Foreign investors pull money from stocks ahead of polls

Foreign investors have continued to withdraw funds from Bangladesh's equity market over the past year through November this year amid persistent political and macroeconomic uncertainties.Economic reform measures taken by the interim government after the political changeover had given rise to...

Europe must ‘guard against US dominance in rare earths’

LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters): Europe has finally taken major steps to build up its rare earths sector to counter Chinese dominance, but the region also needs to guard against being overwhelmed by the United States, the head of an EU-funded...

India has no immediate plans to add coal power capacity beyond 2035, official says

NEW DELHI, Dec 7 (Reuters): India does not have any immediate plans to add coal power generation capacity beyond 2035, a top power ministry official said on Sunday."India wants to secure its energy requirements," Pankaj Agarwal, secretary at the power...

Benin coup attempt foiled by loyalist troops: Minister

COTONOU, Dec 07 (BBC): Benin's interior minister has appeared on national TV to announce that an attempted coup in the West Africa nation has been thwarted.Earlier, a group of soldiers, led by Lt-Col Pascal Tigri, had made a broadcast saying...

India's Goa state orders probe as nightclub fire kills 25

BENGALURU, Dec 07 (Reuters): Indian authorities ordered an investigation and offered compensation to victims on Sunday after a fire ripped through a nightclub in the western state of Goa, killing 25."I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the entire incident...

Ukraine peace deal really close, says US envoy

KYIV, Dec 07 (Reuters/BBC): U.S. President Donald Trump's outgoing Ukraine envoy said a deal to end the Ukraine war was "really close" and now depended on resolving two main outstanding issues: the future of Ukraine's Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia...

China military aircraft locks radar onto Japan fighters

TOKYO, Dec 07 (AFP): Chinese military aircraft locked radar onto Japanese fighter jets southeast of Okinawa's main island, Japan's defence ministry said Sunday, slamming it as a "dangerous act".Beijing-Tokyo relations have soured over the past month, following remarks by Japanese...

Sri Lanka issues landslide alert

COLOMBO, Dec 07 (AFP): Sri Lankan authorities issued fresh landslide warnings on Sunday with rains lashing areas already devastated by a powerful cyclone, as the death toll rose to 618.More than two million people-nearly 10 percent of the population-have been...

Netanyahu expects to enter next phase of Gaza truce 'shortly'

JERUSALEM, Dec 07 (AFP): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he expected to move into the second phase of the US-sponsored ceasefire plan for Gaza "very shortly".Speaking during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz...

Natore farmers block road demanding fertiliser

NATORE, Dec 07 (UNB): Farmers on Sunday blocked a road in Naldanga upazila of Natore district demanding fertiliser ahead of Boro season.A number of farmers went to the shop of Shyam Sundar Agarwal, a fertilizer dealer at Naldanga intersection around...

Much-longed for bridge lies incomplete for years in Sylhet

SYLHET, Dec 07: Construction works for a bridge over the Chhora River - long demanded by students and workers in the Surma tea garden area in Madhabpur Upazila - remain incomplete for years.The earthen access route at one side of...

Special initiative taken to manage stray dogs on St. Martin's Island

COX'S BAZAR, Dec 07: The government has taken up a special initiative to manage the dog population on St. Martin's Island as part of a broader effort to protect the island's fragile environment and biodiversity, particularly its endangered marine turtles....

ESCAP and the next frontier of Asia-Pacific development

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is one of the five Regional Commissions under the jurisdiction of the UN Economic and Social Council. It was established in order to increase economic activity in...

Gender differentials in workforce

In the midst of the demographic transition, Bangladesh is experiencing rapid shifts in the relative numbers of children, the working-age population, and elderly persons. Here, changes in the age structure suggest that two-thirds of the total population are of working...

Preparing Dhaka for the future

Dhaka is regarded as one of the rapidly developing megacities across the globe. Its expansion has created the attendant ills such as traffic congestion, pollution, street congestion and deplorable services. Smart city technologies must be introduced in Dhaka to transform...

