THIS piece is intended mainly to endorse the views of Kamal Uddin Ahmed expressed in his article under the heading “Quota system for civil service” published in the Daily Star on July 18, and also to add some of my own views on the subject. It is ridiculous that merit gets a share of only [...]

I recently wrote a short piece on the economic impact of discrimination against women in Star Business. Though my esteemed readers usually don’t expect me to write on non-business related issues, somehow this piece arrested the attention of quite a few concerned. From the feedback that I have received, it seems that the situation is [...]

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) of Rajshahi district unit called on the government to implement its declaration on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) for ensuring development of women in the country. BMP said this at a discussion organised at its office on the occasion of the International Cedaw [...]

Breast cancer is typically associated with men – and for good reason; only 1% of breast cancer cases affect men. Nonetheless, a recent study revealed that men are more likely to die from breast cancer in its early stages than women. In fact, men with small tumors that had yet to spread had a shorter [...]

According to recent research, vitamin D and calcium supplementation can help postmenopausal women with avoiding weight gain. The study indicates that all women will benefit from adding more vitamin D and calcium to their diets, but those that are receiving less than 1,200 mg of calcium per day will enjoy the greatest benefits. In addition, [...]

IT is not something most dads plan for. “When she first started, I was a bit wary,” admits Rhian Sugden’s father Steve. “But I’m happy for her. Loads of money and famous. Not many people can say that.” Manchester glamour girl Rhian was an overnight success in a ruthless business that rejects thousands of eager [...]

Bangladesh Ansar and Rajshahi reached the Spectra Group National Women’s Kabaddi Championship final beating their respective rivals in the semifinals Tuesday at the Outer Stadium Kabaddi Court. Ansar overwhelmed Faridpur 38-12 while Rajshahi defeated Narail 24-12. The final will be held Wednesday with Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation (BKF) president and Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad [...]

Silent tears were rolling down Popy’s cheeks. In the darkness, you could only see the glistening lines. Her 12-year-old elder brother Shakil, tied to a bamboo pole, looked bewildered. Night egged on at Karwan Bazar vegetables depot. No-one even bothers to throw a glance at whatever was going on there. “He’s innocent,” the eight-year-old girl [...]

Men and women in their early seventies are having sex more often and enjoying it more than their counterparts three and four decades ago, according to a Swedish study published Wednesday. Septuagenarian women in particular expressed satisfaction with their amorous activities, suggesting they may have benefited more from the loosening of sexual mores.   Despite [...]

More women’s representation both in print and electronic media is needed to help the country move on towards progress, speakers said at the inaugural session of a seven-day workshop in Dhaka on Sunday. They also urged the country’s media management to create more job opportunities for women in the media as women represent only five-percent [...]

Bangladesh Naree Mukti Sangsad (Bangladesh Women’s Liberation Council) asked the government Thursday not to delay in implementing the proposed national women’s policy. BNMS convenor Hazera Sultana said: “The fundamentalist and communal fanatics in the country are whipping up tension and agitation and opposing the women’s policy with a view to diverting the nation’s attention from [...]

Direct allocation for women in the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year should be increased, suggests a ‘gender analysis’. At a seminar titled “Gender analysis of the proposed budget”, Dhaka University professor Atiur Rahman said that ‘gender responsive budgeting’, or GRB, was an important process for reducing gender gaps in every sphere of life. [...]

Patterns of nakshi The traditional artistry of embroidery is essentially a heritage nurtured by womenfolk. The same is true for the culinary delights of the region. Throughout time, the innate artistry of pastoral women reflected on the intricate thread work on looms and also pithas (cakes). The two distinct forms often present a common thread [...]

Rising food prices around the world are likely to drive poor women to trade sex for basic goods like fish and cooking oil, raising the risk of new AIDS infections, UN officials said on Monday. Delegates at a major AIDS conference in Mexico cited the cases of fisherwomen in the Pacific and women in Kenya [...]

IT took a high level of strategizing. Women stood around the man given the task. They literally “protected” him. And in the end they and he won. He managed to “table” a piece of paper that was in danger of being snatched from his hands and mutilated by determined men. One does not know whether [...]