United News of Bangladesh

Ekushey Padak-winning eminent Bangladeshi photographer and Drik Managing Director Shahidul Alam left Dhaka for Italy on Sunday to join the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s Global Media Flotilla en route to Gaza. The media flotilla, part of the international coalition’s effort to break the information and media blackout on Gaza, aims to show solidarity with the besieged Palestinian people. Alam is participating as the first Bangladeshi to join the coalition. Speaking at a press conference at DrikPath Bhaban in Panthapath on Saturday, Shahidul Alam said, “If we are defeated, humanity will be defeated. I may be going as the first person from Bangladesh, but I am carrying the love of all Bangladeshi people with me.” Drik directors and staff who attended the briefing included anthropologist and writer Rehnuma Ahmed, Drik General Manager and Curator ASM Rezaur Rahman, Deputy General Manager Md Kamal Hossain, and journalist-researcher and Drik Director Saeideya Gulrukh. Gaza Health Ministry: More than 66,000 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks since 2023 Saeideya Gulrukh said the flotilla’s mission sought to break the long-standing blockade of Gaza and to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. At the press event, the organisers said the Global Sumud/Freedom Flotilla, which departed in late August with hundreds of citizens from across the world carrying relief supplies, has already come under attack twice while navigating high-risk waters. The Global Media Flotilla — a principal vessel accompanied by about 10 smaller boats — includes participants from more than 40 countries, with organisers reporting nearly 500 people have taken part in earlier stages of the convoy. Rehnuma Ahmed described the flotilla as a symbol of global civil-society protest against mass violence in Gaza and said Bangladesh’s participation was a matter of pride. Drik officials said Alam and other media activists will attempt to document conditions and ensure independent reporting reaches international audiences as the flotilla continues its journey toward Gaza.

Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean made a striking return to the Milan runway on Saturday after a three-year hiatus, showcasing a collection crafted with Bhutanese artisans and appealing for stronger political support to preserve the world’s dwindling artisan class. “I said I would come back when I had something to say,” Jean told reporters backstage. Appeal for artisans Jean, known for blending Italian tailoring with textiles and artistry from global artisans, stressed that Italian craftsmanship is at risk as fewer young people are entering the trade. She urged lawmakers to extend the same fiscal benefits recently granted to artworks to fine craftsmanship. Such support, Jean said, would allow consumers to pay less value-added tax on pieces that can take up to a year to complete—like Bhutan’s traditional ankle-length kira dress, which she wore on the runway—while ensuring artisans receive fair pay. “We cannot pay them less because artisans are already underpaid,” Jean said backstage. “Otherwise, this craftsmanship will survive only in museums. If we don’t wear it, it becomes meaningless.” South Korea set to legalize tattoo artistry with landmark bill Bhutanese craftsmanship on display The collection included handwoven tego jackets over silk printed dresses, skirts embroidered from nettle fiber, embroidered skirts paired with rugby shirts, and silk dresses with beaded panels depicting village scenes. Bhutanese artisans who collaborated with Jean were present in the front row, dressed in traditional attire. Tribute to Armani Jean, who debuted in Milan at the Armani Theater in 2013 as a guest of Giorgio Armani, paid tribute to the late designer by unfurling a T-shirt from her premiere that read: “Grazie, Mr. Armani,” signed “Stella.” “We cannot be here without paying tribute to someone to whom Italian fashion owes so much,” she said. “Italian fashion became the most important in the world, thanks to this gentleman.” Source: Agency 

