Star Youth, The Daily Star

05/03/2022

INTERVIEW

Ananya Ferdous Hoque is a researcher in Virology at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). She graduated with a BSc in Microbiology from North South University, and pursued an MRes at the University of Manchester.

Ananya Ferdous Hoque is a researcher in Virology at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). She graduated with a BSc in Microbiology from North South University, and pursued an MRes at the University of Manchester.

05/03/2022

NURTURING DREAMS

A Computer Science and Engineering graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Bristy Sikder is a Senior Software Engineer at Google.

A Computer Science and Engineering graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Bristy Sikder is a Senior Software Engineer at Google. Before that, she had applied to 18 foreign institutions, and got accepted to 14 of them, including Harvard, Princeton, and Oxford University.

05/03/2022

YOUTH IN ACTION

Takia Sultana Nova, a third-year student of International Islamic University Chittagong, received the IVD Bangladesh Volunteer Award 2021, securing the third place. She has successfully empowered over 400 women by teaching them how to ride scooters.

Takia Sultana Nova, a third-year student of International Islamic University Chittagong, received the IVD Bangladesh Volunteer Award 2021, securing the third place. She has successfully empowered over 400 women by teaching them how to ride scooters.

04/02/2022

INTERVIEW
Sarjeena Maodud is the CEO and Co-founder of Sheraspace, a tech-based home improvement company. After completing her Master's in London, she moved back to Dhaka in 2017. She founded Sheraspace along with her colleague Nizam Farid Ahmed, in 2019. Sarjeena is one of the entrepreneurs in the Dhaka Hub, Global Shapers 2021 Cohort.

Sarjeena Maodud is the CEO and Co-founder of Sheraspace, a tech-based home improvement company. After completing her Master’s in London, she moved back to Dhaka in 2017.

02/02/2022

NURTURING DREAMS

Virtual Museum Bangladesh lets visitors experience the essence and history of different heritage sites of Bangladesh with virtual reality headsets and computers.

Ahamed Jaman Sonjib is the Founder and Project Head of Virtual Museum Bangladesh, and Ashek E Elahi Auni is its Co-founder. They started working towards the initiative in 2017.

26/01/2022

NURTURING DREAMS

Sadia Rahman, Program Director of Light to Life, was the only Bangladeshi among the six voted winners of the 2021 Ingenuity Fund, developed by the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health's Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health(Gates Institute), and supported by Pathfinder International and Bayer.

Sadia Rahman, Program Director of Light to Life, was the only Bangladeshi among the six voted winners of the 2021 Ingenuity Fund, developed by the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health(Gates Institute), an...

26/01/2022

YOUNG ACHIEVER

Ummay Hafsa Rumky won a gold medal in women's high jump, setting a national record of 1.71m in the Sheikh Kamal 45th National Athletics.

Ummay Hafsa Rumky won a gold medal in women’s high jump, setting a national record of 1.71m in the Sheikh Kamal 45th National Athletics.

26/01/2022

SPOTLIGHT

Debating, as an extracurricular activity, requires patience, compassion, and persistence, besides strong research and presentation skills. It is crucial for debaters to be respectful towards their opponents, while presenting logical and constructive criticism.

Debating, as an extracurricular activity, requires patience, compassion, and persistence, besides strong research and presentation skills. It is crucial for debaters to be respectful towards their opponents, while presenting logical and constructive criticism.

25/12/2021

Merry Christmas to our readers, patrons, and well-wishers!

Illustration: Tashfia Shamim/The Nobody's Gallery

21/12/2021

Team Bangladesh won four gold, two silver, five bronze and four technical medals.

The International Robot Olympiad (IRO) intends to develop students’ interest in the field of robotics. The 23rd edition of the olympiad was organised in Daegu, South Korea, but due the ongoing pandemic, participants from different countries sent their entries online, and were assessed virtually.

21/12/2021

EXPERIENCE

We hear stories of villages from our parents and grandparents. They talk about the games they played, the food they enjoyed, and the contrasts in the lives led by different generations. Growing up abroad, these stories always fascinated me. I never got to witness the magic of winters in Bangladesh, and craved for hot pithas.

During our childhood, we did not have devices to keep ourselves entertained. We enjoyed nature and life -- This is something many of us grew up

21/12/2021

INTERVIEW

Yafiz Siddiqui completed his Bachelor's in Architecture from BUET, and is now working at Vitti Sthapati Brindo, a reputed architecture and urban design firm. His final year thesis, "School of Thought in 2021: Envisioning a Multidisciplinary and Collaborative Design School in Bangladesh", was recognised as highly commendable in the Global Undergraduate Awards 2021's Architecture and Design category.

Yafiz Siddiqui completed his Bachelor’s in Architecture from BUET, and is now working at Vitti Sthapati Brindo, a reputed architecture and urban design firm.

21/12/2021

EXPERIENCE

The hustle and tussle of the young girls, the women screaming on top of their voices, giving instructions to each other and the men constructing the platform for the next morning- this is how Madhupur welcomed me for Wangala, a festival that celebrates the arrival of winter and the harvest season.

