Mya Rose Craig is known around the world as Bird Girl. She is also an ornithologist and author. At the age of 17, She became the youngest British Bangladeshi person to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Bristol. Teenagers now publishing her exclusive interview.
Q:We know that birds fly in the sky without just ostriches. Now the question is why the ostrich is called a bird even though it cannot fly?
Mya: Whether a species is a bird or mammal is not dependent on whether it can fly but on its scientific status. Ostrich’s have become non flying because this has benefits in its habitat for food and breeding and they still retain the remnants of flight feathers. Mammals generally give birth to live young whilst birds, fish and amphibians lay eggs.
Q: Why birds fly south for the winter?
Mya: Many birds fly south for the winter to Bangladesh as they are looking for a warmer climate to live in during the winter. So for example, the very rare Spoon-billed Sandpiper breeds in the Russian Siberian Tundra in the summer before migrating south to Bangladesh for the winter. This is also true of birds that come to the UK during the summer, such as Barn Swallow, which come to the UK in spring, breed, before flying south in the autumn to Africa to escape our harsh winter.
Q: There was a time when birds ruled the world. There is no calculation of how many species of birds there were. But now that number is decreasing day by day. Many species of birds are endangered. Who is responsible for this? How do you think this extinction can be prevented?
Mya:There has been a dramatic decline of birds all over the world in the last 30 years. For example, in Europe there are 400 million fewer grassland birds. In Bangladesh, there are tiny numbers of birds left. When my mum visited her paternal family village in Sunamgonj in the 1970’s they were shooting huge numbers of water birds including Boks and Bogla that would not be good to eat. As people’s wealth has increased, more people can afford guns leading to indiscriminate killing of birds. The main reason for the huge decline of birds in Bangladesh is due to hunting with guns and nets, destruction of habitat such as cutting down trees, draining marshland & wetlands and the lack of protection of birds by the government.
The main change needed to save our birds is for big changes in the law, protecting birds and punishment of those who break the law. First we need to fund research into the reasons for the decline of different species and then what laws are needed to protect habitats and birds. Some of the issues will also impact on the increased risks of flooding.
Q: We know you are the youngest person to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Bristol in 2020. So now we call you Dr. Maya Rose Craig. I would like to hear your feeling when you find out that you will be awarded a doctorate degree.
Mya: In December 2019, I received an email from someone at Bristol University telling me that they would like to give me an honorary degree and attached a letter from the Pro-Vice Chancellor. I was so shocked that I thought it was a hoax from one of my friends so I didn’t click on the attachment until my mum had phoned the university and found out it was a real offer.
It was incredible to be awarded something so fantastic & being the youngest British person to receive an honorary Doctorate of Science D.Sc. h.c. It was all really exciting, going onto The One Show a popular BBC chat show and doing lots of interviews. At the ceremony, the university made me feel like a real VIP. There were lots of TV camera crews who came and it was amazing to see them cram into see me.
I think it’s only as I get older and am at Cambridge University myself that I understand how enormous it was to be given an honorary doctorate at age 17.
I am really proud of being an Ambassador for Greenpeace and Oxfam amongst others.
Q: From Chew vally School to St. John’s College, Cambridge University.This is the journey of your education life, how have you prepared yourself at this time?
Mya:The Chew Valley is made up of a few villages outside of Bristol. It is a really small area and I knew most of the people in my year at school. I had been attending lots of events and speaking, so I was a lot more outward looking than many people at school. I had a gap year planned between 6th form and university when I had planned to travel and spend time in Sylhet. However, due to covid-19 I was unable to travel, so instead wrote 3 books and went to the Arctic with Greenpeace. That was an incredible experience and allowed me to highlight the terrible impact climate change is having on the Arctic and so the planet.
Q: Do all birds migrate? If not all birds migrate, why do some migrate?
Mya: Most birds do not migrate but live in the same place all the year around. There is variation within the same species. For example, in the UK, some blackcaps, song thrushes and robins migrate but other do not. It depends on food and resources.
Q: You are an ornithologist. What is it actually? I want to know the details about this.
Mya: An ornithologist is someone who has studied birds for science. I have studied the science of birds since I was 9 years old, obtaining my licence to ring birds from the British Trust for Ornithology at 16 years old, which is the youngest age possible to obtain a licence in the UK. Bird ringing is when you catch birds in delicate nets, then carefully remove and examine them, taking measurements and weighting them before releasing them. I had to have a very detailed knowledge of birds ID before I could even start the training to obtain my trainee licence. I have done lots of bird ringing demonstrations and find that children and adults love to see the birds close up and even getting to hold or release them.
Q: How did your love for birds come about? Why do you love birds so much instead of other animals ?
Mya: My parents and older sister Ayesha loved birds and went out birdwatching all the time. When I was born, they carried on but just taking baby me with them. When I was 3, Ayesha was 15 years old and was obsessed with birds but also very beautiful and very cool. I wanted to be like her and so if she loved birds, I was going to love birds too. I was also good at bird ID and got a lot of pleasure from watching them.
Q: If there were no more birds on earth, just like the dinosaurs became extinct. In that case, what do you think what type of damage will have to face the world?
Mya: If birds became extinct this would have a drastic impact on our planet as nature relies on them and so in turn do we. For example, hummingbirds in South America and sunbirds in Asia use their long bills to feed on nectar and in turn pollinate flowers and food crops. Fruit eating birds often spread the seeds in their droppings. The planet has developing over millions of years, with each species having a place in the world, so extinctions have a huge impact on our environment and ultimately on us.
Q: You are a writer. We want to know how many books you have published and what their names are. What are your published books written about? Will you publish your book in Bengali?
Mya: I have been writing blog posts for my website and articles since I was 11 years old. During the Covid-19 pandemic I had a year off as a gap year between school and university and I wrote 3 books. The first was published by Magic Cat, a small sustainable publisher. It was called We Have A Dream and in it I interviewed and highlighted the work of 30 young environmentalists of colour from around the world. It came out in August 2021 and was beautifully illustrated. This book was really important to me, amplifying the voices of young people who are otherwise not heard as the environmental movement in the Global North is very White and mainly only promotes people who are White.
My second book is called Birdgirl and is a memoir about birding around the world as s child, how our love of birds helped our mental health and about becoming an activist. I am really proud of this book, which is available from Amazon.com and which I hope will one day be published in Bengali.
My last book is a large illustrated children’s book about bird migration called Flight.
Q: Since you are a British-Bangladeshi, we think you have learned Bengali as well as English. Can you speak Bengali as well as you can speak English? What language do you speak with your parents at home?
Mya: My Nanu lives in Bristol and has one brother living on one side and another brother on the other side. When I was a child, until I started school age 4 years old, one of my Nanis looked after me and one of my cousins. So I was surrounded by Sylheti and programmes on Channel S. When I started school, I was totally bi- lingual in English and Sylheti but I suddenly felt very self conscious about speaking Sylheti and refused to speak it. I think it’s really sad that my sister can speak Sylheti but not me. I had planned to spend 6 months in Sylhet during my year off but had to cancel due to covid-19 but now plan is to stay in Sylhet after I graduate and learn to start speaking Sylheti again. I think it a shame that my cousins who are my age can’t speak Sylheti either but things are harder as we are third generation British-Bangladeshi and the first generation in our family all speak good English and so we don’t have the need to learn.
Q: Now what is your advice for those who are young and love birds like you? And what is your message to those who hunt, sell, or capture birds?
Mya: My message is to all Bangladeshi’s, whether they are interested in birds or not; birds are fantastic, they can fly, so how incredible is that? What is there not to like about them? Try taking a closer look at the wonderful birds of Bangladesh and understand how important they are to humankind. Stand up and protect the birds of our beautiful world. Point your finger at those who are harming our birds and try to make them understand the harm they are doing to all of us. To those who kill or capture birds, your business will end soon as bird species disappear. Why don’t you stop now and become bird guides, showing Bangladeshi and foreign birdwatchers or bird photographers the birds in your area, using your bird sighting skills for birdwatching?
After two failed attempts the startup Zatiq succeeds on the third try. The journey of the startup Zatiq began in 2022 with two initiatives launched in two phases to make business easier and more digital. The two initiatives were called Pocket Pay and Digital Calculator. However, within the first two years, the company incurred losses of nearly 50 million taka. Even then, Zatiq’s founder, Sultan Moni, did not give up. In 2024, he introduced new initiatives—Zatiq Easy and Zatiq Plus—to the market, and these ventures proved to be successful.
Zatiq primarily provides digital business services to e-commerce and online business organizations. The company offers a total of 25 types of services, including website development, marketing, inventory management, product delivery, and customer data management. Zatiq has two types of service packages. One is Zatiq Easy, which mainly serves small e-commerce businesses. The other is Zatiq Plus, designed for large enterprises and e-commerce companies.
How Zatiq Began
Zatiq officially started its journey in 2022. Although there are three founders, the startup was primarily initiated under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sultan Moni. Sultan Moni was born and raised in Dubai. In 2012, he moved to Canada for higher studies. During that time, he launched a startup called On Grocery in Canada.
From a young age, he dreamed of becoming a technology-driven entrepreneur. Therefore, he chose Computing and Information Systems (MIS) for his higher education. While studying in Canada, he was involved in founding more than ten startups across various sectors, including car wash, food, health, and product delivery. Among these, three startups became successful. In 2022, Sultan Moni returned to Bangladesh from Canada.
Services Provided by Zatiq
Zatiq Easy creates instant sub-domain websites for small entrepreneurs at a cost of 500 taka.
In addition, Zatiq Easy offers a total of 25 services, including inventory management information and local payment gateways.
Products worth 2.6 billion taka are sold every month using Zatiq’s platform.
Sultan Moni said that he initially came to Bangladesh for three months at the request of the founder of a local venture capital firm. A return ticket had already been booked. He came mainly to understand market demand. With that goal, he traveled around with a small team, meeting small business owners, grocery shopkeepers, and online entrepreneurs. At the very beginning, he planned to develop a digital payment service device.
Zatiq’s journey started from Sultan Moni’s Gulshan residence with a four-member team. In August 2022, Zatiq launched the digital payment service device Pocket Pay. At that time, Zatiq received an investment of USD 250,000 from a Canadian angel investor. However, in the end, the initiative did not achieve commercial success.
After the failure of its first initiative, Zatiq began working on a second initiative called Digital Calculator in 2023. This calculator was designed to manage all shop-related records, including sales, inventory, and daily accounts. Initially, the digital calculator received a positive response. Zatiq sold more than 20,000 calculators, and there were purchase orders for an additional 30,000 units. However, at that time, due to a foreign currency crisis, the cost of importing raw materials increased significantly. As a result, the production cost of each calculator rose from 3,000 taka to nearly 13,000 taka, which caused the second initiative to fail as well.
The Beginning of Zatiq Easy
Zatiq’s CEO Sultan Moni’s wife, Mumtahina Anika, used social media to run her business. While managing this business, she frequently faced difficulties related to website creation, financial transactions, product delivery, and inventory management. These personal challenges inspired the idea of creating an e-commerce builder platform for small entrepreneurs. From that idea, Zatiq Easy was born.
Through Zatiq Easy, a small entrepreneur can instantly create a sub-domain website for just 500 taka. In addition, Zatiq Easy offers a total of 25 services within this same cost, including inventory management, order tracking, customer data management, automated digital invoices, delivery spreadsheets, local payment gateways, social media integration, and marketing services.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Zatiq CEO Sultan Moni said, “Initially, our target was to register one business per day—that is, 30 businesses per month. However, in the very first month, more than 50 businesses registered on average every day. Currently, more than 165,000 e-commerce, F-commerce (Facebook commerce), and entrepreneur businesses are registered on the Zatiq Easy platform. Through websites created using Zatiq’s platform, these businesses receive more than 145,000 orders every month. Altogether, they sell products worth 2.6 billion taka per month using Zatiq’s platform. On average, more than 8,000 new businesses are joining Zatiq’s services every month.”
