Nusrat Jahan
The Internet is wonderful, and Facebook is like the icing on the cake. Then there are the various groups on Facebook that make our day-to-day lives easier, which are like the cherry on top. We the Bangladeshis loves to be a part of a community, regardless of it being real or virtual. So when it comes to groups or communities on Facebook, we are all a part of some. Here is a look at some of the Facebook groups that makes space for and helps out a large number of people.
1) Desperately Seeking Dhaka (DSD): Probably the biggest Bangladeshi Facebook group out there, DSD is home to over 58,000 people. The group has four admins, one of which is the founder- Nazia Tariq. The group is basically a national helpline for any sort of emergency and non-emergency cases. Posts regarding job openings, advice, questions, house rentals and sales, and other concerns can be posted in this group. You can always expect to get a response within an hour or so, and sometimes even a few minutes. However, the rising number of members has made it hard for everyone’s post to get noticed, so delays in responses are not uncommon either. The group also provides help to those who needs immediate medical consultations as there are often many doctors online in the group. DSD has the support of DMP officers and several other law enforcers who monitor the posts. Hence, you can post for legal help or report any suspicious activity as well. Considering how this group helped me find a job, figure out what present to get for my friend, gave me specific locations where I could find particular products, and a lot more, it definitely deserves the number one spot here.
2) Beauty Obsessed: This one is an all-girls group and probably one of the friendliest groups ever. The five, very beautiful founders of the group are Ramisa Parvin, Ramisha Anjum, Anoti Rahman, Tahsin Chowdhury, and Afrina Aziz. This group is equally as active as DSD, and is home to about 4000 members. The admins are always very cautious about adding new members, as they believe it is better than having unlimited members.
In an online interview, Ramisa Parvin, one of the five founders/admins of the group, said that the main reason for creating an all-girls group, although there are already many of them out there, is to create one that is going to be different, exclusive, and classy. “We wanted this group to have members who are unique..I believe that many members of beauty obsessed are the trendsetters”- Ramisa added. The group’s admins are always working hard to maintain a friendly and judgement-free environment. It is the best place to post reviews of beauty/health/feminine products or places that provided services for women. You can also ask for tips and advices, and questions regarding anything, ranging from relationship trouble to a mere “which lipstick suits me better”. New members are always encouraged to stay active and introduce themselves by posting selfies. It is also a great place to showcase your self-designed dresses or any of your artwork. The group has strict rules and anyone who does not follow them gets immediately removed by the admins. I love this group just as much as DSD, if not more!
3) Food Bank: This group has about 180,000 members and is the best place for foodies to post reviews. If you are planning to visit a particular restaurant any time soon but are not sure about the food quality or how much money you should take, then this group is the place to go! Food Bank is the sort of like an information hub containing details about price, menu, taste, and location of various restaurants, starting from fancy ones like Le Meridians to the best chotpoti or tea stall. Yours truly often checks out this group for any negative reviews about the restaurant she is going to visit.