Wednesday, 04 February 2026, 09:46 AM
October 12, 2025
Netrokona's beloved sweet, balish mishti, has recently been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status, which means that it is no longer just a local delicacy, it is now officially considered a part of Bangladesh's national heritage.
The story of Balish Mishti began with Gayanath Ghosh, who ran a sweet shop named 'Gayanath Mistanno Bhandar' on Barhatta Road in Netrokona town. Unlike many other sweet makers of his time, he wanted to break away from the usual treats. That determination led to the making of a new sweet known as 'Balish Mishti'. Long, soft and shaped like a pillow, it quickly became a favourite among locals. Out of respect, people still lovingly call it "Gayanather balish mishti."The sweet comes in different sizes, with prices varying accordingly. The largest size can weigh nearly three kilograms and is enough to serve 8 to 10 people.
Although Gayanath moved to India in 1969, he left behind his creation here in Netrokona. Before leaving, he passed on the recipe and method to the main moira (the community known for making sweets), Nikhil Chandra Modak, ensuring that the tradition would live on. After Nikhil's passing, his three sons took over the business. To this day, the Modak family continues to carry the legacy forward.
For anyone visiting Netrokona, balish mishti is a must-try. Tasting this unique delicacy is more than just enjoying a dessert; it is about experiencing a piece of living tradition that began over a century ago. With its new GI recognition, balish mishti has now risen beyond a local delicacy to stand as a proud symbol of national heritage....
October 12, 2025
For Putul Sajia Sultana and Syed Reza Ali, love has always revolved around music. Their little world grew even more beautiful with the arrival of their daughter, Geetoleena. Despite their differences in taste, with Putul finding happiness in regional songs, while Reza leans towards metal. Even their football loyalties differ, as one supports Brazil and the other Argentina. Yet it is this very passion for music that drew Reza from Australia to Dhaka, where he not only found his calling, but also his soulmate.
The couple recently visited The Daily Star, complementing each other in coordinated outfits. Between interviews and photographs, they could not stop capturing moments of one another on their phones. Married for four years, they describe themselves as best friends who respect each other's personal space while nurturing their shared world. Although deeply in love, they affectionately address each other using tui, a term that might sound a bit strange to others, but feels natural to them.
"I am used to calling her tui because we were friends first. Some might find it odd, but it does not bother us. Our friendship is what makes our relationship special," laughed Reza.
Their love story was never about formal confessions. Instead, it unfolded naturally. Their families, especially Putul's mother-in-law, could see that they were made for each other.
"We first met at a Valentine's Day programme organised by NTV in Australia. We had two shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Our first interaction was brief, only a one-hour practice session on February 16. I returned to Bangladesh soon after, but we stayed connected on Facebook. For a long time, we did not even exchange a simple hello," recalled Putul.
Reza, spontaneous by nature, once had everything. He had a stable banking career and an Australian passport. Yet in 2019, he came back to pursue music in Dhaka.
"I made the decision within hours," he shared. "After years in banking, I felt suffocated. I could not give time to my...
October 11, 2025
The global economy is doing better than expected, even as it faces prolonged uncertainty and underwhelming medium-term growth prospects, the head of the IMF said Wednesday.
The world economy is doing "better than feared, but worse than we need," International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told reporters in Washington.
She added that the Fund now expects global growth to slow "only slightly this year and next," propped up by better-than-expected conditions in the United States, and among some other advanced, emerging market and developing countries.
Georgieva's remarks came ahead of next week's gathering of finance ministers and central bank governors at the World Bank and the IMF in Washington.
Trade is once again likely to dominate the agenda at the annual meetings, following US President Donald Trump's decision earlier this year to unleash sweeping tariffs against many trading partners.
"All signs point to a world economy that has generally withstood acute strains from multiple shocks," Georgieva said, pointing to "improved policy fundamentals," the adaptability of the private sector, lower-than-expected tariffs, and supportive financial conditions. "The world has avoided a tit-for-tat slide into trade war -- so far," she added.
She noted that the average US tariff rate has fallen from 23 percent in April to 17.5 percent today, while the US effective tariff rate of around 10 percent remains "far above" the rest of the world.
But, she warned, the full effect of those tariffs "is still to unfold," adding that the resilience of the world economy has yet to be "fully tested."