Services Provided by Zatiq
By registering through Zatiq’s website or mobile app, users can create a website within a very short time. Digital payment methods can also be integrated into the website. In addition, Zatiq’s services allow direct integration with various courier and delivery service providers. As marketing tools, Zatiq Easy also offers services such as SMS, email, Facebook integration, and more.
Alongside this, Zatiq has launched Zatiq Academy for new entrepreneurs, which offers free courses, webinars, and workshops. Zatiq is also preparing to launch another service called Zatiq Capital, aimed at helping entrepreneurs start businesses without initial investment or products.
Zatiq CEO Sultan Moni said, “We are also providing services in Middle Eastern countries. Currently, more than 3,000 businesses in Dubai alone are registered with us. Additionally, discussions are ongoing with two banks. Through these banks, we plan to support new entrepreneurs with business investment.”
Engineer Nayeem leaves his job and freelancing to pursue agriculture.In the field stands a Malta (orange) orchard. Most of the trees are laden with yellow-colored Malta fruits. Between rows of trees, vermicompost (worm compost) is being produced in beds. This compost is being supplied to various parts of the country.
This modern vermicompost farm inside a fruit orchard can be seen in Baikunthapur village of Chirirbandar upazila in Dinajpur. The entrepreneur behind the farm is Nayeem Huda (32), son of Fazlur Rahman.
Using several methods—including beds, tubs, and ring systems—Nayeem produces 25–30 tons of vermicompost every month. Alongside this, he has planted Malta, orange, mango, and litchi on six bighas of land. He also sells organic pesticides. Fish farming is carried out in a pond adjacent to the farm. On the pond embankment, he has planted betel nut, Malta, year-round mango, and jackfruit trees. Vegetables are cultivated on trellises nearby. After expenses, Nayeem earns between 200,000 and 250,000 taka per month from all these activities. Farmers, entrepreneurs, agricultural officers, and general visitors crowd the farm every day to see it.
How Nayeem Started
In 2016, Naim Huda completed his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from a private university in Dhaka. The following year, he began his career at Nilphamari EPZ. Alongside his job, he also worked as a freelancer. However, considering the time and labor required, the salary was relatively low. After a few months, he quit the job and focused entirely on freelancing. In 2020, his freelancing work declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nayeem says, “After quitting my job, I had to hear many things from my family. I thought I should start something that would last as long as the world exists. With that thought, I focused on agriculture.”
In 2020, he began farming on one bigha of ancestral land beside his house by planting QJ mango and China-3 litchi orchards. The same year, he planted Malta, orange, lemon, and papaya on another four bighas of land. While doing this, he realized that fertilizer costs in agriculture were comparatively high.
He says, “I came into agriculture with the idea of producing safe food, but I had to buy a lot of fertilizer and pesticides. On the advice of the Upazila Agriculture Officer, I took training and started producing vermicompost at home using 10 rings and several plastic tubs.”
Gradually, Nayeem began to see the benefits of using organic fertilizer. He visited agricultural farms in different areas. Eventually, he started producing more compost than he needed. He began selling it to local farmers at 12–15 taka per kilogram. Later, he collected cow dung from nearby farms and started full-scale compost production.
Currently, using 40 rings, more than 50 tubs, and 55 beds, Nayeem’s farm produces 25–30 tons of compost every month. He stores the compost in a designated warehouse next to the farm. In addition to retail sales, he supplies compost to agricultural farms in nearby districts as well as Tangail, Cumilla, Sylhet, Mymensingh, and Khulna. With the slogan “Always beside the farmer,” he has established Nayeem Organic Agro.
Golden Dreams in the Malta Orchard
Over the past seven years of working in agriculture, Nayeem Huda has practically become a researcher. Currently, his mixed fruit orchard has over 700 Malta trees. In 2023, the trees bore fruit for the first time, but he did not harvest them. The following year, he harvested around 70 maunds of Malta, but the fruits were green instead of yellow, resulting in a poor price. In 2024, following advice from the Agriculture Department and an orchard owner from Thakurgaon, he adopted the “root pruning” method. That year, the Malta fruits turned yellow.
A recent visit to Nayeem’s Malta orchard shows yellow fruits peeking through green leaves on small trees. The juicy, sweet-and-sour Maltas are relatively large in size. Bamboo supports have been placed under branches bending under the weight of the fruits. Locals visit the orchard daily, taking photos.
Fourteen workers—both men and women—are employed at the farm. Some are harvesting Malta and packing them into crates; others are turning dung mixtures in the compost beds. Some are netting with machines, while others are drying compost in the yard. A permanent building beside the pond serves as an office and sales center. Nayeem said he has trained over 500 youths to become entrepreneurs over the past few years and has supplied earthworms to many interested individuals.
Shamsuddin Alam, a visitor to the farm, said, “I knew Malta as an imported fruit. It has been cultivated in our country for a few years, but the fruits were green. This is the first time I’ve seen yellow Malta fruits directly on trees.”
Naim said that not all trees bore fruit this year, but the fruit size has increased. Relatively fewer pesticides were used. He expects to harvest at least 250–280 maunds of Malta this season and hopes to sell them wholesale at 170–180 taka per kilogram.
Farmers’ Trust in Organic Pesticides
Nayeem did not stop at vermicompost alone. He also sells solid microbial fertilizer made from cow urine, molasses, chickpea flour, and soil. He produces and sells juice made from ten types of leaves, including neem, mahogany, bael, custard apple, dhutura, and castor leaves. This helps resolve nutrient deficiencies in crops. His sales center also offers powdered eggshells, snail shells, dried fish, tobacco powder, and oil cakes made from peanut, neem, coconut, and sesame. Using these ingredients, his farm produces Trichoderma compost fertilizer.
Local farmer Ershad Ali said, “Fertilizer and pesticide prices are very high in the market. Agricultural officers repeatedly encourage the use of organic fertilizers. Many of us in the area have been using organic fertilizer regularly for years. This has reduced costs and improved yields.”
At one point, Nayeem’s father, Fazlur Rahman, was unhappy when his son left his job for farming. Now, seeing his success, he is pleased. He keeps track of his son’s work, spends time at the farm, and talks with farmers at the sales center.
Fazlur Rahman said, “At one time I scolded my son, but today the farm stands strong because of his effort and hard work. Every day, 10–12 people work here.” He believes educated youths should come forward in agriculture.
Regarding Nayeem Huda’s initiative, Chirirbandar Upazila Agriculture Officer Johra Sultana said that the use of vermicompost has increased in the upazila over the past few years, reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. There is no alternative to vermicompost for safe food production and soil health conservation. Currently, Nayeem’s farm is the largest vermicompost production farm in the district.
Deva nandha is a child artiste who has gained wide attention for her excellence in acting and her mature behavior in public spaces. She entered the film industry through the movie Thottappan. Later, after acting in several films, she captured audience attention with Malikappuram, in which Unni Mukundan played the lead role.
Deva Nandha: The Child Artiste Who Won Hearts with Talent and Grace
In an industry where child artistes often struggle to balance innocence with performance, Deva Nandha has emerged as a rare exception—an actor whose talent, discipline, and emotional maturity far exceed her age. With a strong screen presence and an equally composed public demeanor, she has earned admiration from audiences and critics alike in a remarkably short span of time.
Rise to Prominence
The turning point in Deva Nandha’s career came with the 2022 film Malikappuram, where she played the character Kallu (Malikappuram). Sharing screen space with actor Unni Mukundan, Deva delivered a performance that was both emotionally powerful and spiritually grounded.
Her portrayal of a devoted young girl, driven by faith, resilience, and inner strength, struck a deep chord with audiences across age groups. Critics widely praised her ability to carry intense emotional scenes with remarkable restraint and authenticity—qualities rarely seen in performers so young.
Notable Works
Apart from Thottappan and Malikappuram, Deva Nandha has acted in several notable Malayalam films, including:
My Santa (2019)
Minnal Murali (2021)
Simon Daniel (2022)
Neymar (2023)
Gu (2024)
Each project further reinforced her reputation as a dependable and emotionally intelligent child actor.
Awards and Recognition
For her outstanding performance in Malikappuram, Deva Nandha won the Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Child Artist (2022). The recognition confirmed what audiences already believed—that she was not just a promising child actor, but a serious performer with long-term potential.
Beyond the Screen
What sets Deva Nandha apart is not only her acting ability but also her mature conduct in public spaces and interviews. She speaks with clarity, confidence, and awareness, often surprising viewers with her thoughtful responses. This maturity has made her a role model for many young viewers and a subject of admiration among parents and educators.
At the same time, her journey has not been without challenges. Like many young public figures, she has faced online criticism and cyberbullying. Her family’s decision to address such issues legally highlighted an important conversation about protecting child artistes in the digital age.
A Promising Future
Deva Nandha represents a new generation of child artistes—talented, articulate, and grounded. As she continues to grow, both as an individual and as an actor, expectations remain high. Whether she chooses to continue in cinema or explore other creative paths, her early contributions to Malayalam cinema have already left a lasting impression.
In Deva Nandha, audiences see not just a child star, but a young artist with depth, discipline, and dignity—qualities that promise a bright and meaningful future.
Deva Nandha who primarily appears in Malayalam and Tamil-language films. She began her acting career in 2019 and has since portrayed a range of characters in various films. She is known for her roles in Malikappuram (2022), Thottappan (2019), My Santa (2019), Simon Daniel (2022), and Neymar (2023).
Career
She began her acting career in 2019 with a role as the younger version of Sarah in the Malayalam film Thottappan. In 2022, she appeared in the film Malikappuram, portraying the character Kallu/Malikappuram. Her performance in the film received attention from critics, and she was honored with the Best Child Actress award at the Kerala Film Critics Association 2022. Kerala Film Critics Association Awards 2022.
Filmography
All films are in Malayalam language unless otherwise noted
†
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released
In 2024, Deva Nandha was involved in an incident related to cyberbullying after a modified version of an interview clip from a promotional event was circulated online. The video, which had been edited out of context, prompted a wave of negative responses on social media.In response to the online reactions, her father submitted a complaint to the Ernakulam cyber police, expressing concerns over the spread of misleading content and its potential impact.
The Sixty Dome Mosque is located in Bagerhat District of Khulna Division, Bangladesh. It was built in the mid-15th century under the leadership of a Muslim governor named Khan Jahan Ali. The mosque is considered a unique example of Bengali architecture and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
History
In the Middle Ages, a Muslim colony developed in the Bagerhat region, where Khan Jahan Ali built the city. Under his leadership, construction of the mosque began in 1442 AD and was completed around 1459. Although it was primarily built for religious worship, it is of particular historical value due to its architectural and cultural significance.
Architectural features
The mosque is rectangular in shape and has 60 pillars inside. These pillars support 77 domes, which gives the mosque its name “Sixty Domes”. There are actually 81 domes: 77 in the main Prayer Hall and four in the corners. The mosque has 11 doors on the east side, and 7 doors each on the north and south sides. This keeps the interior bright and cool. There are round towers at the four corners, which were once used for the call to prayer.
Cultural importance
The Sixty Dome Mosque is not only a religious center; it is also important from an architectural, historical and cultural perspective. It is one of the largest mosques of the Bengal Sultanate era. Every pillar, dome and arch of the mosque is a unique example of local architecture.
Inspection
The mosque can be easily reached from Bagerhat city by autorickshaw or CNG. Morning or evening is the best time to visit. It is best to pay attention to dress and decency before entering the mosque. Tourists can experience the beauty of history and architecture together here.
The Sixty Dome Mosque is a proud piece of history in Bangladesh, a shining example of our country’s architectural and cultural heritage. The intricate beauty of its domes, pillars, and arches will captivate you upon first sight.
Going through puberty can be a challenge for any child. But children who experience early puberty can have physical, social and emotional challenges that their peers may not, according to researchers. Early puberty or precocious puberty describes puberty that begins before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys. Girls are much more likely than boys to experience this condition. If your child experiences early puberty, how can you help?
Puberty is a major developmental transition in a child’s life, but when it happens earlier than expected, it can bring unique challenges for kids and their parents. For girls, early puberty (also known as precocious puberty) is defined as the onset of puberty before age 8. This includes the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as breast development, and eventually the onset of menstruation.
