How Just 30 Seconds Can Help Lift Your Mood

Feeling overwhelmed, anxious or mentally drained? Research suggests that improving your mood and easing everyday stress may not always require a long meditation session or an intensive wellness routine. In some cases, a few simple exercises lasting just 20 to 30 seconds may provide a useful mental reset.

I discovered that unexpectedly during a video call with a researcher.

Without warning, I began laughing uncontrollably. My face tightened, my stomach started to hurt and, for several moments, I could not seem to stop.

The unusual episode was not caused by a joke.

I was taking part in a short session of laughter yoga with Natalie van der Wal, a researcher at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

The session began much like a conventional yoga practice, with controlled breathing. Then came the laughter — deliberately produced, without a joke, funny story or humorous situation to trigger it.

According to van der Wal, something interesting can happen after the exercise begins: artificial laughter can sometimes develop into genuine laughter.

That experience reflects a broader shift in the way researchers are examining everyday wellbeing.

From lengthy meditation sessions to cold-water swimming, modern wellness culture offers countless techniques designed to improve mental and physical wellbeing. But many people struggle to fit time-consuming routines into already crowded schedules.

A growing body of research suggests that some benefits may also come from much smaller interventions.

These brief exercises are increasingly described as “micropractices” — simple activities that can be incorporated into daily life and may take no more than a few seconds.

Eli Susman, author of The Micropractice, says some techniques can be completed in about 30 seconds.

Laughter yoga: No joke required

The basic principle of laughter yoga is surprisingly simple: deliberately laugh without relying on a joke or humorous situation.

The laughter itself is the exercise.

At first, deliberately laughing felt awkward. But after a short time, the artificial laughter began to feel more natural. By the end of the session, I felt noticeably more cheerful and relaxed.

The conversation with van der Wal also seemed to flow more easily.

When I mentioned how surprisingly calm I felt afterwards, she laughed again. She said she often finds it easier to develop a friendly connection with participants after a laughter-yoga session.

There is also some research behind the experience.

Van der Wal has examined findings from multiple studies in a large meta-analysis. The results suggested that laughter without humour may have a meaningful effect on symptoms of depression and anxiety, with the analysis indicating a stronger effect than laughter associated with jokes or humour.

How to try it

Start with three deep breaths, placing a hand on your abdomen if that feels comfortable.

Then deliberately begin laughing.

If laughing immediately feels uncomfortable, start with simple sounds such as “hee-hee-hee” or “ha-ha-ha”. Gradually increase the intensity and duration.

The artificial laughter may eventually become spontaneous.

When you finish, take another deep breath and bring your attention to things in your life for which you feel grateful.

If you are practising with another person, try laughing together or imitating each other's laughter. The interaction itself can become part of the experience.

Micro-yoga: A short break from the screen

For people who feel uncomfortable laughing alone — particularly in an office or public setting — a few seconds of stretching may be a more practical alternative.

Susman describes these short movements as “micro-yoga.”

The idea may be particularly relevant to people who spend much of their working day in front of a computer.

Sitting for prolonged periods can gradually pull the shoulders and upper back forward, while the neck and other muscles may remain in a fixed position for extended periods.

During a conversation about the technique, Susman demonstrated a gentle stretch designed to release tension around the neck and encourage greater awareness of posture.

Research has found that introducing very short movement breaks at regular intervals may improve aspects of workplace performance. One study reported an association between taking 15- to 30-second stretching breaks every 15 minutes and improvements in work performance of up to about 15%.

Micro-yoga is not intended to replace a full yoga session. But researchers have also found that stretching combined with slow breathing and focused attention may provide additional benefits for managing stress and discomfort.

Mindful stretching has additionally been studied in workplace settings, including research examining fatigue and error rates among healthcare professionals.

How to try it

Interlock the fingers of both hands behind your back.

As you inhale, gently extend your arms downward while lifting your chest slightly.

As you exhale, relax your body and pay attention to the sensation of the stretch.

Take two or three slow breaths while maintaining the position, then return gently to a neutral posture.

Slow breathing: Three breaths can make a difference

Breathing exercises have long been used as a simple way to help people manage moments of stress and anxiety.

The physiological explanation is relatively straightforward.

Slow, controlled breathing can influence the autonomic nervous system and help reduce the body's heightened “fight-or-flight” response. It can encourage a shift towards the parasympathetic state, often associated with rest and recovery.

Research has linked different forms of controlled breathing with reductions in stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

A recent study found that taking three slow, deep breaths increased alpha-wave activity in the brain. Alpha activity is commonly associated with relaxed alertness and attention. The researchers also observed an increase in theta-wave activity, which is associated with deeper relaxation.

The study was led by Amit Kumar, a researcher at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy.

Kumar suggests that the technique can be particularly useful at moments when tension begins to build — for example, immediately before an important meeting or when the mind becomes unusually restless.

He also suggests that people experiencing particularly high levels of stress may benefit from practising the technique for longer than 30 seconds.

How to try it

Sit comfortably and close your eyes if you wish.

Take three slow, deep breaths over roughly 10 seconds. Make each exhalation slightly longer than the corresponding inhalation.

Focus your attention on the sensation of air entering and leaving your lungs.

The exercise can be repeated throughout the day whenever a brief mental reset is needed.

The calming power of self-touch

Human touch has long been recognised as an important part of emotional and physical wellbeing.

