Violence against women: A persistent challenge

The 2024 Violence Against Women (VAW) Survey, conducted by BBS and UNFPA, reveals that gender-based violence remains widespread in Bangladesh, affecting women across all regions, age groups, and socio-economic backgrounds. Among 27,476 women surveyed, 76 per cent reported experiencing intimate...

Volunteering career advancement

Volunteering experiences inevitably impact an individual's life in many meaningful ways. Across the world, there is ample evidence demonstrating its effectiveness in personal, social and professional development. The concept of 'volunteerism' can be defined from multiple perspectives, depending on an...

Protecting democracy from digital manipulation

The 13th parliamentary elections, slated for February 12, 2026, mark a watershed moment in the country's history. The election is crucial as it is expected to pave the way for Bangladesh's return to democracy after more than a decade and...

Pledge of the National Food Safety Day

There are few places in the world where food safety is compromised as widely as it is done in this part of the world for enhancing profit. From production, storing and processing of agricultural produce to preparation and serving as...

Rethinking VAT reform in Bangladesh

Having worked in the VAT management system for nearly three decades since 1995, I have had the opportunity to observe numerous policy initiatives and administrative reforms. Despite these efforts, Bangladesh continues to have one of the lowest tax-GDP ratios in...

Why libraries need AI now

“Gaayane Mukti, Agamir Vitti” (Knowledge is Freedom, the Foundation of the Future) is the theme of this year’s observance of National Library Day in Bangladesh. This theme captures a timeless truth with renewed urgency. In an era marked by information...

Weather _2026-02-03

Weather may remain dry with cloudy sky in the next 24 hours from 06:00 am today (Tuesday). Light to moderate fog may occur at places. Temperature may rise slightly. The highest temperature in the country on Monday was recorded at...

15th death anniv of Khurshida Haque today

Today (Tuesday) marks the 15th death anniversary of Khurshida Haque, a prominent social worker and wife of former minister M.A. Haque, according to a statement.Relatives, friends, and well-wishers are kindly requested to pray for the peace and salvation of her...

NSU organises 10th National Career Fair

North South University (NSU) inaugurated the 10th National Career Fair at the NSU Plaza on February 1 to create employment and networking opportunities for students and graduates, according to a press release.Organised by the Career and Placement Center (CPC) and...

Govt sets subsidised prices for meat, milk, eggs during Ramadan

Like every year, the government will sell key animal protein items at subsidised prices during the upcoming Ramadan to help ease pressure on consumers, officials said on Sunday.Under the programme, beef will be sold at Tk 650 per kg, milk...

Performance audit for COVID-19 Vaccine Recovery Project launched

The government has initiated a comprehensive performance audit for the "Responsive COVID-19 Vaccine for Recovery Project" under the Asia Pacific Access Facility (APVAX). This audit, scheduled for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, will assess the efficiency and compliance of vaccine-related recovery...

East West University holds 25th Convocation

The 25th Convocation of East West University (EWU) was held at Aftabnagar Playground in the city on Monday with great enthusiasm and participation, especially from the fresh graduates and their parents.A total of 1,857 students of undergraduate and graduate programmes...

Excessive use of fertilisers, pesticides becomes a threat

Food and Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder said excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides to increase crop production has now become a serious threat to safe food.In the past, artificial fertilisers and pesticides were not used in agriculture. Later, agricultural...

Court freezes eight A/Cs of Amu

A Dhaka court has directed the authorities concenred to freeze eight bank accounts of former minister and Awami League advisory council member Amir Hossain Amu over graft allegations, reports BSS.Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz passed the order...

DMP chief orders tight security at city’s polling centres

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali has directed all units to ensure maximum security at polling centres across the capital ahead of the 13th national election scheduled for February 12.He gave the directive while addressing senior DMP officials...

Nearly 0.2m postal ballots reach BD from abroad

A total of 1,94,914 postal ballots have already arrived in Bangladesh from abroad ahead of 13th national election, scheduled to be held on February 12.The Election Commission (EC) sent a total of 7,66,862 ballots to non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) and 5,22,...

Police launch hotlines for reporting election code violations

The Police Headquarters and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have launched dedicated mobile numbers to address complaints related to law and order ahead of the 13th national election slated for February 12 next.The Police Headquarters said people can now directly...

40 get HC bail in Sherpur Jamaat leader killing case

The High Court (HC) has granted bail to 40 people, including prime accused BNP candidate Mahmudul Haque, in connection with a case filed over the killing of Jamaat leader Rezaul Karim in Jhenaigati Upazila of Sherpur, report agencies. The HC...

Zaima Rahman, holds a 'Tea Conversation' with young people

Barrister Zaima Rahman, daughter of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, holds a 'Tea Conversation' with young people at the DOHS playground in the capital's Mohakhali on Monday. — Focus Bangla

Jamaat wants to push country back, says Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that Jamaat-e-Islam aims to turn Bangladesh into an Afghanistan-like state, raising concerns over the party's political agenda and its potential impact on national stability, report agencies."They want to take Bangladesh backward....

Central bank steps up dollar purchases

The central bank purchased more than US$4.0 billion from banks over the past nearly seven months, aiming to support exporters and remitters by keeping the dollar-taka exchange rate stable.As part of its ongoing intervention, Bangladesh Bank (BB) bought a further...

ACC sues ex-DESCO MD, chief engineer

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday filed two cases against former Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) managing director Md Kawsar Amir Ali and chief engineer Shamim Ahsan Chowdhury for causing a loss of about Tk 748.3 million to the...

State reform foundation weaker than expected, says TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said that one and a half years after the fall of authoritarianism, the foundation for state reform has not strengthened; instead, the shortfalls far outweigh the achievements.At least 158 political activists were killed and 7,082...

LPG price rises by Tk50 per 12kg cylinder in BD for Feb

The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been increased again at the consumer level, with the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) raising the price of a 12kg LPG cylinder by Tk50 for February, reports UNB.According to a BERC announcement...

WB, ADB confirm $300m funding for job creation, skill development

Bangladesh's ambition to become an upper-middle-income country gained significant momentum this week as the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) confirmed over $300 million in funding.The Washington-based lender confirmed $150.75 million in additional financing for informal sector...

BTRC seeks to ease spectrum concerns as GP secures 700 MHz allocation

Bangladesh's telecom regulator has taken a fresh step to address growing concerns over regulatory imbalance in the allocation of 700 MHz spectrum to Grameenphone (GP), as it invited rival operators Robi Axiata and Banglalink to a discussion on Tuesday to...

Biman MD, wife arrested over torture of minor house help

Police arrested Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman, his wife and two others on early hours of Monday night in connection with a case filed on charge of torturing their minor...

Govt orders expeditious part takeover of KAFCO's foreign stakes

The government has asked for expediting the process of takeover of a portion of foreign stakes in Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (KAFCO) and offloading some shares of the multinational on the capital market. Sources have said the instruction was issued...

RMG export at risk for Ctg port strike

Operational activities at Chattogram Port, the country's prime seaport, remained at a standstill for a third consecutive day on Monday as port workers continued their protest against the planned lease of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based DP...

Those disrupting port activities are being investigated

The government will not take any decision that goes against national interest in managing the country's ports, Shipping Adviser Brigadier-General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain said on Monday. "The ministry supports whatever is good and beneficial for the port and...