Memory chip price spike threatens digital infrastructure projects

A sharp and sustained surge in global memory chip prices is pushing the country's ICT sector into a growing procurement crisis, with officials and industry insiders warning that delays, failed tenders and spiralling costs are severely affecting key digital infrastructure...

ANSAR-VDP UNNAYAN BANK HOLDS 113th BOARD MEETING

The 113th meeting of the Board of Directors of Ansar-VDP Unnayan Bank was held recently. The meeting was presided over by Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, Chairman of the bank, and Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence...

STANDARD ISLAMI BANK HOLDS 425TH BOARD MEETING

The 425th Board Meeting of Standard Islami Bank PLC was held at the bank's Head Office in Dhaka on Thursday. Chairman of the Board of Directors Mohammed Abdul Aziz presided over the meeting attended by Vice Chairman Gulzar Ahmed, Directors...

Gold rises as Middle East optimism calms inflation fears

Gold prices rose on Thursday as growing optimism about a possible end to conflicts in the Middle East calmed inflation worries and improved prospects for lower interest rates, reports Reuters.Spot gold rose 0.6 per cent to $4,819.66 per ounce by...

Oil prices edge up _

LONDON, April 16 (Reuters): Oil prices rose on Thursday, reversing earlier declines as the market questioned whether peace talks between the US and Iran would achieve a deal to end the war that has disrupted energy supplies from the Middle...

Swiss firm Symbiotics to invest $1.5m in iFarmer to strengthen BD's agricultural value chain

Symbiotics, a leading Swiss-based market-access platform for impact investing, on Wednesday announced a US$1.5 million financing facility for iFarmer, one of Bangladesh's fastest-growing agri-tech platforms.The investment will support iFarmer's working capital needs to expand agricultural input distribution and strengthen market...

Govt plans to procure new aircraft for Biman modernisation

The government is planning to procure new aircraft to modernise the national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, as part of efforts to enhance service quality and expand operations.Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam made the disclosure on Wednesday while...

Iran arrests four alleged Israeli spies

TEHRAN, Apr 16 (AFP): Iran arrested four suspected Israeli spies, state media reported on Thursday.It came as US officials discuss possible peace talks with Iran after US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28 engulfed the Middle East in war."The four...

South Korean president to visit India, Vietnam

SEOUL, Apr 16 (AFP): South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit India and Vietnam for several days starting this week, a senior official said Thursday, as Seoul seeks to coordinate its fuel supplies to cushion the impact of the...

Israeli army kills Palestinian teen in West Bank

RAMALLAH, Apr 16 (AFP): Israeli forces killed a 17-year-old Palestinian in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, according to Palestinian officials, as the Israeli military said its troops had "neutralised a terrorist".Mohammed Murad Mahmud Rayan was "killed by the (Israeli)...

Nepal forms body to probe assets of politicians, officials

KATHMANDU, Apr 16 (AFP): Nepal's government, elected last month on an anti-corruption platform, has formed a commission to investigate the assets of politicians and officials, an official said Thursday.Prime Minister Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician, won a landslide election victory...

Trump has 'no right' to threaten countries: Lula

MADRID, Apr 16 (AFP): Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized US President Donald Trump, saying the US leader has "no right" to threaten other nations, in an interview published in Spain on Thursday.Lula's comments come after Trump this...

Syria takes over northeast base after international coalition pullout

DAMASCUS, Apr 16 (AFP): Syria said on Thursday that it had taken control of a military base in Hasakeh province in the northeast after forces from the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State group withdrew.Syrian army forces "took over...

At least 19 killed in Ukraine

KYIV, Apr 16 (BBC): Russia launched more than 700 drones and missiles at Ukraine in multiple waves overnight, killing at least 19 people in what local officials said was the deadliest attack in months.Nine people were reportedly killed in the...