Although self-touch cannot replace the experience of being touched by another person, research suggests that a simple technique involving gentle contact with your own body may also have beneficial effects.

In research conducted by Susman and colleagues, participants were encouraged to think kindly towards themselves while placing their hands over their chest or abdomen.

The study found that the combination of compassionate self-talk and gentle touch was associated with a significant reduction in levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to the body's stress response.

Susman has argued that self-compassion is often undervalued in modern society.

A follow-up study published later examined whether increasing the frequency of the practice could produce longer-term effects. The findings indicated that greater engagement with the exercise was associated with increased feelings of self-compassion over the following six months.

How to try it

Place one or both hands gently over your chest or upper arm.

Take a slow breath and direct your attention towards a kind or supportive thought about yourself.

At the same time, notice the warmth and gentle pressure of your hand.

The entire exercise can take only a few seconds, making it relatively easy to incorporate into a busy day.

Small moments of mindfulness

There is no need to adopt every technique.

Van der Wal recommends experimenting with different approaches and paying attention to which ones feel most comfortable and useful.

Individual responses can vary, and a technique that works well for one person may feel less effective for another.

Mindfulness can also be incorporated into ordinary activities.

While walking, washing dishes or performing another routine task, for example, you can pause briefly, take a few slow breaths and bring your attention back to what you are doing.

These small interruptions may help create moments of calm in otherwise hectic days.

The broader message behind micropractices is not that 30 seconds can replace exercise, sleep, professional treatment or other important aspects of health.

Rather, these brief practices offer another way to interrupt the cycle of stress and bring attention back to the body and mind.

For me, laughter yoga is the practice I am most likely to continue.

My stomach was still recovering from the unusually enthusiastic laughter afterwards. But mentally, I felt lighter, calmer and considerably more cheerful.

And perhaps that is the appeal of a micropractice: you do not always need a major lifestyle change to create a small moment of relief. Sometimes, 30 seconds is enough to begin.

51st Special BCS Examination Announced, 5,000 Health Cadre Posts Up for Recruitment

DHAKA, Bangladesh —

Bangladesh's Public Service Commission (PSC) has announced the 51st Special Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Examination 2026, opening recruitment for 5,000 positions in the health cadre.

The recruitment drive will include 4,700 posts for assistant surgeons and 300 posts for assistant dental surgeons, according to a notice signed on Wednesday by Masuma Afrin, Controller of Examinations (Cadre) at the PSC.

The special examination is being held to fill vacant positions in the government health service and strengthen the country's medical workforce.

Applications open on October 1

According to the PSC notice, applicants must be between 21 and 32 years of age as of September 1, 2026 to be eligible for the examination.

Online applications will open on October 1 and remain open until October 25. Candidates will have until 6pm on October 28 to pay the required examination fee.

The total application fee, including the service charge, has been set at Tk 205.

Two-hour, 200-mark written test

The written examination will be conducted under a multiple-choice question (MCQ) format, carrying 200 marks and lasting two hours.

Candidates will face 200 questions, with one mark awarded for each correct answer. However, 0.50 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer, in accordance with the negative-marking system outlined in the notice.

The written examination will cover seven subjects, with marks distributed among them according to the PSC's prescribed structure.

The commission will determine the minimum qualifying marks for the written examination.

100-mark viva-voce

Candidates who qualify in the written examination will proceed to a 100-mark oral examination.

The PSC will announce further details regarding the examination schedule, venues and subsequent stages of the recruitment process through official notices.

Strict instructions for answer sheets

The PSC has also cautioned candidates to follow all instructions carefully when completing their answer sheets.

Candidates must correctly enter their registration number and properly fill in the designated circles on the answer sheet. Any failure to follow the prescribed procedure, including incorrect registration details, improperly filled circles or unauthorised alterations, could result in cancellation of the candidate's candidature.

The warning underscores the importance of accurately completing the answer sheet, particularly because the examination will be evaluated electronically under the MCQ system.

Examination primarily in Dhaka

The written examination is scheduled to be held primarily in Dhaka.

However, depending on the number of applicants and prevailing circumstances, the PSC may decide to arrange examination centres outside the capital if necessary.

The recruitment drive is expected to provide a significant addition to Bangladesh's public healthcare workforce, with 5,000 positions being filled across the assistant surgeon and assistant dental surgeon categories.

Candidates have been advised to complete their applications within the prescribed deadline, pay the examination fee on time and carefully follow all instructions issued by the Public Service Commission throughout the recruitment process.

Passkeys vs Passwords: The Changing Future of Online Login

DHAKA —

Email, social media, online banking, e-commerce and mobile applications all require some form of digital identity verification. For decades, the most familiar key to that identity has been the password.

Users have been encouraged to create complex passwords combining upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters, while avoiding the use of the same password across multiple accounts.

But a different approach is now gaining ground: passkeys.

Passkeys are designed to allow users to sign in without typing or remembering a conventional password. As the technology becomes increasingly available across devices and online services, it is raising a broader question about the future of digital authentication: could passkeys eventually reduce the world's dependence on passwords?

Why passwords remain vulnerable

Many of the weaknesses of passwords are linked not only to the technology itself, but also to how people use them.

Users often choose passwords that are easy to remember, sometimes relying on names, birthdays, phone numbers or familiar words. Others reuse the same or similar password across several services.

That creates a chain reaction when credentials are compromised. If a password exposed in a data breach is also used for another account, that second account may become vulnerable as well.

