When civilisation ceases to exist

Evolution of civilisation is a long process. From its tentative beginning, a civilisation also ascends its summit at certain point and then the decline of the process also begins. Like human species or any other living being a civilisation sees...

Project ready with Tk 355b domestic financing

Bangladesh's second oil refinery is now in sight as a project with an estimated cost Tk 355 billion in domestic financing awaits ECNEC seal at its next meeting, officials say. With this decisive initiative by the interim government a prolonged...

Savings certificate yields lowered twice, further cuts in Jan

A retired banker's daughter increasingly struggles to manage the daily expenses of her parents, who are almost bed-ridden, and a downturn in receipts from investment in savings certificates worries her. Sadia Chowdhury, daughter of former private banker Humayun Chowdhury, whose...

In memoriam of a warrior woman

The curtain dropped on a different warrior four years ago. Freedom fighter, writer, and activist Begum Mushtari Shafi passed away at 84. While many knew her as ‘Shaheed Jaya’ (the wife of Shaheed), this title does not fully capture her...

Dhaka's elevation as a megacity is no cause for celebration

Dhaka has emerged as the 2nd largest megacity in the world in terms of population. The United Nations World Urbanisation Prospects 2025 report finds Jakarta to secure the top position with 42 million people. Taking urban sprawl into consideration, the...

Capitalism without wings: why capital markets matter

Capitalism is often described as a system powered by private ownership, competitive markets, and the relentless search for profit. Beneath these familiar pillars lies a deeper engine that makes modern capitalism possible: the capital market, especially the stock market. It...

Govt issues Tk 5.8b state guarantees in favour of TCB to help procure essentials

The government has issued three state guarantees totalling Tk 5.80 billion in favour of Sonali Bank to facilitate the procurement of essential commodities by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), sources said.The state-run TCB under the Ministry of Commerce (MoC)...

Delay in revised IPO rules puts a brake on listings

The year 2025 is nearing its end without a single company being listed, a rare event in the history of the country’s capital market.The current commission of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), formed after the political changeover in...

USCG gives positive report to Ctg port

CHITTAGONG, Dec 17: A United States Coast Guard (USCG) team that scrutinised compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code at Chittagong Port has given a very positive report.The USCG team did not raise any observations (zero...

Tax reform to reduce widening inequality

A recent report titledm 'World inequality report 2026', published by the Paris-based World Inequality Lab, has once again laid bare the ever-widening chasm between the rich and the poor. According to the report, the richest 10 per cent of people...

20 pc of Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims to go to KSA via Madinah next year

Twenty per cent of Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims must travel to Saudi Arabia via Madinah next year and 30 per cent will return through the same route. A high official of the Religious Affairs Ministry told the FE that they had...

Tk 2.39b skill dev projects proposed for Rohingya host communities

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has proposed two skill-development projects worth Tk 2.39 billion with support from the New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS countries, aiming to generate employment for youths from Rohingya host communities in Cox's Bazar...

Govt spending on DAEE project may jump 78pc

Government spending on the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway (DAEE) project is likely to rise by 78 per cent as the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) has finalised a revised cost estimate of Tk 272.33 billion.The government's contribution to the DAEE project was...

From connectivity to competitiveness

The “Digital Bangladesh” slogan, which emerged in 2009, echoed a collective dream of embracing technology across all aspects of life. The dream had a modest yet revolutionary vision: to “connect people and enable digital inclusion to reach out to all...

Clear vision changes lives

When we talk about healthcare and human rights, one vital aspect is often overlooked: vision. Eye care is not a niche concern-it is a fundamental component of health, productivity, and dignity. Imagine the daily challenges faced by someone who cannot...

Balancing the scales

In the serious tapestry of modern global economy, few issues are as pressing and complex as the intertwining of debt sustainability and climate financing demands. For developing nations, particularly those on the frontline of climate change, this issue has become...

Victory Day & the re-awakening of public conscience

Every year on December 16, the nation takes a moment to commemorate the realisation of its historical Liberation War a struggle fought with unprecedented courage, unimaginable sacrifice, and an unwavering passion for freedom. Historically, Victory Day has stood for more...

Historical roots of the Victory Day

The habitat presently called Bangladesh had assumed different names over the ages since time immemorial. The place which was known as ‘Vanga’ or Bangla’ was only a part of today’s Bangladesh and West Bengal state of India. The land was...

LGD proposes Tk 9.79b project for 18 DSCC wards

The Local Government Division (LGD) under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives has submitted a Tk 9.79-billion-project proposal to upgrade 123.53 kilometres of local roads in 18 wards that were incorporated into Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC)...

BFFIA seeks relaxation of LC margin for fruit imports

The country's fruit importers have sought relaxation of the required 100 per cent letter of credit (LC) margin for importing fresh fruits and dates to help ensure their smooth supply, especially during the upcoming fasting month of Ramadan.They have also...

From beaches to green yards

On the opening day of the 12th National SME Product Fair 2025, visitors entering booth F-006 encountered something unexpected among the displays of local innovation, handcrafted goods, and emerging technologies. The Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board (BSRB) had stepped into the...

Unearthing uncomfortable truths

Like the histories of every other post-colonial, modern nation state, Bangladesh, too, has its blood-stained story of liberation struggle. Its history has also certain features that are unique and unlike the stories of other national liberation struggles. These unique characteristics...

RMG labour unrest likely before polls

An intelligence agency has warned of a high possibility of widespread labour unrest and instability in the readymade garment (RMG) sector, the country's largest export industry and employer of around four million workers, ahead of the national elections. The National...

Bangladesh Railway planning 2 new projects of Tk 333.08b

Bangladesh Railway (BR) plans to take on 19 new projects, including two on the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor involving Tk 333.08 billion, to improve the train-movement capacity of its eastern and western zones. It has already spent over Tk 100 billion on...

Levying fees on state guarantees against risk-laden loans likely

A government move gets underway for revising the fee structure for state guarantees against both foreign and domestic loans to introduce a risk-based pricing mechanism to reduce fiscal exposure and strengthen financial discipline in borrowing institutions.Officials say the move is...

Rule of law is key to holding peaceful polls

With the announcement of the polls schedule, the nation is in the throes of expectation. Barely two months away from the 13th national election, peace-loving people of this country are not all expectant of a smooth holding of polls and...

Potato can be a lucrative export crop

While speaking at an event on the second day of the two-day (December12-13) potato festival 2025 held in the city, experts highlighted the potential of potato as an exportable agricultural commodity of Bangladesh. Notably, the country exported over 62,000 tonnes...

Bangladeshi team wins silver medal

"Being part of the Seoul International Invention Fair 2025 was an extraordinary and eye-opening experience. I had the opportunity to observe how global innovators approach complex problems, design advanced solutions, and maintain precision under scrutiny," said Calibrator-Z team member Jayed.At...

Stories of rural women changing their lot

When Shilpi from Dakshin Paikpara in Chandpur suddenly found herself in a role of raising two children alone, she feared her life had reached a dead end. Her husband had abandoned the family, and her days were spent worrying about...

War and peace: the role of merchants of death

War is as old as human beings life on earth. The main cause of war between territorial entities has been land and occasionally water. The first remains the pre-eminent reason why wars - local, regional or global - have taken...