Choosing reform, remembering July, securing the Republic

On February 12, Bangladesh faces a question of profound historical importance one that goes beyond the usual trappings of election politics and into the very moral foundations of the republic itself. The people will not only elect their representatives; they...

The University of Chankharpul adjudged 'Best Feature Film' at DIFF

'Power resides where men believe it resides. It's a trick, a shadow on the wall. And a very small man can cast a very large shadow.'If you're a Game of Thrones fan, you may remember Lord Varys, the Master of...

Using achievements matters more, advisor tells graduates

CHITTAGONG, Jan 19: Using the achievements from university matters more than the achievements themselves, Education Advisor Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar said on Monday at the third convocation ceremony of Chittagong Independent University (CIU)."It's not what you achieve in university,...

Govt-contractor dispute may drag on for long

The dispute on the expensive Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) third-terminal project is likely to continue for long as the first phase of hearing on the allegations from the contractor's side has just completed.Sources say the dispute board members completed...

Struggling BASIC Bank bid for revival falters with little gains

The scam-stricken BASIC Bank PLC has intensified default-loan-recovery drive against its top 20 defaulters in a struggle for revival, but actual collection stands nowhere near regulatory direction. According to an internal bank report, the total recovery came to just Tk...

MoL turns down draft Money Loan Court Act

The law ministry has turned down the central bank's proposal to prepare a new Artha Rin Adalat Ain (Money Loan Court Act) and suggested updating of the existing law through necessary amendments, officials say.The draft law, prepared by the central...

Healthcare costs should top agenda

What pundits on social and economic issues say, celebrate the outlook of people on how to improve the health of politics, governance and so on. However, of late, attention is also turning to the more fundamental issue of public health...

Tk 450b prog to overhaul pry education system underway

The government has initiated a Tk 450-billion programme to overhaul the country's primary education system to be implemented over the next five years beyond the existing development projects.The proposed programme aims to narrow the persistent gaps in learning outcomes, achieve...

Weighing downside risks, upside benefits of BKB-RAKUB merger

A government move for the merger of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) with Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) stokes fear it could weaken region-specific farm financing and create new operational challenges instead problem solving.The banking regulator, on the other hand, has...

Bangladesh's telecom sector 'designed to fail'

Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer Yasir Azman has issued a blunt warning that Bangladesh's telecommunications sector is becoming commercially unviable due to excessive taxation, unresolved audit disputes and restrictive regulation, saying the overall environment is "designed to fail".In an interview with...

When freaks and minnows rule the roost

What a historic moment of mental bankruptcy the world has just witnessed! The beaming faces of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and US President Donald Trump have flashed on TV screens and pages of newspapers all across the globe...

Return of Sundarbans bandits?

On November 2018, the government of the day declared the Sundarbans free of bandits who used to rule the forest and would force forest-dependent people including local fishers, wood-cutters (bawalis), honey collectors (moualis) and crab-catchers to pay protection money to...

Dhaka University Cultural Society welcomes new 'Oitri' batch

The Dhaka University Cultural Society held its annual reception programme 'Oitri Baran' on Thursday at the TSC Auditorium, welcoming its newest batch of members with an evening of performances that stretched from 2 pm well into the night.The event brought...

Govt moves to overhaul sanctions regime ahead of FATF mutual evaluation

The government has initiated a sweeping overhaul of the national sanctions framework to plug loopholes in the financing of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), sources familiar with the development said.The move is being seen as a high-priority strategic step to...

Weak markets to worsen job losses after merger, liquidation

The merger and liquidation of financial institutions are set to cost hundreds of jobs, while weakened money and capital markets leave little scope for new employment to replace those lost.Although the central bank has assured that there will be no...

An emerging concern

The global tea market is currently shaped by intense competition, price pressures, sustainability imperatives, and increasingly brand-driven value chains -- where leadership is determined not only by production volumes, but by technology adoption, marketing sophistication, and access to global distribution...

Overcoming the adoption barriers

In line with the global trend, MFS providers in Bangladesh introduced their own proprietary Quick Response (QR) coded or QR-based payment systems in 2018. However, these early models were merchant-specific, meaning each QR code could only be used for payments...

Seven-college issues demand urgent action

The government’s initiative to establish a new public university – Dhaka Central University – by bringing together the seven colleges de-affiliated from Dhaka University has stuck in limbo for nearly a year. Disagreements over the proposed institutional structure and the...

Building a repository of Other Financial Corporations

To improve the quality of financial statistics, Bangladesh Bank has started conducting quarterly surveys on Other Financial Corporations (OFCs). The first report has been released, presenting the sector’s status by the end of fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25). The findings show...

Why Bangladesh's farmers lose while city consumers pay more

For Foishal Rahman, a middle-aged resident of Shantinagar in Dhaka, a simple visit to the local kitchen market has become a source of profound anxiety."I grew up in a village where vegetables were practically free during the harvest season. Today,...

Blood feuds over reclaimed river-eroded land to sink

Disputes over reclaimed river-eroded land--often deteriorating into blood feuds--are destined to drown as ownership is being determined through digital mapping. Officials say the government is set to draw Alluvion and Diluvian Line ( AD Line ) by applying state-of- the...

Foreign operator of Pangaon terminal up with halved usage-cost plan

Derelict-like Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (PICT) is poised for renascence as its Switzerland-based foreign operator formally begins operating the trade facility today with plans to halve the box-transportation costs.Sources say the company, Medlog SA, comes up with this and ancillary...

Restoring macroeconomic stability rests on revenue policy upgrade

A time-bound structural and policy rejig of the revenue system is imperative for restoring and sustaining Bangladesh's macroeconomic stability as insufficient domestic resources upend government plans and generate overall volatility. To this end, a multi-stakeholder taskforce on revenue reform is...

China hospital chains in Bangladesh, first one to be built in Nilphamari

Modern-day China hospital chains in Bangladesh begin with a big venture in the country's far north to cater all low-cost treatments and specialised care at higher expenses, officials say. Northern Nilphamari district is set to host the country's first high-standard,...

Shortage of lighterage vessels hampers cargo unloading

CHATTAGRAM, Jan 16: Cargo handling operations at the outer anchorage of Chattogram port have been severely hampered due to an acute shortage of lighterage vessels, raising concerns over possible supply disruptions ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.The disruption has...

Dui Bigha Jomi's modern carbon copy

In his poem "Dui Bigha Jomi", poet Rabindranath presented a most realistic equation between a zamindar and his subjects of his time. Upen, a subject has only two bighas of land and the rest was sold to pay his debt....

QR-based payment systems in Bangladesh

The financial sector has undergone a profound transformation over the past few decades, mainly driven by rapid technological advancements. The most notable developments are the transition from traditional cash-based transactions to cashless or electronic payment systems. A cashless transaction refers...

Meghna River Master Plan faces many implementation challenges

The Meghna River has ever been an important riverine route for goods transportation as well as an effective option for safe water supply; yet implementation of the master plan for its protection is yet to start due to a good...

Listed BEXIMCO firms halt board meetings as legal stalemate drags on

All three listed companies of the BEXIMCO Group have not held board meetings since March last year, as a writ petition over the appointment of independent directors remains pending.The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) appointed 25 independent directors to...

Why children fall victim to road accidents

The Road Safety Foundation (RSF), a private organisation involved with the study of road accidents in the country, reveals that in the just departed year 7,359 people were killed in 7,584 road accidents. More than 20 people met with the...