The book 'Bangladesh Student Revolution: From No VAT on Education to Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' has been published on 6 national movements of Bangladeshi students and teachers from 2015 to 2024. The 712 page book has been published by Bright Future Publication 38/2 Bangla Bazar. A The book written and edited by Professor Robaet Ferdous of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Dhaka University and Spokesperson (Chief Coordinator) of No VAT on Education, Faruque Ahmad Arif, features six national movements that have upheld the country's history. The movements include the 'No VAT on Education' in 2015 to protest the imposition of VAT on tuition fees for students of private universities, medical and engineering colleges, the 'Bangladesh General Student Rights Protection Council'-led quota reform movement demanding quota reform in government jobs in 2018, the 'Safe Roads Movement' in response to the deaths of two students in a road accident in August 2018, and the 'Anti-Discrimination Students' Movement' demanding the abolition of quotas in 2024. Apart from this, there are two movements by teachers demanding an independent pay scale in 2015 and the abolition of the Universal Pension Guarantee Scheme in 2024. These six movements are among the most successful movements in the country's history recently. These movements received a huge response at the national and international levels. It also highlighted the country's educational, political, social, cultural and economic diversity. The book includes various aspects of these movements, including media news, columns, interviews, memoirs of various people including those who led the movement, interviews with then ministers and current advisors. The book presents a vast picture of the participation of the general public in the country along with the student and teacher movements. In this regard, the book's editor-in-chief, Professor Robayet Ferdous, said there have been various movements in the country, starting from the anti-British movement to the partition of 1947, the language movement of 1952, the mass uprising of 1969, the great liberation war of 1971, and the mass uprising of 1990. Much of the history of these has been lost due to not writing at the right time. Keeping that in mind, the book has been written and edited on 6 student and teacher movements. We hope that the book will help everyone get accurate information. Co-author of the book, Faruque Ahmad Arif, said, the book contains news, photos, columns, and interviews from national and international media on 6 movements, including the Student Revolution of Bangladesh: No VAT on Education to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The participation of political, social, and cultural organizations in these student and teacher movements and the overall cooperation of people from all walks of life in the country have emerged. The book contains vivid examples of the involvement of people from all levels of the country. Therefore, we hope that every individual and family will benefit from the book.

Merriam-Webster is rolling out a fresh edition of its best-selling Collegiate Dictionary, adding more than 5,000 words such as “petrichor,” “teraflop,” “dumbphone” and “ghost kitchen.” The 12th edition — the first full overhaul in 22 years — will be released Nov. 18, with preorders now available. The update eliminates older sections on geography and biography to make space for new terms and examples. Other additions include “cold brew,” “farm-to-table,” “dad bod,” “rizz,” “cancel culture,” “beast mode,” “WFH” and “doomscroll.” More than 20,000 new usage examples were also added. Cambridge Dictionary adds ‘skibidi,’ ‘tradwife,’ and thousands of new words Merriam-Webster President Greg Barlow said the redesign aims to make the dictionary “more useful, more fun to browse, and more practical for research.” He acknowledged declining print dictionary sales but said the format remains central to the company’s identity. Despite digital dominance, print dictionaries still hold nostalgic and cultural value, particularly in schools with phone bans and among book lovers. Merriam-Webster’s website, apps and games draw nearly a billion visits annually, driving revenue growth of nearly 500% over the last decade. Source: Agency 

Standing barefoot among a patch of dandelions, Iris Phoebe Weaver eagerly explains the many ways the humble plant can be used in cooking and medicine. “I picked a bunch of dandelion flowers yesterday and soaked them in vodka with orange peel and sugar to make a dandelion aperitif,” Weaver said. “It will make a delightful mixed drink.” A seasoned herbalist and foraging instructor from Massachusetts, Weaver leads nature walks that help people reconnect with the environment. She says the growing interest in foraging benefits not only individuals but also communities and the environment. “There is so much food around us,” she said. “An abundance we often don’t even realize.” Foraging predates agriculture, which emerged around 12,000 years ago, yet interest in collecting wild mushrooms, edible plants, shellfish, and seaweed has surged recently. Enthusiasts share discoveries on social media, while experienced foragers offer guidance on safe, sustainable practices. People are drawn to foraging for various reasons—from saving money to reducing environmental impact. Some also explore creative pursuits, like making spore prints from mushrooms. The hobby is widely accessible, with opportunities ranging from urban spaces to forests, provided proper permissions are obtained. Some initiatives even map locations where people can collect fruits and vegetables for free. Day and night share equal time as fall equinox arrives Monday Gina Buelow, a natural resources specialist at Iowa University Extension, said mushroom foraging programs have been in high demand for the past two years, regularly reaching attendance limits. Participants include older gardeners as well as younger enthusiasts aged 20 to 30. Chefs are also fueling interest by introducing diners to locally foraged ingredients. Evan Mallett, owner of Portsmouth’s Black Trumpet Bistro, said, “Foraging is an ancient practice. Our culture had moved away from it, but now it’s returning.” Mallett, who has used locally foraged foods at his restaurant for nearly 20 years, encourages people to learn from mentors to avoid poisonous plants. At Black Trumpet, foraged items such as Black Trumpet mushrooms, sea kelp in lobster tamales, and sea lettuce in salads have become menu highlights. Longtime customer M.J. Blanchette praised the unique taste and local connection of these dishes. “It’s exciting, local, and something special,” she said. Source: Agency 

