What\\\'s happening in Iraq?

The Iraq created in large part by the United States after the 2003 invasion appears to be collapsing. The U.S. military disabled Saddam Hussein's forces in short order. Then the straightforward part of the war ended. The American-led Coalition Provisional...

Budget 2014-’ 15: High bets, big risks

Every year, a number of experts and economists in the country find the size of the national budget to be quite big, and thus unrealistic or impossible for full implementation. This year is also no exception as some have already...

Solar module plants seek duty on import

Local solar module assemblers are seeking support from the government to stay in the race as they are facing a tough competition with importers of cheaper panels. A module manufacturer said: "We need protection from the government and everywhere of...

Local skilled hands now capturing top positions in JVCs

Local skilled hands have been capturing the top posts in the joint venture companies (JVCs) replacing the foreigners thanks to availability of better local market expertise, insiders said. For having better quality and skill, a good number of Bangladeshis are...

150 top doctors to come under NBR scrutiny

The tax authority has moved to scrutinise income tax files of some 150 top physicians of the country following alleged mismatch between their declared and actual income, sources said. The initiative has been taken as part of the ongoing efforts...

Teaching moral issues and social obligations

The book 'Five Minutes with Mrs Robinson' by Angela M. V. Robinson is a collection of 106 School Assembly Talks given between January 2003 and July 2003 at the British School in Dhaka. It portrays the author's efforts to educate...

World Cup: Brazil, Germany or a Dark Horse?

There is a belief, rather a superstition, that the "universe influenced by the positions of stars" watches minutely what is happening on the planet Earth, especially during World Cup. The unseen watchman above in the outer space is believed to...

Medical labs need accreditation

Medical laboratory services are essential for diagnosis and assessment of health of patients. These help physicians to provide correct treatment to their patients. A medical laboratory is often called clinical or diagnostic laboratory. The lab's aim is not only to...

A game of rivalry unfolds life in myriad forms

The 20th version of the Federation Internatoionale de Football Association World Cup would have got off to its scheduled start well before this column sees the light of day. Also the result of the curtain raiser between the host country...

DSE turnover dips below Tk 4b-mark

Stocks passed another flat session on Thursday with turnover dipping below Tk 4.0 billion-mark as investors' sentiment turned more cautious amid post-budget psychological hit. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ended at 4,408.80 points, shedding 2.36...

Stocks open positive

Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed positive trend in early hours of trading on Thursday, the last trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went up by 9.0 points or 0.20...

City metro rail project crosses big hurdle

Implementation of the first metro rail project in the city has finally overcome a major hurdle with the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development (DMRTD) Project getting land for its depot from the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakhya (RAJUK). Officials said the Rajuk...

\\\'Book building\\\' may be made mandatory for premium seekers

The securities regulator is likely to make it mandatory for the companies seeking to offer their primary shares with premium to go public using the 'book building' method. The BSEC has initiated a process to bring about necessary changes to...

Fate of Karnaphuli water treatment project hangs in balance

Construction of the Karnaphuli Water Treatment Plant in Pomra, Rangunia in Chittagong is almost stopped now and it is uncertain to say about its completion time, sources said. The government appointed construction firm has started the project's construction work in...

Private refiners want to export surplus sugar

Country's private sugar refiners want to export 1.85 million tonnes of sugar which remains unsold after meeting domestic demand aiming to earn foreign currencies worth Tk 80 billion, officials said. Some seven international standard sugar refineries have already been set...

Textiles ministry moves to set up 23 new vocational institutes

The ministry of textiles and jute (MoTJ) has initiated a project worth Tk 2.16 billion for setting up 23 textile vocational institutes aiming to equip the underprivileged youths with critical technical skills set, officials said. The ministry has sent development...

BR to buy 120 coaches under Indian $1b LoC

The Bangladesh Railway (BR) is set to procure 120 units of AC and non-AC coaches under the Indian $1.0 billion line of credit (LoC) package, officials said. Out of the 120 coaches, 34 will be air-conditioned and the rest 86...

One senior coke and a value pack of nuggets

The idyllic country town of Cockeysville, where most of my time in America has been spent, is more a village than a town - of course, from an American perspective. This is a posh town with a lot of residential...

Making economics relevant

Economics, as an academic discipline and a policy tool, is under siege, not least from its students and practitioners. Questions have been raised by both students and academicians about its usefulness in analysing economic developments and for policy making. It...

Is Super Rich Tax a boon or bane for revenue growth?

The government has proposed a new slab of income at the highest rate of tax by the Finance Act 2014. Under this new slab, the total income of an assessee exceeding Tk 4.42 million will attract tax at the rate...

Stocks inch up,turnover down

Stocks inched up marginally on Wednesday with turnover declined slightly as investors concentrated on sector-specific movements amid cautious trading. The market started with an upward and the positive trend continued till the market closure amid modest see-saw. Eventually, DSEX, the...

DSE, CSE open positive

The prices of most of the shares on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed upward trend in early hours of trading on Wednesday, the fourth trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the...

Health Minister\\\'s \\\'carrot and stick\\\' policy

In many small towns and villages across the country, the public sector health facilities, including hospitals, have the latest equipment but not sufficient number of doctors to treat patients or personnel to operate the medical gadgets. But in Dhaka, there...

7,000 wealthy people to come under 30pc tax net

Newly-proposed tax rate, 30 per cent on annual income above Tk 44,20,000, is likely to be slapped on some 7,000 wealthy taxpayers across the country, tax officials said. Taxmen expect some Tk 3.0 billion income tax in the upcoming fiscal...

Local home textile products attracting increasing number of global buyers

Bangladeshi home textile has been emerging as top most preferable destination for the international buyers thanks to better quality, competitive prices and diversity of products, sector insiders said. For fulfilling the increasing demand of the international buyers most of the...

Amla Foundation seed potato production farm in need of development work

JHENIDAH, Jun 10: Amla Foundation Seed Potato Production Farm (Amla Farm), BADC, Mirpur, Kushtia, has some problems, resolving of which can be conducive to the achievement of higher annual production target in the infrastructure here. The site which previously belonged...

AES plans to invest up to $2.0 billion in Philippines

American power firm AES Corp said last week it is planning to invest up to $2.0 billion to expand its coal-fired power plant in the northwestern Philippines and put up power storage facilities to help stabilise supply in the energy-deficient...

Thai junta claims support from neighbours amid Western unease

China and Vietnam have expressed support for Thailand's new military government, an army spokesman said last week, as pro-army supporters held a small gathering at the Australian Embassy in protest against downgrading of relations after last month's coup. Several foreign...

Chinese military spending exceeds $145 billion, drones advanced

China's military spending exceeded $145 billion last year as it advanced a program modernizing an arsenal of drones, warships, jets, missiles and cyber weapons, the Pentagon said last week, offering a far higher figure than Beijing's official tally. The Pentagon's...

Training course on supply chain management

Training has no alternative. Training helps attain efficiency in any discipline -- be it sports, business, science or astronomy. Though basic training programmes in conventional areas are conducted by various institutions, training in specialised fields are rarely held mainly because...