Old Dhaka sitting on time bomb

Over a decade has passed since the devastating inferno at Nimtoli in Old Dhaka, which killed 126 people and injured about 200 others. The fire was triggered by flammable chemicals stored on the ground floor of a residential building. The...

Climate shocks and banking sector

Climate change has become a grave concern worldwide as there is no way to prevent or avoid it. The consequences of climate change are the rise in temperature, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar...

Specific budget head for LGs can mobilise domestic, int’l funds

Hearth and home is swamped with saline seawater and the last resort for emergent protection is the camp. The shelter is in a shambles, too, which local officials blame on lack of dedicated funds. Frontiersmen have tales to tell--but who...

5x higher tablet prices raise eyebrows

The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) plans to purchase 150 tablet computers at Tk 59,300 each for a new project. This is more than five times the price paid per device bought during the Population and Housing Census two years...

Dilemmas foreshadow budget making for funding holdback

Finance officials seem in dilemmas crafting the upcoming fiscal budget with uncertainty overshadowing budget-support credits worth some billion dollars from foreign development financiers, as IMF lending stays in holdback.Officials say initially they had planned to enhance net foreign borrowings for...

Dhaka-Delhi trade talks stalled for 3 years

Trade talks between Bangladesh and India remain stalled for a couple of years, despite frequent reminders from the former's side, mainly due to a lack of positive response from the latter, sources said.Bangladesh government officials concerned are in the dark...

The story of ship-breaking industry

The ship-breaking industry in Bangladesh is undergoing a significant transformation, marking a shift from its controversial past toward a more regulated and safer future. Since its inception, the industry has been a vital pillar of the national economy, contributing to...

The youth brain drain battle

The emigration of skilled young professionals, commonly referred to as brain drain, poses a significant challenge to national talent retention, particularly in developing countries. A decade ago, in 2012, Docquier and Rapport addressed the issue of several young professionals leaving...

Much maligned physiognomy must not be given another chance

Physiognomy or the art of face reading may be dismissed offhanded as a pseudoscience. Nonetheless, people practise it every time they look at each other for the first time. The first impression is important. In any face-to-face communication or exchange...

The potential backfire of 'Trumpeconomics 2.0'

As the United States (US) faces a challenging economic landscape, the return of protectionist policies dubbed "Trumpeconomics 2.0" prompts important considerations about their long-term effects on American jobs and global markets. These policies aim to strengthen domestic manufacturing and spur...

Bus procurement problem yet to be resolved

Though the procedure to select a contractor through a fresh tender was completed in August last year, legal complications related to purchasing buses for the Gazipur-Airport bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor have not been resolved yet.Sources said the board of...

War is no solution, negotiations may find one

Internal armed conflicts, wars and proxy wars---some of those prolonged--- have been continuing in quite a few regions of the world. But none of those between two nuclear powers! The latest air strike codenamed "Operation Sindoor" launched on Pakistan by...

Journaling for teachers and students: from reflection to growth

Journaling is not just about simply writing down random thoughts and experiences, it is much more. Whether handwritten or typed, people can choose the option they feel more comfortable with. This easy yet effective activity can surprise us with its...

Hajj this time under strict rulings from here, there -

Pilgrims going to hajj this time have to go by strict disciplines ordained from here and the destination country for a smooth sailing of the annual religious rites. Dhaka Hajj Office has started providing smooth services to the pilgrims following...

Mithamoin elevated expressway project to be axed

The controversial project to construct 15 kilometres of elevated road in the haor area of Kishoreganj's Mithamoin upazila will be cancelled as part of the interim government's move to cut costs and to protect the environment.The Tk 56.5 billion project,...

Bangladesh faces steeper market losses than neighbours. Experts say it's not justified

The main market in Bangladesh witnessed rapid erosion of stocks than in Pakistan and India on Wednesday over fear of possible spill-over impacts of further escalation of the conflict between the two countries. Investors in Bangladesh seem to have gone...

Simple solution for seemingly complex issues

There was a time when jute was called the 'Golden Fiber of Bangladesh' and was one of the major foreign currency-earning sectors. This was because Bangladesh produced-and still produces-65 per cent of the world's raw jute.Moreover, the strength of the...

Why air purifiers can't fix Dhaka's dirty air

Air pollution in Dhaka has reached such an alarming level that it is now being dubbed a silent killer. The city's air is heavily polluted with fine particulate matter (PM2.5), contributing to a wide range of health issues, including respiratory...

Political upsets in our times

Mark Carney, to use a cliché, has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. His Liberal Party was way behind the Conservatives and had Justin Trudeau still been in office would have lost the election. Even when Carney took charge...

Why Bangladesh must rethink its maritime education

With over 700 kilometres of pristine coastline and jurisdiction over a vast and resource-rich Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh stands on the threshold of huge maritime opportunity. This natural asset, coupled with the country’s favourable...

Is the time right to float the Taka?

At the end of their mission on April 17, 2025, the visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegates commented that "… greater exchange rate flexibility will support price competitiveness, rebuild foreign exchange reserve buffers, and strengthen the economy's resilience against external...

Bank stocks mirror lenders' sapping financial health as investors react to news

Bank stocks that used to be investors' preferred choice among equities for investment have long been failing to attract buyers because of their weakening financial health. The latest news over the lenders' deepening capital shortfalls dragged them to a new...

Education sector needs overhauling

The report that a teacher at the Chirirbandar Government Model Pilot High School examination centre in Dinajpur's Chirirbandar upazila has been fined Tk. 2000 and sentenced to 7 days' prison for helping a student to answer questions through mobile phone...

Political reforms are people's agenda, not of any party

Bangladesh is now going through a critical phase centring on the debates surrounding political reforms and parliamentary election, which will have far-reaching consequences for the country's future. Many people and parties tend to mix up the reform agenda with that...

3.5-yr DEE support project now to take 16 years to complete

Authorities concerned have sought time extension for a support project of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway (DEE) that was supposed to be completed in three and a half years but 25 per cent of the works are yet to be completed...

ADB signals budget-support credit to BD

A signal comes from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) about considering 'letter of comfort' from the IMF to extend budget-support finance to Bangladesh.ADB Vice President Yingming Yang gave the indication in a meeting with Finance Adviser of the interim government...

There are more candidates for GI recognition

The GI (Geographical Identification) recognition for the Sundarbans' honey, Munshiganj's patkheer and Narsingdi's latkon comes as highly savouring news to the people. But these were not the only produce and products. Altogether 24 such items with their origins in certain...

Filtering fact from fiction in media

After free and fair election, press freedom is the next most pressing issue that concerns the Western powers when it comes to evaluating the socio-political condition of their client nations in the South. Then come human rights, gender rights and...

ADB Annual Meeting begins in Milan today

A four-day Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) begins in Milan, Italy today (Sunday), focusing on critical issues to forge the member nations' path into a more sustainable future.Key focus of the event, themed 'Sharing Experience, Building Tomorrow',...

Voices unite at Adamjee Cantonment College

From May 08 to May 10, Adamjee Cantonment College will host ACC Genesis 2025, a three-day debating tournament that brings together 36 of Bangladesh's most promising teams. What began as a quiet conversation between two teachers has grown into a...