Phishing presents another persistent problem. Attackers can create websites that closely resemble legitimate services and persuade users to enter their passwords. Once submitted, those credentials can be captured by the attacker.

Password managers and multi-factor authentication can reduce some of these risks, but the fundamental weakness remains: a password is a secret that the user must remember, enter and protect.

How passkeys work

Passkeys take a different approach by relying on cryptographic keys rather than a secret password.

When a passkey is created, a pair of cryptographic keys is generally generated: a public key and a private key.

The online service can store the public key, while the private key remains associated with the user's device or a secure credential-management system.

Crucially, the private key is not normally sent to the website in the way a password is submitted during a conventional login.

When the user attempts to sign in, the service can issue a cryptographic challenge. The user's device uses the private key to produce a response, which can then be verified using the corresponding public key held by the service.

From the user's perspective, the process can be remarkably simple. A fingerprint, face recognition, device PIN or screen lock may be all that is required to authorise the login.

Does the website receive your fingerprint?

One important distinction is often misunderstood.

When a passkey is used, the user's fingerprint or facial information is not normally transmitted to the website as a password.

Instead, the device's local security system verifies the user and, after successful verification, permits the relevant cryptographic credential to be used.

This means the website does not need to receive the user's biometric information every time they sign in.

A stronger defence against phishing

One of the most significant potential advantages of passkeys is their resistance to conventional phishing attacks.

With passwords, a user can accidentally enter credentials into a fraudulent website designed to look like the real service.

Passkeys work differently because the cryptographic credential is associated with the legitimate website or service. A fraudulent site cannot simply ask the user to reveal the underlying private key.

This makes passkeys more than a convenient replacement for remembering passwords. They represent a different model of digital authentication, in which cryptographic proof plays a central role.

Are passwords becoming obsolete?

Not yet.

Millions of websites and online services still depend on passwords, while many older devices and systems do not support passkeys.

There may also be situations involving account recovery, backups or alternative authentication methods where additional mechanisms are required.

For the foreseeable future, therefore, passwords and passkeys are likely to coexist.

However, as support for passkeys expands across devices, browsers and online services, dependence on conventional passwords could gradually decline.

The role of password managers

Passkeys are also becoming part of the broader ecosystem of secure credential management.

Modern operating systems and some password-management services can help users store and use passkeys across supported devices.

This introduces practical questions that did not exist in quite the same way with traditional passwords: How is a passkey made available on a new device? How are credentials backed up? What happens if a device is lost or replaced? And how can an account be recovered securely?

Passkeys are therefore not simply a new type of password. They are part of a wider authentication system involving devices, cryptographic credentials and account-recovery mechanisms.

Passkeys do not eliminate every security risk

The arrival of passkeys does not mean that online security concerns disappear.

If an attacker gains control of a user's device, if the device is protected by a weak PIN or if the user is deceived through another form of fraud, security risks can still arise.

Users should therefore continue to protect their devices with strong screen-lock credentials, install software and security updates, and remain cautious about suspicious links, messages and websites.

Good security practices remain important regardless of the authentication technology being used.

The technology industry is moving toward passwordless authentication

The development of standards such as FIDO2 and WebAuthn, supported by the FIDO Alliance, has helped establish a framework for strong, cryptographic authentication as an alternative to traditional passwords.

Major technology companies, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, have also introduced passkey support across various products and platforms.

As interoperability improves, users are gaining more options for creating, storing and using passkeys across supported devices and services.

What could the future login experience look like?

Imagine opening an account on a new website and being asked not to create a complicated password, but to set up a passkey.

You authorise the process using your fingerprint, facial recognition, device PIN or screen lock. The account is created.

When you return, you authenticate through your device again. There is no long password to remember and no secret phrase to type into a website.

That is the basic experience passkeys are designed to deliver: shifting authentication away from something users have to remember and towards cryptographic credentials secured by their devices.

Passkeys vs passwords: What comes next?

Passwords are unlikely to disappear overnight. Their use remains deeply embedded across the internet, and countless services continue to rely on them.

But passkeys are emerging as a significant alternative that could reduce the need for password-based authentication.

Their combination of convenience, phishing resistance and cryptographic security is driving interest among technology companies and online service providers.

The biggest change may ultimately be psychological as much as technical. Instead of asking, “What is my password?”, users may increasingly rely on their devices to prove who they are.

The password era may not be ending immediately, but the shift toward a passwordless digital future has already begun.

How AI Is Transforming Interior Design

DHAKA —

A well-designed interior is about more than expensive furniture, attractive colours or modern lighting. Creating a successful space requires careful planning, efficient use of available area, visual harmony and an understanding of how people live and work.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of that process, changing how interior designers develop concepts, present ideas and refine projects.

Until recently, designers relied heavily on hand sketches, reference images, CAD software and 3D modelling to turn ideas into visual concepts. AI-powered tools can now generate design proposals within minutes based on a few instructions, reference images, measurements or personal preferences.

The technology is making the early stages of interior design faster and more interactive, while also giving clients more opportunities to visualise and compare options before a project moves into construction.

In Bangladesh, interior design companies such as Zero Inch Interior Ltd are also exploring ways to incorporate these emerging technologies into their design workflows.

From a single brief to multiple concepts

One of AI's most significant advantages is its ability to process large amounts of design information and rapidly generate alternatives.

A client can provide a photograph of a room along with preferred colours, furniture styles, budget considerations and a desired aesthetic. AI tools can then produce a range of possible concepts based on those inputs.

