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...

NRBC Bank to boost CMSME financing and expand digital services

NRBC Bank plans to boost financing in the CMSME sector while expanding its digital channels, including an app called 'Planet', to deliver financial services to unbanked and underbanked populations across the country, the bank's top policymaker has said."Our medium-term objectives...

Stocks hit two-month high as national election approaches

The benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) rebounded strongly from the previous week's losses, hitting a two-month high, driven by renewed buying interest in undervalued blue-chip stocks ahead of national election.Market analysts attributed the rally to a broad-based...

Sri Lanka to launch licensing

COLOMBO, Jan. 23 (UNB): Sri Lanka's civil aviation regulator will introduce a licensing system for commercial and professional drone operators for the first time, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) said on Friday.Under the new framework, operators of...

Venezuela moves to open up oil sector, a key Trump demand

CARACAS, Jan 23 (AFP): Venezuelan lawmakers on Thursday gave their initial backing to plans to throw open the oil sector to private investors, paving the way for the return of US energy majors -- a key demand of President Donald...

EU Ambassador Michael Miller visits Ctg port

CHITTAGONG, Jan 23: Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh Michael Miller visited Chittagong port, the prime sea port of Bangladesh on Thursday.Michael Miller expressed his satisfaction over the development of the Chittagong port during the visit. The European Union...

Process underway to expand BSC fleet into 20-ship

CHATTOGRAM, Jan 16: Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), the state-owned shipping company of Bangladesh, has initiated the process of expanding its fleet into a 20-ship one, with adding newly-purchased vessels. Of the total, one new ship would be added to the...

Government slashes airline surcharge to 14.25pc

The government has significantly reduced the annual airport surcharge rates for airlines, lowering the maximum penalty from 72 per cent to about 14.25 per cent to ease financial pressure on struggling carriers and align charges with regional standards. Under the...

US pitches 'New Gaza' development plan, Israeli fire kills five Palestinians

DAVOS (Switzerland), Jan 23 (Agencies): The United States on Thursday announced plans for a "New Gaza" rebuilt from scratch to include residential towers, data centres and seaside resorts, part of President Donald Trump's push to advance an Israel-Hamas ceasefire shaken...

Uganda army chief says 30 opposition supporters killed, 2,000 arrested

KAMPALA, Jan 23 (AFP): Uganda's army chief and son of newly re-elected President Yoweri Museveni said Friday that 30 opposition supporters had been killed and 2,000 detained in the wake of the vote.Opposition leader Bobi Wine remained in hiding on...

Indian security forces kill 16 Maoist rebels

NEW DELHI, Jan 23 (AFP): Indian security forces have killed 16 Maoist rebel fighters, including a senior commander, in the eastern state of Jharkhand as authorities step up efforts to quash the long-running insurgency.More than 10,000 people have died in...

Russia demands Ukraine's Donbas region ahead of Abu Dhabi talks

ABU DHABI, Jan 23 (AFP): Russia said it was not dropping its key demand that Ukraine pull out of its eastern Donbas region, ahead of three-way talks between Ukrainian, Russian and American officials in the UAE later on Friday.Ukrainian President...

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves parliament

TOKYO, Jan 23 (AFP): Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved parliament on Friday ahead of a snap election on February 8, counting on her cabinet's high poll numbers to steer her otherwise unpopular ruling party to victory.The country's first woman...

China urges all parties to exercise restraint as US claims sending massive fleet toward Iran

BEIJING, Jan 23 (Agencies): China hopes that Iran will maintain national stability, and urges all parties to cherish peace, exercise restraint and resolve differences through dialogue, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at...

Safeguard Bengali culture

Culture is the mirror of a nation. A society's values, creativity and sense of belonging are reflected in how it treats its cultural heritage. Nelson Mandela rightly observed that "the soul of a civilised nation lies in its culture." Yet,...

Laws exist, safety does not

Women constitute half of Bangladesh's population, yet their safety remains a persistent concern. Although women's rights are protected by laws, policies, and international commitments, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Almost every day, the media reports incidents...

Can election ensure a smooth political transition?

With the national election set to take place within three weeks, political parties have started their campaigns. The campaign will intensify as election will be closer. Unlike the previous three elections, which were marked by manipulation and irregularities, the February...