For the first time, Huntington’s disease, a hereditary, degenerative brain disorder – has been successfully treated, offering hope to thousands of patients and families affected by the devastating condition, according to UK researchers. The disease, which destroys brain cells and combines symptoms of dementia, Parkinson’s, and motor neuron disease, has now been slowed by an average of 75% in a clinical trial. Experts say this could extend the decline normally seen in a year to four years, giving patients decades of improved quality of life. The breakthrough involves an advanced gene therapy administered through 12 to 18 hours of delicate brain surgery. A harmless virus carrying specially designed DNA is infused into key brain regions using MRI-guided microcatheters. This prompts brain cells to produce microRNA, a fragment that silences the mutant huntingtin gene responsible for neuron death, lowering levels of the toxic protein in the brain, reports BBC.

Whether it’s a bad habit or the memory of something or somebody, letting go is always hard. However, with the right plan, strong determination and emotional discipline, you can make a change in a short period, like three to four weeks. If guided with definite purpose and a proper mindset, a human mind can be adaptive. Even though the attachment is deep or the habit is stubborn, it will start to lose its grip. Here’s how you can get rid of a habit or forget an individual within 21 to 30 days. Tips for Leaving a Habit or Forgetting a Person within a Month . Recognising Attachment Attachment is the common link, whether you have formed a habit over a certain period or allowed a person to play a pivotal role in your life. Usually, such attachments tend to fill a psychological or emotional void, like identity crisis, aspiration for validation, stress relief, loneliness, etc. Once you have found out the habit or person’s contribution in your life, you have reached the first step of letting go. Understanding the attachment’s underlying need, like convenience, habit, routine, security, connection, etc., you can start overpowering it. Now you can utilise this awareness to replace the habit or person with something healthier or someone better. Read more: How to Recognise Your Emotional Red Flags Disrupting Pattern  Habits and emotional connections often follow a pattern. For instance, a smoker often tends to light a cigarette after having a meal; you check social media after waking up. Each habit is formed over a neural pathway. To break this, one should disrupt the routine or ambience which helps the attachment to thrive. Cognitive distance can be created by reordering the schedule, altering surroundings, or opting for a different route. New attachments can help your brain to leave a regular behaviour. It can be done by bringing tiny but consistent changes. Though you may not be able to forget someone or doing something overnight, it will weaken the urge or inclination over time. Out of Sight Out of Mind When one is trying to quit a habit like sugar consumption, one should not store cakes in the refrigerator. Avoiding the purchase and storage of the sugary foods will help one to break the cravings. Rather than testing one’s willpower, the out-of-sight trick will take the sugary food out of mind. What’s more, it's the first step to drop an unhealthy habit. Instead of making the ambience painful, make it your ally to change a habit.  The same applies to mental attachments. Emotional detachment requires space. When one tries to forget a person, one should remove the reminding triggers like exchanged gifts, shared music playlists, couple photos, social media connections, etc. This step does not make one selfish or in denial; rather, it creates space for disconnection. Read more: How to Improve Focus by Training the ‘Attention Muscle’ Relearn to Unlearn Faster The process of relearning makes it fast to unlearn. The human brain acts like a vacuum, which needs something to focus on. Whether one is trying to leave a habit or forget a person, one should find a more interesting replacement. For instance, to avoid a sedentary lifestyle habit, one can opt for a new routine that includes mindfulness and learning, like going to the gym, learning new workouts, adopting fitness routines, etc.  Grabbing a new sustainable habit or adopting a healthier lifestyle fills the emotional vacuum. This mental space gives one a sense of personal development, improvement, and success. Thus, one can bit by bit learn to thrive without the habit or person one had an attachment with. Know the Hurdle The first two-week period is usually the hardest while you are trying to let go of a habit or a person. Your brain will react, whether you are avoiding nicotine or missing someone's phone or messages. You may experience anxiety, sadness, stress, cravings, chest pain or other physical symptoms. This is biology, not failure. You have to accept this pain and discomfort as a part of the process. To overcome this period, one can talk to an empathetic friend or maintain a journal. By