Research must have clear goals, says RUET VC

RAJSHAHI, Feb 07 (BSS): Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) Professor S M Abdur Razzak has said that research should be conducted with clearly defined goals."We need to set targets for our research. Where do we want...

Fund shortage slows embankment work, threatening Boro crops

SUNAMGANJ, Feb 07 (UNB): A shortage of funds has slowed embankment construction across Jagannathpur upazila in Sunamganj, raising fears among farmers that unfinished flood defences could expose early Boro crops to flash floods in the coming weeks.The government allocated Tk...

Gopalganj growers get good price selling tomatoes

OUR CORRESPONDENTGOPALGANJ Feb 07: Tomato farmers of Gopalganj Sadar Upazila got a good price for their produce throughout winter and DAE estimates that this year growers of Gopalganj's five upazilas will earn over two billion taka selling the vegetable.A total...

Matlab's Khir: A sweet delicacy for foodies in Chandpur, beyond

CHANDPUR, Feb 07: The Khir, a dish of sweet rice pudding, of Matlab Dakhshin upazila of the district has long been treated as a delicious sweet item of unique taste by the food-lovers across the district since Pakistan regime. Not...

How a single project can reshape a region

As a development analyst, I have spent much of my career studying how large infrastructure projects alter regional economies. Too often, such projects promise transformation but leave behind only partial gains. Rooppur, however, tells a different story. What is unfolding...

Monetary policy decisions under political constraints

Bangladesh Bank is scheduled to announce its monetary policy stance for the second half of FY26 on Monday (February 9, 2026), amid persistent inflationary pressures and weakening momentum in the real sector. Advisers to the interim government have been pressing...

Exchange rates, international finance and the global economy

Exchange rates, the price of one currency in terms another currency, are crucial in international finance for influencing trade balance, investment flows and inflation. Factors influencing exchange rates include interest rates, economic activity, inflation and market confidence. For economies like...

AI shaping the future of learning

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the way of imparting education, offering exciting opportunities for both students and teachers. One of the most important changes AI brings is personalised learning. AI can adapt to each student's needs, helping them learn...

Tea workers' life of hardship

The tea workers continue to be among the least paid groups in Bangladesh. Despite their contributions to a vital sector of economy and day-to-day activities, their standards of living reflect a life of deprivation. A worker in a tea garden...

Keeping market stable in Ramadan

The holy month of Ramadan will begin in less than two weeks. It is a time when people are expected not only to deepen their spiritual devotion but also to refrain from practices that are morally indefensible and harmful to...

Will FDI surge after election?

Notwithstanding various efforts and policy supports, inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh is still nominal. The annual average net inflow of FDI stood at $1.60 billion in the last 10 years which is less than one per cent...

Ctg port deal: Haste makes waste

The temporary break in the Chattogram port strike that came after six full days of disruption did little to ease tensions. Port workers have flat-out warned that operations may be shut down again as early as tomorrow unless the government...

BD, Japan sign full-fledged deal on economic partnership

Bangladesh and Japan Friday signed a landmark Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that ushers in a new era of bilateral trade and investment cooperation and marks Dhaka's first such comprehensive pact with any country.Under the agreement, Japan will grant 100-percent duty-free...

Asian markets extend global retreat as tech worries build

HONG KONG, Feb 6 (AFP): Asian equities sank again on Friday as a tech rout that battered Wall Street for the third day in a row showed no sign of letting up amid growing unease about the hundreds of billions...

Stocks extend rally amid optimistic outlook

The benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) extended its winning streak for the third week in a row, buoyed by sustained investor interest in banking stocks amid expectation of favourable post-election momentum.Analysts attributed the ongoing recovery to broad-based...

Ishraq pledges to resolve gas crisis, waterlogging in Old Dhaka

Engineer Ishraq Hossain, the BNP-nominated candidate for Dhaka-6, has promised to revitalise old Dhaka by addressing waterlogging, the acute gas crisis, and drug abuse, reports BSS.In an interview with the agencies at Baldha Garden, the candidate outlined his development plans...

Effigies of adviser Sakhawat, BIDA's Ashik burnt at DU

Effigies of several individuals were burned at Dhaka University (DU) on Thursday in protest against the government's move to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chittagong Port to foreign entities, branding them as ‘economic hitmen.’The demonstration was held...

Ctg election fever peaks before Feb 12

CHATTOGRAM, Feb 06: has gripped Chattogram ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) election slated for 12 February. Campaigning by candidates and discussions among voters are at their peak, with supporters of candidates in the city's 16 constituencies holding processions...

Over 0.15m postal ballots reach returning officers

A total of 1,55,452 (over 0.15 million) postal ballots have already reached the returning officers across the country ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, scheduled for February 12. Of them, 1,24,746 ballots have been received from expatriate voters staying abroad...

Bobby Hajjaj, the BNP candidate for Dhaka-13

Bobby Hajjaj, the BNP candidate for Dhaka-13, carrying out mass contact with voters in the capital's Adabar area on Friday as part of his campaign for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election. — Focus Bangla

JUCSU VP Jitu joins BNP

Abdur Rashid Zitu, vice-president (VP) of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU), has formally joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).Alongside him, several representatives from different hall unions of the university joined the Jatiyatabadi Chatra Dal (JCD), the student wing...

Vote manipulators to meet same fate as fascists: Nahid

SAVAR, Feb 6 (UNB): National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam warned that those involved in vote rigging or electoral malpractice would face the same fate as fascists.Speaking at an election rally in Savar for Dilshana Parul, the 11-party alliance...

EU chief observer talks to media on Sylhet polls

SYLHET, Feb.6: The European Union's Election Observation Mission (EOM) has emphasised the importance of conducting secure and safe elections in Bangladesh on 12 February, highlighting the need for a congenial atmosphere and maintenance of law and order.Addressing a view-exchange meeting...

BNP cancels final Dhaka polls rally scheduled for Feb 8

BNP has cancelled its final election rally scheduled to be held in capital on February 8 , reports UNB.Instead of holding the rally, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will deliver election speeches at different locations across Dhaka North and South on...

BNP's polls manifesto to bring 'new sunrise' for country: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the party's election manifesto will bring a ‘new sunrise’ for Bangladesh, an event the nation is eagerly awaiting, report agencies. "After much sacrifice and bloodshed, the country is finally moving towards...

'Bangladesh Before All' central to foreign policy, national security

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has placed foreign policy, national security and defence reform at the heart of its election manifesto, declaring that its guiding principle will be 'Bangladesh Before All'. Unveiling the vision Friday, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman said...

Youth gunned down in Khulna

KHULNA, Feb 6 (UNB): A young man was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Khulna town late Wednesday night, police said.The victim was identified as Rakib Hossain, 23, son of Anwar Hossain of the Ashibigha area under Labanchara Police Station.Quoting...

Suicide bomber kills 31 in Pakistan mosque

ISLAMABAD, Feb 6 (Reuters): An attacker opened fire at the gates of a Shi'ite Muslim mosque in Islamabad on Friday before setting off a suicide bomb and killing at least 31 people, in the deadliest attack of its kind in...

BNP pledges to make BSEC an independent regulator

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has pledged to develop the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) as an independent and autonomous institution for greater transparency and accountability.Unveiling the party's election manifesto on Friday, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman also pledged to...

H1 sales return to positive territory at Tk 24.61b

The net sales of state-run savings instruments returned to positive territory in the first half of the current fiscal year 2025-26 with savers showing growing interest in the secured investment tools.According to the latest Bangladesh Bank (BB) data, net sales...