Jishu ni Rasong (in the name of Jesus, I greet you) read a board at the church gate as we stepped into the Saint Paul’s Dharmapolli in Pirgacha, a small rural area that lies in the suburbs of Madhupur in Tangail.

21/12/2021

SPOTLIGHT

Worldwide, young women and girls with disabilities face up to 10 times more violence than women and girls without disabilities, and Bangladesh is no exception.

Worldwide, young women and girls with disabilities face up to 10 times more violence than women and girls without disabilities, and Bangladesh is no exception.

21/12/2021

NURTURING DREAMS

Afsheen Mozammel Misha has been making waves as an industrial engineer overseas in notable ways. After graduating from North South University in Human Resource Management and Finance & Accounting, Afsheen pursued her MS in Industrial Engineering Technology and Organizational Leadership & Supervision at Purdue University Northwest.

Afsheen Mozammel Misha has been making waves as an industrial engineer overseas in notable ways.

21/12/2021

YOUTH IN ACTION

Youth-led organisation N te Nari, N te Nirapotta (NAW) was the 2021 runner-up in the students/campaigns category for UNDP's Digital Khichuri Challenge (DKC), titled "The Unsafety Net: How Online Abuse is Driving Women Out of Digital Spaces".

Youth-led organisation N te Nari, N te Nirapotta (NAW) was the 2021 runner-up in the students/campaigns category for UNDP’s Digital Khichuri Challenge (DKC), titled “The Unsafety Net: How Online Abuse is Driving Women Out of Digital Spaces”.

21/12/2021

NURTURING DREAMS

The IHFF Olympia Amateur Bodybuilding Championship held in Mumbai, India, welcomed 30 contenders this year. At the event, Maksuda Akhter Mou made history as Bangladesh's first female bodybuilder to win an international medal. She bagged the bronze medal in the category, 'Women's Physique'.

The IHFF Olympia Amateur Bodybuilding Championship held in Mumbai, India, welcomed 30 contenders this year. At the event, Maksuda Akhter Mou made history as Bangladesh’s first female bodybuilder to win an international medal. She bagged the bronze medal in the category, ‘Women’s Physique’.

03/12/2021

GUIDES

Choosing a university major can be daunting, especially when you are surrounded by unsolicited advice on what you should study, the peer pressure of applying to a popular programme, and the uncertainty around your own choices.

Choosing a university major can be daunting, especially when you are surrounded by unsolicited advice on what you should study, the peer pressure of applying to a popular programme, and the uncertainty around your own choices.

03/12/2021

NURTURING DREAMS

Ministry of Codes is a laudable initiative founded by Prapty Rahman with the aim to impart knowledge about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, especially programming and robotics, among children. It offers a wide range of products, like STEM toys, tutorials, and classes, depending on age groups.

Ministry of Codes is a laudable initiative founded by Prapty Rahman with the aim to impart knowledge about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, especially programming and robotics, among children. It offers a wide range of products, like STEM toys, tutorials, and class...

21/11/2021

YOUTH IN ACTION

For a newly initiated non-profit organisation, Briddhi is on the right track to taking measures for positive changes. Founder Israt Sharmin Keya, a final-year student of North South University, reached out to underprivileged groups living around Mirpur, her area of residence.

For a newly initiated non-profit organisation, Briddhi is on the right track to taking measures for positive changes.

17/11/2021

INTERVIEW

Sonnet Ahammed’s final year thesis, ''Nano Nest 2.0'', was recognised as highly commendable under the Global Undergraduate Awards 2021's Architecture and Design category.

Sonnet Ahammed completed his Bachelor’s in Architecture from BUET, and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Computational, Generative Design and Simulation at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Germany.

16/11/2021

YOUTH IN ACTION

Rima Sultana Rimu is one of the two Bangladeshis on the 2020 BBC 100 inspiring and influential women list, from around the world. She is relentlessly working to empower women and eliminate gender discrimination, violence, and child marriage in conflicted areas of Bangladesh.

Rima Sultana Rimu is one of the two Bangladeshis on the 2020 BBC 100 inspiring and influential women list, from around the world. She is relentlessly working to empower women and eliminate gender discrimination, violence, and child marriage in conflicted areas of Bangladesh.

16/11/2021

SPOTLIGHT

Treading into the waters of applying to study abroad can look vast and apprehensive for students, considering there is a surcharge of information on the internet about getting into foreign universities. There are, however, various educational consultancies around Bangladesh, most of which provide services from Dhaka.

Treading into the waters of applying to study abroad can look vast and apprehensive for students, considering there is a surcharge of information on the internet about getting into foreign universities. There are, however, various educational consultancies around Bangladesh, most of which provide se...

01/11/2021

YOUNG ACHIEVER

Syed Sadia Hossain is the first Bangladeshi to receive the Inspiring Women in Engineering Student Member of the Year Award by the Global Committee of Women in Engineering.