Age of puberty has been declining for decades
The mean age of puberty in girls has been falling in Western populations for the past 150 years. The average age of puberty onset in girls is now 10½. Girls get their period on average at age 12½ to 13. More than 1 in 7 (15%) of American girls start puberty at age 7, and more than 1 in 4 (28%) by age 8, according to the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research. Boys are now reaching puberty by age 10, which is six months to two years earlier than previous generations of boys.
Once started, the whole process of puberty takes three to four years. One of the most noticeable parts of puberty is that girls usually grow taller than boys around 11 or 12 years old. Boys catch up and pass them by around age 14 or so. There is no definitive cause for why boys and girls are reaching puberty at younger ages, but childhood obesity, environmental factors and stress could play a role.
Resources for parents
S. Paige Hertweck, M.D., pediatric and adolescent gynecologist with Norton Children’s Gynecology, recommends a couple of helpful resources:
Girlology: A Girl’s Guide to Stuff that Matters,” a book authored by a pediatrician and OB/GYN. Girlology also has an online community.
“The Care and Keeping of You,” a book divided into two age-appropriate volumes for reading and discussion.
When it comes to early puberty, boys and girls can begin to feel isolated, embarrassed and ashamed about their body and experience issues with their peers, including bullying. Girls are more likely to experience the negative psychological and social consequences of puberty. Studies show that girls are more likely to internalize these feelings, which can prolong the unease and increase their risk for depression. Further, a 2018 study shows girls who begin puberty earlier are at higher risk for mental health issues. The study showed that these girls are more likely to become depressed during their teen years, which can persist into adulthood.
Dad with his 10 years old kid girl cooking in the kitchen, casual lifestyle photo series. Child making breakfast with parent together. Cozy homely scene.
How can parents or guardians help children who are experiencing early puberty?
Helping kids navigate social and emotional hurdles during puberty that are tricky at 13 can be even more so when a child is 7 or 8 years old. But these hurdles call for parenting skills that apply at any age: being emotionally present for children during developmental milestones, witnessing their growing pains and providing comfort to help them build resilience when life throws them curveballs. What else can parents do?
Start a conversation.Caregivers shouldn’t be afraid to start the conversation about puberty early, so the transition can seem less foreign and scary. Caregivers should consider talking about sexual development by age 6 or 7, and keep the lines of communication open for questions and worries their child may have.
Be an advocate.When your child experiences issues with school, sports or extracurriculars, talking with teachers and coaches may lead to adjustments that can improve your child’s situation.
Don’t be afraid to get help.Maybe your son starts refusing to shower or wear deodorant. Maybe your daughter has lost interest in a sport she’s always loved. It’s OK to get help from your child’s pediatrician about how to manage the ebb and flow of early puberty. Your pediatrician also can refer your child to a pediatric gynecologistor pediatric urologist for further care regarding puberty.
How Does Precocious Puberty Affect Kids? As early as puberty ends, kids with precocious puberty usually fail to reach their full adult height potential. Their skeletons mature and bone growth stops earlier than normal, which means they do not reach their full height as adults.
The early growth spurt may result in them initially being taller than their peers, but they may stop growing too soon, resulting in a shorter height than they would have otherwise achieved [6]. Experiencing puberty too early can also be difficult emotionally and socially for children. Girls who experience precocious puberty, for instance, may feel confused or embarrassed about getting their periods or having enlarged breasts well before other girls. Even their moods and behaviours can change when they experience precocious puberty. Girls may become moody and irritable. Boys may become aggressive and develop inappropriate sex drives.
On A Final Note… A child going through early puberty may struggle emotionally and socially. They may not feel that they fit in. They might become depressed, moody, or aggressive. As parents, you should support and guide them the right way. There are times when treatment of a related health problem can stop precocious puberty, but most of the time, there is no other disease present, which means that hormone therapy is required to stop sexual development.
How Common Is Early Puberty?
Studies show that the mean age of pubertal onset for girls has been falling over the past century, to an average onset of 10.5 years old. About 15% of girls will go through puberty “early” (before age 7), and around 28% will start puberty around age 8. Factors such as genetics, weight, environmental influences and the effects of stress may contribute to earlier development. While true “early puberty” affects only a minority of girls, the onset of puberty can be earlier than many parents expect.
Why Early Puberty Can Be Difficult for Girls
Girls who experience early puberty often face emotional and social challenges. For example, they may feel self-conscious about their changing bodies, leading to feelings of isolation, embarrassment and shame. Additionally, studies have shown that early puberty is associated with an increased risk of mental health concerns including anxiety, depression and body dysmorphia which can persist into adulthood.
Socially, girls who develop earlier may receive unwanted attention from peers and adults and are at risk of being perceived as older than their chronological age. They are athigher risk of bullying and even sexual harassment and can have more difficulty navigating friendships.
The Challenges for Parents
Many parents feel unprepared to discuss puberty with their daughter at such a young age or feel uncomfortable navigating conversations about changing bodies or sexual maturation. Parents may also struggle with their own emotions and reactions and find it hard to tolerate the changes in their child.
What Steps Should Parents Take If Their Child Shows Signs of Early Puberty?
According to Specialist Level I, Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, MD, MSc in the Internal Medicine Department at FV Hospital, children with early puberty should receive timely intervention to prevent short stature and potential psychosocial issues. However, many parents are still unclear about what early puberty actually is, often missing the critical window for supporting their child.
Early Puberty: Risk of Short Stature and Emotional-Psychological Challenges in Children
Recent media reports have highlighted a significant rise in the number of children receiving treatment for early puberty. Some children, as young as 6 to 8 years old, are already showing signs of puberty, raising concerns among many parents.
Dr Nguyen Thi Thu Huong from the Internal Medicine Department at FV Hospital, explains that early puberty refers to the onset of pubertal signs earlier than expected – specifically, before the age of 8 in girls and 9 in boys.
Common signs of early puberty include rapid height growth, acne, body odour, body hair growth, and mood changes. Girls may develop breasts and begin menstruating, while boys may experience voice deepening, enlargement of the testicles and penis, and even ejaculation. Studies show that early puberty is four times more common in girls than in boys,” explained Specialist Level I, Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, MD, MSc in Internal Medicine Department at FV Hospital.
Most cases of early puberty have no identifiable cause. However, a small percentage are linked to underlying conditions such as pituitary tumours, hormonal disorders, or genetic factors. In today’s modern lifestyle, several contributing factors have also been noted, including obesity, unbalanced diets, poor food quality, environmental pollution, and psychological stress.
Early puberty is not just a matter of “growing up too soon”, it can significantly impact a child’s physical and mental health. “One of the main concerns is height. The early rise of sex hormones accelerates bone maturation. While children may initially grow taller rapidly, the early closure of growth plates caused by this hormonal surge can limit their final adult height – typically around age 12 for girls and 15 for boys,” Dr Huong explained.
Furthermore, that early development of vaginal discharge and the onset of menstruation in girls – or testicular growth and ejaculation in boys – can pose hygiene challenges. At such a young age, children often lack the awareness and skills needed to care for their bodies properly, increasing the risk of infections.
“The early physical changes can also expose children to potential abuse, with serious consequences. Emotional and psychological changes, such as irritability, anxiety, and feeling different from peers, can lead to depression or even social withdrawal,” she added.
Early Puberty Requires a Comprehensive Treatment Strategy
When early signs of puberty appear, such as breast development in girls before age 8 or voice deepening in boys before age 9 – parents should consult a paediatric endocrinologist for proper evaluation.
With over 15 years of experience in diagnosing and treating early puberty, the Internal Medicine Department at FV Hospital provides a comprehensive approach. Children are first examined by endocrinology specialists, who conduct essential evaluations to determine a diagnosis. These include breast and abdominal ultrasounds to assess the uterus and ovaries in girls, testicular ultrasound in boys, and a hand X-ray to determine bone age.
Next, blood tests are performed to measure sex hormone levels and identify potential underlying causes, such as elevated prolactin, thyroid dysfunction, or tumours that secrete beta-HCG. If hormone levels appear low but imaging indicates ongoing pubertal development, a stimulation test using Diphereline is conducted to confirm the diagnosis.
Finally, an MRI scan of the pituitary gland is performed to rule out tumours – an essential step before initiating puberty-suppressing treatment.
How Parents Can Support Their Daughters Through Early Puberty
Navigating early puberty requires a thoughtful and compassionate approach. Here are some tips to get you started.
Start Open and Age-Appropriate Conversations
Even if puberty seems far off, it’s never too early to talk about puberty and bodily change in simple and reassuring ways. Ideally, these conversations begin well before puberty. Books such as “The Care and Keeping of You for Younger Girls” and “Celebrate Your Body and Its Changes, Too” are great to read with your child. If your daughter is developing early, explain what’s happening in a way she can understand, and normalize these changes so she doesn’t feel like something is wrong.
Validate Her Feelings
It’s important to acknowledge and validate any emotions your daughter may have. If she expresses embarrassment, anxiety or confusion, listen and reassure her that what she’s going through is completely normal. Let her know she’s not alone and that many other girls experience the same thing.
Provide Practical Support
Help your daughter feel prepared by providing the necessary products, such as bras, deodorant or menstrual supplies before she needs them, and teaching her how to use them. Your daughter will also need you to be her advocate. This may involve communication with teachers or coaches, or with other parents, to make sure your daughter has whatever accommodations she needs (e.g. bathroom breaks, private places to change, etc.).
Encourage Positive Body Image or Work Towards Body Neutrality
Girls going through early puberty may struggle with their body image and experience shame about their changing bodies. Be mindful about how you talk about your body and don’t comment on a child’s body. Help your daughter focus on what her body can do rather than how it looks, normalize different body types, and reinforce the idea that all bodies develop at their own pace and that differences are normal.
Monitor Her Emotional Well-Being
Because early puberty is linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression, keep an eye out for changes in mood, withdrawal from activities or signs of distress. Consider consulting with your pediatrician or a trained therapist if you are concerned about your daughter’s emotional well-being.
Final Thoughts
Early puberty can be a challenging experience for girls, but the right support can make all the difference. Remember to also put on your own oxygen mask first. Taking care of your own emotional needs as a parent is a critical part of parenting your daughter through this experience.
Shirtless teenager boy holding a razor. Fear to first time shaving concept.
If you’ve noticed early signs of puberty in your son or daughter, you’re not alone. Parents in South Africa and around the world are increasingly concerned that their children will enter puberty too soon.
Puberty typically begins in girls between the ages of eight and 13, and in boys between the ages of nine and 14, according to the National Institutes of Health. Some children, however, reach puberty earlier.
Puberty, also known as precocious puberty is considered to be early in boys before the age of eight, and in girls before the age of nine.
What exactly is precocious puberty?
Precocious puberty occurs when your child’s body matures faster than usual. While this does not necessarily imply that there is something wrong with your child, it’s important to understand how your precocious puberty can affect your child.
Good to know: The onset of puberty has been gradually declining for some time, but it is only in recent years that it has taken such a sharp drop and has begun to occur universally.
Sexual and emotional growth
Puberty starts when the body is becoming fully prepared for reproduction, but this does not imply that emotional development is progressing at the same rate. Adolescence was once a time when both sexual and emotional development occurred as boys and girls entered their teen years. However, children as young as six years old have sexually developed bodies long before their minds can comprehend what is going on.
This can be dangerous because it makes children more vulnerable to sexual abuse and can lead to experimentation and, in the case of girls, pregnancy at very young ages. As a result, parents are dealing with a whole new set of issues, and doctors are dealing with medical issues they have never seen before.
Other complications associated with precocious puberty
Early puberty can lead to the following complications:
Short stature: Children with precocious puberty may grow quickly and be taller than their peers at first. However, because their bones mature faster than normal, they frequently stop growing earlier than normal. As a result, they may be shorter than average as adults. Early treatment of precocious puberty, particularly in very young children, can help them grow taller than they would otherwise.
