51pc voters women, but few in JS race

Despite decades of pledges to ensure women's political empowerment, the upcoming national election presents a starkly different reality, with female representation on the ballot remaining alarmingly low, reports UNB.More than 30 registered political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have fielded no female...

Next poll a chance to build a new political order: Nahid

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam stated that certain groups are trying to spread confusion and fear amid the party's rising popularity, but he emphasised that these attempts will fail, reports BSS. "Any attempt to intimidate voters or seize...

Eurozone business activity growth steady in January: key survey

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Jan 23 (AFP): Eurozone business activity maintained a steady, if modest, rate of growth in January, a closely watched survey said Friday.The HCOB Flash Eurozone purchasing managers' index (PMI) published by S&P Global -- an important gauge of...

Lover 'kills butcher, scatters body parts'

A woman has admitted to killing her lover before dismembering his body and scattering it across different locations in Chattogram, police say, reports bdnews24.com. Police recovered different parts of the body of the victim, a butcher identified only as Anis,...

BNP to solve salt industry problems, if voted to power: Salahuddin

COX'S BAZAR, Jan 23 (BSS): BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed today assured salt workers of resolving existing problems in the country's salt industry once BNP is voted to power through the upcoming general elections.He made the assurance during his...

One-person company registration galore

One-person companies (OPCs) galore with a record 301 registered in just first six months of the fiscal year, surpassing the total formed in several previous full years, official data show.According to statistics from the Office of the Registrar of Joint...

Jamaat Ameer calls for unity shunning mudslinging

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has called for unity avoiding mudslinging to build a prosperous Bangladesh collectively. "Our first message is that we must remain united at the present critical moment of the nation," he told the media at...

Tanzid, Fernando star as Rajshahi crowned BPL champs again

Rajshahi Warriors opener Tanzid Hasan smashed a scintillating century and his teammate Fernando later took four wickets to help their side secure a 63-run victory against Chattogram Royals at the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) final on Friday, report agencies.Chasing a...

US seeks to befriend Jamaat: Washington Post

As the Jamaat-e-Islami readies for its strongest showing at the polls next month, US diplomats are quietly signalling a willingness to engage with the once-banned party, reports The Washington Post, citing audio recordings it says it obtained.The party, historically outlawed...

Monthly allowances likely to go up

The interim government is likely to enhance allowances for distressed people from the next fiscal year as the cabinet committee concerned will sit tomorrow to finalise the decision, officials say.Each allowance under the cash-based social safety-net programmes (SSNPs) may see...

CA for building democratic social system with 1969 uprising spirit

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus urged all on Friday to come forward towards building a truly democratic social system, being imbed with the values of the 1969 mass uprising."Let us all dedicate ourselves to building a truly democratic social system...

Prayer Timings (2026-01-24)

Affluent banks invest surplus liquidity in lower-interest state instrument

A major cut in the interest rate on standing deposit facility (SDF) can hardly stop affluent banks from loading their surplus funds into the state-guaranteed deposit instrument despite lower gains than that from interbank lending.A cardinal cause is lower call...

Only elected govt can solve all problems, says Tarique

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has said that only an elected government can solve all problems. He stated, "There has been a movement, the government has fallen. Now we have to rebuild the country. For the past 15 years, there had...

US leaves WHO

LONDON, Jan 22 (Reuters): The United States officially left the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday after a year of warnings that doing so would hurt public health in the U.S. and globally, saying its decision reflected failures in the...

UNHCR seeks alternative funding as major donors tighten their grip

With contributions from the major donors drying up gradually, the UNHCR, the UN agency for protecting refugees and forcibly displaced communities, is now looking for donations from alternative countries and sources, including Bangladesh, officials said.The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner...

BB seeks authority to override law, waive banks' CRR penalties

Bangladesh Bank moves to bolster its regulatory authority to waive, remit, or reduce penalties for banks' Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) shortfalls in special circumstances as the central bank oversees the largest bank-consolidation effort in nation's history.To this end, sources say,...

Reimagining higher education in Bangladesh

The world is shutting its doors, and the implications for developing countries are profound. Between January and May 2025, USA consulates issued roughly 95,000 F-1 visas, marking the lowest issuance total in three years, whilst the Department of Homeland Security...

Youth Connect empowering a generation to lead change

Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture. With over one-third of its population aged below 30, the future of the nation will be determined not by policy, but by the ideas, skills, and leadership qualities of the youth. Climate change, increasing...

Why students must co-create their education

There is a scene in the 2023 award winning Indian film 12th Fail that captures something profoundly wrong with South Asian education systems. In a small school in Chambal, teachers openly facilitate cheating during board examinations, a practice that students...

Alcaraz eases into Melbourne last 16 as Sabalenka 'all over the place'

MELBOURNE, Jan 23 (AFP): Carlos Alcaraz stepped up his quest to win a maiden Australian Open as he overwhelmed showman Corentin Moutet on Friday to reach the last 16 while Aryna Sabalenka said she was "emotionally all over the place"...

Liverpool on the up as new signings hit form, says Slot

LIVERPOOL, Jan 23 (AFP): Liverpool boss Arne Slot believes the Reds will only get better in the years to come as a huge outlay on young talent in the transfer market begins to bear fruit.Hopes of retaining the Premier League...

Farooki questions ICC's neutrality, cites mob lynching as proof of 'severe risk' in India

Bangladesh's Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has questioned the neutrality of the International Cricket Council (ICC), accusing the governing body of double standards for refusing to shift Bangladesh's T20 World Cup matches out of India despite "real and severe" security...

India's hopes to bolster credentials as sports host rocked by row with BD

NEW DELHI, Jan 23 (AFP): India hopes next month's T20 World Cup will bolster its credentials as a global sports host -- and the country's Olympic ambitions -- but preparations have been rocked by a diplomatic row with Bangladesh and...

BD beat USA by seven wickets

Bangladesh defeated United States of America (USA) by seven wickets after Iqbal Hossain Emon's 3-41 helped young tigers to restrict the North American side within 199 at the group stage match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup, report agencies.Fellow pacer...

Rajshahi Warriors skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (L) and Chattogram Royals captain Mahedi Hasan

Rajshahi Warriors skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (L) and Chattogram Royals captain Mahedi Hasan pose for a photo before the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) final at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday. — BCB

The power that shapes the world

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."                                                   - Nelson Mandela Education is more than the transmission of knowledge-it is a fundamental human right, a public good, and a shared social responsibility. It is...

The many nuances of hawking by roving hawkers

While living in Kolkata, Syed Mujtaba Ali, a versatile genius, once asked one of his followers and regular visitors, if he could correctly follow what the many roving hawkers shouted to offer as commodity or service. Barring a few of...

Global equity fund inflows slow on geopolitical uncertainties

Investments in global equity funds shrank in the week to January 21 as US President Donald Trump's threats of reigniting a trade dispute with Europe over Greenland curbed investor appetite, reports Reuters.According to LSEG data, investors bought global equity funds...

MTB INTRODUCES 'CEO CONNECT'

Mutual Trust Bank PLC (MTB) has introduced a new internal engagement initiative titled 'CEO Connect' to strengthen open dialogue and closer leadership engagement. This initiative aims to provide selected employees with a unique opportunity to interact directly with the Managing...