lifestyle
Igniting the Fashion Revolution In Bangladesh, Arka Fashion Week begins
Arka Fashion Week, the groundbreaking event with a mission to democratise fashion, kicked off its inaugural edition on Thursday at the Aloki Convention Center, Tejgaon in the capital.
An exclusive initiative of Arka Studio, the Arka Fashion Week comes with a commitment to provide equitable opportunities to all kinds of designers and brands in Bangladesh.
The inaugural day of the three-day fashion week witnessed a bustling Marketplace and was alive with a dazzling array of fashion and cultural celebrations, and marked the beginning of a transformative journey for the country’s fashion industry.
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Over 50 entrepreneurs and brands are participating in this three-day event which works with fashion, fashion accessories, and fashion-related products, made in Bangladesh. Alongside the marketplace, there are several other engaging spaces for the attendees including an exhibition curated by Shehzad Chowdhury and Adrita Mahin Khan on the theme "Analogue to Digital," an interactive space titled ‘Design Lab’ where one can buy a product and create their designs, live concerts with renowned bands and food zone.
As part of the opening day extravaganzas, a pageant competition titled “Miss and Mister Celebrity Bangladesh 2024”, was held at the event. The pageant is a platform to empower individuals and enhance their talents through the grooming of a pageantry journey on a local and international level.
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In Bangladesh, the Azra Mahmood Talent Camp (AMTC) is the license holder for the pageant. AMTC also represents India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. This has been an all-inclusive camp dedicated towards a focused endeavour of transforming models and aspiring models into their world-class counterparts by incorporating years of industry experience and knowledge, transforming the dreams of all men and women into groomed, artistic versions of themselves.
A total of 16 participants, 8 male and 8 female contestants participated this year, and the winners of the titles of Miss and Mister Celebrity Bangladesh 2024 were Sajria Tabassum Proma and Rajiul Islam Shadhin, respectively. They will further go on to represent Bangladesh in Miss and Mister Celebrity International 2024 in Vietnam.
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Distance Learning: Top Universities Offering Online Courses for International Students
As the world grappled with the reality of the pandemic, most of the academic activities across the world moved to online platforms. Educational institutions utilized technological tools to provide classes and even hold exams. And with that, the concept of distance learning resurged in the limelight. Many renowned universities offered distance learning even before the pandemic. With time, it is becoming a popular and convenient way of attaining a higher degree. This article looks at some of the best international universities providing distance learning opportunities.
What is Distance Learning?
The concept of distance learning is nothing new. The earliest example of distance learning dates back to the 1840s. Back then, Sir Issac Pitman taught shorthand to his students via postal mail. However, today’s concept of distance learning largely differs from that of the 1800s.
Distance learning today essentially mimics an actual classroom with teachers and students. Universities across the globe partner with platforms like Coursera, and edX to provide certification courses to aspiring students. Some universities offer these courses on their own platform. Recently, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are also made available through distance learning opportunities.
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8 Best Universities in the World with Distance Learning Opportunities
This list includes universities offering certificate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. It's important to note that distance learning bachelor’s programs are less common than master’s or certificate courses.
University College London
University College London or UCL was founded in 1826. It was established after the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. In addition to their London campus, the university has campuses in Qatar and Australia.
UCL has 11 academic wings ranging from arts and humanities to medical sciences. It ranks 12th in US News’ list of Best Global Universities. The university offers 403 undergraduate degrees. Additionally, it offers 621 master’s degrees, and 271 online courses/degrees. The online courses are a mix of certificate as well as postgraduate degrees in all of their available academic wings.
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Parenting a Teenager? 10 Tips to be Their Best Friend
In today's world, parents often face a significant dilemma when raising a teenager. During this stage of life, the teens strive for independence while still requiring guidance and support from their parents. Striking the right balance between being a parent and being a friend to an adolescent child is quite challenging. Let’s take a look at some effective tips for parents to establish a strong, supportive, and amicable relationship with their teenage children.