Against this backdrop, the Fund still expects global growth to remain at roughly three percent over the medium term, in line with previous forecasts -- below the 3.7 percent, on average, seen before the Covid-19 pandemic. "Global growth patterns have been changing over the years, notably with China decelerating steadily while India develops into a key growth engine,"...
October 11, 2025
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the only way to restore democracy in Bangladesh is through elections. He stated, “No matter how many reforms we make or how many intellectual strategies we devise, unless a government is established through elections, we cannot return to democracy. The only way to restore a democratic system is through a free, fair, and impartial election. There is no alternative path to democracy.”
He made these remarks on Friday at a discussion meeting held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in Dhaka. The event was organized to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Naziruddin Jehad, who was killed during the anti-autocracy movement. Leaders of the All-Party Student Unity, who played a key role in the 1990 mass uprising, also attended the discussion.
“The people of Bangladesh are freedom-loving and democracy-loving,” Fakhrul said. “They have fought, struggled, and shed blood for independence. Unfortunately, they have stumbled time and again in that struggle. Yet every time they fell, they rose again—through movement and struggle, they achieved victory.”
He added, “The monster Hasina has destroyed everything in the country—the judiciary, the administration, the electoral system, our economy, health, and education—all have been wrecked by her.”
Commenting on some groups claiming the July movement as their own, Fakhrul said, “BNP has been fighting for democracy for a long time.”
Responding to a statement by Nasir Uddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the SNIP, who said that if their party is not given the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) symbol, BNP’s ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol should be cancelled, Fakhrul remarked, “Brother, we have not objected to your symbol. The Election Commission will decide which symbol you get. Why this unnecessary tug-of-war over BNP’s ‘Sheaf of Paddy’? Because the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ is unstoppable. Across the country, people are chanting slogans for the...
October 11, 2025
Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi today said his country would depute its diplomats to India as part of step-by-step efforts to improve bilateral relations.
Muttaqi made the announcement at a media briefing hours after holding extensive talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who told him that New Delhi would reopen its embassy in Kabul.
The Afghan diplomatic missions in India have officials who were largely appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government.
India has not yet recognised the Taliban set-up and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul.
On India's stance regarding recognition of the Taliban-led government, Muttaqi said, "This is my first visit to India, and today we have decided that India will upgrade its technical mission to an embassy and we will also send our diplomats here. India-Afghanistan relations are historic, and our diplomatic engagement is moving forward positively."...
October 11, 2025
Renowned photographer and activist Shahidul Alam, who was released by Israeli authorities on Friday after joining a Free Palestine campaign, is expected to arrive in Dhaka at 4:55 am tomorrow.
Earlier in the day, Shahidul reached Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight around 2:30 pm local time. He was received by Bangladesh Consul General in Istanbul Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, said a statement issued by the chief adviser's press wing.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey Md Amanur Rahman said Shahidul's return flight to Dhaka was scheduled to depart Istanbul at 6:45 pm local time on Friday.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his cooperation in facilitating Shahidul Alam's release and safe repatriation from Israel.
Following Shahidul Alam's detention by Israeli authorities, Bangladesh embassies in Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey were instructed to engage with the respective foreign ministries and take immediate diplomatic measures to secure his release....
October 11, 2025
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus today congratulated Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on winning the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
"I extend my hearty congratulations to María Corina Machado on receiving the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous fight for democracy in her beloved Venezuela," he said in a congratulatory message.
Machado has faced oppression with steadfast resolve, never wavering in her commitment to a freer and more just future for her country and her people, the message read.
As the Nobel Committee rightly stated: "Democracy depends on people who refuse to stay silent, who dare to step forward despite grave risk, and who remind us that freedom must never be taken for granted, but must always be defended — with words, with courage, and with determination."
She has dared to imagine a better world and worked tirelessly to make it so, the message added.
According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for promoting democratic rights in her country and for her struggle to achieve a transition to democracy....
October 09, 2025
Eyewear has always straddled the line between necessity and style, but today, the balance feels more relevant than ever. There is no denying that sunglasses are a genuine necessity, shielding our eyes from sun damage and, in the time we live in, something we should make a habit of wearing regularly. Yet, practicality doesn't have to mean predictable.
Glasses and shades no longer follow a one-size-fits-all formula. From timeless aviators to bold, bedazzled frames, eyewear has become less about hiding behind lenses and more about revealing personality.
