Mawa Ghat: The cosiest day-tour destination for Dhakaites

In an era where Dhaka's only tourist places are 'restaurants,' Mawa has become one of the most popular spots for a day tour with sudden plans for refreshment; even if it is about 40 km from the centre of Dhaka,...

LNG import hits impasse for payment imbroglio

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) import from two gulf countries hits impasse as the renewal of standby letter of credit (SBLC) stalls for payment-guarantee refusal by regulators, apparently for forex crunch. Officials have said the LC renewal for the import of...

Eye-catching performance of stocks in bearish market

Some low-performing stocks have been flying high on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) in the last few months without any reason for investors to be keen on betting their money on those.Most of these small-cap companies have not paid dividends...

Country's rising number of doctorates

Originally, doctor means teacher in Latin and, in medieval Europe, a doctorate was awarded as a licence to teach Latin at a university. As the earliest records go, the term 'doctor' referred to various Christian authorities including the Apostles and...

The gathering storm over Bangladesh RMG

For Bangladesh’s flagship export, the Ready Made Garment (RMG) sector, the journey forward has been anything but along a primrose path. It has faced hurdles of one kind or another at various times during its storied progress, both arising from...

Consortium to invest $110m for first pvt submarine cable

A consortium of three private submarine cable companies is set to invest $110 million to set up a separate submarine cable network in a boost to the country's internet connectivity.The consortium comprising Summit Communications, CdNet Communications and Metacore Subcom Ltd....

When school playgrounds are kept off limit to students for serving coterie interests

Two reports on the use, better say abuse, of school fields carried in two contemporaries ---one Bangla and another English ---are a poor commentary not only on the concept of educational environment but also of the extra-curricular activities that complement...

The disaster Saturday's quake portends

The earthquake that jolted the country for over half a minute on Saturday morning, December 2, did cause panic among the people at different places in the country, though no death or major damage to property was reported.In Cumilla, an...

Improved rail link with NW in 2027

The rail network with the country's north-western region is likely to improve with speed, time and number of train operations in 2027.With this end in view, the Bangladesh Railway (BR) has set a target to start building the 162-kilometre second...

3-yr-old Craftsman Footwear plans listing on SME board to sustain growth

Export-focused shoemaker Craftsman Footwear and Accessories looks to get listed on the SME board three years after beginning production, as it secured an exponential growth in profit between FY21 and FY23. Sadat Hossain Salim, who founded the organisation from his...

Trade cooperation to overcome food insecurity

Food security worldwide is declining and becoming a matter of major concern. There are many reasons behind the decline in food security or rise in food insecurity. Even before the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, the world had witnessed the...

Govt to build 59 more fire stations amid rising incidents, disasters

In response to a surge in fire incidents and other disasters in recent years, the government has decided to construct 59 more fire stations across the country by spending nearly Tk 24 billion in the next four years, officials said.These...

Scientific and technological advancements inadequate to fight global warming

Over the past two or so decades, the world has witnessed scientific and technological advancement of such unrivalled and influential order for the common mass as had never happened in the history of mankind. Life and living in general have...

How dare they defy HC directives?

The High Court (HC) admonished on Monday last the Department of Environment (DoE) and the two city corporations of Dhaka for their respective failures to comply with its earlier directives on controlling air pollution in the capital. This time the...

An opportunity if we all play our part

A farmer in the Niger whose fields have dried up due to the heat. A father in Palau who does not know whether his house will still be standing when his children are grown up - or whether the rising...

A bittersweet experience

Twelve laborious years of education-HSC or Higher Secondary Certificate, a long endeavour and precious years of a student's life. Commencing from primary (grades 1-5) through secondary years (grades 6-10) generally prepares learners to sit for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and...

Policy parameters of revenue regime

Bangladesh has beaten the initial pessimism about viability and prospect of the country with its resource limitations to feed a large population and the lack of energy and natural resources for developing industries. Fifty two years back, it was a...

There is, yes, life after the movies

The actor Ferdous is a candidate for the forthcoming general election in January next year from the ruling Awami League. His selection as a candidate follows in the tradition set by others of his profession in these past many years....

Pvt provident funds struggle to navigate tax filing maze

The revenue board's existing electronic system has yet to incorporate any option to register private-sector provident funds as taxpayers even though 27.5-percent tax levied on them since June 22, 2023.Although private provident funds are considered separate taxpayers, they are unable...

BD embassy alerts govt about possible sanctions

Bangladesh could be one of the "targets" for stringent measures such as sanctions, trade penalties and visa restrictions threatened in the US Presidential Memorandum on labour rights, alerts the country’s mission in Washington.Although the labour-rights edict is applicable globally-not specifically...

ADB loan deal for Chattogram rail project likely in Dec

CHATTOGRAM, Nov 28: The government is likely to sign an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in December for the development of a 45km dual gauge double rail line project stretching from Pahartali to Dohazari in Chattogram.Expected to take...

The tradition of making pickles at home is fading

Almost everyone holds heartwarming memories of homemade pickles. Whenever we hear the word 'pickle,' the first picture that pops into our heads is of our mothers and grandmothers' careful gathering and cleaning of fresh seasonal fruits, their expert hands pouring...

Are you a social media critic who judges everyone?

It's interesting how we've all become a bit quick to judge everyone on social media, haven't we? The online world has this magical ability to turn us into instant critics. Part of it comes from the anonymity vibe of it...

Economics of inequality after Piketty

Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century (2014) has been a runaway best seller to the surprise of many. Over three million copies were sold as of 2022 and the curve is rising. Not since John Maynard Keynes’s General Theory...

Floor price left no room for mutual funds to perform in FY23

The mutual fund industry found itself in a tight spot in FY23, as the price movement restriction kept the market stagnant throughout the year giving little opportunity for capital gains. Open-ended mutual funds that secured commendable double-digit returns a year...

Tariff Commission recommends VAT exemption for indenting services

The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) has recommended exempting the income of indenting services from value-added tax (VAT) as these earnings are recognised as export earnings by the government. Currently, indenting agents in the country are required to pay...

S Asia needs to cut trade cost, enhance regional connectivity

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is in hibernation now and it can only be restored with many changes, Indian trade and connectivity expert Dr Prabir De has said. "It is known to all that India-Pakistan rivalry is...

Tourism in greater Ctg zone hit hard by ongoing political unrest

CHATTOGRAM, Nov 27: The tourism industry in greater Chattogram, encompassing the hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari, and Cox's Bazar, faces severe setbacks due to the current hartals and blockades. Political unrest ahead of the impending national elections has...

BR overwhelmed by passenger demand

The Bangladesh Railway (BR) is experiencing an overwhelming surge in passenger demand for its newly introduced intercity trains operating on the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar and Dhaka-Khulna routes via the Padma Bridge. This surge has been pressing the state-owned train operator to...

When will tannery sector come of age?

Though the leather sector has shown slight improvement in export performance in FY 23 at USD1.12 billion compared to the previous FY's USD1.11 billion, still the sector's growth is not at the expected level. And with Bangladeshi apparel products facing...