A small apartment, for example, could be visualised in modern, minimalist, luxury, Scandinavian, contemporary or traditional Bangladeshi styles.

Instead of relying solely on a written description or a two-dimensional drawing, clients can see different visual possibilities at an early stage and discuss them with designers.

This can make the process of narrowing down a design direction considerably more efficient.

Turning existing spaces into new possibilities

Another increasingly visible application is image-to-design technology.

A photograph of an existing room can be used as the starting point for generating a possible redesigned version. An outdated living room, for instance, can be visualised with contemporary furniture, wall treatments, new lighting, carpets, curtains and decorative elements.

For designers, such visualisations can be particularly useful during client presentations. They allow clients to see a possible transformation rather than having to imagine the result from technical drawings alone.

But AI-generated images remain conceptual. They should not automatically be treated as technically accurate representations of what can be built.

Faster 3D visualisation

Three-dimensional visualisation has long been an important part of interior design because it allows clients to understand how a space may look before construction begins.

AI is adding speed and flexibility to that process.

Designers can experiment with different wall colours, flooring, furniture arrangements, ceiling treatments and lighting concepts and quickly compare alternatives.

The ability to test multiple versions at an early stage may help identify design inconsistencies before a project reaches the implementation phase.

It can also make communication between designers and clients more visual and less dependent on technical terminology.

Understanding what clients really want

One of the most challenging aspects of interior design is translating a client's preferences into a workable design concept.

Clients often know the atmosphere they want without knowing how to describe it in technical or design terms.

AI can assist by analysing reference images, preferred colours, furniture styles and previous choices to identify patterns and suggest possible design directions.

A statement such as, “I want something modern but not overly luxurious,” can potentially be translated into a more specific combination of colours, materials, furniture and spatial arrangements.

Human interpretation remains important, but AI can help turn an initially vague brief into a set of visual possibilities.

Making better use of small spaces

Space optimisation is particularly important in densely populated cities such as Dhaka, where many residents live in relatively compact apartments.

AI-assisted tools can generate preliminary ideas for furniture placement, storage solutions and room layouts based on available space.

Such tools may be useful for small bedrooms, compact kitchens and limited living areas, where every square foot needs to serve a purpose.

However, a computer-generated layout must be checked against actual site conditions. The position of doors and windows, structural columns and beams, electrical connections, plumbing systems and other technical constraints all need to be considered before any design is implemented.

The rise of personalised interiors

Another potential direction for the industry is personalised design.

A young professional's home will have different requirements from those of a family residence. A corporate office, restaurant or retail outlet will have an entirely different set of functional and aesthetic needs.

By processing information about a user's lifestyle, work patterns, preferences and spatial requirements, AI can help designers develop concepts tailored more closely to individual needs.

This could gradually move interior design further away from standardised solutions and towards spaces designed around the specific habits and requirements of their occupants.

AI is a collaborator, not a replacement

The growing use of AI has also raised a fundamental question: will the technology eventually replace interior designers?

At present, AI is better understood as a powerful design assistant than as a substitute for professional expertise.

A visually attractive image is only one part of an interior project. Successful implementation requires consideration of structural conditions, electrical and plumbing systems, construction methods, material quality, budgets, local market availability and safety requirements.

AI can generate ideas and visual concepts rapidly, but turning those concepts into practical and buildable projects still requires human judgement and technical expertise.

Designers, architects and engineers remain responsible for determining whether a proposed solution is appropriate for a particular site.

Opportunities for Bangladesh's interior industry

The growing demand for residential and commercial interior design in Bangladesh could create new opportunities for AI-assisted workflows.

Clients increasingly want to understand what a finished space may look like before committing to construction. AI-powered visualisation can help meet that expectation by making concepts easier to communicate and revise.

Potential applications for design firms include:

• Rapid generation of design concepts

• Client presentations

• Mood-board development

• Colour and material coordination

• Preliminary 3D visualisation

• Space-planning concepts

• Rapid testing of design alternatives

• Analysis of emerging design trends

• Marketing and promotional visuals

For smaller design firms, the technology could also reduce the time required to produce early-stage concepts and presentations.

Technology also comes with limitations

Despite its growing capabilities, AI has significant limitations in interior design.

AI-generated images can contain architectural or construction elements that appear realistic but may be difficult or impossible to build. The technology may also misunderstand precise dimensions, structural elements, electrical connections, plumbing routes or other site-specific constraints.

For that reason, an AI-generated visual should not be used as a construction drawing without professional verification.

Before implementation, the design must be checked against actual measurements and site conditions by qualified interior designers, architects, engineers or other relevant professionals.

The future: human expertise combined with AI

AI is changing the speed and scope of interior design rather than simply replacing established methods.

Its ability to generate multiple concepts, test visual alternatives and communicate ideas quickly could make the design process more efficient and accessible.

But technology alone cannot determine whether a design is safe, practical, financially viable or appropriate for the people who will use the space.

The likely direction of the industry is therefore not a choice between human designers and AI, but a combination of the two. AI can accelerate ideation and visualisation, while professional expertise remains essential for transforming those ideas into functional, safe and buildable interiors.

Protecting Children From Excessive Smartphone Use Requires Smart Habits, Not Just Smart Devices

DHAKA:

Smartphones have become an integral part of childhood, offering children access to education, information, entertainment and communication. But as screen time expands, families face a growing challenge: how to ensure technology remains a useful tool without allowing it to displace sleep, study, physical activity, creativity and meaningful family interaction.

