Hollowing out the economy by illicit fund outflow

Few statistics capture the scale of Bangladesh's economic vulnerability as starkly as this: $68.3bn illicitly transferred abroad in less than a decade. The figure, estimated by Global Financial Integrity, is not merely an accounting anomaly or a technical irregularity in...

Tackling outbreak of measles

Bangladesh's regression from a successful child vaccination country has been marked by the current outbreak of measles which has claimed 41 lives of children until Sunday last. The country launched its Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) as early as 1974...

WTO-MC14: A saving exercise

The World Trade Organization (WTO) as a multilateral institution has been saved, for the time being, but at the cost of doing, and agreeing to do, almost nothing. 'WTO Reforms' was the catchword of 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). Everyone agreed...

Geopolitics of strategic patience

In the highly volatile arena of international politics, while wars and conflicts dominate the headlines, strategy and strategic thinking play out quietly behind the scenes. In the volatile Middle Eastern arena, with tensions running high as a result of conflict...

How to tackle rumours on social media

The spread of fake news and AI-generated content on social media has become almost a daily occurrence. Platforms like Facebook often host fake photo cards imitating news outlets, adding fabricated quotes or stories. Many users, unaware of AI's manipulative power,...

Fresh fuel crunch leaves motorists in the lurch

A worsening fuel shortage left dozens of motorists stranded in long queues across the capital on Sunday, as several filling stations either ran out of fuel or imposed limits on sales, disrupting daily routines and business operations.At around 9:30 am,...

Country loses Tk 838b a year through trade misinvoicing

Bangladesh is losing an estimated Tk 838.38 billion annually through trade misinvoicing, highlighting a major drain on public finances and exposing deep vulnerabilities in the country's trade and financial systems.A new report by Global Financial Integrity (GFI) underscores the scale...

T-bill yields mixed amid weak credit demand

Yields on treasury bills showed a mixed trend on Sunday as banks channelled excess liquidity into short-term government securities, reflecting subdued private sector credit demand and cautious market sentiment.The shift in investment preference comes amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and slowing...

Inhuman human traffickers must be punished

Those involved in human trafficking must be brought to justice, says the State Minister for foreign affairs, as reports emerged that Bangladeshis are among dozens of migrants who died attempting to cross the Mediterranean.Speaking to reporters at the foreign ministry...

12 out of 22 dead victims from Sunamganj

SYLHET, Mar 29: Among the 22 migrants who died aboard a boat while travelling by sea from Libya to Greece, 12 are residents of Sunamganj alone, said officials of Sunamganj district police.Contacted, the Additional Superintendent of Police, Sunamganj, Sujan Sarkar,...

Offices resume in full swing after Eid vacation

The capital, Dhaka, on Sunday started returning to its usual bustling following full resumption of work at offices and functioning of businesses after extended Eid-ul-Fitr and Independence Day holidays.Government offices, banks, financial institutions, and courts resumed operations fully after the...

Divisions lead to delay in MC14 final day

Developed and advanced developing countries were again at loggerheads to reach a compromise on some key issues on a deal during the final day of the 14th ministerial conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).As a result, until our...

Govt revising 'inflated' GDP data

Prime Minister's Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir has said previous governments inflated GDP growth and economic size for political purposes, as the interim administration moves to correct long-standing distortions in official data.He warned that the economy the...

Bangladesh joins WTO investment facilitation pact

Bangladesh has formally announced its decision to join the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement at the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC 14), marking its first entry into a plurilateral trade initiative.The move signals Dhaka's growing engagement in...

Prayer Timings _2026-03-30

"No Kings" rallies against immigration policies, Iran war rock US

SACRAMENTO/NEW YORK, United States, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Millions of Americans took to the streets Saturday in the third wave of "No Kings" rallies across the United States, protesting policies of the U.S. administration, ranging from military action in Iran...

Govt allocates Tk 6.04b for purchase of measles vax

No measles vaccine had been provided in the country in the last eight years, which had culminated in the recent outbreak of the disease, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said on Sunday.The government had allocated Tk 6.04 billion to...

Fin min suggests changes in mode of providing aid

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has sought a budget allocation of Tk 79.43 billion for the next fiscal year to implement a range of social programmes, which is 1.55 per cent higher than the current amount.The programmes include...

Govt seeking $2.0b in bailout from foreign financiers

Bangladesh opts for seeking an additional $2.0 billion in bailout from foreign development partners to buttress the balance of payments (BoP) through minimising shocks stemming from war crises in Mideast countries.Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman revealed the plan...

Discussion on opposition notice in JS tomorrow

Parliamentary discussion on a notice submitted by the opposition for constituting the referendum-mandated constitutional reform council will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) under an adjournment motion.Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal gave the ruling Sunday after receiving the notice from Leader of the...

Weather _2026-03-30

Rain is likely to occur at a few places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions until 6:00 pm today (Monday). Temperature may rise slightly over the country. The highest temperature was recorded on Sunday at...

NSU earns recognition across key disciplines

North South University (NSU) has continued to strengthen its academic reputation in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, earning recognition across several key disciplines, said a press release.This year, NSU's most notable achievement is in Economics and Econometrics,...

Padma bus plunge: Rescue operation continues for fifth day

Rajbari, March 29 (UNB): Rescue operations continued for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday after a passenger bus sank in the Padma River near the 3rd ferry ghat at Daulatdia in Gopalganj upazila of Rajbari.Members of various government agencies resumed...

Fire breaks out at Ctg cold storage

CHATTOGRAM, Mar 29: A massive fire engulfed the Cold Storage of BD Food Limited at Sagorika area in the port city Chattogram on Sunday. There are no casualties of life in the fire accident.According to the Fire Service and Civil...

All filling stations in Narail closed over killing of pump manager

Narail, March 29 (UNB): All filling stations in Narail district were shut, as the filling station owners called an indefinite strike for Sunday, protesting the alleged killing of a pump manager over his refusal to supply fuel to a truck...

Building inequality-free society main goal of independence: DU VC

DU VC Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam on Sunday said achieving independence remains the nation's greatest pride, but its main purpose lies in eliminating social disparities and ensuring economic, social, and democratic freedom for all citizens.The vice chancellor (VC) made...

Human-chain at DU to raise age limit for govt jobs to 35

A group of job-seekers staged a human-chain in front of the Raju Sculpture at the Dhaka University (DU) on Sunday, demanding that the maximum age limit for the government job applications be permanently increased to at least 35 years.Under the...

CCC to take charge of 36 canals, restore 21 others

To mitigate the waterlogging crisis in Chattogram city, the CCC is set to take over the management of 36 canals, sluice gates and other vital infrastructure, as 21 other canals will be excavated for the same purpose following a pre-feasibility...

Hatirjheel OC seeks unconditional apology

Hatirjheel Police Station (PS) officer-in-charge (OC) Golam Mortuza sought an unconditional apology over police's dissatisfactory role in shutting down a panjabi shop in the capital's Mogbazar area.He appeared in person before the court of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Mohammad...

Bus-truck collision in Dinajpur: Two killed

DINAJPUR, March 29, 2026 (BSS): Two people were killed and at least six others were seriously injured in a road accident in Birampur upazila of the district on Sunday morning.The deceased were identified as Mosharraf Hossain Babu, 57, the bus...