Social and emotional issues: Girls and boys who reach puberty earlier than their peers may be extremely self-conscious about the changes taking place in their bodies. This may have an impact on self-esteem and increase the likelihood of depression or substance abuse.
What is causing this dramatic shift in the onset of puberty?
Scientists have looked into the subject to try and determine what might cause these kinds of changes as the age of children entering puberty has decreased. The precise answers are still unknown, but they have identified a couple of modern-day factors that may hold a key.
An unusual genetic mutation in some children can result in the release of sex hormones.
Certain medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism (a common condition in which the thyroid does not produce and release enough thyroid hormone into the bloodstream).
The rising rate of childhood obesity. Children with excess body fat will enter puberty earlier, on average, than those without additional body fat.
Toxic and chemical exposure (everything from plastic baby bottles to food wrappers can contain harmful chemicals that can cause a variety of physiological problems, including early puberty).
Early puberty symptoms
Precocious puberty signs and symptoms include the emergence of the following before the age of eight in girls and before the age of nine in boys.
In girls, female breast development and the first period
In boys, enlarged testicles and penis, facial hair, and a deeper voice
Underarm or pubic hair
Acne
Body odours
Good to know: Make an appointment with your child’s doctor for an evaluation if your child has any of the signs or symptoms of precocious puberty.
How is precocious puberty diagnosed?
To diagnose precocious puberty, your child’s doctor may do the following:
Examine your child’s and family’s medical history.
Perform a physical examination.
Perform blood tests to determine hormone levels.
Take x-rays of your child’s hand and wrist. These X-rays can assist the doctor in determining your child’s bone age, which indicates whether the bones are growing too quickly.
Identifying the type of premature puberty
There are three types of precocious puberty that may affect a child: central precocious puberty (the most common type), peripheral precocious puberty and incomplete puberty. Your child’s doctor will also need to determine the type of precocious puberty they have. They may do so by administering a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test.
The doctor will take a blood sample and then administer an injection containing the GnRH hormone to your child during this test. More blood samples are then taken over time to see how hormones in your child’s body react. The GnRH hormone causes other hormone levels to rise in children with central precocious puberty. Other hormone levels remain constant in children with peripheral precocious puberty.
Girls who hit puberty after 12 had 12% less bone strength than earlier growers
Similar results were for boys, with puberty being measured by growth in height
As adults, the late-growers still had almost 5% less bone strength
Researchers said this puts them at greater risk of osteoporosis
Children who enter puberty early have the strongest bones as adults, a study has shown.
Scientists at the University of Bristol studied thousands of British children, taking bone scans over the course of 15 years.
They found the later a child hit puberty – defined as the later they had their growth spurt – the weaker their bones were.
Growth in bone strength starts to halt in the early twenties, therefore those who hit puberty late still had weaker bones into their adult life.
This can be a crucial factor for whether an adult goes on to develop conditions such as osteoporosis later in life, experts said. Researchers collected data on 6,389 children who had bone scans between 10 and 25 as part of the Children of the 90s Study.
They calculated the age a child hit puberty by looking at when they had their largest growth-spurt – called ‘age at peak height velocity’.
Children who hit puberty earliest – before 10.5 years in girls and before 12.5 years in boys – had 12 per cent more bone strength during puberty than those who hit it later – from 12.7 years in girls and 14.5 years in boys.
Although teens who had their pubertal growth spurt later than their peers had lower bone-strength, they did ‘catch-up’ to some degree.
By the time they were 18, their bones had acquired density at a much quicker speed. Particularly, boys had a more intense growth.
But it wasn’t quite enough – by age 25 those who hit puberty later still had almost five per cent less bone strength than early maturers.
Puberty is a key life milestone when teenagers go through a growth in their skeletal system, among other things.
The greatest gain in bone size and strength occurs during adolescence because of hormones.
But bones keep growing in strength well after puberty, reaching their maximum strength – called ‘peak bone mass’ – in the early 20s.
The study, considered to be the first of its kind, was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s Network Open.
Peak bone mass at the end of teenage growth spurts is thought to be an indication of later risk of fractures and osteoporosis.
One previous study found an increase of 10 per cent in bone density would delay osteoporosis by 13 years.
The condition is estimated to affect three million people in the UK, according to The International Osteoporosis Foundation.
Growth-spurts are an accurate marker of puberty, the researchers said, but it does have limitations.
Lead author Dr Ahmed Elhakeem said they also used the age at which girls started their period as an indicator of starting puberty, and got the same study findings.
Dr Elhakeem said: ‘I’d like to see more advice available for people who reach puberty later on measures they can take to strengthen their bones.
‘The next steps should involve more detailed assessments of the long-term effects of puberty on growth and bone development.’
Alison Doyle, of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, claimed the research filled a gap in understanding how bone density in puberty affects adult life.
She said: ‘Investment in this area of research is vital in furthering our understanding of the causes of osteoporosis and helping people to maintain good bone health throughout life.
‘Understanding changes in bone density during puberty, and the interventions that people can take for their bone health now to prevent osteoporosis and fractures in the future, is an important step forward in finding a cure for this disease.’
The researchers said teenagers going through puberty later than their peers should do more exercise to increase and maintain their bone density.
The study was not able to make any conclusions about fractures or bone disease later in life because the study finished when participants were 25.
Because weight and height increase rapidly during adolescence, an adequate intake of protein, iron, calcium, vitamins, and minerals is essential. Without sufficient nutrition, muscles do not develop properly, bone density decreases, desired height may not be achieved, and fatigue sets in easily. As a result, the body becomes weaker in adulthood and overall physical capacity declines.
During adolescence—especially among girls—iron deficiency is very common. This can lead to anemia, dizziness, reduced concentration, difficulty with physical exertion, and frequent illness. These problems also interfere with education and daily activities.
In adolescence, the brain develops skills related to decision-making, emotional regulation, and concentration. A deficiency of essential vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids reduces learning ability, weakens memory, and lowers tolerance to mental stress. In this way, malnutrition can gradually hinder academic progress.
If an adolescent girl suffers from malnutrition, her future pregnancies may be high-risk. The baby may have a low birth weight, and maternal malnutrition increases the risk of malnutrition in the child as well. Thus, malnutrition can pass from one generation to the next—a phenomenon known as the “vicious cycle of malnutrition.”
Foods That Should Be Included
As sources of carbohydrates, unpolished rice, whole wheat flour, red flattened rice, and oats should be included. Non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens, okra, eggplant, bitter gourd, tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, bottle gourd, ridge gourd, snake gourd, carrots, and radish are excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.
For protein, one should consume milk, yogurt, eggs, fish, meat, lentils, and legumes. Calcium and vitamin D can be obtained from milk, yogurt, cheese, small fish, taro leaves, drumstick leaves, pumpkin seeds, and light exposure to sunlight through walking outdoors. Meat, fish, lentils, and pumpkin seeds are good sources of zinc.
For iodine, milk, yogurt, eggs, shrimp, and marine fish should be consumed. To meet iron requirements, fish, meat, eggs, taro leaves, Malabar spinach, watermelon, blackberries, dates, and ripe tamarind are beneficial. Vitamin C is found in guava, hog plum, amla, lemon, olives, rose apple, ripe tomatoes, star fruit, ripe papaya, pineapple, and similar fruits.
Irregular eating habits, unhygienic fried foods from outside, fast food, foods high in oil and fat, excessive salt intake, and soft drinks should be avoided. At the same time, eating in moderation is important. Unhealthy dietary habits and excessive food intake are responsible for adolescent obesity.
Different country, different language, different culture—studying abroad brings multiple challenges beyond academic pressure. When the degree is in a demanding field like medicine, those challenges become even tougher. Overcoming all of these, Stuti Rimal from Nepal secured tenth place in the MBBS final professional examination conducted under the University of Dhaka.
In the beginning, Stuti faced the same shock that many foreign students experience upon arriving in a new country. Before she could fully grasp the complexities of medical science in the classroom, she first had to understand the language. While her Bangladeshi classmates worried about “items” (exams), Stuti’s main concern was learning the language.
The Beginning of the Journey
From an early age, Stuti was involved in drawing, recitation, and creative writing. She also played the violin and practiced dance, and she was the captain of her school basketball team. However, when she thought about her future, she felt drawn to doing something that could have a positive impact on people’s lives. That thought led her toward this respected profession.
Stuti learned that medical colleges in Bangladesh have a very high number of patients, which allows students to closely observe more cases and learn more in practice. This motivated her to consider studying here. Under the SAARC scholarship, 19 Nepali students get the opportunity to study in Bangladesh each year—and she took that opportunity.
Language Is Not a Barrier, Language Is Love
Stuti received all kinds of support from the community of international students. When she had difficulty understanding lessons due to her lack of Bangla, she later clarified topics with Bangladeshi classmates. Seniors also extended their help generously. Even when she fell ill and had to go to the hospital, they took care of all the arrangements for her.
Medical education is not limited to books, notebooks, and laboratories—it extends to hospital wards, where learning happens directly from patients. Stuti says she learned a large part of the language from the patients themselves. As a foreigner, she received special respect from ordinary people seeking treatment. In addition, her friends, classmates, and even dormitory staff at the medical college became her “Bangla teachers.”
In the MBBS final professional examination, it is impossible to pass without communicating with patients in their own language. Skillfully understanding a patient’s problems and conducting examinations is extremely important. Stuti’s success in this regard is clearly reflected in her exam results. It is also worth mentioning that when we spoke to her for this interview, the entire conversation took place in Bangla.
Other New Experiences Beyond Language
Coming from Kathmandu to Dhaka, Stuti initially struggled with the hot climate. She grew up in a land of hills and seasonal breezes. Food was also somewhat challenging at first, but later she started cooking for herself.
She came to understand Bangladeshi culture after arriving here. Before coming, she had heard that conservative dress codes for women were mandatory. Later, she realized that people in Bangladesh are not actually rigid but rather quite liberal. As a result, she blended in easily. She said, “There are many times when, unless I speak, no one can even tell that I’m not Bangladeshi!”
She has also traveled outside Dhaka several times—visiting Sylhet and Rangpur—and has seen the sea in Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata.
Currently, Stuti Rimal is working as an intern doctor at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. For students who come from Nepal to study MBBS in Bangladesh, internship is mandatory. Undoubtedly, this experience will be a valuable asset for her future. However, there is one lingering disappointment. Bangladeshi intern doctors receive a government stipend. Foreign interns used to receive it as well until 2008, but it has not been provided since then. Stuti said, “If we received a stipend, it would give us extra motivation.”
After completing her internship, Stuti will return to Nepal to be with her mother, father, grandmother, and sister. She plans to prepare for working as a doctor in the United States. This talented young physician aspires to become a neurosurgeon in the future.
Spreading a quiet, mesmerizing charm through her painted sarees—Mashhun Jahan Mugdho’s world is filled with silence. The soft patter of rain or the loud blaring of traffic horns—none of these sounds reach her ears. Yet, even in a world without sound, this young woman continues to color her own universe.
Her colors spill onto sarees—sometimes with block prints, sometimes with brushes. A boutique house in Dhaka’s Sipahibagh runs solely on her work. Its name is Mom Fanus. The boutique operates out of a small three-room rented apartment with five employees. This is where sarees named Alokananda, Banalata, Padma, and Chitrolekha are made.
Every design at Mom Fanus is created by Mugdho. The block-print patterns are also her creations. She sketches the designs on paper, which are then carved into wooden blocks. Every brushstroke on hand-painted fabric comes from her own hand.
Silence and Fear
Mugdho was born in October 2005. Her childhood brought deep worry to her mother, Mushfera Jahan. When Mugdho was only six months old, her mother suspected she might not be able to hear. The doctors’ words brought more pain: Mugdho might never be able to speak.
Mushfera told Prothom Alo, “When other children screamed with joy, my daughter would only stare at them in surprise. Only a mother knows how that feels.”
Even though the family felt their world collapsing, they did not give up. When Mugdho turned three, they enrolled her in art classes in Bogura, where they lived at the time. She was also admitted to Prayas School at Bogura Cantonment.