Gone are the days when oversized aviators were the only shorthand for glamour. Yes, oversized frames still have their allure, but fashion is cyclical, and the pendulum has swung back toward shapes that feel distinctly retro. The 80s-inspired smaller round glasses, or their close cousins (the slim oval frames rimmed with gold), have resurfaced in full force. Their comeback has nothing to do with nostalgia, really. It is about reclaiming an edge, balancing understated cool with effortless sophistication.
That said, choosing sunglasses is never a random affair.
Your face shape dictates which frames flatter you most. Round faces find balance in angular frames, while sharp jawlines soften beautifully under rounded edges. Heart-shaped faces lean into cat-eyes, elongating the eyes and cheekbones with feline drama. Oval faces, of course, win the lottery — they can carry nearly any frame, from oversized square shades to the tiny 90s rectangles now back in vogue.
But the real secret lies not in rules, but in the dialogue between face and frame. The right pair doesn't just complement, it amplifies.
And while we speak of amplification, few things illustrate the power of audacity better than bedazzled frames. Think glittered rims, jewel-encrusted borders, and crystals scattered across the lens edge. Once ridiculed for being "unwearable", these are now the emblem of fearless fashion.
The shift happened when stylists...
October 09, 2025
In what is now regarded as the deadliest zone for journalists, nearly 300 journalists and media workers have been killed since October 7, Bangladeshi writer and photojournalist Shahidul Alam and activist-health expert Ruhi Akhter set sail with the flotilla to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. According to the latest reports, Shahidul Alam and fellow activists were detained after entering the red zone, approximately 220 km off Gaza's coast.
In these two years, the occupation has killed almost 10% of the Palestinian population. The entire population is experiencing a Phase 5 level of food insecurity and at least 459 people, including 154 children, have died due to starvation. Although the ships carry approximately $110,000 in aid, it is insufficient. The voyagers emphasise that their mission is not only to deliver relief in the face of mass devastation but also to affirm that Palestinians are not forgotten and to challenge world leaders' silence.
The last flotilla carrying Greta Thunberg among other activists were intercepted too, and its members were detained by Israeli forces and according to witnesses, they were held captive and treated inhumanely by the soldiers. After two years, the situation remains largely unchanged: Israel continues to contravene international law and to stop civilian-led efforts intended to bring aid to a starving population.
On the two-year anniversary, Drik organised a gathering of artistes across multiple disciplines to raise their voices, and their hands in prayer against the injustice in Palestine. These artistes have long opposed every form of oppression, at home and abroad. Drik's solidarity with Palestine, however, started long before October 7. Even as you enter the building, a Palestinian flag and poster greets you for as long as I can remember showcasing Drik's longstanding refusal to back down in the face of injustice.
The small room had a large Palestinian flag stamped on the wall, with the ship. Audiences were encouraged...
October 09, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to reach billionaire status, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which has valued the Portugal great's net worth at an estimated $1.4 billion. The 40-year-old striker's financial ascent comes after he signed a new contract with Saudi side Al-Nassr in June reportedly worth more than $400 million.
Bloomberg said that Ronaldo earned more than $550 million in salary between 2002 and 2023, supplemented by a decade-long Nike deal worth nearly $18 million annually, and lucrative endorsements with Armani, Castrol and others that added more than $175 million to his fortune.
Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr from Manchester United in 2023 had already made him the highest-paid player in football history, with an annual salary of 177 million pounds ($237.52 million), plus bonuses and a reported 15% share in his Saudi Arabia club.
Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has earned more than $600 million in pre-tax salary during his career.
Ronaldo's billionaire status places him among a rare group of athletes that includes basketball greats Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and LeBron James, golfer Tiger Woods and tennis player Roger Federer.
Ronaldo suggested he is not considering retirement any time soon.
"I still have a passion for this," he said at the Portugal Football Globes gala on Tuesday. "My family says it's time to quit and they ask me why I want to score 1000 goals if I've already scored 900-something. But I don't think that way inside.
"I'm still producing good things, I'm helping my club and the national team. Why not continue? I am sure that when I finish I will leave full because I gave everything of myself. I know I don't have many years left to play, but the few I have left, I have to enjoy them to the fullest."...
Channel DTV
নির্মান ও প্রযুক্তি: 