10 Tips for Parents to Form Friendship with Their Adolescent Children
Open Communication
Strong parent-teen bond hinges on effective communication. Parents should endeavour to foster open, non-judgemental dialogues with their teenage sons and daughters. It creates a safe space for them to freely express their thoughts and emotions. It is essential to bear in mind that actively listening, rather than merely hearing, conveys a genuine interest in their perspective.
Allowing them the freedom to convey their feelings and ideas, even in cases of disagreement, nurtures trust. Trust, nurtured through open, non-judgemental conversations, forms the foundation of a healthy, enduring relationship with adolescents.
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Respect Their Independence
Adolescents strongly desire independence. Granting freedom at a certain level enables them to learn from both their triumphs and missteps, fostering personal growth. Trusting their judgement, even when it may seem risky, demonstrates faith in their abilities and boosts their self-esteem.
However, maintaining a guiding presence is equally important, stepping in when necessary to provide advice and support. Striking this balance of trust and guidance empowers teenagers to become responsible, self-reliant individuals. It also shows that they can turn to parents when needed.
Shared Interests
Discovering shared hobbies or interests is a powerful way to nurture parent-teen friendships. These mutual activities can be anything, from participating in a sport to pursuing a shared hobby or even jointly binge-watching a TV show.
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Engaging in such activities forges a unique bond that transcends the conventional parent-child dynamic. It connects on a personal level and promotes not just enjoyable moments but also meaningful conversations. Sharing interests deepens the connection, rendering the relationship more enjoyable.
5 Tasty Savoury Winter Pitha Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchen
As the winter approaches, the air carries the scent of festivity. A unique culinary tradition, the art of making winter pitha, comes alive during the cold months in both urban and rural households of Bangladesh. These delectable rice cakes are known for their sweet and savoury flavours. Pitha is an integral part of Bengali culture. Let's explore five delectable savoury winter pitha recipes that will warm your heart and tastebuds.
5 Delicious Savoury Winter Pitha Recipes to Try in Bangladeshi Kitchens
Chitoi Pitha
Ingredients
1 cup rice flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 2 cup warm water, and 2 teaspoon green chilli.
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Instructions
First, take rice flour, a pinch of salt, finely chopped green chilli, and warm water, creating a smooth batter. Let it rest for 15-30 minutes.
Then, heat a non-stick pan, lightly grease it with oil, and spread the batter around. Cover with a lid, allowing it to steam and cook until soft. Remove with a spatula, place on a plate, and serve with different vortas like mustard, coriander, and dried chilli.
Spicy Chitoi pitha also tastes wonderful with different curries like vegetable curry, beef curry, mutton curry, chicken curry etc.
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5 Tasty Sushi Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchen
Sushi, a delicacy originating and evolving in Japan, stems from the Japanese words "su" (vinegar) and "shi" (rice). This illustrates its fundamental ingredients. This delightful rice preparation not only stood the test of time but has also transcended borders. It is now gracing the tables in Bangladeshi kitchens and households with its diverse and tantalising flavours. Let’s take a look at some mouthwatering homemade sushi recipes for local food connoisseurs.
5 Delicious Sushi Recipes to Try in Bangladeshi Kitchens
Maki Sushi with Baked Fish
Ingredients
50 grams sushi-grade salmon, 1 avocado, 1 nori seaweed, 170 grams cooked sushi rice, 1 teaspoon wasabi, soy sauce (to taste), 170 grams ready-to-cook skinless mackerel, salt, rice flour, sesame oil (for frying), 2 lettuce, chilli sauce, sesame seeds (for garnish).
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Instructions
First, halve the avocado, remove the pit, and cut it into 1/4-inch strips. The same process needs to be followed for the salmon.
Then, place the nori sheet on a work surface, preferably a plastic-wrapped sushi bamboo mat for the sushi. Spread sushi rice evenly on the nori, leaving a 1/4-inch edge at the top. Add a strip of wasabi down the centre of the rice. Place avocado and salmon strips on top. Sprinkle the exposed nori with water, roll from the bottom, seal gently, and cut the roll into 12 pieces.
