An evidence-based approach to accelerate climate action

Bangladesh is the world's seventh most climate risk-affected country and pays an exorbitant cost of around $1 billion exacted annually by tropical cyclones and a high level of air pollution that cost 9 per cent of the country's GDP. As...

Fire tragedy: authorities cannot evade responsibility

On the night of February 29, 2024, a tragic fire engulfed the multi-storey building on Bailey Road, resulting in the deaths of 46 individuals and leaving 11 seriously injured. Additionally, 75 people were rescued from the scene. Shockingly, most of...

Why so many restaurants in a single building?

The Bailey Road building that was devastated by a fire causing death to at least 46 people including all five members of a family and injuring others reportedly housed as many as eight dining facilities. Even though the origin of...

Disconcerting decline of women in workforce

Bangladesh boasts a remarkable increase in the number of female students from the primary to the higher secondary levels, as evidenced by board exams consistently showcasing girls outperforming boys in academic achievement. This encouraging trend was expected to narrow the...

Munich conference and reflections on global peace

It is true that this year during the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC), two of the most talked-about people were not there. That according to Lyse Doucet, BBC analyst, included former US President Donald Trump, "whose possible return to the...

Other sides of the WTO MC13

What happened in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), during the last week of February is neither new nor surprising. There are several records in the past that the ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) extended for a...

Weather (2024-03-03)

Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country in the next 24 hours from 06:00 am today (Sunday), according to the Met Office. Day temperature may remain nearly unchanged and night temperature may rise by (1-2)°C...

Dhaka's air quality once again worst in the world

Dhaka has topped the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 191 at 9:09 am on Saturday morning, reports UNB.Dhaka's air was classified as 'unhealthy', according to the air quality index.Pakistan's Lahore, Myanmar's...

Fire at city's Gausal Azam Market

A fire incident happened on Saturday at Gausal Azam Market in the New Market area of the capital. However, there was no report of casualty.A Fire Service official told the FE that they got information about the fire at around...

305,346 applications submitted for GST admission test

Admission test applications for students of the 2023-24 academic year of 24 universities under the GST (General Science and Technology) have ended, reports UNB. This time, a total of 305,346 applications have been submitted. Meanwhile, Jagannath University is at the...

Two held with over 2.0 kg gold at Ctg airport

Customs agents have seized 2.15 kg of gold from two passengers at Chattogram's Shah Amanat International Airport, reports bdnews24.com.The precious metals, worth an estimated Tk 20 million, were found during searches of the duo upon their arrival from the United...

BAF members during their departure to join UN Peacekeeping Mission

Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) members during their departure at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday to join the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — ISPR

Syed Manzur Elahi speaking at a day-long awareness programme on plastic pollution

East West University (EWU) Board of Trustees Chairperson Syed Manzur Elahi speaking at a day-long awareness programme on plastic pollution on the university campus in the city on Saturday. Professor Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, chief adviser of EWU, Professor Shams Rahman,...

Kacchi Bhai cashier's uncle, who brought him to Dhaka, haunted by last call

Jashore, Mar 01 (UNB): "Mama (uncle), please save me, I'm stuck here."Kamrul Habib Rocky, a 22-year-old from Jashore, had spoken those words as he contacted his uncle, Jihad Hossain, during the tragedy on Thursday night at the capital's Bailey Road."He...

Integrate zakat into policy-making strategies to address poverty

Discussants at a seminar termed zakat as a significant tool to finance social safety-net programmes in Bangladesh. Emphasising its alignment with Islamic principles, they urged the government to integrate zakat into policy-making strategies aimed at addressing poverty and inequality.The seminar...

Experts for more focus on cardiovascular health

Experts on Saturday called for increased budgetary allocation for the health sector as the strengthening of primary services is imperative to tackle heart diseases in Bangladesh.Hypertension or high blood pressure was the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which was...

Three Ansar Al Islam members held

Members of the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU), a specialised unit of Bangladesh Police, in separate drives in different areas of Narayanganj district arrested three members of the banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam, reports BSS.The arrested were identified as BM Bahauddin...

Hasan for new definition of 'refugee' including 'climate migrants'

Foreign Minister (FM) Hasan Mahmud has highlighted the adverse effects of global warming that among other factors are negatively contributing towards the rise of climate migrants and refugees, reports UNB. Bangladesh urged the global community to urgently change the definition...

Four-day annual DC confce begins today

A four-day annual conference of Deputy Commissioners (DCs) will begin in the city today (Sunday), reports BSS."Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the four-day conference at Shapla Hall of her office at 10:30am," Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain told a...

DU marks historic Flag Hoisting Day

The Dhaka University authorities on Saturday observed the Flag Hoisting Day commemorating the hoisting of the first national flag of independent Bangladesh.DU VC Professor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal inaugurated the day's programme by hoisting the national flag as the chief...

Anti-govt movement has to be intensified to restore democracy, says Fakhrul

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the anti-government movement has to be intensified to restore democracy in the country."Democratic-loving people must get united right now for intensifying the anti-government movement to restore democracy in...

Newly-appointed state ministers pay homage to Bangabandhu

Newly appointed seven state ministers on Saturday paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing floral wreaths on the portrait of Bangabandhu in the city's Dhanmondi-32, reports BSS.They are included State Minister for Planning...

Amar Ekushey Book Fair witnessed an overwhelming crowd

Amar Ekushey Book Fair witnessed an overwhelming crowd of visitors on Saturday, the last day of the fair. —FE photo

Building fire: FBCCI demands punishment of those responsible

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has demanded exemplary punishment of those responsible for the devastating fire that claimed 46 lives in a building on Bailey Road in the capital on Thursday night.FBCCI leaders made the...

Tejgaon ramp set to open soon

Another ramp of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway (DEE) is ready to open any day with the expectation of an increase in traffic flow over the city's first high- speed road infrastructure from Airport to Tejgaon.The Tejgaon ramp of the country's...

No corruption committed as a minister, Saifuzzaman defends himself

Former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury MP said on Saturday that he didn't commit corruption while discharging his responsibility as a minister.He firmly defended himself by saying that not a single taka was embezzled by himself while he was a minister....

Higher indirect tax linked to higher poverty

A higher indirect tax burden is significantly associated with a higher poverty rate and it leads to greater income inequality, according to a study.Currently, Bangladesh generates more revenue from indirect sources-constituting over two-thirds of revenue generation and rising income inequality...

Indian PM Modi conveys condolences for victims of Bailey Road fire

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep shock over the loss of lives due to the fire at Dhaka's Bailey Road that has claimed 46 lives so far, reports UNB.In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Modi...

SoEs respond 'well' to govt call on loan repayments

Finance officials sounded happy with the responses they received from state-owned enterprises regarding the repayment of outstanding loans taken from the government.This February, the Finance Division sent letters to over a hundred state-owned entities requesting repayment of outstanding loans by...

BD seeks over $300m loan from WB to fund three energy projects

Bangladesh has sought over US$300 million funds from the World Bank (WB) to improve the power and gas distribution and transmission networks of the country, officials said on Saturday.The Economic Relations Division (ERD) requested the WB months ago to finance...