This article analyzes the financial performance of Mercantile Bank Limited in 2022. It details how the bank suffered a 35% decline in net profit due to a sharp increase in loan provisions, despite recording a significant 28% year-on-year rise in operating profit.

This feature article explores the transformative potential of drone technology in Bangladesh's agriculture sector. It highlights how drones can boost food production through precision seeding and fertilization while analyzing the regulatory hurdles and import restrictions that currently limit their widespread adoption.

This article investigates the rise of AI text-to-image platforms like DALL-E and Midjourney, which are causing a major stir within the traditional artist community. It explores the debate over "plagiarism by machine," the democratization of art for amateurs, and the growing commercial market for AI-generated works.

"Durga Puja is celebrated every year with its own glory and splendour but the people who craft the idols for the festival are neglected and underpaid turning the next generation away from their hereditary art. Astami, the most important and populous event of the festival, will be celebrated today. When Bengali Hindu community celebrates Kumari Puja artisans usually leave for home this day but this year they are returning home with a pale smile as they are out of pocket. Idols of goddess Durga, her daughters and sons and Mahishasura are the main attraction of the festival. Every year Puja celebration committees across the country strive to be the best at arranging the most magnificent.

The question of whether readers’ love for books is fading is explored through the lens of the Nilkhet book market in Dhaka, a "paradise" for bookworms with a deep affinity for old books, which started in the 1970s. While the emotions of touching and smelling a 10- or 50-year-old book, the printing styles, and publishers' reputations keep some buyers returning, shop owners are finding it hard to find buyers nowadays. Sales are still decreasing amid the post-pandemic recovery period. Some notable reasons for declining sales include the online book selling business and PDF books. Many people, especially those from Generation Z, do not like reading books, and young students who do read sometimes download PDFs. A bookseller, Nayeem Islam, who has worked in book shops for over a decade, noted that there are not many people anymore who appreciate the emotion of touching and smelling a book. Furthermore, the popularity of pirated or photocopied books, the ever-changing academic syllabuses, short suggestions, and the supplement culture have greatly affected the sales of old academic books.

Soaring inflation and commodity price hikes have put resident students of public universities in a tough spot as paying more for food, including canteen meals, has resulted in a big squeeze on their lifestyle. Previously, students spent an average of Tk 20-35 on each canteen meal, which has now increased to Tk 30-60. Even purchasing snacks from dormitory shops has become a struggle due to the price hikes. For instance, a roti or a banana now costs Tk 10-15, up from Tk 5 a few months back, and an omelette is Tk 18-20, up from Tk 12-15. This extra expense is compelling many students, often from non-well-off families in villages or small towns, to skip one or two meals daily as their families cannot send them additional money. They are also opting for walking instead of taking rickshaws and buying affordable dry food to save money. Students complain that prices have increased, but the food quality and quantity, which were already a long-standing allegation, have not improved. Students like Sadekur Rahman Sunny from the University of Dhaka now spend at least Tk 3,000 extra on food every month and plans to privately tutor more students to keep up with the price hikes. Another student, Mridha Hasib, buys less expensive notebooks, pens, and other stationery and sometimes takes pictures of book pages instead of buying them to continue his study.

Traditional pottery, once a famous art form and a tangible element of Bengali culture, is making a comeback, especially in urban households after 2015. Historically, pottery, including pots, dishes, and other earthenware articles, is part of a culture recognized for its exuberant fine arts and crafts. Currently, clay utensils are among the most popular selling items, according to artisans and sellers. Restaurants and tea/coffee shops are using these items to give a more traditional look and attract customers. Lifestyle retail chains, such as Aarong, are promoting this ethnic cultural heritage by selling locally produced clay-made utensils and decorative items that match modern urban tastes. The pottery is also easily accessible through small vendors and temporary shops on city footpaths. A significant amount of the country's pottery items come from Bauphal, Patuakhali, an area with a long tradition of making pottery. However, potters face challenges such as intense competition from a growing number of wholesalers, which leads to unfair prices, and difficulties in sourcing raw materials, as they could not dig clay from khas lands for some years. Financial assistance is also a major issue, as potters often cannot get bank loans and resort to high-interest loans from money lenders. To improve production and ease labor, some potters, like Komol Paul of Bauphal, have started using modern machinery, such as motorized wheels and machines for the wedging and bisque firing processes.

The flower business, once a primary source of income for many including florists and flower farmers, saw a "drastic fall in sales and production" last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, as the pandemic is "ebbing away," traders are "optimistic to make a good sale" during upcoming important occasions like Pohela Falgun, Valentine's Day, and 21st February. Despite the optimism, the flower price has increased due to an untimely rain destroying many flower plants. Flower traders are also apprehensive about meeting the growing demand due to the inclement weather. For example, the price of roses is now "6 to 7 times more than that of last year," and other flowers previously bought at Tk 2 or Tk 3 a piece are now priced at Tk 20 due to scarcity. Despite this, flower traders who suffered a great loss last year are set to make a comeback and "do brisk business".

Eastern Plaza, the first modern, multi-storied and fully air conditioned shopping centre in Bangladesh, launched in 1990 and "took Dhaka dwellers by storm". Once a pioneering and dazzling destination, the mall has gradually become a second choice for most of the capital city's shoppers in recent years. Newer, modern malls like Bashundhara City Shopping Complex and Jamuna Future Park offer amenities such as grand food courts, movie theatres, games, and kids' centres, which modern consumers seek. However, Eastern Plaza, located in the Hatirpool area, retains loyal customers, including those who have been shopping there for decades. For example, Mohammad Anisul Islam, a shopper from the Wari area, reminisced that in his time, it was "the only destination for fashionable, premium clothes for women and children". Today, the mall has an excellent reputation for offering top-quality smartphones and accessories at affordable prices, which makes up the bulk of its sales. The Eastern Plaza Shop Owners Association is planning new ways to enhance customer service and attract more people, including installing modern elevators and escalators, CCTV cameras, and improving security facilities.