Be strict in protecting top soil

The fertile topsoil of Bangladesh is the backbone of its agriculture-based economy and a vital resource for sustainable crop production. This thin yet invaluable layer contains essential nutrients, retains moisture and supports soil organisms that ensure healthy yields for millions...

Vanishing urban greenery

Bangladesh's capital Dhaka has been ranked among the world's fastest-growing cities, accommodating around 21 per cent of the country's total population. According to the UN's World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report, Dhaka has become the world's second most populous city, after...

Blue economy: Rich in promise, poor in practice

Several years have passed since Bangladesh successfully resolved its long-standing maritime boundary disputes with Myanmar and India -- an achievement widely hailed as historic. Yet, with the passage of time, a quiet unease has set in. The verdicts of the...

Tariffs, low stocks propel aluminium costs to records for US consumers

LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters): Aluminium consumers in the United States are paying record high prices, significantly above the level import levies and transport costs would warrant, as tight supplies globally aggravate the impact of tariffs and low US inventories.Needed by...

AI to boost copper demand 50pc by 2040: S&P

Growth in the artificial intelligence and defense sectors will boost global copper demand 50 per cent by 2040, but supplies are expected to fall short by more than 10 million metric tons annually without more recycling and mining, the consultancy...

Gold falls as commodity index rebalancing sparks selling pressure

Gold prices fell on Thursday as investors braced for futures selling tied to a commodity index reshuffle, with a stronger US dollar adding pressure by making the metal costlier for overseas buyers, reports Reuters.Spot gold fell 0.6 per cent to...

Desire to overcome despair and angst

510 years ago, in 1516, Utopia by Thomas More was published in Europe. Written in Latin, the English meaning of the full Latin title is: ‘A truly golden little book, not less beneficial than enjoyable, about how things should be...

Accountability deferred, democracy denied

A democracy will not often fail with the loud cracking of Glass. In fact, failure will often occur in the silent hours of fear rebranded as order, of oppression justified as stability, of institutions of democracy subverted to safeguard power...

Rural health clinics: promises, performances, and despair

Across Bangladesh’s countryside, a remarkable health-policy transformation has unfolded over the past two decades. Tens of thousands of low-level health posts—community clinics and union-level health and family welfare centres—now bring medical care within reach of rural populations. The ambition is...

BGMEA, BKMEA oppose 20pc safeguard duty on imported cotton yarn

The country's two leading apparel trade bodies, BGMEA and BKMEA, have strongly opposed the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission's proposal to impose a 20 per cent safeguard duty on imports of cotton yarn up to 30 counts. In separate letters...

Aviation prospects abound, but fleet proportionately undersized

Bangladesh's state-run airline feels incapacitated to increase flight frequencies and fly to potentially profitable new international destinations, belying rising passenger demand and revenue growth, sources say. Biman Bangladesh Airlines is caught in such a paradox because the national airline has...

Cold wave likely for 5 more days

A cold wave is sweeping across four divisions and 12 districts of the country, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).The BMD's weather forecast said on Wednesday that the weather for the next five days across the country may remain...

Forex reserves to stay over $32b even after ACU payments

Bangladesh's treasury won't feel dollar stress even after settling import- payment obligations to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) member- countries as gross foreign-exchange reserves are yet expected to stay over US$32 billion.The latest payment of $1.5 billion is scheduled to...

SoEs commit, MNCs to seek board approvals

Ten state-owned enterprises (SoEs) and multinational companies (MNCs) have agreed in principle to offload a portion of their shares on the stock market, following board-level approvals or renewed commitment to seeking them.The move is part of the government's broader effort...

Dozens of auditors, firms under scanners over cooking books

A host of audit firms and auditors are under the scanner of government investigation agencies over alleged irregularities in audited financials of business tycoons implicated in the major banking-sector scams during the previous regime.According to official sources, chartered accountants (CAs)...

Auction turns into single-player contest as Robi pulls out

The planned auction for the 700-megahertz (MHz) spectrum has been reduced to a single-player contest following Robi Axiata's formal withdrawal, leaving Grameenphone as the only remaining operator in the field. The move has left the telecom regulator with little option...

BD among 25 new countries under US costly visa bond rule

The United States has expanded a visa bond policy to include Bangladesh and 24 other countries, requiring citizens of these nations to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000 as part of their application for a US visitor visa, according...

Migration from Bangladesh on rise amid poor govt support

The number of Bangladeshi outbound migrant workers has been on the rise in recent years amidst inadequate budgetary and other technical support from the government for the key remittance earning sector.The Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) said this...

Bangladesh will not play World Cup in India

Bangladesh's Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul said on Wednesday that he would try his best to convince the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate Bangladesh's venues for the ICC T20 World Cup, insisting that the governing body of the...

Pakistan eyes defence pact with BD, sale of JF-17 jets

The air force chiefs of Pakistan and Bangladesh held talks on a potential pact covering the sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Dhaka, Pakistan's military said, as Islamabad widens its arms supply ambitions and beefs up ties with Bangladesh,...

LPG traders threaten nationwide supply halt from today

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) traders have warned of ceasing the supply and marketing of LPG across the country from today (Thursday) if the energy regulatory commission does not fix fresh prices and the administration does not stop "harassment".LP Gas Traders'...

Large piles of fresh winter pumpkins are stacked at Shyambazar in Sadarghat after arriving from areas near Dhaka

Large piles of fresh winter pumpkins are stacked at Shyambazar in Sadarghat after arriving from areas near Dhaka as traders sort and prepare them for wholesale. The photo was taken recently. — FE photo by Shafiqul Alam

US corn shipment arrives for first time in 8 yrs

The first shipment of US corn to Bangladesh since 2018 has arrived at Chattogram port, marking a renewed chapter in agricultural trade between the two countries and giving Bangladeshi feed millers access to American grain after a prolonged hiatus.The 57,855-tonne...

NBR unveils automated online VAT refund system

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Wednesday launched an automated online Value- Added Tax (VAT) refund system, allowing refunds to be transferred directly in taxpayers' bank accounts, a move considered ending long-standing delays and harassment in the refund process,...

PMI signals modest economic growth in December 2025

FE REPORTEconomic activity expanded marginally in December, according to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which remained firmly in expansionary territory despite mixed sectoral performance. The modest uptick was driven mainly by continued strength in agriculture, manufacturing and services, even...

Dry weather likely today 08-01-2026

Weather may remain dry with cloudy sky in the next 24 hours from 06:00 am today (Thursday).Cold wave may sweep over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna and Barishal divisions.The sun sets in the city today at 05:28 pm and rises tomorrow at...

CDA demolishes illegal portions of 14-storey bldg

OUR CORRESPONDENTCHATTOGRAM, Jan 07: The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) demolished illegal portions of four buildings, including parts of a 14-storey structure, which had encroached on a canal and violated approved designs in Panchlaish of the port-city. The operation took place...

UN chief pays high homage to Khaleda

FE REPORT United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has paid high tributes to Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's former prime minister and one of its most influential political figures, recalling her role in democratic dispensation. The UN chief executive has written to...

Didar A. Husain re-elected IUB BoT chairman

Didar A. Husain, a founding trustee of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), has been re-elected as Chairman of the IUB Board of Trustees (BoT) for a two-year term covering 2026-27.Currently, he is the Chairman of Rahim Textile Mills Limited. He serves...

NSU holds 26th convocation

North South University (NSU) hosted its 26th convocation ceremony on Wednesday at the NSU campus. Over 3,000 students were awarded graduation degrees at this event, comprising undergraduate and graduate students.Prof Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, adviser to the Ministry of Education,...