The answer may not lie in taking smartphones away altogether. For children and teenagers under 18, experts and parents increasingly need to focus on establishing healthy digital routines, setting clear boundaries and creating attractive alternatives to screen-based entertainment.

The goal is not to keep children away from technology, but to help them learn how to use it responsibly.

Set boundaries, not simply bans

A practical starting point is to establish clear family rules about when and where smartphones can be used.

Study time, mealtimes and bedtime can be designated as screen-free periods. Families can also encourage children to put their devices away at least an hour before going to sleep.

Such rules are more likely to work when children understand their purpose. A screen-free period should not be presented simply as a punishment or deprivation, but as an opportunity to sleep, concentrate, play and spend time with others.

Replace screen time with real-world activities

Reducing smartphone use becomes considerably easier when children have other activities they genuinely enjoy.

Sports, reading, drawing, music, dancing and other creative pursuits can provide alternatives to scrolling through videos or playing games. Time spent with friends and family can also strengthen social connections while giving children experiences that cannot be replicated on a screen.

Simply removing a smartphone without offering alternatives may leave children bored and more likely to return to it. Building an engaging routine outside the digital world is therefore an important part of managing screen use.

Children learn from what adults do

Parents and other adults in the household also play a central role.

Children often imitate behaviour they observe at home. If adults constantly check their phones during meals, conversations or family time, asking children to disconnect may send a contradictory message.

One practical approach is to establish a family-wide “no mobile hour”, during which everyone puts their devices aside. It could be during dinner, in the evening or at another mutually agreed time.

The principle is simple: digital boundaries are easier to establish when they apply to the whole family rather than only to children.

Keep phones away during study

When a smartphone is not needed for schoolwork, keeping it in another room can help create a more focused study environment.

Parents can also use built-in screen-time controls or other digital tools to establish reasonable usage limits. But technology alone cannot manage a child’s relationship with technology.

Regular conversations remain essential. Children should be helped to understand both the benefits of being online and the potential problems associated with excessive use, including lost time and reduced attention to other parts of daily life.

Avoid making the phone the reward

Praise can be a powerful way to reinforce healthy habits. Parents may also offer small, non-digital rewards when children consistently follow agreed rules.

But using smartphone access as the main reward—or taking the device away as the primary punishment—can inadvertently make the phone even more valuable in a child’s eyes.

Instead, rewards can involve a favourite book, an outing, a game, a creative activity or simply special time with family.

Guidance works better than confrontation

Taking a phone away may be easy. Helping a child understand why limits are necessary is more difficult—and potentially more constructive.

Strict bans can sometimes create resistance. A more collaborative approach is to involve children in setting reasonable household rules and explaining the reasons behind them.

Parents should also take an interest in their children’s digital lives: what they watch, what they learn, whom they communicate with and what experiences they encounter online. Open, age-appropriate conversations can help children develop the judgement they need to navigate the digital environment safely.

The solution is a healthier relationship with technology

Technology is now part of everyday life, and keeping children completely disconnected from it is neither practical nor necessarily desirable.

What matters is helping them develop the ability to recognise when technology is useful and when it is time to put the device down.

A smartphone does not automatically make a child “smart”. Digital maturity means knowing how to balance screen-based activities with sleep, education, exercise, creativity, relationships and experiences in the real world.

For parents, the challenge is therefore not simply to control a device, but to help shape a child’s habits.

The most effective tool for protecting children from excessive smartphone use may not be another app or a stricter device—it may be a supportive family, clear boundaries and smart habits.

The Invisible Machine Behind Digital Advertising

A digital advertisement may appear on a screen in a matter of seconds, but delivering it to the right person at the right time involves a complex combination of technology, data, targeting rules and human oversight.

Consider a typical morning at an advertising operations desk. At 9 a.m., Rafid, a pseudonym, opens his laptop and finds a campaign brief in his inbox. A major company has launched a new product, with a budget of 2 million taka and a target audience aged 25 to 40. The campaign includes a video and a banner.

Rafid's job is not simply to place those advertisements on a website.

He first needs to check whether the creative files meet the required technical specifications, whether the campaign's start and end dates are correct, whether audience targeting has been configured properly and whether tracking is functioning as expected.

Only after those checks are completed can the campaign begin delivering.

And the work does not end there.

What is AdOps?

Advertising operations, commonly known as AdOps, is the process of managing a digital advertising campaign from setup and delivery through monitoring, measurement and optimisation.

Once a campaign is live, an AdOps professional may monitor its performance through a dashboard, checking whether the advertisements are generating the expected impressions and clicks, whether delivery is proceeding at the planned pace and whether any technical problems are affecting the campaign.

Even a relatively small configuration error can prevent an advertisement from being delivered as intended. In such a situation, advertising budget may still be spent without producing the expected results.

That makes AdOps an important operational link between advertising strategy and what actually happens when a user sees an advertisement.

What happens before an advertisement appears?

When a person opens a news website, it may seem that an advertisement appears simply because the website has an advertising space available.

In reality, multiple processes can be involved.

The system may need to determine which advertisement is eligible to be shown, whether the user falls within the campaign's target audience, how frequently the person has already seen the advertisement and whether the impression can be measured properly.

Other considerations can include whether the advertisement is actually visible on the screen and whether the user interacts with it.