Looking after neighbours this winter

Winter arrives quietly, with foggy mornings, cold winds and the familiar chill in the air. While many look forward to this season with warm clothes, blankets and hot meals, the same period becomes a harsh struggle for countless poor and...

The headwinds export sector faces

Bangladesh's export sector has of late been facing headwinds mainly from the dual impact of the fall in demand in the international market and the reciprocal tariff imposed by the USA. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), last November...

Intriguing case of decline in internet subscription

The digital era, characterised by unprecedented connectivity, has reshaped communication, commerce, education and daily life. As more and more services go online, internet access is no longer a matter of convenience but a basic necessity. In fact, its importance is...

Mustafiz impresses on ILT20 debut despite Dubai Capitals defeat

Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman made an impactful debut in the International League (IL) T20 on Saturday for Dubai Capitals, reports UNB.He produced a strong all-round performance with the ball and in the field, even as his team, the Capitals,...

Australia crush England by eight wkts for 2-0 Ashes Test lead

BRISBANE, Australia, Dec 07 (AFP): Australia cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket win over England in the day-night second Ashes Test in Brisbane on Sunday for an ominous 2-0 lead in the series.Set a paltry target of 65 for victory, Australia...

Sylhet stay on course for 2nd straight NCL title

Day 2 of the final round of the 27th National Cricket League (NCL) saw Sylhet Division stay on course for their second straight title, thanks to a brilliant century from captain Zakir Hasan, reports BSS.Elsewhere, Anisul Islam narrowly missed a...

Chattogram's forgotten Sazzalela's Dance Hall to become Bangladesh's maiden civil defence museum

Tucked away onto Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah Road in Chattogram's Chandanpura area, a timeworn structure stands steeped in history and faded grandeur. Once alive with the rhythmic jingle of ankle bells and the melodies of midnight performances, the 250-year-old Sazzalela's Dance Hall...

The controls indicate the scale of discrimination

The trade and business at the commercial hub of Chattogram are suffering a lot, as the local businesses cannot supply the imported goods to other parts of the country smoothly due to the restrictive weighing scale set up at Boro...

Going green gets tough amid funding gap

The ship-breaking industry in Chattogram, which was categorised as "Red" by the Department of Environment (DoE) on April 26 of 2023 is yet to be categorised as "Orange. As a result, the industry is suffering a lot and the supply...

The human onslaught on Karnaphuli

Karnaphuli is the lifeline of the country's economy as the Chittagong Port, the prime seaport of the country, is situated on this river. But the river is being polluted rampantly due to unabated dumping of toxic chemicals and solid waste...

Prospect of ship building in Bangladesh

Across the world, demand for new ships is on a rapid rise. This surge comes at a time when many traditional shipbuilding nations, particularly Japan, South Korea, and several European countries, face major labour shortages. Shipbuilding is a labour-intensive industry,...

Bay Terminal: a future port of Bangladesh

A megaproject conceived for building a future port named "Bay Terminal of Chittagong Port" for harbouring big-hull ships will be completed by 2031. An agreement was signed for breakwater construction and access-channel dredging at the foreign-aided shipping terminal. So, the...

Non-communicable diseases posing greatest health challenge in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has advanced significantly in the area of public health in recent years. Infectious diseases like malaria and tuberculosis are mostly under control, life expectancy has increased, and baby and maternal mortality rates have decreased. Nonetheless, a significant public-health obstacle...

Health startups: global insights, local perspective

Whilst many people would like to see healthcare as philanthropy, there is no denying the fact that it is also a big business worldwide. It is not only about curing or preventing diseases but about the overall quality of life....

MPO paradox: why nationalisation imperative for Bangladesh's secondary education

As The Financial Express marks its thirty-second year chronicling the economic and social transformation of Bangladesh, it is imperative to focus analytical attention on the foundational pillar of our future progress: the education system. A nation’s true wealth lies in...