Returning power of technology to people

As every new invention in science is both a blessing and a curse, the information technology is also not an exception to this general rule. The information technology, through the internet, has indeed revolutionised dissemination of information by making it...

BD external trade slows amid port jam

Bangladesh's foreign-trade delivery slows as the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday virtually halted container handling at Chittagong seaport, creating acute shipping jam, sources say.Some vessels now have been waiting up to eight days for berthing at the country's prime port.On Thursday, the day...

Tourists throng Ctg, CHT, Cox's Bazar

CHATTOGRAM, May 05: A large number of tourists from across the country have gathered in Chattogram and its adjoining districts -- Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari - during the long Eid-ul-Fitr vacation. The Eid vacation officially began on May...

Perspectives of great festivals

Before the invention of agriculture in 8,500 BC, known as Neolithic Revolution, human races had their migration much like the animals in African Savanna and birds from the chilly and frozen northern hemisphere to the warmer tropical parts in Asia...

BBA hunts for funders of $102.77b

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) starts finding financiers from both development partners and public-private partnership (PPP) as its feasibility study reveals a $102.77-billion investment plan until 2050.Last week, a Spanish firm submitted the study recommending development of a 238-kilometre network...

BD sets sights on export possibilities in Africa

Bangladesh looks to grab export opportunities in untapped African countries, including tightening trade ties and increasing export earnings, with intent to address its LDC graduation challenges, officials say.With this end in view, commerce ministry is working to explore the prospects...

Enduring relevance of May Day

Though a large number of industrial units have paid the wages and salaries for March and some have also paid half of the salaries for April before Eid-ul-fitr holiday, workers in many factories have not got their dues. Though some...

A journey of learning through creativity, imagination, inquiry

Aisha Khan, at 18 now, completed her International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) from a reputed school in Bangladesh. Besides academic learning, she learned time management, critical thinking, and research skills in school. Thanks to a dynamic learning environment that...

Ukraine war becoming clash of nuclear egos

With the Western powers hell-bent on seeing that Russia is defeated in its ongoing campaign in Ukraine, the Kremlin has also upped the ante by reiterating its threat of using its unspecified weapon of the ultimate kind. The latest of...

Jute millers for action against packaging law violators

Private jute millers have sought to take multiple measures against frequent violations of the 'Mandatory Jute Packaging Act-2010' across the country, sources say.They claim commodities are being sold, transported, imported and exported, discounting the law by using artificial sacks and...

Stocks fall as investors weigh earnings

The benchmark equity index retreated into the red in the last week before the Eid holiday as cautious investors opted to book profit on quick-gaining stocks.The week to Thursday featured five trading days as usual -- three sessions closed positive...

Playground gets the better of police station

At last it has been once again Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who had to use her good offices for securing children's right to play at Tentultala playground in the city's Kalabagan area. Syeda Ratna and her son Priangsu's 13-hour ordeal...

Minding healthcare of Dhaka's traffic police

The infinite number of stories coming daily on print, electronic and social media tell the miseries of Dhaka city dwellers whose life has become sluggish and exhausting by the perennial traffic jams which became particularly agonising during this Ramadan and...

Toll fixing shortly after Eid, opening in June

Toll rates for the much-cherished Padma multipurpose bridge (PMB) are likely to be final shortly after Eid vacation as the project office plans to inaugurate the engineering icon in June, sources say.The tolls are proposed 1.5-times higher than the existing...

Priority for playground or police station!

The status of Tentultala playground located in the city's Kalabagan area has needlessly been made a contentious issue. If the latest Detailed Area Plan (DAP) of Dhaka, already gazetted, maintains the playground as an open space, how can its status...

Higher cash withdrawal for Eid raises call money rate

The inter-bank call money rate increased slightly on Thursday mainly due to higher withdrawal of cash from the banks ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.The call rate ranged between 4.75 per cent and 5.25 per cent on the day against the previous...

MoC also guns for cut in taxes on cooking oils

The commerce ministry has asked the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to cut all kinds of duty, tax and tariff value on sunflower, olive and canola oils at import stage, aiming to cut dependency on widely consumed soybean and palm...

Entrepreneurship can spur recovery

Prioritising the development of entrepreneurship can expedite resilient recovery from Covid-induced economic shock in Bangladesh, Mike Kazi tells the FE in an interview.He urges the policy-makers to provide a guideline for the talented young workforce to become entrepreneurs rather than...

Of Tetultola, of shrinking spaces

It took the courage of an environmental-cum-cultural activist mother and her teenaged son for us to remember that we have a problem with those who would wield power in indiscriminate fashion. This mother-son team braved all the odds to protest...

BD exports to take a hit

A controversial new currency policy introduced by the military-backed government of Myanmar may impact Bangladesh's exports to the neighbouring nation. The policy shift may also affect the export shipment of Bangladesh's pharmaceutical products to the country, said officials.The Bangladesh mission...

Taka falls further

The exchange rate of Bangladesh taka (BDT) further drops against US dollar mainly due to higher demand for the greenback for settling import-payment obligations.Taka lost its value by 25 paisa in the inter-bank foreign exchange (forex) market on Tuesday in...

A revival of non-aligned movement?

Of so many phenomena across the world happening now centring Russia-Ukraine war, the most curious incident is perceptible in Asia. Especially, India's stance surprises many. Despite disagreements on many fronts, China and India, among many other Asian countries, chose to...

Tackling corporal punishment of children

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which oversees the Convention on the Rights of the Child, has defined corporal or physical punishment as "any punishment in which physical force is used and intends to cause some degree...

Imports across board won't get duty cut

Local manufacturing industries are no longer entitled to enjoy a rate in importing capital machinery and spare parts, meant for the use as raw materials or production inputs, customs officials said.Currently, all types of capital machinery, as listed in customs...

Credit flow rises on demand rebound

Credit flow into Bangladesh's private sector rebounds, after a downturn, on a demand surge for loans largely for trade financing amid rise in economic activity.Sources say settling higher import-payment obligations has led to demand growth for credits since March, after...

Place import tax on computer, laptop

The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology has proposed imposing taxes on the import of computers and laptops in the fiscal year (FY) 2022-23, in order to facilitate development of local industry.The ministry has recently put forward the recommendation...

Passengers throng Sadarghat terminal

The Dhaka River Port (Sadarghat Launch Terminal) in the capital witnessed a substantial number of passengers on Monday, who were travelling to different destinations to avoid last-moment rush during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holiday.Visiting the terminal on the day, the FE...

New policy curbs ministry control on imports

Local manufacturing industries will also enjoy duty-free facility through the bonded-warehouse window under new import policy the government issued Monday to ease controls on the trade. The duty-free import facility under the bonded-warehouse mechanism used to be enjoyed by export...

3+5+1 sits in June for review

A high-level 3+5+1 meeting is likely to be held in June to review the implementation of a roadmap on Bangladeshi worker rights issues prescribed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).No meeting of the group has been hosted in the past...

Changing needs of digital era education

Many often express their deep concern about our education system, especially about its relevance to the needs of our knowledge-and-skill-seeking students. The common question asked is: can the education imparted to the students in the schools/colleges/universities provide them with the...