Thought of the day (80)

We need to start teaching our children that the alphabet P stands of Peace. In language classes, we can encourage our children to form sentences with the words, peace and শান্তি. Schools can also arrange workshops and fun activities to impart knowledge about the importance of religious and racial diversity in a society. The word, peace, may sound abstract to a child in the beginning, but as they grow older they will likely become curious about "peace" and its importance in the world we live in. We need to instill in them the importance of respecting and accepting people who are different from them. Perhaps a day will come when our children will understand that without peace the world around us is pretty much meaningless.

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The first snow of the season

The meaning of patriotism

What does patriotism or deshprem mean to you? To me, patriotism means love and devotion to my motherland. However, my love for my land is not blind or unconditional; it can question and point out flaws when necessary. I believe that patriotism does not mean unquestioningly supporting what one’s country does. Instead, it means taking a critical stance for national betterment. A nation that does not or cannot question is associated with authoritarianism or the suppression of dissent. Patriotism manifests in various forms. We commonly associate patriotism with military service, as those who serve in the armed forces are ever-ready to sacrifice their lives for the nation. Patriotism is also closely linked to politics and politicians. However, ordinary people can be equally or almost equally patriotic, too; we witnessed ordinary people’s patriotic spirit during our nine-month-long Liberation War. Similarly, the nation witnessed ordinary people’s patriotic expressions...

Non-resident Bangladeshis’ unwavering love for Bengali cuisine

The Daily Star I tell my friends and family all the time that I may be physically present in the US, but in my heart and head, I live in Dhaka, most days and nights. Ask around, and you will see that I am not the only one who feels this way. It is quite a common emotion among us, non-resident Bangladeshis. I get homesick in all seasons of the year. For instance, it is winter time now and friends and family who live in Bangladesh are posting photos of cold season festivities, from fairs to pitha utshob. The photos of winter foods and festivals on social media are pushing me deeper into nostalgia. No matter how much I wish, I cannot return home at this time to be part of all the merrymaking, so I find my own ways to comfort my homesick heart. Two places in the US that feel closest to home are Jamaica and Jackson Heights in Queens, New York City (NYC). These are the two neighbourhoods where Bangladeshis from all over America come to experience the country they have left ...

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