Mugdho’s first art teacher, Zakia Sultana, said, “Mugdho was my youngest student. She used to hold a feeder bottle while attending class. Sometimes she didn’t want to leave. Give her a pencil and she’d draw beautifully.”
Being speech- and hearing-impaired, Mugdho learned to understand language by watching people’s lips. Zakia said, “While speaking, we look into someone’s eyes. But Mugdho watches lips. I used to show her colors and use hand gestures to guide her during drawing.”
Lively in Colors
From an early age, Mugdho painted exceptionally well. She has won many national-level awards—competitions by Shishu Academy, World Children’s Day and Child Rights Week celebrations, World Breastfeeding Week events, and various state programs.
She later adapted her childhood drawing skills to clothing design. One day, her mother posted a photo on Facebook of a panjabi painted by Mugdho. Immediately, 33 more orders came in for the same design.
This was in 2014, when Mugdho was just a sixth grader. Mushfera said that Mugdho painted every panjabi by hand within the deadline. This marked the beginning of Mugdho’s journey in fashion design.
Mushfera started the boutique in 2020, thinking about her daughter’s future. Today, the business runs almost entirely on Mugdho’s artistry.
Mushfera works as a sewing trainer at the Bangladesh National Deaf Association and conducts workshops in different places.
She said, “Mugdho’s father once held a high-ranking private-sector job. Since the COVID pandemic, he hasn’t been employed. Her elder brother studies in the Theatre and Performance Studies Department at Dhaka University and tutors a few students. For now, the family depends mostly on the boutique.”
Mom Fanus mainly handles wholesale orders. Mushfera manages orders, deliveries, and accounts. Mugdho focuses on creating new color palettes, perfecting brush designs, arranging block-print plates, and transforming plain fabrics into something unique.
The family is now planning to expand Mom Fanus—possibly even outside Dhaka—because they can no longer handle the rising number of orders with limited space and staff.
A Silent Marriage
Mugdho is now an HSC student at Habibullah Bahar College under the Open University. She got married earlier this year. Her husband is also hearing-impaired, so they communicate through sign language.
However, she continues living with her mother, as she still needs her assistance to run Mom Fanus.
We communicated with Mugdho through written messages over the phone. When asked what she enjoys during leisure time, she replied that she loves watching movies with English subtitles.
She shared with us some of her paintings—most of them centered around eyes. She is particularly fascinated by different human gazes.
A Mother’s Ache, A Daughter’s Art
Although many admire Mugdho’s talent, her mother still carries deep sorrow. She said, “My daughter is so talented and so patient. As a mother, it hurts when I see even a myna bird can mimic speech, but my child cannot speak.”
But Mugdho pays no attention to such grief. Each day she immerses herself in new colors and new ideas. From this quiet world are born sarees named Banalata, Alokananda, and Padma, which find their way to various brand stores across the country. Buyers may never know that each design holds the story of a young woman rising above her limitations.
Mugdho cannot speak—but through colors, she keeps saying: “I can.”
Saurav Mandal (27) was a tenth-grade student when doctors discovered that he had a congenital defect in his esophagus. Despite receiving treatment in both Bangladesh and India and surviving the condition, he had to discontinue his studies. His elder brother, a bank officer, gave him two thousand taka. With that small amount, Saurav eventually transformed his life. Today, the handicrafts he makes are sold across Bangladesh and abroad through online platforms.
Saurav is the younger of two brothers and the son of Manoranjan Mandal and Rita Rani Mandal from Nagora Baroipara village in Netrakona Sadar Upazila. His elder brother, Tanmoy Mandal, works at a private bank and currently lives in a rented house on R. K. Mission Road in Mymensingh city.
Fame Through African Dolls
According to family sources, Saurav had to stop studying due to illness in 2012 while in the tenth grade. Later, he developed spinal complications as well. From the following year, he began spending time at a relative’s shop in Mymensingh. During breaks, he crafted dolls using paper and clay for his own home décor.
After returning from treatment in India in 2019, doctors advised him to rest. His elder brother then gave him two thousand taka to help pass the time by making handicrafts. With that money, Saurav made twelve African-style dolls. When he posted them on an online platform, customers showed great interest. Soon, orders began to pour in.
Saurav set up his handicraft workshop on the Dapunia–Chanderbazar Road in Mymensingh Sadar Upazila. He rented a small house for five thousand taka and began making various jute-based products. A recent visit to his workshop revealed five women crafting dolls, flower vases, pen holders, tissue boxes, wall décor, jute ornaments, and other decorative items using jute, cardboard, glue sticks, and adhesive.
Farzana Yasmin, a local woman working there for a year, shared that she earns three to four thousand taka monthly, which helps her support her children’s expenses.
Another woman, Jhuma Akter, whose husband is a rural medical practitioner, joined the workshop about two years ago to support her family financially. She says their household is now more stable because of the extra income.
Saurav Has Created 150 Types of Products
Entrepreneur Saurav Mandal says, “After I posted the 12 dolls on Facebook, I received orders worth seven thousand taka. People liked my products right from the start, which encouraged me to continue. But I developed an allergy to paint, so in 2022, I shifted entirely to working with jute. I’ve now created around 150 different types of products.”
He explains that he never received any formal training. Instead, he learned by observing family members—his grandfather worked with wood, and his father made steel items. Growing up around these skills motivated him to create things of his own.
Saurav sources materials from Dhaka, Faridpur, and Narayanganj. “I sell my products online and at local fairs. I also run a page called ‘Onnanna’. Although I started with only two thousand taka, I now have five to six lakh taka invested in the business. I sell products worth about one lakh taka each month, with a net income of around 20–30 thousand taka. I’ve also created employment for nine women,” he says.
His products have reached 12 to 13 countries, including the United States, Austria, Japan, Singapore, and Qatar.
Despite his early medical challenges, Saurav later completed his SSC through the Open University and is now in his second year of a degree program. He dreams of expanding his enterprise, opening a showroom in the city, and enlarging his workshop to create even more job opportunities.
Concerns over public safety have intensified after a pedestrian died when a metro rail bearing pad fell onto the road in Farmgate, Dhaka. In response, a new technology has been developed by Iran Sardar, a student at Daffodil International University, to detect potential risks in metro rail structures in advance.
The Farmgate Metro Accident On October 26, around 12:20 PM, a bearing pad fell from Metro Rail’s 433rd pillar in the Farmgate area, striking a pedestrian, Abul Kalam Azad (35), who died on the spot. Earlier, on September 18, 2024, a bearing pad fell from the 430th pillar in the same area. Although there were no casualties at that time, metro operations were halted for nearly 11 hours.
Understanding the Problem Bearing pads play a critical role in keeping metro viaduct structures stable. Over time, or due to excessive vibrations, these pads can become displaced. After the recent accidents, the metro authorities installed CCTV cameras at the pillars, but no automated detection system exists yet.
The Metro Rail Bearing Pad Safety Technology In this context, Iran Sardar, a student in the Computing and Information Systems (CIS) department at Daffodil International University, has developed a technology called the “Metro Rail Bearing Pad Safety Monitoring System.” Interested in robotics and IoT, Sardar explained that his system uses sensors installed on the bearing pads to provide real-time monitoring.
“Any vibration or structural deviation will be detected instantly by the sensors,” said Sardar. “The monitor will show which pillar’s pad has moved. Simultaneously, an alarm will sound and a warning will be sent to the control room. This system will allow preventive action before accidents occur.” He added that with government support, the technology could be fully implemented in the metro system, enhancing safety for both metro operations and pedestrians.
How the System Works Each bearing pad will have a dedicated sensor. Even minor movements will trigger a signal sent to the control unit, displaying the pillar number and issuing an alert. A red signal and alarm will activate immediately, and notifications can also be sent via SMS or phone calls. The control room can monitor the bearing pads in real-time, ensuring instant action if any displacement occurs.
Iran Sardar’s Journey and Achievements Iran Sardar is the youngest son of farmer Ibrahim Sardar and homemaker Momtaz Begum from Gaila village, Agailjhara Upazila, Barishal. He completed his SSC from Government Gaila Model Secondary School in 2021 and HSC from Mahilara Degree College in 2023. Currently, he is studying in the CIS department at Daffodil International University in Dhaka.
Sardar developed an interest in robotics after seeing the first robot, Sophia, in 2017. Later, in 2022, he won second place at the Digital Innovation Fair in Barishal Division with his robot “Korona Sebok.” He has also created robots for fire prevention named “Riba” and “Agni,” which have gained nationwide attention.
His future plans include elevating Bangladesh’s robotics sector to the global stage and researching how local technologies can solve the country’s technological challenges.
This young inventor’s project is just one example. Behind him are thousands of others—students, mechanics, small-scale researchers—working silently in garages, village homes, and university basements.
A Lesson for the World: Talent Exists Everywhere
The story also carries a larger message: every nation has hidden talents, waiting to be discovered. But without proper guidance, mentorship, and institutional support, many brilliant ideas die before they grow.
Countries like Bangladesh prove that if young people can innovate under so many constraints, imagine what they could create with opportunities, training, and encouragement.
Governments Must Support Innovators — Not Ignore Them
Across developing nations, talented inventors often struggle because:
funding is scarce,
research opportunities are limited,
patents are expensive,
and institutions rarely nurture young thinkers.
If governments invest in talent—through grants, innovation hubs, technology labs, and business mentorship—small inventions can grow into industries. These industries can create jobs, strengthen national identity, and boost the economy.
The Bangladeshi innovator’s device may seem simple, but it has already achieved something powerful: it has inspired millions and reminded the world that creativity is universal.
A Future Built on Innovation
Whether in Bangladesh, or anywhere else, visionary ideas are seeds. They may begin quietly, in a small workshop or a village shed, but with the right support, they can grow into national pride.
Governments, institutions, and communities must learn from these stories. Supporting innovators is not a luxury—it is an investment in the future.
A person’s education and career path are often, to a large extent, determined at birth. It is only natural that the academic journey of a child born in Thakurgaon, Bangladesh would differ vastly from one born in New Jersey, USA. Even without going that far, the contrast is striking within Bangladesh itself—a child growing up in a remote village of Rangpur and a child raised in a luxurious home in Dhaka’s Uttara, part of the so-called ‘elite class,’ will inevitably face very different realities in every aspect of life.
To call it a “difference” would be an understatement. It is nothing less than inequality.
A child whose shelves are lined with national awards, who dazzles everyone with exceptional talents, and who represents the country on international stages, is often compared to another child who may not even know such opportunities exist. Is the only difference between them talent?
Is it merely talent that separates a child trained at prestigious art schools since age three, using advanced tools and guidance, from another who only has a pen and paper to sketch on? Can an ordinary child ever compete with one who trains under skilled maestros in music?
Of course, there are exceptions. But those who break through such barriers are extraordinarily gifted—individuals with exceptional aptitude. Behind every smiling, victorious child from the elite class, there are countless talented souls lost in the shadows, deserving at least a mention in the statistics.
But let me leave the statistics aside for now and share some personal experiences:
1. A Glimpse of Opportunity
I was in class ten when I happened to visit the sub-district office one day and saw a circular for the National Children’s Award Competition. Students up to class ten could participate—this was my one and only chance. I had no prior experience, not even a clear idea of what to expect, but I didn’t give up.
Most categories were off-limits due to religious and cultural restrictions—recitation, Qirat, Ghazal, instrumental music, dance, and sports were not options for me. What remained was General Knowledge. The topic was “Know Bangabandhu, Know Bangladesh.”
I immersed myself in books on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the political history of Bangladesh, determined not to waste this rare opportunity. I was so well-prepared that I could have answered even about Sheikh Mujib’s great-grandfather!
The competition was held in two phases—once for the 2022 session and again for 2023. I missed the first one due to delays in getting the necessary approvals. For the second, I relentlessly contacted my teachers until I finally received the authorization right before the event began.
But when I saw the question paper, my heart sank. Only three questions related to what I had studied. My hands trembled with frustration and anxiety. And during the prize announcement—third place… not me. Second place… not me. First place… again, not me.
It wasn’t unexpected, but it hurt. Still, by some miracle, I won first and third place in two other categories—impromptu speech and storytelling—even without prior preparation. That saved my confidence for the time being.
