BD-India cross-border bus service on verge of closure

The cross-border bus services on two routes between Bangladesh and India launched by the premiers of the two countries at a landmark flag-off ceremony are on the verge of closure due to lack of passengers. Sources said Dhaka-Sylhet-Shillong-Guwahati and Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartola...

Quarantine stations in seven more ports soon

The government is going to set up animal quarantine stations in seven more ports aiming to stop trans-boundary animal disease transmission, official said. The ministry of fisheries and livestock (MoFL) recently decided that the quarantine stations would be set up...

Uber - a new trend in city transportation

Last time when my wife and I visited our daughter in Toronto in September 2014, we spent a good deal of money on taxis and train. We are back in Toronto again. This time, things are a bit different. The...

Polythene unfolds an ominous spectre

The seizure of 10 tonnes of banned polythene shopping bags by the Department of Environment (DoE) from a factory of the city's Lalbagh could have received applause if it was part of a regular and purposeful drive. There is not...

Too little, too late

The wait has been pretty long---nearly 20years --- for the start of the trial of the accused in the 1996 share market cases. The special tribunal constituted to try the capital market-related cases from last Sunday started hearing the deposition...

Stocks end lower for 2nd day with sluggish turnover

Stocks witnessed a marginal fall Sunday amid high volatility as investors remained cautious. The market started with a mixed trend amid high volatility and choppy trading sustained throughout the session. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE),...

Pass rate 8.73% lower than previous yr

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Sunday afternoon formally announced the results of this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations with overall success rate down from the last year's public test. The overall pass percentage is 69.60 in...

HSC, equivalent exams results out

The results of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations-2015 are out. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina published this year's HSC and equivalent exams results through a video conference with two colleges of separate districts from her official residence Ganobhaban on...

BB may ask four SoCBs to improve financial health

The central bank is going to ask four state-owned commercial banks (SoCBs) to improve their financial health immediately by expediting recovery of classified loans, officials said. Such clear message comes in line with the Bangladesh Bank's advice delivered before for...

BD urged to join IOPC Funds for compensation

In the wake of the rising number of vessels sinking in rivers, Bangladesh has been requested to join the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) which provides compensation for pollution-related damage resulting from oil spills from tankers, officials say.  ...

Small firms to get IDB lifeline

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will invest in local banks and financial institutions as part of its broader plan to support private sector growth, officials said. The Islamic Corporation for Development (ICD), the private sector arm of the Jeddah-based multilateral...

Unity in diversity: Indigenous peoples in Bangladesh

As stipulated in article 27 of our constitution, all citizens are equal in the eye of law and they are entitled to equal protection by law.  According to article 28 (1), the state shall not discriminate against any citizen on...

China\\\'s government has little to show how much was spent to stabilise stock market

China's "national team" has probably spent about $144bn to bolster the country's fragile stock market, Goldman Sachs has estimated, raising questions about how much firepower remains if stocks resume their recent sharp descent. The government has not disclosed either the...

Taking a hard look at violence

The only child of his parents, Rakib, who used to work at a motorcycle garage at Tutpara Central Road in Khulna city, was tortured to death on August 03, 2015 allegedly by his employers. Locals caught the two torturers -...

MoRTB in a fix with four Chinese cos vying for job

The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB) is in a fix with the four Chinese companies queuing up for a single project to construct an expressway on the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor under a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, official sources say. Though...

Next JS session may consider amendment to forex law

The national parliament (Jatiya Sangsad) is expected to take up for consideration in its next session an amendment to the forex law that would help the authorities track the overseas assets of Bangladeshis  or foreigners living in Bangladesh.  Officials said...

Tax relief for holders of govt savings tools from this fiscal

Investors will enjoy tax relief on the profit earned from the Sanchayapatras (government savings tools) from the current financial year (2015-16) following incorporation of a provision into the income tax law accepting the tax paid at source on such income...

Prices may rise abnormally due to bar on supply of Indian cattle

The country's livestock supply during upcoming Eid-ul-Azha would remain low and its prices would be abnormally higher if the government does not take any immediate action for importing cattle, sector insiders apprehend. The local raw hide and skin traders are...

Stocks rebound riding on banks

Stocks returned to green last week that ended Thursday with higher turnover, after previous week's marginal correction, as investors remained active in the market almost throughout the week. "The market rebounded as the investors showed their buying appetite once again...

Urgency for formulating Urban Roads Classification System

The urban roads are classified according to the type and character of service they provide or in agreement with their functions and capacities. Although, the exact nomenclature differs among countries, the basic hierarchy of a modern city comprises: freeways/motorways (mainly...

Remembering Sheikh Kamal

I was involved with the Dhanmondi Club of Dhaka (now called Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club) since 1973 as a member of its Table Tennis team. It was here in 1974 that I came across and got acquainted with Sheikh Kamal,...

Agony of family break and separation after land swap

Enclave swap between Bangladesh and India on Friday midnight has indeed helped redraw the maps of the two countries. But more important is the reshaping the fate of the nearly 50,000 inhabitants who have lived for about 70 long years...

Enabling India\\\'s steel to steal the show

Good going indeed - during the first five months of this calendar year, India has achieved the third position in the global steel production. The country envisages achieving a steel production of 300 million tonnes by 2025, and the steel...

Bhutan offered duty-free export of boulder to BD

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has offered Bhutan duty-free benefit on export of boulder to Bangladesh following recommendation of the ministry of commerce. The facility has been provided with a view to using the large rock for construction of...

No progress yet in setting up operation, maintenance co for power plants

The government's move to set up an operation and maintenance (O&M) company for the country's existing power plants has seen no tangible progress since a directive was made by the Prime Minister one and a half years back. The progress...

Think-tank for third-party review of lower middle income status

The National Income Survey prepared by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, may be reviewed by third-party independent groups or institutions to sustain the achievement of lower-middle income country (LMIC) status, a think-tank has said. In its 12th issue, the Keystone Quarterly...

Illusive road safety

Across the country, the hangover from the festivity of Eid ul Fitr has been replaced by intense public misery. Over the last few weeks, many people have been killed in vehicular accidents. Most of these accidents occurred on the roads...

Ending violence against children

Violence breeds violence. It is no exception in case of violence against children. In this country, the trend of violence has been typical. Immediately after the first case of acid throwing had been reported, a spate of the crime took...

China-Japan rapprochement under stress

The latest question that is being widely talked about is whether Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will attend the commemorative parade in Beijing to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II on September 03 next. China...

An economist\\\'s view of our educational landscape

Late Professor Dr. Muzaffer Ahmad, one of the leading economists in Bangladesh, had a great contribution to the country's economic and educational development. As a pioneer of different civil society organisations and a researcher in the area of development debates,...