Who must pay for slow internet speed?

The day Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin eulogised the people's movement ahead courtesy of information technology towards building a smart Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Submarine Cable PLC (BSCPLC) shut down bandwidth of 19 of the country's 34 International Internet...

A war without objective?

Amid the welcome 'humanitarian pause' of Israel's relentless air and ground assaults on the Gaza strip, termed Hamas-Israel war in the media, the exchange of Palestinian and Israeli prisoners has been taking place from Friday, November 24. Notably, such an...

Move to reduce MFI charge stops again

A move to cut service charge imposed by the country's micro-finance institutions (MFIs) is halted again due to rising cost of funds in bank and other sources.The review of MFI service charge has been dilly-dallied for more than four years,...

Railway plan to repair controversial DEMU trains shelved

Bangladesh Railway's (BR) plan to overhaul its controversial DEMU (diesel-electric multiple unit) trains imported from China after successful repair of one train has been shelved as the high-ups are less interested in anymore investment in the failed project.The BR planned...

Regulator seeks to reopen cos at any cost because they can repay if functional

The securities regulator strives to bring non-operational companies back into operation in any way possible so that investors get return from the money they have injected into the organisations, says the regulatory body chief. In an exclusive interview with The...

Rising risk of food system

The food system in most countries in Asia and the Pacific region has come under increased risk in recent years. An indication is also there that the risk will grow in the near future, which means more people may face...

Lights, camera, economy!

Historically, the arts have been indicators of societal progress, with their roots going as far back as ancient Greece. But why does this timeless partnership between art and development continue to persist? Historians and economists alike agree that art tends...

Scaling up climate finance for Bangladesh: Options to consider

Bangladesh’s current contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is about 0.4 per cent of total global emissions. But it is one of the most endangered countries in the world due to global warming and climate change. Bangladesh ranks 7th...

Masculinity in the 21st century

The idea of masculinity is built on what society, history, and politics believe to be 'appropriate' for a man. It involves holding attitudes that are recognised by other men and women as male traits. According to masculinist values, being a...

The not-so-deep-dive in the disruptive fintech

The 1992 Cricket World Cup saw a novel stratagem, as the powerful Mark Greatbatch was promoted to opening to disrupt the bowling attack and give birth to the idea of pinch-hitting, destroying the opponent bowlers, rather than the usual taking-your-time-out...

Labour market and employment challenges stemming from BD's LDC graduation

Bangladesh economy has been growing fast for the past two decades. Among different contributors to this economic growth, ready-made garment (RMG) and remittance are the clear champions without any contention. Both the contributors are highly labour-intensive, enhancing the significance of...

Corporate sustainability reporting: the new Black in Bangladesh's private sector

Sustainability reporting is a common practice that discloses an organisation's economic, social, environmental, and governance practices to stakeholders. It increases transparency and accountability, involves data collection and progress evaluation, and contributes to global sustainable development targets.Systematic sustainability reporting assists organisations...

BD opposes India's new jute duty amid anti-dumping struggle

Dhaka has urged Delhi not to impose countervailing duty -- also known as anti-subsidy duty -- on raw jute and jute goods, citing the existing anti-dumping duty already in place for these products in the Indian market, sources said.To formally...

Govt to build 120 more cyclone shelter centres

In a move to safeguard communities facing disaster risks, the government has decided to construct 120 more cyclone shelter centres in 13 coastal districts, officials said.The cyclone shelter centres will be built between January 2024 and December 2027 under a...

Ensuring the economic wellbeing of people

No matter how many good doctors one sees to recover from a disease, one will never recover if one does not take the medicine prescribed by the doctor properly and regularly. The economy of Bangladesh is like that. Some of...

A national loss it can hardly overcome in years to come

One common complaint is that the young generation today is hooked on online screens and they have turned robotic, shallow and incapable of emotional attachment. This general labelling may have exceptions but it is mostly true. However the question that...

GM crops: a truly feasible way out for food security?

Food insecurity and undernourishment are currently among the most serious anxieties for human health. As the world’s population goes on to increase, there is an increase in demand for food. Since the arable land is not rising, we need to find...

Tickets of Cox's Bazar Express for first 3 days sold

The launch of the Cox's Bazar Express, the new passenger train connecting Dhaka to Cox's Bazar via Chattogram, witnessed a remarkable response as tickets for its first three days (December 1, 2, and 3) were sold out in two hours...

Cumulative un-deposited VAT balloons to Tk 243.76 billion

A cumulative amount of VAT collected from consumers but not deposited with the exchequer has ballooned to Tk 243.76 billion, with a government-owned corporate holding back a king's ransom. The revenue board's effort to realise arrears in value-added tax (VAT)...

Hurting farmers is to hurt national interests

There is every reason to be concerned about the impact of the ongoing political turbulence on the country's limping economy. The economy has yet to recover from the combined adverse impacts of Covid-time disruption of industrial production and post-pandemic energy...

Loading, unloading at Ctg port normal but delivery hampered

CHITTAGONG, Nov 22: While loading and unloading activities at the Chittagong port remain quite normal, the delivery of goods to and from the port has been obstructed due to hartals and blockade programs imposed by opposition parties. Trucks are unable...

SMEs immune to forex loss come out triumphant in FY23

Most firms listed on the SME platform secured a year-on-year growth in profit in FY23, despite macroeconomic challenges, as they are less vulnerable to foreign exchange fluctuations.The profit of eight, out of 14 companies, which have made annual earnings disclosures,...

In conversation with Team Pixie Dust

Business competitions provide the perfect platform for harnessing problem-solving skill sets, simulating real-life business problems, and fostering entrepreneurial spirit in aspiring business leaders. Business competitions are a simulation of real-life business scenarios where teams have to provide a solution to...

The strong women behind the powerful men

In death, Rosalynn Carter reminds us of the devotion with which she assisted her husband not only in his political career but also in his post-presidential life. Theirs was a marriage of love, with the fullness of affection and commitment...

Saudi RSGT likely to run Patenga terminal

CHATTOGRAM, Nov 21: The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) is now set to lease out the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) to a foreign operator.The initiative has a twofold benefit - ensuring a healthy competition among terminal operators and making international-standard services...

BGMEA decries issuance delay

Amid disruptions to foreign trade by delays in issuing waiver certificates to feeder vessels, the country's apparel makers have urged the authorities concerned to resolve the complexities in greater good of businesses.Foreign feeder vessels carry over 90 per cent of...

China detects bird flu virus in duck feathers exported from Bangladesh

Chinese authorities have detected bird flu virus in a batch of washed duck feathers exported from Bangladesh, said sources. The Bangladesh embassy in Beijing has already notified Dhaka about the detection of "H5 Avian Flu Nucleic Acid" in a batch...

Unhealthy guidebook culture in schools

A textbook is a book that contains study materials for a particular subject. And what study materials textbooks on different subjects should contain are determined by the school curriculum board. Ideally, there should be trained teachers in schools to impart...

Ctg port ship arrivals plunge 30pc as dollar crisis strangles trade

CHATTOGRAM, Nov 19: Chittagong port, the country's premier maritime gateway for international trades, has witnessed a recent decline in ship-berthing activities, due mostly to a slowdown in import volumes. According to industry stakeholders and sources, the ongoing dollar crisis is...

Shippers dismiss fraud prevention mechanism as unworkable

Shippers dismiss as unworkable a short timeline for registering detailed export documentation digitally under Export General Manifest devised as a mechanism for preventing trade-based money laundering. Submission of the EGM within 72 hours of cargo-ship departure from the port has...