At the district level, I discovered that some of my competitors had already won national awards. I felt so intimidated that I had nausea and wanted to go home. Somehow, I placed third. I wasn’t heartbroken—I had no expectations left by then.
I realized then, as others recited poetry and flipped through thick Bengali dictionaries, that this wasn’t something you could excel at overnight. It required years of consistent effort.
To make matters worse, the general knowledge questions at the district level were precisely from the topics I had prepared for—Bangabandhu and political history. Out of 30 questions, I knew 29. Apparently, in their sub-district, those were the questions too. For a moment, I felt like screaming: “Nothing is greater than fate!”
While children in remote areas like me barely hear about such events, those in cities train for years and have easy access to resources. For them, this is just routine.
2. Always Too Late
I frequently search for circulars on co-curricular activities, because I’ve learned that to go far, you must start early. Without preparation, you might reach the sub-district level by luck, but the district level is a wall.
Unfortunately, I rarely find relevant information. I once watched a podcast about the winners of the National Creative Talent Hunt. One of them, Mahin Muntasim, tried for six years before finally winning.
I felt a pang of sadness. What about those of us who didn’t even know about such competitions during those six years?
3. The Missed “Banglabid” Dream
“Banglabid” is perhaps the largest Bengali language competition in South Asia. I learned about it only at the end of class ten—the last eligible grade. I missed my chance to participate.
Even if I had participated, I doubt I’d have done well without at least a year or two of preparation. Still, I never miss an episode of Banglabid. At night, I often fall asleep imagining myself as the winner. And again, I say, so be it.
Please don’t think I’m claiming to be exceptionally skilled in these fields. The reality is quite the opposite. So why am I sharing all this?
Like Promoth Chowdhury once said: “Why must a song always be sung in perfect pitch? Why must poetry always convey profound emotions? And who decided that one must win just because they participate?”
Just showing up, seeing, learning—these matter too. At the very least, I can always say: “I gave it my all.” Sometimes, repeated failures teach us more than easy wins.
In every field, except for those born with extraordinary talent, training is essential. So is time. And to have time, we need early access to information. Why don’t such circulars reach rural schools the way they do elite urban ones? Where does the chain break?
Did the announcements not reach us? Or were they not shared with us? I don’t know. But someday, as every responsibility is accounted for, maybe these too will be examined. Perhaps some points will be added to someone’s record for each act of negligence.
Until then, I continue to dream. I still imagine myself one day being recognized as the best student at the national level. I’ve never been a scout or a girl guide, and I haven’t won any national prizes yet. But does it matter?
Mohammad Shamim lives in Melbourne. From there, he’s currently driving nearly 2,000 kilometers to Brisbane. Along the way, he’s stopping to inspect 40 Subway outlets in Canberra and Sydney. During this journey, he paused briefly in Sydney. On the morning of May 15, we met him at a café in Campbelltown, South Sydney. He was dressed simply, exuding confidence. His humility and composure stood out during our conversation.
Shamim studied Management at the University of Dhaka. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he was determined to move to Australia. In 2007, that dream came true—by then, he had also completed his master’s. He enrolled for another postgraduate degree at Deakin University in Australia, this time in Accounting and Finance. While studying in Melbourne, he began working part-time at a Subway outlet.
Subway is a multinational fast-food chain that started in 1965 as a simple sandwich shop in the United States. With the slogan “Eat Fresh, Feel Good,” it has expanded to over a hundred countries and regions. In Australia and New Zealand, Subway is now the largest quick-service restaurant brand, operated through franchisees.
At one such franchised outlet, Shamim worked as a “Sandwich Artist,” taking customer orders, wiping tables, and cleaning floors. Within a few months, he earned the trust of the owner. He shared, “One day, the owner left me in charge of the entire shop. Managing everything on my own, I realized—I can actually do this.”
That confidence led him to undergo Subway’s franchise management training. The owner he worked for had several Subway outlets. Over time, Shamim became a store manager, then an area manager, overseeing multiple locations.
A Business Built on Loans
While at Deakin, Shamim developed a close friendship with a Chinese classmate, Yanan Zhao. Their bond grew into love, and in 2009, after completing their postgrad degrees, they got married in 2010 while still building their lives in a foreign land.
In 2011, an opportunity arose—a Subway store in Grand Handley, Melbourne, was up for sale. Shamim was offered the chance to buy it. But where would he get the money? After discussing with his wife and friends, he decided to go for it. “The cost was over 300,000 Australian dollars,” he said. “I took a bank loan for 70% of it. The remaining 30% was the toughest part—I scraped it together through family support, loans from friends, and even high-interest credit cards.”
Shamim left his job to focus fully on managing his own outlet. His wife Yanan stood by his side. With debt hanging over their heads, they worked multiple roles themselves to save on staff wages. Their hard work paid off. Within eight months, they purchased a second outlet. And from there, there was no looking back. Three, four, five—his outlets kept growing.
Shamim eventually acquired 10 outlets from the same owner he had once worked for, after the owner retired.
Century in a Year
By the time the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Shamim owned 22 Subway outlets. One of them, in Goulburn, Sydney, had to shut down after several staff members tested positive. He had already planned to renovate the store. But during the lockdown, crossing state lines in Australia required special authorization, only available for emergency service vehicles.
Shamim already had a driver’s license. Determined, he learned how to drive a heavy truck and obtained a license to transport goods. “I packed up the necessary materials and drove myself to Sydney,” he said. After arriving, he oversaw the repairs and reopened the outlet with the help of local staff.
As the pandemic eased, many Subway franchisees were looking to exit the business. But Shamim, who had built a strong reputation, found banks approaching him with loan offers. He began buying up more outlets. In 2024 alone, he crossed the milestone of 100 outlets—including the acquisition of 42 locations in one go.
Today, Shamim owns 108 Subway outlets across Australia, employing more than 2,000 people, including Bangladeshi workers.
His business now generates an annual turnover of 150 million Australian dollars, equivalent to approximately 1,200 crore Bangladeshi taka. In 2023, he was awarded Franchisee of the Year by Subway for the Australia-New Zealand region.
A Vision to Invest in Bangladesh
Shamim’s roots are in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. His mother, Rahmatunnesa, was a homemaker and his father, Abdus Salam, a school teacher. He is the seventh of nine siblings. While his wife and two children are with him in Australia, his heart remains tied to his family back home. He visits Bangladesh five to six times a year.
Just last month, he joined a business delegation at an investment summit in Dhaka. He visited potential investment sites in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, and other locations. He dreams of integrating Bangladesh into his supply chain. “Every year, I spend around three million dollars on condiments, raw materials, uniforms, and packaging—most of which I currently source from China,” he said. “I could easily get these from Bangladesh.” Shamim has already begun discussions with local suppliers.
Three hours had passed during our conversation without us realizing it. As we prepared to leave, Shamim smiled and showed me his phone. “Did you notice? Not a single call came to my phone this entire time.”
That was surprising. For someone managing over a hundred outlets and thousands of staff, you’d expect constant calls! Before I could ask, he added, “That’s because I work in a way where I don’t need to be involved in every little thing.”
A simple smile lit up Mohammad Shamim’s face—an entrepreneur grounded in humility.
Science is everywhere — in the home, in nature, and even within our own bodies. Introducing children to science early on can do more than just help them excel in school; it plays a vital role in building skills like critical thinking, curiosity, and creativity.
Research involving 120 primary school students has shown that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education significantly enhances problem-solving abilities. A 2020 content review also revealed that STEM skills are crucial for preparing students to meet the demands of the ever-evolving tech-driven world, promoting innovation and adaptability.
According to the 3M State of Science Index (2021), the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of STEM education. An overwhelming 91% of respondents in the Asia-Pacific region agreed that the world needs more people pursuing careers in science and technology. Encouragingly, 73% also noted that today’s youth are more interested in science than ever before.
If you want to nurture a scientific mindset in your child, here are five engaging and practical ways to get started:
1. Turn Curiosity into Exploration
When your child asks questions about how things work, use those moments as learning opportunities. Don’t worry if you don’t know the answer — make it a joint discovery! Visit the library, read articles together, or watch educational videos online.
Teach your child to verify information from credible sources. Introduce them to tools like Google’s Fact Check Tools or FactCheck.org to help develop critical thinking and media literacy in a world full of misinformation.
Also, try asking your child open-ended questions. A 2019 study showed that when parents asked children to explain how things work — like gear systems — it led to deeper conversations and more hands-on engagement.
2. Explore the Outdoors
Nature is one of the best classrooms. Whether it’s observing insects in the garden or going for a walk in a park, the natural world is full of scientific wonders.
Take your child on a nature trip or even a weekend camping adventure. Activities like these help them understand ecosystems, weather patterns, and more. Even simple games like tug-of-war can demonstrate concepts such as force and friction.
3. Create DIY Toys and Projects
Hands-on learning doesn’t have to involve screens. Encourage kids to build their own toys from everyday items around the house. For example, making a kite out of paper and bamboo can be a fun way to explore aerodynamics.
Children who create things often learn through experimentation, failure, and creativity — key ingredients in scientific thinking. According to a Gallup poll, promoting creativity in education improves critical thinking, deepens subject understanding, and even boosts academic performance.
4. Visit Science Museums or Online Exhibits
Take your child to local science museums or explore virtual exhibits from around the world. These visits are both educational and entertaining, especially during weekends or school breaks.
Many science centers offer virtual activities, interactive tours, and hands-on workshops online. Podcasts, blogs like Wonderblog, and science YouTube channels can also cater to different learning styles — whether your child is a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner.
5. Try At-Home Science Experiments
Tap into your child’s curiosity with fun, easy experiments using common household items. Websites like 3M’s Science At Home offer a variety of kid-friendly projects, such as making paper rockets or simulating fireworks with simple materials.
These activities not only demonstrate scientific concepts in action but also build a strong foundation for learning through observation, trial, and discovery.
Final Thoughts
Helping your child fall in love with science doesn’t require expensive kits or formal lessons. With these five simple strategies — from exploring nature to experimenting at home — you can spark their imagination and build a lifelong interest in the wonders of science.
Children are significantly more vulnerable to extreme heat than adults. Their tiny bodies can become dehydrated quickly during a heatwave. Often, children are unable to express their thirst properly. If your child is old enough to understand, teach them what to eat and what to avoid during hot weather. Pay extra attention to their daily habits, including clothing and playtime. Be cautious so that no unintentional mistakes happen in everyday routines.
Meeting your child’s water needs during the heat doesn’t mean you should force them to drink repeatedly. Instead, try to understand their body’s needs. Observe the color and amount of urine. If your child urinates sufficiently and the urine is light yellow like straw, it indicates proper hydration. It’s also important to know the other signs of dehydration.
Don’t Force Water
After six months of age, children should start drinking water. Until around two years old, breast milk often fulfills much of their water requirement. They also get hydration from liquids and fruits. Encourage your child to drink water or fluids throughout the day. You can offer fruit juice or smoothies but avoid overly sugary drinks. Drink water yourself along with your child. Ensure they stay hydrated even while at school. However, don’t force water if there are no signs of dehydration. Watch out for symptoms such as irritability or stubbornness, reduced activity, less frequent urination, dark yellow or orange urine, dry mouth or tongue, and sunken eyes.
Eating Just Anything
Many serious diseases spread through food and water during hot weather. Infections often result from unhygienically prepared drinks and foods. Teach your child to avoid these, even when alone on the way to school. Satisfy their cravings by preparing their favorite safe foods and drinks at home. Don’t be overly strict about ice cream unless your child has a severe cold allergy. Occasionally offering safe, cold treats is fine—but teach them not to eat or drink anything cold immediately after entering from the sun. Let them rest a bit first before enjoying a cool treat.
Clothing and Hygiene Mistakes
It’s a mistake to dress children in sleeveless clothing when going outdoors, as it increases exposure to sun and dust. Use full-sleeved cotton clothes to protect them.
Avoid tight-fitting clothes.
Avoid dark-colored clothing as it retains heat.