tracking one’s mental status, failures, and victories, one can create self-awareness and emotional detachment from the habit or person one wishes to remove from one’s life. Besides this, to ease your journey, remember why you want to do this by writing it on a paper and repeating it like a resolution. Read more: Good Stress: What Are the Benefits of Eustress? Make a Commitment  You may pick a three-week or four-week window to reach your goal. Though this short period may not remove a habit or erase all feelings, it is a strong foundation. Research suggests that a consistent effort can help one overcome the emotional or physical pull towards something or somebody. Counting each day and setting daily intentions can keep your determination strong. For example, one can divide the time window into days instead of seeing it as a fixed period of time. By reaching tiny and attainable goals every day, one can make the struggle less stressful. Thus, success can be achieved through piecemeal victories. Visualise Your Future When one understands that letting go means regaining control over oneself rather than losing something precious. When one aims to drop a habit that is unhealthy or forget a person who no longer complies with one’s well-being, one is protecting one’s future self. Visualising the independent, focused, and progressive version of yourself, your hardship aligns with healing instead of longing. Conclusion  The process of letting go is incremental; it doesn’t act like a switch. The idea of getting rid of a habit or forgetting someone completely in three or four weeks may sound ambitious. To be honest, some emotional urges may exist beyond the 30-day period. But a four-week time window is quite reasonable to start, to weaken the hold, and to regain one's emotional control. Thus, you allow life to continue in healthier, better, freer and more peaceful ways than before. The process wants you to be patient, disciplined, and self-compassionate. On the whole, when you are fully determined to drop a habit or forget a person in 21 days or 30 days, you will discover the attachment is fading away gradually. Read more: 15 Japanese Concepts for Personal and Professional Development

Popular tattoo artist Song Jaemin is booked weeks in advance and admired by clients from around the world. Yet each tattoo he inks is technically illegal, as South Korea only permits licensed doctors to perform the practice. That could soon change. The National Assembly is expected to pass the Tattooist Act, a landmark bill that would allow non-medical professionals to legally give tattoos. “I started this knowing it was illegal, but I believed the law would change one day,” said Song, 28, at his studio near Seoul. “Many tattooists feel we’re not doing anything wrong — it’s just that there’s no law for us.” For years, tens of thousands of tattoo artists have campaigned through rallies, court appeals, and petitions to overturn the decades-old ban. Their movement has gained momentum as public attitudes toward tattoos have shifted from taboo to mainstream, with K-pop stars like BTS’s Jungkook, TWICE’s Chaeyoung, and BigBang’s G-Dragon openly sporting ink. Experts estimate millions of South Koreans now have tattoos, with around 70% opting for semi-permanent cosmetic designs on eyebrows, eyelids, lips, or scalps. Yet, under a 1992 Supreme Court ruling, tattooing remains classified as a medical procedure, and artists face up to five years in prison or fines of 50 million won ($35,740). Pamela Anderson embraces makeup-free look, inspires women to follow Although enforcement is lax, many tattooists work discreetly, fearing reports to authorities or harassment. Some have gone abroad, while others run studios without signs. “I was truly terrified when someone close to me threatened to report my business,” said Kim Sho-yun, 45, who runs a cosmetic tattoo shop. The Tattooist Act, if passed, would introduce an official licensing system and require annual hygiene training for practitioners. While some artists worry about government oversight, many say it would bring long-sought legitimacy. The bill has bipartisan support and backing from the Health Ministry, with doctors’ opposition waning. It has cleared parliamentary committees and could pass in a plenary session as early as Thursday. A two-year grace period would follow before it takes effect. For many tattooists, the law would bring relief. “I think I’ll cry if it passes,” said Kim. “It would lift a heavy burden off my shoulders.” Day and night share equal time as fall equinox arrives Monday Song, who has won national awards, said his work often carries deep meaning. Recent designs include portraits of loved ones and religious imagery. “There are no limits in tattoos,” he said. “Whatever you draw on paper or walls, we can put on the human body.” Clients like Lee Byong-joo, 37, see tattoos as lifelong art. “I feel good having pictures I love on my body forever,” he said, while showing his new Jesus Christ tattoo. “But my wife told me this will be my last one.” Source: Agency 