Behind what looks like a simple banner or video can therefore be a combination of targeting rules, delivery logic, frequency controls and tracking mechanisms.

The ecosystem behind the screen

Digital advertising involves several participants, each with a different role.

The advertiser wants to promote a product, service or brand. An agency or media-buying team may help determine the campaign's budget, audience and media strategy.

On the other side is the publisher—such as a news website, mobile application or video platform—that provides advertising inventory where campaigns can be displayed.

Between them, depending on the campaign and technology stack, may be platforms such as a Demand-Side Platform (DSP), Supply-Side Platform (SSP), Ad Exchange and Ad Server.

A simplified representation of the ecosystem is:

Advertiser → Agency/DSP → Ad Exchange/SSP → Publisher → User

AdOps helps ensure that the operational side of this chain functions as intended.

The role of an ad server

The campaign Rafid is managing may be delivered through an ad server, which helps manage and serve digital advertisements according to predefined campaign requirements.

When a user opens a webpage containing an advertising placement, the system can generate an ad request. Based on factors such as campaign rules, targeting parameters and available demand, an eligible advertisement can then be selected for display.

As a result, the banner a user sees is not simply a static image placed on a webpage. Behind it may be a set of rules governing targeting, frequency, tracking and delivery.

More impressions do not necessarily mean success

Suppose Rafid checks the campaign dashboard at the end of the day and sees 5 million impressions.

That may appear to be an impressive result. But impressions alone do not necessarily determine whether a campaign has succeeded.

An advertisement may have reached the wrong audience, appeared where it was not sufficiently visible, been shown too frequently to the same users or appeared alongside content that was unsuitable for the brand.

For that reason, AdOps also has an important role in measurement, verification, brand safety, fraud prevention and transparency.

The quality of delivery matters alongside the quantity.

Why AdOps matters to digital media in Bangladesh

As digital media and online advertising continue to expand in Bangladesh, AdOps is becoming increasingly relevant to publishers and advertisers.

For news organisations in particular, advertising inventory is an important business asset. How effectively that inventory is monetised—and how reliably advertisers' campaigns are delivered—can directly affect the commercial value of digital publishing.

Advertisers are increasingly concerned with more than simply where their advertisements appear.

The fundamental questions are also:

Where was my advertising budget spent?

Who saw the advertisement?

Was it delivered as intended?

What did the campaign achieve in return?

These questions require accurate measurement and operational oversight, making AdOps an important part of the digital advertising process.

The work users never see

Before leaving the office, Rafid checks the campaign dashboard one more time. Everything appears to be running as planned.

Elsewhere, someone opens a news article on a mobile phone. For a few seconds, the campaign's advertisement appears on the screen.

The user may never know what happened before that moment.

They see only the advertisement.

Behind those few seconds, however, may be an interconnected system involving advertisers, agencies, publishers, advertising platforms, targeting rules, tracking technology and AdOps professionals.

That invisible infrastructure is what helps turn an advertising campaign from a creative asset into something that can actually be delivered, monitored and measured in the digital environment.

 Continue............................ 

Bangladesh Personal Data Is Being Sold Online, Raising Serious Privacy and Security Concerns

Personal data belonging to Bangladeshi citizens—including national identity information, phone numbers, call records and location details—is reportedly being offered for sale online, raising concerns over privacy, identity fraud and the security of government and private databases.

Investigations have found advertisements on social media and other online platforms offering access to sensitive information in exchange for money. The data reportedly includes National ID (NID) records, call detail records (CDRs), mobile phone locations, SMS lists, birth-registration information, passports, tax identification numbers (TINs), IMEI details and mobile financial service records.

The scale and accessibility of the offers suggest that the issue may extend beyond isolated online scams. An investigation by Bangladeshi data and investigative journalism platform Dismislab identified 10 active websites allegedly involved in selling personal information, along with hundreds of advertisements posted across social media platforms.

An independent follow-up investigation based on the supplied information found that some sellers contacted through advertisements claimed they could provide NID records, call histories and mobile-location information for payment. Some of the information obtained during the investigation was also independently checked where verification was possible.

The findings indicate that at least some online sellers may have access to genuine personal information, although the source of that data remains unclear.

Data reportedly delivered within minutes

Dismislab reported that in one test, an NID PDF was provided 17 minutes after the investigators supplied a mobile phone number and paid 500 taka.

The document reportedly contained the individual’s name, photograph and date of birth, with the information matching the person concerned. Dismislab also reported that recently updated information appeared in the document.

In another test, investigators paid 1,050 taka for three months of call detail records associated with a phone number. The file was reportedly delivered about two and a half hours later.

According to Dismislab, recently contacted numbers, call times and call types in the file corresponded with the actual call history when checked.

In a separate test involving mobile-phone location data, information was reportedly supplied within 16 minutes of payment. The material allegedly included the most recent active time, a tower-based location, an address and a map location.

If genuine, such information could reveal not only who a person communicates with, but also when they communicate, for how long and where they are located.

Social media used to advertise sensitive information

The information appears to be marketed openly across several digital platforms, according to the investigations.

Advertisements and promotional posts have reportedly appeared on Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp and dedicated websites, with sellers publicly seeking potential customers.

Dismislab said it identified 675 Facebook posts using a particular search term between June 15 and July 15. Of those, 605 posts contained offers to sell personal information.

The investigation also identified at least 112 different mobile phone numbers used for contact and found repeated advertisements in 36 active Facebook groups.

