Book cafes redefined the Eid holiday for young Dhakaites

The spirit of Eid in Dhaka has always been about togetherness. Traditionally, the first three days are a whirlwind of family visits, heavy meals, and the exchange of crisp banknotes known as Salami. However, as the city evolves, so does...

A distant war, a regional shock for South Asia

Wars fought thousands of kilometres away rarely remain distant for long. The escalating tensions in the Gulf following the recent US-Israel-Iran confrontation are a stark reminder that geopolitical conflicts can quickly send economic shockwaves far beyond the battlefield. For South...

Increasing remittance flow through Fintech

Remittances continue to be one of the key pillars of the Bangladesh economy. Every year, millions of Bangladeshi migrant workers send money home to support their families and contribute significantly to the country's foreign exchange earnings. In recent years, fintech...

Development financing in Global South

The Global South represents as many as 134-plus post-colonial or emerging economies. They include biggies and minnows, in terms of land area or size of the economy. The group includes some very large economies, including the world's second largest, China....

Ship-breaking must ride out compliance challenges

Ship-breaking, long recognised as one of Bangladesh's most promising industrial sectors, is currently navigating a difficult phase. Once hailed as a thriving source of raw materials and employment, the industry now finds itself slowed by regulatory hurdles and tightening global...

Is Padma Barrage going to see the light of day?

The idea of constructing the Padma Barrage was originally conceived in the 1960s as a strategic response to the Farakka Barrage built by India across the Ganges River (called Padma in Bangladesh) to divert its water into the Hooghly-Bhagirathi water...

Bangladesh's unfinished financial transition

For many years, financial progress in Bangladesh was measured by counting the number of new bank branches opened. When a branch appeared in a rural bazaar, people took it as proof that development had arrived. This way of thinking shaped...

Postal ballots for Sherpur-3, Bogura-6 polls to be sent by March 25

The Election Commission (EC) will send postal ballots to voters residing within the country by March 25 for the elections to Sherpur-3 and by-polls to Bogura-6 constituencies, reports BSS.Salim Ahmed Khan, Team Leader of the 'OCV-SDI' project on expatriate voter...

Charmonai Pir extends Eid greetings to nation

Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, Amir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, has conveyed Eid greetings to the people of the country, reports BSS.In a message on Wednesday, He emphasised that everyone must be vigilant to prevent foreign cultural practices...

Ex-MP GM Fazlul Haque's janaza held at JS South Plaza

The namaz-e-janaza of former MP GM Fazlul Haque was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Bhaban on Wednesday, reports UNB.The namaz-e-janaza took place at 12:00 pm, led by Senior Imam of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat, Muhammad...

Canal excavation plan to benefit countless farmers: State minister

RANGPUR, March 18 (BSS): State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad has said many farmers would benefit from the government's canal excavation and re-excavation initiative."The government has undertaken a programme to excavate and re-excavate about 20,000 kilometres of rivers...

Moyeen Khan urges journos to maintain objectivity

NARSINGDI, March 18 (BSS): BNP Standing Committee Member and Narsingdi-2 lawmaker Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan has called upon the journalists to maintain objectivity and professionalism while presenting news.He made the call while addressing a pre-Iftar discussion at Palash Upazila Press...

PM continues work during Eid holidays

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman continued his official duties from his Gulshan residence on Wednesday, keeping a close watch on government activities across the country during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, report agencies."The Eid holiday has begun. The Prime Minister is staying at...

Jamaat condemns appointment of city, district administrators

The Jamaat-e-Islami has condemned the BNP government's appointment of city corporation and district administrators, terming it 'unacceptable' and warning that it could be exploited for partisan advantage in local elections, reports bdnews23.com.At a press conference at the party's central office...

JS duties assigned in absence of responsible ministers

The government has issued a gazette notification specifying who will perform parliamentary duties for ministries or divisions in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) if the responsible minister is absent, report agencies.According to the notification, if Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is...

Rush of homegoers at the Sayedabad Bus Terminal

Rush of homegoers at the Sayedabad Bus Terminal, who were leaving the capital on Wednesday to enjoy the Eid-ul-Fitr festival with their near and dear ones in village homes. — Focus Bangla

Sholakia ready for Eid congregation with four-tier security

KISHOREGANJ, Mar 18 (BSS): The country's largest Eid congregation ground, the historic Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj, is fully prepared for the 199th Eid-ul-Fitr congregation.Law enforcement agencies have established a four-tier security perimeter to ensure the safety of the devotees. Additional...

Prof Mamun Ahmed joins as UGC Chairman

Educationist, researcher and Dhaka University Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed has taken charge as the 15th Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh on Wednesday, reports BSS.He formally assumed the charge in accordance with a notification...

Two remanded in TikToker Rakib murder case

A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed two accused on a five-day remand each and recorded confessional statements of two others in a case filed over the murder of TikToker Rakibul Islam Rakib in front of the Central Shaheed Minar in...

Three killed as microbus overturns in Bogura

BOGURA, Mar 18 (UNB): Three people were burned to dead and nine others suffered burn injuries after the gas cylinder of a microbus exploded on Dhaka-Bogura highway at Sonka in Sherpur upazila of Bogura district on Wednesday.The deceased were identified...

JU student found dead in hall

The body of a student was found hanging in his dormitory room at Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Wednesday afternoon, raising suspicions of suicide.The deceased, identified as Konishka Majhi, was a student of the Department of Archaeology from the 2020-21 academic...

National Eidgah set for main Eid congregation in city

The country's main Eid-ul-Fitr congregation will be held at the National Eidgah at 08:30 am on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr while five separate congregations are scheduled at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, reports UNB.Subject to moon sighting, Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to...

Plan underway to dig 20,000 km of canals in five years: Dulu

LALMONIRHAT, Mar 18 (BSS): Relief and Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has said the government has a plan to excavate and re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals within next five years to boost up the agriculture, reduce water logging and...

Port will remain open during Eid holidays

CHATTOGRAM, Mar 18: Despite the closure of all government offices, banks and other financial institutions, Chittagong port, the prime seaport of the country, will continue its operation under special management during the Eid holidays.Secretary of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Syed...

Long queues at petrol stations

Long queues at petrol stations in the capital persist on Wednesday due to panic buying of fuel for fear of shortages amid the ongoing Middle East war. The photo was taken at Ramna filling station. — Focus Bangla

The capital wears a deserted look on Wednesday

The capital wears a deserted look on Wednesday as the exodus of residents ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr has mostly emptied the clogged roads. The photo was taken at Karwan Bazar. — FE Photo by Shafiqul Alam

GED stresses urgent, coordinated reforms before loss of opportunity

Planning Commission's General Economics Division (GED) has cautioned that Bangladesh risks squandering its demographic dividend unless urgent and coordinated reforms are undertaken to address rising youth unemployment and emerging social vulnerabilities.In a report, titled "Harnessing the Potential of Youth: A...

Nor'westers bring rain, storms to Dhaka

A spell of pre-monsoon nor'westers swept across Dhaka and several parts of Bangladesh on Wednesday evening, bringing much-needed relief from recent heat but disrupting daily life with gusty winds, lightning and scattered showers.The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has warned that similar...

Eid outbound travel boom drives up dollar rates

The demand for cash US dollars has risen sharply ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, pushing up the greenback's exchange rate in both formal banking channels and the informal kerb market, according to market players.Typically, demand for the greenback increases ahead of major...

Nearly all RMG units pay Feb wages, Eid allowances, says BGMEA

Almost all export-oriented garment factories registered with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have disbursed February wages and Eid festival allowances, with only a handful still completing payments, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said on Wednesday."About 99.91 per...