To prepare the mackerel, rinse and pat it dry, cut it into 12 pieces, and lightly salt. Coat in rice flour and fry in hot sesame oil until golden. Top the salmon roll with lettuce and mackerel, and serve with sesame seeds and your choice of soy sauce or chilli sauce for dipping.
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Lawachara National Park Travel Guide: Evergreen forest in northeastern Bangladesh
Lawachara National Park is a prominent national park in Bangladesh. The park is known for its extensive forest reserves with diverse flora and fauna in and around it. Being a national park, Lawachara is a must-visit place for anyone traveling around Sreemangal and Moulvibazar. Here’s everything you need to know about touring the famous natural reserve of Bangladesh.
Where is Lawachara National Park?
Lawachara National Park is situated in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar district. The park used to be part of the greater West Bhanugach Reserved Forest area until its establishment as a national park. The reserved forest covers approximately 27.4 sqkm of land of which Lawachara covers around 12.5 sq km.
The northeastern region of Bangladesh is known for the large deciduous trees indigenous to the region (as a secondary forest). Likewise, Lawachara thrived as a semi-evergreen forest biome with a deciduous forest biome.
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10 Delicious Quinoa Recipes for Weight Loss
Weight loss is a journey that often requires a balance between nutritious meals and regular exercise. If you are looking for a healthy and tasty food to shed extra pounds, try quinoa. It offers a blend of protein, fibre, and essential nutrients. Quinoa, originating from South America, has gained immense popularity due to its health benefits and versatility in the kitchen.
Key Health Benefits of Quinoa
Quinoa is a superfood. It offers a range of benefits that make it a desirable addition to any diet. Here are some of its key advantages:
- High in protein, aiding in muscle development and repair- Rich in fibre, promoting a feeling of fullness and aiding in digestion- Low glycemic index, making it suitable for diabetics- Packed with essential vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, and B vitamins.
This nutritous grain can be a game-changer in losing weight in a healthy way.
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10 Tasty Quinoa Recipes for Losing Weight
Quinoa Bowls
Ingredients
1/2 cup quinoa (rinsed), 1/8 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons honey, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup fruit (like blueberries), 1/4 cup walnuts (coarsely chopped), and 1 banana (sliced).
Instructions
First, add quinoa and water to a saucepan. Sprinkle some salt and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes, covered. Once most of the water is absorbed, fluff it up with a fork.
Then, add milk and honey and give it a good stir. Divide the delicious mixture into two bowls. Finish off by garnishing with almond milk, fruits, banana slices, and nuts. Time to savour!
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Quinoa with Vegetables
Ingredients
125 grams white quinoa, 1/2 medium zucchini (diced), 1/2 green bell pepper (diced), 1/2 green and yellow chilli (chopped), 2 apricots (optional, diced), 250 ml vegetable stock, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 spring onion stalk, 100 grams rajma (shelled), 2 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon olive oil, a few sage leaves, and a few rosemary leaves.
This is the hottest chilli pepper in the world according to Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records declared on Monday that Pepper X has won the title of world's “hottest chilli pepper”.According to testing conducted by Winthrop University in South Carolina, this new pepper averages 2.69 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU), surpassing the previous record-holder, Carolina Reaper, which averages 1.64 million SHU, according to Guinness World Records, reports CNN.
Also read: Dhaka Clean-up Campaign hits Guinness World RecordAmerican scientist Wilbur Scoville created the SHU scale to gauge the spiciness of chilli peppers in 1912, it said.According to Guinness, the typical jalapeno pepper has a SHU rating between 3,000 and 8,000.