The findings raise the possibility that the activity involves more than individual sellers. The pattern could indicate an organised chain involving people who obtain data, intermediaries who find customers, payment arrangements and individuals who deliver the information.

However, the precise structure and scale of any such network would require further investigation.

Where is the data coming from?

The most critical unanswered question is the source of the information.

According to Dismislab, sellers gave different explanations about where they obtained the data. Some reportedly said they collected information from other groups or websites.

One seller allegedly claimed to obtain information from government servers through an API.

That claim could not be independently verified and therefore should not be treated as evidence of unauthorised access to government systems.

Nevertheless, the reported availability of apparently current personal information makes identifying the source of the data an urgent issue.

Investigators need to determine whether the information is being extracted from government or private databases, obtained through misuse of authorised access, acquired through compromised user accounts or credentials, or exposed through vulnerabilities in software and APIs.

The potential consequences go beyond privacy

The exposure of personal information can create risks far beyond the loss of privacy.

If identity documents, phone numbers, addresses, call records, location information and financial details are combined, they could potentially be used to construct a detailed digital profile of an individual.

Such information could facilitate identity theft, financial fraud, targeted phishing, harassment or unauthorised surveillance. Knowledge of a person's movements could also create risks to their physical safety.

For that reason, the issue is not simply about the unauthorised sale of data. It also concerns the potential misuse of information that citizens are required to provide to access essential services.

People routinely submit NID information when registering mobile SIM cards and provide identification and other personal details when opening bank accounts or using mobile financial services.

Personal information is also collected through passport, birth-registration, tax and land-related services.

Authorities need to trace the entire data chain

Closing individual websites or identifying individual sellers would not, by itself, address the underlying problem.

Authorities and relevant organisations need to determine how the information is obtained, who has access to it, how it is transferred and who ultimately receives it.

Financial transactions linked to the sale of personal data should also be examined where legally appropriate. Technical investigations could help establish which databases are being accessed, by whom and at what time.

Organisations handling sensitive citizen information should maintain reliable audit trails showing who accessed, downloaded or modified data.

Access to sensitive databases should be restricted according to users' roles and responsibilities, rather than being broadly available to employees or contractors. Stronger measures such as multi-factor authentication, role-based access controls, regular security audits and vulnerability testing can also help reduce the risk of unauthorised access.

Telecom sector faces particular scrutiny

The telecommunications sector requires especially strong safeguards because call records and location information can reveal highly sensitive details about an individual's activities and relationships.

Access to such information should be strictly controlled, with clear legal procedures governing when and under what circumstances it can be obtained.

Technical monitoring should also be capable of detecting unusual or unauthorised use of employee or authorised-user privileges.

Ultimately, personal information collected for public services or commercial transactions should not become a commodity in an uncontrolled online market.

The immediate challenge is therefore not only to identify those advertising the data, but to trace the information back to its original source and establish whether a security breach, misuse of authorised access, compromised credentials or another vulnerability is responsible.

A comprehensive investigation, combined with stronger technical controls and accountability for organisations that hold sensitive citizen data, will be essential to determine how widespread the problem is and prevent further unauthorised disclosure.

Password or PIN: Which Is Safer for Protecting Your Smartphone?

A smartphone today is far more than a device for making calls or taking photographs. It can hold banking information, email accounts, social media profiles, private photographs, important documents and a wide range of sensitive digital data.

That makes the security of a phone’s screen lock an important part of protecting personal information. If a device is lost or stolen, a weak lock can increase the risk of unauthorised access and data exposure.

Many users assume that a longer and more complicated password automatically provides better protection. In practice, however, security depends not only on length but also on how difficult a code is to guess and whether the user can consistently use it securely.

For smartphone screen locks, a long, difficult-to-guess password can offer strong protection. But entering a complex password repeatedly throughout the day can be inconvenient. Some users may respond by choosing a simpler password or writing it down in an insecure location, potentially undermining the protection it was intended to provide.

For many users, a relatively long and unpredictable PIN can therefore be a practical alternative.

Why a longer PIN can be effective

Modern smartphones generally introduce additional security measures after several incorrect PIN attempts. Depending on the device, it may be temporarily locked or require the user to wait before trying again.

These safeguards make it considerably more difficult for someone with physical access to a phone to repeatedly test possible PIN combinations.

The effectiveness of a PIN, however, depends heavily on how difficult it is to predict.

Common combinations such as 1234, 0000, 1111 or 123456 should be avoided. Users should also stay away from numbers that could easily be associated with them, including birth dates, family members’ birth years, parts of a mobile phone number or other predictable sequences.

Where a device allows it, choosing a PIN longer than four digits increases the number of possible combinations and can make guessing more difficult.

Biometrics are convenient, but not a replacement

Most modern smartphones also support biometric authentication, including fingerprint recognition and facial unlocking.

These methods offer speed and convenience, but they are generally used alongside a PIN, password or pattern rather than replacing them completely.

In certain situations—such as after a phone has been restarted—the device may require the primary PIN or password before biometric unlocking becomes available again.

This makes the underlying screen-lock code an important part of the device’s overall security, even for users who normally unlock their phones with a fingerprint or face scan.

Keep your phone lock separate from account passwords

Security experts also advise users not to make their smartphone PIN or password similar to the passwords used for email, social media or banking accounts.

Online accounts should have their own strong and unique passwords. Where available, users should also enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to add another layer of protection.

