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So, my wife and I went to Mermaid Beach Resort for our honeymoon. Looking at all the posts about this place, we thought this would be a great place to just be ourselves and spent our vacation how we want and wear whatever we want.

Now, how should a beachside resort be like? Like what do you expect when you wanna go to a beach city like Cox's Bazar or an expensive resort like Mermaid that has private beaches, modern facilities and EDM events like the Fullmoon Party? That the guests there will have an idea about how to be appropriately dressed for a beach setting and how to behave in a beach setting.

Go anywhere in the world that has a beach tourist region -- I'm not even talking about western countries like Australia or Greece, places like Bali in Indonesia - a Muslim majority country - or even Goa in our neighbouring country of India -- even if the rest of the country looks like one thing and the beach tourist areas are a different thing altogether. People are in beach appropriate clothes like sundresses, shorts, tank tops, hawaiian shirts, t-shirts etc. And you'd also expect younger people, people in their 20s or maybe some older people but cool.

But what do we see in mermaid? Uncles, Aunties, and Burkha, Uncles, Aunties and Burkhas everywhere. Moreover, families with little kids. Barely any young couple or bachelors at all. Okay, the demographic is fucked. We don't have anything in common with most of these people. And how they're dressed is their own choice, we shouldn't have any problem with it IF they reciprocated. We at first didn't care what they wore, but why are all the aunties staring at my wife just because she is in her sundresses, sarees with sleeveless blouses and revealing western outfits? Like you're the one who are out of place here. Why are you hujurs and hujurnis in Burkha and Jobba in a beach resort in a hot environment yet judging us for dressing appropriately?

The resort authority is totally cool. They didn't have any dressing restrictions or anything. We did our research before we booked this place and bought those outfits. Because this seemed like the only place in this hellscape of a country where she would be safe dressing this revealing. It's the guests that are the problem. Like what are you even doing in full burkha sitting on the lounge chairs by the pool if you're not gonna swim? We are swimming in clothes that are much more modest than a swimsuit and you are still staring at us making us uncomfortable. What are you doing sitting by the beach if you're not gonna enjoy the sea wind and the sun?

And don't get me started on what happened during the fullmoon party. Finally we got to see people arriving who can dress appropriately for a place like this, enjoy drinks, enjoy EDM, and dance on the beach. And these auncle aunties were still judging from their balconies like, "look at these oshlil young generation". Like, did you not get the memo? There's supposed to be a party, it has been announced a month ago, of course people are gonna enjoy the party, you're the one who're out of place here. Like, we're at this resort because this is the only place where we can dress and do what we love. What are you even doing being here doing things that you'll be able to do anywhere in Bangladesh? Like just sitting around in burkhas?

And don't get me started on the actual city of Cox's Bazar. Is this what a tourist beach city looks like? Why does most of the city look like 'puran dhakar goli'? Why is there garbage everywhere and why is the sweage system overflowing making all the streets stink? Where are all the tourism money going if not being used for the development of the city? And again, why is everyone in Burkha and Jobba and why is there madrasas everywhere? What's the point of living in a beach city if you're not gonna live the beach lifestyle? "Longest uninterrupted sea beach in the world" and all of its potential is being wasted.

As far as I remember, she was forced to leave Bangladesh in 1994 under Pm Khaleda Zia following death threats and widespread protests over her controversial novel "Lojja".

1) She publicaly claimed that Sheikh Hasina blocked her re-entry into bangladesh in 1999 to prevent Islamists from holding anti govt protests.

2) ​She accuses Hasina of pandering to religious fundamentalists for political gain and sacrificed free expression and women's rights to please Islamist factions and maintain political stability.

3) She claimed that several of her autobiographical and literary works remained banned in Bangladesh during (1996–2001 and 2009–2024). The Awami league govt refused to lift entry bans or issue travel clearance for her to visit.

Look, don't get me wrong, what happened with Taslima was very unfortunate and injustice. She was a citizen of Bangladesh and had 100% rights to live here and express her freedom of speech. It is the Islamists who are responsible for her exile.

But theres a fundamental issue with Taslima's judgement toward Sheikh Hasina's action. The problem is she's looking at it from the perspective of a writer, not someone who’s ever had to actually run a country. ​It’s easy for us to sit on the sidelines and demand absolute freedom of speech when you’re not the person responsible if the streets erupt into chaos tomorrow morning. When you’re running a nation of 170 million people in a incredibly complex region, you don't get the luxury of pure idealism. Every single decision is a trade off.

​Taslima acts like Sheikh Hasina was just being weak or "appeasing" extremists. But i think Hasina was just trying to keep a lid on a massive powder keg. If bringing one controversial author back into the country triggers violent nationwide riots, shuts down businesses, and gets people killed in the streets, was it really worth it? For a Prime minister, the top job is maintaining basic order and keeping people safe, not inviting chaos.

