BB allows loans against T-bond

The central bank has allowed banks to offer loans to clients against Treasury Bonds (T-bonds) kept as collateral, a move aimed at bringing greater dynamism in the country's bond market.Bankers say the decision could help attract more investors to government...

Long queues continue at Dhaka fuel pumps

Long queues continued to plague petrol pumps across the capital on Wednesday as panic buying and concerns over potential fuel shortages persisted amid the escalating military conflict between the United States-Israel duo and Iran.The surge in demand has forced many...

PM urges nationwide cleanliness drive

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called upon the countrymen to take preventive measures against dengue and chikungunya, announcing that a nationwide cleanliness campaign will begin on March 14 to help protect citizens from the mosquito-borne diseases.In a special video message...

ADB urges govt to make quick decision on stalled BRT project

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has urged Bangladesh's newly elected government to make a swift decision on the long-delayed Airport-Gazipur Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which has remained stalled despite nearing completion.Officials say the lender raised the issue during a...

Govt to buy 3 spot LNG cargoes at double price

The government on Wednesday approved proposals for buying three LNG (liquefied natural gas) cargoes at more than double the rate compared to that in three months back, amid ongoing war in the Middle East.Of them, one of the cargoes will...

NBR draft plan targets higher tax-GDP ratio

The revenue authority has proposed a series of policy and administrative reforms aimed at boosting the country's chronically low tax-to-GDP ratio, including measures to prevent abrupt tax-policy changes and strengthen investor protection.The proposals are part of a draft 180-day reform...

Tarique Rahman speaks at a meeting with ruling party lawmakers

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman speaks at a meeting with ruling party lawmakers at the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat in the capital on Wednesday. — PID

Readjust multilayer taxes on fuel imports

A prudent downward readjustment of multilayer import taxes on petroleum products is highly recommended by economists as an option to avoid the Mideast war-fuelled hikes in fuel prices.Another exigent remedy shown is a cut in BPC profit to skirt both...

Iran's new leader 'safe' despite injury reports

TEHRAN, Mar 11 (AFP): Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is "safe and sound" despite reports of an injury during the war with Israel and the United States, said the son of the Iranian president on Wednesday."I heard news that...

Aramco offers alternative shipping route

Saudi Arabian oil company Saudi Aramco has offered Bangladesh an alternative route to carry the stranded 100,000 tonnes of crude oil, avoiding the restricted Strait of Hormuz, say sources."Aramco intends to carry the stranded crude oil from the Ras Tanura...

Major economic impact unlikely in short term

Any significant impact of the ongoing Middle East war on Bangladesh's economy is unlikely in shorter term, a finance division assessment concludes, but predicts a bite if the conflict prolongs.The finance division also does not see any possibility of big...

First anniv of passing of Manzur Elahi today

Tributes will be paid to eminent industrialist, philanthropist and Adviser of two caretaker governments Syed Manzur Elahi today on the first anniversary of his passing.Chairman of Apex Group, Manzur Elahi breathed his last on March 12 last year at a...

BD seeks US ban waiver to import Russian energy

Bangladesh Wednesday formally requested a temporary waiver of United States sanctions to import energy from Russia to mitigate fuel crunch amid the Middle East tensions triggered by US-Israel war on Iran.Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury conveyed the request to...

Tackling air pollution

Dhaka, one of the world's most densely populated megacities, has once again topped the global list of air pollution. The capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) has reached 280 to 290 on several days, which is considered 'very unhealthy'. According to...

Public awareness needed to prevent bullying

Cyberbullying has become a serious social problem in recent years. The trend of bullying in society is steadily increasing, and in many cases it has almost become a norm. Bullying generally refers to physically or mentally harassing someone, humiliating them,...

The many benefits Family Card can bring

Slum dwellers of the country are a community time forgot. They are among the poorest of this poor country. They live in close proximity to the city centres, yet they are so far away from the amenities that city dwellers...

Confidence-building campaign for private investors

Business leaders and policy researchers have expressed their deep concern at the fall of private investment at its lowest in a decade in the fiscal year (FY) 2025. The revelation that such investment plummeted to 22.03 per cent of the...

Faulty design blamed for Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover congestion

The Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover in the capital was built with a faulty design, which had significantly reduced its effectiveness in easing traffic congestion, said experts and officials at a meeting of the Planning Commission.Design limitations, infrastructural constraints, and management shortcomings prevent...

Frame down-to-earth budget, avoid overly ambitious targets

Policy experts suggest the new government should adopt a realistic fiscal framework for the upcoming national budget as overly ambitious targets could worsen macroeconomic pressures amid geopolitical tensions and domestic economic challenges.To make it, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)...

How Ekushey Book Fair feels like in Ramadan

In the digital world, where technology allows you to download any book in minutes to the palm of your hand, there are still people who eagerly wait for the printed version of their favourite authors' books. And Ekushey Book Fair...

Ex-AL MP Shah Alam freed on bail

Shah Alam, the former Awami League (AL) lawmaker from Pirojpur-2, has been released from jail as there was no complaint or case against him. He was freed from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj on Tuesday, his lawyer Kayesh Ahmed Arnob...

Jamaat leader dies 10 days after clash with BNP

A local leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, who was critically injured in a clash with BNP activists in Chuadanga's Jibannagar Upazila, has died at a private hospital in capital, reports bdnews24.com.Mofizur Rahman passed away on Tuesday after battling for his life for...

Govt to ensure an effective Opposition role in JS: Chief whip

Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Nurul Islam has said the BNP government is committed to ensuring effective participation of the opposition in all parliamentary activities, reports UNB."Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the BNP-led government is...

Family card a source of strength

THAKURGAON, Mar 10 (BSS): Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, MP, on Tuesday said the family card is a source of strength and empowerment for women in the country."With this card you (women) will be...

Weather _2026-03-11

Rain accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions in the next 24 hours from 06:00 am today (Wednesday). Day temperature may fall...

Travel ban on ex-DWASA MD

A Dhaka court on Tuesday imposed a travel ban on former Managing Director (MD) of Dhaka WASA, Abdus Salam Bepari and his wife, Mahbubunnesa, and ordered authorities to submit information on 21 institutions linked to their interests, reports BSS.Dhaka Metropolitan...

Large datasets not necessarily represent broader population

Large datasets can create false confidence, as online platform users do not necessarily represent the broader population and online behaviour is often shaped by platform algorithms, Dr. Christina Monzer remarked about a good practice to use online datasets, while speaking...

DSCC takes steps to ease Eid travel

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has taken a series of measures to ensure safe, comfortable, and hassle-free travel for passengers during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr, reports UNB.The decisions were made at an emergency meeting held at Nagar Bhaban on Tuesday...

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir offering munajat

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir offering munajat while inaugurating the Bongshi Canal (from the Surma River to the Jilkar Haor) excavation project in Sylhet Sadar on Tuesday. — PID

ACC okays chargesheet against ex-minister Asaduzzaman, wife

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday approved a chargesheet against former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and his wife Lutful Tahmina Khan over allegations of illegal wealth and suspicious transactions worth about Tk 215.2 million.The ACC filed the chargesheet accusing...