Pamela Anderson says she has nothing against makeup. But having worn plenty of it in her younger days, the 58-year-old actress now feels more comfortable attending fashion shows and film premieres with a bare face. Her fresh-faced appearance has sparked conversations, particularly among older women, about whether to continue chasing youth with full makeup or to embrace natural skin. “I’m not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room,” Anderson told Vogue before a Paris Fashion Week show. “I feel like it’s just freedom. It’s like a relief.” Since the pandemic, many women say they have also grown more comfortable going makeup free at work. Some have found it easier, cheaper and more liberating, while style experts point to ways of enhancing a natural look. Makeup artist Rebecca Robles suggests focusing on hydration with a five-step routine — gentle cleanser, vitamin C serum, moisturizer with SPF, a separate sunscreen and a glossy lip balm. For a subtle lift, she recommends using a lash curler and brushing brows neatly into place. Personal stylist Natalie Tincher noted that celebrities like Anderson and Alicia Keys have inspired women to explore alternatives. She advises clients who go makeup free to rely on colorful clothing, experiment with textures, and accessorize thoughtfully to maintain a polished appearance. For some women, the shift has been long in the making. Colleen Gehoski Steinman, 59, from Michigan, gave up hair dye and makeup during the pandemic, saying, “This is who we really are, and you can be beautiful just as you are.” Others, like 57-year-old Cate Chapman from South Carolina, abandoned makeup decades ago due to cost and time pressures. “If you enjoy it, do it,” she said. “But if you feel like a slave to it, let it go.” Still, challenges remain in workplaces that expect a polished appearance. Deborah Borg, a senior executive at a global firm, acknowledged that women face “politics” around looking presentable, even in creative industries. For Anderson, however, the choice is clear — makeup is no longer a necessity but a freedom she embraces with confidence.  

Poet Rezauddin Stalin has been appointed as the new Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs on Sunday. The appointment comes just a week after an office order had temporarily assigned the role to Abul Foyez Md Alauddin Khan, additional secretary (administration) at the ministry, in addition to his existing duties. The position has seen multiple changes in the past year following the resignation of longtime DG Liaquat Ali Lucky in August 2024 after the fall of the Awami League government during the student-led uprising. In September last year, theatre director and researcher Syed Jamil Ahmed was appointed DG for two years, but he stepped down in February 2025. Since March, BSA Secretary Mohammad Wares Hossain had been serving as acting DG. Alongside Stalin’s appointment, the government named four new directors in different departments of the academy: filmmaker Shaheen Dil-Riaz (Training Department), media and branding specialist Daniel Afzalur Rahman (Production Department), art researcher Salma Jamal Mausum (Research and Publication Department), and theatre personality Deepak Kumar Goswami (Drama and Film Department). The Cultural Affairs Ministry said the academy will be restructured under the new leadership to align with modern needs. Key priorities include nurturing local talents through online and offline training, adopting new strategies with national and international experts and institutions, presenting Bangladesh’s cultural heritage on the global stage, and celebrating cultural icons and milestones both nationally and internationally. Turn houseplants into living art with Japanese kokedama