporting the film industry, providing funds since the 1976-77 fiscal years. In the past 46 years, a total of 173 films have been granted funds in the categories like full length feature films, short film and documentaries.

According to the DAE, five years ago in fiscal year 2017-18, Boro paddy was cultivated on a total of 4.59 lakh hectares of land in Pabna, Sirajganj, Bogura, and Joypurhat districts, which yielded 19.43 lakh tonnes of rice.

Paddy farmers in the northern districts have struggled to turn a profit for the past five years, as production costs have risen significantly but rice prices have not increased proportionally.

The government continues to help paddy farmers in a variety of ways to increase their output and, by extension, their profits, said Yusuf Rana Mondal, former additional director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bogura region.

For years, farmers have been struggling to profit from paddy farming, and it is only politics that can help them out of this predicament.

The latest Detailed Area Plan for the capital has many new components like density mapping, school zoning and transport-oriented development, but its outcome will depend on proper implementation.

The recently approved Detailed Area Plan (DAP) promises a better Dhaka by solving perennial problems of the capital, but it has legalised some residential areas developed in conservable flood-flow zones over the years, experts say.

Inflation, and food and energy insecurity, triggered by the war in Ukraine, have become major concerns for Bangladesh and many countries across the world.

Still reeling from the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic, the world didn’t need a war. The pandemic, which could have united the world, instead exposed and highlighted the divisions between the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong and the East and the West. 

Philip Gain, director of Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD), has been researching tea workers for decades. He is the editor of the book “The Story of the Tea Workers in Bangladesh”. Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan of The Daily Star has talked to him about the ongoing crisis.

Basanti Bauri, 40, of Moulvibazar works for a renowned tea estate as a “plucker”. Her day starts at 5:00am sharp. After paying homage to the family deity, she prepares food for her three children and husband.

From the innocent ‘Sonai’ of “Monpura” to the ruthless and barbaric ‘Chan Majhi’, the multifaceted Chanchal Chowdhury is able to mold himself into complex characters, the kind that takes the film industry by storm. Currently, the actor is basking in the glory of his performance in “Hawa”, and the release of Hoichoi series “Karagar”.

Recently, the trailer for Raihan Rafi’s “Damal” was released, much to the delight of cinema-goers who have been enjoying a steady stream of quality projects.

In an unprecedented feat of putting one’s money where one’s mouth is, the digital marketing guru formerly known as Golam Mostafa has changed his name to Golam Rocky Road Mostafa.  

The United Nations just declared Bangladesh the world’s healthiest country. The UN secretary general urged all to follow Bangladesh as a role model. 

A surprising new study published yesterday revealed that the purpose of development in any country is to improve the lives of its citizens.