Interim govt finally cancels approval for 34 solar power plants

Approvals for 34 solar-power plants are finally rescinded following the repeal of a special-provision act by an ordinance promulgated by the post-uprising government, generating frustrations in the entrepreneurs. Officials said Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) cancelled the approvals on "clear...

The story of a female station master

Tanzina Shahnaj has loved two things since her childhood - the rhythm of trains and the tranquillity of solitude. She fondly remembers riding trains to her hometown of Brahmanbaria during Eid or after annual exams, watching birds flying in the...

Teaching morality: the missing foundation

Over the last three decades, Bangladesh’s education sector has witnessed significant improvements, including higher literacy rates, nearly universal enrolment, and the increasing use of digital tools in classrooms. Yet one question continues to haunt our advancement and progress: Are we...

The nonplussed surprise of human life

There pulsates yet another nonplussed surprise in our blood. This is exactly how Jibananda found the human life in its many wonderous manifestations. Does it correspond to Rabindranath's cosmic communication when he declares: the sky is full of sun and...

The vultures over Gaza are from hell

Vultures, as creatures of nature, have their norms. Even when they are hungry they do not pounce upon the dying. They wait till the body of its next meal becomes still after the last breath has been exhaled. It is...

Geneva to Dhaka: ensuring digital integrity

We are living in an age where the transformation of life from physical world to digital is transitioning through various means such as artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, large language model so on and so forth, in a way which is...

Upgradation may begin in June next yr

CHATTOGRAM, Sept 04: The expansion work of the four-lane Dhaka-Chattogram Highway to 10 lanes may begin in June next year after completion of all required procedures. Besides, the Development Project Proposal (DPP) is expected to be completed this year. The...

A two-year strategy to cure economic ills underway

A strategic crash programme is being framed to tackle mounting economic vulnerabilities like persistently high inflation, rising unemployment, declining household incomes, growing poverty and weak governance in the financial and institutional sectors.Officials say the General Economics Division (GED) of the...

A small laboratory with a big vision

Advanced experimental laboratories are essential for scientific progress, yet building one from scratch-especially in a resource-constrained setting-demands vision, persistence, and extraordinary effort. My journey to establish the Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (NRL) at BUET began in 2013, shortly after returning from...

Why universities in Bangladesh have poor global rankings

The just published flagship Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026 has marked a new dimension to the educational excellence. There is a clear shift in knowledge creation and research in favour of Asia. It must, however, be acknowledged that...

RUCSU polls: Nomination papers distributed, 1,233 in the race

The nomination paper distribution for the long-awaited Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) election has concluded with a staggering 1,233 candidates entering the race.Of them, 479 candidates collected forms for central and senate posts, while 754 collected for hall union...

No headway in cargo handling charge cut at airports

There is no progress in the reduction of cargo handling charges in Bangladeshi airports even three months after a government body submitted a report to the authorities in this regard.The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism did not take any...

Govt plans to provide homes for injured July warriors

The government plans to provide permanent housing through 1,560 residential flats for July warriors who were severely injured and lost their working ability during the 2024 anti-discrimination movement.The Ministry of Housing and Public Works has submitted a Tk 13.44 billion...

NBR bifurcation unlikely under interim govt

A smooth sailing of the revenue board-bifurcation ordinance may be hindered by multiple challenges and seems difficult to come into effect in the interim government's tenure.Experts and economists feel the need for legal clarity, cautious moves to frame rules of...

Regulator to define 'Public Interest Entity' to force listings

The securities regulator has moved to define 'Public Interest Entity (PIE)' to make it legally binding for all companies, including state-owned enterprises (SoEs) and multinational companies (MNCs), to go public if they meet the specified conditions.The move comes against the...

Reform prospects fading

A question raised by a local think tank as to whether the interim government has lost its way in its pursuit of implementing reforms, has struck a chord with many. It has been one year since the interim government assumed...

Revisiting the era of Joseph Stalin

There is forever a need for one to revisit history. In an era where the Soviet Union does not anymore exist, where Vladimir Putin's Russia is busy trying to reclaim the old glory of a country lost through Mikhail Gorbachev's...

MoF urged to convert BPC's Tk 274.20b arrear debts into subsidy

Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) has urged the government to convert Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation's (BPC) Tk 274.20 billion worth of outstanding debt into subsidies.The state-run BPC owes such accumulated debt to the government on account of its losses because...

Live piloting of ETC for Padma Bridge to begin September 15

The much-anticipated live piloting of an electronic toll-collection (ETC) system for the Padma Bridge will begin on September 15, in a move towards technology-driven toll management in Bangladesh.Vehicle registration for availing the service opened on September 1. Mohammad Abdur Rouf,...

Should age decide who runs a bank?

Bangladesh Bank has recently tightened its rules for appointing Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers (MD/CEOs) of banks. Among the new requirements, one stands out: a minimum age of 45 years. While well-intentioned, this restriction raises serious questions. Is age...

BD seeks $1.5b from AIIB to strengthen climate policies

Bangladesh has sought US$1.5 billion in credit from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) under its climate policy-based budget-support programme, officials said.The proposed budget support aims to strengthen climate policies as part of government measures for pursuing sustainable development objectives.As...

Steelmakers struggle amid demand slump

Steelmakers across Bangladesh struggle to keep afloat mainly for demand slump amid economic slowdown, political uncertainly and sluggish construction works especially in public sector, insiders say and seek remedies.They have said large-scale millers have substantially scaled down price as a...

BSEC bars NTC chief from taking unsubscribed placement shares

The securities regulator has asked National Tea Company (NTC) not to issue any unsubscribed placement shares to its incumbent Chairman Mamun Rashid following criticism of the board's decision in this regard.The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has conveyed its...

Ever worsening poverty situation

The World Bank (WB) made a forecast in April last that more 3.0 million people would join the ranks of the extreme poor by the end of this year. Attributing this development to the economic slowdown following August 2024 political...

35pc taxpayers in 41 zones each skipped filing

Around 35 per cent of taxpayers in each of the 41 tax zones across the country did not file tax returns in the last fiscal year despite having the taxpayer identification number (TIN).A gap analysis, conducted by the National Board...

First time in 63 years, RU sees female contestant for VP post

For the first time in its 63-year history, a female student will contest for the Vice President (VP) post in the upcoming Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) election. On Friday, Tasin Khan, a student of the Institute of Education...

Investors likely to return empty-handed from NBFI liquidation drive

Investors are unlikely to recover anything from their stakes in the non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) now heading for liquidation under a Bangladesh Bank initiative.The central bank has recently decided to wind up nine out of 35 NBFIs in what marks...

Old wine in new bottle!

The interim government is all set to replace the existing "Control of Essential Commodities Act 1956" with a new one titled "Essential Commodities Act 2025" with the express aim of stabilising market. Mere change in the name of any law...

How wise is it to go entirely digital?

The call for making financial transactions of the country fully digital has of late reached its crescendo. Experts at an event titled, "Cashless Bangladesh Summit 2025", organised last week, acclaimed an economy without physical money and made a strong case...

Another 2-year extension on the cards

The much-hyped Japanese Economic Zone project at Araihazar in Narayanganj is heading for another two-year extension, with the Chief Adviser's Office now seeking a second revision to complete the pending infrastructure works.Approved in 2019 with a June 2023 deadline, the...