It’s a major mistake if the person preparing or serving food is careless about washing hands.
Leaving milk or food out too long is harmful in hot weather as they spoil quickly. Store all food at the proper temperature.
Mistakes During Playtime
Don’t let children play outside or on rooftops during intense sun. Let them play indoors during extreme heat. If they attend school during midday, make sure they follow this as well.
If your child goes to a park, don’t let them immediately use metal playground equipment. First, test the temperature using the back of your hand, as metal can remain hot from the midday sun. Allow play only when it’s safe.
Never leave children unattended near water. Also, make sure they don’t reach into bushes or dense shrubs.
Feature Model: Abdul Moid and Abdul Momin with their Sister
Think back—what fascinated you most in your childhood? Perhaps you’re remembering a scene of running freely with friends in a green field. Or maybe a magical morning of collecting dew-covered shiuli flowers comes to mind. Or those joyful afternoons when you’d jump with excitement as the ball hit a brick-made stump during a cricket match. Sadly, in today’s urban lifestyle, such moments of pure joy are rare for children. Many kids now spend most of their time in front of digital screens.
To break free from this addiction, engaging entertainment is essential. Scolding doesn’t help—on the contrary, it may upset the little one. Instead, give them opportunities to do things they truly enjoy. Of course, not every child is interested in the same activities. Let each one explore according to their preferences. Some activities may make the house a little messy or chaotic—but that’s part of raising a child. Embrace the mess. And as adults, try to avoid unnecessary screen time in front of children. Remember, they learn by watching you.
Children can create many things by folding or cutting paper. Flowers, vines, birds, trees, ships, clouds, the sun, the moon, stars, airplanes—let them make whatever their imagination desires. Provide them with colorful or thick paper, whatever is needed. You can also use old cardboard. Decorate their room with the things they create. They can even give these as gifts to friends.
Children can also make various things with clay or soil. Even in city homes, you can arrange for some fun with soil bought from a nursery. And whatever they make from soil, they can also paint it. Nowadays, colorful play-dough is widely available—children can use that to create different objects too.
Encourage them to create their own stories, or play acting games by performing characters from storybooks. You can even try simple science experiments together at home.
If you take your child to a field or park, encourage them to collect leaves or flowers. They can keep these in a scrapbook or diary. For fun, they can dip a leaf in paint and press it between two pages to make a print—one will show the leaf’s image, the other its mirror image. Even if space is limited, try planting a few trees with your child. If possible, help them bond with an animal. This helps nurture empathy and a caring attitude in them.
The Middle Ages was a time when medicine and surgery were shrouded in mystery and often surrounded by superstition. However, one towering figure, Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi, known in the West as Abulcasis, illuminated the field of surgery with groundbreaking contributions that are still relevant in modern medicine. Al-Zahrawi was not just a doctor; he was a pioneer who laid the foundations for what would later become modern surgery.
Life and Education
Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi (born 936-1013 CE) was a prominent physician and surgeon from the Islamic Golden Age, born in Córdoba, Spain. He lived during a time when the Islamic world was a beacon of knowledge, science, and culture. He studied medicine at the famous institutions of the time and went on to become a renowned surgeon and medical scholar.
Al-Zahrawi dedicated much of his life to the study and practice of medicine, particularly surgery. His works laid the foundation for medical advancements in both the Islamic world and Europe for centuries to come. He was influenced by the medical traditions of the Greeks, Romans, and Persians, but he made his own invaluable contributions to the field.
Al-Zahrawi’s most significant work was his monumental medical encyclopedia, “Al-Tasrif” (The Method of Medicine). This seven-volume work covered a wide range of medical disciplines, including surgery, internal medicine, pharmacology, obstetrics, and more. It became the standard medical reference in Europe and the Islamic world for centuries.
One of the most important aspects of Al-Tasrif was its detailed descriptions of surgical procedures and tools. Al-Zahrawi illustrated more than 200 surgical instruments, some of which were entirely new and innovative at the time. His work included detailed accounts of operations, the treatment of fractures, and even complex surgeries like the removal of tumors and kidney stones.
Surgical Innovations and the Birth of Modern Surgery
Al-Zahrawi was not just a skilled surgeon but also an inventor. He is often credited with being the father of modern surgery because of his vast innovations in surgical techniques and tools. He introduced many new surgical instruments, including forceps, scalpels, speculums, and catheters that are still in use today, albeit in more advanced forms.
Al-Zahrawi’s work in surgical procedures was also groundbreaking. He was one of the first to describe surgical suturing techniques that would later become a critical part of modern surgery. His methods for controlling bleeding during surgery, such as the use of ligatures, revolutionized surgery and made it much safer for patients.
Anesthesia and Pain Management
Though the concept of anesthesia did not exist in its modern form during Al-Zahrawi’s time, he proposed the use of herbal and natural substances to alleviate pain during surgery. His understanding of pain management was advanced for his time, and his work laid the groundwork for the later development of anesthesia in the 19th century.
Al-Zahrawi also made substantial contributions to gynecology, including the treatment of obstetric complications and the use of surgical instruments in childbirth. He was one of the earliest practitioners to recommend cesarean sections when necessary and demonstrated methods for managing complicated pregnancies.
International Recognition and Influence
Al-Zahrawi’s works spread far beyond the borders of the Islamic world. His book Al-Tasrif was translated into Latin during the 12th century and became one of the most important texts for European medical practitioners throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance. His influence on European surgery and medicine was immense, and many prominent Western physicians, including Guy de Chauliac and Roger of Salerno, acknowledged his contributions.
His emphasis on empirical knowledge and careful observation set him apart from many other physicians of his time. Al-Zahrawi’s ability to blend scientific theory with practical application made him a true pioneer in medical history.
Legacy and Impact
Al-Zahrawi’s work had a lasting impact on both Islamic and European medicine. His methods of surgery and his understanding of anatomy and disease paved the way for future medical advances. His approach to surgery was holistic, taking into account not just the technical aspects of surgery but also the patient’s overall well-being.
Though Al-Zahrawi lived over a thousand years ago, his influence is still felt today. His detailed descriptions of surgical procedures and tools are still referenced by surgeons and medical professionals. His writings provided the foundation for much of the surgical knowledge that would come to fruition in later centuries.
Al-Zahrawi worked as the royal physician to Caliph Al-Hakam II in Andalusia. He served at the Caliph’s court for many years, and it was during his time there that he completed his greatest work, Kitab al-Tasrif. This book revolutionized medieval medical science. For contemporary Muslim medical scholars, his thirty-volume encyclopedia was as essential as oxygen. It covered everything from surgery, medicine, and pharmacology to ophthalmology, orthopedics, pathology, dentistry, nutrition, and pediatrics. The work was completed around the year 1000 CE and was published with the support of the Caliph in that same year.
The first volume of this thirty-volume encyclopedia, titled General Principles of Medicine, contained the basic and foundational knowledge a physician needed to begin practicing medicine. Compared to medieval medical science, this volume provided a comprehensive understanding of the essential principles of medicine. In the following volumes, Al-Zahrawi included detailed information about pathology and the preparation of medicines. This volume has often been referred to as the Bible of Medieval Pharmacology.
The last and largest volume of Al-Tasrif focused on surgery. In this volume, titled On Surgery and Instruments, Al-Zahrawi consolidated his entire career’s experience as a surgeon. This particular volume made his Al-Tasrif internationally renowned. In it, he described over two hundred surgical procedures, leaving contemporary physicians in awe. Even today, these descriptions continue to astonish modern medical professionals. Al-Zahrawi was primarily a surgeon, and he made significant contributions to neurosurgery and neurological treatments. In fact, if any Muslim physician from the entire Islamic Golden Age could be specifically called a neurosurgeon, it would undoubtedly be Al-Zahrawi.
Al-Zahrawi is credited with solving the world’s first hydrocephalic problem. Hydrocephalus is a condition where a type of fluid known as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds the brain, fails to drain from the cranial cavity. As a result, this fluid accumulates inside the skull, leading to abnormal enlargement of a child’s head because the bones of their skull are not fully fused. In adults, the skull cannot expand further, resulting in intense pain. This condition is sometimes referred to as “water on the brain.” Al-Zahrawi described surgical treatments for this condition in great detail in his writings.
The volume “On Surgery and Instruments” is often regarded as the world’s first illustrated surgical guide. This work played a pivotal role in the advancement of technology in medical science. Al-Zahrawi meticulously documented which surgical instruments should be used for each procedure, which was adopted as the standard practice in Europe for many centuries. He drew individual diagrams of every surgical tool and explained how to use each one, so clearly that even a layperson could read them and learn the basics of surgery. His primary goal was to make surgery easier to learn for medical students, and he succeeded brilliantly. His book was used as the core textbook in the famous medical colleges of Europe for nearly five centuries, long after it had spread beyond the Arab world.
In urology, Al-Zahrawi made significant contributions, particularly in lithotomy, which involves the removal of bladder stones. He invented an instrument called the “Mishab”, which was similar to modern lithotripters. Using this device, he could crush stones in the bladder without the need for external incisions. Additionally, Al-Zahrawi used bronze and silver to perform dental fillings, making him the world’s first successful dental transplantation surgeon. In his surgical practices, he utilized over 200 surgical instruments, many of which are still in use today.
In the medieval Arab world and Europe, the name most associated with surgery was Abulcasis (Al-Zahrawi). In the 14th century, Guy de Chauliac, the greatest French surgeon of his time, openly acknowledged Al-Zahrawi’s superiority. Another renowned Renaissance surgeon, Pietro Argallata, referred to him as “undoubtedly the master of all surgeons.” The street where Al-Zahrawi lived in Córdoba is now named Abulcasis Street, and even the house where he resided is preserved by the Spanish government. A bronze plaque in front of his house reads, “This is the house where Al-Zahrawi lived.”
Ultimately, it would not be an exaggeration to say that modern surgery owes much to this great physician. Al-Zahrawi’s contributions were not limited to surgery alone; his impact on the entire field of medicine is immeasurable.
Conclusion
Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi was not just a surgeon; he was a visionary who understood the importance of scientific inquiry, meticulous observation, and innovation. His contributions to surgery, medicine, and medical instruments were revolutionary, and his legacy as the father of modern surgery is firmly established in the history of medicine.
Through his masterpiece Al-Tasrif, Al-Zahrawi left behind an invaluable treasure trove of knowledge that would continue to guide surgeons and medical professionals for centuries. His name remains synonymous with medical excellence, and his work continues to inspire advancements in healthcare and surgery around the world.
Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi is a figure whose contributions not only shaped his era but continue to have a profound impact on the future of surgery and medicine. His legacy endures as a testament to the power of knowledge, innovation, and a deep commitment to the service of humanity.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a young cricketer from India, is only 13 years old. Despite his young age, he has already made headlines with his remarkable cricketing achievements. According to various Indian media reports, he has scored 49 centuries in a single year.
Thanks to this incredible feat, Vaibhav has stunned everyone by becoming the youngest cricketer to be selected for an IPL team. Rajasthan Royals acquired him for 11 million rupees, significantly exceeding his base price of 3 million rupees.
Since then, discussions about him have gained momentum. People are curious about his background, where he lives, what he does, and even who his favorite cricketer is. Recently, in an interview with Sony Sports, Vaibhav, who played in the Under-19 Asia Cup for India, was asked about his cricketing idol.
His answer surprised many—his idol is not an Indian player. In fact, the cricketer he admires retired from all forms of cricket before Vaibhav was even born. He never had the chance to watch Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, or Rahul Dravid play live. Although he grew up watching Virat Kohli, even Kohli is not his idol. Vaibhav’s inspiration is the legendary West Indian cricketer Brian Lara.
Expressing his admiration, Vaibhav said, “Brian Lara is my idol. I try to play like him. Then I use my own skills to improve my game and continue working on them.”