Syed Sadia Hossain is the first Bangladeshi to receive the Inspiring Women in Engineering Student Member of the Year Award by the Global Committee of Women in Engineering.

30/10/2021

YOUTH IN ACTION

“People wait in line at salons to get their hair cut. Most of them spend their idle time on their phones," says Harun. "If there is a library in the salon, then at least 2 out of 10 people could turn to reading a book, which is enough for me."

Inspired by the late social activist Polan Sarkar, who was also known as “Alor Ferrywala”, Harun ur Rashid and his 14-year-old son Arifur Rahman Apon go around house to house, delivering books for free.

30/10/2021

GUIDES

In order to keep track of your finances, open a bank account and maintain a monthly budget. A bank account comes with both independence and additional responsibility, and makes it easier to maintain a monthly update. Part-time pay checks, tuition fees and other essential finances can be deposited in this account to be spent wisely later.

It is not uncommon for new students to struggle with adjusting to university life, especially for those who go to study in a new city, away from

30/10/2021

NURTURING DREAMS

Talented theatre actress and dancer Umma Habiba delivered a brilliant performance in "Marx in Soho", a recent play by prominent theatre troupe BotTola, in association with Jatrik.

Talented theatre actress and dancer Umma Habiba delivered a brilliant performance in “Marx in Soho”, a recent play by prominent theatre troupe BotTola, in association with Jatrik.

18/10/2021

Mahbubur has been visually impaired since birth. Although he was culturally involved for his family's interest, his passion and dedication brought remarkable achievements in his life.

Did you know that a group of visually impaired people from Bangladesh and India have been collaborating on audio plays using technology? The cultural group, Ganga Padma Shilpigushthi, set high hopes for visually impaired people to nurture their talents through this initiative.

18/10/2021

YOUNG ACHIEVER

Fairooz Faizah Beether of Bangladesh co-founded Moner School. She is a recipient of the 2021 Goalkeepers Global Goals Changemaker Award by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She received the award for her work in promoting good health and well-being under SDG-3.

Fairooz Faizah Beether of Bangladesh is a recipient of the 2021 Goalkeepers Global Goals Changemaker Award by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She received the award for her work in promoting good health and well-being under SDG-3. She is a student of Business Administration from Khulna Universi...

17/10/2021

INTERVIEW

A year ago, the youth-led platform Beyond Candid was formed with the intention of bringing stories about social injustices and gender-based violence to the forefront through candid lenses. For co-founder Masud Parvez, the platform is a means of getting to his dream of building a better tomorrow while ensuring a safer world for future generations.

A year ago, the youth-led platform Beyond Candid was formed with the intention of bringing stories about social injustices and gender-based violence to the forefront through candid lenses. For co-founder Masud Parvez, the platform is a means of getting to his dream of building a better tomorrow whil...

17/10/2021

NURTURING DREAMS

Najmun Nahar Sohagi is the first Bangladeshi woman to travel to 150 countries across the globe, carrying the national flag of Bangladesh.

Najmun Nahar Sohagi is the first Bangladeshi woman to travel to 150 countries across the globe, carrying the national flag of Bangladesh.

17/10/2021

YOUTH IN ACTION

“Shanjidul Alam Seban Shaan, founder of EcoVation (formerly known as Liter of Light Bangladesh) received the GEORGE H.W. BUSH Points of Light Awards' Inspirational Honour Roll.

Shanjidul Alam Seban Shaan, founder of EcoVation Bangladesh (formerly known as Liter of Light), received the GEORGE H.W. BUSH Points of Light Awards’ Inspirational Honour Roll.

11/10/2021

“Sadia Jafrin Khan, founder, Grow your Reader has been selected for the Top 100 Leaders in Education Award. This prestigious award recognises people all around the world for their significant contributions to the field of education based on their overall reach, industry impact and spirit of innovation, along with future readiness and market demand,” writes Maisha Islam Monamee

Sadia Jafrin Khan, founder, Grow your Reader, has been selected for the Top 100 Leaders in Education Award. This prestigious award recognises people all around the world for their significant contributions to the field of education based on their overall reach, industry impact and spirit of innovati...

10/10/2021

“One of the most important ways of taking care of our minds is by engaging in productive hobbies or activities. During the pandemic, many people either started new hobbies or restarted old hobbies that they once had. On World Mental Health Day, here are five hobbies you can try out for your mind and well-being,” writes Maisha Islam Monamee

One of the most important ways of taking care of our minds is by engaging in productive hobbies or activities. During the pandemic, many people either started new hobbies or restarted old hobbies that they once had. On World Mental Health Day, here are five hobbies you can try out for your mind and....

10/10/2021

NURTURING DREAMS

“Mrittika heard the name Kilimanjaro at a young age. Although she did not know where it was, the name stayed with her, and life eventually took her there,” writes Priyanka Chowdhury

We all remember Mount Kilimanjaro from our general education books as Africa’s tallest peak, and the world’s tallest free standing mountain. For Mrittika Barua, however, it proved to be much more.