Also read: 64- year-old FF sets Guinness World Record swimming 186 kmsEd Currie, the owner of the Puckerbutt Pepper Company in South Carolina, cultivates Pepper X. The Carolina Reaper, which broke the record in 2013, was also a creation of his, the report said.“Ed cultivated Pepper X on his farm for over 10 years, cross-breeding it with some of his hottest peppers to increase its capsaicin content,” Guinness said on its website.
Also read: Thakurgaon youth jumps rope to enter Guinness BookCurrie unveiled Pepper X to the public for the first time on an episode of the popular YouTube series, “Hot Ones.”There is currently no information on how a pepper that has 1 million more Scoville units than the Reaper will be characterised.
Gallery Cosmos felicitates Ekushey Padak 2023 recipient Kanak Chanpa
Gallery Cosmos, a renowned platform supporting Bangladeshi art and artists, honoured the 2023 Ekushey Padak recipient and eminent artist Kanak Chanpa Chakma on Monday night.
The felicitation event was hosted by Gallery Cosmos at the Garden Gallery, Baridhara, in Dhaka.
Chaired by Gallery Cosmos Director Tehmina Enayet, the event was joined by distinguished personalities including renowned Bangladeshi industrialist and patron of arts, Anjan Chowdhury; Ekushey Padak recipient artist-academician Jamal Uddin Ahmed; Cosmos Foundation Director Dilshad Rahman and others.
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Born in Rangamati’s remote hill area Tabal Chari, Kanak Chanpa received her Master of Fine Arts degree in 1986 from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University. She then attended Pennsylvania State University in the US from 1993 to 1994, where she was awarded a Mid-America Arts Alliance Fellowship.
Having completed her degree, she came back to Bangladesh, continued her artistic journey and became one of the most successful artists in the country’s contemporary art scene.
“Art is an expression of our emotions, thoughts, inspiration, and desires. These visions of art become even more majestic through the works of Kanak Chanpa Chakma, who is like a sister to me,” Gallery Cosmos Director Tehmina Enayet said at the ceremony.
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"Kanak Chanpa is considered one of the most distinguished artists in Bangladesh today, and her art has gained recognition around the world. Many of her paintings reflect the vibrant lives of the Chakma community," Tehmina Enayet said.
Sylhet’s Jaflong Travel Guide: Where Nature’s Beauty Blooms
Sylhet, Bangladesh is a region endowed with mesmerizing natural beauty. Lush green hills, expansive tea gardens, and meandering rivers create an irresistible canvas of diversity. This Jaflong travel guide is going to highlight the spellbinding charm of this traveler’s paradise.
Origin of the Name Jaflong
The name Jaflong is steeped in the history of the Khasi people. The term "Jaflong," with its connotation of a “haat (market) of pleasure”, finds its roots in the Khasi culture.
Geographical Location of Jaflong
Jaflong is nestled at the foothills of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, approximately 62 km to the northeast of Sylhet. These majestic mountains serve as a natural border, separating Bangladesh from India along the Meghalaya border. The surrounding region falls within the Piyain River basin in Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet district. It's through Jaflong that the Dawki River enters Bangladesh from the hills located in India.
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Best Time to Visit Jaflong
Jaflong's charm undergoes a captivating transformation with each season. However, it is during the rainy season that the destination is in its full glory. Those who desire to experience the beauty of this water kingdom must visit during the rainy season.
The period from June to October is the recommended period for the visit. During this time, the greenery of the mountains flourishes and becomes even more captivating, extending into November.
What to See on the Jaflong Trip
Standing knee-deep in the Piyain River and gazing upward at the verdant hills cloaked in clouds is a truly unparalleled experience. The suspension bridge is a relic from the British colonial era.
Additionally, the winding course of Dawki River, a Piyain River tributary, beckons tourists with its majestic allure.
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The Khasia village, located just beyond the Piyain River, features unique hillside dwellings that pique the interest of thousands of tourists.
Jaflong hosts a Baishakhi fair on the first day of the Bangla New Year. Even if the occasion is the same, the banks of the river with rapid currents, surrounded by mountains, look very different compared to the crowded atmosphere of Dhaka.