French Open prize money increases 9.5pc, retiring players to be honoured

PARIS, Apr 16 (Reuters): Prize money at this year's French Open will jump by 9.5 per cent, taking the total purse to 61.7 million euros ($72.69 million), organisers said on Thursday.The increase of 5.4 million euros compared to 2025 continues...

Fans slam World Cup 2026 transport price surge

WASHINGTON, United States, Apr 16 (AFP): Football fans have expressed outrage at the exorbitant price of transit fares to get to World Cup matches, following reports that US transport authorities have jacked up prices just for this summer's tournament.New Jersey...

Soumya awaits chance as competition grows up top

When is the right time for a cricketer to secure a place in the playing XI?This question has been lingering for some time, especially after Soumya Sarkar failed to make the cut against Pakistan in the three-match ODI series at...

BD eye ranking gains in NZ ODI series

Bangladesh head into their upcoming ODI series against New Zealand national cricket team with more than just match and series victories on their minds - the battle for ranking points is equally significant.Every ODI now carries added importance for Bangladesh...

Tigers eye winning start against Kiwis

Bangladesh is aiming for a winning start to gain an early psychological advantage when they take on New Zealand in the opening match of the three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today (Friday), reports BSS.The match is...

Three-match ODI series against New Zealand begins today (Friday)

Bangladesh ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and New Zealand skipper Tom Latham pose with the ODI series trophy at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city on Thursday, ahead of the first match starting today (Friday) — BCB

Cox's Bazar Railway Station losing grandeur in absence of an operator

The state-of-the-art Cox's Bazar Railway Station building has already started losing its glossy look for the unavailability of an interested party to conduct its overall management and operation over the past two years since its inauguration.Sources said though eight parties...

Ministry eyes fresh foreign fund after project dropped from LoC

The Railway Ministry now mulls over fresh foreign funds for the Khulna-Darshana railway-line project after dropping it out from the Indian Line of Credit (LoC), officials said on Wednesday.The Planning Commission (PC) at its recent Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting...

Unhealthy food stalls in front of schools

Unhealthy food stalls are a common sight in front of almost every school, college and university across the country. Items such as fuchka, jhalmuri, chotpoti, chanachur, pickles, fried snacks and colourful soft drinks are widely sold. Unfortunately, many of these...

Tourism potential of Pahela Baishakh celebration

Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, is no longer only a traditional calendar event. It has become a powerful expression of national identity and cultural unity in Bangladesh. This festival reflects centuries of heritage, shared values, and social harmony. In...

Rethinking Dhaka's cleaning system

Dhaka city suffers from a shortage of manpower in waste and filth management. But what it suffers the most from is the lack of a modern and efficient cleaning system. The capital's daily struggle with waste is not just because...

Let there be an auspicious start to the year 1433

It is a coincidence that the Bangla New Year, Pahela Baishakh that is, begins with 'Mangol Bar' or Tuesday this year. The very word 'Mangol' is allergic to a quarter who are in favour of renaming the 'Mangol Shobhayatra' as...

Easing fiscal strain: A key policy imperative

The emerging fiscal picture suggests a growing strain on public finances, one that reflects both structural vulnerabilities and the weight of immediate economic pressures. The sharp rise in allocations for interest payments, subsidies, incentives and cash loans signals not only...

The city eating into vitals of a nation

There is a concept in urban sociology that Saskia Sassen developed in her landmark work on the global city -- the idea that certain metropolises become command centres of the world economy, concentrating financial, informational, and professional power in ways...

Release of $1.3b from IMF credit not by June

Bangladesh is unlikely to get US$1.3 billion, due in two tranches, within this fiscal year from the $5.5-billion credit programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), finance officials say.The uncertainty has been created as the IMF is showing less interest...

PKSF and the 2026 Independence Award

The development narrative of Bangladesh is often framed around prominent institutions and marquee initiatives. Yet, many consequential contributions come from organisations that operate behind the scenes, building systems that foster development. Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) is one such institution that...