Using mobile phones to promote reading habits

Reading in the Mobile Era: A Study of Mobile Reading in Developing Countries Published by UNESCOPages 87, ISBN 978-92-3-100023-2 "I actually read more on my mobile than I used to. I think it is because I can carry my phone...

The puzzle of economic progress

Do we know how economies develop? Obviously not, it seems, or otherwise every country would be doing better than it currently is in these low-growth times. In fact, cases of sustained rapid growth, like Japan beginning in the 1960s, or...

Raw deal over rawhide

Some people may feel tempted to describe the developments surrounding the prices of rawhide and skins of sacrificial animals this year as a scam. Some others, however, might disagree and find the use of the word 'scam' rather rash.But what...

Ensuring sustainability of Sunderbans

At a time when climate change has become a major concern the world over, the prestigious Economist has carried an in-depth analysis of the impact of the accelerated deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, the world's largest, on the region's as...

Will sanctions undermine 1947 US treaty with UN?

When Yassir Arafat was denied a US visa to visit New York to address the United Nations back in 1988, the General Assembly defied the United States by temporarily moving the UN's highest policy making body to Geneva - perhaps...

Plan to reconcile revenue collection data faces blow

The effort to reconcile data of aggregate revenue collection between revenue board and Controller General of Accounts (CGA) faced a blow due to flaws in the accounts system, known as 'iBAS++'. Officials said the National Board of Revenue (NBR) could...

Most MNCs witness EPS surge in H1

The earnings per share (EPS) of most of the multinational companies (MNCs) listed with the country's capital market increased in the first half (H1) of this year compared to the same period in the previous year.Market analysts said the multinational...

Trade disruption is a symptom of a deeper malaise

It's only a matter of time until the escalating tensions between China and the United States prompt many more economists to warn of an impending global economic recession coupled with financial instability. On August 05, Bloomberg News said that the...

Is 'Zero Hunger' a utopian dream?

According to 'The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2019' report released by five UN organisations recently, the number of people suffering from hunger globally has increased over the past three years, with about one in nine...

Modernising customs dept

The tax authority has prepared a four-year plan to modernise the customs department and rationalise customs fees.Under the Strategic Action Plan, the customs wing will review the existing customs fees and charges while ensuring these are commensurate with the administrative...

BTRC building automated revenue reporting system

The Bangladesh Teleco-mmunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is going to build a system to monitor real time voice and data traffic, and generate automated revenue report based on the data of the country's mobile operators.As part of setting up telecom monitoring...

Move to digitise payment system

The government takes a move to digitise the payment system for the benefits of the underprivileged and distressed people, an official said. As per the initiative, the department of social services (DSS)- which is under the ministry of social welfare...

Leather sector primed to become leader in export diversification

With the upcoming Eid-ul Azha and the cattle madness that sweeps the nation, there will be the usual flurry of media coverage regarding the by-product that is the aftermath of the slaughter - the hide of the sacrificial animal. Eid-ul...

Eid-ul Azha: Macro management of supply side economy for sustainable development

The basis for the Eid-ul Azha comes from the 196th verse of the second Surah, Al Baqara (The Cow), in the Quran. The word "Eid" appears in the fifth Sura al-Mai'da (The Table Spread) meaning 'solemn festival'. The days of...

Can America and China avoid a currency war?

China's currency, the renminbi, weakened slightly against the dollar at the start of this week. Around the world, the immediate response was panic. Financial markets tumbled, US President Donald Trump's administration formally labelled China a currency manipulator, and fears of...

An education crisis for all

Aichetou, a 14-year-old girl, lives on the outskirts of Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, in Africa's Sahel region. Every day, she makes a difficult trek through the sand to get to a school with no drinking water or sanitation, where...

Experts suggest integrated mosquito management

Bangladesh needs to implement an integrated mosquito management system to deal with the people carrying various mosquito-borne diseases including dengue, experts said. They also said an integrated mosquito management system has four key components - environmental management, biological control, chemical...

BFIU beefs up measures to cut trade-based capital flight

Bangladesh has initiated a coordinated effort to battle trade-based money laundering, thus mitigating the risks of frauds and forgeries in the banking sector, officials said.Trade-based money laundering means smuggling funds through mis-declaration in trade transactions.Under the move, the Bangladesh Financial...

Stocks climb for third straight week

Stocks extended gains for the third consecutive week that ended on Thursday, as investors went on a buying binge amid post-Eid positive expectations.Market analysts said retail investors took fresh position on large-cap shares expecting high dividend while institutional investors continued...

Commercial counsellors asked to attract more FDI

The government is set to assign economic and commercial counsellors of Bangladesh missions abroad to attract potential foreign and Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) investors as part of its foreign direct investment (FDI) promotion plan, officials said.With an aim to increase the...

Overhauling needed

Table Tennis in Bangladesh appears to be passing through a period of gloom and stagnation, especially during the past 5 years. The latest episode that caught the attention of its adherents has been the return of Taka 1.66 million by...

Tale of a child labourer

Child labour is very common and widespread in Bangladesh. A child of around 10 years of age of an affluent family of the country normally gets off the bed, brush teeth, take breakfast and gets ready for school. But Ridoy...

Not exactly into the heart of a forest

Off to the Bandipur National Park. The earlier the better. Those who can avail the first foray into the jungle at 6.00 a.m are the luckiest. But we missed the prime opportunity of taking the first safari ride even though,...

Surge of white nationalist terrorism in the United States

Last weekend was the deadliest one in the United States in recent history. A white young man drove to the Walmart in El Paso, Texas, entered the mall with an automatic assault weapon and fired at innocent people. After killing...

Relevance of food right act

Bangladesh has now emerged as a self-sufficient country in food. Nevertheless, the country is yet to ensure safe and nutritious food for all. To put it another way, food security is still unattained. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization...

Driving forces behind child marriage

The incidence of child marriage has reportedly lowered. But we reckon that the menace of early marriage is still rampant across the country. According to the United Nations Children's agency UNICEF, reported few years back, Bangladesh had the fourth-highest rate...

Savings certificates: Let market forces determine yield rates

Lack of depth and diversity in the country's financial market is a big barrier to making it vibrant. One way to enhance the depth of the market is to bring more fixed-income securities. Currently, a number of fixed income government...

No child should be left behind

Tiptoeing into the corridors of primary school was the most memorable chapter among my nearly 25 years of formal education in academic institutions at home and abroad. This is so because my childhood learning debut began with home schooling- mainly...

Taking youth development Forward to achieve SDGs

Over the next few years, the world is expected to have the largest youth population. And these young people will be the main driving force for sustainable development of their community. Hence, it is crucial to empower them with the...

The voiceless flood-hit people

Amidst all attention now drawn to an unprecedented outbreak of dengue fever across the country, the loss and sufferings caused to an estimated 0.65 million farmers in 31 districts by the latest bout of floods have gone almost unnoticed. More...