Using different credentials across devices and online services can reduce the potential impact if one password is compromised.

Screen locks are only one layer of security

A strong PIN or password alone cannot fully protect a smartphone. Everyday usage habits also play an important role.

Users should avoid handing an unlocked phone to strangers, installing applications from suspicious sources and granting unnecessary permissions to newly installed apps.

On Android devices, installing apps through the official app store is generally the safer approach. Users should also check what permissions an application requests before granting access, particularly to sensitive functions such as the camera, microphone, location and contacts.

Permissions that are not necessary for an app’s intended purpose should generally be denied.

Keep software updated

Regularly updating a smartphone’s operating system and its applications is another important security measure.

Software updates often include fixes for known security vulnerabilities. Delaying these updates can leave devices exposed to weaknesses that have already been addressed by developers.

Ultimately, there is no single screen-lock method that is best for every user. A strong password can provide robust protection, while a sufficiently long and unpredictable PIN may offer a better balance between security and everyday convenience.

The most important consideration is to choose a lock that is difficult for others to guess, keep it separate from other account credentials and combine it with sensible security practices such as biometric authentication, two-factor authentication, cautious app installation and regular software updates.

The Personal Information You Should Never Share on Social Media

TECHNOLOGY DESK:

In an increasingly connected digital world, social media has become an essential part of everyday communication. Millions of people routinely share photographs, personal updates, professional information and details about their daily lives.

What may appear to be an innocent post, however, can expose information that could later be exploited for fraud, identity theft, harassment or other forms of digital abuse.

Individually, seemingly insignificant details may reveal little. But when information from multiple posts is combined, it can provide a surprisingly comprehensive profile of an individual—including their identity, whereabouts, routines, relationships and financial activities.

For that reason, digital security experts generally advise users to think carefully before publishing personal information online and to consider not only what they are sharing, but also who can access it and what they could potentially do with it.

Government Identification Documents

Photographs of passports, national identity cards, birth certificates, driving licences and other official documents should not be publicly displayed on social media.

Such documents may contain highly sensitive information, including full names, dates of birth, identification numbers and other details that could potentially facilitate identity fraud.

Posting a photograph of a newly issued passport or identity card may seem harmless, particularly when celebrating a personal milestone. Once uploaded, however, the image can potentially be copied, downloaded or redistributed without the owner's knowledge.

When an official document genuinely needs to be shared digitally, users should consider masking information that is not required for the intended purpose and use a trusted, secure channel.

Banking and Financial Information

Financial information should remain strictly private.

Users should avoid posting bank account numbers, debit or credit card details, photographs of payment cards, expiry dates, security codes or other confidential financial information.

Transaction screenshots also require caution. A screenshot intended simply to demonstrate that a payment has been made may inadvertently reveal account information, transaction references or other sensitive details.

Before sharing any financial screenshot, users should carefully inspect the entire image and remove or conceal information that is unnecessary for the recipient to see.

Passwords, PINs and One-Time Codes

Passwords, personal identification numbers, authentication codes and one-time passwords (OTPs) should never be disclosed through social media or to unknown individuals.

Cybercriminals frequently rely on impersonation and social-engineering tactics, posing as representatives of banks, financial services, technology companies or other trusted organisations.

A request for a password, PIN or OTP should therefore be treated as a potential security warning.

An OTP may remain valid for only a short period, but giving the code to an unauthorised person could still allow them to complete a login, reset an account or authorise a transaction, depending on the system involved.

Personal Phone Numbers and Email Addresses

Making a personal phone number or primary email address publicly visible can increase exposure to spam, phishing attempts, unwanted communication and targeted scams.

This is particularly relevant when contact information is posted in public comment sections, where it may be accessible to people far beyond the intended recipient.

People who need to maintain a public contact channel for business or professional purposes may consider using a dedicated business number or email address rather than exposing their primary personal account.

Location and Daily Routine

Users should also be cautious about revealing where they live, where they work or study, when they are travelling and when their home is likely to be empty.

Real-time location posts, photographs showing identifiable addresses and regular updates about daily routines can potentially provide strangers with information about a person's movements and habits.

Sharing such information after leaving a location, rather than while still there, can reduce unnecessary exposure.

Private Family and Personal Details

Information about family members, children's schools, regular activities and other private aspects of daily life should also be handled carefully.

Photographs can sometimes reveal more than intended—such as school names, house numbers, workplace locations, travel documents or vehicle registration details.

Before publishing a photograph, users should examine the background as carefully as the main subject.

Why Small Details Matter

Online security risks often emerge not from a single piece of information but from the combination of many seemingly harmless details.

A public profile containing a person's full name, workplace, birthday, phone number, travel plans and photographs may provide enough information for someone to construct a detailed picture of that individual's life.

This is why privacy settings should not be considered a substitute for careful sharing. Information that does not need to be public should generally remain private.

A Simple Rule for Safer Social Media Use

Before publishing anything online, users should ask themselves:

• Does this information really need to be public?

• Who can access it now—and could the audience change later?

• Does the photograph contain sensitive information in the background?

• Could this information be combined with my previous posts?

• Would I be comfortable if this information were copied or shared beyond my intended audience?

Social-media security is not simply a matter of creating a strong password. It also depends on how carefully people manage the information they make available to the public.

In the digital age, one of the most effective privacy measures remains remarkably simple: share less, think before you post, and keep sensitive information offline whenever possible.