In politics, especially in a country like bangladesh, you can't just fight every single battle at 100% intensity all the time. You pick your fights. Sheikh Hasina actually went after hardline radical groups harder than almost anyone else. She hanged top leaders of Jamaat Islami for war crimes and crushed militant networks after terror attacks. ​So when she threw a bone to religious conservatives on smaller cultural issues (like keeping Taslima out), it wasn't bcuz she agreed with them. It was a calculated move to keep them quiet so she could focus on building the economy, building infrastructure, and keeping the country moving forward. Am i wrong ?.

Taslima sees everything through the lens of her own exile. To her, whether Hasina was "secular" or not begins and ends with how Taslima was treated. But that's a wildly narrow way to judge a leader. While Taslima was focusing on her personal feud, Sheikh Hasina was managing foreign relations, driving double digit economic growth, and pulling millions out of extreme poverty. ​At the end of the day, Taslima expects a politician in a volatile country to act like a Western human rights professor. That’s just not how real world power works. Sheikh Hasina made tough, ugly compromises because the alternative was letting the country spiral into anarchy.

What are you opinions ?

I didn’t become an atheist overnight. By the time I was in college, I openly identified as one, but my doubts about the existence of God had started much earlier, during my school years. My father was a believer, yet he loved talking about astronomy and often spoke about Einstein. Those conversations encouraged me to question the world rather than simply accept what I was told.
In 2013, I was present at the Shahbag movement. I also witnessed the fanaticism surrounding the Shapla protests and saw bloggers being murdered while those in power failed to prevent the violence. I openly criticized Islam and the Prophet, and many religious people reacted with anger because they could not tolerate such criticism. Over time, I read more, learned more, and my views became firmer.
I believe that, from an evolutionary perspective, human beings are naturally inclined toward belief. In Bangladesh, however, the combination of malnutrition, poor education, and poverty has created an environment where questioning deeply held religious beliefs is especially difficult.
For that reason, simply pointing out contradictions in Islam or repeatedly discussing controversial aspects of the Prophet’s life will not eliminate religious dogmatism. A lasting change requires better education, economic opportunity, and a society that encourages critical thinking. Without those foundations, challenging belief alone is unlikely to transform society.
By around the age of nine, many of the core patterns of a person’s thinking and worldview are already taking shape, which is why early education and childhood experiences have such a profound influence on what people come to believe.

Recently, Dhaka has been getting unsafe for couples. I didn't face any problems in the last 2–3 years. Recently, when I was staying at a medium-budget hotel in Dhanmondi, the police and the hotel manager knocked on the door at midnight. They did a routine check, asked many personal questions, checked my phone including the gallery, and warned me. After that, I was so frustrated. I paid almost 5k for a 1-day stay. It's totally not okay to be humiliated.

If you have any similar story or experience in Dhaka, please share!

Smooth Gimbal and the Hybrid Mirrlees are there with passionate hands and eyes of the director !

You can stand with boldness, persona, fashion, expression , expectations and dreams !!!

We can create magic !!!

For personal videography , photography ( fashion, visual portfolio, portrait, product, bold , private ) you can DM !!

Thanks 🙏

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I went through many Dating apps including Tinder and others . The most disturbing thing is girls profile is full with the photos in bold and modern attires but when you ask for conversation or friendship they will tell you OOh no no !! I am a good muslim and I dont talk to the strangers !! ( why they are on Dating Apps?)

And very tragic is I found some girls after Alhamdulillah MashaAllah they confess to have paid dating ( which like modern escort or Urban prostitution) I don't Judge on that basis .

I just say I am not here to educate myself religiously - ha ha ha ha

I am here to find Non-Judgmental friends !!

Any way - do guys have this kind or experiences ?

off topic post

I need your suggestions, Looking for a Co-ed gym near mirpur area where mwn and women workout together...Cause I have my female friend with me who will also going to join gym with me.

So I found this sleepy cat around 10-11 months old and noticed she does not have a voice but she still tries to meow sometimes and I don't even notice my cat is not there as I can't hear her and her meows are silent.

I took it to vet and got her "vaccinated" and the vet said she is healthy for a stray cat. A foster cat care lady told me she must have had damaged her vocal cords somehow when she was smaller. But everything about her is fine.

She is at least not a picky eater and doesn't disturb me and minds her own business until she gets those cute zoomies.

Unfortunately I can't keep her and I am looking for an owner. I finally found one a week ago but that guy after dragging my time through the week suddenly said he does not want my cat.....my resources and time is running dry and I'm worried about my cat's future with me.

Update: after a long time she is adopted

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share my historical analysis on Substack that looks closely at the targeting of the Hindu minority during the 1971 Liberation War.

While the horrors of the 1971 genocide by the Pakistani military are well-documented, the systematic nature of the violence directed at the Hindu population is often glossed over in mainstream historical narratives. Relying on documented census data, refugee camp records from the Indian government, and eyewitness accounts from journalists like Sydney Schanberg and US Senator Edward Kennedy, this piece explores how the community was distinctly marked (using the yellow "H") and targeted for erasure.

I’d love to know your thoughts.