Despite being sold for 11 million rupees in the IPL mega auction, Vaibhav remains grounded. He wants to stay focused on his game and not get carried away. “Right now, I am concentrating on my performance. I am not bothered by what’s happening around me. My first priority is to focus on the Under-19 Asia Cup,” he said.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Record-Breaking Century in Youth Test
The Under-19 Youth Test between India and Australia is currently underway at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Playing for the Indian Under-19 team in this match is a 13-year-old cricketer. That alone would have been enough to make headlines for Vaibhav Suryavanshi. But he truly made waves in the cricketing world by scoring a stunning century—and that too in just 58 balls, making it the second-fastest century in Youth Test history. The fastest century in this format belongs to Moeen Ali, who scored a 100 in just 56 balls for England’s Under-19 team in 2005.
With this feat, Vaibhav also set the record for being the youngest player to score a century in competitive cricket, breaking the previous record held by Bangladesh’s Nazmul Hossain Shanto. In 2013, Nazmul scored a century against Sri Lanka in a Youth One-Day match at the age of 14 years and 241 days.
Vaibhav’s century came yesterday during India’s first innings in the Youth Test. Opening the innings alongside Bihan Malhotra, the duo added 133 runs. However, Bihan was more of a spectator as he watched Vaibhav’s explosive batting up close—104 of those runs belonged to Vaibhav. The left-handed batter smashed 14 fours and 4 sixes to reach 104 runs off just 62 balls. Despite Vaibhav’s aggressive start, the Indian Under-19 team was eventually bowled out for 296, securing a slender 3-run lead. By the end of the second day, Australia’s youth team had scored 110 runs for 4 wickets.
Vaibhav had already been a talking point in Indian cricket for quite some time. Earlier in January, he made his first-class debut for Bihar against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. At that time, the Bihar Cricket Association confirmed that Vaibhav’s official age was 12 years and 284 days. Since 1986, no player younger than Vaibhav had played first-class cricket. Only six players in history have made their first-class debuts at a younger age.
Hailing from Bihar, Vaibhav first gained recognition for his aggressive batting in local tournaments. In the inter-district Hemant Trophy, he scored over 800 runs in just 8 matches, finishing as the top scorer. He then went on to score 400 runs in five matches of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. His consistent performances earned him a spot in the Under-19 Challengers Trophy, followed by a call-up to Bihar’s Under-23 training camp. Eventually, he made his way into Bihar’s Ranji Trophy team.
Vaibhav’s ability to strike the ball with immense power was first noticed by his father, a farmer. His father recalls how, at just four years old, Vaibhav would hit plastic balls with astonishing force, far beyond what was expected for his age. That was when he started dreaming of making his son a cricketer.
Like Indian cricket stars Sachin Tendulkar and Prithvi Shaw, Vaibhav has gained attention at a very young age. However, his idol is not an Indian cricketer but the legendary West Indian Brian Lara. A left-handed batter like Lara, Vaibhav has watched Lara’s historic 400-run innings countless times, drawing inspiration from it.
Bangladesh, with its rich heritage of Muslim architecture, is home to many mosques, each a witness to history. In every district of the country, one can find the oldest mosques, which hold within them centuries of tradition. Here, we will introduce ten of the oldest and most beautiful mosques from ten districts of Bangladesh.
1. Kusumba Mosque, Naogaon District
Kusumba Mosque is a heritage of the Sultanate period, standing as a testament to over 400 years of history. Located in Kusumba village, Mandah upazila, about 35 kilometers from Naogaon district, this archaeological site was built between 1558 and 1559, according to an Arabic inscription above the main entrance. The mosque is 58 feet long and 42 feet wide, with walls that are 6 feet thick. There are three doors at the front. This mosque, built by a noble named Sulayman during the reign of Sultan Giyas-ud-Din Bahadur Shah, was severely damaged in the 1897 earthquake but later renovated. The mosque is featured on Bangladesh’s 5-taka note. It is located about 400 meters north of the Mandah Bridge on the Rajshahi-Naogaon highway. Kusumba Mosque can be reached by bus from Naogaon.
2. Atiya Mosque, Tangail District
The Atiya Jam-e-Mosque in Tangail is a significant archaeological monument. Located 6 kilometers south of Tangail city, in the village of Atiya in Delduar upazila, the mosque was likely built between 1608 and 1611. The mosque’s construction is attributed to Sayyid Khan Panni, a disciple of Baba Adam Kashmiri, who was a prominent figure in the region during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The mosque features a square design with octagonal minarets and is made of terracotta. The mosque’s image is also featured on Bangladesh’s old 10-taka note.
3. Sixty Dome Mosque, Bagerhat District
The Sixty Dome Mosque, located in Bagerhat, is one of the oldest and most historic mosques in Bangladesh. Built in the 15th century by the famous saint Khan Jahan Ali, the mosque has 60 pillars, arranged in six rows with ten pillars each. Although it is called the Sixty Dome Mosque, it actually has 77 domes, including those on the four minarets. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. The mosque also appears on Bangladesh’s currency.
4. Chhoto Sona Mosque, Chapainawabganj District
Located in the Shahbajpur Union of Shibganj upazila, Chapainawabganj, the Chhoto Sona Mosque is a jewel of Sultanate architecture. It was built between 1493 and 1519 during the reign of Sultan Hussain Shah. The mosque is known for its golden domes, which gave it its name “Sona” (golden). The mosque’s walls are thick, made with a combination of bricks and stones. It has eight pillars inside and 15 domes. The mosque’s structure allows only five domes to be visible from any side, with the others hidden from view.
5. Bagh-e-Shahi Mosque, Rajshahi District
The Bagh-e-Shahi Mosque in Rajshahi’s Bagh upazila is one of Bangladesh’s oldest and most significant architectural landmarks. Built in 1523 by Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Nasrat Shah, the mosque is known for its unique terracotta decorations. The mosque has four large octagonal minarets, intricately carved with beautiful designs. Originally, it had 10 domes, but after the 1897 earthquake, some were destroyed. The mosque was later renovated in 1980.
6. Dholeshwar Hanafiya Jame Mosque, Dhaka
Located in the Dholeshwar Union of Keraniganj, Dhaka, this mosque was built in 1868 and has been expanded several times. In 1968, the mosque’s minaret was added, and in 2018, a restoration project was completed under the guidance of architect Saeed Mostak Ahmed. The mosque won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2021.
7. Baba Adam Mosque, Munshiganj District
The Baba Adam Shahid Mosque in Munshiganj is a significant historical mosque built in memory of Baba Adam, a prominent figure in the spread of Islam in the region. Built during the reign of Sultan Jalaluddin Fateh Shah, the mosque features six domes made of red burnt clay bricks. It is also known for its impressive Arabic inscriptions. The mosque’s photo was featured on a postage stamp by Bangladesh Post in 1991.
8. Miyabari Mosque, Barisal
The Miyabari Mosque in Barisal was built around 1800 AD and is a beautiful example of Mughal-era architecture. Located in the Raypasha village of Karpur Union, this two-story mosque has six doors on the ground floor for housing the students of the madrasa. The mosque has eight tall minarets and three large domes, with intricate carvings on the interior and exterior. The mosque was built by Hayat Mahmud, who also fought against British colonial rule.
9. Chatmohor Shahi Mosque, Pabna District
The Chatmohor Shahi Mosque in Pabna, with its three domes, is a 400-year-old architectural masterpiece. Built in 1581 by the famous Sultan Syed Abul Fateh Muhammad Masum Khan, the mosque’s walls are made of thin “Jafri bricks” and adorned with ancient carvings. The mosque features three doors, each with a unique inscription, and a large central mihrab. The mosque is a prime example of Sultanate-era architecture in Bangladesh.
10. Haji Ganj Big Mosque, Chandpur District
The Haji Ganj Big Mosque, located about 20 kilometers east of Chandpur district, was built in 1325 Bangla (1918 AD) by local resident Ahmad Ali Patwari. The mosque has a total area of 28,405 square feet, with an intricate design that includes 77 pillars and a stunning central mihrab. This mosque is known for its beautiful glasswork and its unique historical significance.
This mosque, made of red-and-black patterned bricks and surki (a type of lime mortar), is over a century old. The mosque, with its large pillars, five arches, and three domes, appears as a piece of art. The walls of the mosque, above the arches, are adorned with motifs of vines, leaves, and flowers, reflecting the traditional craftsmanship of rural Bengal. The mosque, with its exquisite design, is located in a peaceful village surrounded by fields and the chirping of birds. Anyone walking along the village path is bound to stop at the mosque at least once. Its architectural style is sure to captivate anyone.
The mosque is located in the eastern Mithanala village, about 4 kilometers from the Mirsharai upazila headquarter in Chittagong. The village, surrounded by greenery and the sounds of birds, is quiet and free from much noise. In the heart of the village stands this century-old mosque, which draws the attention of everyone. The mosque was established in 1916 by a local philanthropist, Haji Golam Sultan, to make it easier for the people of the area to perform their prayers. The mosque is known as Haji Golam Sultan Jame Masjid after its founder.
According to Farid Ahmed Chowdhury, the grandson of Haji Golam Sultan, Haji Golam Sultan was a wealthy man from the eastern Mithanala village in Chittagong district. His father, Elahi Box, had four sons, all of whom worked in the food business in Rangoon (now Yangon), Myanmar. Haji Golam Sultan, one of the sons, built the mosque for the benefit of the local community to offer prayers.
While the basic structure of the mosque was built in 1916, it was in 1920 that artisans from Myanmar were brought in to complete the mosque in Burmese architectural style. Both the interior and exterior of the mosque feature intricate carvings of flowers, birds, and vines, making the architecture truly unique. The mosque, built on almost one acre of land, is surrounded by thick protective walls made of burnt bricks and surki. Its elegant minaret and three-domed design can be seen from a distance.
Farid Ahmed Chowdhury further mentioned that his grandfather, Haji Golam Sultan, did not just stop at building the mosque. To ensure the mosque’s operational costs were met without hindrance, he donated more than 12 acres of agricultural land in the mosque’s name. The income from this land is now used to cover the mosque’s expenses. However, he expressed regret that during the mosque’s several renovations, much of its original artwork has been lost.
Saleh Ahmed, a resident of Eastern Mithanala village, has served as the mosque’s muezzin for the past 30 years. He stated that this mosque is an ancient religious institution for the local community. Although Haji Golam Sultan was the founder, the mosque has now become an institution for the entire village. During religious festivals, especially Eid prayers, the mosque premises are always bustling with activity. The mosque’s heirs continue to work for its welfare, and today, people from far and wide visit it to admire its beauty.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Sheikh Haji Golam Sultan Chowdhury focused on the renovation of the renowned Aman Ullah Bhuiyan house in the region. During this time, he built a beautiful and elegant mosque in front of the house, which was named after his ancestor Aman Ullah Bhuiyan. Located in Mithanala village of Mirsharai upazila, this mosque captivates any visitor. It is believed that the architectural style of the mosque is based on the Mughal era.
The mosque was constructed using numerous valuable foreign stones. The mosque’s design is intricately carved and beautifully crafted. The presence of a pond and an open field in front of the mosque significantly enhances its beauty. The plaque in front of the mosque reveals that it was built in 1928. The founder of the mosque, Sheikh Haji Golam Sultan Chowdhury, was a descendant of Aman Ullah Bhuiyan and a prominent philanthropist in the area. Sheikh Haji Golam Sultan Chowdhury was also involved in the establishment of several educational and religious institutions in the region. During his lifetime, he provided food for travelers at the mosque. This great individual passed away in 1954, and he was buried beside the mosque he had built.
Mizanul Haque, a member of the local Mithanala Union Council, told Purbokone that the historic mosque is located in front of the famous Aman Ullah Bhuiyan house in his ward. The architectural style of the mosque is so beautiful that people come from distant places just to admire it. He believes that it is necessary to preserve the mosque as a historical heritage by urgently renovating it while maintaining its original design. Sheikh Haji Golam Sultan Chowdhury was one of the prominent landlords of Mirsharai during his time. He was born in 1883 into an aristocratic family at the traditional Aman Ullah Bhuiyan house in Eastern Mithanala village, Mithanala Union. In his adulthood, he traveled to Burma (Myanmar) for business, where he amassed considerable wealth and earned a reputation as a philanthropist in his area.
